"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightening bug." -Mark Twain-
Kate and Bren found a great little hotel that no one knows about because the name is Juma Ocag, which does not mean anything in Spanish or any Mayan language. It is an acronym for the first letter in peoples names. It is right across the street from a giant market, a bakery, and a pet shop. Kate and Bren have been enjoying their time in the old colonial town of Antigua. The buildings are typically no more than two stories and very colorful. The town is surrounded by volcanoes, some of which are active.
Kate and Bren started language school on Sunday. They have class from 8-noon for five days before they graduate. The school offers random free activities in the afternoon. Bren and Kate signed up for a hike. They started the hike walking across town, through the market, then got on a chicken bus. This is about the time when the would be hikers started to wonder where they were actually going. However, their adventurous spirits kept them on the bus. The bus drove to a nearby town, San Juan del Obispo. The bus stopped and everyone got off including the "hikers". They walked around the corner and into a museum/convent. A nun gave a quick tour describing some photos but never getting close to using 1000 words. Bren was super excited because everything was in Spanish. They saw a picture of a great view of Antigua and the volcanoes then took two steps to the left and saw the same view out the window. Everyone was confused, but thankfully the nun told the tour the picture was taken from that exact location. Then Kate and Bren were led outside to look at the same view not obstucted by glass. The tour guide was telling everyone about snake skins and leather working meanwhile the bus left. Which gave everyone that had not had a chance to take in the view or photograph it for themselves time to do so.
Kate and Bren discovered a great little bagel place near central park which plays free movies on a nightly basis. They saw a documentary about the civil war in Guatemala, which ended in 1975. Last night after their hike they had two great cups of hot chocolate and watched a Hollywood movie in English. Hot chocolate? That is correct, it is freezing here at night says the over exaggerating Kate. However, they have been putting on a few more layers in the evenings since moving into the highlands.
Bren and Kate also eat food typically three times a day.
Kate and Bren decided to attempt another after school activity. This time they started walking not towards the market and bus station but out of town towards a hill with a view. A great view of the town and another volcanoe. Kate and Bren were sad because at this viewpoint there were no photographs of the view. They only had that real thing to enjoy. Since attending school life has slowed down for the adventurers so this brief hike was a welcomed bit of excercise.
The food eaters also have experimented with different sources of food including but not limited to restaurants, markets, bakeries, random street vendors, and ice cream shops. One of their favorites is the "Travel Menu", the food is more exciting that the name would lead you to believe. Their favorite is the giant plate of guacamole, chips, and salsa all for $2.50 US. Last night Bren and Kate consumed an estimated four avacados while playing board games supplied by the restaurant. The music was in English and awesome. If one is lucky they can even catch some good old American football.
peace out,
BK
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Guatever...
"There is no solution because there is no problem" -Marcel Duchamp-
Kate and Bren enjoyed their relaxing time in the quaint island town of Flores. They went swimming off the dock, caught a boat across the lake to a look out, and played Farkel with their new Canadian friends, Mason and Brit. Bren and Kate also went to a nearby national park to do some zip lining. There was also a nature walk with sky bridges at the same park. So why not? They started off into the jungle crossing a couple low sky bridges to get the feel for it. As they started to hike up the steep trail Kate started going crazy. Mentally, she was all there but somehow she managed to make angry a swarm of black flying insects. The bugs started biting her all over, their favorite thing to do was get stuck in her hair. Kate began to flail all her extremities and rip off her clothes. Bren decided it was a good idea to leave the area so he instructed Kate to continue fighting the bugs as she ran up the trail. Bren was gracious enough to hold her daypack as she fought the beasts. After the battle, all seemed to be safe but for the rest of the hike any hint of a flying insect sent shivers down their spines. Kate found some deceased insects that night in her hair as she showered.
Kate and Bren decided to leave Flores in style so they spent the extra money ($5 more each) not to ride a chicken bus out of town. They were headed half way down the country and decided that they would like their own seats for the nine hour bus ride. They arrived in the dark at Lanquin. Thankfully the Zephyr hostel had room since they have not been making reservations anywhere they go. However, they did have to sleep in the noisy, smokey loft above the bar. There were no doors and three other beds in the loft. The first night a cat decided to eat a hole in Kates bag in order to get to some tortiallas.
They woke up bright and early on Thanksgiving day. Kate and Bren had made plans to go on a tour of some caves and natural pools. They hopped in the back of a truck with four other guys from all over the world and rode along the winding mountain road picking up locals along the way, standing the entire time. When they arrived at their destination everyone stripped down to their bathing suits and prepared for the rope swing into the river. It was not just a rope that you swing on, it was a literal swing that one would sit on then awkwardly try to jump off when the guide yelled jump. Next it was into the cave. The guide insisted that no one should wear shoes. Even though the rocks are sharp, you have to swim and climb, and you can not see. But not knowing those things everyone on the tour remained barefoot. A short hike brought them all to the mouth of the cave. Thankfully Kate and Bren were on a guided tour which provided the latest technology and safety gear. They were given one candle each. Then they waded into the cave, obviously there was a river flowing through the cave because that is how they are formed. The crazy tour then lead them deeper into the cave. They reached a pool of water that needed to be crossed. The guide told everyone there were rocks so be careful when swimming. Holding their candles above their heads, trying not to use their feet for fear of sharp rocks, they doggy paddled with one arm. Kate and Bren climbed a few ladders and swam through a few more pools before they reached an underground waterfall. Now these Guatemalans know how much white people love stupid dangerous adventures because there was a rope leading up the waterfall. It was an optional climb but Kate and Bren did it anyway. Not thinking about the water pounding down into your face, or the wet rope, and definetly not considering they were in a dark cave with sharp slippery rocks at least (hopefully) four hours from a hospital. Everyone managed to scramble up the waterfall, only a few scrapes and bruises along the way. Deeper into the cave the guide showed them a "deep" pool and a cliff to jump off into it. Bren was foolish enough to attempt. He survived. That was the farthest into the cave the tour lead, so they turned around to make their way out. Swimming through the pools, down the waterfall, all while trying to keep at least one candle lit (so the others could be relit). On their way back through the cave there was a crack big enough for a person in the rocks. Water was flowing through the hole so no one could see, anything on the other side of the crack. With a few words of instructions our guide slipped through the crack leaving everyone hoping that they would make it through as well. Everyone made it, as all the people on the tour huddled together waiting for who knows what they began discussing how this tour would not be legal very many places in the world. Then when their guide came back they continued out of the cave. The sunlight never felt so nice.
