Crack in the Shadows of Xibalba
While cave tubing in Belize a cenote allowed a little light into the dark cave. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.
15
07, 2016
8
06, 2016
Under the Sea – World Oceans Day 2016
Today is World Oceans Day. With so many news stories of rising ocean temperatures and bleached corals, now more than ever is it important to protect this important part of our ecosystem. So today I share some of my favorite snorkel photography and hope we can all help protect the oceans. Above is Waterlemon Caye, off of St. John USVI. The large school of fish you can see are Sergeant Major, my favorite fish. Here you can see more Sergeant Majors near Isla Tortuga, Costa Rica. I like this fish as it reminds of me the coloring of Flounder from the
30
04, 2016
Souvenir Saturday: Tile Art of Mexico
The drive from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá is about 3 hours one way. So it helps to stop a few times along the way. At the first rest stop, I saw a man on the side of the road painting. I like to get a piece of nice artwork when I find it, and so purchased this for $20 from him. Its quite small, but the quality seemed good. I was a bit shocked when he handed it to me and it was much heavier than I anticipated. I didn't open the back of the box until I got
28
03, 2016
Travel Missteps: The Best Bar That I Never Went To
After my strange “tour” of the Santa Clara ruins, I met a member of my G Adventures group, Tony. I relayed to him what had happened, and he offered to come with me as we went to find something to do that night. I really wanted to check out a bar that someone had recommended called Café No Sé. It is supposed to be a great ex-pat bar where all the travelers go. It was described as a bit bohemian with live music, and so sounded like a lot of fun. So we set off. I pride myself on my
24
03, 2016
Alfombras during Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala
Visiting Antigua, Guatemala right before Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week) was great. I got to see the floats being made, as well as the unique tradition of Alfombras, colored sawdust carpets! These are made on the streets and pathways that will be taken when the models of Jesus and the stations of the cross are performed.This one was in the main Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and featured a beautiful fuchsia sawdust Alfombras in front of a statue of Jesus. In addition offerings of mangos, cantaloupe, corn, oranges, and pineapple helped to complete the display. And then fresh flowers lined the walkway. Some will be made
25
02, 2016
Antigua, Guatemala: Santa Catalina Arch
Santa Catalina Arch One of the most recognizable sights in Antigua, Guatemala is the Arch of Santa Catalina. This yellow-orange clocktower was built in the 17th century and connected the convent of Santa Catalina to a school, allowing nuns to pass from one build to another without leaving the confines of their convent. In the 1830’s the clocktower was added to the arch. You can find it on 5th Avenue North, and is free to see. If you are on your way to/from La Merced Church, you'll pass right underneath the arch. And
28
01, 2016
Breathtaking Crystal Maiden at Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave
One of the most breathtaking experiences I have ever had while traveling was when I visited Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM). The name means “Cave of the Crystal Sepulcher” but it could be more accurately described as the physical embodiment of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld. This is a cave system in Belize, where you can see actual Mayan sacrifices and offerings to the gods. It is believed the Mayans first found the cave around 300-600 AD, but didn’t move into the further reaches until 700-900 AD. Beyond seeing ceramic or stone pots and plates you will also see skeletons. They are
18
01, 2016
Travel Missteps: Don’t Look Under the Ledge
As a young child, my favorite movie was The Little Mermaid. I loved swimming and spent my childhood on the beaches of California and the Great Lakes of Michigan pretending to be a mermaid. On my first trip to St. John USVI, it was my first time snorkeling in years and I was excited to try out my new equipment and underwater camera. I swam out to a rocky outcropping near Little Maho Bay Beach and got a little snap happy as I hadn't expected the water to be so clear or to see so many fish so close to the
17
10, 2015
Souvenir Saturday: Dia De Los Muertos Skull
I use to have a list of items I collected from each vacation, postcards, shot glasses, art, music, snow globes, and finally magnets. I've since paired down my collections, but one of my favorite items I got in Mexico is a Dia De Los Muertos style Skull magnet. Its purple (my favorite color) and made of clay or ceramic and is pretty hefty for a magnet. On one side a Male rests. On the other a woman dances. And the top has a scene of birds, cactuses, and the sun. Souvenir Saturday is an
24
09, 2015
Coatimundi
Source When traveling the jungles of Guatemala & Belize I was on the lookout for local wildlife. But at Tikal, I literally stumbled upon so many! Parrots, Macaws, grey foxes, and then I saw something I had no idea what it was, or how to identify it. I was told it was called a Coatimundi! If you see a group of them, its likely a band of females, as males are solitary. We saw many bands of them, and they were very curious, coming right up to us. They kind of remind me of more active raccoons, who are