Never again: Belize City

[ann]

We visited Belize City, the ancient capital of Belize in January. We arrived there by bus. The bus station is a bit outside of the centre - a very dirty area. We were there as backpackers and hadn't booked a hotel. It was very difficult to find a cheap, clean hotel to stay for a night. In the old part of the city it was also difficult to find a restaurant to get a meal. Near the harbour we found a quite nice place where we had an acceptable meal. But stolling through the streets of Belize City, we felt realy unconfortable because of the dirt, of the stinking waters and mainly because of the people there - a lot of beggars and alcohol adicts of the Garifuna tribe, a small Caribbian tribe that live only in this area. The whole situation got worse as soon as it began to get dark. Already at 5.30 p.m. the shop owners began to shut their shops by pulling down the iron gates and lock them with at least 3 lock. Everybody seemd to run out of the town to get home before it was dark. For us it was the sign to go directly to the hotel and stay there till the next morning. The next morning we took the first bus that left Belize City and we were glad that nothing worse happened till the departure of the bus. On further trips in this area we will certainly avoid to go to Belize City again!

[John]

I won't go to this city.

Anyway where is Belize?

[Ann]

Belize was called British Honduras before it received his independency in the 1980th. It's in Central America, on the Yucatan Peninsula. It's neighbours are Mexico and Guatemala. Belize is famous for its coral reef and it's a dream for divers.