The flag was chosen in 1966, from an open competition of thousand of entries.  Grantley Prescod's design depicts a "broken trident" on a field of yellow, with ultramarine panels.
   The blue ultramarine represents the ocean that surrounds the island and the yellow, the beaches.
   The trident is taken from the colonial badge, from the which showed Britannia holding a full staff trident. However, on the modern day flag the trident is "broken" showing only the three prongs; this is said to represent the breaking of the colonial ties from the English.
    

Barbados is ringed by beaches, unlike neighboring islands to the west. Yet, along as a backdrop to many beaches there are rocky outcroppings or cliffs…..

Most of the south and east of Barbados is populated and almost functions as one large town.  From Bridgetown in the south up to Speightstown in the northeast, you will find towns and villages. While inland is where you will find the pastureland and a more rural setting.

The northern corridor of New Mexico between Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos is the place to get the most bang for your buck.  Natural wonders, like Tent Rocks,  hippie chill outs like Ojo Caliente, cultural sites like Chimayo, are all within an hours drive or each other and you can take excellent day trips basing yourself out of Santa Fe.  Go up to Arroyo Seco and grab a beer at Abe's Cantina, hike up to the vista at Tent Rocks, go find the Tree of Human Kindness cave!

Sunrise over Fort Union and the Turkey Mountains. 2014.

The New Mexico flag features the Zia symbol for sun, in red, on a field of yellow.  The colors are taken from the Cross of Burgundy, the flag used by the Conquistadors and the military of Spain, who originally conquered New Mexico.
    It is one of only four state flags NOT to contain the color blue.

Out past Las Vegas, you'll find Fort Union National Monument, which is housed entirely inside one family's ranch.  In December, 2014, we were lucky enough to connect with the care-taking great-grandson of the family, who showed us around this 150 square mile ranch.

Higgins Canyon is tucked in northwest of the old fort.  It stretches 5 miles back into the ranch.

Hand carved by artist Ra Paulette, this cave has remained a secret, for the most part of over a decade.  If you ask around locals might just tell you how to get there.

The flag of Belize features a seal depicting the Coat of Arms, granted by the UK in 1907, which is has tools from the timber industry that began the first interest and settlements in Belize, then British Honduras.
Two men, one of Mestizo origin and one of African heritage stand to represent the diverse ethnic groups in the country.  The leaves of the mahogany tree circle them, while the words Sub Umbra Floreo appear on a sash below their feet,  meaning "I flourish in the shade." The colors of the flag are pulled from the found political parties of the country. 
  The Belizian flag is the only flag of an independent country to depict humans.

Placencia is quickly becoming a hot spot for tourists and for good reason.  This long peninsula, has some of the finest hotels and best bars and restaurants in the whole country.  Along with that, the beach that runs miles along the Caribbean Sea, is declared wholly public and is open to anyone, even in front of those luxury hotels.
Placencia is also a great jump off point for exploring the cayes (small islands or keys) that lie off shore along the barrier reef.  These cayes and reefs are a less visited than those north toward Ambergris Caye.

In the southern state of Toledo, several countries are collaborating to build a new leg of the Trans-American Highway.  Just past the small town of San Antonio, close to Guatemala, the highway is slicing through the rainforest at an alarming rate.
   One hidden gem, that remains, right in the shadow of the highway construction is this great swimming hole.  

Belize  

Iceland was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions, rising up from the rift in the mid-atlantic ridge.  Most of the population lives in the greater Reykjavik Region, while the rest of the country's population is spread out around the coastline. No one lives in the middle of the island, which is a rocky, barren land covered in volcanic ash and rocks.  

The Icelandic flag, is much like other Scandinavian country flags, with a cross over a field of solid color.  The cross, of course represents Christianity, while the colors represent the landscape of the country- white for the snow and ice, red for the fire of the volcanoes and blue for the mountains seen in the distance.