You Better Belize It !!! (Part 5)

by Uncle Hans

......this is at the center of town, looking south. Sadly, they are paving the main street. It loses it's charm after being sand forever, but the seasonal rains and big trucks needed to bring in supplies make it too hard to maintain the sand road.............

...the view to the north......

........a black sailed ship goes by, as we sit at Cannibal's, one of many outdoor beach bars...........

...from the same bar, a view of the vendor ladies and their dazzlingly bright colored tapestries. The colors tempt even me.....

.......these flags are at one of many dive shops near Cannibal's The first flag is some sort of dive flag, then American, British, Mexican, and Belizean. Note the white horizontal line on the water in the distance. That is the pounding ocean surf as it batters the reef instead of the shore ......

.......This luggage cart caught Wendy's eye. Water taxis move people from place to place on the island, to other islands, and to the mainland. That includes natives and tourists.....

.....We must have spend the whole first day on the same bar stools at Cannibal's! It is pleasant at these bars. They face the water. A constant cool breeze is in your face as you sit in the shade. It is 85 and sunny. Interesting stuff just parades by in front of you and the Belikins never stop coming, at $2.50 each. Your cares seem like they are trapped in a snowstorm at home. These barges carry supplies, mostly construction, from the mainland (about 25 miles)...........

.....another tradition is Estelle's. It is a locally owned family restaurant on the beach, there for many years. You can order traditional Belizean stewed chicken, almost a national dish. It is an "acquired" taste, but I like it and have it 3-4 times each trip. A funny thing about the property taxes. There are none. That means a local family can afford to keep their million dollar property on the water as long as they can resist the temptation to sell for a million. In America this family would have been forced to sell years ago as the revenue from this business would not have paid half the property taxes. Down the beach from Coral Bay is a cabinet shop right on the beach. The family lives above. It is about 300 feet of frontage and a little run down. It is worth about a million dollars. It is between two fancy resorts. Quaint custom..........