Eating

overcast and cool

Sunday morning and breakfast, let me back up a couple of days.  Since we have been away from Island Sol there is no food on board, or rather no fresh food on board as you can imagine.  So, it is off to town in our launcha, Solita.  We are somewhat closer to town from our new marina, but yet still far enough away to not hear all the jack brakes from the 18 wheelers that roar through the main street of Rio Dulce.  There are many store fronts along this road as well as individual market stalls selling everything from Chinese flip flops, American clothes (of course not new), pots and pans, medical drugs (you can buy Cipro and Amoxicillin and many more) and then food.  Lots of the food here is unknown to us which until we can ask someone how to fix it, we avoid it, like juisquil.  Juisquil (/we skill/) is a type of squash, but to my taste it is very bland.  They have broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cabbage, onions, potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers in abundance on Saturday and then these dwindle down during the week to really sad looking veggies.

pizza oven

On our day into town Friday we stopped at SunDog, a local restaurant, owned and run by an American.  He specializes in pizza and it is excellent pizza.  SunDog, we found out, had moved down the street and is in a new location and is much larger.  Unfortunately you have to wait for really good pizza, but you have a nice view of the river and all the people coming and going.

Next door is a new panderia (bakery) run by a young family.  They invited us into the "kitchen" to see all their breads and rolls.  We purchased 2 small loaves of french bread at the cost of 4 Qs.  (The money is call Quetzales and is locally called Qs).  So 4Qs = 52 cents US, what a bargain and it was hot and soft and we couldn't wait to eat it.

The Dispensia is the large "grocery store" in town.  In the summer it is sweltering in there as there is no AC in this town anywhere we have seen.  It has a large meat case and one very small vegetable cooler maybe 6' wide.  We do find very nice french green beans here most of the time. Well I could go on and on about this store, we are glad it is here, but it is not the end all of our food hunting.

So yesterday as we were preparing all of our bags/backpacks to travel into town to shop, we heard on the radio that Esmeralda was at Catamarans.  Yipee!  Esmeralda is a local woman who has her own store out of her boat and she travels from marina to marina around the river until all is sold.  We zipped across the river to Catamarans and found her at one of the docks.  There we bought a beautiful large head of fresh broccoli, 2 eggplants, some sweet mandarins, swiss cheese, 6 huge pork chops (as in thick) and some bratwurst. Half of our shopping list was done, but we still needed to go into town.

So back to Sunday breakfast, a nice omelet with swiss cheese and that French bread toasted. Ahh it is nice to be in our home cooking again.  Charlie the captain/chef can do wonders with anything so Saturday night dinner was that great head of broccoli, some fried eggplant and grilled pork chops with a fairly good Cab.  Then we settled down and watched 2 more episodes of 24 on the computer.  Our friends Jonesy and Terri, s/v Nikki Wikki, let us copy there disk of TV shows and movies, it should keep us entertained for some time.  Until next time....

Back on the Rio Dulce in Guatemala

January 21, 2015

sunny and 78 degrees

 Here we are again on the Rio.  We arrived in Guatemala City, Monday around noon.  After throwing our stuff in our room we were off again to obtain tickets for our bus ride to the Rio, which was on the other side of this huge city.  By 2:00 we were having a wonderful "Burger King" lunch and by 3:00 we were asleep, not to wake up until 4:00 am the next morning.  Our bus left the station at 6:00 am and we arrived at the Rio around noon.  We finally made it back on board Island Sol, our home away from home. Luvie, the marina owner/manager keep Island Sol looking like a shiny penny.  Pretty soon we were back in bed catching up on some much needed sleep.

Island Sol with her "ShadeTree"

It is so nice to see all the green that is the Rio.  We have sunshine again today as yesterday, but we were told that it had been raining for days.  Charlie is busy uptop getting our engine in our dingy going and I am doing an inventory of all things below.  We just heard on the radio that a crocodile was spotted at one of the marinas and they were giving everyone a heads up and toes out of the water.  Ahhh to be in the jungle again!

We have already run into 4 people we knew from our last time on the river.  And, this morning we heard from s/v Foxsea (Bob and Vicky) on the radio and will be getting with them tonight to see a movie and have dinner at one of the marinas.  It is like we were only away for a few weeks.  So, our adventure begins again....more to come!

         

The marina palapa

                                                          

Roatan, Honduras

11/2//13

Roatan, Honduras

Intermittent rain showers


We are anxious to get to Roatan and have left Utila too early, it will need more time for exploration and diving, on our way out of the country when we return to Guatemala.  The trip to Roatan is only roughly about 30 miles from East Harbor, Utila to French Harbor, Roatan where our marina, Fantasy Island awaits us.  The sky's were dark and foreboding when we left and which made me a little anxious, but when the rain squalls hit they were brief and without mishap, but they followed us all the way there.

When we arrived and thanks to Jonesy and Terry on s/v Nikki Wikki, we had the necessary waypoints as there is a small opening in the reef to get into French Harbor.  Once in, there is also a very shallow spot that needs to be avoided.  The water is beautiful though, azure blue and clear in the more shallow spots where there is a sand bottom.  We were met at the dock by, Jerry, dock master extraordinaire, for Fantasy Island Marina.  He got us situated in the back of the island ("the back 40") where we stayed until the next day, when we moved to a site with electricity.  Jerry, is a delightful man with the best voice I have ever heard....he should be a newscaster or the like.  Jerry showed us around the island and bought us a drink at the resort bar, what a nice entrance to our new "home".  That evening being tired we made the decision to eat at the resort, leaving our boat open (as we had no electricity), I was a little worried about the bugs and the dreaded "no-seeums".  Our meal was on an open veranda, but was certainly not as good as we had anticipated, albeit the view and surroundings were great.  The breeze was wonderful and then it kept getting stronger and stronger and then the rain started.  My worries turned from bugs to water as we ran back to the boat and were drenched when we got there.  What a mess, water on all our books and siting in shelves, luckily - I never open the ports over our bed, thank goodness at least we had a dry bed that night.

