Roatan Blog
Saturday 6/8
Woke up at 3:45 (typical) in anticipation of our flight to Roatan. We had booked Delta first class with a departure at 8:00 am. We looked forward to our first time in first class. Due to rain in Atlanta, our flight out of Knoxville was delayed and we were going to miss the Atlanta to Roatan flight. So, I called before we left to find another flight. Delta only has 2 flights per week, Friday and Saturday. The agent booked us on a Sunday United. An early Sunday morning from Atlanta to Houston then to Roatan. We thought we’d maybe go to Joey D’s for dinner during our overnight in Atlanta.
I took at 10mg oxy 30 minutes before take-off. 30 minutes before landing I became extremely lightheaded and even my vision was temporarily washed out. Weird! By the time we landed I felt a little better. Kathy told me she also felt dizzy. We both had an alcohol drink- not sure if it was drink, malaria medicine or what. When we arrived in Atlanta around 10:15, the airport was the busiest, overcrowded and chaotic we had ever witnessed. We saw that the original Roatan flight was delayed to 1:45. So we un-booked the United flight and rebooked on Delta (it took an hour at customer service). The flight was then delayed until 2:35. So we had lunch then headed to the gate and found the time was I cancelled. Then after another 2 hours in line at customer service, we had our 4th set of tickets. We decided to fly Saturday night to Houston so we wouldn’t be trapped in Atlanta for another day due to predicted bad weather for the next few hours. No meal on plane, but free beer and cheese-its. Got into few and Houston around 8:00, and found our bags didn’t make it on the plane. Bag service Saturday man couldn’t locate the bags in the computer system. We decided to have the bags routed to the Sunday United flight. Stayed at Doubletree for $100, dinner was good with generous portions - fajitas for me and salad/beer for Kathy around $40.
Woke up and found out that United #1424 (originally scheduled for 9:45) was delayed due to maintenance (ugh). Got to G.B. airport at 8:00 pm, checked in and found we were booked on business class (1st), Yahoo!
Kathy checked on our bags and delta said they were on a 11:00 am flight from Atlanta to Roatan.
Total steps 8216.
Monday 6/10
Woke up at 5am. Clear sky, beautiful, quiet morning. The frig was finally starting to catch up to the hot drinks put in on Saturday, plus all our groceries. Turned the air conditioner off, opened the doors, then Kathy made turn it back on. Went out for the sunrise at 5:13 over the other side of Mangrove Bight. Walked up to the pool and noticed the pool skimmer was out and since we’re going to build a house with a pool, I thought I’d see how long it takes. 20 minutes, even though Kathy has said it will be her responsibility, I’m sure I’ll be stuck doing the pool cleaning and chemicals. 6:00 and I think I’ll walk down to town for a coffee. Walked on our peninsula to Seagrape (boring) then to Lands End Resort (nice - says it has a casino, a few tourists up, breakfast bar for guest). Then walked to Half Moon Bay resort. There were 3 ladies and a man starting a yoga session that invited me to join, but I declined due to my inflexibility. Looks like a good place to enter the bay for snorkeling. Walked thru town and stopped for a $2.50 + $.50 tip coffee at Crazy Bean (good). Very few tourists out, just locals headed for work. Walked down to Eagle Ray’s, then headed back, stopping for a $2 refill. Total steps 5380. Got back around 7:00 and Kathy was up (miracle). We had breakfast with the milk not quite cold yet. Cereal I bought was cardboard, but lots of fiber. Had an apple and yogurt. Took a while to get ready to go snorkeling. Kathy took a Dramamine pill, worried about seasickness. Walked back to town to the Roatan Marine Park NGO to purchase wrist bands at $10 each for the year (instead of $3 per day). Also rented flippers at $30/week. On way to HMB resort, stopped and bought a diver floaty $15. Walked to HMB resort and paid $5 to leave my boots and our bag. The water in the bay was calm (yay). Headed snorkeling to the right along west side out toward the ocean. As usual, I had a hard time initially with water in the mask, fogged mask and stinging eyes. We saw lots of pretty fish and the coral was 6 of 10. Swam across mouth of bay, dodging boats speeding into the bay. Swam on the east side of HMB back to the beach. Started having cramps in both calves but didn’t last long. Stopped at Half Moon Bay beachside BBQ stand (Keith Moon) and had barbecue chicken (good), beans (good), rice (ok until I put on sauce - great) and fried plantains (good). Walked around the bay, then snorkeled to the glass bottom boat dock and finally back to HMB resort. We got 1 beer, 2 cold waters and a Monkey LaLa drink (national drink - Kailua, Bailey’s, vodka and coconut cream - excellent). We got back to the condo around 2pm, had a swim with a beer and rum punch, then came inside to relax. As I was typing this I wondered where Kathy was and I found her naked napping at 3pm!
