Back in Iowa after a wonderful 2 weeks in Belize

I returned to Cedar Rapids on June 26, 2011 after spending 2 terrific weeks in Belize, one of my favorite destinations. On this trip, instead of going solo as I often do, I took a group of 12 adults, ranging in age from 60 or so to 76 or so. I organized the trip and made all the arrangements, and then served as a Group Leader of sorts; everything went off without a hitch. Nobody got sick, nobody sprained an ankle or fell down and broke a bone, no one got impaled by a Southern sting ray or nipped by a 5 foot barracuda.

And although it was hurricane season, we lucked out and missed any bad weather. We began by spending a week on lovely Tobacco Caye, about 12 miles off the coast due East of the coastal town of Dangriga. Tobacco Caye is a 5-acre paradise of an island, conveniently situated right next to the barrier reef. We stayed at Tobacco Caye Lodge, which had nice accomodations and terrific meals. From our rooms we were able to look out at the Caribbean with waves on the forereef breaking on the reef crest, about 100 yards away. A nearly constant comforting breeze off the ocean allowed for insect-free enjoyment. The island sports a variety of tropical vegetation, with lovely swaying palm trees. Most everyone in the group during our week stay tried their hand at opening the coconut fruit to get at the nut inside.

During our week on Tobacco Caye we were in the water snorkelling at least once -- and usually more often -- every day. At the end of the day we would gather to talk about the fish and other sea creatures we had seen. Although primarily a vacation trip, it was also an opportunity to learn about reef ecology and the many vertebrate and invertebrate animals inhabiting the Belizean barrier reef, the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the most biodiverse reefs in the world. I have a personal interest in sponges and in the many animals, especially small shrimps, that live inside of them. There are many organisms on Planet Earth that have yet to be discovered and catalogued by researchers. A major reason for our ignorance of the totality of the planet's myriad life forms, is that many organisms are very small and easily overlooked and/or because of the fact that we often don't make the effort to look for them where they live -- like inside the canals and chambers of sponges! As we snorkeled in the sea grass beds surrounding the island we saw cushion sea stars, many kinds of fishes, including lionfish, an alien invader, sea cucumbers, and long-spined sea urchins, to name but a few. One day we found a giant red hermit crab, the largest marine hermit crab in the W. hemisphere. I mentioned to the group that there are other organisms that often live in close association with hermit crabs, a "living-together" relationship called symbiosis. Often there are small porcellanid crabs that live inside the Queen conch shell occupied by the hermit crab and -- sure enough -- when I looked I found a male-female pair of these brightly-colored porcellanid crabs living inside the conch shell, sharing the same shelter with the hermit crab.

Leaving Tobacco Caye we travelled inland to the capital city of Belmopan, where we visited the government buildings and explored the market. Then we travelled further west to the town of San Ignacio, close to the border of Guatamala. We checked into Martha's Hotel and spend several days exploring San Ignacio and the surrounding area. One of the highlights was a visit to the Mayan site at Xunantunich, one of the many Mayan sites in Belize, and one of the most impressive. Nearly everyone in the group climbed to the top of El Castillo, the largest structure at the site.
In addition to visiting Xunantunich, we visited Rio Frio cave, the Mayan site at Cahal Pech, and a conservation center where they were raising Blue Morpho butterflies. Our last day, before heading back to Belize City and then home, was spent at Banana Bank Lodge outside Belmopan, an eclectically interesting resort in the jungle with a wide variety of accomodations and a swimming pool. Most of the group opted to spent the night in one of the thatched roof cabanas.