The flag of Belize, featuring mahogany trees used in the logging industry, and the motto Sub Umbra Flores, which is Latin for under the shade I flourish. (Or I flower, but it's a metaphor, so flouish is clearer to some people.) The flag was adopted when British Honduras achieved independence in 1981.
Belize claims that Madonna's song La Isla Bonita (the beautiful island) refers to San Pedro, which is the name of a place on a Caye (which means long island or reef). Diver Jacques Cousteau spoke highly of the Blue Hole on another island off the coast of Belize, Half-Moon Caye. Belize was also the setting for the film The Mosquito Coast. (Yes, Belize has mosquitos.) The Hurricane Flood scene featured Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.
The bad news about the death of a policeman and the arrest of his companion drew my attention to Belize.
A grand hotel has just been built there. With Covid-19 I have no likelihood of going there, but it is no less likely a destination that most of the world, and just as easy to research. So let's take a look at what we are all missing.
Belize, formerly British Honduras, is in central America, with the Caribbean on the East, Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south.
Attractions include ancient caves, Mayan ruins, and modern Mayan descendants of the original Mayans, more than one type.
The main language is English but the country is surrounded by Spanish speaking countries, and the locals speak Mayan or other languages so many people are trilingual or multi-lingual.
Belize City
The largest city.
The coastal seaside was hit by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 so the capital with its government offices was moved to a more central and inland location.
Belmopan - the inland Capital
Some delightful names: the Hummingbird Highway, batty bus, Upside Down tours, and accommodation includes the Bullfrog Inn.
Outside the capital is the zoo.
On this map you can see the Western Highway leading west from Belize city to Belmopan.
San Ignacio
Twin town with bridge across the river to San Elena.
Belize - Beautiful Belize Was British Honduras A Caribbean Country Where Multi-linguals speak English a, the official language, and Spanish.
Outdoor activities include snorkelling, scuba diving, tubing (floating on tubes like giant lorry wheels) through caves, and riding along zip wires.
The People
I thought the Mayans had died out centuries ago and was fascinated to read that they are still around in Belize.
Shine on Shyne
A member of the Belize Parliament is the rapper Shyne. He was born in Belize. At the age of 13 he learned he had a great grandmother who was from Ethiopia and Jewish. During his childhood, he went to live in New York with his mother. He became a renowned rapper. After a nightclub shooting, he was sent to prison and while there converted to Judaism. He was deported back to Belize, where he became a member of Parliament.
To end on a light note, I found this amusing comment in Wikitravel:
A great deal of confusion amongst travellers has resulted from Belizeans love of the phrase 'right now'. Contrary to most other English speaking countries, in Belize 'right now' does not mean 'immediately' but rather 'soon' or 'in a minute'.
Useful Websites
Alaia Belize, Autograph Collection
SEA GRAPE DRIVE, San Pedro, Belize
Luxury Hotels guide offered 60 hotels on June 5th 2021 in San Pedro alone.
https://www.luxuryhotelsguides.com/?ufi=-1150308&gclid=Cj0KCQjwweyFBhDvARIsAA67M72bHIiVAGfsn_k-kAvs1R3s2fdvnBSZk4R0E9oO5WQzrY0XsiglDl8aAoOsEALw_wcB
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g291959-Activities-Belize.html
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g291970-Activities-Belmopan_Cayo.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize
https://wikitravel.org/en/Belize
The Times, London
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/belize-murder-police-treating-lord-ashcroft-daughter-in-law-as-killer-hclh008lm
Daily Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9653815/TOM-LEONARD-New-details-socialite-police-chief-drinking-buddy.html
wikivoyage
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ignacio,_Belize
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shyne
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mosquito_Coast_(film)
https://www.ambergristoday.com/content/25-years-ago/2015/october/05/filming-mosquito-coast-san-pedro-ambergris-caye
About the Author
Angela Lansbury, is a semi-retired travel writer still researching bucket list countries and seeking out the special, unusual, people, places, landmarks, hotels, museums and trails, fabulous foods, recipes, clothes and online souvenir shopping.
Angela Lansbury is a member of Toastmasters International.
About the Author Angela Lansbury
The Author - Quick Quotations
Angela Lansbury B A Hons is the author of ten books by regular publishers plus another ten self-published books.
About Angela The Speaker & Trainer
Angela Lansbury is a teacher of English and other languages to Toastmasters clubs and businesses.
Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Vice President Public Relations, Immediate Past President. VPPR
Former Area Director S3. Club Coach for Nee Soon South Toastmasters Club.
Also Member of: TCA Toastmasters Club; Singapore Online Dynamic; Harrovians UK
Past meetings have included Garen Tee on using story telling in business, on bha.learncool.sg .
Recent meetings of BHA included an educational session on using Powerpoint for posters.
Next BHA meetings, always first Wednesday evening, 7 pm Singapore time. Next meeting is the third Saturday afternoon, June 19th 2pm Singapore time. Inauguration of the new committee by the incoming Director of S, plus a lively speech on teamwork.
Angela The Blogger
Angela has several blogs speeches, comedy and song writing and organizing, writing intermittently, but writes almost daily on these three:
See next post on sculptor Tom Harvey.
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