More Hummingbirds!

Everything happens in clusters! Our next door neighbor, Shirley, has a hummingbird nest in a tiny little tree in her front yard. Very easy to get some amazing photos. The nest is the size of half a chicken egg! Updates to follow...

Hummingbird Hospital...

Yesterday, Karen was in our gigantic (well, it is pretty big) living room palapa, and a hummingbird wandered in under the edge of the roof and became confused and trapped in the peaked roof area. It eventually exhausted itself and plopped on a reclining chair to rest! Problem is... it couldn't find its way out. It just kept wanting to fly higher. It became so pooped, that she decided to feed the poor thing to get energy enough for us to let him/her loose. So, in Karen goes to the Hummingbird Hospital (our kitchen) and proceeeds to hand feed it with an eye-dropper. It was just amazing watching the looong tongue dart out hungrily to get sugar water! So, after one attempt at release and another "refueling" it finally had the energy to soar off in the sky!

Little Bit's Dilemma...

While trying to doze off last night, Karen and I began to notice Little Bit (our Belizean Chihuahua mix) acting strangely, and scratching a lot. She was just about getting frantic; couldn't keep still and scratch, scratch, scratch. Finally Karen had a better look and saw a puppy with hives... swollen face and all! Pretty strange (and funny) looking. Don't have a clue what she had an allergic reaction to, but 5 or 6 mg of Benadryl and a little bit of Prednisone (steroid) quieted things down very quickly. About 30 minutes after the Benadryl... you could hear the "contentments" and "thank you Mommies" coming from that little dog! The pics are the "morning after" since I didn't screw my head on to get shots during the acute phase at midnight last night! Notice the "jowls" that are definitely not a normal part of her anatomy!

Whale Shark Season

Guests of The Maine Stay have had wonderful experiences diving and snorkeling in Placencia, but none can surpass the thrill of seeing and being close to a whale shark. These pictures were taken by Bryan White, one of our guests in 2008.

For those folks planning their trip to Placencia, the hub of Whale Shark activity in Belize, here are the time slots associated with the full moon. The Destinations Belize website has wonderful detail.

WHALE SHARK TIME SLOTS 2009:
* 9 MARCH - 20 MARCH
* 7 APRIL - 18 APRIL
* 7 MAY - 18 MAY
* 5 JUNE - 16 JUNE

Friends of Nature in Belize also has more details on whale shark activity.

Color... sometimes needs to be a big SPLASH!

Euphorbia millii

Common name: Crown of Thorns, Christ Crown, Rosa (Corona) Espinas
Scientific name: Euphorbia milii (old name: E. splendens)
The Crown of Thorns is a member of the Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)

Dragon Fly

Swarms of dragon flies frequently appear... not bothering anything. Then there are the Monarch butterflies that I have to get shots of.

Belize Light Show

These three images were taken over the space of no more than 5 minutes...

Hidden Treasures

IMG_1239_2
Originally uploaded by traversbelize

I was at a friend's house and looking at the "ordinary" stuff that get's collected over the years of living in Belize... check out what's inside.

Quash (Coatamundi)

There are a surprising number of these interesting creatures on the Peninsula. One of our neighbors treats this one as a semi-pet, so it hangs around a lot and loves to patrol the fence around our house. Of course, this drives our dogs absolutely nuts. Read about these critters highlighted at the Belize Zoo here.

Contrasts...

Every once in a while, a moment comes along that makes a great photograph. Early one morning, at the end of the Placencia Airstrip, one of those moments presented itself...

Osprey...

Our immediate neighbor on the beach, John Ford, took this incredible photo of an Osprey perched in the whispering pine tree in their beach yard. I hope this is indicative of us beginning to see more of these magnificent creatures around the area.

photo by John Ford

cartoon

Traveler Palm

I hadn't really done any research on the so-called Traveler Palm plant. It's actually a member of Bird of Paradise family and the leaves look like a banana plant. We have more than a dozen of these very large growing specimens and have learned to propagate them by carefully digging up the "babies" that sprout at the base of the plant and sticking them right back in the sand with some good soil amendment. More information here.

Airline Travel

Seth Godin writes a marketing blog that is very popular. He takes on the airline/airport/government mess today with some thoughts that will have you shaking your head with agreement.