3:45 and I can’t keep my eyes open, I better take a nap. Woke up at 4:45 from my rare nap. Read my kindle for a while then started supper. Rice, which I forgot about and burned. Tomatoes, avocados and my Kroger dipping oil. Grilled tenderloin steak that cooked well but was a little tough. Watched Skyscraper movie, okay, but the tv in Roatan is very grainy and the sound is bad in the concrete condo. In bed at 8:10 and asleep around 9:00, wow.
Total steps with phone 5380, but walked to Half Moon Bay resort and around bay, so +2000.
Tuesday 6/11
Woke at 3am for an hour, then fell asleep until 5:15. Partly cloudy with patches of blue. Quiet except a dove in the trees outside looking for a mate. If I were on naked and afraid, I would kill and eat that bird, yum. Had cardboard cereal with warm milk. Frig not working well, and ice maker frozen. Kathy got up at 7:30. 9am check electrical meter at 85344 $31 for 2 days (a/c plus constantly running frig).
Tony came by at 8:40 with Noel to meet about snorkeling. Paid $50 upfront so he could buy gas. At 9:00 we headed out from our dock to Blue Channel dive spot. Water was zero to 50’ with coral and fish everywhere. We spent about an hour snorkeling, then move back toward Half Moon Bay for a deep-water snorkel. Kathy stayed in the boat. My mask was leaking on left side just enough to bother. No cramps today. Back to condo at 11:15 where we paid $100 upfront for 2 more days of snorkeling. Caroline was in the condo trying to defrost the coils on the frig. We talked for a while, then left around 12:30 for lunch at same Half Moon Bay beach shack as Monday. Kathy had fried barracuda (excellent) and I had pork (over cooked and dried out). Walked down to Mares to see if they could fix my leaking mask, no. $20 for new okay mask, so I’ll try my leaky mask for one more day. Back at the condo at 2:15 for some serious reading. I decided to test the coldness of the frig by drinking a beer every 30 minutes. So far, not cold enough. Second beer also not cold enough. Noticed Kathy was missing, then found her naked napping for second day. Third beer not cold enough.
Caroline stopped to replace the freezer seal. Hopefully this finally works.
We went to Lily Pond for dinner just down the road. It opens at 6pm nightly. Owned by a quirky Englishman, it was a building with yearly addons, six-foot ceilings in places, a plunge pool in the middle, a projector on sheet of music videos. We met a 50’s couple from Orange Co. LA who were there dining without their 15-year-old. The limited menu looked old and rarely changed. We had fresh catch of the day (sea bass - excellent), steamed vegetables (ok), Kathy had Tostones (ok), and I had mashed garlic potatoes (runny). The plates were $24. With 2 glasses of wine and 1 beer, total came to $42 (expensive alcohol).
We got back to condo around 7:30 and were in the bed by 8:00. Vacationing is tiring.
Total steps with phone 4670.
Wednesday 6/12
Woke up at 3am for an hour and finally got up at 5am. Woke up with a cramp in my left calf, better drink a lot of liquid today. Watched sunrise at 5:20 behind a few clouds, but days looks clear with only a slight breeze. Read my book until Kathy gets up. Had an apple, sprite and oatmeal for breakfast. Kathy woke at 7 had breakfast then had a 30-minute conversation with her mother. Tony showed up at 9 and we headed to Gibson’s bight at deep dive sight with nice coral sand fish. We then went to Mangrove bight and Hole-n-the-wall. Water was shallow with lots of coral and fish. Saw divers going thru the hole (really a grown over canyon). Mask still leaking. At 10:15 we were tired so Tony took us to Antony’s Key to drive by the dolphin pens. Saw a stingray. Back at condo at 11:15 we got in the pool and had beer, rum, pretzels and humus. Showered and walked into town to find a new mask at 12:30.
