San Ignacio, Belize
Today was a free day in San Ignacio. After a leisurely breakfast we grab a cab and went into the bustling little city. Since it’s Christmas eve there were lots of people out doing their last minute shopping. we stopped at the police and they were having a party for local children.

San Ignacio Christmas Party!

We met some cute kids during our visit. Like during most of our vacations, Steve stopped and got his haircut. It’s become a tradition. Last year he got his haircut in Uruguay on Christmas Eve. We also visited the farmers market which is always an interesting experience. After a few hours in the city we return to the Windy Hills resort for a leisurely afternoon. We laid in the hammock, swam in the pool, and just enjoyed the facilities. Tomorrow we head out on a three day canoe trip. This adventure will include camping and no running water. Oh, and no Wi-Fi. So it will be a few days before you hear from us. Stay tuned for pictures. But first we will go into town once more and have Christmas eve dinner with the group. There is supposed to be a big Christmas festival and we plan to check that out as well. Merry Christmas from Belize!

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Today we travelled back into Belize, promising to return to Guatemala as soon as possible. We just loved the people, scenery, and unique experiences we had.

We we hustled back across the border in order to catch the last tour to Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM, the gateway to the Mayan underworld. While the cave system is 2000 years old, and used by the Mayans as a sacred site, the caves were just rediscovered in 1986. Inside there are untouched and undisturbed remains of Mayan offerings and sacrifices. Yes, we saw no less than 5 skeletons, calcified and preserved by the elements, as well as hundreds of pots used to make offerings to the Gods. Some pretty crazy stuff went on in there.

To to reach the area with the artifacts requires a 45 minute walk through the jungle which includes walking/wading through three river crossings. At the entrance to the cave you swim for about 20 feet in cold water before beginning the walk/climb/swim/crawl through the stagtites and stalagmites that have formed over the ages. With hard hats and headlamps we made our way back a little more than half a mile before reaching the Altar, the site of what they believe to have been sacrifices. Talk about spooky! The guide said the Mayans used hallucinogenic herbs while in the cave, but it was interesting enough to us having 100% of our faculties.

We we couldn’t take cameras with us so the best we can do is share a few links. The first one tells the whole story.

Enjoy!

Flores, Guatemala

Today we left Belize City via public bus and it wasn’t like the express bus at home. We lined up behind a fence and when they said go, we worked in pairs. Steve loaded luggage in the back while I elbowed through the crowd to save us a seat. Apparently, the bus can’t leave the station with anyone standing and most of our group was still outside. We pulled out of the bus station and the rest of the group boarded from the street. Most didn’t have a seat for 20-30 minutes but eventually everyone settled in and we drove two hours with the windows down and reggae blaring. Oh, until we were stopped by the highway patrol. We think it was because we had people standing, but who knows. Along the way we passed what we think was the Tour de Belize, or something like that. We cheered them on just like the Tour de France. An unexpected surprise…why we love to travel. After a quick stop in Belmopan, the capitol of Belize, we continued onward toward the Guatemalan border…until the bus broke down.

Waiting for the new bus

Eventually we were rescued by another bus and made it to San Ignacio, Belize. Here we had lunch and then we took a van to the border crossing. To leave Belize, it’s $20 each, a two step process, another passport stamp and a short walk to the Guatemala check point. Another $2 and we were through. Another more comfortable bus was waiting to take us another 2 hours to the town of Flores, Guatemala. Flores is on an island in the middle of Lake Peten Itza. This small little town is a jumping off point for visits to Tikal. Once we were settled in to our air-conditioned room we set out for a walk and happy hour, followed by a group dinner. We leave for Tikal tomorrow at 5:00 am.

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