Belize ~> Carib Settlement Day~>Happy Garifuna Settlement Day #Hudut #Fufu #Healthy

Happy Garifuna Settlement Day!

The Garifuna people originally came from Africa and settled in Honduras, Guatemala and Honduras. Later, some has migrated to America to also find that dream. 

Los garífunas originalmente vinieron de África y se establecieron en Honduras, Guatemala y Honduras. Más tarde, unos han emigrado a América para encontrar también ese sueño.

Hudut credit pic to a dear friend

 
Belize is filled with diversified culture and each makes our history rich with traditions. Today, November 19th, is a very significant day for the Garifuna people in Belize. This day commemorates the arrival of the first Garinagu to the shores of Belize. This is a holiday for the nation of Belize as there are many reenactments of their historical arrival to our Beautiful nation filled with their rich culture and heritage. 

Belice está lleno de cultura diversificada y cada uno tiene su historia rica en tradiciones. Hoy en día, 19 noviembre es una fecha muy significativa para los garífunas en Belice. Este día se conmemora la llegada de los primeros Garinagu a las costas de Belice. Este es un día de vacaciones para la nación de Belice, ya que hay muchas actuaciones en vivo de su histórica llegada a nuestro hermoso país lleno de su rica cultura y patrimonio.
 

The Garifuna people settled in the southern part of Belize (Stann Creek= Dangriga and Punta Gorda = Toledo). They can be found all over our beautiful country, Belize. They have enriched our traditions and culture as well as healthy dishes. We all enjoy their music and dancing as it has spiced up our lifestyle. 

El pueblo Garífuna se asentaron en la parte sur de Belice (Stann Creek = Dangriga y Punta Gorda = Toledo). Pueden encontrarse en nuestro hermoso país, Belice. Ellos han enriquecido nuestras tradiciones y cultura, así como platos saludables. Todos disfrutamos de su música y el baile como ha enriquecido a nuestro estilo de vida.
 


I will share with you one of their well known dishes and one of my favorite. Today, it can be found on most of the Garifuna people's table and at most places where there is a celebaration. I find this very interesting as it is made with a mortar stick and pestle. The name of this particular food is fufu. The entire dish is known as Hudut. Here is how the fufu is made down south in Belize.


Compartiré con ustedes uno de sus platos bien conocidos y uno de mis favoritos. Hoy en día, se puede encontrar en la mayoría de la mesa del pueblo garífuna y en más lugares donde hay un celebaration. Me parece muy interesante como se hace con un palo de mortero y una maja. El nombre de este alimento en particular es fufu. El plato entero se conoce como Hudut. Aquí es cómo se hace el fufu en el sur de Belice.

 
Fufu 
Ingredients 

Ripe plantain
Green plantain

Method
Here in the states, I see they get the plantain and they mix it in the blender. I am not saying this is wrong cause that is probably what I would do. It is made into a dough and made into different size and then boiled in the coconut milk until cooked. I have heard some boil the green and ripe plantain and mashed them together, which is what I have seen mom doing and that is what I do and put in the coconut milk to give taste. Delicious

Fufu
Ingredientes

Plátano maduro
Plátano verde

Método

Aquí en los Estados Unidos, veo que consiguen el plátano y lo mezclan en el mezclador. No digo que esto es la causa incorrecta que es probablemente lo que haría. Se hace en una masa y se hace en la tamaño diferente y luego se hierve en la leche de coco hasta cocido. He oído que algunos hervan los plátanos verdes y maduras y puré juntos, que es lo que yo he visto a mamá haciendo y que es lo que yo hago y lo echp en la leche de coco para dar sabor. Delicioso!

Fufu is a part of the main dish. Hudut is coconut milk with different types of ground food cooked in it with fish and fufu. I will make this at a later date and share with you. It is very delicious. Oh dear, what I would do to get some of that Hudut!


Fufu es una parte del plato principal. Hudut es la leche de coco con tipos diferentes tipos de la comida de la tierra cocinada en ello con el pescado y fufu. Haré esto más tarde y compartiré con usted. Es muy delicioso. ¡Ah querido, lo que haría para conseguir un poco de ese Hudut!



