Dan and Carol in Belize – Part 1

Last nights dinner was fabulous. Our hosts at Ballum Na are wonderful. Led by Nathaniel, our lead guide and Virginia, our lead hostess at the lodge. All of direct Mayan descent, they are warm and gracious. I really can’t all a nicer property in all my travels. There must be 3 staff for each guest (there are only 4 of us).

Dinner last night was as good as it gets. All done with local produce and meats. Fresh baked bread, coconut/cauliflower soup and fresh shrimp cooked as the Mayans did 800 years ago. Fresh Cocoa ice cream topped it off.

Kent, the owner/manager of the lodge shared the history of Belize, including wild tails of the pirate Captain Morgan who hid out in the protected Cays nearby.

This AM we awoke to the guttural growls of the two resident Jaguars, just outside our windows (a secure but natural habitat adjoins the lodge). One goal for the lodge is to participate and support wildlife re-introduction and rehabilitation. Sheba, a resident howler monkey, has really taken a shine to Sandy.

After a great breakfast, we loaded up for a short drive through small and pleasant villages to the ancient Mayan ruins of Lubaantun (Place of Falling Stones) We hiked around the ruins, as Nathaniel shared what the various arenas were for, ball field and court here, market over there…fascinating.

After our visit back in time, we headed to Blue Creek. We had a delicious lunch of chicken or shrimp wrapped in fresh tortillas (steamed in banana leaves) before we made our way up the creek to the falls.

When we arrived at the falls, we grabbed life-jackets and flashlights and made our way up-river in and along a massive cave structure aptly named Blue Creek Cave. Carol needed some convincing, but once we were deep in the cave, she loved it. At one point we turned off the flashlights and it was so dark sd couldn’t see our fingers in front of our faces!

After swimming deep into the cave, the falls provided a great hydro therapy massage.

We headed back to the van early this afternoon to relax and enjoy the spectacular serene setting of the lodge and to sit down to yet another 5 course Mayan meal.

A great day filled with good friends, fun and engaging activities and great food. This trip is shaping up to be a dandy.