Belize Journal Part II

It’s been about three weeks since my last post. I was surprised by how much time had elapsed. My time has been occupied working to repair one of our rental properties and knitting gifts for Christmas.

To make up for my absence, I want to share with you a painting based on a photograph from my recent trip to Belize and the story behind the photo.

I call it Red Dragonfly Waterfall.

The photo itself is not very good quality. Due to to location of the sun, all my shots have these solar flares in them. But it gives you the essence of the place.

This adventure began with a drive down a bumpy dirt road for several miles. After enduring a noisy greeting by a gang of howler monkeys (very loud!) we reached the entrance to Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve. Surrounded on three sides by Mayan mountains, this preserve is the only one of its kind specifically dedicated to saving jaguars. Our guide, Pablo, offered the group three options for hiking: easy, moderate, or difficult. We chose moderate. This one stretched about two miles through the forest, ending in a narrow descent to a waterfall.

We could hear it long before the waterfall came into view. I would estimate that the water tumbled down about twenty feet into a modest pool that was about six feet deep in its center. One of our party shed most of his clothes, grabbed his waterproof camera and waded in to take some video. I cautiously splashed my feet, then rested on a bench thoughtfully placed at the water’s edge.

A bold red dragonfly was flying around the area, pausing from time to time on an upright twig. I tried to several times to take his picture, but was unable to get a decent shot. So I sat back to enjoy the environs.

After the warm and sweaty walk, the cool dampness of the place revived us.

Then it was time to work our way up the switchbacks and return to park headquarters, where Pablo laid out a delicious lunch of chicken, rice and fruit.

We saw no jaguars that day, but I understand they are nocturnal animals. The birds, trees and flowers provided plenty of color and sound for our pleasure.

I was most grateful for the experience.

Pigments include Winsor yellow, green gold, Thalo blue, quinacridone red, raw sienna, burnt sienna and payne’s gray. On 9 x 12 cold press Fabriano Studio paper.