Belize: 19 June 2011

By Charley Hildt

After breakfast we left for the Mayan ruins La Milpa at 8:30. It took a little under half and our to get there. It was nothing like I had expected. For the most part it was unexcavated and everything that was unearthed was only done so in sections. There were no great pyramids rather great mounds covered in dense foliage and trees. I now see why they are so hard to find. Literally I would not have known there were ruins there unless someone told me.

After walking through the area for a little over an hour and conversing with some archeologists it started to rain harder than it had the previous day. Everyone shoved their cameras into my backpack and we walked rapidly back to our truck. Even with our pace it took quite some time. That was perhaps one of the most fun truck rides I have ever experienced. Rain rebounded off of the roof of the truck and into my eyes blinding me temporarily. Connor and I were on the edges of the bed so we blindly dodged vines and branches. It was intense. Upon returning we found our cameras in good condition. Unfortunately everything else was thoroughly drenched. My boots had puddles and my shirt could hold no more water, even if it was thrown in a pond.