Belize City Belize
Unfold It`s Dramatic History!

Sunday 28th September – Destination – Belize City Belize.

As we arrived in Belize Airport we were really excited. We found our taxi for the transfer to our accommodation; the first guest house we planned to stay on our first night here. The spacious open roads were an invitation to go exploring and the houses on stilts were novel and served as an aperitif, stimulating our taste buds for a real adventure. Later we got the chance to see inside these houses when we visited relatives.

We eventually arrived at Colton House, 9 Cork Street. This Colonial style house, gleaming white in the sun, has an interesting history behind it. During Hurricane Hattie, back in October 1st 1961, which my dad told us about when we were kids, this house was literally lifted across Memorial park and deposited on the opposite side. It was eventually brought back by rolling it on barrels. We were none the wiser. Nothing seemed out of place but it was like stepping back in time to the old Colonial days as the house had been preserved with gleaming, polished wooden floors, paddle fans and fresh colours of greens and white decorating the rooms.

Sitting out on the veranda, drinking coffee in the morning was a delight with the proud looking blackbirds on the roof above us making strange echoing calls. Unfortunately the house was sold in 2005 and is now, as far as I know, a private residence. But you can still go and see this house with it`s colonial architecture on Cork Street. It`s part of Belizean history.

Baron Bliss Lighthouse – Belize City Belize (No.3)

After unpacking we went exploring and came across the Baron Bliss lighthouse at the entrance of the Belize river estuary, Fort George. As one of the top attractions in Belize City, it serves as a memorial to the late Baron Bliss, who died on board his steamer yacht Sea King II anchored of Fort George Point. Already a victim of polio, he then contracted food poisoning, leading to a downward spiral of ill health to his death on March 9th 1926. He became the benefactor of a great sum of money which was to be used for capital projects.

Every year on March 9th, Belizeans celebrate his memorial. On this date I attended the Baron Bliss Exhibition and Ball at the Natural History Museum, England. It was there that my desire to visit this beautiful country was ignited.

The Sandpiper – Belize City Belize

After milling around the streets for a while we went to look for John my “2nd cousin”??? We found him, not at home, but playing the keyboard in a small bar on the waterfront called The Sandpiper.

There was a boat race that day so we enjoyed watching the colourful display of sails in the distance while we sipped our drinks in the cool breeze; music gaily playing in the background beneath a backdrop of palm trees. Don`t you just want to be there! This bar is off the beaten track. You won`t find it advertised with the tourist board. It gives you a taste of the real Belize.

Normally there are no problems with pesky insects but on that particular occasion the wind had brought in some sand flies, or what I thought were sand flies, and I had a very itchy night. Take the repellent if you visit just in case!

Belize City Belize Attractions
Other Belize attractions to be found here?

The Tourist Office (No.1)
Head over to this place and browse through some brochures for extra ideas of places to visit on your travels. Jam pack your holiday with more than you can possibly get round to seeing. That way your holiday will keep buzzing.

Government House (No.4)

If you are interested in Colonial architecture, Belize City has its fair share. Government House was built for the Governor of Belize. Dignitaries were entertained here in this most elegant of colonial architecture.

Bliss Institute (No.6)

You will find Bliss Institute along Bliss Promenade. It exhibits Maya artefacts, is the centre for Belizean culture, and there lies the National Library and Arts Council.

St. John`s Cathedral (No.5)

Kings were crowned here. The only other country known to crown kings in its Anglican Cathedrals was England. St. John`s Cathedral is almost 200 years old. The oldest in all of Central America.

Belize is a hub for booking excursions, especially for scuba and sea fishing along the Cayes and Barrier Reef. We reserved some days to explore San Pedro, one of these mini paradises. It was GREAT!

Gem

Here is a taste of what kind of entertainment is to be found at the Bliss Centre, Belize City Belize.

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