Today, Liz noticed the following comment on one of our posts.

Courtney & Liz,
If you don’t have an absolutely wonderful adventure in Belize it will not be for lack of preparation!!
You’ve studied every aspect of the journey and we’ve learned a lot reading your postings–we WILL be going to Belize in the near future because of your work–if your experience turns out nearly as wonderful as it promises to be.
Thanks!!! – Jim Allen

As she read this comment to me, I couldn’t help but smile and feel really, really good about its message. As I listened to this message being read, I realized we’d really touched someone! This website started out as a fun project to research our trip and maybe solicit a little bit of helpful insider knowledge along the way. We hoped it would prove useful to others, but had no idea what to expect. As it turns out, Belizeantravel.com, though not the internet authority on Belize, has become a pretty handy resource for potential Belizean travelers who might be just a few steps behind us. Realizing this is pretty rewarding; and getting an appreciative response from a reader like this is very heartwarming. We are so honored to help inspire others to find their own adventures.

Enjoy your retirement, Jim.

You won’t just see horse and buggies in America- like the ones that constantly troll by my brother’s house in Pennsylvania- but you will also find them with Mennonites in Belize!

Mennonites are a group of white settlers who are members of the Mennonite church. The church was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525. They believe that religion must be separate from the State and that their religion is the true Christian faith. They reject all violence and war. The Mennonites are often ridiculed because of their pacifist beliefs. This persecution causes them to constantly be searching for new places to live in peace.

In the 1950s many migrated to Belize. You can be sure to notice The Mennonites- they stick out like a sore thumb! They wear old fashioned clothing and avoid modern conveniences such as technology, cars and electricity. Despite all this, the Mennonites have been an asset to the Belizean economy. They are highly efficient produce and dairy farmers which has lead them to develop many parts of the country-side into profit making agricultural enterprises.

Courtney and I will just be missing the celebrations of Belize’s Independence Day, which falls on September 21.

European contact began with Belize in 1502 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the coast. The first recorded European settlement was established by shipwrecked English seamen in 1638. Great Britain first sent an official representative to the area in the late 18th century, but Belize was not formally termed the “Colony of British Honduras” until 1840. It became a crown colony in 1862 and reached full independence on September 21, 1981.

Festivities for Independence Day in Belize extend over three weeks in Belize. Traditional events include the Queen of the Bay Pageant, Carnival Parade, St. George’s Caye Day Citizens Parade, Expo, Official Independence Day Celebrations, and live musical concerts.

For those of you who Twit or use Twitter, Belizeantravel is now on. Follow us @belizeantravel. You can get immediate notification of our latest posts and help us to reach more interested, budget-minded travelers.

You might recall the Raffle I talked about for the lot on Ambergris Caye? I finally got my numbers! Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!

Hi, Linda Carter here at Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro Town, Belize.

Your land raffle ticket numbers are:
547193
547194
547195
547196
Good luck!! Raffle to be held in December.