Today is a beautiful Sunny day in Belize! We started out with a tour of Xunantunich. Yesterday I forgot to link my title to my a specific reference in my blog, so that item has been covered here for today and I will mention that yesterday’s leg day was all the climbing we did at Cahal Pech with the steep steps, today was a bit more. I can say going down the hill hits my calf muscles a bit different than I’m used to.
The views from Xunantunich (lady or maiden of the rock) were fantastic, you can see Guatemala from the top. It’s only a short walk from the ruins themselves. The border is patrolled though. Our guide said the Xunantunich is a more recent name, the Mayans called something else according to the guide but I don’t remember what and the internet tells me that they don’t know what it was. Our guide had some weak jokes and maybe his divine mountain story was made up. The internet can’t be wrong??
We had a small group, 6 of us plus the guide. They spaced us out from other groups so we got alone time on the different structures. By the time we were finishing a group caught up with us. It could have been due to an extended time on the sacrificial structure where Emily got to have a good conversation with a couple we met, the lady was native to France. She was not the only one having good conversation, the video blogger we met yesterday was chatting with a gal in our group. It was her first trip out of the states. She was enjoying the trip and it didn’t sound like she was having much difficulty. I think everyone that can travel to another country should. You can learn so much about the world and gives you a new perspective on people in general. You meet so many people, travelers who are willing to share tips and experiences with you and locals who seem to always know so much about their country and they will tell you about it with great pride.
We had to take a ferry across a small river and it was hand cranked, I’m not sure why the haven’t built a small bridge there as the clearance would be the same as the cables for the ferry. All I could think about going across was if they’ve ever had a “Mizzura boat ride” as Josey would say.
This morning I tried out a new sunscreen from Neutrogena. We love the regular Ultra Sheer 70 spf. That stuff will keep you from getting fried on vacation! Today I tried the Sheer Zinc 50spf, I did not burn so that’s a positive. I didn’t care for the white residue it left on me. I applied it and rubbed it in and it still became white in places. I leaned my elbows on my shorts while I was talking to our driver and it left prints on my shorts. It will probably be okay for being in the water but otherwise I will probably skip buying this one again. I do have two others that I will try out from Neutrogena. One is a beach protection and the other is mineral ultra sheer. Both are also 50spf. I don’t burn as easy as some and thought I would try a lower spf. I know so far the beach is going to be greasy, I don’t think as bad as the Coppertone sticks though, which is probably helpful in the water. Zinc sunscreen also seems to make the sweat bead up more and not evaporate as fast.
If anyone is thinking about traveling coming up and haven’t gotten your Hynes Eagle 44 liter bag, last I looked they were out of stock. For those who like to cart your bag especially when standing in line, this trip Emily is using an add on wheeled cart she got for hers. I usually leave mine on my back but it’s a good sized bag and when you’re standing in Customs for extended time it’s nice for her to take it off as it probably weighs 1/3 to 1/2 her body weight.
Since I am on bags I will add a shoutout to my LocTote Industrial Bag Co. bag. Our cabana does not have a safe for our passports and what not. I’m using the bag since it is designed to decrease theft. I used it for my personal bag along with my carry on, I wish I had gotten the bigger size. I believe mine is the smallest they offered and seems nice for carrying around to the beach and such as Emily does with a similar bag. It’s not a good size for a personal bag for the , headphones, plane as I packed a few snacks, my GoPro and my liquids bag and it was full! In the room I locked it to the bed frame. While it’s not super secure as a pair of bolt cutters would get it and if someone wants to take the time and effort to remove the bed and tear apart the frame to get it, they will have it. It still is nice to have a place to keep stuff a bit safer.
Our afternoon we spent in the pool and lounging. We had talked about going to the chocolate factory and we tried to walk there but the map wasn’t real clear. I had to take screenshots of it because it seems US Cellular is unable to provide me with service here in town with a tower next to the hotel, they were however able to whilst we were a mile from Guatemala at Xunantunich. Somehow I misses a street and we ended up downtown. It worked out okay as I decided I was really hungry and early supper was a good thing. We got sent to a restaurant a couple blocks off the main drag by a tour place guy who was trying to get us to do some tours. Erva’s on 4th st. It was a very nice place. They had open air and A/C seating. We both ate food common in Belize, I had a creole dish with seafood and Emily had a coconut shrimp dish. Very pleased with the food, it was recommended by who I assume was the owner and chef.
I was full after dinner but I still felt like a little ice cream. We both got a little chocolate ice cream in a cup. It was okay, there were crystals in it, but in this heat you should expect it.
We rode in a sketchy taxi back to the hotel. I was surprised that he made it, he didn’t take the most direct route up the hill. He came up a longer but a little less steep route, it was still $5 USD /$10 BZE. The money conversion here is super easy as it’s 2 of theirs for 1 of ours. They all take dollars and give you change in their currency.
Tomorrow we are going to do a tour that isn’t going to allow cameras, I will guess that it is due to the sacred nature of the caves and it being the final resting place for persons who were sacrificed.
Traveling with Emily! 