About the author
Holger is a management consultant turned volunteer. He loves to take pictures, run around in the sun, dive and he has never met a beer in his life he didn't like.
More posts by Holger
Activities:
On St. George’s Caye you can get married. You can dive and swim. You can go for a walk, but you’ll have to turn around after 15 minutes. Bring a book. Relax and do nothing.
How to get there:
If you stay at the resort, they pick you up in Belize City.
Deutsche Version: September Eröffnung auf St. George’s CayeSeptember is a party month in Belize. And so the month is started with an opening ceremony. This year, the ceremony was held on St. George’s Caye, just as it had been the previous 3 years. St. George’s Caye is an important part of Belizean history, as it was here where a group of Englishmen called the Baymen stood their (sandy and salty) ground to an army of the Spanish, sent to reclaim Belize.
For us it was a great experience to be able to explore St. George’s Caye. The island has very few houses, one resort, no shops or tourism businesses and the sewage system is based on a board with a hole in it that is over the shallow waters of a cove.
It feels like playing Robinson Crusoe. Arrive. Relax. Look over the crystal clear, 29 degree warm water. Once in a while, a school of fish swims past. Numerous water birds enjoy peace and quiet as do the few locals we meet.
Only once a year when september rolls around, the little island is transformed. Belizeans swarm over from the mainland. Sitting on the beach, eating, swimming, kids playing in the shallow waters while their parents sit in the shade. Ragga rythms flood the beach. VIPs from the areas of politics to military, business and tourism met and greet, see and are seen, fill the air with small talk and their bellies with a great buffet.
When afternoon falls over St. George’s Caye, people pack up. Tents are being teared down. The stampede wraps up and returns to Belize City. The island is once again a tranquil little sandhill in the ocean, once again it survived an overpowering army trying to land on its shores.
The party continues. On the mainland. For almost a month. Every weekend from now on will be filled with carnivals, parades and parties.
And we’ll be there.
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