2023 in Honduras (Roatán)

Norwegian Joy docked at Roatán, Honduras on April 3, 2023:

HONDURAS?

Roatán, an island of Honduras, has its own way of life and folk from the mainland:

• a more Caribbean than Central American mindset
• more English-speaking, with token Spanish writing found here and there
• the island stretches for about 60 km in length and 8 km in width, so enough room to be its "own thing"

those who come by ship in Roatán will see a harbour:

• shops and bars in a "gated" landscape, closed-off to the rest of Roatán
• no "lempira" needed, only "US dollars"

HONDURAS!

to go out and see the rest of the island, book an "excursion" on a "coach" (about 3 hours long):

• Macaw Market
  • strong espresso coffee
• French Cay
  • a swampy cluster of mangroves
  • a "ship-trip within a ship-trip"
• Lookout to see the reefs
  • somewhere on the island from up high to see the world's next-to-biggest reef
• Las Palmas
  • saw the island's main folk, the Garifuna, show their songs and steps
  • the hub also had a beach to rest

after the short rest, the driver and trip leader took us back to the ship but not before a "quiz" about Honduras, from which someone (although not myself) won free Honduran lempira (worth a few US cents but a great token to take home!)