Greetings from Belize!

[450knotOffice]

Great photos! I think we motored past that place on our way out to the dive site yesterday. I remember pointing it out to my wife. You took a Cat out there?! You guys are brave.

[450knotOffice]

Belikin, the beer of Belize.




Where I was sitting when I typed the earlier message (it's dark now, so I'm inside)

[David]

And we left our GPS and VHF on the island because we didn't think the rental would happen since my buddy had tried for a couple years to do it!

We found out later, they were worried because they watched us with binoculars leave Hopkins and head straight for what we thought was Dangriga farther up the coast. That took an hour or so, so they were worried we wouldn't beat the storm. We tacked starboard out to sea and after a few miles saw land. That land was Cocoplum! It sure made it look like we knew what we were doing but I give my buddy all the credit for getting us there.

[Pkaaso]

Scott,

Nice contrasting picture of you on the boat. I think you needed a bout 12 more track days before leaving. Can you say "Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite?"

Kidding of course.

Glad your having fun. PM sent.

Paul

[450knotOffice]

Friday.

2 1/2 hours drive (each way) through the heart and mountains of Belize to the border of Guatemala to see the Mayan ruins. Incredible! We climbed to the tops of a couple of pyramids, one 130 feet tall. I won't bore you with the details but to say that visiting these ruins should be on everyone's must-do list.

The 2 van barge to cross a river






My usual evening spot here in Belize.

[slodave]

Looks fun and relaxing.

[450knotOffice]

It has been. It seems hard to believe we got here last Saturday and have to leave tomorrow afternoon. Our flight on the Cessna Caravan from Dangriga to Belize City leaves at 2:20 PM (btw, we're only one hour ahead of Pacific time), then we take a 4:00 PM flight to DFW and connect to ONT, arriving at something like 10:20 PM. It'll be a long day tomorrow.

(I won't miss the mosquitos and no-see-ums though. We've got them under control now, but I'm sick of wearing "OFF" all the time. You should see us. Yesterday I counted over 50 bites on my right foot and lower leg up to my knee. I'm guessing that I have around 150 bites on my body.)

[David]

The bites we got this year were the worst of our two trips and the worst of our friend's four trips

We spent some time in the rainforrest last year and went to the ruins. I agree it's something you must see!

Our guide said there are so many Mayan sites in Belize that the government just asks that you report them. He said his house is built on one because they make a good foundation. During the house construction, they found jade jewelry which he registered with the govt, but he keeps. He said he takes them when he gives presentations.

But once you've seen them and the other sites in the rain forrest, I think it's nice to just stay by the water

[450knotOffice]

It's Saturday. My wife and I got up a little later than usual - 7:15 AM - and started getting ready to leave. Today is our last day of this trip. It's about 11:15 right now and I've relaxed by the pool while reading a book called Cars at Speed, written in 1960 by Robert Daley (I can't put it down), and taken a dive off the end of the small pier for a swim in the 88 degree ocean.

I'll pack up the rest of my stuff in a little bit, we'll have lunch, and then we'll be on our way to Dangriga at 1:00 to begin our journey back home. We should be in our house by midnight tonight.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by 450knotOffice

Today we went out into the jungle of Belize in the mountains, which are about 10 miles inland. The group (six of us) hiked through the always amazing jungle and stopped frequently to look at and learn a little about some of the plants and animals in there.



The preserve is also home to about 60 to 80 Jaguars (in fact, they are the reason for the preserve), but they are mostly nocturnal creatures, so we didn't sight any.

I was in Belize 20 yrs ago for the last of the legal spearfishing. Ambergris had only sand streets then.

anyway if you're interested in Belize's jaguars read


http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Jaguar/Alan-Rabinowitz/e/9781559638029

Jaguar: One Man's Struggle to Establish the World's First Jaguar Preserve by Alan Rabinowitz


the site says published in 2000 but I read the hard cover way before that. Get the softcover. The author is a NYC native who became over-involved in Belize and jaguars, then eventually wound up back in the city.. what a trip.

[RoninLB]

worth the read

[450knotOffice]

Stuck in DFW!! Weather that came through here this afternoon caused many of us to miss our flights. So here we are in a Red Roof Inn at the airport.

Tomorrow.