More New Restaurants: French Harbor Yacht Club and Port Side, Flower's Bay Roatan

Another Beautiful Sunset

The first place I want to share is Roatan's Yacht Club, (French Harbor Yacht Club) an historic spot on Roatan, located on Roatan's south shore and at the entrance to the town of French Harbor.

Yacht Club Bar

 I was fortunate to be able to stop by the other day and meet the new owner and operator Minor and his father Lisandro Oreillana. I know that in 1997, the Roatan Yacht Club, French Harbor Yacht Club, (pick the name) was the premier spot on Roatan to stay. It had a pool, nice, comfortable rooms and a PHONE!!!! To let this piece of history disappear or fade away would be to loose an important part of Roatan. Thank you to Minor and his father. Take the time to visit this spot in French Harbor; stop for lunch or dinner ...you will not be disappointed! Many people who are now established members of Roatan's recent founders, spent their first days here. To see it is to see Roatan's history...not to be missed. And the food is good, the spot delightful....support this effort to preserve something important on Roatan.

French Harbor

Yacht Club Decor

French Harbor from the Yacht Club

The second new spot visit is Port Side in Flower's Bay. What a delightful new discovery! Port Side is located in an old home that is built on Pensacola Rock in Flowers Bay.

Pensacola Rock

It offers Italian and Island Fusion cuisine. The entrance is dramatic as it takes you through the byte at Pensacola Rock.

View From Port Side Restaurant

The old house is situated atop the rock and the view of Flower's Bay is dramatic. The restaurant is decorated with old carvings, vases, and paintings.

Dining at Port Side

Unique Paintings at Port Side

 Each room was an adventure to see what small detail would be offered for my enjoyment. The owner is Jeff who has lived on Roatan for the past eight years and hails from Boston. Port Side is open M-F 9AM to 10PM. Sat. 11AM to 10PM. Phone 9616 0066. The Roatan Ladies luncheon was there this March.  

Lunch with Pierre and Louise

Flower's Bay

The menu is unique and I can't wait for a chance to stop again. We've had a great time each time we've stopped by.

Michael at Port Side

Copan Ruinas: A Mystical Mayan Journey: Return to Roatan

Beautiful Roatan

After our tour of the Macaw Mountain Avian Rescue Park, our guide Walter returned us to the city of Copan where we were expected for lunch at Hotel Marina Copan.

Hotel Marina Copan

This hotel is very lovely and we enjoyed our lunch. MCTours had planned everthing on this trip just perfectly. Beverly decided to relax there as it was so cool and inviting after our busy morning. The rest of the "Copan Five" decided to explore the market and plaza in search of sweet pineapples, papayas, and shoes! We wandered the streets and markets. The plaza was setting up for a musical concert as a big festival celebrating the patron saint of the city, Saint Joseph, was beginning. We found the fruits, but our search for shoes was "fruitless".

The Market in Copan

The Church on the Plaza in Copan

We returned to the hotel to relax and cool off before Walter returned to take us to the Copan airport for a direct flight back to Roatan on CMAirlines.

This is a fairly new service and it enables you to fly into and out of Copan without going for the three hour bus ride. Now for the rest of the story.
Walter loaded us up and we left for what we assumed would be an uneventful twenty minute ride to the airport. We continued down the road we had taken last evening to Hacienda San Lucas where we had seen the handpainted sign pointing to the airport road and off we went. We soon left Copan behind us and were enjoying the scenery when we noticed several things. First, we had been traveling for more than twenty minutes. Next, the road was heading up into the mountains. Finally the "road" could hardly be called a road more of a dirt, rock track where our minivan kept bottoming out.

A Village

Bouncing and crossing small streams, we climbed up into the mountains, past small Mayan villages, little farms and nothing that looked anything like an airport.  Even our intrepid guide Walter seemed nervous.  He tried unsuccessfully to distract us by pointing out interesting plants, trees, and animals.

An Interesting Animal?

 We all began to worry that we had somehow missed an important turn.  The mountains continued to rise and there was little or no way to turn around. We came to a fork- one way went up the other went somewhat down. No signs, no people, and very little road.  Hmm... what to do.We took the low road away from the looming mountains and Walter tried his cell phone unsuccessfully. He even attempted to stop at a shack by the road hoping to ask someone if we were on the correct path. Now we were seriously concerned that we would miss our plane, and be lost in a tropical dry forrest. Just before the anxiety reached panic mode, we spotted a plane...in the middle of nowhere....sitting in an open pasture.

