This morning we said goodbye to Roatan Island!
The call went out for volunteers to jump in the 4x4 with the luggage.... and I was one of them. 3 of us jumped in the luggage ute whilst the rest of the tour group hauled themselves into a minivan. Volunteering to jump in the ute paid off as the driver was pumping out the tunes!! Some of the local music made me want to join a Congo line!!! We also had a bit of a guided tour through the main town which was located on the other side of the island.
We arrived at the airport, where I was worried, as my bag had to be under 35 pounds otherwise we had to pay extra to get our bags on the plane!! I knew my bag was never going to make it under the weight limit so I was getting prepared to give them a kidney and a sliver of liver just to get my bag on board!! Hahahaha, it must have been my lucky day, as my bag weighed 44 pounds and he just handed me my receipt for my baggage!! I didn't ask any questions, I just walked away as quick as I could, doing fist pumps!!! Now that didn't look suspicious at all!!
We had to go through security, and didn't I fail drastically at that!! So shoes off and bag up ready for the scanning machine. I walk through the gate and it goes off like a Christmas tree. The security guard sends me back and tells me to take off my jacket from around my waist, my watch, my bracelets and get this my hair clip. Well it worked as second time round I was through!! Yay!! Although that elation was short lived...I went to pick up my bag from the scanner and guess who was waiting for me with gloves on....security!! Well he riffled through my bag!! Nothing to see here so finally I was allowed to put my shoes on and wait to board!!
The time came to board our plane... We walked on to the tarmac only to find the smallest plane in the world.... With propellers!! All that was running through my head was the wise words if my father 'never fly on a plane that has propellers'. Sorry dad, the alternative was a ferry ride and an 18hr chicken bus ride, I'll take my chances with the propellers!!
We climbed on board and I took my seat at the front of the plane!! This is where I soon became the plane photographer!! I simply took a photo of the inside of the plane, just so I could remember how small it was, next minute 10 cameras came flying my way and I'm all of a sudden taking photos of the group on the plane!! This role soon turned into air hostess as I gave a little run down on seatbelts, turning off mobile phones and how to return seats to an upright position. Whilst I was undertaking my air hostess duties, the pilot climbed over mine and Lisa's seat to get into the cockpit....concerning???? I think not.....at least we were able to check out the pilot before he started flying! He didn't smell like booze and his pupils weren't pinpoints... Yep we're good!!
The flight was uneventful!! We landed in Tegucigalpa the capital of Honduras! Also known as the murder capital of the world!!
We got our bags off the carousel and then went to take it through security! There were 2 guys before us who had their bags completely searched... Like I'm talking fine tooth and comb. I was starting to think that this is going to take a long time just to clear the airport. Then they called in the big guns!! We were told to line our bags up... Because the dog was coming in!! The German shepherd started sniffing our bags and made the first pass... Then came back for a second pass.... Phew we all got through!! Once the dog finished we all have him a huge round of applause!! It was the only dog I have patted on this trip and it will be the last!!! He was beautiful, and so happy to get the attention he was getting for a job well done!!!
We left the airport and made our way out crossing a main street where we arrived at a car park that had lots of fast food outlets!! Please don't judge me, as I had Burger King for breakfast!! There weren't that many options, Burger King, Pizza Hut or Honduras' equivalent to KFC. I did feel safe though, as we pretty much had an armed guard from the restaurant to the minivan!!
We were off!! We had our private minivan today with air conditioning!! Argh, luxury!!
We drove to the border, and got our departure stamps from Honduras. We had strict instructions to stay on the bus and not to get off!! Our tour leader took our passports in and got it all sorted. She then organised for a money changer to come on to the bus, but it was like vultures circling the van outside. All the other money changers were checking out what was going on inside...it was unnerving!! Finally we drove the short distance to the Nicaraguan border. We stayed in the car and our tour leader again took our passports to gain entry. When she returned to the car we had to all get out so immigration could check us all out!! One by one he went through all of the passports. He then came to mine and started speaking in Spanish to our tour leader. I said to Lisa that this doesn't sound good!! Apparently there was a problem with my stamped receipt, but it looks exactly the same as very one else's??? They couldn't work it out. Then they realised that he was saying I needed to keep that receipt in order to leave Nicaragua!! Phew!! Back in the bus!! We had a few close calls on our drive, there were cows, horses, dogs and pigs out and about, there was a massive thunder storm, lightening thunder and heavy heavy rain, we had trees down over the road.... And massive pot holes!!
After about 7hrs on the bus, we finally made it to Leon! We got settled into our rooms and then made our way to dinner. Tonight we all went to a restaurant that when translated was called carnivore!! As you can imagine it's not a good place for the vegetarians out there!! Beautiful grilled chicken though!!! Mmmmmm!!
We had also organised a cake for Joyce's birthday!! She was so surprised!!! It is technically her birthday in Australia today but it actually falls tomorrow here!! As a present she gets to enjoy a single room.... And the poor Irish girls are stuck with me for the next 3 nights here in Leon!!!
We finished off the night with a very quick walking tour around Leon!!! I didn't get the best vibe about Leon at night!! Definitely a place that I won't be cruising around at night on my own!! I was walking at the back if the pack coming back from our walk and I felt like a baby or injured antelope at the back of the pack that the lions are about to leap on!!!