Cake & Ice Creams

Today we decided to beat the weather and take an excursion to some Mayan Ruins and go swimming in a cave. It was also a good way to see the countryside. First stop was Nim Li Punit, a Mayan ruin only discovered in 1976. After seeing Machu Picchu, the Mayan’s don’t got nothin‘ on the Inca’s. It seemed really small for being inhabited for about 200 years. The only hieroglyphics that remained were the ones that had fallen face down and hadn’t been eroded from the rain. One of the things I found most interesting was the “ball court” area where they played a game similar to basketball (they call it pitz). The catch was they couldn’t use their hands or feet. They would play for hours with nobody scoring a point. The winner though, received the ultimate prize of being sacrificed to the Gods. And it was an honor to get to play. The Mayans are actually trying to bring back the sport, sans the sacrificing part. They have a match at an upcoming festival in March.

For lunch we stopped at a local Creole place and had rice and beans and our choice of meat. I had the chicken. Kevin had the chicken, pork and beef. It was the first time we’ve had plantains all trip. So, D, to answer your question about plantains, no we have not been able to have plantains for every meal. However, I wish we did because I think that’s been the best thing I’ve ate so far. Our hotel restaurant is touted to being the best in Maya Beach. It’s ok but nothing I’ve wanted to order again.

Our final stop on the excursion was at Blue Creek Cave where we were literally swimming in the cave. I didn’t quite get that we were really going to be swimming in the cave- but we did. And it was awesome. Dad, I think you would have really liked it. We hiked about a mile into the jungle to the cave then swam around in the cave through waterfalls, currents and rocks. It was dark, so we wore headlamps. That’s how we could see all of the stalactites and guano. I’d been cave tubing in New Zealand but this was totally different.