February 8th is Baron Bliss Day, although several years ago the name was changed to All Heroes Day. Baron Bliss was a wealthy Englishman who came to Belize (British Honduras) in 1926. Although paralyzed from the waist down by polio, he had sailed from England in his own sailboat and had made several stops at various other island countries on his way to Belize. When he arrived he had food poisoning and stayed on his boat for the next month while doctors from the mainland treated him. Even though this was the first time the Baron had been to Belize, and he died having never set foot on land, he was so impressed with the kindness of the people and the beauty of the ocean and cayes that he changed his will and bequeathed his entire fortune to the country of Belize. Later England took approximately one fourth of his estate in taxes, but the rest remains today as a trust with the proceeds used to promote education and specific infrastructure projects that help the people of Belize.
Baron Bliss is honored each year throughout the country with sailboat races and carnivals. San Pedro Town’s carnival began last Saturday night with opening ceremonies hosted by the reigning queen.
They had narrowed the field to two contestants vying to be the new queen of San Pedro Town. It was a popularity contest with each penny contributed worth a vote for that contestant. They were both very pretty.
The square was filled with booths. Some had games for the kids.
Many were selling food. Each booth had at least some baked goods—a real treat for us since we do not have an oven. We had a wonderful piece of chocolate cake.
Gail and I estimated that at least three fourths of the local population was in the square.
There were young boys running and wrestling in the street. The young girls were holding hands and giggling. The teenage boys were neatly dressed with jerseys and t-shirts from every professional team imaginable from the US with a few Adidas and Nike thrown in as well. The teenage girls were either wearing stiletto heels with tight mini dresses, spandex, or more teenage friendly short shorts and sleeveless tops. Adults were basically normal with a few exceptions. I call this one the “Two Wheeled Pimp Mobile”
It was very much like a small town festival in the Midwestern United States with a few cultural changes.
There were several hundred white chairs set in meticulous rows in front of a newly constructed stage.
There were about fifteen to twenty groups of dancers ranging in age from about five to twenty. Each group had their own music, choreography, and costumes.
The younger children were so cute.
After the dancing, Gail and I had a taco and then rode our bicycles home.
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