Here is a documentary I believe you may enjoy.

Hope you enjoy and your comments are well appreciated. Come back again soon!

Esperamos que disfrute y sus comentarios son bien apreciados. ¡ Vuelve pronto!

©Maricela, All Rights Reserved. Written for: Emy Cooks

#Viernesderecetaseconómicas~~>Langosta en Crema~~>#Sabroso

Tenia todos los ingredientes en casa menos langosta. Eso tuve que comparar y en venta. Pero es sabroso con solo champinones pero estaba antojada:). Les gusta?

Langosta en Crema

Ingredients

4 colas de langosta
1 cebolla picada
1 lata en rodajas de champiñones ()
1/2 taza de  mantequilla 
3/4 harina 
1/2 cucharadita de sal
1/2 cucharadita de pimienta
1 cucharada de pimentón
 2 vasos de  crema o mitad
 4 vasos caldo de pollo o de pescado o de langosta
2 cucharaditas de salsa Worcestershire
1/2 c. cocinar Jerez

Metodo

Coloque colas de langosta en una olla grande con agua. Hierva y siga cocinando hasta que las cáscaras sean un naranja vivo y la carne es el blanco serio. Esto no toma mucho tiempo y si se cuese mucho la carne se pone duro. Quite cáscaras, corte la carne en trozos. Sofría la cebolla y champiñones en mantequilla. Mezcle harina, sal, pimienta y pimentón.   Cocine a fuego bajo hasta que esté burbujeando. Retire, agrega crema, caldo de pollo y salsa Worcestershire. Caliente hasta que hierva, revolviendo. Hervir 1 minuto. Se mezclan con el resto. Añada el vino y la langosta. Espolvorea el queso parmesano encima. Sirva sobre arroz. Riquisimo.



Nota: Hice el metodo sin añadir la langosta y lo sirve a los vegetarianos con arroz y les gusto tambien.

Who is an early bird at the local farmers market? ~~> A visit to Belize market! #CentralAmerica #FreshFruits #NOGMO #Travels

Good day to you all, hope you are having a great Saturday evening!

Buen día a todos, esperanza está teniendo una gran tarde este sábado!

Today we are early birds at the market with people bustling around to get their fresh fruits and vegetables.
 
Hoy somos madrugadores en el mercado con la gente que anda ajetreado alrededor para conseguir sus frutas frescas y verduras.

picture credit goes to Karen Vernon

 
Let's start by saying a big THANK YOU to all the farmers in the world. I know that the office people works hard, technically speaking. I must say that most farmers are very hard working, early to bed and early to rise. What they do, they do with a passion and most enjoy dealing with the public. These farmers are up very early to get their crop ready, some are not daily visitors at the market and therefore has to get there early to get an available spot to get their products sold early and get out of the hectic rush on the road.

This experience I learned while visiting and it was fun going to the market and all because it was just for a short while but believe me, it was tiring for me. I was up at 5 a.m. and by 7:30 p.m. I was ready for my bed.

Vamos a comenzar diciendo GRACIAS a todos los agricultores en el mundo. Sé que la gente de la oficina trabaja mucho, técnicamente hablando. Debo decir que la mayor parte de agricultores trabajan mucho y duro, temprano para acostarse y temprano a levantarse. Lo que hacen,  lo hacen con una pasión y mayoría de ellos disfruta el tratamiento con el público. Estos agricultores se levantan muy temprano para conseguir su cosecha lista, unos no son vendedores diarios en el mercado y por lo tanto se tienen que estar allí  más temprano para conseguir puesto bueno y disponible donde se ponga sus productos a vender temprano para salir de la frenética carrera por la carretera.

Esta experiencia lo aprendí visitando a mis padres y era una diversión llendo al mercado  porque era sólo durante una visita pero creame era muy cansado. Me levanté a las 5 de la mañana y a eso de la 7:30 de la tarde estaba listo para mi cama.

pic credit goes to Karen Vernon

 I love going to the market to smell the fresh fruits and vegetables and catch up with some friends that we don't  normally meet throughout the workday. I like to hear the people bartering for their purchase. I never knew how hard or what the procedure a farmer does to be a farmer. My dad does it occasionally based on the type of fruits in season. Presently, there a many fruits in season in Belize.
This experience I learned while visiting and it was fun going to the market and all because it was just for a short while but believe me, it was tiring for me. I was up at 5 a.m. and by 8 a.m. I was ready for my bed.

