I love this picture of Dave and the iguana! One of many iguanas! And one of many amazing experiences during the visit of Judi Simpson (Dave's sister) and her friend, Mary Wolf! Now if my computer will cooperate I'll try to share the highlights. (For some unknown reason, our internet speeds since Christmas have slowed to a crawl, and this blog may literally take several days to complete due to pictures that I want to include. I have been waiting to see if we can find the problem, but we have not despite having taken our computer to a repair person. Dave may try 4G to see if we can improve on things. We wonder, too, if the system has been overloaded with the many smart phones sold recently here. Who knows, but I am about ready to revert to a hand-written diary.)
Judi and Mary arrived on a Thursday afternoon, January 16th, probably the most spectacular day, weather-wise, we had seen! And that was pretty much the last of tropical weather until after they left. I think they were hoping for some sun, but instead they saw rain, more rain, clouds, and very cool temperatures!
On Friday, I had to do some work, counting ICU's (the reward program at DMCCC), so Judi and Mary went to Caye Caulker for the afternoon. The weather was not great, but they survived the afternoon.
On Saturday, we packed up the car and left early to go to Cayo District to visit Xunantunich Mayan Ruins. We first took a drive through Belmopan, the capitol of Belize. There we saw the U.S. Embassy, which was embarrassing in its fortress presentation. Other embassies are lovely old houses, and the Prime Minister lives in a nice house on one of my walks. But this compound was scary!
The four of us stopped at Orange Gallery to shop and to have lunch. When we next arrived at the ferry crossing to go to Xunantunich, we found that the river was raging and the ferry was not operating. "Maybe tomorrow," the guide said.
We decided to go to the Blue Morpho Butterfly breeding center. What a beautiful place! A resort or two are on the road off the highway, and the area in the mountains is beautiful! The guide took us into an area where the butterflies were feasting on fermented pineapple, just a little drunk! He caught one and showed us the differences between male and female and showed us the "eyes" on their wings that fool other animals into thinking that they are larger and scarier than they are! Then he went through the life-cycle of a butterfly! Really informative--and a peaceful place to be on an afternoon! And no butterflies were injured during the presentation!
Judi, Mary, Dave and I had reservations at the San Ignacio Hotel & Resort where an iguana protection and breeding program is. The first thing we did upon arrival was take the Iguana tour! What an experience! About a dozen of us were on the tour, and the young man was passionate about his iguanas! We first went to see the "teenage" iguanas, which when ready are released into the wild. They can actually fall 20 feet without injury, so they are tossed into the wild. A couple of them have returned in search of a mate. But they are kept out of the breeding area as they would kill other iguanas in there. The iguanas feel cold to the touch, especially on a day when it was barely 60 degrees outside. I took photos, while everyone else held at least one iguana. I only pet one...this was not my favorite activity! But you can see how Mary was totally involved! After seeing the older iguanas, we went to the nursery, where even Judi held one...and Mary had one climb into her hair!
After having dinner at Fuego on the Square in San Ignacio, we awoke to rain, which cancelled the early morning bird walk that Mary and Judi were to go on. Dave and I finally got up (I think Mary and Judi were about done waiting for us), and we decided to explore Spanish Lookout. Spanish Lookout is the agricultural area of Belize where all of our chickens, beans, milk and eggs are grown. It was developed in a rather unusual arrangement with the Belize government by the Mennonites in the 1950's. We arrived at the Iguana Creek Ferry and crossed to the Spanish Lookout side. Beautiful rolling hills and lovely homes were in the area, which is not developed with tourists in mind.
Still seeking new adventures, we returned to the Succotz ferry to cross the Mopan River, but it was closed. We went on to Benque Viejo and to the Guatemala border, just to say we'd been there. (Someday, Dave and I will go on to Tikal.) Given that we could not see Xunantunich, we returned to San Ignacio and visited Cahal Pech. By this time, the day was sunny and beautiful, so I took more pictures in a different light from my previous visit there! I love Mayan ruins!
It was interesting to find the archeological team at work at Cahal Pech. What an interesting place to work!
Judi, Mary and I went to Old Belize, a tourist place on the Sea with a fairly extensive port for private boats, where we had lunch. There is a very high water slide there, and it was fun to watch young people take the dive! We went on to the Belize Zoo. I vowed I was not going to take pictures, but that did not last long! However, the pictures I'm posting here are actually from the pictures that Nathan and Megan took. (I figured Zoo pictures are Zoo pictures!) The pictures are of the Jaguar during a "Jaguar Lick" where people are in the cage on which the Jaguar sits and he licks off their heads something good to a Jaguar! Next is the Howler Monkey, whose sound travels for a mile or more! And then, I believe, we see an Ocelot in the bushes.
The three of us also walked around downtown Belize City on a weekday. I loved seeing the streets, through which I usually drive, up close. We went inside St. John's Cathedral (carved doors below),
and to the House of Culture,
and walked by the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts
and the Supreme Court Building.
We saw Haulover Creek with its boats,
the new Battlefield Park, and shops along the way.
Judi and Mary went with me to the Children's Centre, and they handed out ICU rewards! The best moment was when Mary made a mid-court basket to the delight of the boys just as we were leaving! They saw the Municipal Airport and the plane and met Yvette. I think that we packed in just about as much is possible in a 5 day visit! What a wonderful time Dave and I had--and I think that Mary and Judi would agree!
No comments:
Post a Comment