Adventures in Belize: NEW ADVENTURE IN HOPKINS

Adventures in Belize: NEW ADVENTURE IN HOPKINS: It's Sunday & we are on our way to Hopkins, with a stop at Calvary Chapel in Seine Bight for church. Pastor Jim is doing wond...

NEW ADVENTURE IN HOPKINS

It's Sunday & we are on our way to Hopkins, with a stop at Calvary Chapel in Seine Bight for church.

Pastor Jim is doing wonderful work in a very challenging environment. Many of the congregation is expats, the mission work in the community is ongoing but very difficult except for the children. So many little ones in church by themselves, so excited to learn about Jesus. The challenge is getting the parents to come with them. It was almost like being at home, the service wasn't much different. We were warmly welcomed & will come back whenever we are in Placencia.

Now it's on to Hopkins. Hopkins is a very small town, the main road is dirt & very bumpy, but we found our cabana pretty quickly,  were told by the owner who looks like some surfer dude out of the past, that it wasn't ready, so we took off to explore. We found the Sittee River, where we want to look at property & a marina where we stopped for something cold to drink. Found a hotel on our way back that books excursions to Mama Noots, so we stopped & talked to the owner only to find out not only does her run this upscale hotel but he sells real estate too! We arrange to look at property with him tomorrow. Found the local bakery, run by Katelyn & bought some baked goods. she is a divorced mom with 3 kids & supports her family from her bakery. Back to our cabana, which is right in town but on the beach. No one is around & no idea where to find anyone, but door is open with key in the lock, so we unpack. Don't know if we can drink the water or what the WIFI password is, so we are off for dinner.

Dinner at the Barracuda grill, which is part of the Beaches & Dreams resort where Tony the owner is the realtor. Nice visit with him & his wife over dinner right on the ocean of course.

Back at our cabana & finally the owner is there at his little bar where all the locals hang out. We have decided we can do what we need to do, here in 4 days, so we are going back to Placencia. We find out what we need from the owner & tell him we will stay there the 3 days we have paid in advance. Can't drink the water & they have none available, so we will have to buy it in the morning. thankfully I have a couple of bottles so we can brush our teeth & it's time for bed.

FOUR DAYS CHILLIN' IN PLACENCIA

Woke up bright & early in the morning to the ocean calmer than I've ever seen it. After breakfast of fresh cinnamon rolls from John the Bakerman. We were off for some kayaking out to Placencia Caye. the water is shallow & so clear it's like being in an aquarium. Starfish & coral all over, so I jumped in & picked up a starfish.

Two hours later we were back to the hotel & I was fried. I put sun screen on my face & shoulders, but forgot my feet & hands. & boy were they sunburned. Thank goodness I had my shea butter to ease the burn & barefoot is pretty much the way to go. Frank one of the guys from the hotel chopped open a coconut & gave us fresh coconut water to drink - Delicious! Ron was off to fish again & finally caught something when he quit using fake bait & fished like the locals with shrimp & sardines. Dinner at what would become our favorite place, the Purple Space Monkey, for their fresh catch.

After Dinner it's of to the Pickled Parrot for drinks. Owners are Eugene & Lynn from New Jersey.

This is the expat hang out. If you want to meet people who have moved from the US to Placencia, this is the place. So glad we are MSU fans, we drank for free on a guy from Ohio who dislikes Uof M as much as we do. Off to bed for snorkeling tomorrow.
Ron is up bright & early for a "business meeting" at Detach which is basically coffee with the owner & a few other businessmen from town. He brought me back fry jacks for breakfast.  Beautiful weather & we are off to snorkel at Silk Caye & then shark alley.

Didn't think to bring our Don't Bug Me spray, & I got eaten alive by sand fleas on Silk Caye. Ran out of gas on the ride back, lots of jokes about Gilligan's Island especially when we saw the storm clouds coming. Flagged down another boat, which just happened to be a fishing charter & surprise Ron Knew the guy who had chartered the boat. they gave us gas & we made it back to port. Off to Tutti Fruiti for gelato before dinner. Dark chocolate is my favorite, although Violet flower is awfully good.

Purple Space Monkey for dinner, conch fritters & fresh grouper.

 Pickled Parrot for drinks & Detach for coffee & dessert for Ron, Belizean Lime Pie.

Fresh Coconut bread from Deon at the hotel, for breakfast. Lazy day shopping and relaxing on the beach after a busy day yesterday. It's spring break, so there are kids everywhere. It's different here though, they don't have electronics, & their life is much freer, they are friendly &  talk to strangers without fear, & the parents aren't always right with them. they are content without a lot of "stuff". Everyone is friendly & speaks to you. We met a minister from Kansas & his wife witnessing on the sidewalk, spent time talking to them while shopping. Back to Tutti Fruiti twice for gelato, Purple Space Monkey for dinner, & Pickled Parrot for drinks.

Last day in Placencia before we move on to Hopkins. It's windy so no kayaking. Walked around town & found an adorable little gift shop called the treasure Box. the owner is a young woman who makes most of the jewelry, she is so sweet. Off to try kayaking in the late afternoon as the waves should be laying a bit, not! Hard ride back from the Caye. Dinner tonight at Detach right on the beach.

Packing & early to bed. Tomorrow it's church & off to Hopkins and our search for property.