Cahel Pech and Xunantunich
Thursday March 27
Following the canoe trip we returned to San Ignatio, and stayed at the best accomodation yet. The inn was built on a hilltop to the west of the city near the Mayan ruins of Cahel Pech. It overlooked the valley from an open air veranda/dining room at tree-top level giving a beautiful view of the flowering bushes and the birds. Again Bill was ecstatic!
Our rooms were thatched cabanas each with a hammock in the front. The Hammocks were well used.
The previous day we had Martin arrange to have Tony take us to the Botanical Gardens and Xunantunich. He arrived, with his wife and a driver in a pick-up truck. We climbed into the back and headed west about 20 miles on the highway.
The tomb is the highest building in all of Belize — being that it is built on a high hill — and affords a great 360 view.
On one side a full width frieze has been reconstructed - same technique as we found at Caracol
Just before we caught the hand cranked ferry (in the background) back across the Mecal River, we saw this fella lazing in the tree
After Xunantunich, we had lunch and a Belikin, found this rooster for Crystal's Mom to paint, tried to avoid stepping on his chick underfoot or the tiny puppy wandering about. Then we took in the Belize botanical gardens. This was not the best time of year for this but, hey - who knows if we'll ever be back and it was interesting all the same.
When we returned to our rooms, we had a Belikin - (it was a very hot day) - rested up and then took in our last Mayan ruin - just 100 yds away.
It had the best museum we'd seen, was a smaller site but interesting in that it was not as restored as many and showed how the jungle enveloped it.