Day two

Sierra and Zoe crossing the river on their first ever ferry boat ride

Loading up a full rig on the ferry is always a hoot

You would have thought we were riding the African Queen on the Congo they were so happy

Under the flag says, "Funded by US Embassy Belmopan" This is a brand new Police truck and  is funded by the Americans. No wonder we don't have the funds necessary for schools back home 

Notice the machete on the ground between our guides legs, just in case there were any critters.

The trees were beautiful fully grown specimens with toucan nest etc.

Taking a leap in the cool river, known for big fish, crabs and other critters 

Good thing they never saw "the creature from the black lagoon"

Enjoying the unspoiled beauty by the river

This is Sierra....              3/15/15
   I was so scared at the boarder it was out in or in out. Finally we got done. It was not that bad after all. I think that Belize is the best so far. On the way to who knows where (not a street name ) we stopped by the Belize zoo. It was awesome, there were a lot of animals to see. We did not get to see some because they were hiding. I didn't get to enjoy so much, my mommy and daddy were rushing.
   Today I crossed a river on a ferry boat for the first time in my life. We had to get out of the car but my dad stayed in so he could drive the car. We went to Spanish lookout it was beautiful no trash and lots of corn fields and horses grazing. We got hunger so we stopped at a fruit stand and got plums and bananas. We ate the there and they were good. Spanish lookout produces most of the food for Belize.
   When we got back home the landlord showed us a cool path to the river thorough the jungle. There were big trees as big as a house around. The river was steep to get down to it. My mommy was so cautious. We finally got down and the river was nice. A lot of animals live in the river like snakes. We took the trail back but Zoe and I were tired so we played trouble. We also played pool on a pool table.

Can you Belize we are here?

We arrived in Belize after a couple hour drive through Mexico. The Border crossing was pretty uneventful other than being surprised with an exit fee of $25 per person from Mexico. Remembering to travel with some cash in the wallet is the lesson there. The border region of Belize was very 3rd world with no signage, no directions and a big dirty construction zone. It was as if we stepped back in time 20 years, and we all noticed it. Once we bought the mandatory vehicle insurance we were on our way through sugarcane and beach country. After a couple hours into Belize we felt quite good about the decision to leave Mexico early. We stopped by a stand selling wine (in name only). What the guy was really selling was "Hooch, Shine, White-Lightning", by any other name. Of course, Elise and I cannot turn down an industrious young man trying to sell his libations. In an effort to stimulate the local economy, we bought two bottles of Shine; one of Cashew Fruit and the other of East-Indian Blackberry.
We also went to the Belize Zoo which is a must see attraction. After the zoo, we found cool accommodations at the Lower Dover in Unitedville. The folks running this place are also archeologists and they excavate Mayan ruins on their 100 acre property and work with the University of Wisconsin when the send students out to Belize.
All in all, we had a great first day over here and the kids love it as well.

Tapir

American Crocodile

American Cutie-Pie

Another American Cutie-Pie

        

It's like Groundhog Day

You know something is up, when you want to do this each morning to the same beach vendors that act as if they never saw you a day in their lives. For the record, we truly stand out like sore thumbs, nearly impossible to mix us up and not notice.

You know something is up when you can finish a total stranger's conversation over and over.

You know something is up when getting out of bed and all you ask is, are we going to swim, bike, eat or eat, bike, swim?  

This is Mike...
We are slowly losing our perception. Maybe our neurons are being swept into the sea with the low tide never to return? Or maybe we just need a bit more stimuli? Thankfully, we have decided it was the later and have decided to leave the beach for a while and head to the Belizian Highlands for a change of scenery. On Sunday, we will head out after 3 weeks on the beach. We had tons of fun but the girls want to see different things. I am happy that we decided as a family to leave when the time was right, rather than waiting for one of us to lose it.

An example of losing it. (Do not attempt this as home, used as a visual aid only)

 We have made some observations during our time on the beach:

1. Elise and I, are far too buoyant in the ocean.
2. When kids accidentally swallow salt water they sound like cats trying to remove a hair ball.
3. Never order a Jugo de Pinas (pineapple juice) in front of a 6 year old. Zoe immediate laughed and loudly said, "My daddy said penis!" at the dinner table. (true story)
4. The cheaper the beer the more I drink (also a true story)
5. Don't mess with your child's view of reality. Sierra and Zoe found a shell which Zoe thought was a Shark's tooth. I said it looks like a vampire tooth. My daughter's looked me square in the eyes and said, "vampires aren't real!" Then they promptly turned their backs on me and continued playing Beach Fairies with powers. (I guess I am not as hip to them as I thought). 
6. Finally, making kids fish used paper out of a toilet one time can immediately change their behavior. Funny how that works.    

 We are not sure what the the internet connectivity in Belize will be. Regarding reception, we have heard everything from very bad to they are still strapping notes onto pigeon legs. We will be in Mexico for the next few days, deciding on very important matters like; beach, eat, bike or bike, eat, beach? Viva el dia de Groundhog :)           

It's worth the ride

Our bike ride to the beach is about half a mile and is totally flat. It usually takes about 5 minutes to get to the beach

I think the girls have given up wearing shoes all together

Mommy relaxing shin deep in the water and living life to the fullest with an ice cold bucket of beer. Notice the girls drowning in the background (not really)

The girls have proven this vessel is sea worthy on their maiden voyage

Why am I here?

This is Elise.
     http://www.discovershareinspire.com/2012/05/im-a-despicable-human-being-face-to-face-with-poverty-in-panajachel-guatemala/

This lady says it so much better than I can.  This is what I aspire to achieve.

My daddy pulled out my toof

Zoe was so happy to have this rickety ole barn door of a tooth finally removed. When the waiter came over to our table she proudly proclaimed, "my daddy pulled out my toof!"  

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

The tooth mouse (el raton de diente) stopped by last night and dropped off some money for Zoe's tooth. With a little tug, Zoe's tooth came out at a beach restaurant last night and thankfully didn't end up in the sand. The waiter got joy from watching us fuss with Zoe's tooth and explained the customs in Mexico. The main difference here is the "Tooth Mouse" helps to put an adult tooth in the child's mouth as well as giving cash. Zoe was happy to finally have this wiggly jiggly tooth removed. It appears that she has three other loose teeth as well. I guess she will be in a cash positive position for a while.  

Bora Bora? Nope Lago Bacalar

Lake Bacalar is also know as the lake of 7 colors

Had fun swimming in the fresh water which was very refreshing

The lake was truly beautiful

The homes built up the the lake and some over the water on stilts

We hung out over here near the slides for the girls

This is Zoe... dictated by Zoe and typed by daddy. I wish I could type the non verbals, too cute :)
 Hmmm, yesterday I went to a lake, there was 7 or 6 colors in the lake. Ahhh what should I write? You could find lots of sea shells on the ground. There were water slides. I went on the smallest one. The bigger ones were broken. I found sea shells. The sides of the lake were slippery. I bought a stuffed animal, it was a peacock. Sierra bought a cat. I jumped in the water. Sierra slipped on the side of the lake and she got a bruise. I went shopping with mommy and daddy and Sierra. It was rough, the water. Huh, I miss Taylor and Henry and Ciela and Natalia and Gianna, Phoebe and Lucy Shell. That's all. I feel like I wrote too much. I miss all my friends, OK. I have a bug bite in my ear.