Crooked Tree, Belize, I Think I'm in Heaven

            <![CDATA[Left Belize City this morning, wondering if I should have rented a car. Some of the travel sites advised against it for safety reasons but after being here for a day I saw no reason for concern. I was picked up by a residnet and native of the small village of Crooked Tree. He lived in New York for 35 years and returned here after retirement. Learned so much from him about life in the small village he was born that I was glad I didn't drive. He told me, when he was a child the only way to access the village was by boat via the Belize river. How cool is that. He toldme many stories about growing up in the small village.

Upon arriving in Crooked Tree, home of the cashew, it sure looked like nothing much had changed. What a picturesque  and laid back village of about 1000 people. Horses, pigs and cattle roamed freely and shared the village with crocodiles and howler monkeys. All types of colorful species of birds were in the air and trees of all types, including my first sighting of a cashew tree. Denver thought me so much on that ride.

The resort I am staying, the Bird’s Eye View lodge, is situated on a lake adjoining the Belize river and is famous for it’s native and migrating birds  Saw a lot of big camera lenses already, as this is a favorite for ‘birders’. Of course I took a walk and, for a nature lover like me, it was like heaven. So many new species of birds, insect, plantsand trees. It was hot too, but I enjoyed it. And, as I walked, heard the loudest and strangest sound in the distance. As I followed the sound I saw a group of children looking in a tree, at a howler monkey. I was told they rarely come into the village so I was very lucky to see it. Hoping to upload the video but internet here is very slow.  I got it. This is really cool. Here is the youtube link. ://youtu.be/httppaPhafpx3PM   I headed back to the Lodge, had an enjoyable lunch and ready to head out again. Seriously, if heaven were like this, they’d be no complaints from me. Hoping to get one more blog entry up today, but if not, it’s off to the Mayan ruins tomorrow. Here is the link to some photos I took this afternoon on my walk in Crooked Tree.   https://flic.kr/s/aHsk7ShUeG 

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