Xunantunich

On Saturday, we crossed the river and visited Xunantunich. It is a very pretty site about 15 minutes away from San Ignacio and the ferry to cross the river is located on the banks of Succotz. We climbed to the top of the tallest pyramid, El Castillo, and sat and looked at the view. From the top of El Castillo you can see Guatemala and the Chaa Creek Farm. Here are some pictures!



Walking to the pyramid


So tired on the steps


Sitting at the top of El Castillo


A view from the top!

Dangriga and the Gulisi Garifuna Museum

So, I know I mentioned the Museum and trip to Dangriga in the previous blog, but I feel that the trip deserves it's own entry. Our first stop of the day was at the Gulisi Garifuna Museum. We were given a tour and learned a lot of new information. Some of the display pieces Picture of Women doing a traditional dance Illustration of Drumming Large Wall of Fishing
At the Museum we were treated to Garifuna drumming and singing. Eventually everyone was dancing.


And then we made it to the beach!

Week 2

Maaan, too much is going on. It is so hard to keep this updated. Last week I had my homestay and service learning experience. It was amazing. I have so many pictures it will be hard to pick which to post.
My homestay was in the Maya village of San Jose de Succotz. On the first night I stayed at the Trek Stop. The Trek Stop is an Eco friendly hotel. It was different but interesting. The shower water is collected rainwater and the toilets are composting. It was a lot like camping.
Then in the morning I went to the Learning Center where I worked with children for a few hours. The children are all out of school for the summer and the learning center provides a safe place for children to gather and interact while learning. It truly is an amazing place.
That night I had my homestay. I was staying with a woman named Marisol, her mother and two children and they were all very sweet. Her daughter is only 2 months old and her name is Stephanie as well. I had really good home cooked meals while I was with Marisol. It was a great experience.
On Thursday the Foothill group took a trip down the coast to a Garifuna museum and then to the beach. It was a fun trip and the museum was small but interesting. The beach was great because the water was shallow and warm. Then a small group of us played Frisbee. All in all, it was a great day.
Yesterday, some of the Foothill group visited El Aguacate, the site where we do out archaeology. After a short day we visited El Aguacate Dos and then called it a day. We all came home and took showers and got ready for dinner and lecture. After dinner and lecture, we went out to the local Karaoke bar and then to good old Fayawata. It was a great week.
My Host Family


Some of the Students from the Learning Center


Me in the Trek Stop


Sunset at the Trek Stop


Inside the Learning Center

What I Have Been Up To

Hello there!

It has been 4 days since I last wrote. I'm so tired that all I really want to do is take a nap. Let me see if I can remember everything that I have done in the last few days. On Thursday we went to part of the Archaeological Symposium that is held in different places every year. This year it was held in San Ignacio which was convenient for us. Then half of the Foothill group got to visit the village of San Jose Succotz, which is where we will be doing our homestay and service learning projects. It was really fun. Then when I got back to Midas I discovered I had a colony of tiny black ants in my suitcase and room. Not fun. I had to shake all of my clothes out on the balcony. That's one way to unpack!
On Friday I spent all day at the symposium and got rub elbows with some of the most well known Mayanists. After the symposium was over I walked back to Midas with other staff members and got ready to go to Succotz again for a traditional Mestizo dinner that served as an introduction to our host families. Marisol is the name of the woman I will be staying with and she has a 12 year old son named Marlon and a 2 month old daughter named Stephanie! That will be easy to remember. I'm really excited. I also decided that I would like to participate in the "Learning Center" as my service learning project. More about that later.
After dinner we all went back to Hodes and after changing I headed over to the big banquet that was being held because of the symposium. Everyone was dancing and there was a lot of drinking and plenty of fun and good music.
The next morning we all had to be at breakfast by 7:30 and on the bus to Caracol by 8. It was a long bus ride but well worth it. Caracol is amazing and is the largest Maya site in Belize and is home to the larges man made structure in the country. Caana, or the Sky Palace, is beautiful. I got a sunburn while sitting at the top of the pyramid.
On our way home from Caracol we stopped at Rio On, which are naturally occurring waterfalls and rock pools. They act as natural water slides and are really refreshing after a long day at Caracol.Rio On is in the Pine Ridge Forrest which looks very similar to Northern California as far as the vegetation. It is a very beautiful area.
The staff went out for dinner last night and then most came back to my room to watch the Futbol game and then it was time for bed. Before I was actually asleep though, another staff member knocked on my door and informed me that one of the Foothill students was injured on the dance floor. So, today I took another trip to La Loma Luz and the prognosis was not good. She has to go back tomorrow to speak with a specialist but she will probably unable to participate in many of the activities that are planned for a while. Now I am being lazy in my hotel room and I think I will take nap before dinner.

The Butterfly Farm at The Trek Stop

San Jose Succotz, A Modern Day Maya Village

A Traditional Mestizo Meal

Sitting on Top of Caana, the "Sky Palace". It is the tallest man made building in Belize.

Rio On, Waterfalls and Pools