Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras - 20 Aug 2002 My photo album of Roatán
	Roatán [the largest of the 68 Bay Islands, arrayed in an arc between 29 & 56km off the coast of Honduras] is 53km long and 5km wide. Columbus is believed to be the first European to set foot on the Bay Islands, on Guanaja. During Colonial Times there were many disputes between the Spanish and British, periods of depopulation and times when the islands purely sheltered pirates. Roatán was left uninhabited in 1782 following an attack on the British by the Spaniards. A wave of immigrants followed in the late C18 and in the 1830s a further wave from the Cayman Islands in the wake of the abolition of slavery there. Part of the Runway at Coxen Hole The Shop to the right is a 'Real Estate Office' click for a larger image The British initially claimed the Bay Islands , but in 1859 were forced to recognise Honduran sovereignty. Many Islanders continued to think they were part of the British Empire until the early C20 and English is still the main language. Today the economy relies mainly on the fishing and tourist industries. Roatan's fringing coral reef on the edge of the continental shelf and it's many shipwrecks, make it a popular destination for divers. Coxen Hole, somewhat dusty and weather-beaten with ramshackle wooden houses, is the largest city and departmental capital of the Bay Islands. Top We arrived at the small T-Shaped Pier, just outside Coxon Hole at 11am, where we were greeted by some local dancers on the dock [see far right of photo]. The mooring ropes from the ship are attached to small man-made islands and a motor boat drags the ropes to them. Buses, Vans & Taxis pack the small Parking Area Coxen Hole Pier - The Speedboat is coming to collect the Lines Roatán was lush and green, with beautiful beaches and clear blue seas. The people are poor compared to our standards but those we met were all extremely friendly. You weren't constantly being badgered to buy something in the small stalls and 'shops' set up along the road just outside the port. Beverley had her hair braided here, after we had been on a tour, so I chatted to a few of the sellers whilst waiting. There were however a lot of people trying to make you have your hair braided! Beverley having her Hair 'done' When we first left the ship, there were a couple of young lads in dugouts alongside the pier in the water trying to sell some conch shells. I did see a couple of people buy one. Around the island, the locals know where the tourists are going to be taken to see the views. One always found a stall set up there, even if just in a lay-by, but they didn't push their wares. The only people who pestered, were young kids trying to sell shells they'd picked up off the beach and seahorses, for $1 each; that did become annoying when the same child approached more than once. Top We took a sightseeing tour of the island. 12 people in a van, plus driver. The air con did work, which surprised me:) However the weather was quite pleasant and not too hot or sticky. First stop was the Airport Control Tower which is up on a hill. From the base of the tower you can see over Coxen Hole, the airport and across to Norwegian Sun. Up the tower by means of a seemingly endless narrow spiral staircase, the views are superb as you walk around the outside edge. Looking West - Howard & Norwegian Sun [from the base of the Control Tower] Looking East [from the top of the Control Tower] In the control room itself the Controller was quite happy to chat away and explain things to you. He gets around 60 flights a week to deal with; mainly tourists coming from Miami or Houston for weekend diving. So busy on Fridays and Sunday evenings. A small smart new airport, that can deal with a 300 passenger aircraft, but he didn't tell us which type. Howard in the Control Tower Top Iguanas On to Sherman's Iguana Refuge where the sign at the entrance asks one not to 'moleste' the animals. Quite a site! The Iguanas are everywhere, one has to watch one's step. They really are quite sweet and even close their eyes if you stroke them. They seem to constantly want feeding and tug quite hard when offered the leaves. We then stopped briefly at Parrot Tree Hill, one of the highest points on the island to marvel at the views, before going on to the Las Palmas Shopping & Beach Resort. Here we had a complimentary fruit punch and watched the Garifuna Dancers. Some visitors took part in the dancing. There is a restaurant if you want to eat, but we took to the beach [which I believe is man-made] for a swim. Lovely white soft sand, but the sea was very shallow and one had to walk quite a way out before being able to swim, and it was rocky. There was a boardwalk and a platform in the water. The shopping area was quite small and a bit more expensive than the stalls near the ship. Some photos can be viewed here. Roatán is a lovely island and well worth another, longer visit. Dave & Children selling Shells & Seahorses Coxen Hole Furniture Store Letting go the Lines Top

	The Itinerary
	The Ship
	Cruise Intro
	Photographs