Xunantunich 4/8/19
So there’s really not anything that can be much more impressive to me than climbing ancient Mayans ruins....Except for the fact to get there is on horseback... past toucans in the treetops...howler monkeys lazing on branches overhead...massive iguanas zipping here and there on the ground and in treetops!! Add in crossing on a river ferry with the horses... past turtles and waterways with elegant water lilies... OK I’ll stop you get the picture😊
(It was funny however having cars stopped to take pictures of us as though we were part of the attraction. I could only imagine how jealous I would have been had I been in the car and not on horseback!)
So yes that that was our day ...let me tell you a little more...
We got on the water taxi first thing in the morning for a one hour boat ride...
Next we were picked up by Brenton from Untame Belize. Rose, our agent arranged for him to meet us..and there he was, with a sign saying "KATY JENSSEN" looking a little worried when we came a little late after stopping for a muc needed cup of coffee. ( totally recommend Untame Belize if you want to come down here and explore )
So then off we went on a two hour ride to the ranch by the ruins.
The drive was such a great way to see the country...I was glad we didn't rent a car as I would have had to watch the Mario Cart style road conditions and not just soak it all in. Lane lines, overrated...
Arriving was exciting seeing all the livestock including goats and sheep and cows and horses! LOTS of them surrounded by huge lush green pastures.
These didn't look like many third world country horses, but well cared for and very healthy horses, with well trimmed hooves.... which always makes me feel better about riding them… My horse actually was named Tequila, ironic since I love tequila, and was a retired racehorse. She's not on the track now, but soon to be bred since her last baby is doing very well!
Isn't she cute?
She was well big, beautiful, healthy, well-behaved and the personal horse of our guide, Manuel, who was a racehorse trainer and jockey.
Gwen had a little spitfire named Sally that seemed to enjoy pushing the limits whenever possible. Gwen held her own, though and did not get run off with or dumped!
It was about an hour and a half ride up… And it felt so great to be in the saddle again!! The trails led riverside, through wooded contryside as we made our way to the ruins.
I wasn't kidding about the iguanas..they were everywhere but luckily it was not iguana hunting season!!!
Once we got there we tied up the horses, we met our guide Alysen (Mayan, Spanish and Lebanese) he took us on an amazing tour of the ruins-- we learned so much! The Mayans were to organized and what pressure it was on the rulers to keep the people happy...even to the point of sacrificing humans and letting of their own blood to appease the public during drought times. Walking in history like that is pretty overwhelming ...giving me a whole new sense of my place in the world.
The ride down the hill worked up or appetite for the ranch lunch prepared… A rather elegant and tasty duck meal that kind of surprised us all at the meat choice! Brenton kind of ate it with one eyebrow up..never having had duck. We both started to become very attached to him as our hours together increased. He was open and friendly and in a relationship that both Gwen and I would describe as a train wreck. It was hard to see because he was such a great guy..(kind of like my Belizean son making bad choices...and I could only wince!) His girlfriend was very young, very jealous, very manipulating..and also VERY PREGNANT! (Later we learned from his sister that she wasn't convinced the baby was his...as she announced she knew when she was two weeks pregnant...hmmmmmm)
Anyway enjoyed our ranchstyle lunch..and I, of course, loved the tile floors...The lush gardens and tropical flowers reminded us we were still near the rain forest. Gwen, of course, fell in love with the ranch cat who had recently had three kittens :)
Cool sink, isn't it? I'd like one of these in my yurt one day!
Love the tiles!
After we fill our bellies, thanked our jockey guide Manuel and we headed back down to Belize City to catch the water taxi ...Gwen got to see Amish or perhaps Mennonites hauling potatoes on the laneless roads amongst the Belizean drivers who say, speed limit signs are just decorations!
We learned a lot about the Mennonite communities down here. The were originally from Canada...moved to Mexico to avoid govenment issues...then to Belize for the same reason. There are very strict Mennonites, and others not so strict. Most speak German and live very segregated and are into large farming operations, providing most of the countries poultry, rice and beans. Some live even without rubber wheels, just steel and then horses for production. Other have very modern ag equipment. Some no tv, radio, music, dancing...all dressing alike. Others practice more loosely, but you can spot them a mile away here in the Mayan/Creole/Mestizo/Mexican/Garifuna( originally colonies of escaped slaves), and even Chinese mix of people.
