Belize City

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Early breakfast and departure for a ride into Belize City by tender and another bus tour-this one to far more interesting

Mayan ruins of an ancient trade center Altun Ha.It was here that archaeologists discovered a carved jade head of Kinich

Ahau,the Maya sun god.Sal wasn't happy but I  had to climb to the top of one of the temples. This was our third visit to

Belize-the first back in the early "80s with the Pags when he took that great picture of me sleeping in a hammock that

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now hangs in our kitchen. In colonial times, the Spanish conquisitors had little use for Belize. But the safety of the

barrier reef provided an ideal hideout for English pirates,who operated from here capturing Spanish galleons laden with

riches from Spain's American Empire. When England defeated the Spanish fleet in 1798 Spain lost it's possesion. It became

British Honduras. After WW II the colony wanted it'sdependence and in 1981 it gained it and it's old name-Belize. It

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boasts the oldest Anglican church in America. It is barely above sea level and often the victim of hurricanes.

We think the cruise ships and tourists have turned the waterfront into junk city and don't plan a return visit.

We returned to the ship to find Joanne feeling much better and the four of us enjoyed a special dinner in The

LA TERRAZZA Restaurant where the guest chef from the great Italian hotel VILLA D'ESTE has been guest chef.