A Sunset Walk

One of the joys of the tropics is watching the sun go down at the beach.  The sun sets early on Roatan, so we'd often take a late afternoon walk down the road to West Bay.

A little boy runs down the beach while the big yellow glass bottom boat makes its last run over the reef headed back to the dock.

The sun sinking behind the Infinity Bay dock on West Bay Beach.

 

Sunset marks the end of the workday for the vendors on West Bay.  Many jump in for a swim before they head home.

A tiny water taxi with a big captain unloads a lot of passengers right before sunset at the end of the work day.  Most water taxis don't run between West Bay and West End after dark since they don't have running lights. 

 

One of the vendors enjoys a quick run on a paddleboard as the sun sinks.

 

 

Love the sunset Zumba class at the Henry Morgan Resort.  I especially love the nun on the left side.

 

Cheers to more beach sunsets in all our lives!

 

Ocean Therapy

As Wyland says, The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination, and brings eternal joy to the soul.

I know nothing inspires me like the ocean.   

Most mornings in December, we walked down the hill and from one end of West Bay Beach to the other.  If you wade in the shallows at the end of the beach in front of the Grand Roatan, colorful fish will swarm your feet.  It's a wonderful feeling and a free fish pedicure!

                   

Later in the day, we'd often return to the same place to swim and snorkel.  The yellow boat in the distance is a glass-bottom boat for those who don't want to strap on a snorkel and mask.

I love to experiment with my underwater camera.  The afternoon light glimmers and reflects over the waves.

When it's flat and calm, the water takes on a milky glacial appearance.

Schools of Sergeant Majors surround snorkelers in the shallow sandy bottom areas by the cliffs.

 

This Big Kahuna's easy to photograph.

He blends right in with this huge school of funny-faced Blue Tangs!

Parrotfish are the beauties of the sea.

 

 In deeper water, the corals and fans are magnificent.

 

 

This Needlenose is true to his name.

 

 

 Barracuda are hard to spot because they're camouflaged  to blend with the turtle grass below them.

 

 

Life in the big aquarium is so peaceful.  I'm missing my daily therapy. 

 

 

Roatan: The Sequel

I thought I was finally done blogging after my sporadic nine year term, but I've found additional inspiration after a month in Paradise at the end of 2017.

After a two year absence, the lush island of Roatan with all its rustic funky tropical splendor was calling our names again.

 

We left Phoenix in the dark at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morn in early December.  Right after the doors closed on the plane, we received a text from American Airlines informing us that due to civil unrest related to the recent election in Honduras and a travel advisory issued by the State Department, we could reschedule our flights for no fee.  Talk about timing!  LOL

Fortunately, we're not trepidatious travelers, and we already knew about the problems on the mainland.  Our decision had been made.  Let the adventure begin!

After a brief layover in Dallas with just enough time for the bano and a coffee stop, we boarded the plane for the final leg of our trip to RTB, Roatan's airport located in Coxen Hole.  After a short two hours, the plane descended and the lush hillsides and turquoise sea came into view.  Soon, we were de-planing down the stairs, dragging carryon's onto the tarmac and into the immigration and customs area. 

We waited about a half hour in line to show passports and be fingerprinted.  A few minutes later, we were met by our friendly van driver who took us to Eldon's, a grocery store in Coxen Hole.  He urged us to stock up and warned food shortages might be a problem if the unrest and blockades in Honduras continued.  After loading our groceries into the van, Frankie navigated around the island's many rainy season mudslides and potholes to drop us at our home for the next month, a condo at Keyhole Bay Resort just up the hill from West Bay.

After a flurry of unpacking and loading the fridge (and a little fright after a gecko jumped out of the dishwasher), we headed down the hill on foot to West Bay to our favorite beach club for an early dinner.

 

Dinner was early because we'd been informed by the rental agent that the island was possibly under a 6 p.m. curfew issued for the entire country of Honduras due to protests on the mainland.  I use the word possibly because a few days later, we were never able to confirm with locals that the curfew had ever been enforced on the island.  If you've ever been on an island for long you know about jungle drums.  Words pass round the circle like a childhood game of Telephone and truth and rumors merge!

 
We picked a table at the Grand Roatan Ironshore Grill, one of our favorite hangouts in West Bay.

We both were craving Mr. Red Snapper.  Salt, the bounty of the sea, and those glorious sunsets would not be denied.

After a glorious early Saturday evening sunset (5:30ish), we hurried back up the hill on foot for a good night's sleep.

To be continued.  I promise!

 

 

Carnaval: The Sunday Parade

I waited over two hours for the Carnaval parade.  You waited a week for my photos!  I told you manana, but what that really means in Mexico is not tomorrow! 

Once the parade started, it flowed like clockwork.  Floats and dancers with performers of all ages!

It took me awhile to realize this was a Star Wars themed float.

An adorable queen of the float! 

 

Shake it girls! 

