Roatán Island off the coast of Honduras is a diving honeymooners dream. Surrounded by coral reef it looks to have over 100 dive sites, some with fairly humorous names like Bikini Bottom, Hole in the Wall and The Wife. In some places the reef wall goes down some 3000 feet.
The beaches of white sand, brilliant sunshine, aqua blue water, cocktails from groovy barmen and chihuahuas with pink collars called Melita who snuggle into the crook of your neck and don’t try to get down until dinner time all make this a gorgeous destination. The hotel with its balcony overlooking the water from your hammock is also a seriously motivating factor!
A small group of us went snorkeling, finding corals, deep sea walls, schools of bright fish and cuttlefish which are one of my new favourite animals to find in the water with their natty ability to do a wardrobe change in the flash of an eye. We putted past the dolphin enclosures where the intelligent mammals are trained to swim with tourists…I can’t quite work out if they are rescued dolphins or bred for it…but either way it didn’t sit well with me to see these wild creatures inside a cage. Gathering just the right amount of sunburn on the nice lily white high side of the back of the thighs, we headed back to the township.
Since we’re in the Caribbean it’s only fitting that the afternoon was filled with cocktail after cocktail, killer hamburgers with blue cheese and avocado, local beers and Melita the chihuahua taking up real estate in my arms while we watched the sun go down over the water. The mood turned sombre at 6pm when Monique and I made sand angels and we held a minute silence in time with the service back home for a friend. The sunset was the most vivid orange – fitting as her wishes included people wear orange or purple. RIP KB.
The rest of the night is a bit of a blur. Bartender Adam’s special rum punches packed a punch bigger than I was expecting and I was out for the count so stumbled home and broke into the room since I didn’t have the key. Not my best hour but the night watchman helped me so I figure it was ok. Hell, at least I still have all my teeth.
A sumptuous breakfast at Earth Mamas was welcome and required the next day, I needed my energy ahead of a kayak and snorkel trip near Man of War reef. Julie and I were the only people from Intrepid to go along with a couple from another resort so it was small and personal service from Barbara, the US ex-pat owner and her staff, Alan and Edgar. Paddling our bright pink ocean kayak like we had half an idea of what we were doing, we headed out through mangroves towards the open water. Donning snorkel and mask we explored the churning waters spotting several different fish, huge sea stars bigger than my outstretched hand and clumps of coral among sea grass beds. Getting into the kayak again was the expected laugh and a half. I got in twice, both times in the wrong direction and I say twice because Julie tipped me out the first time. At least it was fun for everyone. A vegetarian lunch with beer included was a lovely finishing touch.
In step with island life we filled the afternoon with poking through souvenir shops, walking next to the beach and throwing a birthday surprise for Fabiola, another Intrepid guide who is joining us for most of the rest of the trip. Cake and singing always brings people together.
A delicious dinner shared with friends followed by a nightcap on banana lounges on the sand rounded off a wonderful stay on Roatán, one of those little pockets of nirvana.