Que Tal on Roatan

Monday, November 30, 2009

December Paparazzi

Grandson Castle 2 months
Granddaughter Paia
on the bumpy road
ongoing renovations - Fosters
New cruiseship dock for Carnival cruiseline
West end now has a fancy Police station
behind Woodys
West End Voting station
No problems voting in West End
Pretty quiet for the Military
overseeing the elections
This boat sunk on Election day.  I thought it quite symbolic of the Zelaya presidency...but the flag still was waving

December update


Happy December all,


Well, Roatan with stood yet another quiet month.  Seems like the whole country was on standstill.  The Elections were just waiting out there on the horizon. The one thing that the waiting game offered up was the time it took Zelaya to totally make a fool of himself, lie and prove his true character.  He signed the accord that all had agreed upon to let the elections proceed and then immediately did not follow it.

Since this has been a long drawn out story and of course not everyone has followed it, I will just report (being on the ground and the sand) the events of the election of Nov 29.   And anyone that wants to catch up on a bit of History…how a little country stood up to the world and fought to remain free and Democratic when they were being pressured to put a corrupt, drug running Dictator back in office even though he was kicked out constitutionally and legally then go to   www.world4honduras.com/

The Election was legal, had a record breaking 60 percent turn out and the New President is National Party candidate Porfirio Lobo ( Pepe for short).  It does appear that the U.S. will recognize this election and lift the sanctions and it is also a set back for Venezuelan President Chavez’s strongman expansionist agenda.  Hopefully this will give hope to other Countries struggling to overcome oppressive Governments.

One of the reasons that the U.S. withdrew support is a two-page US intelligence report describing Zelaya's complicity in corruption and narcotrafficking. A US State department rep told a source of a blogger that I follow that this report was "frightening".
Fausta's Blog is a great source for Honduran Information.

Other than that we slowly see more visitors returning and the businesses that have weathered this year will come out stronger and have new creative marketing ideas that helped them survive. 
  
Some good rainy storms blew through but that sun is always quick to return.  The Island is beautiful and the Christmas lights are going up.  Lots to celebrate and be grateful for here.

Hope your Holidays will be bright and hope to see some of you that are off the rock, back on the Island next year.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Roatan Paparazzi

Halloween on West End Road

November update

Somehow this long never-ending summer has been so symbolic of Honduras in need of a change that just seems illusive. It’s been the summer of waiting and the term manana has never been more relevant.


The huge ray of happiness that lifted everyone’s spirit was the qualification for Honduras to advance to the World Cup playoffs. . Honduras beat El Salvador to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa! The streets in Tegus were blocked but this time not by protestors but by excited Honduran fans and the country came together. The President declared the 15th a national Holiday! Imagine that…shows you the importance of Soccer down here. Boy was that a needed little victory. To quote a blog author that I follow (www.lagringasblogicito.blogspot.com) “Crime will be reduced because everyone is so happy and because all the private ammunition of the country was used up tonight to shoot the guns in the air….It is like Mardi gras in Honduras.-“—


One thing that is moving ahead is the Black Pearl Golf course and it is good to see some building going on and people employed. They hire local town folks to go out and pick weeds from the new growing grass to avoid pesticides from running off into the ocean and hurting the reef…Very cool! The first 9 holes should be open in December.


The Cruise ship docks near completion (Carnival and Royal Caribbean) No one is cursing those Cruise ships from coming. Seems to be the only brave people in the world go on Cruise ships.


Looks like we will not see a hurricane this season since the water temperatures have cooled. After the Earthquake down here we did not need to sample anymore of Mother Nature.


Fosters on the Water in West End is being renovated. Maybe we will not see it fall into the water.


As always Halloween was a huge success with two nights of partying….This Island loves to dress up and the lack of Halloween stores makes for some interesting costumes. The little kids trick or treat down West End Road and the dive shops hand out the candy (or at least what is left of all the treats they don’t eat themselves). Very fun to see the cute kids.

