HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELIZE

Happy Independence Day Belize. It has been 33 years since, in the absence of Maggie, the island sign painter; I was on my knees in the sand under a house painting a four by 8 foot sign for a float in the town of San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye parade celebrating our first day of independence. The sign said in the Maya language, “The Sun rises on Belize”. I do not understand Maya so had no idea what the words meant but was dutifully painting the letters in an amateurish way.  A very, very old man provided the words. The words accurately reflected the prevailing feeling on the island. As it turned out, the words were visionary. The old man is dead; the house is gone, and the sign painter is no longer in Belize. Although I treasure my citizenship in that country, I no long live there. Although things have changed, I will celebrate this day by flying my Belizean flag, BBQing some chicken, and missing my Belikin beer. Need I mention even the brewer of that beer is no longer with us; he lost his life in an airplane accident.  

There were to be some tumultuous times but the stress of it all shaped Belize society, as it exists today. Ethic, political, and religious differences do not up set moral hierarchy but contribute to it. That society weaves diverse living styles and other elements into a beautiful plaid fabric; an alliance expressed as “The Rainbow Coalition” and “Isla Bonita”, and “Route Maya”. The flora and fauna is extremely diverse with thousands of different species of trees, birds, snakes, and insects ranging from jaguars and howler monkeys to delicate humming birds. For example, there are 100 times more tree species in one acre of Belize than there are in the entire country of Canada. The countryside is as diverse as the cultures: ranging from seascapes with the impressive barrier reef, to landscapes of sugar cane farms, ranches, and rain forest in the south. The country includes huge undiscovered hence unexcavated ancient Mayan sites; really, entire towns with magnificent high temples covered by jungle creep.  Multiple resorts and lodges enable visitors to enjoy it all. 

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