Today (July 16, 2022) we have a "Baby Bear" graduating pre-school.  He is looking dapper as ever, and beaming from ear to ear.     

This year was truly an accomplishment.  Romen has grown in so many ways and we have seen him hit so many milestones along the way.  One of the things that was most impressive, was to see him count from 0 to over 100.  This year we got to do many things together.  We enjoyed sports day, career day, baking together, and most recently (a trip to the mainland), to go to the zoo, horseback riding and to experience cave tubing.

Romen embarks now on a journey to the United States to see his great-grandparents, do a little clothes shopping and will soon return to start his next year in a brand new school.

Special thanks to Teacher Marina, we truly have been so impressed.  We remember our first day of school together (August of 2021), and here we are now our last day of school (July 16, 2022).  A special thanks to all the teachers for helping Romen this past year.  The family truly did appreciate all the perseverance, patience, kindness, hugs & kisses.

A year ago, we were celebrating Marcy's graduation from junior college.  Now a year later, we are celebrating Romen's graduation from pre-school.  Each year brings new adventures and new hurdles.  We have been through so much together, and yet one thing remains consistent, our love for one another.  We are excited to see what the 2022-2023 school year will bring, and hopefully this time next year, we will be celebrating another successful year of accomplishments.

Know your family loves & supports you.  We are so proud of you and graduating pre-school is such an accomplishment.  Teacher Marina says she will miss you, and we know that you will embark on a new journey come September. 

Romen likes to show us how fast he can run.  Of course you will never capture that on camera.  I told him, "We just blink and you have disappeared".

After visiting the zoo, we needed to find a place to stay (close by) for the night.  Additionally, something also to keep us busy on our "weekend getaway with Romen".  Since we were close to the Hummingbird Highway (a beautiful stretch of road by-the-way), we decided to jot down the highway and see if Cave Branch had any rooms available.  Sure enough we were able to get a small inexpensive bungalo and take Romen cave tubing the following morning. 

We opted for a small bungalow to keep our cost down, but Cave Branch upgraded us to a treehouse room, to help make our experience more enjoyable.  WOW!

The following morning Romen knew he was going cave tubing, but I don't think he knew exactly what that meant.  He woke up in his chiper self, and said he was ready to have his adventure for the day.  We ate breakfast at the lodge (7:00am) and by 8:45am we were loading ourselves into an old bus and heading down Hummingbird Highway. 

The bus ride took about 15-20 minutes, we crossed some orange tree farms and then parked.  We emptied the bus, and got into a tractor full of inner tubes and took a short drive where we would hike to the rivers edge.  At the river, we got into our inner tubes and gently paddled to the cave entrance.  Today we are going to explore the "Footprint Cave".

This is one of the more famous cave found in the area.  Footprint Cave gets its name after the calcified footprints found in the deeper section of the cave, along with a number of artifacts and skeletal remains. The cave was looted in 1994, and many artifacts and remains are now gone, but you can still see where there is evidence of ancient fire pits, and  shards of Mayan pottery.  It was quite an unreal and humbling experience to sit next to a pile of ash that might be over 2,000 years old but still looks warm. The cave itself is stunningly beautiful, cathedral-like, with massive stalactites that shimmer in the light of the headlamp.

Exploring the Underworld at Footprint Cave
Because we just started the rainy season, the river running through the cave still had low levels in places. So, we found ourselves regularly hopping in & out of our tubes, walking across gravel. This cave had some amazing rock formations surrounding us.

Caves Branch owns the cave privately, so only the government and employees of Caves Branch can access it. This gives Footprint Cave a level of authenticity and ruggedness that you don't experience while cave tubing in Belize elsewhere.

The Mayan people revered caves as the entrance to the underworld, or Xibalba (shi-BAL-bah). as they call it. They saw the world as one big universe comprising of a giant tree. The roots were the stalactites found growing beneath the earth's surface in the caves.  The tree trunk was the surface of the earth, and the leaves were where the deities lived. 

Footprint Cave Tubing - Our guide helped us get into our tubes at the river's edge, we then paddled against the current upstream for aways, until we came to the cave's entrance.  We stopped for a short photoshoot, packed our phones, wallets, purses in a dry bag and hopped back into our inner tubes to explore this cave. 

Rock Formations - The critters and Maya artifacts were intriging, but the rock formations in this cave will leave your jaw on the floor. Curtains, stalactites, stalagmites, bacon, and crystalline formations abound and, illuminated by headlamps as you pass by, many of them glitter beautifully. Some are even mildly phosphorescent, as our guides demonstrated by having us turn out our headlamps to see how much light one of the stones retained.

We stopped along the way to learn how to spot signs of running water in the cave and how this influences cave’s formations.  Deep inside Footprint Cave, you'll find blades, and evidence of many cermeonial fires and altars.

Ancient Maya relics. Obsidian blades, pottery shards, altars, manos and metates, and evidence of fire pits abound on this cave tubing adventure. Our guides let us touch some of the broken pottery artifact fragments (which was really cool), as they weren't considered valuable from a cultural or monetary perspective.