Walked all the way to end of beach road at Ronny’s Barefoot resort. It was extremely hot so turned around and headed back. Stopped for our first balealas at Calelu - cheese and bean $1 (good) and chicken, cheese and avocado $1.75 (excellent) and water $1.25 plus $1 tip. Purchased a Cressi snorkel mask. Walked back to condo and laid down to read and nap while Kathy sat outside for a while. The power went out at 4:15 and didn’t come on until 6:05. More time to read. We walked to Pazzo Italian restaurant, but they had a special party booked. We walked along the beach road and ended up at Cannibal Cafe. Kathy had the 1/2 fish quesadilla (excellent) and I had 3 lion fish tacos (excellent) plus a beer and a lemonade for $20 plus tip. Back to condo and in bed by 8pm, we’re so old.
Total steps with phone 8072.
Thursday 6/13
Woke at 4am. Heard footsteps from unit about, must have neighbors. Read my book awhile. Had an apple, sprite, 2 bowls of oatmeal and first coffee at the condo (way too strong). Kathy got up at 6:30 and had peanut butter and crackers. We started getting ready to snorkel at 7am. Tony showed up at 7:35 and we left at 7:45. We down past blue channel to a place Tony called “turtle alley”, a strip of sand in 40-50 of water. Saw a stingray immediately, the just the normal coral and fish. There were no boats when we started, but 4 when got out at 9:45. Got in the boat then Tony saw a turtle, I jumped in but couldn’t find it. New mask didn’t leak, but I had a hard time with the mask fogging. Got back to the condo at 10. Got in the pool with rum and pretzels for an hour. Showered and laid around. At 12:15, I headed into town to get lunch a Calelu. Purchased a fish baleadas (excellent) and a chicken with avocado (Kathy sleeping). Back at 1pm, exhausted and hot. Note - don’t drink and walk in heat. Laid around until Kathy got up at 4pm. We started watching Netflix movie “l am Mother”, good. Went to Pazzo for dinner at 6pm. We had Caprese and Bruschetta appetizers. Kathy had Chicken al Run (excellent) and I had special Tuna (good, but a little tough). Dinner was $51 + $9 tip. Finished watching movie, ending not what I expected, but okay.in bed at 8:15, still old.
Total steps 5069.
Friday 6/14
Woke up at 4:45. Put toothpaste in my mask to hopefully stop the fogging. Had cereal for breakfast while reading. Beautiful sunrise and day outside. Started copying GoPro files to laptop, took 1 hour. Can’t wait to review. Kathy woke and we got ready for the cleaning lady today and for our snorkeling. Meter reading was 85440 = $69 for 4 days.
Tony showed up at 7:30 and we headed to Antony’s Key to snorkel and to feed fish at 7:45. Tony dropped bread crumbs and then there were 1000s of fish around the boat. There were a dozen groupers with the largest around 80 pounds. The fish in that area are regularly fed, so they tend to stick around. When we got there at 8 there was no one else, but by 9 there were 5 other boats. We moved a half mile down the coast to Melissa’s Reef, hallower water and saw many smaller fish. We got back to the condo and started laundry. Had 2 rum drinks with cheese and crackers for. The maid (Noel’s wife) came by to clean the condo. Read my book until she left. At 3:30 we left to get a new buckle for my rented flipper and the to go to C Level cafe for a 4 pm pizza. Walked to Roatan Marine Park office to get a replacement strap for my flipper. Then had a hard time finding C Level, but finally found it. We ordered beer and Fresca and a 16” pizza, 1/2 sausage and extra cheese and other 1/2 black olives, zucchini, green peppers and mushrooms. The pizza was thin crust and very excellent. Had another beer and Fresca with total $22 + tip. Excellent choice, we’ll take Berta and Jack back next week. Stopped for $4 Monkey LaLa at Argentinian just before sunset. Getting really old, in the bed at 6:30 and asleep by 7:30.
