Mars: Tabyana Beach, Honduras

We docked at Roatan – An island off the coast of Honduras. I love it here already because the tropical air is heavy with humidity and that special feeling you get when you are in a place for the first time. Anyway, that is how I was feeling.

The skies were threatening a storm and I felt great. The rain would be warm if it came along. Rain would not keep this girl from the beach and sweet & warm, blue Caribbean sea. The bus had to take us all the way to the other side of the island, where Tabyana Beach was located. Probably an hour bus ride, both to and from. In fact, all of our excursions involved a long bus ride, now that I think of it. The cruise line loaned us beach towels that could cover the uncomfortable plastic loungers along the shoreline. There were many loungers & people. It was a private beach, but 2 cruise ships worth of people crowded things a bit.

I was so jazzed about being in the Caribbean sea again. My excitement dimmed as soon as my toes hit the water. It Was Cold! COLD! I pouted and whined. I’m not proud of this, but I was a huge baby that things were not perfect. So, I sunned myself and stayed out of the water. Sue did the same. The men braved the cold and got in up to their shoulders, staying there and yakking.

As tropical islands tend to do, it became VERY HOT, changing my resolve. Sue and I asked our hubbies to join us into the water. It was agonizing to wade in, and I decided that once I got up to my waist in the water, I would drop the rest of me under. Yikes! It was still a shock, but I made it. Sue did not get her hair wet, so she looked great on the bus ride home. Mine was completely trashed, of course. Did I care?

Absolutely not.

These photos do not show how brilliant the sun was shinning. Or how the background island music sometimes would play waaay too loud.

I toyed with the idea of adding audio to these posts, but that would be so awkward to drag my laptop with me on our adventures, especially when it was tough enough to keep track of my hat, sunglasses, and water bottle.

Let me explain how these “Shore Excursions” work. A couple months before your sailing date, you login to your online account with Viking. And you can look through every tour offered for each stop. Unfortunately, some of the descriptions of these tours are lacking some important details. For example, lengthy bus rides were the way to get to the tour sites. Often a 3 or 4 hour adventure is really only 45 minutes to an hour, and the rest of the time is on a bus.

TTFN – stay tuned

This Was NOT in the Brochure!

Live from Cancun, Mexico..

Exclusive footage from the Sun Palace…

Each day is more of the same, except stronger wind and harder rain. Apparently, this is the “adventure” part of our trip. We always experience something special when we travel.

Each morning hotel staff is on the beach putting up the red flags that mean “Danger – no swimming”. Like you could ‘swim’ in those big shore pounding waves. People will still try to wave jump or swim anyway, but the ocean wins.

No one will be coming home with a tan.

Two out of four restaurants closed because they have outdoor seating. The one we really wanted to go to on our anniversary is one of them.

No moonlit anniversary dinner, walks (or sex) on the beach. We know there is a full moon up there, but you can’t see it.

We have an HD TV in our suite, but it speaks Spanish.

Our light switches all work, however, they do not correspond with the location of the light. We have made this a game. Our home has the same kind of lighting.

The smallest can they make of Red Bull costs $5.oo. Unfortunately, it is the only sugar-free soda that isn’t Coke or Pepsi. The 8 ounce can will not even spoil a nap.

Tonight the entertainment is Karaoke. It could be fun to watch. Or not.

The jacuzzi in our suite is huge. We are afraid to use it because the air is already so damp.

Every morning at 6:30am the suite next door gets room service and they move furniture for 10-minutes. Sometimes they move furniture between 10:00pm and midnight. There is a gym around the corner we wish they would use instead.

Sometimes we hear toddlers stomping up and down the hallway. Then we remember there is no one here under 19. We are still trying to figure out what is making that noise.

Regardless, I doubt we have anybody’s sympathy back home.

We are making the most of it. At least the air is fresh and not smoky.

The air is heavy, damp, and warm here. Or there is something in the bottled water that makes you drowsy.  Yesterday, we took three naps. Today one for me and two for hubby (so far).

We have met some nice people from the UK and Canada.

Plenty of lounges to relax in. Sometimes we read. Sometimes I write while hubby naps or drinks margaritas.

The staff treats us like royalty.

I have not had to cook for four days. Or clean. 🙂

We are learning Spanish. When I’m asked for our room number I say “doscientas catorce”, like I’m bilingual or something. The locals, of course are on to me, but seem pleased that I’m trying. Or they are laughing at me. How would you tell the difference?

¡Hasta la vista!  Baby.