More lazy days in Hopkins

Days 23-25: Hopkins

Sat 15 Jan 2011 - Mon 17 Jan 2011 25 °C

So, another day dawns and we head for the sleepy seaside village of Hopkins. In true Marks fashion, I have decided to pull myself together: it's just a few bites, slightly manky feet which will recover and being smelly is (relatively) easily fixed. My friends, I can only apologise for my current appearance, but you know how I like to throw myself into whatever activity is at hand and do things properly at all times.

Hopkins is the home of the Garifuna people, and a bunch of estranged Westerners who seem to have given up on their previous lives, and bras apparently (note to self: whilst packing up your old life in search of something new and exciting is all well and good, there is no need to liberate oneself from the brassiere).

Hopkins beach....

We take some Garifuna drumming lessons (this is also not going to be my new career) much to the despair of our teacher who laughs at our rhythmically challenged efforts, and eat a traditional Garifuna lunch with green bananas, which taste mysteriously like potatoes. We also engage in some treacherous biking activity, which would have been fine except I managed to pick a bike with ropey brakes, and ride around in the dark dodging potholes (that head-torch has now come in handy on a number of occasions already, thanks Nicki and Olie!)

I also decide to treat myself to a hot shower for an extra 5 Belize dollars as I realise I haven't seen one since leaving Mexico (hot shower that is, for the record, I may have smelled a bit in the jungle but aside from that showers are a regular feature, they are just usually cold, and/or smell a little of toilets). It's 50m or so away from the hostel, heated by a gas flame which seems worringly close, open air (and the surrounding wooden fence isn't the most robust or complete looking thing in the world, if I can see out then surely people can see in?) and shared with a bunch of sandflies, but never mind...when in Rome and all that. Showering under the stars is actually a very nice experience, and the hot shower is a bonus!