Beach Combing
A few years ago I received a complimentary copy of the magazine “The Economist” from the Governor General of Belize, Sir Colville Young, who is an avid reader of the column “Twenty Five Years Ago”. Incidentally, he also decorated me with the medal as Member of The British Empire. Anyway, there was an article entitled […]
Large Flocks of Pigeons
Do you think we should encourage raising large flocks of pigeons like they do in some of the Mexican cities around the cathedrals or in some European cities where they serve as tourist attractions? Or do you think their white droppings can be a slight nuisance? I do notice a few pigeons feeding on the […]
Why Names Have Changed?
If you look at names of children today, and you compare them to names of 25 years ago, you will see a few obvious differences. First you will see more Spanish names in the past and the tendency to go with English names today. Secondly you will see a change from the traditional and common […]
Remember the Old Cinemas!
In Belize City there were three of them – Majestic, Palace and Eden Cinemas. In San Pedro there was Teatro Arenas (Sands Cinema). Those in Belize operated every night and there were the famous double headers on Friday nights. Sundays were special for there were three functions – the ten o’clock matinee, the five o’clock […]
Fish All Over The Roofs
Have you seen fish all over the place, even all over the roofs of houses? No? Well, I have and all the folks who lived in the 50’s are very familiar with what I am going to tell you now. Yes, it is different for when you get a nice snapper, mullet, shad, or barracuda, […]
Raiding the Fruit Trees
Twenty five years ago the kids delighted in raiding all fruit trees on the island and if that were to be done today it would be called stealing. Back then it was called mischief. All boys and even girls used to raid fruit trees and do you know why? There was a scarcity of fruits […]
Unprescribed Drugs Cure It All
I took a friend to the pharmacy the other day and was amazed at the large number and variety of medications available to the general public. I was also amazed at the knowledge of the pharmacist in dealing with prescriptions. No so 25 years ago when only unprescribed drugs were available. What were the common […]
Those Famous Siestas
I cannot operate well without a siesta, and I imagine that many of you can’t either. Some people will tell you that if they take a siesta, they wake up miserable. I am the opposite. If I do not get my 15-minute siesta, I can only function at 50 percent. Just in case you are […]
Brand Names of the Past
Today I hear the young boys talking about Boxers and Nike, and when you talk about toothpaste you can choose from ten different brands. I wonder how many of the products of yester years still exist in the market today. Up to two years ago, I used to buy and still enjoy a pepper sauce […]
Fish Menus of the Past
When you go to a restaurant today and you think of ordering a delicious fish plate, you would probably think of fried fish fillet or steamed fish in some particular sauce. Not so twenty five years ago when fish was the main source of the diet and moms or the chefs had to be very […]
What If You Got Tired of Fish?
If you got tired of fish 25 years ago, you would have been in deep trouble. Today tourists tend to think of Ambergris Caye as a place to enjoy fresh fish every day. In contrast 25 years ago, we used to really get tired of fish, but what to do? That was the main source […]
The Very First Foreigners
If you sit in your verandah at home and watch people pass by, you are bound to make this remark: “Gosh, there are a lot of strangers in San Pedro!” By strangers you would mean people you do not know, not born nor raised in San Pedro, Belizeans from other parts of the country, and […]
New Year 25 Years Ago
New Year is New Year and you would think it never changes. New Year in Belize City is different from New Year in New York. Every community, town, city, and country has its unique way of celebrating a new year. However, a lot of people have asked me if New Year in the 50’s and […]
“Paloma” (Pigeon) at a Dance
Last week I featured the various styles and kinds of dances in the 1950’s to 1970’s, with the “bolero” or romantic Spanish ballads being the favorite. Even today there are international groups like Los Temerarios, Los Bukis and Los Yonics that continue to popularize these Spanish ballads. Now today we feature one final dance practice […]
Dancing 25 Years Ago Part 2
Last week I told you that the guys 25 years ago used to slide on the floor and put candle wax on the floor while today people are trying to reach the ceiling while jumping up. I also said that 25 years ago people liked a lot of lights in the dance hall while today […]
Dancing 25 Years Ago Part 1
Today during a regular week there must be at least ten dances held at various locations. Tourists dance daily. And for a New Year’s Eve night there are up to four bands playing live music all over San Pedro. Dances are as common as going to the store or for a stroll. Not so 25 […]
Welcome Little Yellow Birds
If you have plants or trees at home and you are observant, you have probably noticed that your home has been visited during the month of November by one or two little yellow birds. If you have not observed, well do so. Do not chase or drive away these little yellow birds. In fact you […]
Swimming in Icy Waters
So you see these cold days when the northerly cold fronts descend upon us? They are pretty cold, aren’t they? Who would think of going swimming at five in the morning during these cold days of November and December? Nobody does today, but we all did in the 1950’s and 60’s, or twenty five years […]
HAM – A Reminder of Christmas!
It is only November 14, and it already begins to look like Christmas. Soon it will begin to feel like it. Today there are already a few businesses putting out the lights and decorations that remind us of Christmas. Today Christmas is all about lights, clothing and the amenities that go with celebrations. Without television […]
No Television in San Pedro
I remember when there was no television in San Pedro. Television has been such a great impact in our lives today that without it life might seem meaningless. No doubt it is the greatest source of entertainment apart from bringing us the news and information from around the world. Television actually became available in San […]
The Hobby of Keeping Pigeons
One proud collection of animals people had twenty five years ago was the dove or pigeon. (las palomas) There were the white domesticated pigeons and the local wild gray pigeons. Practically every backyard had a large or several pigeon houses where some 50 to 100 pigeons lived. They, along with the crowing of the roosters, […]
Very Windy Days, Horrible or Beautiful?
How do you see strong winds and rough seas today? Windy days can really spoil your day. It could mean that you cannot go outside the reef to your favorite sport fishing. It could ground even an expert captain like Hilliboo. It could also mean that the sea is too murky for scuba diving. Even […]
Wild Birds as Pets
Hobbies today include a variety of activities like stamp collecting, post cards, coins, and foreign money. Pastimes include driving golf carts and jet skies or simply surfing the internet or being hooked to the internet. None of these activities was popular or even existent 25 years ago. Instead, young people in the 1950’s spent quite […]
The Bone Healer Victor Lara
Twenty five years ago, Sanpedranos with injuries of the bones went straight to a little house on Front Street, now Barrier Reef Drive. This small house with one window on the front and a door on the side was situated exactly where the Belize Bank is across the street from Spindrift Building. People went there […]
Saturday Clean Up
People seem to have a special interest in the life of 25 years ago that reflect some degree of hardship like the making of shampoo water, tortillas and preparing a chicken for a dish. Well, here is another one and it has to do with the cleaning of the house on Saturdays. Most of the […]