This was an amazing experience for Romen.  He totally did not expect to get to eat a picnic lunch inside a cave.  He grabbed his tortilla and literally couldn't decide which plate to take food from first.  Enjoying a picnic together (in total darkness) should have been an erry experience, but with everyone sitting around sharing stories - it was really enjoyable.  We each built our own tortilla, with all the fixings, filled out tummies and then got back in our inner tubes to explore more of the cave.  The candle light, really made the experience memorable.

After our picnic, we slowly made our way back to the entrance of the cave and floated down the river to the drop off where we started.  We walked back to the tractor, which took us to the bus, so we could head back to the lodge.

This ends Romen's great adventure cave exploring in Belize.  This weekend both his grandma's (& Mami), wanted to treat him to a series of mainland adventures.  It was a great weekend togther.  I am often limited as to the things I can do, so we took it at a pace that made it easy for me.  I enjoyed the time with Diana and Marcy (very much), especially jamming to 1980's music as we drove down the Hummingbird Highway. 

As our cave adventure ended, we hopped into our vehicle and headed back to Belize City, to catch the 5:30pm boat to the island.  Little did we know, we were in for another adventure just around the corner, but that my friends is for another blog post.  So the question Romen has now is, where are we going next?

We think about you all the time, and wonder how you are doing, what you are up to.  It's hard being apart and not knowing where you are.  All our love always.

When coming to Belize you might say to yourself, "I've already been horseback riding in the States."  But ask yourself:  Have you been horseback riding in the rainforest?  Now I bet you'll get a whole different answer, and a whole different experience.

This is how my Mom & I "Rock & Roll".  We have fun together.

Jungle Horseback Riding:  One of the best ways to explore the natural beauty of Belize is on horseback.  Far from the bustle of roadways and noisy towns, small trails wandering through the pine forests, jungles, and savannas allows horseback riders to get “up-close & personal”, with the wildlife and flora that make Belize one of the most bio-diverse countries on this planet.

Horseback riding will take you off the beaten path, to explore the gorgeous scenery and beauty of Belize at a natural pace.  Guided horseback tours are offered daily.  One of the most popular horseback riding tours in Belize, is to enjoy your ride while exploring an ancient Mayan ruin site.  Horseback riding to the Xunantunich Mayan ruins, is by far the most popular tours requested.  Xunantunich is located in the jungle wilderness (on the western edge of Belize), near the border of Guatemala. 

Half day tours include horseback riding to any (one of four) Mayan ruin sites.  If you’re looking for something a little shorter, perhaps more leisurely (and kid friendly), tours are offered riding around the San Lorenzo Farm. 

No previous horseback riding experience is necessary.  All tours are family-friendly and are limited to small intimate groups.  Dry season (November to May), is the best time of year to do this tour.  By riding in the dry season, you avoid many problems due to flash flooding, muddy trails and slippery conditions.

This was the most impressive tree I think I've ever seen in Belize.  Something you'd expect to see in a movie like Avitar.  Romen is pictured at the base of the tree (then if you look up), it's just a huge canopy with hundreds and hundreds of orchids growing from the branches.

Exceptional Family Adventure - Guided tours are offered daily. The most popular tour is half day horseback ride to Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, or a shorter, more leisurely horseback riding around the San Lorenzo Farm. 
     Most of our horseback rides are suited for beginners and no previous horseback riding experience is necessary. Although, we do offer some advanced horseback rides that do require previous riding experience. During these tours, you will have ample opportunity to trot, canter, and gallop to your hearts content. 
     The tour begins by meeting your guide, greeting your horse and preparing to depart.  Horseback riding in the jungle is unique, and there are few places in the world where this is offered. 
     The ride to Xunantunich includes a well-maintained trail through a large private farm and along the banks of the Mopan River in the village of San Jose Succotz.  You will cross the river on an ancient hand-operated ferry, and then ride your horse up to Xunantunich.
     When you arrive, prepare to dismount and let your horse rest while you explore Xunantunich by foot for as long as you desire.
     Afterward, we will ride back to the farm where we will enjoy a delicious lunch of traditional Belizean dishes featuring ingredients grown on our organic farm.
     Horseback Tours - no experience necessary

• Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
• El Pilar Mayan Ruins
• Actun Kan Mayan Ruins
• Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins
• San Lorenzo Farm Tour

Note:  We like to keep our tour groups, small & intimate.  This allows us to provide individual attention, and is better suited for the horses.

Romen had the time of his life.  In the hours after our visit, he kept asking to get back on that horse.  Don't worry Romen, we're going to come back here again soon.

This ends our adventure horseback riding in the jungle.  It was a great experience, and a wonderful thing for families to do together.  I would encourage anyone who is interested, to consider horseback riding in Belize.

You are forever in our minds & hearts. 

multiple times during their lifetime, and Belize Zoo is no exception.

Today we are going on a Belize Zoo Adventure.  We started our day by stopping at Neri's Tacos for breakfast.  We then caught the 6:00am boat ferry from Ambergris Caye to the mainland, arriving 7:30am.  All the kids were loaded onto a bus, and off they went - headed for the Belize Zoo.

