Saturday- Zip Lining and Tubing and Church Time

This weekend, we stayed around Punta Gorda because we had a health fair to go to on Sunday.  We went zip lining and tubing at Big Falls, which was only a 25 min bus ride away. We were on the bus shortly after 8 on Saturday morn and on our way! Once at Big Falls, our group of 16 was too large to all go zip lining together so we split into smaller groups and began the 6 zip line course.  It was much smaller and less extravagant than the one I went to in Costa Rica. I was anticipating something equally as cool as zip lining through the canopy of the rainforest, looking at waterfalls as you zoom by them. This course did have a river to cross over twice, I will give it that. And one of the beginning points was on top of a large unsteady tree! 

For some reason I thought this face was appropriate.... someone should have told me it wasn't

view from the end of the 1st zip line

The climb up into the trees for the highest zip line

After the Zip Lines, and both groups going, we piled into the back of 2 pickup trunks and went for a little drive into the country side to the start of the River Tubing part.  Where we started the tubing, there were women and their children there, doing wash and bathing. It was neat to see their uses for the river, as we were jumping on tubes and going for a relaxing ride.

Saturday was a perfect weather day for sure! A great breeze, not too humid at all, especially on the cool water.  We floated down the river to the "hot springs" they were luke warm, just warmer than the cold water, I guess that's how the name came about. We stayed there for a bit and then floated the rest of the ways down the river, our group didn't see any cool animals, like snakes.  Just some river ducks and tree frogs jumping on us. I was proud of myself, I laid in the tube and closed my eyes and just enjoyed the coolness of the river and the breeze and RELAXED! I didn't say I was bored once :) When the river ride was over, we went back to the main building and lunch was served.  A traditional Belizian meal, stewed chicken, rice and beans, small salad and a plantain.
We arrived back at Abby's house about 1:30- so not a long day at all! Time for a quick power nap and a run before church.  Since the weather was great and the breeze was picking up, I decided I could go for a quick run up the gravel road.  The 15 mins down the road were great, until the wind starting picking up and it began to sprinkle.  I knew prior the run that it might rain, but thought I could beat it.... may be not...... I haven't run in the rain ever, I don't think. It was refreshing and made me run farther for sure :)

Carol, Carley and myself went to a local Catholic Church.  Carol goes every weekend, but we have not been here on the weekends until this one.  Carol warned me about the singing in the church (everyone NOT seeing on key and loudly) and the priest's enthusiasm at random points. I was glad I was warned, because I might have started laughing at the unexpected. The church is beautiful, lots of air circulation as it overlooks the sea! What an amazing view :) The mass was a bit long, and I still am not used to the new changes in the mass wording, I got " And with your spirit" but that was it. I missed my booklet to follow along in.

The front of the church.

Inside the church

who doesn't like a church that is overlooking the sea?

The rest of the night I hung around Abby's house, as Sunday morning we had to be leaving by 7 am to get to the health fair, 2 hours away!