On our way

NWell we had a mini day in Roatan this morning. We woke up early, ate breakfast, packed up and went out to the dock for one last jump off the top. Afterwards, we headed to the pool for one last swim. Our buddy Nelson took us to the airport. 

Alden waiting with the bags

Tilghman looking at those crabs one last time

We had a really nice time in Honduras and didn't experience car jacking, or armed robbery.

Going home

Waiting for our bud Nelson to come pick us up for the airport.  

Resting

We are all completely worn out.  Everybody still felt puny yesterday after ferry ride, still very queezy.  Tilghman just getting over a cold and I am just coming down with one.  Spent most of yesterday sleeping and watching World Cup. 

Today we are hoping to check out West Bay, the most southern tip of the island.  The snorkeling there is supposed to be great.  I can't imagine anything better than what we have seen here.

The weather started getting rough...

Denise drove us to the ferry this morning and we had a teary goodbye before boarding the boat for Roatan.  The first 20 minutes were fine but then, disaster struck!   First, Tilghman turned greenish gray and kept hoofing it to the bathroom.  Meanwhile, I, Sully, felt really hot. I was sweating profusely and thinking to myself it doesn't seem as hot as the last time. Why am I sweating so much? According to Laura, I was very pale. She kept asking me if I was okay. I was thinking I'm fine, I'm just watching the horizon! Why do you keep asking? People all around us started throwing up.  Laura went up to check on T. The ferry people had handed out these little barf baggies, but I didn't want one because I was watching the horizon!  Now, I really needed one and they were no where to be seen. I started having that nauseous feeling just a little. I thought I can handle this. Next thing I know I've just thrown up a little in my hand. There was a trash can nearby, but I didn't have time to move. I fire hosed my breakfast all over myself, the seat in front of me and on/in one of our bags!  It was EVERYWHERE.  Back to Laura narrating: After seeing all that carnage I started feeling sick. I went astern with Alden and concentrated on anything BUT all the puke that was everywhere.  God, it was awful.  The swells were huge and we were rolling in the middle.   Tilghman finally started getting himself together but Sully continued to hurl into his little pink baggy.  Alden and I were still deep breathing and hanging in there.  Finally the island came into view and I thought we might just make it.  Came into port and I continued to feel horrible but I kept it together.  Came into  the ferry building and our bud Nelson was there to pick us up.  Stopped in Coxen hole for a few groceries and some ginger ale and headed to our little tree house.  So glad to be back " home" and off of that damn ferry.  Laying low today.

Down for the count.

After some recovery time we went down to the dock for a little swim. We jumped off the top(about 13 feet above the water). Everything was fine, but then disaster struck(again)! Tilghman tried to dive off, but then pulled up mid-air becuase Alden had just resurfaced and was closer than he expected, and belly flopped so hard it knocked the breath out of him and left his whole chest red for two hours after. Alden had just resurfaced, and saw a blur that was parallel to the water and said "What are you doing?!", while Laura yelled for him to stop. Then, Alden was swimming back to the ladder and got stung badly on the neck by a jellyfish tentacle. 

We've decided not to do a whole lot else today. It's just not our day.

Moreno

This is Moreno, the family's little cocker spaniel. He's only a year old, and the kids have had the best time with him. I think he is going to miss us as much as we will miss him. 

Goodbye La Ceiba

Alden here-Yesterday we probably walked a mile or two around the city. We went to a little souvenir shop to get some little gifts to take back home. Then, after that, we stopped at a gas station, where they were playing the Brazil vs. Chile game. We left after the game paused (1-1). They were going to do a shoot-out because it was the knockout round. After that we went to the house to drop the gifts off, then headed back out for lunch and groceries. In the mall we caught the end of the shoot-out. Lots of the people there were cheering for Chile, but some, including us, were cheering for Brazil. They were tied for shoot-outs until the last Chile shooter missed and the ball bounced off the post. Then Neymar Jr shot, and scored! Brazil stays in the World Cup, Chile is out. After that, we ate lunch, where we caught the interview with Brazil's goalie, where he cried, being so grateful. After lunch in the mall, we went grocery shopping. We had to get food for Roatan becuase on the island it's so expensive. After that, we walked home, watched the Colombia-Uruguay game (2-0, I think). All day, Denise and her daughter had been cooking for this city event. (Denise had stayed up until midnight cutting chicken) We helped them load the things in Denise's dad's truck, and then mom, dad and Tilghman went back inside to watch the game. I hopped in the truck with Denise and her daughter, Melanie, to go help them. While we were there, one lady asked me very fast in Spanish to put the chicken bones in a bag for her little dog. When I looked up, I expected her to stop talking, because I don't look one bit Hondureña, but she kept talking, so Melanie, who speaks both Spanish and English, came to my rescue. Later she told me what the lady was saying, becuase all I caught was "perrito", (little dog). After that we came home, ate dinner, only to find that Denise had more energy, she was going to take us on a city tour in her dad's truck at 9 o'clock at night. We drove to the beach, got ice cream, then headed back to return the truck to her parents house. We visited them for "un ratito" (a little bit) Denise's dad is really nice, and so is her mom. Denise's dad offered to drop us off at the house, and when we got there Denise realized she had forgotten her keys in the truck, so we had to call Denise's dad and get him to drive over and drop off the keys. When we got inside we were all exhausted (except for Denise). Today we leave La Ceiba, but I am determined to return, I would love to come and study at the  University of La Ceiba, and Denise has offered to let me stay here, when I do come back. She has been such a great host this whole time, and we will miss her bunches. 

Friday we're exhausted

We were late to class because there was a parrot on the neighbor's roof.

He would answer if you called "Hola."

We finished our classes today. Alden seems to understand all the foundations of Spanish. Laura and I finished learning about the gazillion verb tenses in Spanish. During the break I felt like staring at the wall for a while. I was a little overwhelmed.

Ending on a high note we played Boca Loreal in Spanish, aka guess a verb, adjective, animal, plant and country that starts with a random letter from the alphabet. As usual Laura talked a big game, then came in last place.

Denise cooked all our favorites tonight. Empanadas and beet salad. She put refried beans in these really cool clay braziers and made nachos in them.

Alden has been Denise's helper in the kitchen. She has been willingly washing dishes and cooking. Go Denise!

We also has to say goodbye to all of the little kids at the daycare today.  We gave everyone tattoos, which they loved.  Tomorrow we're are planning to go into the city to check things out and do a little shopping.