Today we were supposed to have a very early start for the long journey to Roatan Island, but David has worked his magic and joined forces with the GAP Adventure group who are mirroring our journey to hire a bright yellow chicken bus of our very own, at no extra cost, thus permitting us an extra 2 whole hours of sleep in the morning. Sorely needed after last night’s high jinks in Twisted Tanya’s. I’m not a morning person at the best of times.. and this morning is definitely not the best of times. My hammock securely strapped to my backpack I stumble off down the cobbled hill after the others to the meet point. Along with our chicken bus we seem to have acquired Honduras’s very own Jensen Button who is intent on getting us to our destination in record time. The countryside flashes past us, lush and verdant. We fly through quaint villages, swerving around anyone or thing that blocks our way on the windy, narrow mountain roads, playing chicken with any oncoming traffic that may or may not be coming round the bend in front. It’s a hot day and the aircon is only semi-automatic. The driver controls the airflow with pressure on the accelerator and the user controls the air volume by opening or closing the window closest to them. I decide the only safe solution to any of these conundrums is to sleep.
It’s not long before we arrive in San Pedro, where we are, apparently, seeking out a tyre change. Having located a suitable merchant, we all discharge the bus seeking shade wherever we can in the scorching heat. There are tyres piled everywhere and at first it’s not clear which are new and which are old, but closer inspection gives a clue. Old tyres are generally completely bald, usually with ragged tears in them. Our bus needs 2 tyres (is that all?) changing. The company production line is ready. Four dirty guys to loosen the old wheels. Three dirty guys to jump on a lever to remove it from the wheel. Three dirty guys to fetch the new tyre. One dirty guy to paint the new tyre with adhesive. Two dirty guys to put it on the wheel. One dirty guy to pour petrol on it. One dirty guy to set it on fire. Two dirty guys to inflate it. Two dirty guys to put it on the bus. Dirty guys and lots of rubber. ...... enough said.
All too soon Jensen Button is back on his mission to get us to the port, and we’re swerving to a hand brake halt in front of the ferry. Now ferries are like mornings to me; I do my best to avoid them wherever possible. But I’m heartened to see this is a modern ferry with airport style boarding. I’m disheartened to see that they hand out anti nausea pills, like sweets, and little plastic sick bags to everyone. Seems this is the original Vomit Comet. I head for the outdoor seating, and as we exit the harbour and the sea gets more and more choppy, I close my eyes and picture white sand beaches with hammocks and Caipirinha cocktails..As we dock, its already dark and I look around at all the pale, green faces around me and I’m happy to have escaped for a while.
It’s not long before we arrive in San Pedro, where we are, apparently, seeking out a tyre change. Having located a suitable merchant, we all discharge the bus seeking shade wherever we can in the scorching heat. There are tyres piled everywhere and at first it’s not clear which are new and which are old, but closer inspection gives a clue. Old tyres are generally completely bald, usually with ragged tears in them. Our bus needs 2 tyres (is that all?) changing. The company production line is ready. Four dirty guys to loosen the old wheels. Three dirty guys to jump on a lever to remove it from the wheel. Three dirty guys to fetch the new tyre. One dirty guy to paint the new tyre with adhesive. Two dirty guys to put it on the wheel. One dirty guy to pour petrol on it. One dirty guy to set it on fire. Two dirty guys to inflate it. Two dirty guys to put it on the bus. Dirty guys and lots of rubber. ...... enough said.
All too soon Jensen Button is back on his mission to get us to the port, and we’re swerving to a hand brake halt in front of the ferry. Now ferries are like mornings to me; I do my best to avoid them wherever possible. But I’m heartened to see this is a modern ferry with airport style boarding. I’m disheartened to see that they hand out anti nausea pills, like sweets, and little plastic sick bags to everyone. Seems this is the original Vomit Comet. I head for the outdoor seating, and as we exit the harbour and the sea gets more and more choppy, I close my eyes and picture white sand beaches with hammocks and Caipirinha cocktails..As we dock, its already dark and I look around at all the pale, green faces around me and I’m happy to have escaped for a while.
On Roatan, David has worked his magic again, and we leave the GAP Adventure guys to find their hostel whilst we head to our upgrade hotel in West End, Posada Les Orquideas. As we pull into the potholed, dirt drive just out of town and look at the poky 2 storey building and construction work alongside, whilst waiting for the receptionist to materialise at the wooden hut called Reception, we think he must have made a mistake. But, as we are shown to our huge chalet rooms, with 2 Queen size beds, stripped oak floors and an enormous mirror to practise our salsa moves, not to mention the luxury bathroom, 2 massive fans AND aircon AND a verandah deck with hammock and outdoor seating, we are quick to appreciate his efforts. Wow. This is the life!
We head out along the dark dirt track back into town.. what more can a girl ask for. White sandy beaches? Tick. Sundowners bar for cocktails? Tick. Blue Marlin for the best Lionfish fish fingers. Tick. Live music? Tick. Argentinian Grill for the best steaks. Tick. Hammock to lie in and read my Kindle. Tick. Kindle? Aah, yes. If I can just persuade Caroline to put down Christian Grey.......
We head out along the dark dirt track back into town.. what more can a girl ask for. White sandy beaches? Tick. Sundowners bar for cocktails? Tick. Blue Marlin for the best Lionfish fish fingers. Tick. Live music? Tick. Argentinian Grill for the best steaks. Tick. Hammock to lie in and read my Kindle. Tick. Kindle? Aah, yes. If I can just persuade Caroline to put down Christian Grey.......
Next day, we’re back at Sundowners, and bump into some local characters, including Captn Barry, owner of Reefrider floating bar, who regales us with his stories of flamboyant parties and his own love story with plans to sell up and come to England (duh?). Wendy has already become a permanent fixture in Sundowners and is planning her retirement in Roatan as owner of Reefrider. We have a hard time persuading her to leave her new home and join us for the beach barbeque and karaoke night in the Blue Marlin before finishing off the evening on our verandah with a few bottles of local rum and coke, then falling asleep in the hammocks, big enough for two!
We have three nights and two full days to explore on Roatan. Next morning, others head out to swim with dolphins and dive with the sharks, but for once I’m feeling kinda chilled and happy just to hang out, taking an occasional dip in the water from our private jetty, and topping up my tan. We’re all a bit reluctant to leave this little piece of paradise and even more reluctant to get back on the Vomit Comet..
We have three nights and two full days to explore on Roatan. Next morning, others head out to swim with dolphins and dive with the sharks, but for once I’m feeling kinda chilled and happy just to hang out, taking an occasional dip in the water from our private jetty, and topping up my tan. We’re all a bit reluctant to leave this little piece of paradise and even more reluctant to get back on the Vomit Comet..
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