I headed out into town early, thinking I could beat the hottest part of the day. No such luck, as it was already hitting close to 90 at 8:30.
This town is old and rundown. The people are friendly but tourists like myself are marked. Everyone asks for money. Some by offering tourist services, whether they are actually employed as guides or not. Some by selling cheap crafts (though the open air craft market was completely deserted). Others are simply begging.
I did indulge this one guy. An extremely friendly man who goes by Prince Charles Perez, he earns his money by spouting off a very lively, passionate, entertaining and funny history of Belize. The whole routine lasted about 20 minutes and went into the ethnic and cultural history of the country. At the end, he dubbed me an Official Cultural Ambassador to Belize. I assume this means I now have diplomatic immunity.
I alternated cooling off at the guesthouse and wandering around the city. The city’s museum, one of the few attractions, is closed until Monday.
It’s safe to say that I’m pretty much done with Belize City. Not that it’s been unpleasant, but I have more pleasant places to see.
Tomorrow, I’m off to Caye Caulker, a small island off the coast. It’s supposed to be something of a budget traveler haven, with nicely priced snorkeling, diving, and boating opportunities.