Me encanta ir al mercado a oler el perfume de las frutas y verduras frescas y ponerse al día con algunos amigos que normalmente no cumplir a lo largo del día. Me gusta escuchar a la gente haciendo trueque para su compra. Yo nunca sabía lo difícil o lo que el proceso de ser un agricultor. Mi papá lo hace algunas veces depende del tipo de frutas de temporada. Actualmente, hay una gran variedad de frutas de temporada en Belice.

pics credit goes to Karen Vernon

Here are a few shots of a hectic morning in Belize on market day! Do you like going to the market? I do enjoying going to the market any where in the world and been to several, England, Scotland, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, to name a few. If you have been to Japan or Turkey, please share your experience and adventures.

Aquí están unas cuantas fotos de una agitada mañana en Belice en día de mercado. ¿Te gusta ir al mercado? Creo que disfruto en el mercado en todo el mundo y he ido a varios:- Inglaterra, Escocia, España, México, Guatemala, para nombrar unos pocos. Si usted ha estado en Japón o Turquía, por favor, comparta sus experiencias y aventuras.

pics credit to Karen Vernon

After an early morning at the local farmer's market, here is my friends shopping for all those healthy smoothies which makes her ready for the long day at work. What does your shopping look like, similar?



Después de una mañana en el mercado local del granjero, aquí está la compras de mi amiga para todos los batidos que ella hace en prepararla para el largo día del trabajo. ¿Cómo es su compra, similar?

Hope you enjoyed your shopping day at the Belize local farmer's market. It is always an adventure when I go to the market with my dad, I would meet everyone there which makes it much more interesting!!!!


Espero que hayan disfrutado de su compra en el mercado del agricultor de Belice local. ¡Siempre es una aventura cuando voy al mercado con mi papá, encontraría a cada uno allí que lo hace mucho más interesante!!!! 

Other topics on Belize
Placencia 
Carib Settlement Day 
Empanadas Beliceños 
Johnny Cakes


©Maricela, All Rights Reserved. Written for: Emy Cooks

Quick and Easy Breakfast ~~> Chocolate milk and toast bread ~ day 2<~~Desayuno,#Rapido y #Facil #Delicious #Nutritious

Hello all,

Hola todos, 

Over the weekend, my little ones did their own quick and easy breakfast. I was surprised but I see that they do know how to eat nutritious breakfast.

Durante el fin de semana, mi pequeño hizo su propio desayuno rápido y fácil. Me sorprendí pero veo que realmente saben cómo hacer el desayuno nutritivo.

On Friday, we received a cup of chocolate milk and/or coffee with two slices of toast. My daughter sometimes says, she remembers her family in Belize and Mexico cause they like eating chocolate with toast bread which she loves as well. I guess she was thinking vacation and this tells me she is hoping to visit her cousins.

El viernes, recibimos una taza de leche con chocolate y/o café con dos rebanadas de pan tostado. Mi hija dice que a veces, se acuerda de su familia en Belice y México a quienes gusta comer chocolate con tostadas y a ella le gusta tambien. Me imagino que ella estaba pensando en su vacaciones y este es la manera de dicerme que ella está esperando para visitar a sus primos.

She relives some moments about her last vacation with her cousins as she dips the bread in the chocolate milk. This really tells a story that she likes what she eats where she goes for vacation and likes sharing those lovely memories. That makes me happy that she enjoys time away from home. What do you think?

Ella revive algunos momentos sobre sus últimas vacaciones con sus primos cuando baña el pan en la leche de chocolate.  Esto realmente nos cuenta una historia que le gusta lo que ella come donde va de vacaciones y le gusta compartir los buenos recuerdos. Eso me hace feliz que ella goza de tiempo fuera de casa. ¿Qué te parece?

