Day 1: Jungle Adventures

So I didn’t really get to go to sleep last night.  We were given a short assignment, but I guess even in Belize assignments make people nervous, and my roommates wanted to work on theirs while I tried to fall asleep with the lights on.  They gave up and finally, peace and quiet….

Well, for four hours. Then I woke up, apropos of nothing.  At 4am, I looked out my window from my bed, and couldn’t believe those light waves were lapping at my backyard, where coconut trees were turned into silhouettes by the moon. I just laid in bed and watched the light gradually return, until about 5am when my roommate woke up.  Kathryn and I were intent on Birdwatching.

Kathryn, Apache (our tour guide) and I mostly just sat on the dock watching terns being lazy (they’re thieves, stealing fish from the fishermen), as Apache read about all the birds in a book that he would try to show us on the trip.  We have plans to meet again tomorrow, same time.

Taken by Pauline

Then the day started.  We got showered and ready for the day’s adventure, sat down to an absolutely amazing breakfast of fresh fruit, bacon, fresh squeezed juice, and….FRY JACKS.  Now this might be my favorite thing about Belize so far.

Today’s adventure was a hike through Cockscomb Basin.  I was very proud of myself for not dying!  It wasn’t a terrible hike, and there were paths the whole way, but I am terribly out of shape.  And then, miracle of miracles, the sky parted and there was waterfall.  Nice, cool, friendly waterfall to soak in.  Hike back wet, no sweat!  Some adventurers went to a higher peak, but the waterfall wouldn’t let me leave.

Taken by Pauline

Taken by Dr. Rimkus

Later tonight we will have to turn in our first assignment, “Our First Impression of Belize.”  How do you even START writing that?