Tuesday, we surveyed our last house garden in Buena Vista, which is a little way from Valley of Peace, and did some errands. Then, we spent the rest of the day chilling at Banana Bank.
Wednesday, we went into Belmopan to check on my permit from the Forest Department. They looked at my plants, but were unable to get my permit until Thursday. So, we went back to Banana Bank and killed time. I took a long nap and dad did a bunch of Internet surfing. Thank goodness for my laptop!
Today, we went back to the Forest Department around mid-morning, as requested. I picked up my permit and then we went to BAHA, the Belize agriculture and health, in Belmopan. Unfortunately, they decided to send us all the way to San Ignatio to get my plants inspected. This is a step that I luckily avoided in 2010. We drove all the way to San Ignatio, only to find that the inspector was out at a field site and we would be unable to get my inspection report until after lunch. So, we left the plants and my permits there. Then, Ernesto's truck would not start, so we sat around as he and Dad tried different things to get it to start. Then, we pushed it down a hill, but it still would not start. Finally, a nice man stopped and pulled Ernesto's truck down the road a bit, and it started right up. We had lunch in San Ignatio, and then went back to pick up my plants. Luckily, everything was done! Ernesto had to go back to Belmopan to get fertilizer for a friend, and then he dropped us off at Banana Bank. Tonight will be an evening full of packing, eating up food, and basking in some sun before we head back to winter wonderland.
Tomorrow, we head back to Belize City, and take Dad past the ocean, which he has been dying to see for about a week now. And then back to the states. I will return to finish up my dissertation research this summer. Hard to believe that my time at UIUC is coming to a close, and that my research is winding down. I could not have accomplished this trip without Ernesto, Cleofo, Mrs. Choc, Stanley, the lovely people at Banana Bank, and of course my dear old Dad. Until this summer!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Last weekend
Sundays, everything closes down in Belmopan pretty much, so Dad and I sat around Banana Bank all day doing odd jobs. We reorganized plants, watched some Star Trek, worked on the packing and food situation, and were generally lazy.
Today, we went into Belmopan, and that was our big adventure for today :). We had lunch at an Asian restaurant, and then got some odds and ends from the grocer. I had the classic donut from the awesome bakery that is close to the Bull Frog, and then we had coffee at the Bull Frog. It rained a lot today, so we alternated between draping our raincoats over our backpacks and sweating from high humidity! We got some novelty food items, like cheese, and that was pretty much our day. Tonight, Internet willing, we might watch another classic movie, like Jaws or The Sting. Otherwise, we will probably stuff our faces full of donuts and ramen and get our packs ready for my last "field day" tomorrow!
Today, we went into Belmopan, and that was our big adventure for today :). We had lunch at an Asian restaurant, and then got some odds and ends from the grocer. I had the classic donut from the awesome bakery that is close to the Bull Frog, and then we had coffee at the Bull Frog. It rained a lot today, so we alternated between draping our raincoats over our backpacks and sweating from high humidity! We got some novelty food items, like cheese, and that was pretty much our day. Tonight, Internet willing, we might watch another classic movie, like Jaws or The Sting. Otherwise, we will probably stuff our faces full of donuts and ramen and get our packs ready for my last "field day" tomorrow!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Cahal Pech and Xunantinich
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| Cahal Pech mound |
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| Dad on the same mound |
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| Plaza |
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| Dad on another mound |
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| Down a tunnel |
XUNANTINICH
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| Largest mound |
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| View from the middle level |
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| View from the top |
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| Overlooking the other mounds |
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| Dad with his classic pose |
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Long Day
I woke up late again today, a little before 8am! We took a taxi into Belmopan and arrived just as the bus to San Ignatio was loading, so we quickly purchased tickets and boarded. It was another rainy day, so all the windows were up in the bus. In addition, someone had taken it upon themselves to be the personal bus DJ, and they played really loud rap music from their phone. Further, I was sitting next to the window where someone had deposited some gum, and then a hair had gotten into it. Then, after my seat companion got off the bus, an old lady sat down next to me and she had one of the dreaded ants crawling around on her shirt, so I scooted as close to the window as I could.