Even though the adventures Kate and Bren had endured so far would have been worthy of the $25 it cost for the tour, it was not over. Next the guide led us to a bridge to jump off. Bren jumped off along with some of the other boys. They had a quick lunch then hiked up a very steep trail to a lookout above Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is a national park located in the mountains. The hightlight of the national park is at the bottom of a valley where the river runs partially through a tunnel and partially through a series of pools and waterfalls. Arguably the most beautiful place seen so far by Kate and Bren. The guide led us to the big waterfall at the site, which of course we were going to jump off of. The guide claimed it was 20 meters high, but Bren as well as many of the others thought it was more like 14 meters or 45 feet. Whatever the height, all of the boys threw their bodies off. Surprisingly everyone survived yet again. Kate was kind enough not to jump off in order to take photos of all the guys, and preserve her life. You are welcome mom. The guide still had some aces up his sleeve. Everyone jumped off (yes even Kate) a smaller safer cliff. There was a natural waterslide which the guide safely pushed eveyone down. The guide then led us to the last thing on the tour, a rock wall. It was not very inpressive, but the guide instructed everyone to tilt their faces up so they could swim under the rocks where there was a space just big enough for your face, and the vital thing called air. Snaking our way through, while keeping their heads above water, until the guide said take a breath and swim for a little bit until you get out. Hmm that is descriptive. Hopefully his estimate of the time it takes to get above water is better than the estimate of the waterfall height. But yet again everyone trusted the guide and swam safely to saftey. Job well done. Everyone felt a little closer after all the near death experiences of the day. There were many crazy sketchy events that took place that day which everyone escaped without serious injury. However in the morning while Bren was walking to the rope swing he stepped on a sharp rock which punctured his foot. It was pretty deep and bleeding quite a bit, so with his medical knowledge he put on a sock and went ahead with the rest of the day. Kate was kind enough once they returned to the hostel to rinse out a few sand particles. It is still healing but does not seem to be infected.
Nine hour bus ride to Antigua...and here they are.
cheers,
B and K
Kate and Bren enjoyed their relaxing time in the quaint island town of Flores. They went swimming off the dock, caught a boat across the lake to a look out, and played Farkel with their new Canadian friends, Mason and Brit. Bren and Kate also went to a nearby national park to do some zip lining. There was also a nature walk with sky bridges at the same park. So why not? They started off into the jungle crossing a couple low sky bridges to get the feel for it. As they started to hike up the steep trail Kate started going crazy. Mentally, she was all there but somehow she managed to make angry a swarm of black flying insects. The bugs started biting her all over, their favorite thing to do was get stuck in her hair. Kate began to flail all her extremities and rip off her clothes. Bren decided it was a good idea to leave the area so he instructed Kate to continue fighting the bugs as she ran up the trail. Bren was gracious enough to hold her daypack as she fought the beasts. After the battle, all seemed to be safe but for the rest of the hike any hint of a flying insect sent shivers down their spines. Kate found some deceased insects that night in her hair as she showered.
Kate and Bren decided to leave Flores in style so they spent the extra money ($5 more each) not to ride a chicken bus out of town. They were headed half way down the country and decided that they would like their own seats for the nine hour bus ride. They arrived in the dark at Lanquin. Thankfully the Zephyr hostel had room since they have not been making reservations anywhere they go. However, they did have to sleep in the noisy, smokey loft above the bar. There were no doors and three other beds in the loft. The first night a cat decided to eat a hole in Kates bag in order to get to some tortiallas.
They woke up bright and early on Thanksgiving day. Kate and Bren had made plans to go on a tour of some caves and natural pools. They hopped in the back of a truck with four other guys from all over the world and rode along the winding mountain road picking up locals along the way, standing the entire time. When they arrived at their destination everyone stripped down to their bathing suits and prepared for the rope swing into the river. It was not just a rope that you swing on, it was a literal swing that one would sit on then awkwardly try to jump off when the guide yelled jump. Next it was into the cave. The guide insisted that no one should wear shoes. Even though the rocks are sharp, you have to swim and climb, and you can not see. But not knowing those things everyone on the tour remained barefoot. A short hike brought them all to the mouth of the cave. Thankfully Kate and Bren were on a guided tour which provided the latest technology and safety gear. They were given one candle each. Then they waded into the cave, obviously there was a river flowing through the cave because that is how they are formed. The crazy tour then lead them deeper into the cave. They reached a pool of water that needed to be crossed. The guide told everyone there were rocks so be careful when swimming. Holding their candles above their heads, trying not to use their feet for fear of sharp rocks, they doggy paddled with one arm. Kate and Bren climbed a few ladders and swam through a few more pools before they reached an underground waterfall. Now these Guatemalans know how much white people love stupid dangerous adventures because there was a rope leading up the waterfall. It was an optional climb but Kate and Bren did it anyway. Not thinking about the water pounding down into your face, or the wet rope, and definetly not considering they were in a dark cave with sharp slippery rocks at least (hopefully) four hours from a hospital. Everyone managed to scramble up the waterfall, only a few scrapes and bruises along the way. Deeper into the cave the guide showed them a "deep" pool and a cliff to jump off into it. Bren was foolish enough to attempt. He survived. That was the farthest into the cave the tour lead, so they turned around to make their way out. Swimming through the pools, down the waterfall, all while trying to keep at least one candle lit (so the others could be relit). On their way back through the cave there was a crack big enough for a person in the rocks. Water was flowing through the hole so no one could see, anything on the other side of the crack. With a few words of instructions our guide slipped through the crack leaving everyone hoping that they would make it through as well. Everyone made it, as all the people on the tour huddled together waiting for who knows what they began discussing how this tour would not be legal very many places in the world. Then when their guide came back they continued out of the cave. The sunlight never felt so nice.