Total steps 4681.
Saturday 6/15
Woke up at 2:30, my island 7 hours. Reading in bed, maybe I’ll fall back to sleep. Fell asleep around 3:15, then woke up at 5:00. Breezy morning and more clouds than usual. No snorkeling with Tony today. Berta and Jack get in around 1:20 pm, so hopefully it will be a quiet morning, but Kathy might change that. Had a pear (delicious), a bowl of Fiber One with my Mueslix (cardboard, not yum), but filling. Made coffee for 3rd time, 2 coffee cups of water, 3 heaping spoons of coffee, pretty good. Tomorrow I’ll try 2 spoons per cup. Continue to read. Finished Brad Thor’s Scot Harvath books 9-12 (excellent spy) Brad Parks Eyes of the Innocence (okay news reporter), working on Terrence McCauley’s James Hicks book 3 (excellent spy). Kathy up at 7:15, says she was going to sleep in today, time 9ish in Tennessee, so almost sleeping in. Honduran food caught up to me this morning, 4 trips to the toilet, vs 3 times each for the last 3 days. Read book all morning until Kathy checked at noon AA flight was early 1:00 instead of 1:20. Got to airport at 1 and waited 1 hour for them to get thru customs and immigration. Stopped at Eldon’s and spent 3313.87 HL. Back at condo at 3:00. Berta was coughing a lot from overwork and exhaustion, Went to Half Moon Bay to snorkel with Jack. Kathy and Berta stayed at the bar. I forgot my dive boots, so my wonderful wife went back to get them. Jack went in by himself, second time snorkeling since he was 8. Did well. Once I had my boots, I joined jack. Within 15 minutes jack found a turtle, I got GoPro video. We swam around the east side of the bay to just around the point. We then headed back to iSoar sailboat. Jack did several swings. He said it was hard to climb on and really hard to hold on to the rope. I don’t see iSoar in my future.
Came back to condo to shower and get ready for dinner and left at 6pm. Went to Cannibal Cafe again. Berta had chicken fajitas (excellent), Jack had chicken grande taco (excellent), Kathy had chicken quesadillas (excellent) and I had fish grande taco (excellent). I had a beer and Jack had his first beer Barena (made faces and didn’t finish). When we started back at 7:30 the power was out in our area. It came back on at 8:45, but everyone was already in bed.
Total steps 4348
Sunday 6/16
Woke at 2am for a poo, then finally at 4:30. Berta is still coughing a lot. I feel bad for her to feel this sick while on vacation. I had a pear and cereal for breakfast. Started a pot of coffee, but didn’t assemble correctly, so it didn’t brew. Berta got up at 6 and Kathy shortly after and finally woke up the kid at 6:30.
Tony showed up at 8 and we headed down the island. Deeper water, but I saw a turtle. We then went to black rock near end of the island. Lots of fish and saw 3 squid. Paid another $100 for 2 more snorkel trips. Tony kept trying to talk Kathy into a whole day out with fishing $600 then $450 then $300 for half day. Got back around 10:30, did a dip in the pool, snacks and beer and rum drink. Waiting for everybody to go to lunch. This is the first 24 hours and I think I’ll try to stop directing everyone. Went to lunch at Keith Woods Half Moon Bay beach shack. Ordered 3 whole fish meals and 1 chicken meal at $35. Not as good as $5 meals. Walked down to stores so Jack could shop. Stopped to get a pizza for the boy, while Berta and I walked back to read/nap. Read my book all afternoon and evening while Kathy and Jack watched Netflix movie “Fences” with Denzel Washington. Had half chocolate chip cookie, coconut cookie, a plum and a piece of chocolate for dinner.
Total steps 4312
Monday 6/17
Woke first at 3am read for 15 minutes then snoozed. Woke again at 4:45. Berta was looking for towel so she could shower. I restarted the coffee pot from Sunday and finally got it to work with the correct ratio 1-pint water, 2 heaping spoons of coffee (yum). Had an apple and a plum, the oatmeal for breakfast.