Traveling today to the Belize Zoo.  Here I am with Teacher Marina. 

As of July 2022, the Belize Zoo has over 200 animals under its care.  All animals found at the Belize Zoo are indigenous to Belize.

Reptiles and Amphibians of Belize - The exact number of reptiles and amphibians is unknown as it is often difficult to study these two groups due to their habitats. To date there is approximately 139 species of reptiles and amphibians recorded in Belize, with 62 of those being snakes.

What makes a reptile?
Reptiles are back-boned animals covered with scales. They lay shelled eggs similar to birds, or keep the eggs inside their bodies till they hatch. Reptiles are grouped into turtles, crocodiles, snakes and lizards.

What makes an amphibian?
Amphibians are back-boned animals that  have smooth, thin skin and require water to keep their bodies moist. They can be found under rocks, alongside streams, in swamps and marshes; places which are not the most comfortable for humans. This group includes salamanders and frogs.

Reptiles, unlike amphibians, are not restricted to wet habitats because they have scales. Snakes and lizards can be found in any habitat, from the soil and leaf litter of the forest floor, to the upper canopy of the rainforest, and the mangrove forests of the coastline and Cayes of Belize.

What makes a mammal?
There are over 40,000 mammals on planet Earth, some live on land and others in water, but they all share certain characteristics. Mammals are a group of animals with vertebrae or backbone, and their bodies are covered with hair. Mammals also produce milk which allows them to nurse their young and spend a lot of time with them as they are growing up. Mammals are endothermic or warm-blooded, which means that they can regulate their own body temperature. This is the group of animals which humans belong to.

Belize has approximately 145 species of mammals living within its boundaries. Mammals exist within all the different habitats of Belize, from the manatee and dolphins of the coastal zone, to the 5 different species of wildcats which live deep within our lush broadleaf forests.

The wild mammals of Belize tend to be very secretive and mostly nocturnal. This makes them extremely difficult to see. They usually see, hear, or smell you long before you know they are near by. Forest dwelling mammals do not stand out in the open for easy viewing, but instead climb through the canopy or scurry over the forest floor well ahead of you. That is one reason the Belize Zoo is such a special place. Here you can see many of the mammals found in Belize's forests.

A visit to The Zoo is the best way to get an introduction to the mammals of Belize, and to understand why it is important to protect the habitats that sustain them. Here at the Zoo you get a chance to get up close and personal with Belize's National Animal, the Central American Tapir. As you walk around the Zoo you will see spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, coatimundis, white-lipped peccaries, and Belize's five wildcat species. You can even give a jaguar a "high five" by doing a Jaguar Encounter.

They are 3 feet tall, have a wingspan of 6.5 feet, and talons the size of a grizzly bear.

What makes a bird?
Birds are a group of winged, two-legged animals that also have a backbone just like mammals. They are warm blooded like mammals, but do not have hair on their bodies; instead they have feathers. All birds lay eggs and most of them incubate the eggs with their warm, fluffy bodies.

Belize supports over 580 species of birds. This includes both resident and migratory species. Birds thrive in all of Belize's habitats. Wading birds congregate along the coastline and inner lagoons. The grasslands and savannas provide seeds for the many finches, and hunting grounds for keen-eyed soaring raptors. Tall emergent trees provide nesting sites for giant birds such as the Harpy Eagle and Jabiru Stork. In our tropical forests there is an astonishing diversity of birds, such as parrots, toucans, mot mots and others.

Watching birds in the tropical forests of Belize can be difficult at times, but extremely rewarding for birders. The thick vegetation, and the typical behavior of quick, seemingly random movements of many forest birds, make them often difficult to see. Many birds also live in the upper canopy of the forest, making it a strain to be constantly looking upward. Often times we hear but do not get to see them.  However, early morning and late afternoon are excellent times to bird watch, as most bird species are feeding or moving to new locations during these times.

The Belize Zoo has always had a strong collection of bird species, from parrots such as scarlet macaws, to vultures and hawks, and wading birds, including the iconic Jabiru Stork. A part from birds in enclosures the habitat around the zoo supports a variety of wild birds, that come and go when they chose to. For another up close experience you can do a Toucan Encounter with "Runt" our ambassador Keel-billed toucan.

In 2006 I took the kids on a similar Zoo Adventure.  Trent was 9, Christina was 6, Lauren was 1 year old).  Each time, it was a wonderful experience.  The first picture (2022) is Romen (5 years old) standing in front of a photo of Steve Irwin (& Belize Zoo Founder Sharon Matola).  In the next picture (2006), is Trent (9 years old) standing in front of the same photo of Steve Irwin (& Sharon Matola). They've since painted the wall, as you don't see all the graphitti.

Asked Marcy if she wanted to go to this same spot (at the Zoo) and take a photo of her & Romen (2022)?  "No (she said), it's not the same without Jaymin".

This ends our great adventure at the Belize Zoo.   You were in our minds & hearts Jaymin, and we will forever miss you.