Angela and I have just surfaced after a morning of diving so if it sounds like I have water on the brain, well, I do. We landed in San Pedro Sula the 17th about 3 pm. We caught a bus at 6 and were in La Ceiba by 9:30pm. We met some travellers who recommended Hotel Paris which turned out to be great. We launched our stuff inside the room and were soon drinking beers poolside as the night air cloaked us in a wonderful 86F. We slept the sleep of the overtravelled and awoke at 8am for a harrowing taxi ride to the ferry terminal where we found out the boat did not leave until 4pm. So we hooked up with some other backpackers and taxiied back into town with an even crazier driver. We spent the day exploring La Ceiba, trying on hats, sweating, dodging cars and listening to extremely loud spanish music from speakers placed at random in the streets. I tried to buy a straw hat to keep the sun off but apparently my head size is unheard of here so that was a bust. We boarded the ferry ontime and were in Utila by 5pm. Steve and Michelle greeted us on the dock and took us straight to Tranquila Bar where we watched the sun set over the ocean and rehydrated with various beverages. We then booked in at Rubi's, a nice little spot with AC and a fridge. We ended the night at the Mango Inn eating grilled Red Snapper. Decadent and delicious.
The next morning I dove with Steve and Michelle at Utila Dive Center. The water was warm but it rained like crazy on the way out and has been overcast ever since. It was a good time though and it felt good to get back in the water. We spent the day exploring the island and eating which prepared us for dinner which was fresh Barracuda in Mango Sauce at Dave's Restaurant. The best I have ever eaten. I will look upon Barracuda with renewed respect and the rumor is that Dave is a retired master chef from San Francisco and he knows what to do with mango and spices, we shall return. The evening wound down at the most amazing open air bar\hotel\restaurant I have ever seen. The entire thing is crafted from recycled glass and must be seen to be believed. The night's entertainment was acoustical guitar and the vocals of a lonely Canadian. Again, excellent.
This morning I dragged Angela from her room at the crack of 7am and we headed out with Alton Dive Shop to see if Angela remembered all that she had been taught relating to scuba diving. She did and was off like a gold fish, leaving the dive master behind in a wake of sand and seaweed. We went down to 60 feet and watched Black Angelfish, Cow fish, and a Grouper the size of a Volvo. It was incredible. Our dive master was from Italy but his name was Daniel not Ricardo or Terramizu or something cool, but that was ok, he was nice, the boat was small, uncrowded, and piloted by Joe, a local boy. The locals speak a sort of pidgeon creole English that is much better than any English I've ever spoken. I am taking pains to learn the dialect and shall return to spread the word.
We are now staying at Freddy's which has a deck over the ocean with big hammocks and cable tv which is why we moved. Angela couldn't leave Judge Judy behind and without the Tyra Banks show I just get cranky.
I hope everyone reading this is well and happy and doesn't hate us for having the most fun in the world.
Ciao,
J and A
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