The Copan "International" Airport

We had arrived....but just where were we.  No signs, no people...just an airplane.  Slowly people began to appear....soldiers, with guns!

Guatemala...Welcome Committee

They were the border soldiers....we were in Guatemala....a mile in! We didn't get a passport stamp....or pay any entrance fee. The pilot appeared and said it was too hot to take off we would have to wait a bit and we should move to the waiting area.

Airport Lounge

Really? You're kidding, right? Nope...no joke. But what a delightful waiting area in the middle of nowhere!

We lounged about, relaxed and joked about our exciting adventures in Copan and this trip to the airport was the icing on the cake!  A grass airstrip in Guatemala....who knew?Another bus arrived, this time with loads of tourists complete with large amounts of luggage. I was now beginning to wonder if this now full airplane would be able to make it up into the air! The grass strip ended at a drop off of the mountain- we would go till the ground disappeared beneath us and we were airborne-I hoped!

Our Pilot Waits with us in the Lounge.

The Runway

 I was praying that the plane had cooled down and the runway was long enough. As the soldiers watched the pilots load the luggage and we boarded the plane, small children appeared along the fence.

The Children Gathered for the Takeoff

Apparently we were an exciting occasion for their Saturday entertainment.
The pilot assured us this plane was made for nontraditional runways......Good News!!

The Boarding Process

Since I'm writing this, you know the plane took off successfully...

Take Off!

I'm sure my prayers helped but Michael said they had to bank the plane back and forth through the mountains, following the river valley until we gained enough height to pass over the mountains. The views were spectacular and we arrived back in Roatan as the sun was setting on the second day.  It was a trip of a lifetime, full of friendship and fun, mysticism and adventure.

Lovely Roatan Waits

The "Copan Five"

More Pictures below

Karma Designs, Unique on Roatan

Karla from Karma Designs, Roatan

Karla and Marco have a unique place among all of the businesses on West Bay Beach and Roatan.  Karla and Marco (KarMa from their combined names) are experienced jewelry designers who can be found several days a week on West Bay Beach-but just til noon or one o'clock on Wed. through Sunday.  Other days will find them at Cocoview or working at home creating new pieces of jewelry or filling custom orders for people before they return to their own homes. Most jewelry you find on Roatan comes from somewhere else to be sold by gift shops or vendors walking up and down the beach.  Karma Designs is all hand made in Roatan by Karla and Marco!

Look for this Sign, and Karla is in!

Karla has been designing jewelry for over fourteen years.  You will not find her designs in gift shops or being peddled by vendors on the beach.  She and Marco buy their materials and stones from countries in South America and do silverwork and macrome with unique gemstones and fossils.  I have seen tanzanite, lapis lazuli, fresh water pearls, fossilized sand dollars set in .960 silver. They create unusual silver rings set with gemstones that I have seen nowhere else.They create wonderful pendants of silver that reflect the creatures of the sea in Roatan-sea turtles, drum fish, star fish and more.  Look closely at the picture of Karla above and you can see the beautiful star fish on a macrame necklace with  fresh water pearls.  I love that piece.

When Karla is in, Everyone comes calling!

There are many interesting places to purchase souvenirs to remind you of your visit to Roatan.  However Karma Designs goes beyond a simple reminder.  Karla's pieces are unique and beautiful- to be found nowhere else but Roatan.  So if you are visiting West Bay Beach, take the time to walk down toward Foster's  and Byte on the Beach and right in front of "Emerald Beach" you will find another gem on Roatan-Karma Designs.  You won't be disappointed.  And if you have been there and couldn't make up your mind about which of her wonderful pieces you wanted before you left-contact her....I'm sure she will make that special piece you left behind and send it to you!  KarmaRoatan@gmail.com

Beautiful and Charming....that's Karma's Designs Shop

Here is a recent TJ Lynch video on Karla and Marco from Mar. 9, 2012.  It shows more of her actual jewelry!  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UuYLHAybcbA#t=186s

Casanueva-Our Home Away From Home

We are enjoying our accommodations at Casanueva as the house is lovelier than the pictures we had seen before we arrived here on Roatan. The finishes at Casanueva are top of the line; the furniture and beds are comfortable and it is decorated with delightful colors and textures.  Honduran woods for the cabinetry, lovely pulls on the doors and drawers, granite counters, tiles and the colors of the curtains and walls all add to the beauty of the design and décor.