Have a good day!

Que tenga buen día!

©Maricela, All Rights Reserved. Written for: Emy Cooks

Lobster and Mushroom in Cream Sauce #Healthy #Caribbean

 Good Day to all!

Buen Día a todos!

It has been a while since I have made a nice lobster meal. Do you like seafood? What is your favorite seafood. I enjoy eating all seafood. I enjoying eating lobster immensely but do not eat if often so I appreciate when I do.

Ha sido un tiempo que no he hecho una comida deliciosa de langosta. ¿Le gustan mariscos? ¿Que es su marisco favorito? Disfruto de comer todos los mariscos. Disfruto comer langosta inmensamente, pero no muy a menudo cuando lo hago aprecio el sabor.

Today I will share one of the recipes I like very much and hope you do too.

Hoy compartiré una de la recetas que me gusta muchísimo y espero que le guste también.

LOBSTER with Cream

 4 lobster tails
1 chopped onion
1 (8 oz.) can sliced mushrooms
1/2 c. butter
 3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. paprika
2 c. cream or half & half
4 c. chicken broth
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. cooking sherry

Method

Place lobster tails in a large pot with water covering. Boil and continue cooking until shells are a bright orange and meat is solid white. This does not take long and over cooking makes meat tough and chewy. Remove shells, cut meat in pieces. Saute onion and mushrooms in butter. Mix in flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook over low heat until bubbly. Remove,stir in cream, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce. Heat until boiling, stirring. Boil 1 minute.  Add cooking sherry and lobster. Heat. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Serve over rice.

Lobster con Crema

Ingredients

4 colas de langosta
1 cebolla picada
1 lata en rodajas de champiñones
1/2 taza de  mantequilla 
3/4 harina 
1/2 cucharadita de sal
1/2 cucharadita de pimienta
1 cucharada de pimentón
 2 vasos de  crema o mitad
 4 vasos caldo de pollo
2 cucharaditas de salsa Worcestershire
1/2 c. cocinar Jerez

Metodo

Coloque colas de langosta en una olla grande con agua. Hierva y siga cocinando hasta que las cáscaras sean un naranja vivo y la carne es el blanco serio. Esto no toma mucho tiempo y si se cuese mucho la carne se pone duro. Quite cáscaras, corte la carne en trozos. Sofría la cebolla y champiñones en mantequilla. Mezcle harina, sal, pimienta y pimentón.   Cocine a fuego bajo hasta que esté burbujeando. Retire, agrega crema, caldo de pollo y salsa Worcestershire. Caliente hasta que hierva, revolviendo. Hervir 1 minuto. Se mezclan con el resto. Añada el vino y la langosta. Espolvorea el queso parmesano encima. Sirva sobre arroz. Riquisimo.

Nota: Hice el metodo sin añadir la langosta y lo sirve a los vegetarianos con arroz y les gusto tambien.


©Maricela, All Rights Reserved. Written for: Emy Cooks

Conch soup ~ Sopa de Caracol #Healthy # Coasta#l Food

Good day everyone!

 Buen Día a todos!

Pic credit goes to Will Moreno

 We are celebrating the Lenten season and most Catholics does not eat meat for either Wednesday or Friday. It depends on the individual. A couple days ago, I was looking for one of my favorite seafood, conch. There are several ways to cook this seafood: conch chowder, conch stew, conch salad, conch ceviche, popular conch fritters. Queen conch are those big beautiful snail shells you see photos of in ads for the Caribbean. A large snail is full of delicious muscle, with a hint of sweetness like a scallop. Conch soup takes these tenderized pieces of sweet deliciousness and turns them into a hearty and filling stew made with a brown flour roux. One day my mom surprised me with a vegetarian brown flour roux it is delicious. One of the soup I like is the conch soup. I was amazed at the price for a pound of conch and it was frozen which means that you would be chewing forever. Nevertheless, I will share the recipe with you. This can be eaten as long as conch is in season but we eat it most often during Lenten season.


