Welcome area for tourists just outside the dock area.
What struck me most about the people of Belize is that they were simple. Simple in the sense that they have very little and were selling what they. Their approach was smiling, happy, took 'no' for all it means and never hassled or confronted in the least. Many women approached once I cleared the dock area asking if I wanted them to plait my hair, polish my nails and/or have a back/neck/hand/foot massage. The men were selling shells they'd collected, carvings they carved or coconuts they grew. What impressed me is that nobody had a real store, inventory was not extensive, some of the men were actually carving as they waited and readily explained the type of wood they used (Mahogany), how long it took them, why they carved what they did ect.
This little kid was sitting just outside the dock area and drumming for all he was worth. Am not sure if he was specifically there drumming for the tourists. Didn't seem to be drumming for money but he definitely was attracting lots of attention.
My first tour was in a cart similar to this one as this seemed to be the 'only' way to get around from the docks into the town. Believe me when I say these drivers were NOT caliche drivers. They were offering a 2 hour drive around Belize for $12.50USD. They did try to get 4 people per cart but did seem ok with going along with one. As we started out and as the horse plodded along the driver turned and gave a narration of Belize, their Commonwealth status and independence of 2011.
The drive went through residential areas and most of the homes and commercial establishments looked pretty old to say the least.
The driver proudly stopped and pointed to their FIRST STOP light!!! I also got a shot of the electrical wiring in Belize complete with BIRD NEST! (Has to be a nightmare to figure all this wiring out)
The Belize hospital which used to be a plantation style home. Now called "Chateau Caribbean Hospital." Have to admit I was hoping NOT to ever have to visit there!
The oldest church in Belize, St John's Cathedral. Lovely solid mahogany pews inside, stained glass windows and hand carved doors.
Downtown city hall. Also had a museum downstairs but it was closed
The city itself has a river running through it and a system of 3 bridges that allow transit. One of the bridges is called BelCan as apparently Canada paid for the building of this bridge. Many people were criss-crossing the river in kayaks and canoes, lots of boats lined up and others just using the bridges.
Lastly after I finished the horse and buggy tour I caught a cab and did a drive around Belize. This is my cabbie "Dwayne" who was thrilled to get a tourist fare (and I have to admit I opted to hire a taxi to drive me around for an hour as I wasn't too keen to take a city bus!!
Overall I was really super impressed by everybody in Belize. They all seemed like real people, happy to talk about themselves, their country. Prices were realistic and in some cases I thought "too cheap." Nobody bargained and I had no heart whatsoever to quibble as what was being sold was genuinely handmade, real work went into making or growing whatever and they all did seem genuinely happy to be getting tourists and developing a tourist industry.
