Bull Frog Inn

Arrival and First Day

We made it!!! Our trip to Belize has finally begun. We had a great flight in, from Jacksonville to Miami and then Miami to Belize City. After our flight, a van from the University of Belize picked us up and we drove about an hour to Belmopan (the capital city) where our hotel was. We had a few speed bumps (not talking about the millions they have on the Belize highways) including some of the luggage not arriving with us, but we are now in good shape. Yesterday we spent the day settling in at the hotel and meeting UNF alumns who currently live in the area. We also got to see some of a football (soccer) game because there is a stadium across the street that we can see from our balcony. There is a nice restaurant and bar downstairs where we be spending a lot of time because we will have our breakfast there daily and that's where the internet connection is as well. The rooms are also great and very home-like. Saturday was spent relaxing and going to bed early to get ready for the next day. 

Before our flight from JAX

View of Belize from the plane (taken by Emma)

Welcome to Belize! (taken by Emma)

Sign in front of our hotel

The hotel restaurant and bar

Football (soccer) game (Taken by Emma)

Today was another great day we spent getting to know the country that will be our home for the next three weeks. We woke up early and had a delicious breakfast (we both had the Bull Frog Special) at the hotel and then we were picked up by a man named Mr. Russel to go check out some of the Mayan Ruins. All of us girls (there are seven interns here with us) and our professor crammed into the van and we were off. Our first stop was at the bank. Boy, that was an experience! To get into the ATM machine, you have to slide your credit card and it opens a small room where the ATM is located. Then, we all took turns using the ATM. When you take out money, you actually put in the amount of Belize money you want and only half of that will come out of your account in American dollars. It also comes out in fifty dollar bills. Makes you feel like you have a lot more money than you do. After the bank, we had to fill up on gas and stopped at a station where to our surprise, they pump the gas for you! Then, we continued the trip...it was about an hour and almost to the border of Guatemala. 

The bank (taken by Emma)

Money coming out of the ATM (taken by Emma)

The ruins we saw was called The Xunantunich Mayan Ruin Site in Belize. When we first got there, there was a little market where they sold souvenirs like slate carvings and other local crafts. Then, we had to get out of the van and walk onto a ferry. The ferry could only hold two cars at a time and was hand cranked by a man. Yes, there was no button, this man hand cranked us across the river. After crossing the river, we got back into the van and headed up a steep hill to the ruins. We parked in the parking lot and met our tour guide. He took us all around the ruins and told us all of the history and explanations behind the artifacts. Do they really believe that the world will end in December? Our guide assured us that it just meant that the Mayan world was changing and not ending. After so many years they would just build on top of their structures bringing them closer to the gods and that's what this year symbolizes. It was an exciting site and the view was worth climb. It was awesome to see all of the little villages and even into Guatemala. 

The market outside the ruins

The hand-cranked ferry

Steps up to the ruins

The river in front of the ruins

A spider monkey in the trees at the ruins

In front of El Castillo on the southside of the ruins

(Emma, D'Elise, Melissa, and Chrissy)

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View from the top!

Another shot from the top

Group shot from the top

(Paige, Melissa, Chrissy, D'Elise, Lisa, Emma, Cheryna)

After, we had a great lunch at an outdoor restaurant called Hodes and we each had a burrito and beans and rice (not to be confused with rice and beans). We also stopped at the local mall where we picked up groceries and then came back to the hotel. Where I (Melissa) was greeted with my luggage. We settled in, showered, and are now relaxing for our big day tomorrow. It is our first time visiting our school and we are presenting ourselves and the things we brought for them. 

The best is yet to come! 

C&M