My Road to Belize November 14-21, 2007

I can't wait what a beautiful country.

The love affair started about 5 years ago in the middle of February. I was in my favorite pub ( Tune Inn) on a sunday evening having a burger and a beer with my good friend Markie. I was telling her that I really needed to get somewhere warm and sunny. You see I had been working midnights for 2 month straight and was in need of sun, fun and hot weather. Just when I said that a tall slim middle 40's man came in a sat down next to Markie to tell her about his latest adventure to Belize. As we sat there in awe of the adventure that he just return from less then 24 hours ago. Markie turned looked at me and started to say Jules and then I cut her off and said, "that is what I need". So after talking to Markie's friend George and spending many Sunday evenings with George and his story and pictures of Belize I was on my way that next month.


Ian Anderson Cave Branch Jungle Adventure (my first trip to Belize)
Wow what a adventure Caves Branch.com was breath taking. 58,000 acres estate beneath a 100 foot rainforest's canopy, alongside the turquoise waters of the Cave Branch River. Tropical jungle, indigenous animals and plant life.
Here are some of the adventures that I really enjoyed:
* River Cave tubing
*Crystal and Mayan Ceremonial Cave Expedition
*Jungle Treks & Night Safari
*Belize Zoo

Caye Caulker (my 2rd trip to Belize) My Favorite place
Laid back and slow pace!!! YES YES YES

Sand and Sun: Located one mile west of Belize Barrier Reef, Caye Caulker is a a four mile long island, part of a chain of islands forming the Belize Barrier Reef. Caye Caulker has a relaxing atmosphere with white sand streets, golf carts for transportation, and casual dress with no shoes. The weather is usually quite pleasant year around. You can enjoy sailing, diving, birding, jungle tours, fishing, and windsurfing in the clear azure waters of the Caribbean. The diving is incredible, a whole world awaits you. Our local tour guides can arrange trips to see manatees, jungle trips up the rivers of the mainland, where you will see orchids, bromeliads, cactus, a variety of birds, monkeys, bats and other wildlife. For visitors interested in bird watching, you will likely see green Aztec parakeets, Ringed Kingfishers and tropical Mocking birds, there are hundreds of varieties.
The laid back atmosphere of Caye Caulker is something you must see to appreciate. There are over 30 hotels, and many restaurants and shops, but Caye Caulker remains friendly and easy-going, avoiding the commercialism of other destinations. Shoes are a no no, and the golf cart mode of transportation is unique and fun. You can get all over the island very easily by boat, golf cart, or bike.
Enjoy the website and and check out the beautiful pictures: Caye Caulker.org
Some of the things I did on the island, snokling,fishing, and RELAXING.

I also went to Guatemala for a few days of hiking in Tikal. What a handsome city.Unforgettable morning visit to Tikal. Settled in 700 B.C., Tikal became the grandest of all Mayan cities and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. This outer-worldly site also served as the victorious rebel base in the first Star Wars movie. Here, while the sounds of monkeys and tropical birds fill the air, you will see towering pyramids jut out of the rainforest canopy. Visit Tikal’s great plaza. See the Temple of the Grand Jaguar and Temple II. Visit the Plaza of the Seven Temples and El Mundo Perdido, the Lost World. Enjoy lunch. Afternoon at leisure at your resort. Enjoy bird watching on the nature trails or just relax by the pool. Dinner

I plan to attend this event next month
November 19th - Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize!
Settlement Day Festival: Celebrations in the southern most areas of the country to mark the first arrival of the Garifuna in 1832 in Dangriga.
The Garifuna (pronounced Ga-RIF-una), or Black Caribs, are a unique cultural and ethnic group. They first appeared in this area over 300 years ago, when escaped and shipwrecked slaves mixed with the native Caribs who had given them refuge on Saint Vincent Island. The Garifuna adopted the Carib language but kept their African musical and religious traditions, against the demands of the island's colonial masters. In 1795 the Garifuna people rebelled against the British; the Crown punished them for their insolence by deporting them to the island of Roatán, off Honduras. In the years that followed, the Garifuna slowly established villages on islands and along the coasts of southern Belize, Guatemala, and northern Honduras.
Garifuna Day 2001:
Children's rally celebrate Garifuna culture
Garifuna History

Yes I will be staying on Caye Caulker