Central America

A 30-day adventure by skip's retirement travel Read more

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Trip start
March 14, 2019
Central America skip's retirement travel
Belize City
March 15, 2019 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Main city of Belize, located on the sea. The second pic looks across the harbor to town, while the 3rd looks at a marina. The 4th looks along the main canal that was built to float logs from the upland forests. The canal also divides the city between north and south. The 5th is in a cemetery that the road passes through. Look closely and you will see graves in the island in the middle of the road. The last is of the seafront along the waterfront walkway outside the hotel.Read more
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Central America skip's retirement travel
Belize Zoo
March 17, 2019 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
I hadn't expected to post about this, but I was pleasantly surprised. All the animals here are native to Belize, and the whole facility is designed as a jungle. First is a jaguar, next is a harpy eagle, then a toucan, a tapir, an ocelot and a spider monkey.Read more
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Central America skip's retirement travel
Green Hills Butterfly Farm
March 18, 2019 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Here's another place I hadn't expected to post. This really is a farm. They export pupae (about 6 species currently) to several countries. They have a couple dozen species flying around the enclosure. Here are several.Read more
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Central America skip's retirement travel
Barton's Creek Cave
March 18, 2019 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
All cave systems on Belize are designated as archaeological sites as the Mayan culture considered them access to the underworld. This cave is no exception.
This is the first cave I've visited by boat (or canoe, in this case). There is no dry access.
The first pic is the entry, followed by a couple views inside, including a natural bridge. The 4th is a group of bats in the ceiling. They point out that there is no mosquito problem around there thanks to the bats. The 5th is a petroglyph (they think) as it looks like a jaguar head.
The last is a bit hard to see, but the white in the picture is a human skull. There are several skeletons in the cave, all resulting from human sacrifice. Hence this was a site of religious importance. There is also pottery there, but too far away to get pictures.Read more
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Central America skip's retirement travel
Xunantunich
March 19, 2019 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
My first Mayan ruins. Near the border with Guatemala. The name refers to a ghost still occasionally seen: a woman who fades into the stonework if someone gets too close.
The first pic looks at the site while the second is a closer look at the main structure. 3&4 are the east and west friezes on the main structure, likely a temple. 5th is a view from the top of the temple. (Yes, I really was up there.) All hills or rises you can see or imagine are unexcavated structures. They say only about 1% is visible. The last is the ball court.Read more
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Tikal
March 20, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
The Mayan central City and ceremonial site. I felt like I was in a NatGeo TV special. Pictures just don't do justice to the incredible site this is. Various buildings and views. The 4th pic is a Mayan "refrigerator," underground cool storage. The last is an original Mayan road through the site to the main plaza (see next post).Read more
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Tikal Main Ceremonial Plaza
March 20, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Here's the heart of the heart of the Mayan empire. First is a view from the top of one pyramids/temples overlooking the plaza. Second is the palace on one side while the next is a cemetery on the other. Next is another look at the palace. 5th looks down on several stelae with altars in front. Mayan altars are round, and modern Maya still travel to Tikal for ceremonies. Last is one of the pyramids.Read more
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Guatemala City
March 21, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Capital of Guatemala. Pics are of the main square with the main government building and cathedral on 2 sides. The government building is 18th century and is known as the Green House. The green color comes from Mercury added to the outside by prisoners, effectively making this work capital punishment. Then the inside of the cathedral and the black Christ, which I'm told is a bit of syncretism here. There is a place where people world meet around a black stone for rituals and commerce. When the church came, they made the Christ figure black to make it easier to transfer devotion. Last is a glance at the central market.Read more
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Antigua Guatemala
March 21, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Former capital of Guatemala and capital of the confederation of Central American nations that existed for a few years. This is a really nice place with lots to see. There will be multiple posts.
The first pic overlooks the main square toward some of the 3 volcanos that surround the town. Moments later, one of them started erupting. Apparently this happens several times a day. It's the first time I've seen a volcano erupt live.
3&4 are buildings around the main square. 4th is an archway originally for cloistered nuns to cross the street. Last is one of the many churches hereRead more
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Antigua cathedral
March 22, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Antigua was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. Many buildings are still ruins, and now that this is a UNESCO world heritage site, most everything that is original is being kept that way.
A small part of the cathedral was restored, and that is in the 2nd & 3rd pictures. The 1st pic looks over the top to see a bit of the destruction. The cathedral is to the right while the former archiepiscopal palace is to the left. The 4th pic is of the chancel in the ruins of the former nave, decorated for Lent. Next is of the remains the first the dome, showing some of the original details. Last is one of the central courtyard of the bishops palace, now holding some of the ruined structural components.Read more
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Dominican convent
March 22, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Another of the fascinating buildings on Antigua. This one has been converted to a 5 star hotel, some museums, etc. The first pic is the main cloister. Second is another cloister. Third is in the crypt. 4th is in the workshop making candles. The worker is using a ladle to pour liquid wax I've each candle. I've seen candles dipped, but this is the first I even heard of pouring to make candles there is also a pottery workshop.
The last is of a stenciled decoration on the floor made with colored sawdust. The Holy Week processions walk over these beautiful decorations. This one is small inside the church. People will make very large ones in the street for the processions to walk on.Read more
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Capuchinas convent
March 22, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Another interesting place. The first pic is the chapel where new women were wedded to Christ in a ritual that began their cloistered life. Second is the window through which the elements of communion were passed. Even the priests were not allowed to see the sisters. Then a cloister, followed by a restored cell. 5th is the round structure containing the cells. Last is in the crypt.Read more
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Posada de Don Rodrigo
March 22, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Lovely restaurant. First is the courtyard of this hacienda style building. Dinner and wine are excellent. Appetizer is ceviche mixto: shrimp and fish; main course is sirloin, guacamole, fried plantains, beans and rice with fresh, hot-off-the-grill tortillas made according to traditional recipes. Brownie cheesecake for postre (dessert) and great Guatemalan coffee. Live marimba music during dinner with occasional guests getting up to dance And then the second best part, after the food, is the traditional dancers. And I have the best seat in the house--front row, center.Read more
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Atitlán, Guatemala
March 23, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
Lake and volcano of the same name. Views at sunrise across the lake to the volcanos and in the afternoon of the small towns along the lake, taken from a boat tour.