Estamos celebrando el tiempo de Cuaresma, y la mayoría de los católicos no come carne el miércoles o viernes. Depende de la persona. Hace un par de días, yo estaba buscando a uno de mis mariscos favoritos, el caracol. Hay varios modos de cocinar estos mariscos: crema de pescado de la concha, guisado de la concha, ensalada de la concha, concha ceviche, buñuelos de la concha populares. La concha de la reina es aquellas cáscaras del caracol hermosas grandes de las cuales ve fotos en anuncios para el Caribe. Un caracol grande está lleno del músculo delicioso, con un toque de dulzura como un festón.   La sopa de la concha toma estas piezas ablandadas del dulce delicioso y los convierte en un guisado cordial y que se llena hecho con una harina marrón roux. Un día mi mamá me sorprendió por una harina marrón vegetariana roux muy delicioso. Una de la sopa que me gusta es la sopa del caracol por los vegetales que lleva. Me asombré del precio de una libra de concha y que fue congelada lo cual quiere decir que el caracol se puede masticar para siempre. Sin embargo, compartiré la receta con usted. Esto se puede comer mientras el caracol es en la temporada pero lo comemos más a menudo durante la temporada Cuaresmal.

Conch Soup

Ingredients

 4 medium conch, pounded and chopped
 2 onions, chopped
4 large conchs,
4 potatoes medium diced
3 medium cocos diced
1 medium onion
1 clove garlic chopped and crushed
1 large carrot diced
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cooking oil (olive oil)
1 green plantain sliced
1 green plantain grated
1 cup coconut milk
1 tsp thyme.
2 cups sliced okra
2 bay leaves


Methods 


 Clean conch with lime juice. Place on cutting board and beat with meat mallet. Tip: In a saucepan, drop conch in boiling water for one minute only. Discard water. Heat oil, add flour and stir until brown making a roux. Add 3 cups of water, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Season to taste, and add thyme, diced coco, potatoes, carrots and okra. As soon as soup comes to a boil, turn down heat to medium. Cover pot and let simmer. This is a favorite in this soup, grate plantains, form into little balls and drop into soup. Stir pot occasionally. As soon as vegetables in soup are just about tender, add coconut milk and conch. Cook and simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Serve hot.This is a healthy soup that you can eat alone or with a servings of white rice.

Conch season opens in October and runs to June in Belize.

Pics credit to Will Moreno

Sopa de caracol

Ingredientes
 4 media concha, machacado y picado
2 cebollas, picadas
4 conchas grandes,
4 papas en cuadritos
3 cocos medianos picados
1 cebolla mediana
1 diente de ajo picado y machacado
1 zanahoria grande cortada en cubos
2 cucharadas de harina
2 cucharadas de aceite (aceite de oliva)
1 plátano verde rallado
1 taza de leche de coco
1 cucharadita de tomillo.
2 tazas rebanadas okra
2 hojas de laurel

Method

Limpie caracoles con jugo de limón. En la tabla de cortar carne y golpea el caracol con maceta. Sugerencia: En una cacerola, concha caída en agua hirviendo durante un minuto solamente y desechar agua. Caliente el aceite, agregar la harina y mezcle hasta que brown haciendo un roux. Añadir 3 tazas de agua, poco a poco, revolviendo constantemente. Sazone al gusto y añadir el tomillo, coco y cortado en cubitos, papas, zanahorias y ocra. Tan pronto como sopa comience a hervir, baje la temperatura a medio. Tapar olla y deje que hierva a fuego lento. Este es uno de los favoritos en esta sopa, los plátanos rallado forma en pequeñas bolas y agrega en la sopa. Revuelva  ocasionalmente. Tan pronto como las hortalizas en la olla están suavecito, agrega leche de coco y el caracol. Cocine a fuego lento durante 15 minutos más. Servir caliente.Esta es una rica sopa que puede comer a solas o con un porciones de arroz blanco.

©Maricela, All Rights Reserved. Written for: Emy Cooks

Cayo ~Belize #Central America #Caribbean #Vacation #Latin America #Travels

Hi there Everyone.

Hola a todo el mundo.

Caye Caulker ~Belize #Central America #Caribbean #Travels

Hi there Everyone.

Hola a todo el mundo.

