Hi Friends: It is a nice change of pace from my belovied San Pedro here in Cayo. I am staying at the Midas Tropical Resort a short walk into the town of San Ignacio. Been taking some nice sidetrips to Melchor, Caracol, Spanish Lookout, and some off the beaten track area's here in Cayo. Cayo is Central America, as opposed to the Carribean feel of the Cayes. It is like two countries in one. I guess I can love both the Cayes and the Mainland, since I do not hafta choose between the two. Life here in Belize is good!!! Take care: Bill

Great versatility ! We love the mainland as well. Cayo is so beautiful. Oh, the choices.

Spanish Lookout, Population 174 or something? I love that sign. We found a way to get lost, in our car, after visitng Pletts.

Good to hear you are touring and keeping in touch.

Will you be doing the Hummingbird Highway? I'm sure you have been that route before. A beautiful sight to behold, in itself.

Watch for the Giant if you do. He's gentle.

and Green!

Ho Ho Ho........

I cannot wait to see Cayo. Glad you are enjoying yourself Bill.

NYGal, enjoy those geese, but.....don't look up!

Hey Bill, when are you going back to AC? Would hate to miss you (now that we found you again) this time around.

Hi Friends: I believe I'll be returning to San Pedro the last part of this week sometime. Sunday was a great treat for me. I went to Santa Familia, near San Ignacio, with the Silva family. Their original farms is there, along the Belize River. Took a great horseback ride through the Virgin Rainforest there, yes, there is still such a thing!! Horseback riding trails through the Rainforest is a breathtaking experience. The Silva family are planning a very primative hut accomodation IN the rainforest, which should be the experience of a lifetime. I don't think I'd sleep listening to all the "critters". I don't know if I'll travel the Hummingbird this time. I do agree, it is beautiful and definately "Belize Style". I will keep my ears to the ground regarding these jungle huts in Santa Familia area. The Silva family is prospecting for more horses, and building has yet to begin on the huts. By the way, the huts will be very unintrusive to the surrounding jungle. Take care: Bill

Glad to hear you are enjoying yourself, Bill. You sure make me want to get over to SI. Primitive huts in the rain forest sound very interesting. I am looking forward to a drive on the Hummingbird as well. Someday!

Hello Bill,
Were there any problems on your trip to Melchor?
After hearing about some recent civil problems that have affected tourists I was curious as we are planning a trip to Flores - Tikal later in the year.
Thanks
Chris

I always feel safe in Guatemala, expect for Guatemala City. It is big and creepy. I've never had problems in Melchor, but my friend just told me a story that he had heard that he was about to be kidnapped there. Flores is I believe much safter that the other two cities, Santa Elena and I forget the other. Rule of thumb is to blend in and be small. Tourist clothes and big expensive camera's are not good ideas, and definately no 8K diamond rings!! The Hotel Paten is a very nice hotel over looking Lake Paten, in Flores.

Thanks
If i may quote someone elses advise
dress down
carry small amounts of cash
and be ready to give it away at each little holdup

Hey Bill, hope to see you in AC. I would like to get some information from you re your trip to the Cayo and what I needed to do if I wanted to take this same type of trip. I'm sure I'll find you in AC.

How about Tikal Bill...ever been there?

Bill,We just got back from Belize and the cayo area,what virgin rainforest are you talking about?I am a forest ranger in Oregon and all i seen in Belize was alot of bug damage scrub forest at best..??If you where in a virgin forest it would be so dark you couldnt see the sun,Belize has very little of its hard wood left and most its pine are very bug damage.People have been cutting trees in Belize for 7000 years,i was suprised there was any thing left,but no way was there any VIRGIN FOREST!

The forest I was speaking of has been privately owned for perhaps close to a century. I just repeated what was said by the family that has had the property for those years. I have visited Tikal, and I must rate it one of the greatest experiences in my life. Very, very impressive. The forest around Tikal is not virgin. During the civilization of Tikal, there were no trees. It was clear... which is hard to believe looking at the current forest.