So our next stop was Belize City, the largest city in Belize. 
After a bus ride, we arrived in the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha. It was awesome. Our bus load was the first group there, so there was almost no one there while we took pictures and walked around. The coolest part about it was that it was occupied between 250 BC and 1000 AD, making it contemporary with the events that took place in the Book of Mormon. Who knows what might have happened here during those times! It's fun to imagine. They even let us climb this temple. 
Here's a view Camshaft standing on the main pyramid with his back towards the main plazas of the old city and one of Mandee facing the opposite direction with her back towards the jungle. 
These buildings were not only temples, but they also buried some of their priests under them. In one dig, they found a striking jade mask that the government of Belize keeps under lock and key that they consider one of their national treasures.
After leaving Altun Ha and making a short stop at a local restaurant, where we ate some local beans, rice, and chicken, we got on a boat and took a leisurely cruise down the Wallace River back to our boat.
There was tons of wildlife around there, including howler monkeys (we saw so many, maybe even a whole barrel-full. We decided to name them all Patrick), several types of water birds, crocodiles, a variety of iguanas, bats, a crab, and manatees (they would just pop up out of the water for 1 to 2 seconds, so we couldn't actually get pictures of them). Here's a few of the shots:
The manatee area was the last stop. After sitting there watching and waiting for a few minutes, some ugly rainclouds snuck up on us. Our driver decided that we needed to get back to the ship ASAP, and gunned it full speed. Then the rain started. It was an absolute downpour. We were pelted so hard that we couldn't even look forward. It almost felt like hail. We were soaked from head to toe, but it soon stopped, and we made it back to the port safe and sound, quickly getting on the boat to dry off and get some rest. It was a full, but super-fun, day.
After a bus ride, we arrived in the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha. It was awesome. Our bus load was the first group there, so there was almost no one there while we took pictures and walked around. The coolest part about it was that it was occupied between 250 BC and 1000 AD, making it contemporary with the events that took place in the Book of Mormon. Who knows what might have happened here during those times! It's fun to imagine. They even let us climb this temple. 
Here's a view Camshaft standing on the main pyramid with his back towards the main plazas of the old city and one of Mandee facing the opposite direction with her back towards the jungle. 
These buildings were not only temples, but they also buried some of their priests under them. In one dig, they found a striking jade mask that the government of Belize keeps under lock and key that they consider one of their national treasures.After leaving Altun Ha and making a short stop at a local restaurant, where we ate some local beans, rice, and chicken, we got on a boat and took a leisurely cruise down the Wallace River back to our boat.
There was tons of wildlife around there, including howler monkeys (we saw so many, maybe even a whole barrel-full. We decided to name them all Patrick), several types of water birds, crocodiles, a variety of iguanas, bats, a crab, and manatees (they would just pop up out of the water for 1 to 2 seconds, so we couldn't actually get pictures of them). Here's a few of the shots:
The manatee area was the last stop. After sitting there watching and waiting for a few minutes, some ugly rainclouds snuck up on us. Our driver decided that we needed to get back to the ship ASAP, and gunned it full speed. Then the rain started. It was an absolute downpour. We were pelted so hard that we couldn't even look forward. It almost felt like hail. We were soaked from head to toe, but it soon stopped, and we made it back to the port safe and sound, quickly getting on the boat to dry off and get some rest. It was a full, but super-fun, day.
1 comment:
Mandy, on our cruise a few years ago, our most favorite stop was in Belize! We went to a gorgous island out in the ocean, and scuba dived, and there were only 7 palm trees it was so small, and so romantic, and just so unreal. All alone in the ocean. Anyway, we have fond memories of Belize. I am glad you got to go there.
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