With its size of 22‘966 km2, Belize is about half the size of Switzerland. Population is around 308‘000, about 25 times smaller than Switzerland. Languages spoken are Spanish, Creole and English (official language).

The day begins really good: having a cup of good Nespresso coffee on the balcony of the hotel with the sun coming up. It doesn‘t take much to make a man happy. Smooth ride to the airport and handling before take-off is real professional, friendly and facility is top-notch (like the latest B&O television set).

We fly south on 27‘000 ft along the coast, see our hotel and Playa del Carmen from above. A short flight and during the landing it is pretty windy. Customs and immigration are pretty Caribbean-like as we know it from other islands. Captain Tom, sitting front/right seat in the car is a bit worried when our driver flies a bit low into the city and brings us to the hotel. Lunch and later in the afternoon a very interesting city tour with on of the hotel employees.

Belize is pretty laid-back and grabs very little international headlines. Tourism plays a huge role and the financial downturn of the last few years hasn‘t been good for the country‘s economy. According to our tour guide unemployment rate is around 40%. Drugs are still an issue: Belize is a trans-shipment point for the northbound drug trade and drug related / gang crime is huge in Belize City. Everybody advices us not to leave the hotel at night; some areas are an absolute no go even for the locals.

In the old days, a lack of effective government and the onshore safety afforded by the barrier reef attracted English and Scottish pirates to Belizean water during the 17th century. They operated freely, capturing booty-laden Spanish galleons. In 1670, Spain convinced the British government to clamp down on the pirates‘ activities. Most of the unemployed pirates went into the logwood business, protected by the British. 1854 it became the colony of British Honduras.

In 1859 Britain and Guatemala signed a treaty that gave Britain rights to the land provided that the Brits built a road from Guatemala to the Caribbean coast. The treaty still stands, but the road has never been build, and many Guatemalan-made maps show Guatemala – which has never formally accepted Belize as a separate territory – extending all the way through Belize to the coast.

On 21st September 1981, the colony of British Honduras officially became the independent nation of Belize.

Belize City, while no longer the capital, retains its importance. It got the shops, the schools and the populations is around 70‘000. Reggae is the music on the island and Football and Basketball the sports. And the Queen still overlooks things on the official money of Belize.

Since we are good boys, we decide to have dinner at the hotel. Nice now since most other tourists are gone by now. And the local beer is quite good!