STREET SCENES FROM PLACENCIA, BELIZE

New favorite bar - The Pickled Parrot!

We missed the "End of the World Bash"

We've been the only boat at most of the anchorages. Where is everybody??
It's been incredibly quiet here in Belize

FINAL DAYS IN THE RIO DULCE

As much fun as the river has been, it is time to move on.

WORKIN' ON THE BOAT AT TORTUGAL MARINA, Rio Dulce

"Mucho trabajo" to get the boat back in shape for the cruising season. Dinghy leaks to be glued, stainless to be polished, solar panels to be put up, sails & rigging to be hoisted, teak to be sanded & varnished, cushions to be washed,  etc. etc. It takes at least 3 weeks to get everything back in order. Who says its all fun & games!!

A SPECIAL MAYAN CEREMONY IN QUIRIGUA, IZABAL. GUAT.

According to the Mayan calendar, the 13th B'ak'tun (144,000 days) marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. December 21, 2012 marks the beginning of this new era for The Mayans in Guatemala and there was a celebration held in one of the most interesting archeological sites in Izabal. Here we witnessed the "Family Blessing"
 

MAYAN BALL GAME

An unusual game of ball - a cross between volleyball & soccer, using only the hips, elbows & forearms (no hands or feet). The ball represented the moon & the sun & the court represented earth. The game itself was very sacred. According to ancient rituals, the losers were decapitated!
 

MAYAN CEREMONIAL DANCERS

Masked dances are a Maya tradition in Guatemala for many of the local festivals. There are around 30 different dances performed in the Maya pueblos of Guatemala. Some of the dances such as the Baile de Venado [deer dance] have their roots in the pre-conquest Maya culture.
 

THE RUINS OF MAYAN ESTELAS

The Mayan Stelas are a kind of monument to the Mayan culture of ancient Mesoamerica. The sculptures consist of  high carved stone with detailed  mayan images honoring their king. They date back to thousands of years ago.

RIO DULCE, GUATEMALA (click on photo to enlarge)

Tortugal Marina, where "Appleseeds" is now resting for the hurricane season. She deserves it after the 1800 miles that we just put her through!  (Come to think of it, so do we!!) We will see her again November 1, when we come back to the river, clean her up & head off to Belize.

DIVING ON OUR RETURN TO ROATAN

A juvenile drumfish,  me swimming with the turtles, a green moray eel,  a midnight parrot fish, crab & grouper.

CAYMAN ISLANDS

 

Left Cienfuegos, Cuba, and travelled overnight, arriving at Cayman Islands. Stayed 5 days. Beautiful "7 Mile Beach", but waaaay too many cruise ships. At one point, there were 15,000 people roaming around the little town!!Headed back to Roatan via Swan Island, another over-nighter.
 

STREET TROUBADOURS (Trinidad, Cuba)

 

TEXTILES AT THE MARKET

 

WELCOME TO TRINIDAD, CUBA

Trinidad is a perfectly preserved Spanish settlement, but  in 1988, Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site & the tourists come by the busloads now. We found the street hustlers to be just a bit too annoying for our liking, but the historical element was enchanting.

 

 

 

ARRIVING IN HAVANA (click on any photo to enlarge)

Havana was once a stunnning city, but much of it now is in disrepair. Some of the areas are under restoration & those buildings are beautiful. The strrets are full of tourists, mostly Europeans &  Canadian. The people here are incredibly friendly, which makes it a wonderful city to visit.

POPE BENEDICT IN HAVANA

 

THE FACES OF CUBA

 

 

BLACK & WHITE - (it seems only appropriate)

 

 

STREET SCENES IN HAVANA