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-Day Two

Copan at Night

My Copan adventure continues. That evening we returned to LaCasa Rosada then ventured out to explore Copan at night.  Many people were out enjoying a Friday night, street vendors selling food, musicians on the plaza, and other people like ourselves, just exploring and enjoying an exotic spot. Because we had an early morning, we retired to our rooms and called it a night after a wonderfully exciting day.

Breakfast at La Casa Rosada

Saturday morning found us in another wonderful experience-breakfast at La Casa Rosada. The tables were set in the garden with linens and flowers. Coffee was waiting-local Copan Arabica coffee- delicious. We gathered together to enjoy this simple pleasure and start our day. 

Moving to the minibus we proceeded to the Copan Ruinas at about 8 in the morning with the idea that we could experience Copan before it became so hot. That is a good idea if you ever plan a trip.  We arrived and signed in, and as we walked toward the ruins, the macaws (sacred to the Maya) were enjoying the early morning cool air.  They majestically soared above our heads. It was breathtaking and one of many moments this day that took my breath away.

Macaw in the Trees at Copan Ruinas

Another Macaw

The Cosmic Turtle

Altar Where Hearts were Removed from Living Victims

Walter led us through the ruins explaining the glyphs and interpreting what we were seeing from the ball court, to the stele, altars and sacrificial temples where the Maya lopped off heads that rolled down the temple stairs. 

Heiroglyphic staircase which tells the story of the  13th Ruler
"18 Rabbit"

Ball Court

Stele of a Ruler at Copan

 Some parts of the area were especially strange and left a feeling of unease other parts were magical if you allowed yourself to feel the aura of your surroundings.

Temple of Death

After touring the actual sight and experiencing that, we entered the museum which was depicted as entering the underworld, very cool.  The museum contains countless original stele, altars and carvings to preserve and protect them from the elements.  You could spend hours studing each piece and reading descriptions of them.  The only reproduction is of the red temple which sits in the center of the museum and shows how this temple looked in its original state….painted and colorful, truly amazing to see.  When you look at the ruins today, you can detect small pieces of the color and stucco that originally coated them.

The Rosalia Temple

Heron Catching a Fish

Here are some additional pictures of Copan Ruinas and the Museum there.

After spending the cool morning hours at the ruins and museum, we traveled to Macaw Mountain Avery Preserve where beautiful macaws and other species parrots and native Honduran birds are protected and rehabilitated to be re-released back into the wild if possible.

I have one more installment of this trip to recount, and that is our afternoon and departure from Copan….yet another adventure!!!  Stayed tuned.

More pictures of the bird park: Macaw Mountain

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

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

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