"Because Belize was not found to have any gold or silver, and was dangerous to reach by ship, due to its barrier reef, The Spanish conquerors gave the area a miss. As a result it became a haven for British pirates, then, in the 17 hundreds, as British interests in the Caribbean grew, it slowly developed ties with the UK, until in 1862 it was declared a British colony. Belize gained full independence and became a democracy in 1991 when Guatemala officially agreeed to give up her claim to the area, and recognise Belize as a separate country.
 
As the few hotels in Corozal had already been taken over by British soldiers on leave from the Commonwealth protection force stationed in the country, I soon found myself being directed to a B&B ran by an elderly couple with an old house in a back street. Though the room where I had to sleep was a bit hot and stuffy, it was more than compensated for by the interesting conversation I was able to have that evening when I joined the couple on their veranda for tea. Despite both having been born of British parents in Belize, neither had been any further afield than Mexico, and though they were both very patriotic towards Britain, it was as if they were living in a bygone age of their parents. The nostalgic way they spoke of the England of their parents day made me wonder what they would make of England now, if they ever got the chance of a visit. For me, the house and the way they lived was like a step back into the past." - MH