As rain put an end to our planned paddle to the Belize Botanic Gardens at a nearby lodge, we had to settle for plan B - a taxi (or at least a four door pick-up). At $15 each way, it seemed a bit steep, but so were the muddy hills we covered on the four mile journey.
Thankfully, the sun started to smile on us as we headed for the entrance to the self guided trail.
We didn't know what to expect but we spent the next hour and a half looking at a wonderful range of trees, shrubs, flowers and orchids.
All of which were cleverly and wittily described in the handbook we were given. For example, do you know why cashew nuts are so expensive? The cashew tree bears fruit (which can be eaten and made into wine - tasted later that evening) which have a single nut on the bottom. Also the leaves from the buttonwood tree are used in ritual baths to cure a spiritual sickness called "mal viento" or bad wind. Expect to be "entertained" by many more interesting facts on return!
After lunch in a tree top restaurant, we returned to Chaa Creek for a visit around the Butterfly House and Natural History Centre.
HJ then spent the afternoon "bird watching" from the hammock on the porch.
After avoiding the conch soup earlier in our stay in Belize, we decided to have the conch fritters for dinner. They were better than octopus, but only slightly, and RM had to manfully help HJ out whilst she majored on the delicious garlic mashed potato. RM made feeble jokes about conch (couch) potatoes!
Tomorrow, we return to Northern Guatemala to visit the Maya ruins at Tikal.
Thankfully, the sun started to smile on us as we headed for the entrance to the self guided trail.
We didn't know what to expect but we spent the next hour and a half looking at a wonderful range of trees, shrubs, flowers and orchids.
All of which were cleverly and wittily described in the handbook we were given. For example, do you know why cashew nuts are so expensive? The cashew tree bears fruit (which can be eaten and made into wine - tasted later that evening) which have a single nut on the bottom. Also the leaves from the buttonwood tree are used in ritual baths to cure a spiritual sickness called "mal viento" or bad wind. Expect to be "entertained" by many more interesting facts on return!
After lunch in a tree top restaurant, we returned to Chaa Creek for a visit around the Butterfly House and Natural History Centre.
HJ then spent the afternoon "bird watching" from the hammock on the porch.
After avoiding the conch soup earlier in our stay in Belize, we decided to have the conch fritters for dinner. They were better than octopus, but only slightly, and RM had to manfully help HJ out whilst she majored on the delicious garlic mashed potato. RM made feeble jokes about conch (couch) potatoes!
Tomorrow, we return to Northern Guatemala to visit the Maya ruins at Tikal.
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