THE WATER NYMPH

The hot and muggy air bursts through the airplane’s open door. Man, it’s hot. Really hot. Definitely don’t need Gwyn. My hands quickly unwrap the cashmere scarf from my neck, a gift from a friend and lovingly nicknamed “gwyneth”. What seemed like a great idea on the plane, feels like the worst decision ever in 82 very humid degrees. “First time in Belize?” - a border control officer is looking through passport pages that are now filled with the stamps from all over the globe from the last year or so. “First time”, a smile behind the mask makes its way out through my eyes. “Welcome! Have a good time!”.

Two passports slide from the other side of the kiosk. Easiest border control stop in the last 9 month for sure.

“We have about 3.5 hour drive to Naia. If you are hungry, we can stop on the way. There are some really good restaurants near Belize City, I can show you”, - our young driver’s energy is so happy. And calming too. Feels like we’ve been friends forever.

Bobby’s and my eyes meet.

“I think we are good. Thank you,” - his words reconfirm my thoughts. Just want to get to the room. The flight and the layover feel so draining somehow.

“Are you sure? It’s a long drive!”, - Wilders’ eyes (our driver) look concerned in the rear view mirror.

“We are good!”, - Bobby beats me to it again.

“If he only knew about our 11 hour long drives”, -a quiet whisper from my right is barely audible among the surrounding car noise. My lips smile. That comment brought back so many memories.

Welcome to Naia!”, - a tall young man is reaching forward with his elbow: Covid-19approved “greeting”. I miss handshakes. Clive is cool. Really good energy. Another tall man walks up. “Olya and Bobby, please, meet our general manager”, - a pair of very kind eyes catches mine. The smile, genuine and sincere, is shining even through the mask.

“Rest today, I am sure you are very tired and need some r&r”, - Clive seems to literally read my mind. “Jim and I will see you tomorrow for our breakfast. Would 8am be a good time?”

My half-asleep brain is trying to process the information. 8 am is great. Anything is great.

“Miss Olya, your bags are in the cart. I am here to take you to your room as soon as you are ready”, a voice from my left belongs to a lovely Belizean. “My name is Faura and I will be here to assist you with anything you may need. Follow me, please!”

A golf cart! Hmmm. Very cool. There is no shadow of sleep left in my brain that is trying to figure out where exactly we are going. Is the room far? Our cart stops before my brain can make up a mental map of the place.

“Welcome to your new home for the next 10 days!” - Faura’s eyes smile.

My eyes scan the surroundings as thoughts are racing ahead of each other.

A bungalow? A BEACH front bungalow?! How will I ever leave this place?