This is a member of a Garifuna musical group showing me how they get down. Music is the language that everyone understands! Photo by Stephanie Fitch.

This is by far the most pristine spot I have ever had the privelege to snorkel. The entire area is surrounded by coral.

We ate four meals in San Miguel; all were handmade by our Mayan hosts, and shared in their homes.

Matt is the critter whisperer.

This is one section of a much larger cave system that we hiked and sort-of rappelled to. We went in maybe a quarter of a mile and turned off the lights. Trust me, there is just no dark like cave dark.

These guys were all over the place in San Miguel; this one was about the size of my palm. I slept with his little brother in my bug netting (they are very quick, and I was very tired).

Bandit!

This town has only had electricity for three months. It was a fascinating and friendly place to visit!

In Japan, eat the rice. In Belize, eat the tortillas. The Mayan women spend a good portion of their time making these using traditional methods, and they are just remarkable.

The bus was home this night. The howler monkeys made an incredible racket around 3 AM.

This is Fieldmaster. We were fortunate enough to run into Sharon Matola, a prominent environmental activist and founder of the zoo; she was good enough to let us get up close and personal with this little guy.

The harpy eagle is the largest raptor in the Americas; there are two on display at the zoo.

Pleased to meet you; meats to please you. Pretty sweet slogan Gordo.

Cruising downriver from Clarissa Falls. Photo by Erick Howenstine.

The view from the top of El Castillo. Guatemala is just to the left of this image.

El Castillo. Most of the group made it to the top.

This is Bob; he is the patriarch of a troop of howlers. They can make an unbelievable racket.

The group. I discovered the leafcutter ants in the foreground when I squatted over them while taking another shot.

This is a wild howler monkey. No Nicoles were harmed in the making of this photograph.

I forget what this was called, but it was the first of a wide variety of rather frightening insects we encountered.

Day one of what would prove to be our best excursion yet. We went with a group from NEIU and had an amazing experience.

Getting a dog, an iguana, and a 6-month-old to pose for a photo is just not possible.

Photo by Magart Photography.

This is the first of many subsequent evenings and weekends spent finishing my basement. I skillfully destroyed my fingertip with a hammer about 5 minutes in.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

I quit in 2003. Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

We were married at the Cuneo Museum and Gardens. Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Photo by Timothy Whaley Photography.

Sara graduating from U of I.

My mom and sister; this is the oldest photo that I pushed the button on, taken on my first trip to Cozumel.