For those of you who don’t know me or how aren’t familiar with my work I have two passions; travel and photography. I have the best job in the world. It allows me to explore both of those things. In this blog I want to share with you a few of my favorite places that I have traveled to recently and maybe you just might want to check them out for yourself.
Tucked away in rural Belize stands a shrine to an ancient people, the Mayans. Boarding a bus in Belize City and traveling due west travelers are getting ready to spend their day with a little bit of history at the Xunantunich ruins. After passing through several small villages, visitors arrive at a market place along the bank of Mopan River. The travelers make their way through the stands of handmade goods to be greeted by a ferry. Its really a ten foot by ten foot square of wood that has been fastened into a raft. The makeshift transportation will then take them to the other bank of the river where they will complete their journey on foot. Walking the path up to the Xunantunich ruins, guides advise visitors to not touch the trees surrounding the path. Black sap pours from the trees and it gives off a slight oder. The sap itself is said to be so poisonous that if you ingest the smallest amount you would die if you don’t also take the antidote. That live saving antidote happens to grow on a tree that is intertwined with the black sap tree. After about thirty minutes on the trail and about a million run ins with all of the wild iguana visitors arrive at the entrance of the Xunantunich Ruins.
As you enter the ruins guides will pause at the entrance for an extended amount of time while giving visitors a little backstory of the area. While taking in a little of the history many of the visitors use this time to sit and catch their breath as the trip to the highest point of El Castillo, the biggest and most popular of the Xunantunich Ruins, is 130 feet straight up and it is the second tallest structure in the country. As visitors climb to the top of the ruin, that seems to grow as travelers make their way to the its peak, the ever energetic guide gives the back story on the name of the 26 temples and palaces that make up the Xunantunich ruins. The name itself means “stone woman.” In the late 1800s many people that live in the surrounding villages claim to have seen the ghost of a woman wearing all white and whose eyes glowed red among the structures. It is commonly said that the ghost would usually be seen descending the stairs of El Castillo and would disappear into a stone wall. This of course was mentioned to the visitors as they were already half way up the ruin. Once visitors get to the top they can take in the view. About a kilometer to the west sits Guatemala, and the view from 130 feet is amazing. Completely surrounded by forest and vegetation it is truly beautiful.
Once everyone has had enough of the view visitors start descending the structure one by one, leaving the same way they came. They walk to the ferry and travel to the other side of the bank where they are expected to take part in a traditional Belizean meal. While the food is served a lively man walks around and plays the recorder for all to hear, cracking jokes along the way. The visitors finish their food and close out a beautiful day of exploration among the Mayan Ruins of Xunantunich.
Thank you for spending your time to read this blog! Please come back next week as we explore another amazing location!