Coconuts!

The boys were very curious about the coconuts that surrounded our little island paradise, and we finally asked the caretaker, Sergio, to open one for us. He went one better and opened two of them — with his machete! Here’s video — first for the water and second for the meat.

Finn really loved the way the first coconut was like a big cup.

Finn and the coconut Sergio opened

Ezra loved the coconut meat.

Ezra really likes it

Day Trip to Lamanai

Bruce and I were lucky enough to get away for a day trip to see the Mayan ruins at Lamanai. It was an amazing (and amazingly long) day. Our trusty guide, Daniel, took us on a boat, a van, and another boat until we finally reached Lamanai. Here’s a map to show where things are. (We started on Ambergris Caye.)

The journey itself was really informative — on our first boat we saw lots of mangroves.

The mangroves

Once we stopped at this little village …

The first stop on the way to Lamanai

… we took a van on perhaps the bumpiest ride ever to our next boat. We picked up two more passengers (there were three couples total — us, a couple from New York, and a couple from London) and headed out. First, Daniel took us to see some spider monkeys — and he lured them right out of the jungle and into our boat!

She walked on board upright

Only the female came on board, but she quickly made a friend.

The female spider monkey made a friend

Then we continued on the rest of the jungle tour (we saw a variety of lizards, birds and bats, but no crocodiles because the river was already high due to early rains). Finally, we reached Lamanai.

Lamanai welcome sign

The ruins were amazing, and Daniel told us there are hundreds there that haven’t even been investigated. This is the tallest one — Bruce and I climbed about half-way up before being spooked by the steep stairs (and the thought of getting back down).

Long shot of the tallest ruin

Mambo

We ventured out for dinner one night by walking up the beach to a restaurant called Mambo. We got there at 5:30 and were informed that they don’t serve dinner until 6:30. We didn’t want to go home, so we just killed an hour — first we enjoyed cocktails and appetizers on the beach (and Bruce and Finn utilized the hammock).

On the hammock at the restaurant

Amy took Ezra out on Mambo’s dock where they saw a huge stingray. Here’s Ezra showing me how big it was.

Ezra showing me the size of the sting ray he just saw in the water

After a while, Bruce took Ezra and Finn inside for a variety of activities including playing pool.

Playing pool at Mambo

Finally, it was time for dinner. The boys had pasta and didn’t end up eating much (they had filled their bellies with vast quantities of orange juice instead), but they thoroughly enjoyed sprinkling their entrees with parmesan cheese.

Finn sprinkles parmesan on his pasta

When we were done with dinner, it was pitch-dark and we took up the restaurant’s offer to take us home in their boat. I admit to being slightly terrified by the fast boat ride in the dark. The boat dropped us off at the dock before ours because the water is too shallow at our dock, which meant that we still had a little walk home in the dark. Luckily, Jamma had thought to bring flashlights (she is no rookie) but it was still an exciting walk, and we saw this guy on the way.

Crab!

Kayaking

On his first full day in Belize, Bruce took the boys out kayaking. First, the sunscreen.

Bruce’s version:

Finn gets ready for kayaking

Jamma’s version:

Jamma's liberal application of sunscreen

(She is determined that no one gets a sunburn.)

Finn got the first ride.

Finn gets the first ride

Then Ezra.

Ezra's turn

Then all three Moisions went back out. The boys had a great time.

Three Moisions in a kayak

Bruce Arrives

After five days of swimming, digging in the sand, and relaxing, the boys anxiously awaited Bruce’s arrival in Belize. We waited for our water taxi to take us to San Pedro so we could rent a golf cart and get to the airport.

Waiting for the water taxi to take us to Papa

The taxi was about 40 minutes late … but Ezra and Finn enjoyed hanging out with the older local boys (the son of the property’s caretaker, Sergio, and his friend). Here they are retrieving a snail from the underside of the dock. (Finn wasn’t too sure of the whole process.)

The local boys show Ezra and Finn a snail they found

Finally — Papa arrives! (And Jamma makes him drive the golf cart.)

Papa's here!!

Next we headed to Fido’s (a restaurant/bar) for a quick cold drink. The boys had pineapple juice, while Bruce got into the swing of things with a rum punch.

Finn enjoying some pineapple juice

Then we headed back to the house.

The boys get a front row view on the boat back to the house