Belize City

Belize City is small...only about 50,000 people live here, so you might even say it's not big enough to be a city. The edges of this small metropolis give way quickly and become rural empty land where you're more apt to find animals than people. It was once the capital of Belize, but not for over forty years has Belize City known this honor, as the capital was moved in 1961. Why? Geography. If you look at a map, and if you know anything about weather in the Caribbean, you will immediately understand why Belize City isn't the ideal spot for a nation's capital. You see, Belize City sits on a piece of land that, although technically part of the mainland, might as well be an island. There's a piece of land that juts out of Belize's coast, and on the tip of this point is Belize City. In 1961 Hurricane Hattie swept through and just about levelled the entire city. After that, the government chose a more secure site, inland: Belmopan. After that, there wasn't much reason for Belize City to exist, other than as home to people living there. The cultural, societal and economic devestation that followed removal of the capital from Belize City was almost worse than Hurricane Hattie. Street crime rose, tourism disappeared and along with it the money. In the 1990s, the government and private sector got together and decided to do something about the decline and formed the Tourism Police Unit in 1995. Crime is better now, roads have been resurfaced, and new traffic lights installed to make getting around Belize City easier and safer.

Other improvements are now in evidence in Belize City as well. Careful renovation of several colonial buildings has been completed, there's a huge cruise ship terminal now, which brings more money into the city, and a shopping area for tourists have marked the beginning of the rennaissance of Belize City. The streetlife is friendly and lively, the architecture is beautiful, and there's much to see in Belize City. Following, here's a guide for your explorations of Belize City.

• Marine Terminal. This is on Front Street, and you can get water taxis to the cayes. This used to be a firehouse in the 1920s. Visit the Coastal Zone Museum to learn about the barrier reef, or the Marine Museum for a look at Belize's maritime history. If you buy a ferry ticket you get into both museums for free!
• Swing Bridge. Nearby is the bridge across the Haulover River. It swings around twice a day, at 5:30 am and 5:30 pm.
• Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. Catch art performances at this center located along the Southern Foreshore.
• Fort George Lighthouse. On Front Street, this lighthouse serves as gateway to the harbor, or the city depending on which diretion you're travelling.
• Museum of Belize. Go to the Central Bank Building for a look at a tiny museum full of Belize items.
• St. John's Cathedral. Slaves made this brick cathedral, out of bricks from European ships' ballast.
• House of Culture. This was the first colonial building in Belize City, built in 1812. The governor general used to live here...that's the Queen's representative in Belize, which is a member of the Commonwealth. Nowadays, however, the governor general lives in Belmopan, the new capital.