 

They practice their dance routines for months leading up to Carnaval and the costumes are amazing!

I love the healthy attitude towards body image in Mexico.  Beauty comes in all ages, shapes, and sizes.  I hope this never changes!

Another young queen.  She's beautiful!

 

These girls are loving it!

 But it's been a long day!

 

 

Love the colorful costumes!

 

These guys may have been hydrating with something other than water, but they're still rockin' the routine!

We were so happy to be on Isla Mujeres this year to experience Carnaval!  We never made it through any late nights in the square, but by golly, we stuck it out for the parade!

Hasta luego!

Carnaval: The Waiting Game

When will we learn?  Perhaps never?  Being prompt is so culturally ingrained in us that if a show or parade starts at 3:00 p.m., that means we really need to be there at 2:30 p.m. to get a good seat.  Well Dorothy, we're not in Kansas (or Arizona) anymore.  I'm sure some of you know where this post is going.

We'd made up our minds that we were on Isla Mujeres during Carnaval and we were NOT going to miss the big parade!  It was scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Sunday.  Rationally, I knew that 3:00 p.m. didn't really mean 3:00 p.m., but why take chances?  In November, we showed up 15 minutes late for the Dia de la Revolucion parade and it was halfway down Medina before we got there!  (That was a one off.)

Around 2 p.m., this clown car with boom box zoomed past on the street below.  A thought went through my mind that the parade could be starting early, so we'd better hurry!

We rushed around and were out the door around 2:30 p.m.   With no empty taxis to be had, we started walking.  About halfway to El Centro, some kind neighbors in a golfcart stopped and offered us a ride.  Soon we were seated on the wall along Medina just north of Mininos. 

We suddenly realized we were totally unprepared for the event.  We had no drinks!  Craig rushed off and soon returned from Bally Hoo with a huge margarita in a Big Gulp sized styrofoam cup and a tiny bottle of water for me.  I quickly decided I liked the margarita and we shared.

Within a half hour, around 3:30, we began seeing indications there might be a parade today.

A vendor passed by with donuts/pastries on his head???  How did I miss this opportunity?

A little later, a man on a unicycle pedaled up and down Medina.  The southbound side of the avenue had been shutdown for over an hour, so surely the parade was still on!

This cutie sashayed up and down the sidewalk, her runway, several times.  If she wasn't the official kinderqueen title holder, she should have been!

Around 4 pm, two trucks passed by on the opposite side of Medina.  Finally!!!  They must be lining up somewhere!  Our expectations rose.

Confusion reigned as dance groups performed in front of Mininos and other spots on Medina, then disappeared with no sign of an organized parade. 

Another small Carnaval Queen, this one more official, passed on the sidewalk.  At this point (around 4:30 pm), I was almost sure we'd missed the event.  Slowly viewers started leaving with the certainty that today's parade was not to be.  Soon the group we'd been sitting with gave up and meandered away.

 

We stayed with two other friends who'd sat down for a chat.  A friend tried to quiz the policia directing traffic at the crosswalk as to whether the parade had been cancelled.  He smiled, but didn't understand our English. 

 

At 5 p.m., it became comical.  People were walking around comparing notes trying to figure out if the parade had been held somewhere else.  Oh well.  We had no place else to be and people watching is always fun!

 

Anyone need an onion with their margarita???

 

 

True to form, the event planners fired another volley!  A truck with two large cartoon policia passed by on the opposite side of Medina.  They had us on what we called the gambler's schedule when I taught behavior modification.  Throw something out there at random moments to keep the participants waiting for their reward!

Excitement once again grew.  Finally, after two hours and ten minutes, the parade appeared!  It's what they call a milagro in Mexico!

The parade was on!  Good things come to those who wait!  Being in Mexico reminds us to persevere and outlast!  LOL 

Stay tuned for the Carnaval parade photos manana.  (Just remember what manana really means!  Wink wink.)

 

 

 

Serendipia

Sometimes you just happen to be in the right place at the right time!  Here are some serendipitous moments from our February/March trip.

By the way, I translated serendipity to Spanish and serendipia popped up.  Acquiring a new Spanish word never hurts!

We were at Bally Hoo for a late breakfast and noticed a small panga come ashore with their fresh catch.  The lobsters were plopped into an ice-filled cooler and within minutes the fishermen were inside Bally Hoo and the manager was picking the ones he wanted.  (And yes, this was in February during the legal lobster season.)

Another February morning I was out early and just happened to catch the sun peeking through the mermaid.

During the two hours when we were waiting for a Carnaval parade to begin, this guy was rockin' it with some ladies dancing in front of Mininos!

Another day after lunch, I caught these little boys on the boat.
 

One evening, I remembered I wanted a photo of the new Isla Mujeres sign on the malecon when it was lit.  People love to pose with the sign, and this happened while I was waiting my turn.  Perfect!

Serendipity = a fortunate happenstance, a pleasant surprise.  I'll take it!