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

Copan Ruinas: A Mystical Mayan Journey: Day One Continued-Hacienda San Lucas

Hacienda San Lucas

Our first day in mainland Honduras and Copan had been very busy so we were all eager to take a little time for ourselves before heading back up the mountain for dinner at the ecolodge, Hacienda San Lucas. We wanted to be sure to arrive in plenty of time to relax and enjoy the Hacienda and especially view the sunset.

Hacienda San Lucas sits above Copan Valley and the Copan river which travels through it. It seems everyone enjoys the chance to cool off in the river as the afternoon turns to evening. We saw families and children swimming, fishing, and relaxing on the cool banks.

Copan River

The Maya also used the river to bring water into their city with a vast and complex aqueduct system similar to what the ancient Romans devised. We saw remnants of the aqueducts in Las Sepulturas earlier in the day.

We traveled up the rocky dirt road as it wound around mountain until Hacienda San Lucas appeared before us. Several dogs eagerly greeted us and led the way up the stairs to the Hacienda.









The Hacienda is so unique, you feel it as soon as you arrive. It is such a tranquil spot, and the hacienda is a 100 year old hand built adobe renovated to solar power.

Reception Area

When we arrived at the reception area, we were encouraged to enjoy the hacienda's 300 acre property. So we placed a drink order and headed down the hill to catch some quiet time as the sun went down. As we were waiting, one of the Maya staff started lighting candles throughout the hacienda.

So Charming

We passed by the outdoor dining area where they were preparing for our dinner later in the evening.

The Dining Area

The hillside below the hacienda slopes down toward the valley. Chairs were positioned to enjoy the view of the mountains, the river, Copan and the ruins. We settled in to relax and await sundown. As we waited, the quiet and peace of our surroundings enveloped us.   Flocks of unusual birds and parrots flew in and landed

The Grounds in Front of the Hacienda

in nearby trees. It was very magical. As the sun began to set, the mist rose through the valley...breathtakingly beautiful and surreal.

Copan Valley at Dusk from the Hacienda

Sunset over the Copan Valley

Oscar Polio, Musician and Healer

After sunset, the path back to the Hacienda was lit by luminaries, and a flute player, Oscar Polio, who treated us to magical tones as we made our way to our table were we would enjoy an authentic Mayan five course candlelight meal prepared in the traditional way.

Our lighted Path

We dined on fresh fruit salad with "cuajada" a kind of soft cheese, pickled green papaya and a hibiscus flower vinaigrette. This was followed by fresh corn "atole" (cream) garnished with seasonal wild flowers of Copan. A fresh corn tamale filled with authentic Maya adobo sauce metate ground chicken and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.  The main course was a fire roasted chicken in oak wood, fresh squash and carrots, stewed black beans and fresh corn tortillas straight from the "comal". Dessert was papaya in light syrup and spices with a wedge of rum cake! Amazing and beautifully presented.

Michael and Emiliana

Our Hostess for the evening Augie from Spain

We enjoyed wonderful friendship and a magical experience.  It was an evening to remember, one we will never forget.  The hope is to return and stay overnight at Hacienda San Lucas to better experience this magical place..

Inside the Hacienda

West Bay Beach Fun

Eggs Benedict with a View-Infinity Bay Resort

So sorry this blog has been slow in posting...we have had internet troubles and the last two weeks have been especially slow.  I hope you like the pictures.

We have enjoyed our visit from Sharon and Harold.  It has been a busy two weeks even though we have had a mix of sun, rain and wind.  Today is rainy so I thought I would take some time to write this blog.

Sunset on West Bay Beach is always special.

Their arrival on Saturday  two weeks ago, was as smooth as you can expect.  The plane was even early! We were there in time to see them come through immigration and their luggage was not too long in coming off the plane. Once Harold came through security, he could not go back to Sharon nor could we, but she was able to get her bag and come through with little effort.

Fun Times as Bananarama

Michael stopped at Eldon's on the way back to Casanueva and Harold was able to check out the local shopping.  I think he was surprised by some things, but we didn't take long as Michael and Sharon were waiting in the car.

Relaxing at CasaNueva

The next morning we ate on the beach at Infinity Bay where they enjoyed Eggs Benedict and some rain. We lounged around the palapa, watching hummingbirds flit about.

The Siblings!

We have made several trips to local restaurants including dinner at Fosters on Thursday for lobster night. We enjoyed the sunset and watching the cruise ships slip by.  We also had live music and watched as a little humming bird sat on her nest.  There is always something special to discover, both near and far in Roatan. We even saw pairs of wild Macaws flying to roost in the evening and spent time on the palapa watching the stars at night.

Mimi enjoys the Water at West Bay Beach

The two weeks have flown by and we have enjoyed quiet evenings in and beautiful sunsets on the beach.  Michael and I hope the trip has been one they have enjoyed and will talk about during cold winter evenings to come.

Fosters on West Bay Beach has Lobster Night on Thursday