Saturday 4-23 Heading home.

Up early this morning. Packed and ready to go. Walked across the road to the office to say good-bye to Peter and the crew. Have to catch the water taxi to Belize City and then a ground taxi to the airport. I thought I was going to have to haul my luggage up the beach, but I was treated to a golf cart ride that was piloted by Dr. C. That was really appreciated. For the first time, I arrived at the water taxi and wasn't soaked with sweat.

The 75 minute ride on the water taxi to Belize City allows me the opportunity to reflect on the experiences of the last two weeks in Central America. The images swirl around in my head and across my eyes like flashing photos in a high speed slide show. I wish I could stop each one and jump back in time to that exact moment to relive it again.

The up and down motion of the water taxi, the loud drone of 600 horsepower of engines, and the wind blowing through the open windows begins to hypnotize me; the slide show slows down, and I drift off to sleep.

I awake when my body feels the speed of the water taxi suddenly slow down. We're at the Belize City port. A little foggy headed, I step off the boat into the bright sun, squint, and fumble to find my sunglasses. The essence of Belize City slowly wraps it fingers around me, the smells, the sights, the sounds...the heat. I head inside to the shade of the open-air lobby and look for a Coke-light to energize my senses. There's just something about those Coke-lights in Central America!

Feeling rejuvinated I walk outside, and the taxi drivers lined up in a row see which one can get to me first. In Belize City, anything with four tires, a motor, and a steering wheel is considered a taxi. I make a deal with a driver who owns an early model Toyota. He tells me to hurry. There is a bicycle race that will be coming through Belize City, and we need to cross before the police close the road--another high speed taxi ride throught Belize City. If you are not accustomed to these, you need to close as least one eye.

We make it to the airport. I paid way too much for the ride, but it's Belize dollars.

I pull out my passport, check my bag, and move to the waiting area to board the plan. I buy the last Coke-light I will drink for I am not sure how long. I don't know when or if I will ever be back here again. I can only hope so.

As the plane lifts off the runway and begins to ascend, the sight of Belize City disappears into swamp and jungle.

Friday 4-22 Back in San Pedro

This day has somewhat of a hazy dream-like quality. The excitement of the inland trip is fading away and the peacefulness of San Pedro is fading back in. Two worlds colliding, but it's a slow motion collision. We are not scheduled to be in schools today. The only thing I have planned for the day is to make a final visit to talk with Ms. Addy at Isla Bonita. Last night I felt like I was starting to get a bit of a stomach bug. Gonna lay low today with my Immodium AD.

Thursday 4-21 Traveling back to Belize City and then to San Pedro

There were two ways to get back to Belize city, rent a taxi van or ride the "chicken bus." The van would take a couple hours; the chicken bus might take all day, but it only cost a couple dollars. It's called the chicken bus because the locals ride them and might be carrying chickens or who knows what else. They stop at every little village to drop off and take on passengers. Several of us opted for the van and pooled our money together, which really didn't amount to much. When the van arrived about 6:15 am (fifteen minutes late), the driver brought a friend with him which meant that we had more people than seats. At first the driver was refusing to take all of us, but the guy with him said he would sit on the console, and I could ride shotgun up front with him and the driver. It's a good thing Belize doesn't enforce seat belts laws.

Anyway, I think it was meant to be. The fellow sitting on the console (I wish I could remember his name) and I had an interesting conversation on the journey. His message was that people all over the world are similar and had the same needs and wants. We all just need to understand that and not dwell on the differences (politics, religion, etc.).  He told me that each person needed to respect the next person, and if that happened, the world would be a happy place. While our philosopical conversation was taking place in front, a couple of the girls in the back were hounding the driver about making it to Belize City in time to catch the water taxi to San Pedro. He kept telling them that we would make the water taxi on time. They kept insisting that we wouldn't and that it was his fault because he arrived late. These little outbursts would take place about every 15 minutes until we reached Belize City...on time for the water taxi.

Wednesday 4-20 Heading to Tikal in Guatemala

I knew before I left the States that I wanted to visit the Mayan Ruins of Tikal in Pete'n Province, Guatemala. Before leaving San Pedro, a few people were interested in going with me, but when we arrived in San Ignacio, everyone backed out except Dr. Reck.  We made arrangements for the trip and the guide with the van arrived around sunrise. Riding in the van with the guide was Manuel! Remember Manuel from the ATM Cave? It was so good to see him again. Manuel had never visited Tikal and decided to take a day and visit there. What a coincidence! There were five other people on the trip with us from various places for a total of nine people in the van.

