Day Eight: January 14, 2015

Patricia's Blog

Last day in BFREE

Woke up on our last morning at BFREE. We all got up, took showers, and made sure everything was packed in our bags. We all carried our luggage downstairs, the same place where our luggage was the first day we were here. Then we all headed for our last breakfast at the dining hall and wanted to enjoy the last hammock time we can get. The group had to split up when leaving BFREE, because of my blisters on my toes, thankfully Jacob gave me a ride, along with another friend, while the professor and the two other girls went with Canti walking back the 6 miles. The walking group left right after breakfast, yet Walkiria and I stayed behind an extra hour on the hammock until the car came to get us. I bought last minute things from the BFREE cool spot and sat in the car and was ready to feel the wind in my hair. The best part was actually Jacob driving the car over the river, I put my feet up, like relaxing on the beach the entire 6 mile. 

Me sitting on a Mayan Ruin

As we drove by, I was wondering if we were going to see the walking group. We arrived at the ranger station (half way point) and they were no where to be found. Yet, to be honest I was just enjoying the ride back to the main road. We arrived at the lumber mill and transferred cars. We sat in the van and waited for the others to come walking by. To past time I started to look thru my new book on Belize and all the animals. Finally the others came and told us the story how they hid from us at the ranger station; they're such jokers. 

Spice Farm tour

PEACE from the Mermaid House

(Driving....driving) We arrive at a Mayan Ruin center. Our good friend Canti came with us and enjoyed his last moments by showing us where he used to work and learn more about the Mayan civilization. After walking around and learning so much information, we went back into our van and headed straight to the SPICE FARM. This place our professor really wanted to see, so thankfully we made time to adventure into spices. We had lunch in a little gazebo in front of the spice farm and I enjoyed my (special treatment) burrito and some nachos (I wasn't liking the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). We started the tour of the spice farm by hitching a ride in a wooden cart that was being pulled by a tractor, and let me say the ride was super fast (no it wasn't). We saw all the spices ( i felt like I got high off of nutmeg). At the end of the tour we were given a nice fresh glass of orange juice right before we left for our water taxi. We got into Independence and got into our water taxi heading to PLACENCIA!!!!! 
Yes, finally in Plancencia after a refreshing ride over. We get off the water taxi and grab our luggage, all hyped we walk towards our hotel, Tradewinds. Our hotel were actually little houses with two beds each and a full bathroom looking at the water. PARADISE. We were so happy to be here and of course first thing we ask for was the wifi password. Right away calling everyone stating we are doing good. 
Dinner at Wendy's (super good) and, our crazy selves went to the Tipsy Tuna for a great girls night out. 

The Legend of Walkiria's bag 

Day 8 

Today was that day we said Goodbye to BFree and Hello to beachfront mornings. We had a feeling Placencia was going to be this sunny, beautiful place. We were excited. The same way we came into BFree was the same way we would leave. Except Patricia and myself, couldn't take the pain in our feet from the last few days so we actually drove out of BFree and passed the Bladen Nature Reserve. It was a different experience driving actually kind of fun, I got to ride in the back of the truck (STANDING UP), although because I am tall I needed to duck down so that I wouldn't hit my head. As we were driving I was hoping to see the other girls and the professor, Elmer and I one of Bfree's workers were wondering but didn't see them anywhere. We get to the end of the trail and into the highway we found our taxi driver, Damien, and we loaded the luggages on to the van. He waited until the rest of the group came. While we waited I actually fell asleep It felt like an hour but it was more like 15 minutes. 

After Baljinder, Dani, Professor Lia, and Centi arrived we drive off to the first Mayan Ruin we'd see since we been here. We went to Nim Li Punit I was very excited about seeing a mayan ruin because this the first structure that had existed since 1000 A.D.

This would the last day we were to see Centi but being able to learn from him was amazing He told us he used to work with the Mayan Civilization and he knew and remembered mostly everything. 

