BELIZE 2026: CAYE CAULKER DAY 2

 March 16, 2026

Bob had arranged a birding tour for our second day on Caye Caulker, which meant we got up at 5:30 AM. That was Joy #1. Joy #2 was when the first thing we did was get on a motorboat. After my experience on the water the previous day, that was exactly want I did not want to do.

However. it was a serene sea that we set out upon, and we never went very far from shore, and so my concerns were for naught.

Caye Caulker is actually two islands separated by a 20-foot channel know as The Split that was created by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The southern island is home to the main village and tourist activity, and the northern island, where we were headed, is mostly uninhabitated and covered with mangrove forests.

INDIA 2025: RATHAMBORE NATIONAL PARK DAY 2, MORNING SAFARI

 November 28, 2025

On Day 2 in Ranthambore National Park, we again rose early and battled the crowds at the entrance gate. Paperwork for every passenger must be checked before a vehicle is allowed to enter, and that takes time. You can tell how cold is was by looking at the photo of Bonnie and Dave that I took from the back seat.

As much as I complain, I still prefer the bumpy, crowded ride to a long walk in tiger territory.

We were assigned to Zone 5 and started off (again) with a great sighting of wild boars dipping their snouts in a watering hole. The pigeons look ready to dive in as soon as the boars finish up.

INDIA 2025: KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK

 November 25-26, 2025

After arriving in Delhi, we spent the next five or six hours on the road to Bharatpur, a city of about a quarter million people in the Indian state of Rajasthan and popular with tourists because of its proximity to Keoladeo National Park, which was our ultimate destination.

We stayed in Pahersar, a small village 10 to 12 miles outside of Bharatpur. Our hotel, the Chandra Mahal Haveli, was built in 1840 in a Persian style--symmetrical, lots of tile work, large courtyards, plenty of landscaping, etc.

I can't remember what is important about that photo of Chris and Bonnie on the left. I think Chris couldn't get into her room or something. Our rooms opened onto this lovely courtyard.

In California, we see warning signs for rattlesnakes. It is a little different in India.

NEW YORK CITY: ARCHITECTURE BOAT TOUR AND CENTRAL PARK BIRDING

 May 2023

There are two things we did in New York City that we were not familiar with before this trip: an architecture boat tour and a birding tour of Central Park.

1.   MANHATTAN ARCHITECTURE BOAT TOUR

Andrew and Michaela had recently taken a boat tour around Manhattan Island with a focus on the city's architecture. They loved it and encouraged us to take a similar tour while they were at work the day we arrived in NYC. We thought it might be a good way to work through our jet lag after our red-eye flight, so we booked tickets. 

It's been hard for me to envision Manhattan as an island, so this trip really helped me get my geographical bearings. Separation between the island and the mainland isn't very wide at the top, but the Harlem River definitely separates Manhattan from the mainland. 

There were about 50 passengers, each group seated at their own table. At some point during the cruise, we were served a soft drink and a snack, part of the tour price.

We had a guide who I believe was an architect himself who narrated our "cruise" around the island with details about architecture and engineering landmarks from all eras of the city's history. He was well-amplified, very knowledgeable, and had a great delivery.

We started our tour at Chelsea Pier (horizontal arrow about 1/3 the way up from the bottom, west side) and traveled clockwise around Manhattan.