| We boarded a bus for our ride all the way across the country. (about 2 1/2 hours) to see Xunantunich (pronounced; zoo-NAHN-too-nich). This Mayan ruin is one of the oldest and near the Guatemalan border. Xunantunich means stone lady. |
| We got off the bus and crossed the Mopan river on this small car ferry. The operator turned the crank to propel it along guide wires. |
| We rode to the visitor center and then, after a quick stop, we walked up the hill and stepped out onto this amazing plaza. |
| These stone monuments, called Stelas, were made for the tomb each ruler. They depict the life themes of the ruler and are some of the oldest known hieroglyphs in the western hemisphere. |
| On one end of the plaza was this smaller pyramid. The ruling family would live behind it and in order to reach them the common people would have to pass through doorways which represented the spirit world. |
| On the other end of the plaza was "El Castillo" Mayan Pyramids are formed by building layer on layer. Each successive ruler builds his own layer, widening the base and adding to the top. Royalty rarely came down from the top, so servants had to carry food and water up every day. We got to climb all the way to the top of this pyramid. By the way, Mayans are responsible for chocolate. |
| This is the view from the top of El Castillo. The road in the distance is the Guatemalan border. |
| This is court for a popular Mayan ball game. I can't remember what it was called but the winner earned the right to be sacrificed to the gods! |
| This interpretive display gives an overall view of the site. |
| On the way back to the ship we cuisine and Belizean beer. |
 | |  | |  | |  |