Mexico and Belize
|
 |
Hi folks, thank you for exploring into Part 1 of my SOUTHERN RIDE ... let me share a small introduction. |
After years and years of planning, Jon's "Dream Ride Of A Lifetime" begins in mid-November with a cold wet ride from Indiana to the Mexican border crossing at Laredo Texas. The culture shock begins!
Highlights of part 1 include the spectacularly beautiful Copper Canyon which is deeper and four times larger than the Grand Canyon in the United States and is inhabited by the primitive Tarahaumara Indians that are considered the fastest runners on earth! The Tarahaumara still live in caves! Jon and the Waterbuffalo get stuck on a rock high above the canyon walls for a night to remember. A young Tarahaumara woman carrying her baby runs a considerable distance to show Jon a ribbon that she had made. The ride down the west coast of Mexico was very pretty indeed but the Revolution Day Parade in San Blas was most interesting. Jon goes for a great "Kite Ride" over the Pacific Ocean at Puerto Vallarta for some great photo and then he crash lands! The worlds largest and oldest tree (possibly 3,000 years old) is seen at El Tule.
Ancient Indian ruins are seen at Oaxaca, Palenque, Uxmal and Chichen-itza.
South of Chetumal is the border crossing into Belize which is unlike any other Latin American country ---they speak English ---sort of! Jon was lucky to visit a Maya Home in the far south near San Antonio where a young Maya girl spoke very good English. The photos in this area are GREAT!
Placencio Belize was an unusual tourist village on Belize's Peninsula. In the north central part of Belize is Spanish Lookout which is an old Menninite community with neat farms and an interesting general store. Just West of San Ignacio part 1 ends at the Guatemala border crossing with Jon dismounted and standing in deep MUD!
DON'T MISS PART1!!!
 |
Riding through the jungle looking for "not so famous" Mayan Ruins was fun and challenging after all "its a dream ride of a lifetime" for Jon! |
|
|
The Waterbuffalo took Jon to homes like this one in the Yucatan of Mexico and in northern Guatemala. |
|
|
Mayan Ruins no matter how insignificant always had elaborate staircases up the platforms. |
|
|
A little known Mayan Ruin peeking out of the jungle. |
|
|
The Mayan pyramid at Uxmal has such a steep staircase on the backside that people only climbed down it, never climbed up it, even so they used a chain for security when descending. One can only wonder how agile the ancient Maya must have been. The sound and light show at night was fantastic to see and hear at Uxmal. |
|
|
While riding along the west coast of Mexico, it was a pure delight to watch the blue-green waves trying to erase the rocks. |
|
|
The Waterbuffalo spotted this mermaid on the beach. Jon saw some too which proves mermaids really exist. |
|
|
Near San Antonio, Belize, Jon sought refuge from the heavy rain in this Maya home. The mother is 38 years old. The daughter ,20, spoke English quite well because her dad taught her on return visits from his job as a doctor in the Panama canal zone. It was a wonderful day of learning and sharing with great photos. |
|
|
This lumberjack from Fiji had just moved to Belize to start farming. With his first rice crop, he became "farmer of the year" because of his outstanding rice production near Punta Gorda, Belize. |
Click Button
 |
I WANT IT!
(Take me to the order desk!)
