Ambergris Caye Directory

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Flashback -Los Carnavalistas

Los Carnavalistas

Icon March 8, 2011 - 11:34 Icon - 1 comment

There have always been those who keep the Carnival tradition alive. Way back then it was Mr. Severito Guerrero the First who wrote songs for all the comparsas.  Then there were Mr. Fido Nuñez, a great promoter of the event.  Later on Mrs. Vilma Arceo promoted comparsas year after year raising funds for the Catholic Church. Today there are a few carnavalistas like Mrs.

Flashback -History Of Musical Groups Los Malos

History Of Musical Groups -Los Malos

Icon February 28, 2011 - 10:06 Icon - 2 comments

After the demise of Los Shadows which lasted only about three years, then came Los Malos in the 1970’s and 80’s.  Los Shadows were all young men with their girlfriends, so it was humanly impossible for them to last long.

Flashback -History Of Musical Groups -Los Shadows 1970s

History Of Musical Groups -Los Shadows

Icon February 22, 2011 - 10:19 Icon - 2 comments

In the absence of a photo of Los Atomicos del Caribe, in the 1960’s, here is a long remembered group, Los Shadows.  This band became the very first all-electric band on the island displacing the accordion, acoustic guitars and banjo.

Flashback -History Of Musical Groups -Daddy's Orchestra

History Of Musical Groups -Daddy's Orchestra

Icon February 14, 2011 - 00:00 Icon - 2 comments

After enjoying La Banda de San Pedro in 1920’s and 30’s we move on to Daddy’s Orchestra in the 1940’s and 50’s.  Here is the famous Daddy Paz at the saxophone, first owner of Daddy’s Club and the famous Mr. Severo Guerrero I who was also the all time Carnival song composer.

Flashback -La Banda De San Pedro 1820's

History Of Musical Groups -Banda de San Pedro

Icon February 7, 2011 - 10:00 Icon - 6 comments

One of the island's great artistic institutions was La Banda de San Pedro. Created in the 1920’s, La Banda was the result of a long-standing musical tradition in San Pedro.

Flashback -San Pedro’s First Road

San Pedro’s First Road

Icon January 31, 2011 - 00:00

You are standing on the beach of the Village of San Pedro in 1965 more or less by the area of present day Coconuts Resort and Perla Escondida.  This was the first road of San Pedro and it ran from the primary school all the way to Victoria House.  This road was trafficked by a few Land Rover Jeeps owned by Paradise Hotel, Tio Pil of Coral Beach, and Nando Trejo Sr.

Flashback -San Pedro Old Cental Park

San Pedro Old Cental Park

Icon January 24, 2011 - 00:00

The first arrangement at Central Park was wood benches with a small concrete court for basketball.  The San Pedro Action Committee (Dimas Guerrero, Norman Eiley , Genaro and Angel Nuñez, Manuel Heredia Jr.) changed it to this site with concrete benches.  Later the first Town board under Chico Gomez added this lovely Maya Fountain in honor of our ancestors and there were monuments to honor coconut farmers and fishermen.    Then there were bleachers and a stage.  All of that was destroyed to make way for what we have today.  In this Flashback we see high sch

flashback -Edgar Gegg Meets Queen Elizabeth II In Belize

Edgar Gegg Friend of Sanpedranos

Icon January 17, 2011 - 00:00

It is with profound sadness that we learn the passing away of Mr. Edgar Gegg, dad of our friends David Gegg and Angela Gegg. We post this flashback for his many Sanpedrano friends who had personal dealings with Mr. Gegg.  He was the owner of a prestigious store, The Vogue, located at the bridge foot on north side Belize City.  Sanpedrano friends used to get products from The Vogue on Credit and he was always so generous in allowing unlimited them time to make payments.  In this Flashback Mr.

Early Days at San Pedro High

Early Days at San Pedro High

Icon January 10, 2011 - 00:00

     Ever since Mr.

Flashback -The Famous Celi Mac

The Famous Celi Mac

Icon January 3, 2011 - 00:00 Icon - 3 comments

This wonderful lady,Celi McCorkle, could be on the headlines several times each year, except that she chooses to work behind the scenes.  It started way back in the 1950’s when she became the first Sanpedrana to go to high school in the city. She is the Tourism Pioneer of San Pedro and again behind the scenes pumping water up the elevated water tanks with a hand pump.  Celi has been involved in practically everything that has to do with the development of San Pedro including BTIA, BHA, health, hotels, restaurants, gift shops, the airstrip, the high school, culture and more.

Flashback -Marino's Club

Feliz Año Nuevo at Marino's Club

Icon December 28, 2010 - 00:00

A happy New Year and Welcome to the Baile de los Casados (Dance for Married Couples Only).  At first it was traditionally called Baile de los Viejos (Dance of the old people), but changed for obvious reasons.  In this Flashback, Luis Nuñez, owner of Marino's Club, and Polo Nuñez, are ready in Marino’s Club where the much anticipated dance was held every year on December 31 starting at 8 p.m. and interrupted for one hour for the midnight mass.  The bar is well stocked with good old Belikin and Seven up, Coke, Pepsi and other traditional liquors like the Parrot.

San Pedro Village -Birth Of Jesus Re-Enacted

Birth Of Jesus Re-Enacted

Icon December 20, 2010 - 00:00 Icon - 1 comment

Every Year for the Christmas Season the birth of Jesus Christ is re-enacted by schools, church groups, and others.

