Palms et alia at Blancaneaux resort

[TerdalFarm]

I had a little time this morning to walk around the grounds of the resort hosting me for my research. I took some snapshots and uploaded them to create a slideshow. I arranged them in sort of a fantasy vacation. I start with the black orchid, the national flower of Belize. Then I show a parking lot (most guests arrive by chartered aircraft, as it is deep in the forest). Then walking to the lodge, past the pool. Then imagine strolling the grounds, admiring plants. In the middle is an interlude where you see some of the work that goes into this place: watering, using the river to generate hydopower (30 kW!), growing flowers for cutting, growing organic fruits and vegetables for the kitchen, weeds, use of palmetto trunks for fencing, etc. Then some more plants as you walk to your cabana. Naturally I chose the largest cabana for the slide show ( http://www.coppolaresorts.com/blancanea ... ed-cottage .
I stay in employee quarters above the front desk, but I still get to eat with the paying guests.

Enjoy this on some cold evening when you want to day-dream.

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[TerdalFarm]

Here is a larger version of the same:

<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="600" height="400" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fterdalfarm%2Falbumid%2F5553912275039404385%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>

[lucky1]

Oh what a magnificent place in the middle of the jungle (or are those hillsides as bare as they look?)
Do Belizean nationals own it? or ?

I've got first dibs on carrying your suitcase next year.
And I'll bring cracked corn for the Toucan.
It was heaven walking down that video path.

Thanks for that!
Barb

[TerdalFarm]

It is up in the mountains, with granitic soil--acidic. So, the dominant vegetation is pine, oak and palmettos. Fairly open. I can share some habitat shots.
Around the resort, they amended the soil to grow tropicals from around the world.
It is owned by Coppola--the movie producer (Godfather, Apocolypse now, etc.).
I think that Cabana near the end rents for something like US$2,000/night, but if you have to ask, you can't afford it. Coppola supports wildlife conservation, and part of that is by giving me some much appreciated assistance. I used to camp in the jungle and eat cold corn tortillas. Suffice it to say I sleep and eat rather better now....
Home soon. --Erik

[DesertZone]

What an awesome place! Thanks for sharing.