Cacophony of Belize and serenity

E

The twelve mile long  Island of Ambergris Caye sits 20 miles offshore from Belize.  The island is protected by a barrier reef system, the meso American reef system  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_Barrier_Reef_System  this reef runs all along the 180 mile eastern border of Belize.  The protected reef is about 1/2 mile from our shore and provides tranquil clear water rather than the waves of other Caribbean islands.  The western side which faces Belize is all lagoons and marshlands, and therefore little development

The island is shaped like a fat python after a pig dinner.  In the middle is the town of San Pedro – where I am staying.  The town is 4-6 blocks wide with a water taxi port and a small airport in the center  and the entire eastern shore is populated with hotels, small resorts, and residences.  The roads  are terrible with only one lane going to  the southern end to the northern end of the city in the middle.  the only available transportation are age old club car golf carts with no suspension!  Traffic jams of golf carts can occur

the downtown area is cacophonous while one block away are the virtually empty beaches, piers with bars at the end (docks on the rocks) , and the reef.  Beautiful