It is that time of the year where lots of the Birds are still in the warmer zone. A lot of visitors visit Belize at this time of the year.

Es esa época del año donde las porciones de las aves están todavía en la zona más caliente. Una gran cantidad de visitantes visitar Belice en esta época del año.

Lenten season has begun and that means many Belizeans are preparing for the spring break or Easter Break. One of the regions visited at this time of the year is an island ~ Caye Caulker. I used to visit the island many times for our Easter Break. It was always a lot of fun.

Ha comenzado la Cuaresma y eso significa que muchos beliceños se preparan para las vacaciones de primavera o Semana Santa. Una de las regiones visitadas en esta época del año es una isla ~ Caye Caulker.Yo solía visitar la isla muchas veces para nuestro fin de semana de celebración de la Pascua. Siempre fue muy divertido.

Let me see if I can let you imagine being there and enjoying almost all there is to take advantage of:

Déjeme ver si puedo le permiten imaginar estar allí y disfrutar casi todo lo que hay que aprovechar

Pic credit to Exotic Caye resort

Diving

Can you imagine the beautiful creatures you can see while exploring the tropical aquarium that  surrounds that beautiful island. The vast warm turquoise color water alongside the coral reef will reveal the most amazing marine life you  can only dream of, you will encounter there. There are  many other diving spots such as Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. These places offers close encounters with nature of the sea life such as friendly nurse shark, the majestic rays and barracudas. You can also accomplish your dream at the famous Blue Hole, what an accomplishment that would be! Diving in paradise!!



Buceando

Puede imaginar a las criaturas hermosas que puede ver explorando el acuario tropical que rodea esa isla hermosa. El agua en color turquesa caliente enorme junto al arrecife de coral revelará la vida marítima más asombrosa con la cual sólo puede soñar, encontrará allí.Hay muchos otros puntos de buceo como Reserva Marina Hol Chan y tiburón Ray Alley. Estos lugares ofrece encuentros cercanos con la naturaleza de la vida del mar, tales como amable tiburón nodriza, el majestuoso rayos y barracudas. También puede realizar su sueño en el famoso Blue Hole, qué logro sería! Buceando en el paraíso!

Fishing Paradise

The beautiful clear waters is also a fisherman's eating ground. You can eat your heart's delight or your day's catch by fly fishing for bonefish, spin casting for snapper, trolling for barracuda or going beyond the reef. There is always a qualified captain at your service. Can you imagine...

Pic Credit to Portofino Resort

Paraiso de Pesca

Los aguas puras hermosos también son la tierra de comida de un pescador. Puede comer el placer de su corazón o la cogida de su día por la mosca que pesca bonefish, lanzamiento de la vuelta para el pargo, arrastrar para la barracuda o va más allá del filón. Siempre hay un capitán calificado en su servicio. Puede imaginar...

Sailing in the wind

At this time of the year, it is becoming quite windy which is the trade winds puffing. Belizeans call it the "Easter breeze." This is good wind to do some windsurfing which is year round in Belize. You can enjoy windsurfing around the island or within the cove. Many return to enjoy the sea breeze and develop their skills or jump the waves in this beautiful paradise.

Pic credit to Exotic Caye resort

La navegación en el viento 

En este tiempo del año, se hace completamente ventoso que es el resoplido de vientos alisios. Belizeans lo llaman la 'Brisa de pascua. ' Esto es el viento bueno para hacer un poco de windsurfing que está durante todo el año en Belice. Puede disfrutar del windsurfing alrededor de la isla o dentro de la cala. Muchos vuelven para disfrutar de la brisa de mar y desarrollar sus habilidades o salto las ondas(olas) en este paraíso hermoso.

You can always enjoy the quiet trip to other islands such as Turneffe Islands, Glover's Reef or Lighthouse Reef and enjoy a delicious drink while enjoying the sunset or get a glimpse of the dolpins or manatee floating by. What a beautiful setting....

Siempre puede disfrutar del viaje tranquilo  a otras islas como Islas Turneffe, Glover's Reef o Lighthouse Reef y disfrutar de una deliciosa bebida y disfrutar de la puestas de sol o tener una idea de los manatíes  o dolpins flotante. Un entorno de belleza....