The Chinese we have met here have all been grocery store owners, and they don't seem to happy and are not good about keeping that to themselves. The almost seem out of place in this smiley, happy, relaxed environment. I would like to spend more time with them and have tried to make conversation in the stores to see if this is just a cultural impression they give, but I do feel an attitude of superiority, or almost that I am an annoyance when I purchase at the stores?
Guess he said something wrong to his wife,ha
And the moment we stepped off the boat grab the golf cart taxi and paid him to take us to the cevicherria where we both got the healthy size plate of conch ceviche to take home !!!
Right now we are laying so my comatose unwinding and resting up for tomorrow which will bring even further adventures !!!!
Sorry for the brief blogs either we are doing way too much and using our last bits of energy or I’m
getting old LOL
Maybe a little bit of both🤣
(It was funny however having cars stopped to take pictures of us as though we were part of the attraction. I could only imagine how jealous I would have been had I been in the car and not on horseback!)
So yes that that was our day ...let me tell you a little more...
We got on the water taxi first thing in the morning for a one hour boat ride...
Next we were picked up by Brenton from Untame Belize. Rose, our agent arranged for him to meet us..and there he was, with a sign saying "KATY JENSSEN" looking a little worried when we came a little late after stopping for a muc needed cup of coffee. ( totally recommend Untame Belize if you want to come down here and explore )
So then off we went on a two hour ride to the ranch by the ruins.
Arriving was exciting seeing all the livestock including goats and sheep and cows and horses! LOTS of them surrounded by huge lush green pastures.
These didn't look like many third world country horses, but well cared for and very healthy horses, with well trimmed hooves.... which always makes me feel better about riding them… My horse actually was named Tequila, ironic since I love tequila, and was a retired racehorse. She's not on the track now, but soon to be bred since her last baby is doing very well!
Isn't she cute? 
Gwen had a little spitfire named Sally that seemed to enjoy pushing the limits whenever possible. Gwen held her own, though and did not get run off with or dumped!
It was about an hour and a half ride up… And it felt so great to be in the saddle again!! The trails led riverside, through wooded contryside as we made our way to the ruins.
I wasn't kidding about the iguanas..they were everywhere but luckily it was not iguana hunting season!!!
Climbing up, we couldn't help but notice how tall the steps up were...the Mayans designed the steps up to the structures to require you to bow in respect as you walk up them due to their height. Up we went, then resting at the top of the talled structure, El Castillo. We spent an hour and a half in awe of our views and surroundings... probably my favorite part being quietly sitting on top and quietly relaxing and taking in this magical space.
All too soon is ready to saddle back up.
Anyway enjoyed our ranchstyle lunch..and I, of course, loved the tile floors...The lush gardens and tropical flowers reminded us we were still near the rain forest. Gwen, of course, fell in love with the ranch cat who had recently had three kittens :)
Cool sink, isn't it? I'd like one of these in my yurt one day!
Love the tiles!We learned a lot about the Mennonite communities down here. The were originally from Canada...moved to Mexico to avoid govenment issues...then to Belize for the same reason. There are very strict Mennonites, and others not so strict. Most speak German and live very segregated and are into large farming operations, providing most of the countries poultry, rice and beans. Some live even without rubber wheels, just steel and then horses for production. Other have very modern ag equipment. Some no tv, radio, music, dancing...all dressing alike. Others practice more loosely, but you can spot them a mile away here in the Mayan/Creole/Mestizo/Mexican/Garifuna( originally colonies of escaped slaves), and even Chinese mix of people.
The Chinese we have met here have all been grocery store owners, and they don't seem to happy and are not good about keeping that to themselves. The almost seem out of place in this smiley, happy, relaxed environment. I would like to spend more time with them and have tried to make conversation in the stores to see if this is just a cultural impression they give, but I do feel an attitude of superiority, or almost that I am an annoyance when I purchase at the stores?
Guess he said something wrong to his wife,ha
Stopped for gas and from a vendor...Seaweed/peanut milk and tamarindo juice..YUMMMM! Then we said our goodbyes to Brendon for th day and made our way to the water taxi.
Tired and ready to be home we endured the one hour boat ride back to the 'island'… Gwen grateful for the watermelon pillow we picked up from the roadside fruit stand!
And the moment we stepped off the boat grab the golf cart taxi and paid him to take us to the cevicherria where we both got the healthy size plate of conch ceviche to take home !!!
Right now we are laying so my comatose unwinding and resting up for tomorrow which will bring even further adventures !!!!
Sorry for the brief blogs either we are doing way too much and using our last bits of energy or I’m
getting old LOL
Maybe a little bit of both🤣
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