In August of 2003 we headed to Belize and Guatemala for what is known as a "surf and turf" vacation: I went diving for four days on the coast and Julie joined me for a trip inland to check out the jungle and the Mayan ruins. Was it a good time? As the Belize Tourism Board slogan says, "You Better Belize It."

Belize: Surf

Above: the beach in front of my $20/night hotel in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. The best part...

...was that it was about 30 steps away from the Amigos Del Mar dive shop.

Your intrepid reporter.

Assorted underwater shots.

You know, fish is good brain food.

The divemaster corrals a passing turtle.

On the first day, we stopped at a tiny island (above) for lunch. Below: decaying conch shells washed up on the beach.

I spent the third and fourth days on the Offshore Express. We spent the night at uninhabited Half Moon Caye. I found a hammock strung between two coconut trees on the far side, and spent the night there.

Belize: Turf

Our cabin at the genuinely luxurious Lamanai Outpost Lodge. We were quickly adopted by a stray dog who knew suckers when she smelled them. Julie was welcomed by a scorpion in the bathroom sink.

Rob relaxes on the porch with his dog away from dog.

Some of the Mayan ruins at Lamanai.

The jungle overpowers a colonial sugar mill at Lamanai.

A "Jesus Christ bird" in New River Lagoon -- so named because they walk on water.

A friendly fellow from Lamanai.

Black howler monkeys.

Julie likes Lamanai so much, she doesn't want to board flight back to Belize City!

Guatemala: Turf

Ninos wave at the gringos.

The Mayan ruins at Tikal.

A half-excavated pyramid at Tikal.

Above: Julie atop Temple IV at Tikal. Below: the view of the canopy and the temples towering above it.

I'm not an archaeologist, but I think there may be something under that mound to the left.