from ANDREA BLAKE-GARRETT'S JOURNAL

Today we visited [an archeological site at] Lamani. A great city, partially excavated, located on the banks of a lagoon. The ride was long and rough, but the time spent at the site more than made up for the trip both ways. With Stan as our guide, we were introduced to the field of archaeology, our principal mode of transportation into the Mayan past. . .

Arriving at the site, as I followed the others [along the trail] past a beautifully camouflaged moth on the tree, I was completely amazed at the High Temple. What a sight for my eyes to see! The name truly fit the structure. Although I did not have the courage to climb to the top [of that one], I was able to climb to the top of the equally amazing Jaguar Temple. I have truly been culturally enhanced.

All of the observations that I made at home, around my neighborhood in Newark, and in the Bahamas did not prepare me for the indescribable experience of Belize. As a Jamaican American, this adventure had an added kick [for me]. Belize brought me closer to the nature I enjoyed as a child in Jamaica. I felt very much at home in the forest.

The sounds of the rain forest are still ringing in my head at night. I am not ashamed to admit that I miss the rainforest! The crickets, frogs, toads, hummingbirds, oropendulas, howler monkeys, and spider monkeys whose movement you can almost set your clock to - I miss it all . This Montclair to Belize trip was one of the best experiences of my life. It knocked the city right out of this city girl.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

from AGNES JOYCE'S JOURNAL

Today we visited three archeological sites - Las Abejas, la Mujeres, and la Milpa. The first site, Las Mujeres, was quite small. It was determined that most of the mounds [had been] primarily homes. There was one artifact on this site - a bowl for grinding corn, possibly. There were approximately 40 or more mounds on the site, as well as several terraces and plazas. The second site, Las Abejas, had a larger plaza with several structures. It is assumed that this was not a dwelling area, but used for administrative purposes. The structures were also . . larger. I found La Milpa, the last site, to be the most fascinating one we visited today. it was overall a larger site, with many more structures. There were several stela on the site, on in particularly good condition in front of an excavated temple. We found shards of pottery on the site, some with colors and appeared to be glazed. A fairly large chultun was displayed on the plaza. We learned that the Maya stored food and water underground [in the chultuns] because of the cooler temperature there. We visited two other plazas at La Milpa that [had been] very well protected, {as there] appeared to be only two small entrances. The smell of the rainforest in this part of La Milpa was that of fermenting fruit. I found that very interesting. On the ride home, we sighted several toucans, trogons, roadside hawks, vultures, and a magpie.

At Lamanai, we saw several excavated structures. One of the most impressive was High Temple. I climbed to the top with others in our group. A staircase made of stone wrapped around the outer side of the structure. Because of the rain on the previous night, it was a little slippery and we had to be very careful. Going up was fairly easy, but when I got almost to the top, I turned around and realized how high up I was. It was about 100 feet or more and quite steep. I was worried about how I would get back down. I descended the first steep section very carefully, and I made it safely. The Jaguar Temple was much easier to climb. It was not as steep a slope as the High Temple. Equally impressive was the carved stela we saw, and the first smaller temple we visited with a large carved mask in relatively good condition. Later, we had a tour of the museum [led] by a gentleman who was a descendant of the Maya. He showed us artifacts from 800 BC to about 1500 AD.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

And finally, here it is at last!!... The truth about Humming Birds!...click here!!!!