Even though the adventures Kate and Bren had endured so far would have been worthy of the $25 it cost for the tour, it was not over. Next the guide led us to a bridge to jump off. Bren jumped off along with some of the other boys. They had a quick lunch then hiked up a very steep trail to a lookout above Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is a national park located in the mountains. The hightlight of the national park is at the bottom of a valley where the river runs partially through a tunnel and partially through a series of pools and waterfalls. Arguably the most beautiful place seen so far by Kate and Bren. The guide led us to the big waterfall at the site, which of course we were going to jump off of. The guide claimed it was 20 meters high, but Bren as well as many of the others thought it was more like 14 meters or 45 feet. Whatever the height, all of the boys threw their bodies off. Surprisingly everyone survived yet again. Kate was kind enough not to jump off in order to take photos of all the guys, and preserve her life. You are welcome mom. The guide still had some aces up his sleeve. Everyone jumped off (yes even Kate) a smaller safer cliff. There was a natural waterslide which the guide safely pushed eveyone down. The guide then led us to the last thing on the tour, a rock wall. It was not very inpressive, but the guide instructed everyone to tilt their faces up so they could swim under the rocks where there was a space just big enough for your face, and the vital thing called air. Snaking our way through, while keeping their heads above water, until the guide said take a breath and swim for a little bit until you get out. Hmm that is descriptive. Hopefully his estimate of the time it takes to get above water is better than the estimate of the waterfall height. But yet again everyone trusted the guide and swam safely to saftey. Job well done. Everyone felt a little closer after all the near death experiences of the day. There were many crazy sketchy events that took place that day which everyone escaped without serious injury. However in the morning while Bren was walking to the rope swing he stepped on a sharp rock which punctured his foot. It was pretty deep and bleeding quite a bit, so with his medical knowledge he put on a sock and went ahead with the rest of the day. Kate was kind enough once they returned to the hostel to rinse out a few sand particles. It is still healing but does not seem to be infected.
Nine hour bus ride to Antigua...and here they are.
cheers,
B and K
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Fleeing the Country
"some people walk in the rain; others just get wet" -unknown-
Kate and Bren woke up on their last day in Belize and went to the farmers market. It was a banana morning, they had banana chocolate chip muffins, banana bread, banana chips, and just straight bananas. They also enjoyed a fresh banana free breakfast burrito. They packed their bags and hopped in a taxi that took them to the border.
They paid the exit fee, exchanged money, dodged fake entry fees, and avoided expensive taxies. Bren and Kate squished inside a minibus for their first (but not last) time en route to El Ramete. However they had to get dropped of on the side of the road at a junction two miles from their destination. Luckily a taxi pulled up as they exited the minibus.
These young adults had a plan to see Tikal from El Remate but what they did not plan for was the lack of an ATM in the town. After booking their trip to Tikal and two nights at the hostel they counted their money and realized they may have enough but they would not be able to eat for two days. Could they survive on four granola bars and a half bottle of fermented honey? The strong and capable adventurers decided they could easily do this but thought it would be awful. So they canceled their trip and the second night in the hostel and cried a little. They thought they would take a break from all that thinking and heartbreak and relax in the hammocks with their books. Three minutes later...LIGHTBULB! They realized it was only one in the afternoon and they could easily catch a minibus to Santa Elena. They took out some Quetzales and hit up the Maxi Bodega (grocery store) for some snacks and a bottle of new honey. Bren and Kate waited at the bus stop never expecting what came next. The minibus pulled up after a long wait, it seemed full, very full. They stood at the door looking in and started thinking they would have to wait again. But after a little bit of rearranging the bus boy said, "come on in". Kate found a spot wedged under a seat with a little kid kicking her in the back. Bren was a little more fortunate, he stood hunched over on one leg by the door leaning on one arm trying not to fall on the old lady in front of him. They looked around and counted a total of 30 people and their luggage/groceries/birthday presents/piñatas in the minibus, which was probably a little smaller than a 15 passenger van. Upon their return they rebooked their room and trip.
5:00 am cockadoodle doo, cockadoodle DOO!
5:15 am Beep beep, beep, beep beep.
5:30 am The minibus arrives (with no other passengers)
6:30 am arrive at Tikal
6:32 am The driver informs Kate and Bren that they only have until 2 pm to be back in the minibus
6:36 am Kate and Bren are the first people (FACT!) to enter the park
After attempting to interpret two not to scale maps Kate and Bren set off to the Grand Plaza. It was a misty morning and as they approached the plaza two giant temples protruded from the fog. Dissapointed that they could not climb the temples they scurried up another large structure to eat breakfast and enjoy the magnificent view. After eating tortillas, honey, and minibananas they found a scary, steep, not trustworthy staircase leading to the top of one of the "unclimbable" temples. So of course they climbed it. Then they picked an arbitrary second destination and started walking along a trail to find Temple V. The trails were marked in minutes but Bren and Kate made record time everywhere they went in an attempt to see everything at the site of Tikal. They thought it was going to be easy to see everything in seven hours (based off of the other Mayan ruins they visited) they even brought books. WRONG! big mistake. This park was huge, they power walked for 6 hours covering between 15-18 miles only missing a few small structures. Temple V was a massive and more a impressive temple when compared to the Grand Plaza according to the expert opinions of Kate and Bren. Moving on past many other ruins and wild turkeys, (Happy Thanksgiving) they arrived at Temple IV, the tallest temple in Meso America. It stretched to a towering 70 meters (229.658793 feet, for all you North Americans) and provided a panoramic view of the entire site of Tikal. They were able to see many temples poking out above the canopy of the jungle. Kate and Bren took all the small trails that tours did not lead down to try and satisfy the initiative No Temple Left Behind. Blah blah blah, temples, bats, monkeys, lunch, gatorade, temples, doritos, Mayan ruins, stairs, white nosed coatis, sweat, look out point, no look out point, grey fox, and revisit some favorite temples. Tikal done. Bren and Kate were both thankful not to have been on a slow and boring four hour tour.
1:55 pm get on the minibus
Off to Flores,
Bren and Kate
Kate and Bren woke up on their last day in Belize and went to the farmers market. It was a banana morning, they had banana chocolate chip muffins, banana bread, banana chips, and just straight bananas. They also enjoyed a fresh banana free breakfast burrito. They packed their bags and hopped in a taxi that took them to the border.
They paid the exit fee, exchanged money, dodged fake entry fees, and avoided expensive taxies. Bren and Kate squished inside a minibus for their first (but not last) time en route to El Ramete. However they had to get dropped of on the side of the road at a junction two miles from their destination. Luckily a taxi pulled up as they exited the minibus.
These young adults had a plan to see Tikal from El Remate but what they did not plan for was the lack of an ATM in the town. After booking their trip to Tikal and two nights at the hostel they counted their money and realized they may have enough but they would not be able to eat for two days. Could they survive on four granola bars and a half bottle of fermented honey? The strong and capable adventurers decided they could easily do this but thought it would be awful. So they canceled their trip and the second night in the hostel and cried a little. They thought they would take a break from all that thinking and heartbreak and relax in the hammocks with their books. Three minutes later...LIGHTBULB! They realized it was only one in the afternoon and they could easily catch a minibus to Santa Elena. They took out some Quetzales and hit up the Maxi Bodega (grocery store) for some snacks and a bottle of new honey. Bren and Kate waited at the bus stop never expecting what came next. The minibus pulled up after a long wait, it seemed full, very full. They stood at the door looking in and started thinking they would have to wait again. But after a little bit of rearranging the bus boy said, "come on in". Kate found a spot wedged under a seat with a little kid kicking her in the back. Bren was a little more fortunate, he stood hunched over on one leg by the door leaning on one arm trying not to fall on the old lady in front of him. They looked around and counted a total of 30 people and their luggage/groceries/birthday presents/piñatas in the minibus, which was probably a little smaller than a 15 passenger van. Upon their return they rebooked their room and trip.