Getting ready to cross the border into Guatemala.

We stopped to take a stretch break at this lake. It was laundry day. The people who live in the hills surrounding the lake come to the lake to do their laundry. The little structures that have been built in the water are communal areas and anyone can use them.

 A young boy washing clothes and containers. Some people are just enjoying swimming in the water and taking a break from the heat. I was amazed out how beautiful and clear the water was. It seemed unusual for lake water. And yes, the water really is that color.

 In this picture, you can see the large stones used for washing the clothes.

Imagination at work. Who needs a video game?

Dr. Reck and me. She was the only brave soul who would join me on my adventure.

After our break, we were back on our way to Tikal.

This is where we parked just outside of Tikal. The silver van is our transportation. People live in the thatch roofed huts you see. The building to the left is a canteen/diner. More about that later. Were off for many miles of walking through the jungle.

Arriving at Tikal. This is me with a park ranger. You can see a Guatemalan soldier in the background to the right. There were other armed individuals there that were some kind of state militia all dressed in black.

Jungle and weapons! My kind of place!

 Tikal was discovered in 1848 by a a chiclero.  A person who collected gum from the trees for chewing gum. There was a legend about Tikal, but no one had seen it since it was abandoned over 1,000 years before. Some of the architecture at Tikal dates back to 4,000 BC. The site encompasses 222 square miles of jungle. Only 10 square miles have been uncovered, but work is still in progress. Tikal is the largest excavated site on the American continent.

 The Ceiba Tree worshipped by the Mayans as "The Holy Tree of Life."

Each of these pillars has a round stone in front of it on which a sacrifice was made.

 Apparently a very special sacrifice was made in this enclosure.

These little guys are everywhere.

This mask at a special ceremonial area enabled one to see into the future and past.

 Some goofy guy in front of a temple.

Notice that I am holding on to the stone. One step back and it's a long way down!

I'm standing atop a temple taking a picture of these other temples across the jungle.

It is unbelievable how tall these structures are. From most of these pictures it really difficult to tell, but the next picture is looking down from where I'm standing. My left foot is about 18 inches from certain death.

Those are people walking around down there, not ants!

At the end of our escursion and after exiting Tikal, we ate at this diner just outside the entrance that I mentioned earlier.

Use what nature gives you.

Before leaving Guatemala, we stopped at this artisan shop. Jewelry is made from jade. Many other items are made from wood, leather, ceramics, and cloth. This is where I bought a doll for the granddaughter I was yet to meet!

Another fabulous day comes to an end. It's a long ride back to Cahal Pech.

Tuesday 4-19 at Cahal Pech

Tuesday I decided not to make the trip to the Caracol Ruins and Rio Frio. I still had so much classwork to do that I was beginning to get a little concerned, and most of all, I needed to continue checking in on my daughter and new granddaughter. Baby was fine, but Mom was having some issues.

I did take some time to walk into San Ignacio and eat lunch.

This is the dirt road that leads from Cahal Pech Resort at the top of the hill down to San Ignacio.

It's amazing how much food you can get for $1.00 US.

This was just a side thought. We are at the nicest resort probably on this side of the country, and this is the laundry system. Sunshine is free!

 

Sunday night 4-17 Arriving at Cahal Pech Resort in San Ignacio/4-18 Monday at Cahal Pech

After a fantastic yet tiring day spent at the ATM Cave and a long bus ride, we arrived at the Cahal Pech Resort. The resort is located on a hill overlooking the town of San Ignacio. The resort is named after the Mayan ruins that were discovered nearby in the 1930s. In the 1950s the site was named Cahal Pech which means "place of the ticks."

Entrance to the Cahal Pech resort at night.

 This photo was taken from the balcony of the room Nick, Kyle, and I shared. You can see the lights of San Ignacio.

This is the exact same view the next morning.

Monday was a day to collect ourselves. Really, the first free day we had since our arrival. You can see here where I set up office to get caught up on some doctoral assignments. I felt a bit like Ernest Hemingway. I could get used to a view like this.

 A friend stop by to see if I needed some help.



 I said yes, so he obliged. I was able to accomplish a great deal!


So there is not much to report EXCEPT! My granddaughter Madilyn Louise Reid was born today!!!