Larissa, Cheri-Lee and Adam ready to go into the cave.
Bear in mind when you read this that I am playing catch up. We did all of this stuff last week. Everyone is gone home and I am feeling sad. It was so nice having friends and family here. Belize is beautiful and we are having an amazing adventure but we still miss everyone from 'home'. I don't think that will change.
But on a happier note, we did have a great time. Guests give us a good excuse to play tourists again and try some new things. One thing that we have been holding off on doing was the Barton Creek Cave canoeing trip. Barton Creek is a creek and a town in the Mountain Pine Ridge area, about 45 minutes from here. The town is old-school Amish. The Amish reject all new technology. No electricity or cars. Life looks hard and simple.
We drove in on a terrible road to a beautiful spot on the creek. Like so many rivers in Belize, this one runs underground for a good ways. The access to the cave looms over the lagoon like a big, black mouth. We piled into a couple of canoes with our guide, Omar, and headed in. It was an incredible two hour, gentle float.
But on a happier note, we did have a great time. Guests give us a good excuse to play tourists again and try some new things. One thing that we have been holding off on doing was the Barton Creek Cave canoeing trip. Barton Creek is a creek and a town in the Mountain Pine Ridge area, about 45 minutes from here. The town is old-school Amish. The Amish reject all new technology. No electricity or cars. Life looks hard and simple.
We drove in on a terrible road to a beautiful spot on the creek. Like so many rivers in Belize, this one runs underground for a good ways. The access to the cave looms over the lagoon like a big, black mouth. We piled into a couple of canoes with our guide, Omar, and headed in. It was an incredible two hour, gentle float.
Squid jumps off a perfectly good cliff!
The caves were used by the ancient Maya for rituals and sacrifice. The Maya believed that the caves brought them closer to the gods of the underworld. When drought killed the crops and the people were starving, the Mayans thought that human and animal sacrifices to the rain god, Chac, would save their people. Deep in the cave we saw in-tact pottery and even a calcified human skull. Archeologists have found remains from at least 28 humans. These remains date back about 1800 years.
The caves are gorgeous. In some areas they are huge and full of sparkle and amazing formations. And in other areas we had to flatten ourselves in the canoes to make it under the rocks.
After the canoe trip, Squid, Cheri-Lee and Larissa needed some more adventure so they climbed up an unsecured ladder leaning against the side of a cliff, climbed along a sloped and crumbling trail, and jumped about 20' into the water. Those crazy kids!
The caves are gorgeous. In some areas they are huge and full of sparkle and amazing formations. And in other areas we had to flatten ourselves in the canoes to make it under the rocks.
After the canoe trip, Squid, Cheri-Lee and Larissa needed some more adventure so they climbed up an unsecured ladder leaning against the side of a cliff, climbed along a sloped and crumbling trail, and jumped about 20' into the water. Those crazy kids!
The next day we ventured to Xunantunich. This is a large archaeological site about 15 minutes from our house. We've been here a few times now and it's still amazes. We committed to getting up early and making this a morning trip. It has been so hot with very little wind. Adam and I have had a bit of a chance to get used to this heat but it had to be hard on the 'northerners'! But northerners are tough...this is a picture of Larissa and Cheri-Lee at the top of the Castillo temple, about 130' high.
We actually hired a guide this time. We thought maybe we could learn something so we didn't have to just make up stories when we visited with people!
We actually hired a guide this time. We thought maybe we could learn something so we didn't have to just make up stories when we visited with people!
Hockey Night in Belize....
Very important! After two months with no TV, we broke down! It sounds all intellectual and deep to say you don't need TV...you know, 'I'll read more books....I'll learn a new language....maybe learn to paint'. We really wanted TV!!!! We found a shop in Spanish Lookout (my favourite place) that handle Shaw satellite systems with Canadian programming. Sign us up!!! A little piece of home! And for the record, Squid and Cheri-Lee didn't know that we would have CBC Hockey and it's the playoffs! That is true friendship!
Very important! After two months with no TV, we broke down! It sounds all intellectual and deep to say you don't need TV...you know, 'I'll read more books....I'll learn a new language....maybe learn to paint'. We really wanted TV!!!! We found a shop in Spanish Lookout (my favourite place) that handle Shaw satellite systems with Canadian programming. Sign us up!!! A little piece of home! And for the record, Squid and Cheri-Lee didn't know that we would have CBC Hockey and it's the playoffs! That is true friendship!
And now we are at my sad day. Time for everyone to go home. On Friday morning we headed out, once again to Belize City. This is our fourth Friday in a row at the airport. Maybe enough for a while (unless someone wants to visit...we'll be there in a heartbeat!).
I held it together pretty good at the airport but lost it pretty good on the drive home! Thanks so much for visiting....love all you guys!
I held it together pretty good at the airport but lost it pretty good on the drive home! Thanks so much for visiting....love all you guys!