5:00 am cockadoodle doo, cockadoodle DOO!
5:15 am Beep beep, beep, beep beep.
5:30 am The minibus arrives (with no other passengers)
6:30 am arrive at Tikal
6:32 am The driver informs Kate and Bren that they only have until 2 pm to be back in the minibus
6:36 am Kate and Bren are the first people (FACT!) to enter the park
After attempting to interpret two not to scale maps Kate and Bren set off to the Grand Plaza. It was a misty morning and as they approached the plaza two giant temples protruded from the fog. Dissapointed that they could not climb the temples they scurried up another large structure to eat breakfast and enjoy the magnificent view. After eating tortillas, honey, and minibananas they found a scary, steep, not trustworthy staircase leading to the top of one of the "unclimbable" temples. So of course they climbed it. Then they picked an arbitrary second destination and started walking along a trail to find Temple V. The trails were marked in minutes but Bren and Kate made record time everywhere they went in an attempt to see everything at the site of Tikal. They thought it was going to be easy to see everything in seven hours (based off of the other Mayan ruins they visited) they even brought books. WRONG! big mistake. This park was huge, they power walked for 6 hours covering between 15-18 miles only missing a few small structures. Temple V was a massive and more a impressive temple when compared to the Grand Plaza according to the expert opinions of Kate and Bren. Moving on past many other ruins and wild turkeys, (Happy Thanksgiving) they arrived at Temple IV, the tallest temple in Meso America. It stretched to a towering 70 meters (229.658793 feet, for all you North Americans) and provided a panoramic view of the entire site of Tikal. They were able to see many temples poking out above the canopy of the jungle. Kate and Bren took all the small trails that tours did not lead down to try and satisfy the initiative No Temple Left Behind. Blah blah blah, temples, bats, monkeys, lunch, gatorade, temples, doritos, Mayan ruins, stairs, white nosed coatis, sweat, look out point, no look out point, grey fox, and revisit some favorite temples. Tikal done. Bren and Kate were both thankful not to have been on a slow and boring four hour tour.
1:55 pm get on the minibus
Off to Flores,
Bren and Kate
Friday, November 18, 2011
highs and lows: that is above and below ground
"I got lost in the night, and when the night surrounded me I was born again. I was the owner of the darkness"
-Pablo Neruda-
KJK and BMB (Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley) decided they wanted to see a Mayan ruin which was more impressive that Cahal Pech but would not trump Caracol, so they 'settled' for Xunantunich (shoo-nahn-too-neech). Located just a short bus ride, a hand cranked ferry, and a one mile walk away from San Ignacio. They spotted an American couple on the bus from St. Louis but did not feel comfortable enough to say hello until after the ferry ride, the long walk, and meeting them again on top of a temple. Then Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley felt that it was so awkward they must talk to them. Eric and Debbie turned out to be very nice and helped Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley choose a tour company for their next trips. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley also shared some information about Hopkins and the Cockscomb area. While conversing with the 'mericans Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley enjoyed a 360 degree view of the surrounding area as well as their first glimpses of Guatemala.
On a side note, Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley will be leaving Belize soon so they wanted to share with you some of the delicacies they have encountered.
1. wagon wheels: probably not very good for you puffed snacks that Bren Maxey Byerley may even consider getting again. *Better with Marie Sharps hot sauce*
2. Belizian foam wrapped pears: look like pears, feel like pears, taste like super bad. Sour bitter aftertaste leaves you not wanting more.
3. the mysterious red apple pear thing: soft and easy to bite into but it leaves a super gritty feeling on your teeth similar to fluoride at the dentist.
4. tamarindo candies: pure sugar balls made from the fruit of a tamarind. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley could not even get close to finishing that sweet treat. calling those candy or a treat is pretty generous
5. Banana chips: sliced, fried and salted. These crunchy chips made from bananas are one of Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley's favorite local snacks *the locals drown them with ketchup*
6. empanades, empanadas, or panadas: fried bread stuffed with chicken/fish and topped with onions and hot sauce. The various spellings throughout the country tricked Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley to thinking they were trying something new. nope.
Everyone told Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley to go to the ATM, thankfully they were not being robbed at knife point but rather being informed about one of the gems of Belize. Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), means the cave of the stone sepulcher in Mayan. This tour started off with a drive down a bumpy road for only half an hour before we arrived at a parking lot. YES! Then Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley hiked for 45 minutes wading through the raging river three times before they reached the mouth of the cave. They put on safety gear, helmets and headlamps, then followed their guide as he jumped into the river and swam into the darkness. Once they were inside they followed the twists and turns of the caves, jumping on rocks, wading, and sometimes swimming. Occasionally squeezing their bodies through small crevices in the rocks until they reached some larger dry chambers which they had to climb up into. The Cathedral Chamber was the first and largest chamber these brave spelunkers arrived in. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley began to see evidence of the ancient Mayan Elites who held sacred ceremonies and sacrifices in this cave. There were ceramics of many different sizes and shapes calcified into the ground which most likely held food offerings or collected holy water which dripped of the stalagmites or stalactites. The stalactites are thought to be the roots of the sacred Ceiba tree. As they continued walking around and taking in the views of different formations in the underworld they also began to find human remains, one of which was an almost complete skeleton of a 'princess'. There is evidence that all the human remains are from sacrifice. Then Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley left the cave.
Who doesn't love waking up in the morning and riding in the back of a 15 passenger van for three hours on the most bumpy road known to man (FACT!)? Probably some people don't, like Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley but they did it anyways and it was worth it. The bumpy road led them to Caracol the most impressive Mayan ruin in Belize (FACT!). Caracol is or used to be a very large city, possible containing 150,000 people. It contains the tallest building in Belize called Caana which means sky place (FACT!). Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley summited this giant 141 foot temple. At the top of Caana Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley discovered a plaza, sleeping quarters, tombs, and maybe even some sacrificial altars. This was unlike all the other ruins they have visited which do not have living quarters on top. As Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley further explored the site of Caracol they came across several other large structures one of which was called the Temple of the Wooden Lintel. This structure was built so that the rising of the sun would be in a certain position, during the solstices and the equanox, when looking at the temple from the top of the temple across the plaza (FACT!). On the long awful drive back to San Ignacio the tour stopped at the Rio on Pools, which was a small series of waterfalls and connecting pools. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley were the only people out of the tour group 'brave' enough to go for a refreshing dip.
