You Better Belize It

We spent a full day exploring the wonders of Belize, our ultimate destination being the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, about 80 miles from the city on the western boarder of the country.  Our tour guide was excellent, explaining cultural landmarks and traditions as we drove through Belize City and the little villages along the way.  We stopped for a traditional lunch of bbq chicken, coleslaw, rice, beans, and a plantain at San Ignacio, about 30 minute from the archaeological reserve. 

To get to the site, the bus dropped us off at a river where we saw a black howler monkey in the trees at the banks of the river.  We took a hand-cranked boat-bridge across where vans picked us up to take us to the foothills of the temple.  We weren’t really planning on taking the kids up to the top of 130-foot structure. It was straight up.  And straight down.  With no guard rails.  The views from top—it boarder Guatemala—were breathtaking.  Going down was much scarier, and I’m pretty sure that we owe Uncle Patrick for saving the life of at least one of our children.  That being said, it was an amazing experience for us all.