Austin Ireland

That is the name of our driver in San Ignacio. Part English, part Belizeian, He spoke about his father coming to Belize in the late 1800's and marrying a woman from here and raising a family and on and on until Mr. Austin Ireland.

I had lost a leather change wallet, that I bought at the Tumi outlet when Sarah and I went to Castine, Maine. It is really convenient to have a place to put coins when you travel. To do the "normal" guy thing of just dumping them in your pants pocket is to say the least inefficient. Your change bulks up your pockets, moves around in there and then falls out when you sit or lie down at an angle. Unacceptable for a Gentleman Traveler.

I notice after Austin dropped us off at Cahal Pech yesterday that it was missing. We are now back in San Ignacio where he picked us up. So I put the word out on the street that I am looking for Austin Ireland. I was told he is at the bus/cab stop. He sees us coming and immediately get up and starts going toward his car. Jabbing away how he held my change wallet wondering if I dropped it in his car. We need a ride back to the hotel so we employ him to take us back. In the car, I said, how come if you thought it was me, you did not just drop it back at the hotel? Now, I am just busting his chops having some fun, or what passes for fun in my head. He says "I really did not know if it was yours and figured someone would come back for it"

I say to him from now on anything lost in your cab you hold for me, it doesn't matter if I am here in San Ignacio or not. You wait and hold it for me for when I return. He said, "You mean like waiting for the Messiah to return back to earth" I said, Exactly!
The three of us share a good laugh over that visual. He is a man of good humor and cheerfulness. If there is anyone who needs a reason why it is better to travel freely, getting out of the resort hotels and just be among everyday working people than that story should close the deal. The wonderful travel writer Rick Steves talks about how the more money you spend when you travel just builds a wall between you and the places/people you are visiting. I say, Here, here.