We miss you,
Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley
-Pablo Neruda-
KJK and BMB (Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley) decided they wanted to see a Mayan ruin which was more impressive that Cahal Pech but would not trump Caracol, so they 'settled' for Xunantunich (shoo-nahn-too-neech). Located just a short bus ride, a hand cranked ferry, and a one mile walk away from San Ignacio. They spotted an American couple on the bus from St. Louis but did not feel comfortable enough to say hello until after the ferry ride, the long walk, and meeting them again on top of a temple. Then Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley felt that it was so awkward they must talk to them. Eric and Debbie turned out to be very nice and helped Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley choose a tour company for their next trips. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley also shared some information about Hopkins and the Cockscomb area. While conversing with the 'mericans Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley enjoyed a 360 degree view of the surrounding area as well as their first glimpses of Guatemala.
On a side note, Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley will be leaving Belize soon so they wanted to share with you some of the delicacies they have encountered.
1. wagon wheels: probably not very good for you puffed snacks that Bren Maxey Byerley may even consider getting again. *Better with Marie Sharps hot sauce*
2. Belizian foam wrapped pears: look like pears, feel like pears, taste like super bad. Sour bitter aftertaste leaves you not wanting more.
3. the mysterious red apple pear thing: soft and easy to bite into but it leaves a super gritty feeling on your teeth similar to fluoride at the dentist.
4. tamarindo candies: pure sugar balls made from the fruit of a tamarind. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley could not even get close to finishing that sweet treat. calling those candy or a treat is pretty generous
5. Banana chips: sliced, fried and salted. These crunchy chips made from bananas are one of Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley's favorite local snacks *the locals drown them with ketchup*
6. empanades, empanadas, or panadas: fried bread stuffed with chicken/fish and topped with onions and hot sauce. The various spellings throughout the country tricked Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley to thinking they were trying something new. nope.
Everyone told Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley to go to the ATM, thankfully they were not being robbed at knife point but rather being informed about one of the gems of Belize. Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), means the cave of the stone sepulcher in Mayan. This tour started off with a drive down a bumpy road for only half an hour before we arrived at a parking lot. YES! Then Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley hiked for 45 minutes wading through the raging river three times before they reached the mouth of the cave. They put on safety gear, helmets and headlamps, then followed their guide as he jumped into the river and swam into the darkness. Once they were inside they followed the twists and turns of the caves, jumping on rocks, wading, and sometimes swimming. Occasionally squeezing their bodies through small crevices in the rocks until they reached some larger dry chambers which they had to climb up into. The Cathedral Chamber was the first and largest chamber these brave spelunkers arrived in. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley began to see evidence of the ancient Mayan Elites who held sacred ceremonies and sacrifices in this cave. There were ceramics of many different sizes and shapes calcified into the ground which most likely held food offerings or collected holy water which dripped of the stalagmites or stalactites. The stalactites are thought to be the roots of the sacred Ceiba tree. As they continued walking around and taking in the views of different formations in the underworld they also began to find human remains, one of which was an almost complete skeleton of a 'princess'. There is evidence that all the human remains are from sacrifice. Then Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley left the cave.
Who doesn't love waking up in the morning and riding in the back of a 15 passenger van for three hours on the most bumpy road known to man (FACT!)? Probably some people don't, like Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley but they did it anyways and it was worth it. The bumpy road led them to Caracol the most impressive Mayan ruin in Belize (FACT!). Caracol is or used to be a very large city, possible containing 150,000 people. It contains the tallest building in Belize called Caana which means sky place (FACT!). Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley summited this giant 141 foot temple. At the top of Caana Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley discovered a plaza, sleeping quarters, tombs, and maybe even some sacrificial altars. This was unlike all the other ruins they have visited which do not have living quarters on top. As Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley further explored the site of Caracol they came across several other large structures one of which was called the Temple of the Wooden Lintel. This structure was built so that the rising of the sun would be in a certain position, during the solstices and the equanox, when looking at the temple from the top of the temple across the plaza (FACT!). On the long awful drive back to San Ignacio the tour stopped at the Rio on Pools, which was a small series of waterfalls and connecting pools. Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley were the only people out of the tour group 'brave' enough to go for a refreshing dip.
We miss you,
Kate Jaclyn Keyes and Bren Maxey Byerley
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Away from the sea
"The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." -Swedish Proverb-
Bren and Kate stayed another night at the crazy hippie house. Trish made them a wonderful dinner with salad, Thai noodles, and skate (similar to sting ray). This was Bren and Kate's first experience with skate. The last thing to mention about the Kismet Inn was the outdoor shower. The cool water came flowing out of a conch shell, NEAT!
Then the two travelers were off to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary with the high hopes of seeing a jaguar in the wild. No such luck but on the plus side they were not eaten by wild jaguars. CBWS is in the rainforest. There are a few buildings to stay in surrounded by trails. Upon arrival, they hiked up Ben's Bluff viewpoint where (if not cloudy) one can see Victoria's Peak, the second highest mountain in Belize. On the way back down they visited a waterfall and stopped for long enough to enjoy a swim. They went to bed early because they had plans to wake up at six to go on a morning hike.
The antelope trail was a pleasant 7 km morning stroll through the woods. They managed to see a rabbit squirrel thing and some birds. After refueling the brave children (Bren and Kate) put on their swimmers and rented some tubes with the hopes of floating down a river. They succeeded. They slowly drifted down the jungle river singing the 'bare necessities' and taking in the view. Then after more refueling on ramen noodles they set their sights on the gem of the afternoon, the double falls. A fairly challenging hike up the Tiger Fern trail led them to some quality swimming in the pools below the falls. Bren jumped from one of the falls making the adventure complete. Then they took some time to meditate perched on some giant boulders between the two waterfalls. It was off to bed early again for another early start the next day.
5:30 am came quickly and Bren and Kate got up in the dark, ate breakfast and put on their packs for the 7 mile hike out of CBWS back to the bus stop along the highway. They decided this hike was necessary because of the $20.00 cab fare to get out of the park was too costly! Upon reaching the highway they caught the first of three buses that would eventually take them inland to San Ignacio. The bus rides were long and packed but and they survived a little bit of vomit and managed to keep their large packs on their laps despite the bus boys who really wanted to place them in the back with the rest of the luggage.
