Roatán Ramblings: Humidity, Hammocks, and Honestly, Just Trying to Chill

okay, so roatán. it’s…a lot. i didn’t really plan to end up here, honestly. it was a last-minute “escape the impending doom of adult responsibilities” kind of thing. i’d been bouncing around central america for a bit, mostly following gigs - i’m a touring session drummer, which means i play drums for other people’s bands, and it’s as chaotic as it sounds.

this place feels like someone took all the best parts of the caribbean and then just…left them to simmer in their own juice. the air is thick enough to chew, i just checked and it’s basically soup out there right now, hope you’re a fan of that. the weather report said 21.98 degrees, feels like 22.84, pressure’s at 1008, humidity is a solid 100, and the sea level is also 1008, but the ground level is 983… honestly, i don’t know what any of that means, i just copy-pasted it from my weather app.

west end is where i’ve been hanging mostly. it’s…loud. in a good way, usually. lots of reggae, lots of people trying to sell you things, lots of questionable seafood. i overheard someone at a beach bar saying that the lobster at that place down by the pier is “definitely not fresh,” which, you know, is helpful. i’ve been sticking to the baleadas, which are amazing. seriously, look them up. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g292052-Roatan_Bay_Islands_Department.html

my accommodation is…rustic. let’s go with rustic. it’s a hammock strung between two palm trees, which is honestly pretty idyllic until it rains. then it’s just a wet hammock. i’m trying to learn to scuba dive, which is terrifying, but also kind of amazing. the coral reefs here are insane. i’ve seen more fish in the last three days than i have in my entire life.

people here are…chill. like, aggressively chill. time moves differently here. i’m pretty sure i lost a day somewhere. if you get bored, utila and guanaja are just a short ferry ride away. i’ve been trying to find some local music gigs, but it’s been slow going. i did find a little bar that has live music on wednesdays, though. it’s run by this guy named carlos, who claims to be a retired pirate. i’m not sure if i believe him, but he makes a mean rum punch. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Bars&find_loc=Roatan%2C+Honduras

someone told me that the best snorkeling is at west bay beach, but it’s super touristy. i’m trying to avoid the super touristy stuff, but i might cave. i’m weak. i need a good beach. i also heard that the roads outside of west end are…an adventure. apparently, potholes are considered “optional road features.” https://roatanforum.com/ is a good place to check for current road conditions, apparently.

honestly, i’m just trying to survive on caffeine and good vibes. i found this amazing little coffee shop run by a woman named isabella. she roasts her own beans, and it’s life-changing. seriously. i’m pretty sure i’m addicted now. i’m also trying to learn some spanish, but i’m mostly just succeeding at embarrassing myself. it’s a process. i’m thinking of extending my stay. maybe i’ll just become a full-time hammock dweller. don’t tell my manager.

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