We arrived and anchored at Roatan Island, Honduras the morning of the 14th after a day at sea. This island has a heavy English influence, having been an English possession and also run by English pirates for quite some time. The Brits ceded it to Honduras sometime in the 19th century. English is spoken as the fist language by many of the islanders. Right now it is quite popular, and real estate prices have risen dramatically as expats come here to live. This is a great place for diving, and there are some great beaches as well.
Turns out December is the last month of the rainy season here, and we were glad we had not booked any shore excursions for this day. Folks who did returned soaked to the bone. We went into the town of Coxen Hole (named for the pirate who established the port here) in the afternoon after most of the rain had stopped and took a look. This is really not much of an attraction, but gives an idea of how Hondurans live on Roatan. Here are some pics:
Corner Market, Coxen Hole, Roatan, Honduras
The butcher’s shop, Coxen Hole, Roatan, Honduras
Bert’s Ferry Terminal, Coxen Hole, Roatan, Honduras
Fish seller’s cart with cooler and scale, Coxen Hole, Roatan, Honduras
Bananas at the Market, Coxen Hole, Roatan, Honduras
Sunset over Roatan from the Seabourn Legend, Honduras
The next day, the 15th of December, we arrived at the Belizean island of Hunting Caye, one of the Sapodilla Cayes on the very southern end of Belize’s barrier reef. This reef is the world’s second largest barrier reef (after Australia’s). The waters here are clear and rich, the reef magnificent. This area is preserved as an aquatic park.
Ship’s personnel set us up on the beach for the day. We had the ship’s marina’s water sports toys such as kayaks and windsurfers on shore. They also set up a full bar and brought provisions for a beach barbecue.
The beach is beautiful and the waters full of wildlife:
Beach with the Seabourn Legend offshore, Hunting Caye, Belize
Starfish, Hunting Caye, Belize
The real highlight of the day on the beach is Seabourn’s traditional ‘caviar in the surf’ – caviar and champagne served in the ocean on a perfect tropical day in the Carribean!
Champagne in the Surf, Hunting Caye, Belize
Caviar in the surf, Hunting Caye, Belize
Champagne in the Surf, Hunting Caye, Belize
Caviar in the surf, Hunting Caye, Belize
After caviar one is ready for lunch, of course:
Lunch spread, Hunting Caye, Belize
Our wonderful staff preparing lunch, Hunting Caye, Belize
Life is good! Hunting Caye, Belize
Shot of the beach, Hunting Caye, Belize
This morning we are anchored off of Belize city. We are a little sad as our cave tubing shore excurions has been cancelled! We will go into the city and have a look around…
Happy travels!
-Steve