San Pedro Christmas in the 1960’s

San Pedro Christmas in the 1960’s

Icon December 13, 2010 - 00:00

Don’t be scared Children. Christmas is Christmas only that Santa had to wear a mask here because of the dust and the strong glare of sunlight in the tropics.  Santa arrived from the North Pole to the tropics in the 1960’s by skiff and Emcee Allan Forman entertained him and some 200 children at Central Park where gifts were distributed.

Paranda in San Pedro Ambergris Caye

It’s Paranda Time

Icon December 6, 2010 - 00:00 Icon - 2 comments

In the Garifuna language “paranda” is a dance like chumba and punta. In San Pedro a paranda referred to a group of guys either drinking or serenading to the girls. You have all heard of the serenade or singing romance ballads to the girls at midnight during their sleep.

Rush Hour In The Early Days -Tropic Air

Rush Hour In The Early Days

Icon November 26, 2010 - 12:55 Icon - 2 comments

In the earlier days of tourism, this was rush hour at the San Pedro airstrip.  Tropic had its fleet of two five passenger planes used to transport tourists from International airport to San Pedro and then offered three flights a day for locals to Belize City. Maya also had its nine passenger twin engine Islander and one or two three seaters.  Don’t worry about the modern amenities now offered; this was considered top notch back then.  Indeed tourism and transportation in San Pedro have come a long way.

Early Tourists on Ambergris Caye

NO SHIRT! NO SHOES! NO PROBLEM!

Icon November 22, 2010 - 00:00 Icon - 3 comments

This is the beautiful San Pedro Village that started attracting visitor to our Island since the 1970’s.  Ruby and Tom Kirkpatrick discovered the Island since the 1960’s, bought their property, built their Casa De Amor, and started enjoying since then until today. On the left coming towards you is the old Police Station, the Church bell tower, the unfinished R.C. Church and the ever famous Fido’s Restaurant and Bar.  On the right Papa Blake’s House, Marciano “Mash” Salazar’s house with Scotia Bank downstairs, and Jenny’s Store.

Ramon Nunez Jr

The First Island Pilots

Icon November 15, 2010 - 00:00

A very popular career chosen by young men in San Pedro when commercial aviation was commencing with three-seaters was piloting.  The first Sanpedrano pilot to come back with his license was Nando Trejo, but there is something very special to boast about Ramon Nunez’s Jr. Certification in piloting.  The newspaper clipping and photo speak for themselves. Please note also that there have been two women, Celi McCorkle and Florita Ancona, obtaining commercial licenses in piloting.

San Pedro Roman Catholic School

San Pedro's First And Only Elementary School

Icon November 8, 2010 - 00:00 Icon - 2 comments

This is San Pedro Roman Catholic School built in 1963. Its former wood building had been destroyed in 1961 by Hurricane Hattie and this one was more than enough for some 150 students. It is San Pedro’s first and only primary school for many years. Note the absence of a fence as there was no need to keep any vendors out of the grounds. You can still see many students without shoes because of the sandy streets that filled up their hoes with sand. Still you could see coconut palms providing the island look.

flashback Conch in Abundance in San Pedro Ambergris Caye

Conch in Abundance

Icon September 30, 2010 - 23:00

When the lobster season used to close on February 15, the fishermen in San Pedro relied on conch for their living. Conch flourished along the shallow waters of Ambergris Caye and along the grassy patches along the reef.

Entertainment at Fido's

Entertainment at Fido's

Icon September 23, 2010 - 23:00

Good entertainment has always been the trademark at Fido’s and this goes way back to the 1970’s.  It all started with Wil Nuñez with his guitar and his harmonica and at times joined by Chico Flores with maracas and drums.

Mr. Allan Forman and Clive Forman, 10th of September

Hip Hip Hurray

Icon September 15, 2010 - 23:00

Hip Hip Hurray is a British term which is an expression of joy and victory and was commonly used in festivities.  We have been assured that this was also the joy word used by renowned emcee Mr. Allan Forman in the 1950’s and 60’s. Mr. Allan Forman spiced up all public and patriotic events in his days including the coronation of Miss San Pedro in the 1960’s.

Miss San Pedro, Martha Sabido Duran

Proud To Be Miss San Pedro

Icon September 8, 2010 - 23:00

The Miss San Pedro Pageant goes back to 1955 with our very first Miss San Pedro, Miss Leni Aguilar Alamilla. At times they were appointed by the primary school principal.  At times they were selected with a popularity vote of the public.  But most of the time they have been chosen with a panel of judges.

Miss Belize with the Sunshine Dancers

Lots of Miss World Candidates

Icon September 1, 2010 - 23:00

There is one thing that is almost to be taken for granted and it is that whenever there is a celebrity in Belize, a visit to San Pedro and Holiday Hotel is guaranteed.  Whether it be a statesman, movie actor, performer or just a famous millionaire or investor, that celebrity is sure to visit San Pedro.  In this flashback we find Miss Belize getting ready to go to the Miss World Pagean

Looking down Caribeña Street, west toward the lagoon.

Humble Beginnings

Icon August 11, 2010 - 23:00

You are looking down Caribeña Street, west towards the lagoon. At this corner junction you will now find Rapidito Loans to the right and Sn@kz to the left. Further down is Joe’s Bike rentals and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve Office. As you can see, back then, everything was much different. No brick streets, no businesses, NO TRAFFIC. Just a wheelbarrow and a bicycle.

Wave Dancers

Wave Dancers

Icon August 4, 2010 - 23:00

Every time you try to convince young people to go into dancing, you try to tell them that dancing can take you places.  It is like sports.