We finally got to San Ignatio and wandered around the market a bit. Then, we went back to the shopping area and looked around again. As we were heading out to find a taxi to take us to the Maya site of Cahal Pech, one drove past and the driver yelled at us. So, we loaded in with 3 others that were already in the taxi and set off for Cahal Pech. On the way, the driver made us a deal if we would let him take us to both Cahal Pech and Xunantunich, another Maya site. Since I had never been to the second site, we agreed to his deal. As it turned out, he had a bit of a personal agenda in cutting us the deal. He lives near Xunantunich and he wanted to take his little girls from fried chicken from the big city :)
Cahal Pech was as memorable as ever, and it rained again. I have never seen Cahal Pech on a sunny day. Also, Dad ended up buying some things at the gift shop there, so it was a worth-while trip. Then, we took off for Xunantunich. We crossed on a ferry (that the ferry man pulled by hand) and the driver dropped us off for our trip around. The site was incredible, and much larger than Cahal Pech. We climbed to the top of the largest mound just as it started to drizzle again, so we ended up having to take it slowly on the way down. No use losing your footing on slick Maya stone stairs. Luckily, I had packed an umbrella that was given to me on the UIUC campus some years back by a campus fellowship group. Unfortunately, the umbrella is a tad broken. At Cahal Pech, we ran into a couple that were also stuck on the bus when the tire blew yesterday, and at Xunantunich, we ran into a girl who was also on that bus.
The driver of our taxi wanted to take us back to Banana Bank, and was trying to cut us a deal, but we decided to take the cheaper option via bus and were dropped off in San Ignatio again. We visited a few more shops, got online at a bar/grill and had some coffee, and got a few more items off of my list. At this point, it was past 4pm. I had wanted to go to a natural food type store that I had seen on the edge of town, and Dad was prepared for us to walk there, but I figured it was too late so we waited for a bus. Sure enough, as soon as we had boarded, it started really raining again. Also, at this point, the nice story of the day begins to take a turn for the worst.
I was very sick on the ride home. It was a combination of: the bad time of my month, a bad season to be driving in a school bus in, a bad time of the day to be without food, and tons of bad smells. My trip was a battle with my stomach and my head: I felt both nauseous and faint. We got back to Belmopan and I moved close to the door so that I could get some air. Then, we were dropped off at the Banana Bank road and began to walk, in the rain, down a long road with loads of deep puddles, at dusk. Around the first corner of our long walk, there was some guy dunking clothing and food into puddles. He looked very strange, and I am fairly certain that the things he had were not his own. Then, he looked up at us and asked where Belmopan was. At this point, both Dad and I became nervous, and walked fast to get away from him, after politely answering his question of course. I had, until this point, very much doubted that I could get Dad to move very fast at all. I will say now that he can almost outlast me. We moved very quickly through some very puddley areas, and needless to say our shoes, socks, and Dad's pants got soaked. We were high on adrenaline and looked behind us for signs of the strange little man, but saw nothing. Then, as we finally reached Banana Bank, it was dark. I yelled and Dad rung the gong on our side of the river until some poor American tourist came out in her shorts to assist us. She decided that, after walking all the way down to the river, she couldn't help us and went back to get someone else. She was gone for a short while, and returned to say that help was on its way. It started pouring and I found out that my umbrella also leaks on the inside. Poor Dad only had a rain jacket, which he draped over his backpack and head. After 30 minutes of heavy rain, mosquitoes, and no sign of life, the boat guy finally arrived. As it turned out, he was summoned from his home and had to drive over to Banana Bank, in the rain, and then pull the boat across to get us, with his flashlight clenched between his teeth.
