Hummingbird Highway

Between Belize City and San Ignacio (our main destination for the first part of our trip) there is a stretch of highway called the Hummingbird Highway. It is supposed to be the most beautiful stretch of land in Belize so we had to check it out. We wanted to eat at a bakery alongside the highway, visit the Billy Barquedier Waterfall and visited the Blue Hole National Park. Unfortunately we didn't make the Blue Hole National Park but we sure did have a blast at the other places!!!!!!

The Hummingbird Highway was beautiful, But just like everything in Belize, it is poorly marked and you haven't a clue as to when things will be. Signs will say just around the corner or a ways a head and 10/15 minutes later you will find your spot. Luckily we just enjoyed the drive (the girls mostly enjoyed their coloring and music) and it was beautiful.

We came across Kropf's bakery. It is a Mennonite bakery (there is a surprising number of Mennonites living in Belize) that also serves some lunch items. It also makes sure to remind you, through its signage, of the 10 commandments :) Hot dog for Ashley, sandwiches for Anna and Ashley, fry jacks with eggs for everyone else. And top it all off with cinnamon rolls.

After lunch we headed down the Hummingbird Highway to the Bill Barquedier Waterfall. After a 10 minutes hike through the jungle and over a small creek, we discovered a beautiful waterfall emptying into a swimming hole.

It was awesome. We jumped in, swam to the waterfall and just enjoyed. I swam to the bottom of the waterfall with Anna and that was cool. Then Rob swam to the bottom of the waterfall with Ashley, who was insistent upon using her bubble floaty on her back. I was really proud of Ashley because she was certain that she could only make it to the waterfall with her bubble on her back and she proved she could with Daddy. But with a little pep talk and encouragement from Mommy she was able to swim out to the waterfall while holding my hand. She was practically pulling me against the current. It was a special moment for her :)

After an hour or so we hiked back to our car and headed in the direction back from where we came. Abby enjoyed a short nap in Daddy's arms!

We passed a cute little ice cream store that didn't have ice cream. So we got "milkshakes" and yogurt instead.

We arrived at the Blue Hole National Park at closing :( and then continued our journey to San Ignacio.

So glad we drove the Hummingbird Highway but wish we had more time (just like everything else we did!)

Belize Night Zoo

On our first night in Belize, and after being awake 14 hours, we headed to the Belize Night Zoo. We had arranged a tour with a tour guide who happened to be the "jaguar expert." The tour lasted about 1 1/2 hours and we saw so many night animals: tapir, ocelot, coatimundi, margay, gibnut, several species of owls and crocodiles. The girls got to feed several of them and we had fun watching our guide call over the animals, interact with them and tell us all about them. The girls were amazed that he had trained a spotted jaguar (named Junior Buddy) to doing a jungle gym course and do a somersault. It was pretty awesome!

We had a great time and were so glad we pushed the girls even though we were all tired. We got home and after 18 hours of being awake, we all hit the sack!

Feeding the coatimundi bananas:

Feeding carrots to the tapir:

The Gibnuts (Royal Rats)

Feeding Lucky Boy the jaguar

Ocelot

Buster the Crocodile!