Sans students

Current Coordinates: Marble Hill Farms Camps Bay Roatan, Honduras

Gradually pulling up next to our berth – the early morning light illuminated all decks of the MV Explorer as the gangway plopped down next to the finished concrete dock.

A stark contrast compared to freight and working ports in our previous countries of call.  Adding to the curious juxtaposition was the diversity and prevalence of all sorts of tourist amenities right outside our cabin portholes: a duty free shop, restaurants, bars, ATM’s, and a taxi stand.

Clearly we had arrived in a tourist destination: its newly developed infrastructure silently begging us to come and spend our money – no doubt a welcome sight for all aboard.

Wandering around the colorful strip mall parked outside our ship – I witnessed groups and groups of students hopping into cabs to take them the short hop over to the western side of the island.  A paradise of hotels, restaurants, shops, and main streets.  An obvious draw to most of the international visitors of Roatan.

But as gaggles of these students departed in taxis filled to the brim – my friends and I hopped into the next available vehicles for a ride in the opposite direction: to the end of the long narrow island where we had to first convince and then negotiate with our drivers to take us there.

For east and away from our ship’s berth in Coxen Hole lay Marble Hill farms – a secluded and tranquil eco friendly lodge whose far flung location on the opposite end of the island we optimistically hoped would deter any students from encroaching in on our statuary – our secret staff lounge in the tropics.

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So after a harrowing journey through the mountainous region did we finally come upon our lodge – seemingly tucked away and hidden form the prying eyes of the main road.  In actuality a small mom & pop operation whose main keepers Ingrid and Paul kept things tidy, the reservation book filled, and the breakfast grill warm.

Both Ingrid and Paul warmly met us in the main reception house – the latter still wearing a dripping wet suit from a morning scuba diving excursion.

After enjoying a fresh lunch of spicy shrimp and rice sourced locally we were all anxious to explore the beachfront that hosted both a long pier and a dock house holding a plethora of kayaks and snorkeling equipment.

Grabbing masks, fins, kayaks, and paddles we started heading out – rowing hard against the calm and serene waters to make it out to where the waves were breaking.   A light blue tinge in the water reporting the location where the sandbar met the coral reef.  A good 300 yards away from the shore.  A beautiful sight to behold beneath the water while the sky turned dark above it.

It was only then when the wind began to pickup and the gentle pitter patter drizzle increased into a torrent of rain.  Drenching all of us and flooding our kayaks as we meandered in the water next to the coral reef.

The rain: both refreshing and exhilarating as well as frightening and tumultuous was a strange mixture that I imagined encompassed most of our journey around the globe.

Filled in some ways with both dread and joy – but always containing learning moments: for both us and the students.  Moments that nevertheless always sparked a desire to ecstatically continue forward: despite setbacks and hardships.

Bobbing in my kayak and floating in the middle of this storm with friends I realized that this was probably the most peaceful time for me during this whole voyage – a solemn closing for our second to last day in port….

With absolutely zero students around.

We got what we asked for.

TL;DR docked in Coxen Hole, Roatan; most of the students went to west side of the island for the parties; we went one hour to the east end to Marble Hill Farms; a small mom and pop eco friendly lodge; delicious locally sourced food; enjoyed the beachfront with kayaks and snorkeling; kayaked out into a storm by the coral reef; was tumultuous but exhilarating; a good second to last day in port; and no students around…