Nov 28th - Belize City

Our last rest day started early for me as I had to deliver the Landcruiser to the local Toyota dealer by 8 am.

I retraced the journey into Belize City that we had taken yesterday evening and quickly found the garage. They kindly arranged for one of their drivers to take me back to the hotel.

We had decided to stay in the city for the day rather than take one of the excursions to the neighbouring islands for snorkling or diving. We found a cab driver who took us on a tour of the town. I say town because it really is more of a town than a city with only 90,000 inhabitants and you can drive from one side to the other in about 15 minutes.

St.John's Cathedral in the centre of Belize City built by slaves in the 1812

The Belizean economy is going through tough times and it shows everywhere you go. Apparently there is high unemployment and on every street corner there are lots of men standing around. The great thing though was when we walked past them they were always very friendly. The mainstay of the economy is tourism and the cruise ships anchor offshore and the passengers take a tender to shore, where they are immediately directed to the Duty Free shopping plaza. Not the greatest place, with mainly diamond and T shirt shops!

Looking across the harbour in Belize City at the former British Governor's residence

We went back to the hotel and had a lovely swim in the hotel pool and then a snack lunch. Several phone calls to the garage to see if the car was ready and then they delivered it back to me. Everything has been done, with new front brake discs and pads. They even sorted out the handbrake that has been causing such a racket when I drive over bumpy roads. Now all I can hope is that the remainder of our trip is free from mechanical trouble.

Other members of the group have also taken the opportunity of this final rest day to get work done on their cars. Terence English had the oil changed on his Landcruiser. Bob Howells had the steering of his Landcruiser re-tracked, punctures repaired and a tyre replaced. Whilst Mike Taylor had the front discs re-skimmed on his Landcruiser. Strange that all the work being done is on the Toyotas!

Tomorrow we leave Belize for Guatemala. Our stay here has been far too short, but at least we have had the opportunity of seeing one of the smallest Central American countries.