June 23, 2000
the Castillo, Xunantunich
Today, Jose (our guide), Joey and Francisco, and us head out to Xunantunich, the "Stone Lady", in the van. We held up the departure a bit while looking for zip codes on the Internet, for postcards. We also ran into 'Uncle Bob', the resort's owner, and I gave him my "Life Is Good" cap - and he gave Noga a handmade slate pendant with the Windy Hill logo. Then we were off to the village of San Jose Succotz, where we take a small ferry across the Mopan River. Up the road a bit to the parking area of Xunantunich. First occupied around 400 BC, the castillo (130 feet tall) dates back to 800 AD and was built in phases as rulers were replaced. These rulers were buried under each addition of the castillo. Around 1000 AD, the Mayans abandoned the site due to the influx of Spanish missionaries, led by Cortez. Much of the site was rebuilt by archaeologists, like the West Frieze, but it offers great views of the surrounding countryside, nonetheless. From here, we drove back to Windy Hill, where we checked out and headed East, stopping at Guanacaste National Park for a quick tour. Here stands the oldest Guanacaste tree in Central America (250 years old). After the walk, we head to the zoo, where Noga and I eat lunch and Jose takes Joey and Francisco into the zoo. Then we are off to Belize City. (continued)
the Flory's at Xunantunich
atop the Castillo
the West Frieze
Tarzan time