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| Belize City to Cayo District, page 1 of 2 | page 1 2 |
With a population of 55,000, Belize City is the country's largest city. Bustling and disorienting, the city is no tropical paradise, despite its prime location on the gorgeous Caribbean. Antiquated clapboard buildings -- unpainted, weathered and tilted -- line the narrow streets. Street life throbs under the tropical sun, wind and rain. On our first day in Belize, during a torrential downpour, we drove through the historic Fort George District in the city's downtown area. After three days near Belize City and points north, we drove southwest on the Western Highway to the Cayo District. |
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| Flooded streets greeted us in the Fort George District | Cyclists and pedestrians have the right of way in Belize |
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| Weathered, clapboard Victorians in the Fort George District, built during British rule in the early 20th century | |
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| Small shops and cafes cram the narrow streets | With Kay at our favorite Chinese restaurant |
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| On the drive from Belize City to the Cayo District, a kapok tree mimics a telephone pole | |
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| Majestic kapok trees, palms and fertile valleys along the Western Highway | |
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| Vernacular architecture -- houses built on stilts to capture cooling breezes | |
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| Typical small shop and source of visitor information? | |
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| Belize and Taiwan have a close relationship and encouraged immigration during the 1980s. Chinese now make up 15% of the country's population. At right, a colorful office at the Belize/Taiwan ag demo center. | |
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| Colorful Blue Bird buses of Belize | |
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| Serious road cyclists are a common sight | |
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| The floppy-eared Brahman cows thrive in Central America | |
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| Street scene in Santa Elana | Chinese eateries are common sights |
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| Belikin beer dominates the Belizean market | |
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| The small town of San Ignacio is the commercial heart of the Cayo District. Two creeky bridges -- Low Water Bridge and Hanksworth Bridge -- cross the Macal River in San Ignacio. | |
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| Funky and fun downtown San Ignacio | |
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| San Ignacio street scenes | |
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| Colorful signage of San Ignacio | |
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