Next up, New Years in Roatan, Honduras! Some of the best diving on the second largest reef in the world, and just a few hours away (well kinda, two quick flights.) Also, my first *actual* third world country. Many websites and blogs I read encourage visitors to donate to various causes, the schools, medical clinics, or a Red Cross donation earmarked for Honduras. Even just bringing items to donate is useful. I’m going to do that this time.
I was seriously thinking about not going anywhere this time around. I will admit I am a bit tired of traveling alone. I put some feelers out, I had a tentative trip to Iran in the works with a friend, but the visa hassle appeared to be too much on short notice. (A U.S. citizen has to be in a tour group, or to have someone in Iran set up an invitation for you to get your visa here, and her family in Iran was being too flaky. But it would have been awesome.) With 12 straight days of not having to be at work, I would go crazy sitting around my apartment, and I just saw my family a few months ago.
I figured I could go diving and during the holidays, there should be more people out and about than there were in sleepy Tobago in April. I might also try to take Spanish lessons, 5 days of 1 on 1 lessons for $120! Another friend had just been to Roatan this summer and encouraged me to go, so I’m going. December is the end of rainy season there, so I am getting mentally prepared for some rainy days.
That gap in the reef is called Spooky Channel. As you can see the reef is so close to the shore, there’s ample snokeling too. Whale Sharks, the worlds biggest fish, are nearby. Admittedly, this will be a bit more of a vacation than a traveling adventure. But we’ll see.