Finally, the focus of the trip, Xunantunich, Belize
We had originally booked the cruise with the intention of visiting Chacchoben in Costa Maya; unfortunately storm season whiped out their pier so we had to cancel our cave tubing plans in Belize in order to see Mayan ruins.
Not sure why, it's always been on my short list; and DS was studying it and the rainforest in school; so i was a perfect match.
Another tender port, waaaaaay far out; almost 1/2 hour. We were on an 8 hour Carnival excursion and were instructed to meet in the showroom to get our sticker to be 1st off the boat. We were greeted by a mad-house; oh the wails of those without the golden tixs to get ashore
Felt like we were fighting our way off the titanic...what part of "unless you have a sticker with #3 on it, you cannot board" did they not understand?
finally, onboard the double decker tender
i picked up some sodas while the guys stood in line @ the port. Evidently, Carnival overbooked the excursion
. Got stuck on the 2nd bus, with a horseback riding excursion; while the main group (complete with cruise director, videographer,etc. pulled away).
On our way driving into town, out that way is the fantastic cays/snorkeling is located. belize mainland doesn't have beaches, just this
very unattractive place, oppressive
; think the pics you've seen of 3rd world dictatorships & you'll get the gist.
Five minutes into trip, guide is overcome & loses his voice
; we get his assistant who had very heavy accent/couldn't understand her. The other guide (horseback riding one, just laughed and said we'd get used to it?)
Ten minutes later, we head back to port; evidently; a large group was left behind...finally, they are located; shopping in the port. Rounded up; they board the bus not contrite at all
; and away we go again.
Interesting facts about Belize:
1) 3 traffic lights in the whole country, 1 is broke
2) all public & residential buildings have iron gratings over the windows (to keep out the storm damage -ha!)
3) all residences outside the city's checkpoint have 8 foot fences, either electrified or covered in razor wire (to keep the chickens in - ha-ha!)
4) Belize was turned over to the native population by the British after they stripped all natural resources they could, including all the mahogany trees.
5) Many armed checkpoints on the roads, many groups of prisioners escorted by said armed guards.
6) Belize is involved in a long-standing border dispute with Guatemala; we were cautioned not to go near the tree line once @ mayan site; kidnappings for ransom evidently very popular ...also, jaguars liked to drag off the tourists too since we weren't armed. wah! the bus drivers were double wah!
toto, we're not in kansas anymore