Getting to Orange Walk

I arrived to Belize City two days ago with my 100 lb box in tow. It had been searched by the airline and as a result it came off the conveyor belt half ripped open and bulging at the top. Then I went through customs and they completely unpacked the box looking for the serial number on the bike. Don't really understand why they needed it, something to do with customs declarations and duty. I didn't end up having to pay anything but they wrote down the bike number in my passport next to the Belize entrance stamp. I then proceeded outside with my box in shambles and learned that buses don't run regular schedules on Sunday (which happened to be the day I arrived). My plan had been to take a taxi to the bus station and take the bus to Orange Walk. It was already almost 5, so I was unlikely to get a bus and it was raining and my box was falling apart, so I let a taxi driver convince me to get a ride with him to Orange Walk. It was a large Sedan and somehow my box fit in the trunk! It was about an hour ride, and it cost me $80 which sucks but at least I got there. I was a bit early and surprised Craig. We spent the evening unpacking and assembling my bike and repacking my bike bags.

Grandpa balls!

Yesterday we took a lovely river boat tour to the Lamanai Mayan ruins. Generally I'm not too impressed with ruins, but it was actually a really fun day. The boat ride reminded me of Michigan, as most boat rides do. We rode up a jungle lined river and saw birds, crocodiles, neat bugs monkeys and turtles. We climbed to the top of one of the pyramids, and it was so steep we used a rappel rope. But I think the highlight of the day was discovering a plant called grandpa balls, which are basically a fruit shaped like balls and when you score it with a knife, it secretes a white liquid. And the white liquid is glue!! The local kids take these things to school with them. We also saw cactus that grow on trees!! :)

This is the one with the rappel rope