Day 5-Belize and Lamanai Ruins

This was my favorite day the entire trip...

On Thursday we were in Belize. Our entire group of 25 went to the Lamanai Ruins. We used Belize Cruise Excursions. They were wonderful!

We started out at the port. Here I am, being a rebel:we then boarded a bus for a 1 hour bus ride to the New River. Our tour guide, Ivar, was FANTASTIC. He knew everything! we had lots of history lessons, lots of flora/fauna lessons, stories and more. He made the hour long ride go by fast.

When we got to the New River we took a 40 minute boat ride up to Lamanai Ruins.

This is the Mennonite Farm. They are the wealthiest people in All of Belize. They immigrated here in the 1950s and are really prosperous farmers and merchants.Here is a local man showing us what he caught for the day.

Here are some other pictures from the river

We Arrived at Lamanai, which means Submerged Crocodile. Lamanai was the most successful Mayan city. When all the other cities were being deserted, Lamanai still flourished. They estimate that there were over 75,000 people in the city of Lamanai, which was occupied until the 1600s. this is amazing, as archaeologists believe that Lamanai was populated as early as the 16th century BC. LDS Scholars and archaeologists believe that Lamanai is a strong candidate for the City of Gerson as mentioned in the book of Mormon.

Only 1% of Lamanai has been excavated. You can see the structures covered by mounds of dirt, knowing something is underneath. But since it hasnt been excavated yet, you can only guess.
Lamanai is smack Dab in the middle of the jungle. and it was HOT and HUMID!!!

All of Belize is flat. The Mayan liked to build things up. So we would be walking along these hills and realize that to either side it was flat. Everything we walked on was built up by rocks and dirt etc.

The first structure we came to was the mask Temple. The interesting thing about Lamanai is that much of the Lamanai archaeological site was built in layers. Successive populations built upon the temples of their ancestors, instead of destroying them.


We next came to the High Temple. This was AMAZING.



We got to climb to the top, which was a HUGE undertaking. The pyramid went straight up. The steps were tall and narrow and all we had to hold on to was a yellow nylon rope.


Here are a few different views from where I was climbing.

i DID make it to the top. I am right in the middle, kind of beind some people in the purple shirt.

The view from the top of the high temple was spectacular. You could see over the entire jungle canopy.


And let me say the trip DOWN was A LOT harder than the trip UP! When I got to the bottom again my legs were JELLO. It was the hardest(apart from childbirth) yet most exhilarating and exciting thing I think I have done in a long, long time.

So here we are back safely at the bottom, giving a thumbs up to ourselves.

we then continued on. Here is the Ball Court . I dont know what kind of ball they played.We then moved on to the Jaguar Temple. Here is a retaining wall on the edge of the plaza. The Jaguar Temple was huge. And there was a large plaza type square, where the people would congregate. the high priest would climb to the top of the temple, wearing a 5 ft tall headdress and speak.The Maya were pretty tall, so it must have been an impressive sight back in the day. The acoustics were amazing. You could hear someone from the top of the pyramid down at the bottom.



Here are the Jaguars...hence the name, Jaguar Temple



After the ruins we went back up the river and ate a traditional Belizean lunch. Stewed chicken, rice and black beans with a habanero salsa, papaya and watermelon and fried plantains. It was the best meal I had the entire week.

This was the best excursion and best trip we took. I absolutely LOVED Belize. I cannot wait to go back again.

Vacation nazi strikes again

Poor Charles. For 3 weeks straight, I have relentlessly hounded him. I have bugged him with; "what excursion do you want to take?" "do you want sting ray city with 2 stops or 3?" "Should we pay an extra 20$ so it includes lunch?" "Should we bring our own snorkel gear or use the free stuff?" "So you want the beach or do you want to snorkel?" "Can you please make up your mind?" "You tell me to plan it then when I do you get huffy and call me the vacation nazi. I dont think I appreciate your tone" "You want to go by yourself? I can arrange that!" "Fine, go slam the door and sulk crybaby," "Dont think you are getting any vacation sex!!" What do you mean you wont want any?!" "FINE!"

(mumble grumble curse curse curse)

So with little input other than an occasional wishy washy "sounds good" or "what ever you want baby", this is what I have planned, reserved, booked and made deposits on. Having cruised in the past I learned my lesson about paying the high price of buying the cruise ship excursions. You pay more and are packed in with a ton of other passengers. So I found some local reputable companies that were highly rated on cruise critic and trip advisor. I am paying half the price I would than if I booked through Carnival.

In cozumel Charles and I are taking a glass bottom boat tour two of the best reefs in Cozumel. It is a smaller boat and only takes 20 people maximum. It includes snorkeling and refreshments.

In Grand Cayman we are taking a boat tour to Stingray City. You go to a special bay where the docile rays come and get fed. You can swim, play, pet and hug on them. They love people, are very gentle and love to show off. Wethen go to a nearby barrier reef for snorkeling. At the end we stop off at 7 mile beach for some final play time.
In Roatan(honduras) we are taking a zipline excursion through the jungle!! I am REALLY excited about this. We will be at a place that has the jungle canopy ziplines, a monkey habitat and exotic birds etc. Then we head over to the beach for lunch and fun.

And finally, the one I am REALLY the most excited about. Lamanai Mayan Ruins in Belize.

We take a busride through the countryside to get to the river and take a boat ride through the jungle to Lamanai. Then we get 2 hours at the ruins AND we get to climb around on them and everything. We end it with a traditional belizean lunch of chicken, rice and beans.

I am just super excited. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my passport. I am so giddy I am willing to overlook the HORRID "well you are stuck with it for 10 years" photo they slapped in it.

UGH. But the stamps and memories will be totally worth the border guards laughing at me and my scared deer in headlights expression in my passport book.

So now that everything is planned, what is a vacation Nazi to do???

PLAN VEGAS in 2011!!! watch out girls, im on a roll!!