April 18, 2011

I am back!!!! We have been without internet service for the last two days. But what an excellent adventure I have been on. Saturday morning we headed out via water taxi back to Belize City to catch a bus to the Belize Zoo and the education center there where we would be spending the night. The zoo was a real tribut to Belizean culture; small but meaningful. I was introduced to the national animal, the tapir. Very interesting fellow he is. The birds, monkeys, the jaguar and the puma were amazing. From there, we went back to the education center for a homestyle meal with the interns and an evening that reminded me much of summers at Camp Don Lee. Very rustic, very simple, but very simple and reflective. I was once again reminded of the beauty of this country and at the same time the struggles that define their work ethic. On Sunday morning, we got back on the bus and headed an hour and a half west to the ATM Cave Adventure. We travelled in teams of 8 with lighted-helmets into the mouth of the cave. The entire tour was probably 2 hours. Numerous artifacts and formations had been excavated throughout the cave. Our guide did an excellent job of unveiling the mysteries of the Mayan civilization. After a heart-racing, physically exhilarating tour of the cave; we were back on the bus and headed to San Ignacio to prepare for the Mayan ruins and to finish up this wonderful cultural part of the experience. I am hoping that I will be able to post some additional pictures before I head home at the end of the week.