Dangriga, Belize

On a recent trip to Belize, we visited the Garifuna settlement of Dangriga.   "Sweet water is close at hand" is the loose translation of the Garifuna word Dangriga

Dangriga is the cultural center of the Garifuna peoples in Belize.  Beautiful, friendly folks who are kind to tourists and care about the education of their children  provide a colorful glimpse into the life of Central Americans.

School girls from the Anglican Elementary.  Most children were in uniform.

Selling handmade sifters and graters.

The Garifuna (/ɡəˈrɪfʉnə/gə-rif-uu-nə; pl. Garinagu in Garifuna) are descendants of Carib, Arawak and West African people. The British colonial administration used the term Black Carib and Garifuna to distinguish them from Yellow and Red Carib, the Amerindian population that did not intermarry with Africans. The Amerindians who had not intermarried with Africans are still living in the Lesser Antilles; Dominica, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, etc.

Today the Garifuna live primarily in Central America. They live along the Caribbean Coast in Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras including the mainland, and on the island of Roatán. There are also diaspora communities of Garifuna in the United States, particularly in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and other major cities. (From Wikipedia)

Selling handmade dolls

Belizian vegetable market

We were lulled to sleep at night by the waves and sound of Garifuna drums in the distance.  Next time I post,  I will share a few photos of the colorful houses and flowers in Dangriga.