Woke the boy up at 6:30. Kathy and Berta decided to stay and rest. Headed out with Michael and Charlie to Anthony’s Key with bread for the fish. A dive boat beat us to the best spot, but still saw lots of fish. Around 8:15 we went around the dolphin pens. Saw a dolphin outside the pens following a boat. Went to Hole in the Wall. Better conditions. Jack dove down toward the Hole. Saw a porcupine fish (puffer) and a needle fish. Got back around 9:30. Downloaded and organized the photos and videos by date and started a spreadsheet of files. Walked to Half Moon Bay then took $4 taxi to Calelu’s for baleadas. Kathy had chicken (didn’t like due to wrong ingredients), Berta had chicken (good), Alan chicken (excellent) and Jack chicken tacos (excellent). Also bought 8 large flour tortillas, had a hard time with waiter understanding. Took a $4 taxi back home. Finished documenting today’s GoPro. Kathy and Jack went to Half Moon Bay at 3:30 to swim, snorkel and iSoar swing.
Berta napped, I read my book. They returned at 4:30. Must be the spicy food. Tonight, we’re having grilled tenderloin (good for island), rice (excellent) and A-K Caprese (excellent). Worked on yesterday’s video organization while watching OWN shows (boring). 5 poop day with 2 explosives. Went to bed at 8:30 and asleep around 9:30.
Total steps 1891
Tuesday 6/18
Woke up at 2 for ritual 1st poop, back to sleep without reading. Woke up at 4:30. Looks like a pretty day with few clouds. Don’t feel good, diarrhea and dizziness, so I got back in bed. Berta got up and made bacon and eggs. I had 2 Fresca and soda crackers. At 10:35 I’ve had diarrhea 5 times. Kathy went to the pharmacy to get me Pepto-Bismal. My first ever Montezuma’s Revenge. Not fun. Reading, napping and popping. Everyone else in the pool. Number six is only a little liquid, yay, maybe done. Not...
Who went snorkeling????
Had a cup of cold rice at noon, then a large slice of bread at 4. Drank more Fresca and 4 jugs of water. Slight fever. Jack and Kathy went to Tacos Tuesday at Off the Hook (2 for $1 very good). Kathy asleep at 9, me at 10.
Total steps 220.
Wednesday 6/19
Woke up at 4:20 to pee and minuscule liquid poop (not over yet). Exhausted and hurting still. I ate a plum. Jack got up at 6:30 and Kathy shortly after. They waited for Antonio to take them snorkeling. They returned at 9:45 with Berta smiling that she had fun snorkeling for a little while. They left at 10 to go to Half Moon Bay. I had a piece of bread and 2 jugs of water. They got back around noon. Jack saw an eel this morning and probably the same turtle later. Read my kindle all day. Kathy made be a tenderloin burrito (excellent) for dinner. Semi solid poop at 8, yay.
Total steps 0. Hardly out of bed or off couch and didn’t carry phone.
Thursday 6/20
2 days left. Woke at 12:40 to go to bathroom. Read a while. Woke at 2, 3, 4 and finally 6, ouch. Kathy and Berta got up at 7:30. Kathy had cereal and Berta made oatmeal. They left at 9 wait Antonio for snorkeling. Had a coke and 2 coconut candy bars. They came back at 11, but the power went out. Worked on GoPro videos. Power came back on at 1:20. Waiting for Wi-Fi so I can download another kindle. Had a 1.75l beer and then a rum, punch and coke. Finally feeling good. Worked on GoPro videos until 4. Took a shower and then at 4:40 we walked to Half Moon Bay to get a taxi (400HL) to Meridian to have dinner at Kismet. Arrived to empty restaurant at 5 so we got an ocean front table for sunset. Kathy has Rum, pineapple, punch drink, Berta had strawberry daiquiri on rocks, Jack had frozen strawberry daiquiri and I had Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic or 2. We had coconut shrimp (excellent) and chicken nachos (good) for appetizers. Jack made friends with the bar calico cat. For dinner Kathy had peanut Thai fish (excellent), Berta had linguini Alfredo, Jack had linguini marinara and I had linguini Alfredo with seafood (excellent). Restaurant bill was 3146 HL. Saw only one owner with 2 dogs at Meridian. Guard called taxi and he talked whole way back, in broken English. We stopped at pharmacy and bought Trimetosa syrup (nasty flavor) for Berta. Back at 7:30. Watched end of “London Falling” movie. Stayed up and talked to the boy until 10:30. Learned a lot about him and in parted much sage advice. Wi-Fi came back on and finally got to download 2 books.
