Tue, Dec 4:  NCL Jade Cruise Ship:  A bit of a walk this morning from the ship to the marina in Harvest Caye, Belize.  Got Mike’s back going.  Boarded our boat for the Monkey River cruise.  A very fast trip across the bay and then through the mangroves and finally to the river.  Cruised up the river quite a way and then stopped for a hike through the rain forest.  No dock.  They just pulled up to the river bank and we scrambled up a steep bank.  Thought this is where I’ll fall on my butt.  But the guides got us all off safely.  The trail was quite muddy.  We saw and heard some howler monkeys and saw a vine snake swimming across the river.  The monkeys sound very scary.  Back to the boat and we headed back, stopping at Monkey Town at the mouth of the river.  Used to be a thriving town but there was some banana blight and they stopped exporting bananas, so the town is a shadow of its former self.  Another very fast ride across the bay back to the pier and our ship.  Had a local meal at the marina and then walked back to the ship.  Mike decided to take a ride on one of the carts and I walked.  Waited for him at the ship and it turns out he ended up walking also.  Didn’t feel like waiting in the sun for the cart.  So he is now in pain.  Back to our room and a shower.  Mike is relaxing outside on the deck. We saw an amazing show last night at the theater here on the ship.  A Russian couple who performed an amazing dance routine.  It was part ballet, a fearless aerial performance, and an amazing contortionist display.  An amazing display of their suppleness, fearlessness and grace.  The last number she performed on pointe.  I’m so glad we saw it.  Tomorrow we’ll be in Costa Maya in Mexico.

Harvest Caye, Belize

Two of our boats.

The plants with the fuzzy tops are wild sugarcane.