Sometimes things don't always go the way you think they will.  But, they may still go well. 

 I'm learning to adopt that mindset, and this trip is serving as a great teacher.

Nancy and I hired a tour guide to take us to Lubaantun, the Mayan ruins in the Toledo District in Southern Belize, followed by a cave float, which involves putting on a life jacket and head lamp and swimming through a river where it goes underground into dark caves for about an hour.

At 7:30am our guide arrived, his name is Shal, and we set out for the South. (well, you have to drive a half hour north to get off the peninsula... and then head south)

After about 45 minutes we made a pit stop to - as Shal said - get water in case we get lost in the jungle!

Thank goodness for Tommy

After driving another half hour, Shal asked which ruins we wanted to see, Lubaantun or Nim Li Punit.  We thought Lubaantun (is it wrong that I can't say that without thinking shoes??), but asked Shal's opinion.  He seemed to think we'd enjoy Nim Li Punit more, so we took his advice.  Sorry, Lubaantun!

A lot of the infrastructure in Belize is new or just being built.  We drove the Southern Highway which was very nice, and then got off on to a brand new road, some of which was literally being built as we drove on it!

                                       

 This is a typical Mayan house with a roof of palm fronds.

We passed many small villages on the way.   Shal would point out who lived in each, some Mayan, a Guatemalan refugee town, Mennonites (really?), and Amish.  What??

There are Amish here. Shal describes them just the same way as 'ours', even the long, dark colored clothes (they must roast in the summer), hats, beards (well, on the men) and horse and buggies. 

 I wonder if they make quilts.

I was still feeling a little bad about ditching Lubaantun when we arrived at Nim Li Punit.  

But Nim Li Punit  was BEAUTIFUL!   Lubaa - who??

Stelae - sandstone carved with symbols

                                                        Artifacts in the information center.

Shal telling us about the courtyard.  He knew a lot of information about the culture.  His Grandfather was a shaman snake doctor in his Mayan village. 

                                                    Nancy and Lorry the intrepid explorers.

  The ball court.

 Apparently the Mayans were big into sports.  The winner of the tournament was then sacrificed to the gods.

Second place is the first loser....but he gets to live!

                           Shal on the pathway to the next area.  The scenery was just so beautiful.

                                                    GUMBO-LIMBO!!! (see it peeling?)

                                                            Stairs to the next courtyard

                               Leaf Cutter Ant - he's hard to see, but he's carrying that leaf piece

                                                                             Pretty!

   This is part of the Stelae field, that's one littel stela in the middle, but I mostly took the picture because I just loved the colors.  

                                                     The sky was so blue, grass so green!

                                             AMAZING view from the top of the mountain.

   This is a Cacao tree.  Chocolate.  

Shal said that the Chocolate tree was life to the Mayans.  (To me as well, lol).   

They used it for money as well as all the other good stuff.

Basilisk on a rock.  It's called a Jesus Lizard - because it walks on water!

 After touring the ruins we got back in the car and headed further south.  

                                                 Stopped for lunch at Coleman's Restaurant.

              It was a buffet style, walk-right-through-the-kitchen and have what you want type restaurant.
                                                                And it was fantastic!

 I ate Stew Beef, Stew Pork, Curry Chicken, Beans with Rice, Rice and Beans (yes they are two different dishes!), Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, a fried Plantain and Heart of Palm.  

Yes, I did.

 Heart of Palm is the insides of the trunk of a palm tree boiled down and seasoned - wasn't bad!

And fresh squeezed lime juice!

  After lunch, we got back in the car and headed for the caves.  Shal was a little concerned because of the rain they'd had lately, the river might be flooded

.And it was.

He said we could try if we wanted, but even if we got across the river he thought the mouth to the cave would be blocked.  Nancy and I decided to just head back - I'll try cave tubing next week!

We wondered around the river banks for a bit.

                                                Saw a Mayan woman washing her clothes

And were visited by a couple of dogs

We drove on back to Placencia.  In talking to Shal, it turns out most tour guides in town are freelance.  You book through all the different travel shops, but get all the same guys through each one.  

 (Funny, then how the prices vary from shop to shop!)

  I asked Shal if I could just book through him directly and he said sure and gave me his card.  This will make it easier for me, since it's hard to book a tour for a solo traveler through the agencies - they want groups of 4 or more.  Shal was cool and very knowledgeable - and he knows Lee.  I'll probably use him for any other trips I take.

When we got back, I said goodbye to Nancy.  It was great to have her to hang out with these last few days, but she's heading back to Wisconsin tomorrow.  We exchanged email addresses and hope to stay in touch.

The day didn't go exactly how I planned.  No Lubaantun, no cave float.  But it was a great day and after about 4 hours of riding in the back of a Toyota mini-van, I'm tired.  .

DAY 10: Beautiful weather, cool sites, good food....long drive!