A Quiet Sunday on a Long Independence Holiday Weekend

Happy Independence Day BELIZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A country with such a long varied history but technically is only 39 years old.

Here’s the Wikipedia short version of our modern history:  “British Honduras was a British Crown colony on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, from 1862 to 1964, then a self-governing colony, renamed Belize in June 1973, until September (21) 1981, when it gained full independence as Belize.”

Today is usually a HUUGGE day of celebration.  In fact, the whole weekend would normally be.  September 21st…after a LONG night of partying and fireworks and live music…San Pedro pours out onto the streets of town…everyone dressed in red, white and blue…for the Jump Up Parade.

It’s always about 1001 degrees out…and the parade invariably starts at least an hour and a half late.  SO hot that last year, after running around snapping pictures for about 2 hours, I rushed home feeling overheated and nauseous and fell asleep in my drenched clothes.  Waking up 4 hours later…in a daze…my Belizean flag temporary cheek tattoo glued to my pillow.  A powerful non-alcohol induced dehydration-parade-hangover blooming.   And STILL 100% positive that September 21st is my FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR.

You can take a look at last year’s Jump Up Parade:  Small But Mighty See other years below.

No one needs to tell you that 2020 is different.  Way different.  And I could REALLY feel it yesterday when I went into town to run some quick errands and San Pedro was beautiful but DEAD!  I’d passed many many golf carts heading north – to Secret Beach and other picnic spots north of there to celebrate the holiday.

It was quite strange to see the town so quiet.  I took a bunch of pictures though…and here they are.

Quick note:  The San Pedro Town Council is doing a bit of a socially distanced parade with DJ Debbie (who is such a key parade of every single parade this town does) – and you can watch it online today.

Click here to see Debbie and others over the years in the Jump Up Parade!

Now back to yesterday.  No one in the water…or on the playground.

Out to the Municipal dock…

I bought what may be the last mangos of the season from my friend in the park.  GIANT ones…here’s my breakfast.

And headed home…

With a detour along the ocean in Boca Del Rio – the usual Sunday swim and family fun area.  Quiet, quiet, quiet but gorgeous.  I’ll head from south (Palapa Bar) to north (the bridge).  Then I’m headed home.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sandbar Hotel and Hostel and Restaurant and Bar.

Chuck and Robbie’s Dive Shop.

The San Pedro High School.

Formerly Wayo’s now…The Ugly Duck.

The beautiful old seagrape tree at the Hotel Del Rio.

My last phone pics as I headed over the bridge.

So pretty.