Nature Reserves

The island has beautiful acres of trails to enjoy the natural beauty found that is unique to this region. Research is continue to discover more in this haven of nature to provide you all with more information as it is discovered. Enjoy nature at it's best....

pic credit to Caye Caulker Mini Reserve

Reservas naturales

La isla tiene hermoso hectáreas de senderos para disfrutar de la belleza natural se encuentran que es único en esta región. Investigación es seguir descubriendo más en este paraíso de la naturaleza para proveer de usted con más información como se descubra. Disfrutar de la naturaleza lo mejor...

There is always something to do or you can just relax and be happy - the Belizean way on holiday!

 Siempre hay algo que hacer o usted puede relajarse y ser feliz - en la forma de los beliceños de vacaciones!

For more information you please see Travel Belize  or Belize Tourism Industry Association website

Ruta Maya Continues...#AltunHa #Xunantunich #SantaRita #Cerros #Lubaantun #Viajes

These sites are the most known excavated sites that are accessible by private vehicle. The following sites are open to the public each day from 8am to 5pm with small admission fees:

• Altun Ha
• Xunantunich
• Santa Rita
• Lamanai
• Cerros
• Lubaantun
• Nim Li Punit

Children twelve (12) years and under are admitted free of charge.Nationals are admitted free of charge on Sundays., PLEASE NOTE that this does NOT" apply for public and bank holidays.

Altun Ha- Belize District

Altun-Ha

 Altun Ha, a major Classic Period center, is located 30 miles north of Belize City, near Rockstone Pond Village, 6 miles from the sea, in the Belize District. The entrance to the ruins is approximately one mile from Mile 32 of the Old Northern Highway. 

 Altun Ha, the most extensively excavated ruin in Belize, was a major ceremonial center during the Classic Period, as well as a vital trade center that linked the Caribbean shores with other Maya centers in the interior. 

 The ruin consists of two main plazas with some thirteen temple and residential structures. The "Jade Head", representing the Sun God, Kinich Ahau, was the most significant find during excavations. At approxmately six inches high and weighing nine is and three-quarter pounds, it is still to this day the largest carved jade object in, the whole Maya area. 

 To the Maya, it was a powerful southeastern trading post linking the Caribbean shore with the cities of the interior. Dr. David M. Pendergast, who headed the major excavations, named the site Altun Ha or "rockstone water" after Rockstone Pond which was mistakenly thought to be the main reservoir of the area.

Lubaantun - Punta Gorda District

Lubaantun

 Lubaantun means "place of the fallen rocks."Lubaantun lies on a ridge above a valley cut by a tributary of the Columbia River, which is a quarter of a mile from the site. Streams flow around the base of the ridge and below the site is an expanse of tropical forest. This site is not accessible by public transportation. There is a 20 minute walk from the road to the ruins. Accomodations are available in Punta Gorda Town 20 miles away and in the village of San Antonio, 5 miles away.

One of Lubaantun's most astonishing features is that its structures were constructed entirely without the aid of mortar: each stone used at the site was carefully measured and cut to fit exactly with the stones it adjoins. The strength of the structures was thus entirely dependent on this fit rather than on any form of cement.

NumLi Punit Stelae- Punta Gorda District

up close Stelea - Punta Gorda District

Nim Li Punit 

Nim Li Punit means the 'place of the stelae.' Excavations at this ceremonial center, discovered in 1976, indicated that it was important during the Late Classic Period.

 Of the more than 25 stelae found at the site, at least 8 are carved, one of which remains the tallest carved stela in Belize and in most of the Maya area, measuring 9 meters (31 feet). The name is Maya for "bighat" and was taken from the person wearing a very large headdress on the tallest stela.

waterfall near Lim Ni Punit

 Nim Li Punit is located off the Southern Highway about 25 miles north of Punta Gorda Town (c.a. mile.75), and is not accessible by public transportation. Buses from Belize City to Punta Gorda run 3 times per week and pass by the site. The ruins are a fifteen minute walk from the road. The nearest accomodations are in Punta Gorda Town.

