AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Trip Reports The Apparently Controversial Account of my Trip

I only wish that I could have called the embassy. I asked the Mata Rocks staff to get me the phone number. Again, they couldn't get me the number. And really we only started complaining after we had been screwed by their negligent misinformation several times, not to mention their callous attitude toward what happened, after all, on their property under the nose of their own security guard (regardless of my own contributory negligence).

I suppose I could leave the names out, but there were no exaggerations as to their part in the story.

And as for separating - well, we didn't come on our short vacation to spend the time apart - so that wasn't even an option. We don't go on vacation often and we're not wealthy - so spending the vacation apart seemed ridiculous.

Obviously, it was cheaper to take the water taxi then pay for two flights.

I laughed so hard at your Cave tubing adventure, but OMG how stupid to leave anything of value out in plain sight. I felt sorry for your misfortune. But really, it was self induced. We travel extensively, and always keep valuables and/or important documents under lock and key or at least under our noses. It's too bad Erica didn't use a little more of a consoling attitude, but come on. On a first floor balcony. It was only a matter of time!

I've heard that one before. It's apparent from the responses I've received on this board that no one has ever made a mistake.

I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I don't blame Mata Rocks for the theft. I blame them for their poor response during a mini crisis. I'm sure I would have nothing but good things to say about them had this not happened.

But it did. And they failed. When in the crucible - they crumbled.

Hey Dan...anything negative you say on this board will be chewed and spit out at you.

But, I think you have seen this already, over and over

Good reporting...

i think one can say negative things on the board without it being chewed and spit out at them. there are negative things posted which are not dont have negative responces, but when someone leaves there items out for anyone to grab it that is when they get ripped on.

I take no offense to being virtually "chewed and spit upon." If it were done to my face it might be a different story, certainly.

I think it's quite an interesting phenomenon, however, that we are so quick to "blame the victim," as it were.

I admit my contributory negligence. I admit what I did was foolish. The question is why are there so many, so quick to "rip on me."

Perhaps they take umbrage at my "naming names." But I really was just reporting facts as to that part of my account. I don't really owe Mata Rocks any loyalty. I paid them a lot of money which isn't exactly flowing through my student bank account. I think I can dish a little truth.

Oh man. I actually got a stomach ache reading this. Memories of the time immigration stamped my passport with the wrong date, and I had to get that corrected at the office in San Pedro. Wish I had kept a blog of that week-long experience. Hint: Tears don't help.

KC

Part of the problem Dan, may be that you admit to "literary embellishments" or editorial license for the sake of the reader, or mis-represent certain details - such as WHICH guard supposedly noticed suspicious activity - I see two distinct references to two different individuals. Once you do that,you forgo credibility in reportage and fall into the semi-fiction area, foregoing credibility of fact.

I'm certainly not calling you out to be a prevaricator ( and love the writing style), just making an observation as to why you may be getting SOME of the responses you are.

Gotta' say that I must have read your account in the right frame of mind, DC. I found it darned entertaining and pretty much believeable--a mostly factual account of a comedy of errors, committed by a crowd. The embellishments were obvious and acceptable, based on normal operations in BZ.

As you've found, humor's not in high regard on this forum.

Thanks for your effort. Good, enjoyable prose. We can all use more of that.

In the times we live in treating the security of U.S. passports with such admitted gross negligence should perhaps be an offense punishable by non-issuance of a new passport for a period of 1 year.

Dan, in a previous post you say "The question is why are there so many, so quick to "rip on me.""

Perhaps it's the bit in your blog where you say:

"This was the first time (and there would be many more times to come) where it occurred to me that Belize sucks."

Anyone care to comment as to who really sucks here?