Be sure to visit the Marine Parks updated web page…. www.roatanmarinepark.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

September in pictures

October bits and pieces


October Update from your Gal on the Sand in Roatan


     Well Toto we aren’t in Kansas any more!
Roatan right now is sooo quiet and it is like stepping into another reality. The Exiled President Mel Zelaya did somehow sneak back into the country and as of this update he is still hanging out in the Brazilian Embassy in Tegus. We all had the interesting experience of being under curfew for a night and most of one day…above is a picture of West End on Tuesday the 22nd at noon.  (yes we went snooping). Normally this street would be bustling but it was spooky how dead it was.  With the Political situation in Honduras dragging on everyone is doing their very best to stay up bear with it and try to make ends meet.  We get glimmers of hope that this problem will be resolved soon but it’s too soon to say.  With most people supporting the Democracy here we are running out of theories as to why other Countries can’t see the obvious truth (or don’t want to).  Just an interesting chapter in History going on here that I know has and is repeated all the time around the world.  But an eye opener for a lot of us folks from the U.S.

Never the less September brought great news.  For one that I am a Grandmother again….and there is a new Honduran on the Island.  Castle Andrew Storms, born Sept 13th. 7lbs 7 oz.  Darling!  Sweet! 
A very happy little camper.  He is pictured above as well as a photo with he and his buddy Dylan Etches.

  For another Roatan had a very successful and unusually rowdy (in a party kind of way) fish tournament.  With booths from the bars and restaurants lining the streets it was a good reminder as to how fun and lively this small beach town can be.  I was in La Ceiba for the birth of Castle but I returned to stories of record hangovers!  Some big fish did give up their lives and many of us all continue to hope for the year that catch and release is the name of the game.

    For loyal Reef Gliders dive shop divers, there will be new owners here in December and lets hope lots of divers with them.  John and Barb will help keep the memories swimming there.

    Faithful old Ellie the Sundowners mascot passed away at the end of Sept and everyone will miss here.  She was one good dog always there to greet thirsty beer drinkers….she will be missed.  She is pictured with my Granddaughter Paia.

   Michelle has expanded her WET SPOT bar to upstairs and the Football season has been launched there!  Great place!    

Three of the Foster boys were lost and then found at sea!  Nice to have a good ending!  2 and a half days in their boat floating 30 miles off Utila.  Next time they will take extra gas I hope.

The New Applebees and Supermarket are open at the Mall. I know, I know this is stupid news but hey…a tiny bit of progress is not unwanted here. 

Other than that the Island is Great!  No huge storms on the horizon but if there is one I am sure it will be reason to party.



Have a great October and spooky Halloween and be happy!

Check out my plugs for the Black Pearl Golf course and the Roatan Movie Trailer.




All for now,  Kristin

    

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

September's low down, juicy stuff and Horoscopes


Mega Plaza coming from French Harbor

The first Low down on Roatan

Hola from Roatan,

I thought some of you would like monthly updates as to the the goings on here. They will be short and hopefully include photos. Those on the Island...beware! Interesting Summer! Well other than a 7.3 Earthquake, a shaky economy, Lion Fish invasion and the ousting of Honduras's President Zolaya (which we all support) things here have been normal and chaotic. The Island is crazy quiet but determined and as usual it is off the charts gorgeous. The big change is the Mega Plaza Mall being built in French Harbor. A big New Grocery store, Wendy's, Carrion dept. store, Paradise Computer and many other stores are opening there. I hate to say that this is going to be convenient...but yes it will be! Eldon's opened a new and much more modern Grocery store behind his old one in French Harbor and it has been fabulous. Things we had to get on the mainland or have shipped in are now available here. Yeah! No the West End road is not paved. There was progress being made but the shutting down of Zolaya shut many other things down too. Well the road is quaint ...right? The new Blue Marlin Bar opened where The Purple Turtle used to be and it is a tab bit of an improvement...actually huge improvement. It is so cozy you could do some serious drinking there and not know where the time went. (I guess that is all of West End). The Purple Turtle moved down the street, The Dive opened where Roatan Ricks used to be, Reef Gliders is where Diddlys was and is FAB! Tita has her own place called either The Pink Seahorse, Bikini Bottom or just Titas...Not sure which she has chosen. It is by the volley ball nets at Sueno Del Mar. We have a new Noodle shack called The Noodle shack near Barefoot Charlies. Great! Reco is on sometimes, the planes leave sometimes and so does the ferry! All is well! Have a Great September!