We got up pretty early today, but since we went to bed so early the night before, most of us felt pretty good. We had arranged for a taxi driver to pick us up at the hotel at 7:00 am to take us to Xunantinch, a Maya ruin. In order to reach the site, you have to take a hand-cranked ferry. Gessner didn't believe that a vehicle could be transported that way, so he owes me and Sky five bucks!
When we arrived, the site was still closed and we had to wait. We decided to run overs to Benny's Kitchen for a bite to eat. The restaurant wasn't open, but they let us in anyway. I ordered beans and tortillas, which were delicious and only cost $3 Belize, or $1.50 U.S. The others had empanadas which were only 50 cents U.S. for 2! Our entire breakfast for the four of us, including fresh squeezed OJ, was only $10 U.S.
After Benny's we went back to the bridge and were able to cross. The taxi drove us the last mile up to the ticket booth and we bought our tickets to the site from armed military guards. Apparently the security is pretty tight there because it is so close to the Guatamalan border.
We also met a very cute dog that was hanging out with the guards. Dogs seem to be everywhere here...just wandering around the streets. They are quiet, not barking much. Clane mentioned this to one of the guards, and he said that their barks are silent, but there bites are not!
We took a short walk up to the site. We were the first visitors there and we decided to do it without a guide. Xunantunich (pronounced "Shun-an-tun-ich") means "Stone Maiden" in Maya, though it is believed that the original name for the site was Kat Witz or "clay mountain." Xunantunich was first explored in the 1890s. It includes 5 plazas. The tallest building in the city is known as El Castillo and it is 40 meters high.
The ruins were beautiful and it was so neat to be there alone. We climbed up onto the ruin. It was amazing to be sitting on something that was built 1500 years ago. Xunantinch was Because we were the only ones there, we were able to explore and do just about whatever we want. Gessner and I decided to go to one of the buildings across the way from the one that Clane and Sky were at. Apparently Clane took a nap and Sky just sat and relaxed. On our building, Gessner meditated and I wrote in my journal. It was relaxing to be in such a place, just taking it all in. It was a great way to start the day!
We had arranged for the taxi driver to meet us at 10:30 am, so we headed back to the entrance and checked out the gift shop. Gess and I spent some time looking at the gift shop and talking to the guards. When the driver picked us up and took us back to the main road, we also stopped at some vendors that were now lined up on the street selling there goods. There was a lot of jewelry made mostly out of seeds. There were also clothes and other handmade goods. We stopped and got a few souvenirs and chatted with the locals.
Instead of taking us back to the hotel we asked the taxi driver to drop us off at a local restaurant for some Belizean food. He took us to a place called Elvira's. Gess ordered the whole fish--it was probably a snapper and it was very tasty. The rest of us had burritos, which were delicious. Our waiter was also very friendly, making jokes with us and teasing us.
Our taxi driver met us in town and took us back to the hotel so that we could get ready for our caving canoeing trip. Our tour guide met us at 1:30 and we set out for Barton Creek Cave. Barton Creek Cave is about an hour away from San Ignacio by car. The drive goes through Mennonite farm land. We saw several farmers and families on our drive there and they were all friendly. We also drove by orange and grapefruit fields. The drive was beautiful. We arrived at the opening of the cave. The cave is an archaeological site that is reachable only by boat. We got into two canoes. Clane and Sky in one and Gess, the guide, and I in the other. Inside you see many formations--absolutely breathtaking. Stalagmites and stalactites are everywhere, shining like crystal from the water droplets on the ends of them. Pottery and other artifacts have been discovered in the cave and you can see some pieces of it there. You can also see a human skull that is embedded in one of the sides of the cave. The Maya used the cave for burial ceremonies, with the underground cave representing the underworld and its seven levels. The site is simply breathtaking and really indescribable--you must check it out!
After the canoeing trip, Gess and I took a little swim, which ended in a splash fight and him dunking me into the water. It was fun and reminded me of being a kid!
Outside of the cave the restaurant/bar there has a spider monkey named Mango. We fed bananas to her and Gess unsuccessfully tried to pick her up. We also saw a Toucan that the owner said was injured in a storm.
The driver dropped us off in town and we had dinner at Hannah's. The food was okay, but nothing too spectacular. I did have a slice of lemon meringue pie that was wonderful though--not too sweet and not too tart and nice fluffy meringue. Gess also had some flan that was, in his words, "to die for." After dinner we walked around town a bit and then made our way back to the hotel.
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