2. Belize 2b – Rainforest Adventure – Maya Site Joe Naumann – UMSL Geographer Contributions by Dr. Norman Chiou February 16, 2006

3. 2

4. 3 Antonio, our Mestizo guide, points out our hiking route.

5. 4 Norman takes a picture of Antonio explaining the “sticky” tree.

6. 5 Norman’s picture!

7. 6 Unreconstructed Maya structure

8. 7 Another unreconstructed structure

9. 8 Looking up at the three-tiered canopy of the rainforest.

10. 9 Many botanicals were identified and labled.

11. 10 Guanacaste Tree (host)

12. 11 Thick lianas (vines)

13. 12 Path through the rainforest

14. 13 Heading for the Mask Temple

15. 14 Section of path through a very thick canopy (no sunlight makes it through).

16. 15 Spanish moss abounded at the Mask Temple site.

17. 16 First sighting

18. 17 Looking up from the base.

19. 18 Fr. Joe Weber & sign

20. 19 Mask being restored

21. 20 Artifact at the Mask Temple site.

22. 21 My walking staff was a great help on this trek.

23. 22 View of the upper structure.

24. 23 Norman Chiou & Pamphilo at the top of the Mask Temple.

25. 24 Looking down from halfway to the top

26. 25 With encouragement from Norman, I made it to the top.

27. 26 Standing at the top, the New River can be seen behind me.

28. 27 Roots serve to buttress many tropical trees. This was on the way to the “high” temple.

29. 28 This was too high for me to try to reach the top.

30. 29 At the base, masks had flanked the central stairway.

31. 30 Norman & Panfilio head for the top – and make it. Pamphilo Norman

32. 31 Norman at the top.

33. 32 The less adventurous watch the adventurous ones climb. Notice the epiphytes on the palm tree.

34. 33 Our group waits for the climbers to come down.

35. 34 Small ball court.

36. 35 Ball court

37. 36 Antonio talking about the ball court

38. 37 Stela Temple

39. 38

40. 39 Stela #9 replica

41. 40 Replica of Stela #9 for close inspection.

42. 41 I had to capture these patterns on my way to the Royal Complex.

43. 42

44. 43 Pamphilo views the Royal Complex

45. 44 Another View

46. 45 Jaguar Temple viewed from the Royal Complex

47. 46 Finding a way through the Royal Complex

48. 47 Antonio describing the Jaguar Temple

49. 48 Approaching the Jaguar Temple

50. 49 Norman under the jaguar’s nostrils

51. 50 Weathered calendar stone

52. 51 Last stop – gift shops

53. 52 I love this slate carving I bought here for my office.

54. 53 Preparing to leave Lamanai

55. 54 A day when dreams came true. When I was about 10-years-old, I dreamed of being an archaeologist in Central America discovering lost Mayan cities. Today at age 64, I came close enough to that dream to say “Thank you, Lord, for making it come true.” –I traveled through the rainforest on a tropical river and hiked through the rainforest. –I saw Mayan ruins and even climbed to the top of a moderate-sized pyramid. –I truly walked with holy people on holy ground today.

56. 55 A beautiful day ends beautifully