Historian and Tour Guide Pioneer, Captain Nicolas Sanchez is an authority on the history of Belize City. And even in his 9th decade remains physically nimble with a sharp mental recall.
He lives in Canada now but is back in Belize on a visit, and we met up with him today to learn more about what Belize city has to offer in terms of its history and landmarks. Jomarie Lanza reports:
Born in Belize, but earned his Captaincy in Vancouver British Columbia, Nicolas Sylvester Sanchez, is one of the elders or the oral historical tradition in Belize, and he's also a former tour guide. Captain Sanchez has always maintained that there is an abundance of history that lies within Belize City, things you won't find in text books. And today he shared his insight on some of the historical highlights of the city that makes it so special
Capt. Nicolas Sanchez, Tour Guide Pioneer & Historian
"Well Belize city is unique and there are lots of things that make up Belize City that I like."
"And I asked to do a Belize City tour and they showed me the Baron Bliss tomb the passlow building and the swing bridge, court house, St Johns Cathedral, the government house and that is the Belize City tour and I said no no no, that is not a Belize city tour there is lots more to Belize city than that so I came back 5 years later and started doing Belize City Tours. But everybody said Belize city has no history Belize has no history I didn't believe it and for the 69 days I only had one paying customer."
Captain Sanchez says there are certain aspects of Belize City that makes it stand out, things you won't see or find in our other neighboring countries within the region.
Capt. Nicolas Sanchez, Tour Guide Pioneer & Historian
"I feel deeply about it because Belize has so many firsts in Central America you know and people are not paying attention. When I say they are not paying attention they don't care, year it's old time stuff that is old time stuff and it is not old time stuff. It is now stuff. Belize is the only English speaking country in Central America. Only 2 of them in Latin America, Guyana and Belize. Belize has the highest waterfall in Central America, Belize has the only great blue hole, Belize has the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. Belize is the only country in Central America that does not have a volcano. The Belize river splits the country right in 2 for that matter, where else can you find this and say this is the way it is in other countries?"
And though life has moved us forward, and the city has rapidly developed, we asked him if there are still certain areas that remain untouched by time. He walked us though what he could remember.
Capt. Nicolas Sachez, Tour Guide Pioneer & Historian
"Good question, not even the vaults look the same anymore, Cleghorn Street? Mapp Road, Where the saw mill used to be, nothing there from Mapp Street to the bridge on the river side of North Front Street it has all changed, everything is gone, it has gone all the way, there is nothing much left. Lets see maybe, good heavens, Free Town road might be one of the places but it is built up you know because there are schools on Freetown road and so on, maybe Wilson street maybe from where the church is from Pipersburg on the left hand side, on the right hand side to the front of the Barracks there would be. But on the left hand side you have, the yellow tank is gone, sister cecelia home is still there in a certain way that's been there and the asylum is gone. So even that has changed."
"Not even Albert street anymore."
Jo -
"How do you feel about these changes?"
Capt. Nicolas Sanchez, Tour Guide Pioneer & Historian
"I am a bit more progressive but I like history and when you move something history you should leave a marker, leaver a marker or before you come and break things down take a few pictures, and when you put something up new you put these pictures in the background, let people know where they are coming from. Because I hear so many times if you don't know where you are coming from you don't know where you are going."