Belize Heaven

Well, let's see what everyone thinks of my first video.
Music by Taliesin Orchestra... "Caribbean Blue."

How long do you suppose the guy with the big nose has been waiting for someone to come by and notice him?


And then there's the toothy grin just waiting for the right camera angle...

Placencia, Belize Beach Happiness!

After running and playing on the beach, the kids shared some treats that Dad just "happened" to find! From the looks on their faces... all is well.

Mom and Dad and Zack head back to Maine tomorrow. It's hard to believe that two weeks have flown by so quickly.

Their will be lots more pictures of the other adventures...

Do It Again, Dad!

We have been having some hot days, so lunch and a swim at the pool at Bella Maya was an easy choice for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Kevin will get some pictures posted of his great day out fishing with John Ford. Check those and others here and here.

Laughingbird Caye

When you can go to a great place like Laughingbird Caye and swim with Mommy and Grammy... it's a good day!

Zack is here... and all fired up!

One of the first things that is necessary after you arrive in Belize, is making sure that the equipment is running properly and that the sand can be moved around to make the infrastructure work properly. Do you suppose Albert may be getting some competition?




If the boss is taking a morning snack break, it's important to make sure any crumbs that are left over get cleaned up immediately by the hired help.




Then, after lunch, it's very important to rejuvenate from the heat and make sure you are ready to carry on for the rest of the day...



So that the afternoon siesta is comfortable...

Zack Is Coming!

Our 4 year old grandson (and his mom and dad) arrive today. His dad, Kevin, is a graphic designer and artist at Bowdoin College in Maine... so naturally enough Zack will have his own digital journal to record his Belize Adventures. The cover design is a gem. This should be a great visit. Marcia (Zack's mom) and Karen will have their hands full with all the paparazzi around!

Belize Chocolate!!

For quite a while now, I have been planning to write a piece on my addiction to chocolate and my difficulty in finding sources of the "really good stuff" in Belize. It was meant to be witty, humorous and filled with irony and sarcasm... since one of the best sources of great chocolate is now just a few steps down the road from us! Well, much to my delight (and chagrin) someone beat me to it. Check out this wonderful blog entry about Goss Organic Chocolate.

Class Act: BELIZE

Sometimes, as I stumble around looking at various news stories, blog entries and pictures about various trips, tours, and other less easily classified adventures in Belize... I find something that strikes a note of heightened credibility. An article in today's New Orleans Times-Picayune, written by a group of journalism students, captures more of the real flavor of Belize than most.

Mom's Lap is Too Small...

It has become a part of the morning routine for Little Bit to jump on Karen's lap during our coffee time. It's important to have a place to rest your chin!

Bandolero-Tequila Agave... Yes, it's what they make tequila from!

For a long time we have been using what we call "Bandolero" plants in our landscaping. These are a succulent that comes from the Agave family and there are several types. The most common in Belize and the rest of Central America is the Tequila Agave. This is the first one we have seen shooting up a blossom spike and we are suitably impressed with the size of both the plant and the spike (about 20 feet). Unfortunately, after it truly blossoms, it will die.

Photography in Belize

Well... the joy of being an amateur photographer in Belize is hard to beat. In this age of affordable digital cameras, even a klutz can take decent pictures. I've put together a sampling of My Favorites. Maybe it will inspire just one of you to get that camera out and shoot!

Belize Tourism Industry

Tourism is fast becoming the leading economic engine of the country. [4] In a recent speech to the Belize tourism industry, Prime Minister Dean Barrow said:

"The World Travel and Tourism Council has reported that the tourism industry is responsible for 297 million jobs worldwide. It contributes over 8 trillion dollars to the global GDP. In Belize, over 25% of all jobs is tourism-driven or tourism-related, with the industry directly responsible for over 18% of our GDP. According to the Central Bank, tourism last year accounted for 590 million dollars in revenue. This figure was up 90 million over the previous year, despite the effects of Hurricanes Dean and Felix on the industry generally and the cruise sector in particular. And tourism is now, and has been for some time, our number one foreign exchange earner. In other words, ladies and gentlemen, tourism is for Belize very serious business indeed."

Key Note Belize City - 15 May, 2008 - Biltmore Plaza Hotel - Address by Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow to the 10th Annual Industry Presentation.

Placencia Road Contract Signed

Official News Release from The Government of Belize.