After the Ruin we went to the spice farm, Professor Lia has been wanting to go here.. can't keep a spicy lady away from her spices. Learning about how spices are grown and the process in which it is ready for distribution was quite interesting. Our tour guide drove us in a trolley that didn't go as fast but that was ok because it gave us time to take pictures and examine the spices. We also got out the trolley to go over to the trees to see some of the spices.

We saw Charedemon, Nutmeg, Vanilla Bean, Ginger, All spice, Cinnamon, and many more. I can say I ate cinnamon straight from a cinnamon tree and it felt like I was chewing gum. At the end of the tour we had the opportunity of purchasing spices and most of us did. They were nice enough to serve us freshly squeezed orange juice. 

Now we are on our way to the water taxi station to take a boat to Placencia! Along the way we dropped off Canti in his village. We didn't want to leave Canti he was such an amazing tour guide. But it was time to say goodbye. As we drive to the water taxi we start talking about the first we will do when we get there.. for a fact we'd have to find a laundromat.. 5 days in the jungle and our clothes barely drying we smelled terrible. We even agreed to having a laundry day. Finally we are at the water taxi and we load our bags on to the boat we get on the boat and wear our life vest. We felt the wind blowing through our hair and we saw the Island we were heading to as we were getting closer we were excited. 

Finally arrived in Placencia ! It's beautiful !! We walk down the main road and through cross alley ways and find ourselves at an intersection then we walk down the main street. The way Placencia is that it's an elongated peninsula. There are only two roads, one for cars and one for pedestrians. Seems simple no confusion. There were businesses everywhere people walking around, the smell of amazing food It was all here in Placencia. We stayed in Tradewinds and we each had beachfront views. For about 2 hours we connected to the wifi and contacted our family and friends and it was amazing to get to hear from them. I heard from my mother and my sisters whom i missed so much. After being able to speak with my family I went to take a shower and got ready for dinner at Wendy's (No not Wendy's rd pig tail girl) that is what I thought at first.. You'd be surprised how some tropical countries has the restaurants that are in the United States, but NOO not in Belize ! 

Baljinder's Blog:

Wednesday January 14, 2015. Dani, Walkiria, Patricia and I were looking forward to going to Placencia, our next stop after BFREE. We couldn't believe that we were in the jungle without connection to the rest of the world for 6 days. We were up and about, packing our luggage making sure we had all of our belongings after taking showers, we headed for our last breakfast in BFREE. 

It was decided that 2 people from our group would get a ride with the luggage. Those people were Patricia and Walkiria, they deserved it because they were blistered from all the rain and wet socks. 

Just after breakfast, Jacob gave us a demo of the Fer-de-lance snake. 

So Dani, Prof. Lia, and I were to go on the 6 mile hike out BFREE with Canti as our guide. Since Patricia and Walkiria were getting a ride, Prof. Lia came up with an idea to hide from them once we hear the vehicle. Luckily we heard it coming when we were by the rangers house almost the third mile and we ran behind a huge tank before they could see us. 

To our luck nobody spotted us, and we continued walking. We thought they might get concerned and back come back with the empty car and give us a ride. 

But no one came.... so we trudged in the muddy tracks.

When we got to the junction, Ken, Walkiria, and Patricia explained how they were confused and were beginning to worry about us. We met our taxi driver Damien who was to take us to the Mayan Ruins, the Spice Farm and then to the Water Taxi to Placencia.

From the junction, we went to the Mayan Ruins called the Nimli Punit.

We had a quick lunch just outside the spice farm in the gazebo. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with chip and blue bonnet dip. 

Shortly, we met our spice farm guide and loaded into the this cool tractor buggy. 

Damien in the tomb.

The Welcome Center. 

After the ruins, we headed to the Spice Farm. Something Prof. Lia was looking forward to the entire trip. 

I learned so many things about plants, such as cardamom, black peppers, cinnamon, bay leaves, vanilla beans, mace, nutmeg, coconuts, and much more.

From the Spice Farm we loaded the Taxi and drove down the main road to get to the water taxi to Placencia and bid farewell to Damien.

