Belize, 2019 Oceania Riviera Cruise

During the 2nd part of our cruise on the Riviera, we saw some ports in the Western Caribbean.

One port was in Belize. The cruise ship area had been set aside as a tourist area, with a modern cruise port development, a few stores, and nothing else for miles around. And that area was embedded within a nature preserve. In order to take our tour of the Nim Li Punit Mayan ruins, we had to ride on a separate shuttle boat for about 30 minutes (dodging wildlife), just to get to a landing where we could then board our busses for tours. The same process was performed in reverse to get back to the cruise port and ship. Needless to say, this became an all-day activity.

Our bus ride through the countryside of Belize was very interesting. I saw quite a number of local buildings roofed with palm fronds. This turns out to be the 'local' style, and seems to be the same construction technique for the Mayan buildings that would have stood at the ruins (including those of the priests and wealthy elite).

The ruins at Nim Li Punit were interesting, and the local guides are quite proud of their heritage (even though many of the local people migrated from other Mayan areas in previous centuries.)

There isn't anything spectacular to see at the ruins, no huge pyramids, etc. The place is perched on the top of a hill (the peons lived in the valley below and grew the food for the elite on the hill.) The stone work is impressive, however, including the typical Ball Court. The palm-frond-covered elite dwellings were apparently built on top of these large piles of worked stone.

The stele are important, and quite interesting. They have been preserved under cover to save them from weather erosion. In recent years, it has been possible to decode the inscriptions on the stele.

The site is currently surrounded by a rain forest, but in the Mayan times, the land was cleared (especially the valley where cultivation took place).

We topped off the tour with a great lunch at a local tourist facility. The usual plantains were on the menu, along with beans and rice with some chicken. Yum.

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Nim Li Punit (Maya Ruins) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Modern Pier Equipment for Cruise Ships -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Pier for Cruise Ships -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Mailbox at Cruise Port -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Typical Thatched Roof House Along Road (same design as used by ancient Maya) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Woman and Small Store Along Road -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Corner of Platform Structure at Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Tropical Growth at the Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Local Guide with His Son at the Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Steps Leading Up to Platform at Maya Ruins (probably a religious structure) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Stele at Maya Ruins (much weathered, not placed in safe storage) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Jungle at Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Stele Detail at Maya Ruins (inside museum) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Ceremonial Ball-Court at Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Stele at the Maya Ruins (not placed under cover, it is now surrounded by jungle) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Some Stones from the Large Structures at the Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Our Tour Group Viewing Archaeological Dig, Maya Ruins (note the thatched roof, much like those used on Mayan structures) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Platform for House or Religious Structure, Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Lush Tropic Plants at the Maya Ruins -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Hmmm, Why Are Those Leaves Walking Along the Ground? -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Answer: Ants Carrying Leaves -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Lunch: Rice, Beans, Chicken, and Plantain (with coleslaw) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Lunch Was Better with Habanero Sauce -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Rice, Beans, Chicken and Plantains, YUM -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Mailbox at Cruise Port (notice it is British, as was Belize) -- Belize, 2019 Riviera Cruise

Belize, 2019 Oceania Riviera Cruise

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