Ministry of Works
Signing Ceremony for Placencia Road Project

Belmopan - 11 July, 2008
Official signing ceremonies were held today at the Inn at Robert’s Grove for the upgrading of the Placencia Road between the Government of Belize and Cisco Construction Limited. Upgrading will be done to approximately twenty (20) miles of road between mile 21 on the Southern Highway Junction and the community of Placencia passing thru Maya Beach, Riversdale, Seine Bight and ending at the Placencia Airstrip.

Present at today’s signing was the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean Barrow. He expressed that he was proud to be a part of history that will realize a project that was initially introduced by the UDP Government in 1998. He thanked the contractor and anticipates that the completion of the project will bring more tourism development in Placencia. Other guest also included the Minister of Works, Hon. Anthony “Boot” Martinez, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Manuel Heredia and Minister of Transport and Area Representative for Stann Creek West, Hon. Melvin Hulse.

The Civil works will consist of the construction of an embankment, side drains, concrete drainage structures and a double lane bituminous running surface. Sidewalks will be provided through the urban areas of Maya Beach and Seine Bight as will pedestrian crossings, speed control devices and lay by facilities for Bus Stops. The contract also includes the construction of a new Multi-purpose facility that will replace the existing Seine Bight Community Center.

The Project is being funded in the amount of BZ$25,881,550.73 by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Belize. Works have already commenced on the road project and should be completed within a twenty-six (26) months construction period.

Tikal, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech & El Pilar

http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/latinamerica/articles/2008/07/06/guatemala_treasures_maya_ruins_and_their_rich_history/

Belize's western Cayo District borders Guatemala and there are several Maya ruins in the general vicinity. The district is a 90-minute drive from Belize City International Airport.

What to do

Tikal National Park tikalpark.com This ruin of more than 3,000 buildings was home to an estimated 100,000 Mayans and is located in Guatemala, about 50 miles northwest of its border with western Belize's Cayo District. The drive from the town of San Ignacio in that district is almost entirely on dirt roads and takes about two hours. The Lodge at Chaa Creek offers a full-day guided tour for 1-4 people at $275 per person, which includes transportation, lunch, and visa/entry fees.

Xunantunich Reached by a hand-cranked ferry ride across the Mopan River, this important ceremonial center features "El Castillo," a monument that is among the tallest buildings in Belize, and an exceptional stucco carving of Maya deities. The ferry is located on the Western Highway in the village of San Jose Succotz in the Cayo District. Chaa Creek offers this tour for $100 per person.

Cahal Pech This site is located in the Cayo District on a hill overlooking San Ignacio. Its center is made up of 34 structures, the tallest of which is 77 feet high. Dating to 1200 B.C., it is one of the earliest Maya settlements in the Maya lowlands.

El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna Located north of Bullet Tree Falls in the Cayo District, and about 10 miles from San Ignacio, this site affords incredible views of the Belize River Valley. El Pilar is 32 miles from Tikal. Chaa Creek's tour is $135 per person.

Placencia Airstrip Caution Sign

As I pass by the Airstrip almost daily to go to the Village, I barely even notice this sign... but the tourists just love it. I bet it is the most photographed sign on the entire Peninsula.

What is for certain is the need to pay attention to the warning... sometimes the planes are fully loaded and need every bit of that airstrip that we drive around the end of so casually !

Placencia Peninsula Road

All of us are hoping that getting rid of the pot hole riddled stretch of pavement through Seine Bight Village is just the beginning of things to come for the Peninsula! Here are some pictures and a short video as equipment worked in front of The Maine Stay. It's the "little things" in Belize that matter.

The paving of the Peninsula Road has been on the Belize government's "to do" list of promises for years. It has finally been funded and work is expected to start "soon." We are all just waiting for the that magic appearance of the real equipment and the job to begin!

Without doubt, the paving of the road will transform the Peninsula... for good and probably a little not so good. Placement of "speed bumps" will certainly be a crucial element in keeping traffic under some semblance of control.

Belize - Make Time for the Adventure of your Life

Here is a 3 minute trailer of the new Belize Tourist Board's promotional video for the tourism industry in Belize. This clip by Naturalight Productions is one of the best we've seen on Belize. Show it to your friends. Click on the title above or this link to play.