“The Street Parade” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Out on the veranda (the western, lagoon facing one) yesterday morning with my mug of coffee (black and unsweetened) I gave some thought to how I would describe the rescheduled San Pedro Independence Day Parade that was being held later in the day.

Should I dispense with my normal circuitous and, more often than not, discursive style (sic) and try to write in a poetic way using picturesque language.

I pondered this matter for quite some time. In fact I had a second mug of coffee to aid my pondering but reached no firm decision. I mean, how could I decide how or what I would write without witnessing the spectacle! The street parade that San Pedro had been waiting a whole year (plus one week) for.

So I gave up on pondering, showered, shaved, got dressed and had breakfast (oh Estel’s Dine By the Sea where are you in my hour of need!) and before too long it was time for Rose, Ziggy and I to set off for ‘Town.

We rather fortunately found a parking space in Angel Coral Street (back street) and took the short walk to Pescador Drive (middle street) and positioned ourselves close to Pirate’s Pizza under what I think is the only tree in the street. The sun was beating down and the shade of the tree was a cool haven.

We weren’t the only ones to secure shady spots to witness the pageantry.

We’d probably been there around thirty minutes ( I can’t be precise because I no longer wear a watch) when the barriers that had been in place to prevent ‘normal’ traffic from entering the street were removed. The cavalcade was on its way. And then it arrived, with as always, the San Pedro Fire Department heading the procession.

And then it ‘hit’ me. Why bother with words, let the pictures tell the story. So here they are.

A resplendent Miss San Pedro.

The marching band.

The reason for the parade.

And then it was time for the tradition of handing out sweets (candies for non UK readers) to the children.

Time to stop for a drink and a photo.

Time for a bit of advertising!

But then back to the fun.

Time for a young reveller to show his ‘moves’!

Kudos to the people that took part in the parade. It was hot, extremely hot. But thanks to them we all

the young

and not so young

all had a great time.

The headline for today’s edition is based on track six of side five of Sandinista the triple album set released by The Clash in 1980 which reached number nineteen on the UK Album Chart and number twenty-four on the US Billboard Hot 200.

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