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Chichicastenango
March 24, 2019 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Town in Guatemala with what is said to be the largest indigenous market in Central America. I can believe it.
First, a bit about the name of the town. Tenango means place of or land of. Chichi is poison ivy. It seems that this region has a lot of the plant that the indigenous people used to coat their weapons against enemies.
ISTM likely that a market for that compound began here and developed into what it has become.
The pics are random shots around the town and churchesRead more
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Salinitas, El Salvador
March 25, 2019 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Private, gated resort in El Salvador near Sosonate called the Royal Decameron. The first pic is the wire from my room over the pool looking at the Pacific Ocean. Then a couple beach shot, including a couple white egrets.Read more
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San Salvador
March 26, 2019 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
The capital of El Salvdor, and a city with a dangerous reputation. This is also the city where bishop Oscar Romero was gunned down, along with dozens of others. The first pic is of the Salvdor del Mundo Cathedral and part of the main square in town. Second is inside the cathedral where you can see pictures of Romero. Next is in the crypt and captures Romero's tomb. Next is the national palace, now a museum, located on another side of the main square. It is from here where shots were fired at worshippers running from the murder. The next pic is the courtyard inside the national palace. Last is the Church of the Rosary. It is an arch, totally open inside and very unique.Read more
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Joya de Cerén, El Salvador
March 26, 2019 in El Salvador ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C
This might be called the Mayan Pompeii. This is a small settlement buried under ash from several volcanic eruptions. Unlike Pompeii, there are no bodies. So it seems safe to guess that they had enough warning to be able to get away.
This is still an active dig as more is being uncovered, and certain restoration work is being done to protect the structures. A fascinating look at Mayan life away from the big ceremonial sitesRead more
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Copan, Honduras
March 27, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Major, well-known ceremonial site. First discovered in the 1830s. There has been a lot of work on this site, so much so that many of the original carvings, etc. have been dismantled and moved to a museum on site. Faithfully copied replicas replace the originals to protect vulnerable artifacts from the elements. The site is mostly limestone. So acid rain is a major problem. There will be a post from the museum.
The first pic is one of the temples followed by a detail of one of the gods. The 3rd picture is probably the most important. It's called the hieroglyphic stairs and is the primary driver in this site being designated world heritage by UNESCO. Each block is a hieroglyph recording local history. Most is not yet deciphered.
The next pic overlooks the main plaza with the ball court most obvious. In this case, the winners would be ritually sacrificed on the altar in the 5th picture. At the top center is a hollowed out spot where the head of the victim was placed. You can clearly see the channel down which the blood ran.
The last pic is another altar showing all 16 Kings of Copan.Read more
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Copan Museum
March 27, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
This is the on site museum where vulnerable artifacts are kept. The only exception is the replica of one of the temples. The original was constructed solely of stucco. So it could not be moved. It is actually inside one of the larger temples. This is the first picture. It is painted with paints made of the same materials as the original, and shows how the site probably looked, based on the trace evidence remaining on the structures. The rest of the pictures is a selection of original art that has been moved here from the archaeological site for protection and replaced there by replicas.Read more
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Macaw Mountain, Honduras
March 28, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Bird sanctuary located in the forest just outside of Copán Ruinas. The mission is primarily rehabilitation, recovery and release where that is possible. Many of the birds are former pets, some so damaged, either physically or are so imprinted on humans, that they cannot be released. They also breed those ready to do so with the goal of releasing into those habitats where the species us naturally found. Birds heavily imprinted on humans are kept separate where they get to interact with visitors, as with the 3 macaw species in the first pic. After that there are barn owls, paraleet (that's not a typo), toucan, king vulture and a cloud forest parakeet.Read more
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San Pedro Sula Honduras
March 29, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
The main industrial center of Honduras. Just a couple pics to record the location visited
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Cataratas Pulhapanzak
March 29, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Pronounced pool-ah-pahn-ZAHK. The name means "big falling water place" in the Lenica dialect. This is the dry season. So the flow is low. During the wet, the water flows over the full width, I'm told. Sorry for the spray on the lens. The mist got it
Also a nice park. I enjoyed homemade sopa de frijoles con cicharón. It was incredibly good.Read more
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Comayagua, Honduras
March 29, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
The former capital of Honduras before the capital was moved to Tegucigalpa in the 19th century. The first pic looks down on the main square from the church bell tower. Notice the outline of the church carved in the plaza surface. Next is the mechanism of what is said to be the oldest clock in the Americas. It was said to have been made in the 11th century by the Moors in Spain as a gift, but when Ferdinand and Isabella came to power, they wanted everything related things the Moors out of Spain. So they sent the clock to the colonies where it ended up here. The remaining pictures are of the cathedral under the clock tower.Read more
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Tegucigalpa, Honduras
March 30, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
National capital and financial center of Honduras. The first pic is the main square with the cathedral in the background. The second is a pedestrian street in the arts district. Yes, those are lampshades. Third is inside the cathedral, followed by the Church of Sorrows. There is syncretism here. Note the Sun God at the top center over the Catholic symbols. Fifth is a view over the city from the park around Christo de Pincacho, overlooking Tegucigalpa. That isn't actually haze. It's smoke from the many fires burning around and south of the city.Read more
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