So, we're down to our last days in Belize! The weather turned really nice so we have been trying to make the most of it. We have gotten in some beach time & a lot of wandering & bike riding around.
Sunday, we had a barbecue with Brian, our landlord and Scott, the other current tenant, who is here on a long-term rental, and then went over and listened to an Italian country singer (but a long time resident of Tombstone, Arizona).
On Monday, I had arranged for a Garifuna drumming lesson at the Lebeha Drumming Center, which trains drummers and promotes the continuance of the Garifuna drumming tradition. The Garifuna are a local people who are decendants of African slaves and Red Arawak from the island of St. Vincent. The center is on the far northside of the village, so we decided to see if we could find some Garifuna food, which is very distinctive from most Belizean food, at one of the local restaurants along the way. As it happened, Tina's Kitchen was cooking up darasa, a kind of green banana tamales, which were wonderful with a small whole snapper each. They took some time but were worth the wait.
Then over to the Drumming Center, where they were giving a performance for a group of tour reps, which we were invited into and even got to dance some with the crowd.
Then I had a one hour lesson, which was really fun. Some of the beats were easier to pick up than I thought they would be (some were not), but by the end it actually sounded (almost) like I knew what I was doing! So that was our cultural day. On Tuesday, we headed out to the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve. for a little hiking in the jungle. No chance of actually seeing a jaguar there in the daytime but it was a nice easy hike through the jungle to a lovely little waterfall where we had a refreshing dip. Also checked in on a Cessna plane wreck where one of the researchers tracking the jaguars crashed on takeoff from what is now the access road to the park.
.
A little more beach time in the afternoon and then we wandered down south of the village to Chef Rob's Restaurant for a much anticipated meal. Unfortunately, the meal was a disappointment. It wasn't really bad but certainly didn't live up to the hype that the place had gotten from everyone. Wednesday--our last day here-- we set out on our bikes about 5 miles down the road to the Sittee River Marina and the Curve Bar, which we have heard good things about, to once again get a glimpse of how the "other half" lives. It is a wonderful, peaceful spot on a beautiful stretch of the Sittee River. And here I sit typing this and munching on some cassava and plantain chips, contemplating having to put long pants on and maybe deal with snow tomorrow. But then I look back up at the view and all is good... carpe diem!
Some Culture, Some Nature & Some Other Stuff
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Hopkins, Belize
Other Entries
-
1Ready to go!
Nov 0733 days priorToronto, Canadaphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
2Halfway There
Nov 1228 days priorAtlanta, United Statesphoto_camera1videocam 0comment 0 -
3First Blast of Heat
Nov 1228 days priorCaye Caulker, Belizephoto_camera11videocam 0comment 1 -
4Easing into Island Mode
Nov 1426 days priorCaye Caulker, Belizephoto_camera18videocam 0comment 0 -
5Cycling CC & checking out San Pedro
Nov 1525 days priorCaye Caulker, Belizephoto_camera34videocam 0comment 1 -
6A Little Rain, a Little Pain
Nov 1723 days priorCaye Caulker, Belizephoto_camera15videocam 0comment 0 -
7Snorkeling Caye Caulker Reef
Nov 1723 days priorCaye Caulker, Belizephoto_camera51videocam 0comment 1 -
8Movin' On Down the Road
Nov 2020 days priorSan Ignacio, Belizephoto_camera51videocam 0comment 1 -
9Hangin' out in San Ignacio
Nov 2119 days priorSan Ignacio, Belizephoto_camera26videocam 0comment 0 -
10Iguanas, Temples and More
Nov 2317 days priorTikal National Park, Guatemalaphoto_camera64videocam 0comment 1 -
11A Few More Temples and Some Amazing Caves
Nov 2713 days priorSan Ignacio, Belizephoto_camera59videocam 0comment 0 -
12A Detour on the Way to the Beach
Nov 3010 days priorPlacencia, Belizephoto_camera35videocam 0comment 0 -
13Chillin' in Placencia
Dec 028 days priorPlacencia, Belizephoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
14Snorkeling at Laughing Bird Caye
Dec 037 days priorPlacencia, Belizephoto_camera53videocam 0comment 0 -
15Beach to Beach
Dec 073 days priorHopkins, Belizephoto_camera23videocam 0comment 1 -
16Some Culture, Some Nature & Some Other Stuff
Dec 10Hopkins, Belizephoto_camera42videocam 0comment 1 -
17That's a Wrap!
Dec 122 days laterToronto, Canadaphoto_camera2videocam 0comment 4
Comments

2025-02-17
Comment code: Ask author if the code is blank
ricardo
2014-12-11
looks like you had a great time. Now back to reality snooooooooooooooooow and lots of it.