havecarryonwilltravel

D, C, Murray and I rent a car and go on an adventure around the island of Roatan. Once our tiny red bomb is delivered to the hotel, we pile in and head north to the end of the island. We want to go beach hopping and see how life is lived.

We have left early enough that we get through Coxen Hole before the four cruise ships spew out their multitudes. The road is in pretty good condition, concrete, curvy and rolly. The vegetation is thick with palm trees, fruit trees, a corn field and that tropical greenery that I do not know the names of. Very lush.

After about 2 hours, we reach Camp Bay, where the road is almost at its end, unfortunately, with high expectations of a swim, we find it too windy, seaweedy and choppy to swim. There is a small resort there and some houses. We agree that we would not want to stay way up there as it is too isolated.

We turn around and make our way back, driving through a Garifuna town. The Garifuna are a mix of West Africans, Central Africans and Island Caribbeans. The town is well kept and has some restaurants that look like perhaps the cruise ship tours make a stop there.

We have lunch at Cal’s Cantina, a recommendation from our dive master from Coconut Tree Divers. It is delicious and very well presented. The view is gorgeous and it is hard to leave and squish back into the red bomb.

We cruise through the edge of Coxen Hole, getting caught up in cruise ship madness and come out in West Bay.

We have had no luck finding beaches, but we know this one will be great as we have driven past it on the water side going to and from dive sites. We spend an hour or so swimming, sunning and people watching.

As I mentioned, the roads here are poured concrete. We encounter road construction on our route back into West End and it takes us a very long time to traverse a few kilometres due to one lane of road handling two directions. I think it takes a long time to construct a road as we see only one concrete truck at a time ready to pour.

Our tour of the island gives us an appreciation of what life is like here on Roatan. Not sure I would live here, but would visit again.

First impression of Roatan is a drive through Coxsenhole in a taxi. Kind of sparsely built place although we may not have driven through the downtown area. The traffic was extremely congested for a small place. The roads were not built for the volume of vehicles that now are on the road.

It is quite a distance to Westend. The road is lined with buildings, or at least some indication of humanity, the entire way. Traffic is less congested but the driving habits of the road users are a little lax. It seems the lines on the road and the signs are suggestions one might follow if inclined. The No Parking Yellow curbs all along the main street are also only a suggestion.

Spanish is the official language here but everyone speaks English. I try to remember to speak what Spanish I can but when every one talks to me in English it is hard. It is amazing how much comes back even though my vocabulary is very limited.

Cruise ships land here most days. When we come back from our dives at about noon the streets are busy. To the point of being obnoxious. It is not just the number of people, it is the fact they travel in packs. They load and unload the boats en mass, so many they form a line up. The restaurants can be crowded. One we were at was completely reserved and we had to sweet talk the folks letting us stay for lunch.

Sunday is the locals day off. The town is busy, the beaches are busy, the bars are busy and the street foodish restaurants are busy. The ‘no parking’ curbs are lined with cars and everybody is squealing.

The main composition of downtown is restaurants. About 1/3 of the commercial space on street that line the water is occupied by restaurants. Street food, to fancy tourist type establishments. We have worked both ends of the spectrum and the food is so far very good and we are under budget. The next 1/3 of the businesses are dive shops. Roatan is a well known dive destination and the shops all seem to be busy. When we are out on the boat and look down the edge of the reef there are boats at almost all of the dive sites.

The streets are not strewn with garbage. The vacant lots are not inundated with trash. I don’t know if they have street cleaners or people are just aware. There are lots of trash cans so that helps for sure. Someone has figured it out and it has filtered through the population.

The bar scene seems to hopping. By the time we head home from dinner the music is pounding out of the bars and clubs. The streets are crowded with walkers and cars. The noise level is definitely ramped. I don’t know how late it goes but I am glad our hotel is off the beaten track and not near the evening hub bub. The noise shuts down at our local bar at about 9 and that suits us very well.

The people here are super. Very friendly, polite, almost to the point of shy. There was fellow walking beside his two kids while they rode their bikes. I asked him where his bike was, that question was enough for him to stop, shake my hand and have a three or four minute conversation. Every person to whom I say hola to answers with a smile.

This place, Westend, is a comfortable town. If I come back to Roatan it will be because I like the place.