Finally in Roatan

My last posting was on my Mom’s 90^th birthday. Unfortunately, a week or so later she fell and broke

her hip. Surgery was performed and pins were inserted instead of a hip replacement. After a few days in Seven Rivers Hospital, she was transferred to Cypress Cove Assisted Living. Kerry has been there for her and keeping him busy. Gator Dave visits with chocolate, so I know she’s eating! She’s very anxious to get home to her cat, NLB. Get well soon Mom!

Our Valentine’s Day present to each other was finally leaving the marina in Belize City and heading

south. Spent a few days “cay hopping” and arrived in Placencia, Belize on Feb. 16^th. Now this place is very quaint, nice anchorage harbor, met several other yatistias at the happy hour tiki called Yolie’s. Everyone has a dinghy or they would never get off their boat! At 4:50 everyone is jumping into there dinghy and racing for a parking spot at the dock! The next evening we were invited to a pot luck where we met cruisers from Sarasota, Canada, Michigan, England, just to name a few places. There are stories flowing all the time, and certainly very interesting ones about all their travels around the world. Of course there are lots of conversations about boat parts and engine problems – however, you find out how to fix just about anything that could go wrong.

Knowing we had to move on, we left Monday the 20^th for Ranguana then Tom Owens Cay. Go to www.reefworldbelize.com for the full scoop. This area of the world is very popular for scuba diving and snorkeling because of the barrier reef. Many of the resorts are set up for these activities including lessons. Reef World is for those who don’t mind roughing it. But what a LOCATION!!

Roatan was our destination which is @ 75 miles from where we located at Lime Cay. Because it was @ 12 hour sail, we left at 3 p.m. so we could arrive in Utila (west of Roatan) the next morning. The sky was clear, but the winds kicked up to @ 15 – 20 knots (that’s a lot!) and waves that were 4 – 5 ft. so it was a very interesting trip as I had the 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. watch while the captain napped. (Yes, I took a Dramamine!) Thank GOD for auto pilot! Just makes it easier but NOT easy. Proceeded onto to West End, Roatan. Radioed for a mooring, and coordinates to get through the opening of the reef. Had a guy in a dinghy (of course) guide us thru the opening and to our mooring. The island is in front of us, the mountains of Honduras are to the southwest of us. Roatan is 28 miles long west to east and @ 1 – 2 miles wide. It’s hilly and lush – reminding me very much of Maui with the beautiful vegetation and flowers. Spanish is the primary language and there are many English speaking people here. Currency is Lempiras, value 19 lemps to $1 US. So a Salva Vida – Honduran beer - could cost you 60 lempiras. (3 bucks) No coins only paper.

Paddy and I went for a run/walk this morning along the beach. The path took us through a park and several resorts. Check out Las Rocas Resort. Beautiful places…………………it’s another kind of paradise.

Hope all is well with you. Thanks for checking in. Oh, who is the follower Sunshine?

The Captain repairing the headsail - getting ready to go up the mast.

Here's the Captain AGAIN..... caught a dorado - a/k/a Mahi Mahi - and it was great cooked on the grill.

View of West End, Roatan, Honduras.

Repairing the headsail.

Cucumber Beach Marina - We're STILL here!

Happy 90th birthday Manatee Mari!!!

 

 The Le Chat Beaute is tied up right next to this tiki! 

The famous Mayan calendar ending Dec. 23, 2012!  Want to buy one?  They're real cheap as they're only good for 11 months when the world ends!

 Jenensa, our favorite waitress delivering 2 Belikins, the beer of Belize.  

 This is the Ladies room, toilets inside and sinks outside under the foliage - it's very lush here.  Below is the stellae of the Sun God.  There is a museum on site here depicting the history of Belize, i.e. the "sleeping arrangements" (man on cot, woman in hammock), original sugar cane grinder over 150 years old, history of the logging of mahogany, and the Garafuna settlers.

 Spent the day in Belize City Thursday, for no other reason than to take a break from the marina.  Stayed in an old inn called the Great House Inn, across the street from the Raddison with all the amenities.  Above is a breadfruit tree which creates a nice canopy over the bar, which is where we were sitting of course!  Below is the lovely Smokey Mermaid Bar & Grill. 

The Captain is still in recovery mode as it has only been a week since his surgery.  He has a followup appt Monday - and hopefully we will be leaving the Marina to cruise south.

So who are we rooting for in the Super Bowl since Tebow didn't make it?  Miss all of you a bunch!