Yesterday was a day on the river. No bumpy roads. We started up river to see tortillas being made in the next village. On the way, we got waylaid. Actually, as photographers, we always get waylaid, whether by van or boat. It’s something we’re always joking about, as we say we’ll be in a certain location for, let’s say, two hours, and it stretches to three or four. Nothing’s new! We’re photographers, after all.
When we came in by boat last week to the Lodge, we saw several large iguana, many orange in color with wonderful combs along their backs. They love tender shoots, but often, those branches don’t support them, so they go PLOP into the river, swim ashore, and scuttle back up. We were hoping that our participants would get to see some of these magnificent creatures.
Alex, the owner of the boat and our guide for the day, pointed out a magnificent one that was very cooperative when the boat came in close. What you cannot see is his beautiful long, striped tail.
We continued up river a short distance and photographed the dugout canoes, called cayucas here, carved out of a single log. Some were down by the river, while other, larger, painted ones, had been pulled up under a thatched open shed.
As we walked into the village, pigs and piglets crossed our paths, chickens pecked at goodies in the ground, and people looked at us, some waving or nodding hello, while others retreated back to the safety of their houses.
Our hostess took us through the whole tortilla-making process, starting with separating the good ears from the bad (the latter going to the animals).
She then rubbed the dried corn off the cob into a bowl, washed and soaked it, put it through what I would call a meat grinder twice, added some other ingredients, kneaded it, then took small portions the size of a golf ball and flattened them out to cook on the stove. Continue Reading »
I went through a narrow passage between two ruins and came upon this long set of tall steps. It was quite impressive.
As I came around the corner of a building, I saw three of Andrea’s children by the door to their house. 
Cacao (ka-COW) is where we get chocolate. Here are the pods on the tree.
Another plant is the Waha, whose leaves are used to not only wrap presents, but to wrap fish in and bake it in a pit fire.
As you can see, Abelina puts an amazing about of energy into grinding the beans.
We put the metatl over on the table to we could photograph it with a more interesting background. Don’t you want to dip your fingers into the chocolate?
On the way out, I grabbed this quick portrait of them with their two children. As Juan and Abelina said, “Two’s enough.” Sustainable farming at its best!
…and sometimes, as here, a house set back from the road at the foot of the steep hills.
Some of commented on how the writing in this tablet reminded us of both Maori and Tlingit art.
Most of the girls were shy and ran away when we wanted to photograph them. Once we showed them what we had done with the boys, some of them gathered together for photographs, some still hiding, all with cute smiles. 
We flew over lots of agricultural land…
…and shrimp farms.
There were little islands set off by the amazing colors in the Gulf of Honduras. Remember, Belize used to be known as British Honduras.
Gomier is a wonderful cook. Apparently, the veggie lasagna was delicious, too. Out host made us feel most welcome, and his face was wonderful for photographing.
On the way, we crossed over one little creek where this cayuca was sitting in the dappled light. The cayucas are the traditional dugout canoes that have been used in these parts for centuries.
