IT’S SO NEW TO ME, WHAT YOU DO TO ME!

British Honduras, renamed Belize on September 21, 1981, the day they became independent and separate from Great Britain.

(approaching Belize, the port is not deep enough to dock so must use tenders, I call them liberty launches)

I remember a Petty Officer Walker, I worked with  who was always working on a city layout for Belize. He wanted to go there and develop, Thus sitting up a small area for his church, the LDS. I don’t know if Walker ever achieved his dream or not, but he worked toward it.

(below is from the tender as we went ashore)

Anyway that was the first I had heard of Belize. Belize is a poor country with a rich heritage. At one time it was famous for it’s Mahogany. Now the chief export is sugar and the main hiring industry is the banana industry.

Our main interest in Belize is the Mayan Ruins of xxxxx. This proved to be the first mistake of mine, on the tour. I prepaid a company called ‘portpromotions.com’ for an excursion to the ‘Ruins of Altun Ha’. Wewere supposed to meet under a sign ‘The Best of the Caribbean’. The sign was not there, we waited for 3 hours going on 4. In the mean time folks would call the tour company via phone for us and say they were on their way.

This guy seemed to be the muscle around, he worked for  ‘Butts UP’ tours. He also called and said they would be there.

We were the last to leave, but leave we did, with a sweet young lady and a driver who is kin to Richard Petty (LOL),

Our first stop in the van was a Gas station, read it and weep, less than 5 gallons is $49.61, $10.81 a gallon!!!

This was my girl friend in the seat ahead of me. She kept making eyes at me. Her grandpa sat beside me.

Today Sept 21 is their Independence Day, so a big parade and stores mostly closed, we were able to get out of town avoiding the parade.

Shops closed along the way.

I could not understand the tour guide (English is the official language of Belize, the only Central American country where this is true).  Sherry said there were 4 major highways in Belize and we were going to travel Two of them. WOW! Are you ready for this?? This horse is loose,

And that bus ahead is on a two way highway. Richard Petty, our driver, drove on this 10 ft wide road, managing to pass busses, carts and cars. Approaching head on, just before an apparent collision, both would drop off on the shoulder and skin by. I loved it!!!

Some sites along the road to Altun Ha.

Shacks and huts along the way. And a scary looking tree with something akin to a parasite cactus. It looked like a tree full of snakes to me.

Our first mound at the ruins was this very high altar. No human sacrifices were made at Altun Ha.

Views of the ball field (the game a combo of Soccer and basket ball.) Bad news here. The winners of the game were beheaded. The Mayans believed they should sacrifice only the best to the gods.  (I betcha I would not have played too well!! lol)

#83 is the lowest of the ruins and below is the highest of the temple ruins.

She says I always take pictures of her hinny, You take pictures of what you like, and I like hers!!, besides I am usually behind. We are climbing the highest Temple now.

A view from the top.

This stop is going into extra innings, I will continue The Altun Ha ruins tomorrow!

Thanks for coming with us.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Did I read this sign right?

On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK).

??Car of the day??

This is a 1950’s Chrysler product, either a plymouth or a dodge. do you know? I have forgotten.