Bren and Kate stepped off the last bus at about 12:30 and found their next temporary home at Bella's Backpackers Hostel where they settled in for the evening and just relaxed from the long travel day. The next day they wandered up to the second Mayan ruin of this trip, Cahal Pech. More impressive than Santa Rita in the North, this ruin had multiple buildings and plazas to explore and a visitors center that gave a brief overview of this site's history. Cool.
Regards,
Bren and Kate
Bren and Kate stayed another night at the crazy hippie house. Trish made them a wonderful dinner with salad, Thai noodles, and skate (similar to sting ray). This was Bren and Kate's first experience with skate. The last thing to mention about the Kismet Inn was the outdoor shower. The cool water came flowing out of a conch shell, NEAT!
Then the two travelers were off to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary with the high hopes of seeing a jaguar in the wild. No such luck but on the plus side they were not eaten by wild jaguars. CBWS is in the rainforest. There are a few buildings to stay in surrounded by trails. Upon arrival, they hiked up Ben's Bluff viewpoint where (if not cloudy) one can see Victoria's Peak, the second highest mountain in Belize. On the way back down they visited a waterfall and stopped for long enough to enjoy a swim. They went to bed early because they had plans to wake up at six to go on a morning hike.
The antelope trail was a pleasant 7 km morning stroll through the woods. They managed to see a rabbit squirrel thing and some birds. After refueling the brave children (Bren and Kate) put on their swimmers and rented some tubes with the hopes of floating down a river. They succeeded. They slowly drifted down the jungle river singing the 'bare necessities' and taking in the view. Then after more refueling on ramen noodles they set their sights on the gem of the afternoon, the double falls. A fairly challenging hike up the Tiger Fern trail led them to some quality swimming in the pools below the falls. Bren jumped from one of the falls making the adventure complete. Then they took some time to meditate perched on some giant boulders between the two waterfalls. It was off to bed early again for another early start the next day.
5:30 am came quickly and Bren and Kate got up in the dark, ate breakfast and put on their packs for the 7 mile hike out of CBWS back to the bus stop along the highway. They decided this hike was necessary because of the $20.00 cab fare to get out of the park was too costly! Upon reaching the highway they caught the first of three buses that would eventually take them inland to San Ignacio. The bus rides were long and packed but and they survived a little bit of vomit and managed to keep their large packs on their laps despite the bus boys who really wanted to place them in the back with the rest of the luggage.
Bren and Kate stepped off the last bus at about 12:30 and found their next temporary home at Bella's Backpackers Hostel where they settled in for the evening and just relaxed from the long travel day. The next day they wandered up to the second Mayan ruin of this trip, Cahal Pech. More impressive than Santa Rita in the North, this ruin had multiple buildings and plazas to explore and a visitors center that gave a brief overview of this site's history. Cool.
Regards,
Bren and Kate
Friday, November 11, 2011
A hop, skip and a jump
"If you have any notion of where you are going, you will never get anywhere." - John Miro
We woke up in Corozal Town at 8:30 ready to get out and see what the town had to offer. First we got some breakfast at the local market. Bananas, oranges, and chicken taquitos. YUM! Then off to our first Mayan Ruin of the trip, Santa Rita. It was small but old. We were looking for a way to make our own meals so we went to a tortilla factory. It was a small little building which badly needed air conditioning. We bought two pounds of tortillas and went on our way. I scream. You scream. We all scream for ICE CREAM! Even with all the yelling we were able to enjoy our ice cream cones. Then back to the hostel to rest. We sat down in some chairs, satisfied with all we saw that day and talked about how we had pretty much done all we needed to do in Corozal Town. Bren looked at his watch and realized it was only 11:15 am. So we read and played games the rest of the day.
Needless to say, we were ready to move on the next morning, so we jumped on a bus back to Belize City only to catch another bus heading South to Dangringa a larger beach town that is home to the Garifuna Caribbean culture. We stayed one night and wandered the town for more cheap eats from side street venders. We ended up with the standard fried panades and were invited to hear some drumming later on at a bar down the street. When we went out at 9:00 the bar was closed and the streets were pretty quiet so we headed back to get some sleep and be ready for another day of travel... to Hopkins. The bus left at around 10:00 the next morning and we arrived in Hopkins around 1:00.
We stepped off the bus and followed the brightly colored signs for Kismet Inn and Eatery about 15 minutes down the road. The bright blue hostel is run by Trish, the crazy hippie lady as she calls herself and her boyfriend Elvis. This is the most eclectic and fun place we have encountered. The rooms are full of fun paintings done by Trish herself and lots of cool beachy artifacts. Trish was introducing Bren to Elvis when she called Kate 'Bren's Women'. Bren told her that they were not a couple and that he actually had a girlfriend back in Washington. Trish replied, "oh a girl in every country". Bren decided that at this point it was not worth the effort.
There are a wide variety of chickens that wander around the grounds and at least 4 dogs that call this place home as well. Bren and Kate have adopted BB King a black lab as their newest friend. He and two other pups accompanied them on their canoe journey. They rented a canoe from Trish and paddled down the ocean and then into a winding river and a maze of mangrove trees leading out to a huge crocodile and manatee filled lagoon. Although they didn't spot any manatees there were several jellyfish and lots of cool birds to be seen. An hour and a half later they and all three dogs made it back in one piece but they had worked up quite the appetite after all that paddling. Next stop, Driftwood pizzeria on the beach. They enjoyed a pineapple cheese pizza and tossed around a frisbee on the beach. Refueled and ready to go, Bren and Kate hopped on the bikes and headed back into town in search of a bakery and some other items for our next adventure.
Hasta Luego,
Bren'n'Kate
We woke up in Corozal Town at 8:30 ready to get out and see what the town had to offer. First we got some breakfast at the local market. Bananas, oranges, and chicken taquitos. YUM! Then off to our first Mayan Ruin of the trip, Santa Rita. It was small but old. We were looking for a way to make our own meals so we went to a tortilla factory. It was a small little building which badly needed air conditioning. We bought two pounds of tortillas and went on our way. I scream. You scream. We all scream for ICE CREAM! Even with all the yelling we were able to enjoy our ice cream cones. Then back to the hostel to rest. We sat down in some chairs, satisfied with all we saw that day and talked about how we had pretty much done all we needed to do in Corozal Town. Bren looked at his watch and realized it was only 11:15 am. So we read and played games the rest of the day.
Needless to say, we were ready to move on the next morning, so we jumped on a bus back to Belize City only to catch another bus heading South to Dangringa a larger beach town that is home to the Garifuna Caribbean culture. We stayed one night and wandered the town for more cheap eats from side street venders. We ended up with the standard fried panades and were invited to hear some drumming later on at a bar down the street. When we went out at 9:00 the bar was closed and the streets were pretty quiet so we headed back to get some sleep and be ready for another day of travel... to Hopkins. The bus left at around 10:00 the next morning and we arrived in Hopkins around 1:00.
