Today we arrived at Belize, which was particularly exciting because this is the first time we've had to drop anchor and get to the shore via tender (small boats and catamarrans, running a sort of floating taxi service). The Balmoral was one of three large ships all anchored about 2 miles out from the quayside, all using tenders.

The trip to shore took about 25 minutes, and it was FANTASTIC!! several small boats, all travelling really fast towards Belize - it felt like something out of an adventure movie.

Once ashore, our group boarded a coach for Altun Ha, a journey taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes, along some pretty rough and bumpy roads - no wonder everyone was bursting for the loo when we got there!

Belize, formally known as British Honduras, got its independence in 1981 (I think), but to this day it remains part of the British Commonwealth. It has tropical jungles, some pretty impressive mountains, and two 'Blue Holes', which are large, circular sink-holes off-shore, surrounded by coral reef. Its most common wildlife include snakes, Iguanas, and Howler Monkeys. Sharks swim off these shores, as do Manatee, or 'sea-cows'.

Altun Ha (Maya for 'Rock Stone Water') was great. It is an ancient ruined Maya city, which would once have thrived as a trading post, sporting several large Mayan temples. We were given a guided tour, which told us everything we wanted to know about the temples, and lots more that we didn't really want to know, and finished up with about 25 minutes of free time at the end, giving us time to climb to the top of them and take all the necessary photographic proof that we were ever there. Although Mayans (very short people apparently) are notorious for their habit of taking human sacrifices (I've senn Mel Gibson's Apocalypto), we were told that there are no records of any such sacrifices taking place it this particular site. Apparently, the Mayan's played some sort of game, where two sides met in battle. Arms and hands were not allowed to be used in combat, although pretty much anything else was okay - elbows, heads, feet, whatever. The fascinating thing is that the winners were sacrificed! Someone asked the guide, so, didn't teams deliberately try to lose, and she told us, no; being sacrificed after winning was the highest honour - those people would be revered and noted for their courage (albeit in a rather bloody way), bizarre, huh?.

What this particular site is famous for was the discovery of the world's largest carved jade head, weighing in at almost 9lbs, by a Dr David Prendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum. The head is now kept under lock and key in Belize City and only brought out on display when dignitaries come to visit.

We were there for about an hour and a half, in the humid 85-degree heat, with a complementary bottle of water. In another hour and ten minutes, we were back at Belize City, making the return trip to the Balmoral, back in time for lunch. Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves despite the long drive out and the incessant rambling of the tour guide who I swear didn't pause to take a breath once on the outward journey.

This afternoon, I think I saw a small shark gliding through the water, alongside the ship (while we were still at anchor), just below the surface (someone tells me it may have been a Reef Shark). Despite fully intending to whip my camera out to take a photo, I simply remained transfixed until finally it slid back downwards, into the depths. Woo Hoo! (I think we're gonna need a bigger boat!)

The tender service finishes shortly, and sail-away is at 5pm, so I'm off to catch the action at the deck-party. Tonight it's a Thai Special in the Palms Cafe.

Once again, I'm conscious of the time being almost four in the afternoon, whilst at home it's coming up to 11 o'clock in the evening and Tuesday has almost ended. Word is, there has been snow, too, back home, which is difficult to imagine right at this very moment. Tomorrow, Wednesday, we arrive in Guatamala - how foreign is that?