Mar 20
Guatemala is just a few miles from the where we stayed in the Cayo district of Belize during last summer and as soon as we realized that it was just a border crossing away Guatemala was instantly on our list to visit.
Tikal is universally recognized as one of the most impressive of all Mayan sites sharing a top three spot with Machu Picchu and Angkot Wat, and our hotel organized for us a day trip for us to visit.
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The first of my 2015 Top Fives, and an annual look back at the stuff that sticks out in my memory as something a bit special.
I’ve done this for many years now and always welcome your comments. Some Top Fives are regular features, some others I mix up a little bit, but one list I always compile is the Favourite Places I found myself in during the past year.
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The only English speaking nation in Central and South America, Belize was known as British Honduras from 1862 to 1973 but in anticipation of independence became Belize, named after the countries biggest city. Independence took until 1981 mostly due to neighbours Guatemala’s asserted claims to Belize.
Post 1981 Britain retained a military presence in Belize until only four years ago when the last of the British forces left the colony.
Archaeologists estimate that at their peak, 1 to 2 million Mayans lived within the borders of present day Belize. Christopher Columbus sailed along the coast of Central America in 1502, and named the area the Bay of Honduras but Columbus never stayed and the first settlers were English Puritans, setting up trading posts along the coast.
Ship-wrecked sailors, buccaneers, and pirates came and went and the Spanish continually attempted to expel the British buccaneers but finally signed treaties in 1763 and 1786 allowing the British to continue to harvest timber in exchange for protection against pirates preying on the Spanish galleons.
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Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