We stepped off the bus and followed the brightly colored signs for Kismet Inn and Eatery about 15 minutes down the road. The bright blue hostel is run by Trish, the crazy hippie lady as she calls herself and her boyfriend Elvis. This is the most eclectic and fun place we have encountered. The rooms are full of fun paintings done by Trish herself and lots of cool beachy artifacts. Trish was introducing Bren to Elvis when she called Kate 'Bren's Women'. Bren told her that they were not a couple and that he actually had a girlfriend back in Washington. Trish replied, "oh a girl in every country". Bren decided that at this point it was not worth the effort.
There are a wide variety of chickens that wander around the grounds and at least 4 dogs that call this place home as well. Bren and Kate have adopted BB King a black lab as their newest friend. He and two other pups accompanied them on their canoe journey. They rented a canoe from Trish and paddled down the ocean and then into a winding river and a maze of mangrove trees leading out to a huge crocodile and manatee filled lagoon. Although they didn't spot any manatees there were several jellyfish and lots of cool birds to be seen. An hour and a half later they and all three dogs made it back in one piece but they had worked up quite the appetite after all that paddling. Next stop, Driftwood pizzeria on the beach. They enjoyed a pineapple cheese pizza and tossed around a frisbee on the beach. Refueled and ready to go, Bren and Kate hopped on the bikes and headed back into town in search of a bakery and some other items for our next adventure.
Hasta Luego,
Bren'n'Kate
Monday, November 7, 2011
sharks, rays, and chicken poop
"If the phone don't ring, you'll know it's me." - written on the wall of the Tex Mex diner we found on our bike adventure
Are they really playing chicken poop roulette? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
We are already 20 over capacity on this bus. Can we fit one more?? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Is it really a 12% tax at select restaurants? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT! (FU Ali Baba)
Did they really play music at 1:00am and then start again at 5:00am ... Right outside your window? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Did "the FUR" really make it all the way down here?? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Was the Blue Hole totally spectacular? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Is it hot here? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Are we having an awful time? NO! We are having fun.
Bren went on a scuba trip to the Blue Hole. It is 30 miles off the coast, 1000 ft across, 500 ft deep, surrounded by coral, and blue. He dove down, on his deepest dive of his life, to a depth of 125 ft. At about 100 ft down Bren started to see the tops of huge stalactites. Some of them were six feet across and 40 ft tall. He was able to swim in between them. He was only down at depth for eight minutes before needing to start the slow assent to the surface. On the way up Bren saw the silhouettes of two big sharks as well as the tops of several others swimming below him. Kinda eerie. He had two more dives that day but off of crescent moon island. Here he was able to enjoy more color, more fish, and less depth. He saw lion fish, turtles, lobster, and schools of thousands of fish that would part around you as you swam through them. He managed to get stung inside the mouth by a jellyfish. While Bren was off on this adventure Kate was.sleeping in! She woke up late, took a real shower and wandered around town to find a place that was still serving breakfast. She sat down at Ruby's Cafe to have a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee with a few of the locals. After chatting awhile she wandered up the beach to find a shady spot to read and journal for awhile. The sun was hot, but it was a beautiful day on the island and it was fun to visit with some of the locals. In Belize the official language is English, but most everyone also speaks Spanish as well as an interesting blend of the two. The people seem proud of their English roots, and according to the man at the ice cream shop that Kate found later that afternoon, school is conducted mostly in English here because they speak Spanish in the home. It has been easy to communicate with people, but difficult to understand them if they are just talking amongst each other! Overall it was a good day of rest for Kate and adventure for Bren!
Bren and Kate woke up the next day to go snorkeling at the Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley about a half mile off the island. We(we know sometimes we are changing between 1st and 3rd person, sorry) were picked up off of the Yacht Club dock by Serious Adventure tour company and they took us on a guided tour of the reef. First at Hol Chan there was a natural channel lined by coral reef on either side. As soon as we were in the water we were surrounded by fish. Carlos our guide pointed out everything from turtles to eagle rays. Bren dove down to swim through a natural coral tunnel only to encounter a rather large fish inside. The coral was beautiful and the wildlife was abundant! BUT, it was nothing compared to what Shark Ray Alley had to offer.
As soon as the boat pulled in to our next snorkeling destination we were surrounded by 4-6ft long nurse sharks and a multitude of sting rays. So, we jumped in! At first Kate was terrified and stayed right next to Bren and as close to the top of the water as was physically possible, but with time she gained a bit of courage and ventured out on her own. At this point Bren had discovered that if he laid on the bottom (it was about 10ft deep here) that the sting rays would swim over the top of him/right into him. Good thing Kate had the camera to capture this risky moment. Carlos our guide put food in the conch shells to attract the sharks and rays so that he could go down and grab one. Bren and Kate both touched the slimy sting ray and the rough nurse sharks, but Kate turned and got the heck out of there as fast as she could after touching them!
Kate and Bren followed their snorkeling adventure by renting bikes from the hostel and touring the south and north ends of the island. They followed the rough sand/dirt roads through the mangroves until they finally arrived at ... the Dump! Woops, they should have followed the signs and headed towards the beach. They found a nice TexMex restaurant to the south of town where they enjoyed a plate of chips and fresh guacamole... and plenty of water! As they continued North they decided to off road it and ride along the shore of the beach. Luckily you can do this because according to the locals, the Queen owns 66ft of land next to the ocean so none of the beaches can be private. This was a bonus for us as we avoided some pot holes and enjoyed an incredible view along the way.
Did they see Crazy Stupid Love at the Paradise Theatre to close out their day? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
This morning Bren and Kate took a water taxi to Belize City where they caught a bus North to Corozal Town where they will be staying for the next couple of days.
Awesome,
Kate and Bren
Are they really playing chicken poop roulette? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
We are already 20 over capacity on this bus. Can we fit one more?? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Is it really a 12% tax at select restaurants? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT! (FU Ali Baba)
Did they really play music at 1:00am and then start again at 5:00am ... Right outside your window? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Did "the FUR" really make it all the way down here?? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Was the Blue Hole totally spectacular? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Is it hot here? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
Are we having an awful time? NO! We are having fun.