Total steps 2389
Friday 6/21
Woke up at 2 and took Advil. The up at 5:45 to the sound of thunder. Had a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee. Had 2 tiny poops this morning, waiting for blowout. Berta woke up and said she felt better, maybe due to the nasty medicine. Berta made eggs with leftover bacon and tenderloin. Left at 9 for last snorkel trip with Antonio and Charlie. Kathy didn’t go this trip. We went to Blue Channel. Same as first time, excellent. Saw lots of coral and fish. My GoPro showed me it was full, so I had to get on the boat to delete some of the files, before I could shoot anymore. Berta was having a hard time, so i pulled here over to at least see the anemones. Got back at 11 and hugged Antonio goodbye with lots of thank you. Downloaded the videos and deleted more old videos. We walked to Half Moon Bay resort at noon. I ordered fish sandwich, Jack and Berta ordered chicken sandwiches. Kathy went in swimming while Jack and Berta went looking for the turtle. Berta didn’t get far before she had to come back. Jack found the turtle a few minutes later. Lunch came and my sandwich was excellent. Finished a couple of beers and then I went snorkeling alone. Used GoPro to video lots of nice fish and coral. Found the turtle so got 5 minutes and it eating before it swam away. Then I swam to the boat docks in shallow water. Saw lots of fish a nice sea anemone, many small barracuda, 1 medium (24”) and 1 large (40”). Jack joined me to see the barracuda. Went then swam to the iSoar boat. It was hard with mask and flippers. When I got there is was really hard to get my fat old ass up on the boat. I rocked the boat so jack could swing 3-4 times. Finally, I was tired, so I dove off the boat and swam to shore exhausted. Came back to the condo around 3 and took a shower. Jack laid down and around 5 we headed into town to return the rented flippers. Jack stayed to nap. The shop was closed, but she opened it for us. She gave me back my $40 deposit, I had forgotten, so I gave $20 as a donation. Berta bought a turtle shirt for Jack. We had dinner at Oleaje Tapas. Food was okay. Kathy and Berta had Gazpacho Andalusia (excellent) and a small salad. I had Squid a la Gallegos (potatoes excellent, squid bigger pieces too chewy, small tentacles a little crunchy). Kathy had a beer, while Berta and I had a few Pina Colada (good and not too sweet). Stopped at a fruit stand and jerk cheated us out of 10HL. Got in bed at 8, had to poop at 9 and finally fell asleep around 11.
Total steps 2389.
Saturday 6/22
Last morning in semi paradise. Up at 5:15 to poop. Yay, I hopefully won’t have to poop on the plain. Berta up at 6 coughing (sad to be sick all week). Had a banana and coffee then pooped again at 7:30. Went Cafe Escondido for breakfast. Excellent. I had express and fruit smoothie, Kathy had fresh pineapple juice, B/J had orange juice I had 4 eggs, bacon and French toast. Jack had 2 eggs bacon and French toast. Kathy had 3 scrambled eggs with tomatoes and cheese. Berta had (forgot). Bill was $41+tip. Stopped at Roatan Chocolate to buy chocolate bars. I had iced mocha (excellent). Rude drunk local harangued me for not looking in his shop. Back at 9:30 to start packing after 3rd poop. 2 hours to pack and relax. Noel picked us up just after noon with another taxi so we’d all fit. Got to the airline, checked, thru immigration and customs pretty quickly. Waited around 30 minutes then walked in blazing heat boarded at 12:30. Flight delayed until 2:15, but air conditioning worked great so no problem, except preflight drink not available.
Sunday 6/23
Up around 6am. Laid watching TV and reading all day trying to recover.