The next day we were moved to the other side of the island and moored in front of the Tikki Palapa, or what would soon be completed to be the Tikki Palapa, at present it is a deck with poles that would support the roof later on.  The Fantasy Island property is stunning, with a huge half moon bay and sand beach.  A short swim from the beach is Mayalantis.  This is an area where there are large sculptures which replicate Mayan ruins on the bottom in about 15' of water.  It is a nice area to snorkel, but in no way is it the best of the snorkeling that FI has to offer.

Scrawled Filefish

We are only a short dingy ride from Mr. Sherman's Marine Park.  Mr. Sherman owns the Iguana Farm and he protects the lobster and conch in the marine park from poachers, which is an endless job and one that the Honduran government doesn't support.  Anyone that is caught poaching is arrested and then promptly released, much to Mr. Sherman's frustration.  It is a great area for snorkeling with only being 3-4' deep.  We have seen and continue to see new things each time we snorkel there.  We always enjoy the endless beauties underwater.

Queen Conch

Smooth Trunkfish

April 9, 2014
 Fantasy Island
Sunny and breezy

Selfie of Kaleigh and Susi

 Today we picked up my sweet girlfriend, Susi Q and her daughter, Kaleigh at the airport for a week’s visit to Island Sol. We were eager to get both the girls into the water as soon as we returned to the marina. Kaleigh, who has a degree in marine biology, was ready to dive in. We had a great snorkel at the reserve sign right off the reef and very close to the marina. A delightful afternoon was had by all. The resident 4’ barracuda, Woodie, was ever present and making us all just a little nervous. We see this guy every time we snorkel in this area; I guess he is guarding the place for Mr. Sherman.

 As Kaleigh and Susi had decided to get “open water” certified, we took a trip to Cayos Cochinois for 4 days. Our motor sail there (yes, the wind was on our nose, again) was good and as we neared the islands we all got more and more excited. This is our 4th trip here and we love this place, so unspoiled and beautiful. Best sunsets ever! We found a mooring ball in front of Turtle Bay Eco Resort and after they met the staff, got there first assignment to read Chapters 1 & 2 before being in class the next morning at 8 a.m. Poor Susi, her relaxing vacation has turned into a class with reading and in water instruction that has left her exhausted each night.  We did several dives here and yes, Kaleigh and Susi passed their tests with flying colors, both in the water and out.

The Girls with Clement

Some of our guests.....

5/5/14

Fantasy Island, Roatan, Honduras

We were very fortunate to have friends and family visit us on Fantasy Island.

Lobster and steak dinner their first night
on Island Sol.

First, our daughter and son-in-law, Haley and Bobby.  They arrived just a few weeks from our arrival to Roatan.  The weather was not to good when they landed, in fact several flights earlier were diverted to La Cieba (on the mainland).  It was at the end of that storm we had after Thanksgiving.  But luckily their plane landed.  Next came the hour in customs where they had a real nightmare presenting all the stuff we had them bring us....we told them to declare, which we have found out from a local..."oh no, don't do that"...it cost more $$$.  Honduras gets you coming in and going out, when it comes to your money.  But, we had our kids on the ground and soon in our arms.  So glad they came.

Our good friend, John, who has been doing some of the cruising with us came back to Roatan for another taste of the cruising life.  We enjoyed scuba, drinking and eating and just hanging out with him.  And, we know he will be back for more! John was more of a local by the time he left to return to reality.

Trip to Guanaja, Honduras

5/3/14

overcast skies and not much wind

It was time to get off of Fantasy Island and see something new.  We had many tell us that Guanaja was beautiful and several of our friends were heading to Panama via Guanaja, so we tagged along.  Guanaja is roughly 8-10 miles from Roatan heading west and with the easterly winds blowing that is a trip.  We made it in about 5 hours and with way points from Elly and Wayne on s/v Zeppelin we cruised right in like we knew what we were doing.  The island is large, but a small cay off of the main island is where all the people live.  Guanaja is infamous for it's sand flies...the dreaded no-seeums and that is why everyone lives on this tiny island (because there is no sand).  We have avoided using Off w/deet, but now we are pulling out the big guns.  I unfortunately seem to be their favorite meal and they leave these large raised itchy places all over me...enough whining, I get no sympathy although I try.


We anchored in Sandy Bay where the famous German Restaurant, Manatee, is located.   Klaus and Annette run the restaurant and it is pretty darn good.  Annette is so friendly that you just want to stay and drink that German beer all night long.  So we have eaten here 2 out of the 3 days that we have been on the island.

pizza oven

This is the local hangout, but it is closed on Monday and so the local crowd walks or takes their dingy to the next dock over to eat at Han's Pizza.  Honest to god, this guy makes the best pizza in the world and in a 50 gallon barrel drum oven.  It is amazing, and the place is packed....2 pizzas at a time in the barrel, so you drink alot of beer waiting on the pizza.  But the conversation is always interesting.