El Castillo of Xunantunich in Cayo District

Xunantunich

Xunantunich means "lords of war and fertility." One mile north of Benque Viejo, across the green crystalline waters of the Mopan River, is the largest ceremonial center in the Belize River Valley. The ruins of Xunantunich are located approximately eight miles west of San Ignacio- Town at San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District. 

The ruins are accessible by public transportation, but after being ferried across the Mopan River, you must walk about one mile to the entrance of the site. By using a travel and tour operator, you will be ferried across with their vehicle, thus eliminating the walk. The hilltop location provides a panoramic view of the surrounding Cayo District.

view from top of Xunantunich

Spanning time from the early Protoclassic to the Terminal Classic Periods, Xunantunich consists of three ceremonial plazas enclosed by house mounds, pyramids, and palaces, the largest decorated with friezes and masks of Classic style. Xunantunich is the longest established archaeological site in Belize; a government reserve with a full time guide.

Santa Rita in Corozal District

Santa Rita

Santa Rita means "ancient chetumal." The modern town of Corozal is built over the ancient Maya center of Santa Rita. This site was important during the Late Post Classic Period (c.a. A.D. 1350-1530), and was occupied up to the time of Spanish contact in the 1500's. The largest building in the central core has been excavated and consolidated. Archaeological investigations there have shown Santa. Rita to be the ancient province of Chetumal where a large part of the Post Classic civilization once thrived. Corozal is easily accessible by public transportation, and hotel accomodations are available in town.  Santa Rita, on Corozal Bay, was in all probability the ancient and important Maya city of Chetumal. The site's importance derived from its control over the trade routes that ran along the coast and down the Rio Hondo and New Rivers, arteries to Lamanai and the Peten along which passed cacao and probably achiote, honey and vanilla - exports to Northern Yucatan.

Cerros in Corozal District

Cerros

Cerros mean "center of Maritime." Cerros is a Late Preclassic centre with virtually no later additions to its structures, indicating an early demise. David Freidel's 1973-1979 excavations revealed that the site underwent a transition "from local resource dependency during its initial occupation to regional interaction of goods and services during its final occupation." It was, then, a trading centre probably based on the sea-borne import of jade and obsidian. Its early decline was possible due to the "general shift of trade routes connecting the highlands and lowlands in the Early Classic. "
Cerros is a short boat ride from Corozal Town, where boats can be hired and accommodation is available. During the dry season, January to April, Cerros can be reached in a rented vehicle by the road which passes through Chunox, Progresso and Copper Bank villages with their beautiful lagoons. No facilities are available at the site itself and insect repellent is needed.




Thanks to all the sites where information was obtain in some form:
Source 1
Source 2
Source 3
Source 4
Source 5

Belize, in the Heart of the Caribbean Basin! #CentralAmerica #Caribbean #Travels

Hello Everyone, big and small, near and far!

This week I will do a bit of reminscing and telling about a little country call Belize!
How many of you know where Belize is?
I have always been asked "Where is Belize, is it an island?"

Here is a map of where Belize is located.
Belize is considered a part of the Caribbean  and Central America-:
 member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA).

Belize is (8,860 sq mi) of land and a population of only 333,200 inhabitants (2010 est.) Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages.

The people of Belize are warm-hearted, fun-loving people.

Belize is the only English speaking country in Latin America due to its British colonial heritage. It is bordered to the north by Mexico, south and west by Guatemala, and to the east by the Caribbean Sea.

Belize's biodiversity – both marine and terrestrial – is rich, with abundant flora and fauna.
The  Belize Barrier Reef is the longest in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Belize is also well known for the Maya Ruins

Belize has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons.

This is just the beginning, giving you an idea of where is Belize. Did you know where it is?

Let me know if you have been there and what was your impression? Yes, feel free to express yourself on this blog but be nice;)!!!

Hope to hear from you soon.

Next we will visit the districts and where you can go for a visit. My fellow Belizeans, feel free to participate!!!!

This is one of many maya ruins in Belize. This looks majestic...love the view. I have never been to this ruin. It is Caracol.