All sorts of fun at our place over the last couple of weeks. Our daughter Larissa and her boyfriend Kyle were here for a visit. They went back home again a few days ago and I'm just getting over my sad phase. I always schedule a couple of sad days when friends and family leave. It's an adjustment period that I've come to accept as necessary. But the sun is shining, the birds are singing and I've put in my mandatory sad time. So, now I'm ready to share our wonderful visit with Larissa and Kyle!
Larissa has been to Belize several times but this was a first for Kyle. It's always fun to have 'newbies' visit. It's easy to catch their enthusiasm and it's a great reminder of why we came here. I'm a firm believer in being a tourist in your own country. Day to day life can be mundane no matter where you live. It's all very necessary but not always such a good time. So with that in mind we put on our tourist hats for some fun. As proof of that, I'm sitting here watching the skin peel off the end of my nose. Got a good burn in Placencia just like any self respecting tourist! But I'll get to that later.
I wish I could say that the weather was amazing but it really was pretty mediocre. A big step up from what we've seen over the last few months...certainly not so wet or cold. But I know that Belize can do better! Oh well, in comparison to Red Deer (where Larissa and Kyle live) it was fantastic. On that note I had to include this picture of Kyle and Adam playing X-box with blankets and hoodies. It really was pretty cool some days at least by our standards.
Our first few days were a little weather dependent although the kids were much tougher about getting in the pool than Adam and I. We checked out Saturday Market, wandered around town a bit, and visited the close by Mayan site of Cahal Pech. And of course, allotted plenty of time for pool, patio, and BBQ. I amazed them with my BBQ pizza and Adam dazzled with wings and ribs. OK...I may exaggerate some, but we are getting to be pretty good in the outdoor kitchen. I absolutely love having an outdoor kitchen. It is the centre of all our entertaining. And we certainly didn't come to Belize to be inside all the time.
So, we ate and played and toured and each day Larissa's hair got bigger and bigger! The humidity does crazy things to that girl's normally straight locks. It's really pretty funny. She used to bring her hair straightener but she gave up on that a few trips ago. Now she has perfected the french braid to keep things in control.
We sent them off a couple of times on their own (well, really with Mayawalk Tours). First tour was the amazing Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave. Larissa and I did this cave a couple of years back and it is amazing...listed as National Geographic's #1 Sacred Cave in the world. I didn't really feel the need to go again but I am so glad Larissa and Kyle went. No pictures from this adventure because they no longer allow cameras in the cave. Just after we went through, a camera was dropped on a skull and caused some damage. I wouldn't be surprised if access to this cave becomes more limited in the next few years. It's a very, very special place.
We sent them off a couple of times on their own (well, really with Mayawalk Tours). First tour was the amazing Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave. Larissa and I did this cave a couple of years back and it is amazing...listed as National Geographic's #1 Sacred Cave in the world. I didn't really feel the need to go again but I am so glad Larissa and Kyle went. No pictures from this adventure because they no longer allow cameras in the cave. Just after we went through, a camera was dropped on a skull and caused some damage. I wouldn't be surprised if access to this cave becomes more limited in the next few years. It's a very, very special place.
And then the kids (I'm sure they love when I call them that!) booked another tour to the Mayan site of Caracol. This is one site that I haven't been to. It's very remote. Not a huge distance as the crow flies but the roads are bordering impassable, especially considering all the rain that we've had. Adam and I had no desire to take our own truck there and although I haven't been to Caracol, I wasn't keen on being beaten and battered on the roads. So, Larissa and Kyle went with a tour company and they had quite the adventure.
Can you say flat tire? Broken 4WD? Stuck in mud? But they did make it in and out OK with a little support from the Belize Military. The Military regularly patrols that road because it borders so closely to Guatemala. Thankfully, they are also willing to help stranded tourists!