It wasn't the most settling of days, and I am still without food. So, I think I will eat now :) Hopefully, tomorrow has less adventures!
We finally got to San Ignatio and wandered around the market a bit. Then, we went back to the shopping area and looked around again. As we were heading out to find a taxi to take us to the Maya site of Cahal Pech, one drove past and the driver yelled at us. So, we loaded in with 3 others that were already in the taxi and set off for Cahal Pech. On the way, the driver made us a deal if we would let him take us to both Cahal Pech and Xunantunich, another Maya site. Since I had never been to the second site, we agreed to his deal. As it turned out, he had a bit of a personal agenda in cutting us the deal. He lives near Xunantunich and he wanted to take his little girls from fried chicken from the big city :)
Cahal Pech was as memorable as ever, and it rained again. I have never seen Cahal Pech on a sunny day. Also, Dad ended up buying some things at the gift shop there, so it was a worth-while trip. Then, we took off for Xunantunich. We crossed on a ferry (that the ferry man pulled by hand) and the driver dropped us off for our trip around. The site was incredible, and much larger than Cahal Pech. We climbed to the top of the largest mound just as it started to drizzle again, so we ended up having to take it slowly on the way down. No use losing your footing on slick Maya stone stairs. Luckily, I had packed an umbrella that was given to me on the UIUC campus some years back by a campus fellowship group. Unfortunately, the umbrella is a tad broken. At Cahal Pech, we ran into a couple that were also stuck on the bus when the tire blew yesterday, and at Xunantunich, we ran into a girl who was also on that bus.
The driver of our taxi wanted to take us back to Banana Bank, and was trying to cut us a deal, but we decided to take the cheaper option via bus and were dropped off in San Ignatio again. We visited a few more shops, got online at a bar/grill and had some coffee, and got a few more items off of my list. At this point, it was past 4pm. I had wanted to go to a natural food type store that I had seen on the edge of town, and Dad was prepared for us to walk there, but I figured it was too late so we waited for a bus. Sure enough, as soon as we had boarded, it started really raining again. Also, at this point, the nice story of the day begins to take a turn for the worst.
I was very sick on the ride home. It was a combination of: the bad time of my month, a bad season to be driving in a school bus in, a bad time of the day to be without food, and tons of bad smells. My trip was a battle with my stomach and my head: I felt both nauseous and faint. We got back to Belmopan and I moved close to the door so that I could get some air. Then, we were dropped off at the Banana Bank road and began to walk, in the rain, down a long road with loads of deep puddles, at dusk. Around the first corner of our long walk, there was some guy dunking clothing and food into puddles. He looked very strange, and I am fairly certain that the things he had were not his own. Then, he looked up at us and asked where Belmopan was. At this point, both Dad and I became nervous, and walked fast to get away from him, after politely answering his question of course. I had, until this point, very much doubted that I could get Dad to move very fast at all. I will say now that he can almost outlast me. We moved very quickly through some very puddley areas, and needless to say our shoes, socks, and Dad's pants got soaked. We were high on adrenaline and looked behind us for signs of the strange little man, but saw nothing. Then, as we finally reached Banana Bank, it was dark. I yelled and Dad rung the gong on our side of the river until some poor American tourist came out in her shorts to assist us. She decided that, after walking all the way down to the river, she couldn't help us and went back to get someone else. She was gone for a short while, and returned to say that help was on its way. It started pouring and I found out that my umbrella also leaks on the inside. Poor Dad only had a rain jacket, which he draped over his backpack and head. After 30 minutes of heavy rain, mosquitoes, and no sign of life, the boat guy finally arrived. As it turned out, he was summoned from his home and had to drive over to Banana Bank, in the rain, and then pull the boat across to get us, with his flashlight clenched between his teeth.
It wasn't the most settling of days, and I am still without food. So, I think I will eat now :) Hopefully, tomorrow has less adventures!
Banana Bank
Valley of Peace
Final days at Yalbac
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