I love to open Casanueva to all the sounds and breezes.  As the island breezes waft through the rooms, you don’t need to use the AC at all.  There are paddle fans in each room for those few quiet, still days with light breezes.

  Even at night you can keep the house open as there are screens on most doors and the windows

A special treat is to enjoy the palapa and pool area at night. There is a paddle fan in the palapa and curtains around the lattice work provide privacy and just the right touch of romance.

The pool and deck area shared by Casaneuva and Villa Belvedere

From the outdoor kitchen you can enjoy the outdoor areas while you BBQ.

 With a few outdoor candles in the palapa and the accent lighting around the pool you can entertain quests in the evening or just have some private time for yourself.  

Steps lead from Villa Belvedere to the pool and deck area shared with Casanueva

The cruise ships often leave by sunset or in the evening to give you a wonderful boat parade as they glide by lit up like Christmas.

Dad enjoys sitting and reading in the palapa

We also love the pool and deck area outside the front door of Casanueva during the day. There is plenty of sun or shade –you can pick your spot!

Hummingbirds visit the feeders on the palapa

Michael enjoys the quiet and shade of the palapa

 Even if you catch a shower during the day, the palapa provides shelter and a quiet place to read, watch the water, and the hummingbirds. 

You can get up close and personal with the hummingbirds

 And if you sit still, the hummingbirds will come and buzz right up to the flowers on the table or even around your head if you have bright colors in your clothing.

What a treat!

Sunny or Rainy in Roatan.........It's All Fun and Roatan Plane Crash

Rainy Morning at Infinity Bay

Rainy days on Roatan can still be as much fun as a sunny day.  This morning it was looking cloudy and we canceled our planned snorkeling trip and instead took Mimi and Dad to Infinity Bay for breakfast on the beach.

Smiles for a Great Breakfast: Eggs Benedict on the Beach

 Since our last visit to the island Infinity Bay has completed a covered palapa and added roll down wind and rain curtains.  So when the rains started, we were still able to enjoy our meal, visit with the wait staff who are always pleasant and funny and enjoy the activity on the beach.  We even took short strolls along the beach to show them what it is like.  Wait til they see It on a bright sunny day with all the wonderful shades of blue and green in the water.

I have included a link to the air crash that happened last week.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20120116/canadian-recounts-honduran-float-plane-crash-120116/

Air Crash at West Bay Beach

From the news we have gathered around the beach, it all could have ended terribly but because there were divers in the water nearby and doctors on a passing boat, the family survived.

 I was able to take some of my own pictures of the plane from a water taxi as the aircraft was still afloat upside down between West Bay Beach and West End.


  Everyone was very concerned that the family was okay and grateful for all the people were in the right place and who made good decisions in a timely manner.

Here is a YouTube video of how this plane looked taken in December.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOb_JBpDdMI

Another news item of great interest here is the recent sinking of the cruise ship in Italy. So many people depend on the cruise ship industry here that any bad news like that sends a ripple through the community with fear that it will affect their livelihoods in some way. We still think cruising is a safe way to travel and so many people can only enjoy traveling that way.

Cruise Shippers on Shore

Party Boat on the Beach

Charlie works hard and gives a great massage

Water Taxis at West Bay Beach

Now that we have rented a car from someone on the island, we will be able to get out and about more easily. Lots of great things to see and do and share with family. Although I do miss my old squeaky truck from last year!

Sunday afternoons at the Beach

I am hoping to go to La Ceiba on the mainland of Honduras next week. I have never been there so I am  looking forward to taking the ferry over. I will be taking loads of pictures and will blog about it too.

 Little Girls are all the Same

You are in my space!

I guess I can share

What!!!!

Adios Amigo!!

My weekend was spent at the beach while Michael and Dad watched the playoffs. For me, watching people is always more fun than watching football....hard for some of you to believe I know! I love to meet up with friends and new people—all of which I did while Green Bay's Winning Season faded away.