So, after I calmed down from wanting to beat the crap out of not one, but two Delta Airlines employees for some seriously silly stuff, I realized I was a little stressed about getting to Utila. Home for six weeks is a long time, and I was really hoping that all the online research and emails had gotten the major issues right.
Touch down in Roatan, landing over the crystal blue waters and sparkling white beaches of the Western Caribbean put me in the right mood. Immigration and customs was laughingly simple and, although once again (Reno and Atlanta) the 55lb box of books, food and protein shakes needed to be opened and given the cursory inspection, everything made it to Honduras in one piece.
I second Kerry’s comments about Island Air and Capt. Angelo. Top notch gent and cannot more highly recommend him for bouncing around the Bay Islands.
The ride though “town” and out to our slice of paradise was part grin, part chuckle. Kids, pedestrians, dogs, chickens, scooters and tuk-tuks (taxi scooters with bench seats) all share the 10 foot wide roadways. 12 inch deep gutters line either edge, so you have to make sure not to slide too far to the right edge. The pavement ended and we continued another ½ mile out dirt road on the south side of the island, the beach and water never more than 100’ away. Our suite is perfect, opens to the water, gets a great breeze all the time so far, and the owners are really laid back Cunucks that escaped the six months of winter to dive and play full time.
We did not waste any time. The bags were stashed and we walked back into town to explore and set up some diving. Have now done dives with two shops. Both good outfits and we got four solid dives in to re-familiarize ourselves with the process and the fun. Was playing tag with a five foot nurse shark for about 10 minutes today between chasing lobster and spotted eels. No whale sharks, yet.
Oh, for those of you that have seen the video for “If You Come to Utila” (Youtube Video (PG13)) we dove with Ginski today. He is the Aussie blonde in the dive scenes talking about all the different animals you will see. And yes, we have seen about half the Skidrow girls. Utila can be easy on the eyes.
So far my impressions are living up to our research and hopes. Above-average diving is close by (literally 100 yards off our beachfront), food is cheap (like homemade omelets with baguette for $3.50 a plate), our living situation couldn’t be much better, and we are getting color back in our skin. Working has been a bit of a struggle, but we are progressing through that too. We finally have local phones, so family can get in touch with us, but email still works best and quick.
Going to make a decision about which shop to start our Dive Master training with tomorrow. Leaning one way, but it is the shop at the other end of town from our house. So, literally a 20 minute bike ride away. Might be good exercise, and getting to ride through town twice a day will keep us up on the local events. But we better not forget something, or it will be a long ride back for Kerry.
Next post we will add some more pictures. Something nice and warm to make the New Englanders really jealous :P.