When we all got to Placencia we walked down the raised walkways above sand to our place of stay. We all split into small Cabana houses looking out into the beach. Professor Lia, Ken, and  Jacob got their own rooms, while Patricia and I shared a room, and so did Dani and Walkiria.

Our "hotels" were called the Tradewinds.

Once settled in, we all went straight for the wifi connection provided. We were disconnected from the world, although some of us did use calling cards to call our parents. Our parents were all worried about not having heard from us for days. Professor Lia thought it was a funny sight to see with all of us digging our feet into the sand and on our phones. Some of us decided to freshen up, while Dani and I were on a phones until dark and was time for dinner. 

For dinner we went to Wendy's, unlike Wendy's in the states, it was an actual restaurant. Ken was really nice and offered drinks on him for letting him come along with us.

After dinner, Dani and I headed back to the cabanas while the rest went to walk around to find a laundromat for our stinky clothes. The girls came back to find us and told us about Tipsy Tuna, a bar and restaurant having a special. So Dani and I decided to tag along since they were so kind to come invite us. 

After Tipsy Tuna,and the loud music we we went back to our cabanas for some sleep.

Dani's Blog

Today is the last day of BFREE! Such a bittersweet day. We woke up late, but managed to scrounge ourselves together for the hike back off the site. Patricia and Walkiria took the opportunity to rest their damaged feet and opted to be driven out. Myself, Bal, Professor Lia and Canti all hiked back out, and surprisingly cut our travel time in half as opposed to our time in (all that fast-paced city walking I'm sure)

Of course we pulled some shenanigans on our way out (hiding off the trail to give the impression we were already there) but eventually we regrouped and took off for our next adventure; the mayan ruins!

We were greeted by steep steps and a visitors center displaying some of the major stone carvings left behind by the ancient mayans (mayans still exist, by the way). We continued on to the ruins site on some very non ADA regulated stairs, and toured some of the ancient structures, ball courts, crypts, and plazas. After taking a lifetime worth of photos (not seen here due to technical difficulties) we made our way back the van and our quirky taxi driver (Damien!) to head to the land of Professor Lias dreams...the spice farm!

But first, lunch (PB&J again with special guest delicious cola and chips). And then the tour. Turns out our legendary guide also worked at the spice farm for a brief time and filled in any gaps on the tour our host may have missed. Frankly I had no idea cinnamon was tree bark.

After touring the spices, we were shown the drying room, full of the most delicious smells my nose has ever has the chance to experience. From tobacco to cinnamon, vanilla bean and nutmeg, fresh spices concentrated in a warm drying room is a near religious experience. After taking our fill of the smells, we formally finished our tour (and I refused to leave without buying some vanilla beans first).

Once again we found ourselves on the road, and eventually made our way to the boat taxi that would take our to our final destination of Placencia. We said our goodbyes to Damien and quickly boarded. For the record, speed boat travel is the most fun travel. 

Finally, Placencia! The beautiful beach town that would host us for the next two evenings. We carted (rather I carted, everyone else has wheelie bags) to the "tradewinds," little beach from cottages at the end of the pedestrian path. Since I invested in roaming, I almost immediately began receiving texts from home. Soon after we all found ourselves huddled around the main office, soaking in all the wifi (and communication possibilities) until it was time for dinner. I was on the phone so long explaining to my family and friends that I was alive and save that I managed to bury myself into the sand like a palm tree. Thankfully we were able to wrap things up by a reasonable hour and headed for dinner. 

Our first fancy dinner (not BFREE tortillas and beans) was at a lovely restaurant called Wendy's and our newest companion Ken offered to buy us all a drink (I certainly did not refuse). After dinner the group split and Bal and I returned to the cabanas (more calling loved ones) but before long were scouted out by Walkiria and Patricia. Apparently Jacob had introduced them to a bar offering free shots, and once again, I did not refuse. After the stresses of BFREE it was fantastic to sit down with good friends and relax with a drink (or three).

Next stop, bed!