HONDURAS TO THE USA

ROATAN HONDURAS:    Honduras is a poor country with 66% of the population living below the poverty line.  It has a high crime rate, particularly the murder rate.  Thus, we were cautious about  our visit.

 Nonetheless, we found a tour online that sounded interesting and that was inexpensive.  We expected a van or bus ride to an area where we could boat through mangroves. 

To our surprise we were met on the pier by Carlos and his Mazda 3.  He proceeded to take us on a six- hour tour of the island that included stops at an iguana farm, an animal preserve; and a private boat with guide and driver to take us through the mangrove tunnels.  We stopped for lunch at a private beach. 

If Honduras is poor, one wouldn’t notice on the 35- mile-long island of Roatan.  Everything seems well kept, the houses are nice; some of them are magnificent.  Carlos told us that there is little crime on Roatan and almost no unemployment.  At one of our stops we met some people from North Carolina who told us that they holiday on Roatan every year. 

SAFETY ON BOARD:  After four days with no new gastro cases our special sanitation conditions have come to an end.  Salt and pepper grinders have returned to the tables and the outer doors of the public washrooms are no longer propped open. 

Most of you saw the news of the Viking ship that ran into trouble off Norway, with some passengers having to be evacuated by helicopter.  I don’t understand how this could happen.  With satellite coverage and modern weather forecasting ships should be able to avoid storms and high seas.  Twice in the past we have sailed toward major storms.  Once when we were in New Zealand a cyclone hit Christchurch.  The Captain simply sailed into Wellington and stayed there for three days.  Last year while crossing the Atlantic we came close to a hurricane.  Again, the Captain skipped two stops in the Canary Islands and sailed down the coast of Africa to safety.

In fact, there is currently a tropical storm off Cape Hattaras so instead of being in Norfolk we are temporarily sitting out the storm in Port Canaveral.  

FINAL STOPS:  We are now in a less exciting part of the world (the US).  However, we did have a nice beach day in Harvest Caye, Belize and we got in a little shopping in Cosa Maya, Mexico.  Thus, it is time to end this series of blogs and stop flooding your inboxes with messages.  However, a couple of short items first. 

EVEN OLD MEN CAN SING:  Oceania cruises boasts about the food; other cruise lines boast about the on-board entertainment.  We, however, are quite satisfied with the entertainment.  There is a 7-piece house orchestra, a 3-piece house band; as well as 12 singers and dancers permanently on board.  In addition, entertainers join the cruise at specified stops and stay on for one or two shows before leaving to join a different ship.   

One singer, a man named Mark Preston, gave a particularly good performance.  We had never heard of him, but when he was introduced it was explained that he had spent 11 years singing with the Lettermen.  Imagine how old he must be. 

BELIEVE THIS IF YOU WISH:  After a month at sea Betty decided she should have a check-up.  She visited the ship’s doctor and returned to her room with a big smile on her face.  “The Doctor told me that with the exception of one knee and leg I am in wonderful health.”  She expanded by reporting that the Doctor told her that she had the body of a much younger woman.  Ron's expression remained passive, so she continued: “He told me I had the skin of a woman in her 50’s.”  Then, she proudly declared that he had told her that her breasts were like those of a woman in her 40’s. 

Ron seemed underwhelmed, turned to Betty and asked: “What did he say about your 76- year-old ass?” 

“Oh” she replied, “Your name never came up.”