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The narrow, crowded streets of BELIZE CITY can
initially be daunting to anyone who has been prepared by the usual tales
of crime-ridden urban decay. Admittedly, at first glance the city is
unprepossessing. Its buildings – many of them dilapidated wooden
structures – stand right at the edge of the road, and few sidewalks
offer refuge to pedestrians from the ever-increasing numbers of
vehicles. The hazards of Belize City, however, are often reported by
those who have never been here. If you approach the city with an open
mind and take some precautions with your belongings, you may well be
pleasantly surprised.
The city has a distinguished history, a handful of
sights worth visiting and, particularly during the September
celebrations, an astonishing energy. The seventy thousand people of
Belize City represent every ethnic group in the country, with the Creole
descendants of former slaves and Baymen forming the dominant element,
generating an easy-going Caribbean atmosphere.
Belize City is divided neatly into north and south
halves by the Haulover Creek, a delta branch of the Belize River. The
pivotal point of the city center is the Swing Bridge, always busy with
traffic and opened twice a day to allow larger vessels up and down the
river. North of the Swing Bridge is the slightly more up-market part of
town, home to the most expensive hotels. South of the Swing Bridge is
the market and commercial zone, the location of all the city's banks and
a couple of supermarkets. The city is small enough to make walking the
easiest way to get around. |