Bren went on a scuba trip to the Blue Hole. It is 30 miles off the coast, 1000 ft across, 500 ft deep, surrounded by coral, and blue. He dove down, on his deepest dive of his life, to a depth of 125 ft. At about 100 ft down Bren started to see the tops of huge stalactites. Some of them were six feet across and 40 ft tall. He was able to swim in between them. He was only down at depth for eight minutes before needing to start the slow assent to the surface. On the way up Bren saw the silhouettes of two big sharks as well as the tops of several others swimming below him. Kinda eerie. He had two more dives that day but off of crescent moon island. Here he was able to enjoy more color, more fish, and less depth. He saw lion fish, turtles, lobster, and schools of thousands of fish that would part around you as you swam through them. He managed to get stung inside the mouth by a jellyfish. While Bren was off on this adventure Kate was.sleeping in! She woke up late, took a real shower and wandered around town to find a place that was still serving breakfast. She sat down at Ruby's Cafe to have a cinnamon roll and a cup of coffee with a few of the locals. After chatting awhile she wandered up the beach to find a shady spot to read and journal for awhile. The sun was hot, but it was a beautiful day on the island and it was fun to visit with some of the locals. In Belize the official language is English, but most everyone also speaks Spanish as well as an interesting blend of the two. The people seem proud of their English roots, and according to the man at the ice cream shop that Kate found later that afternoon, school is conducted mostly in English here because they speak Spanish in the home. It has been easy to communicate with people, but difficult to understand them if they are just talking amongst each other! Overall it was a good day of rest for Kate and adventure for Bren!
Bren and Kate woke up the next day to go snorkeling at the Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley about a half mile off the island. We(we know sometimes we are changing between 1st and 3rd person, sorry) were picked up off of the Yacht Club dock by Serious Adventure tour company and they took us on a guided tour of the reef. First at Hol Chan there was a natural channel lined by coral reef on either side. As soon as we were in the water we were surrounded by fish. Carlos our guide pointed out everything from turtles to eagle rays. Bren dove down to swim through a natural coral tunnel only to encounter a rather large fish inside. The coral was beautiful and the wildlife was abundant! BUT, it was nothing compared to what Shark Ray Alley had to offer.
As soon as the boat pulled in to our next snorkeling destination we were surrounded by 4-6ft long nurse sharks and a multitude of sting rays. So, we jumped in! At first Kate was terrified and stayed right next to Bren and as close to the top of the water as was physically possible, but with time she gained a bit of courage and ventured out on her own. At this point Bren had discovered that if he laid on the bottom (it was about 10ft deep here) that the sting rays would swim over the top of him/right into him. Good thing Kate had the camera to capture this risky moment. Carlos our guide put food in the conch shells to attract the sharks and rays so that he could go down and grab one. Bren and Kate both touched the slimy sting ray and the rough nurse sharks, but Kate turned and got the heck out of there as fast as she could after touching them!
Kate and Bren followed their snorkeling adventure by renting bikes from the hostel and touring the south and north ends of the island. They followed the rough sand/dirt roads through the mangroves until they finally arrived at ... the Dump! Woops, they should have followed the signs and headed towards the beach. They found a nice TexMex restaurant to the south of town where they enjoyed a plate of chips and fresh guacamole... and plenty of water! As they continued North they decided to off road it and ride along the shore of the beach. Luckily you can do this because according to the locals, the Queen owns 66ft of land next to the ocean so none of the beaches can be private. This was a bonus for us as we avoided some pot holes and enjoyed an incredible view along the way.
Did they see Crazy Stupid Love at the Paradise Theatre to close out their day? YOU BETTA BELIZE IT!
This morning Bren and Kate took a water taxi to Belize City where they caught a bus North to Corozal Town where they will be staying for the next couple of days.
Awesome,
Kate and Bren
Friday, November 4, 2011
A shout out to the Cayes Family
"And the sun and moon sometimes argue over who will tuck me in at night. If you think I am having more fun than anyone on this planet you are absolutely correct." -Hafiz-
After our over night flight to Miami we had a perfect layover; including laps around the airport, great ethnic food, and a attempted nap between benches. Then we were off to Belize. Caught a taxi then a water taxi to finally arrive in San Pedro on the Ambergris Caye.
With backpacks on the front and the back we wandered through some quaint and colorful island streets in search of Pedro's Inn. After we checked into our spacious 7x10 sq ft dorm room we explored the town. We found a little hole in the wall restaurant and tried some local grub. Then we spent the rest of the day walking up and down the beach, swimming, and playing games trying to stay awake until at least nine.
After sleeping for 13 hours we ate some brekky at Dianitas Cafe. We scarfed down some johny cakes, fry cakes, and traditional Belizian breakfast of beans and stewed chicken. Then lounging by the pool we started to plan out the rest of our stay in Belize. We came up with some stuff but you are going to have to wait and find out. But we'll stay on (a marching band of little kids just walked by the internet cafe dressed up as their favorite saints for All Saints Day) the island for a few more days then back to the mainland to head north. We rented free kayaks and took them to the beach today. We had to walk a quarter of a mile with them on our shoulders because we didn't want to pay for a golf cart taxi (the main vehicle on the island). It was well worth our two partially functioning kayaks. Well the blue one didn't go straight for very long before it spun in a circle all on its own. We thought Kate just didn't know how to kayak so Bren took over Old Bluey and sure enough it spun in circles.
Cool,
Kate and Bren
After our over night flight to Miami we had a perfect layover; including laps around the airport, great ethnic food, and a attempted nap between benches. Then we were off to Belize. Caught a taxi then a water taxi to finally arrive in San Pedro on the Ambergris Caye.
With backpacks on the front and the back we wandered through some quaint and colorful island streets in search of Pedro's Inn. After we checked into our spacious 7x10 sq ft dorm room we explored the town. We found a little hole in the wall restaurant and tried some local grub. Then we spent the rest of the day walking up and down the beach, swimming, and playing games trying to stay awake until at least nine.
After sleeping for 13 hours we ate some brekky at Dianitas Cafe. We scarfed down some johny cakes, fry cakes, and traditional Belizian breakfast of beans and stewed chicken. Then lounging by the pool we started to plan out the rest of our stay in Belize. We came up with some stuff but you are going to have to wait and find out. But we'll stay on (a marching band of little kids just walked by the internet cafe dressed up as their favorite saints for All Saints Day) the island for a few more days then back to the mainland to head north. We rented free kayaks and took them to the beach today. We had to walk a quarter of a mile with them on our shoulders because we didn't want to pay for a golf cart taxi (the main vehicle on the island). It was well worth our two partially functioning kayaks. Well the blue one didn't go straight for very long before it spun in a circle all on its own. We thought Kate just didn't know how to kayak so Bren took over Old Bluey and sure enough it spun in circles.
Cool,
Kate and Bren
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
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