There's a Pelican in the Pool

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Double Dives

We got up early to head out on the first of 4 supposed dives if we decide to become PADI open water divers. It rained very early in the morning and we were pleasantly suprised that because of the rougher seas in front of the hotel we were headed to the other side of the island. 45 min later we were on the boat and out to sea. There was the Black Pearl ship docked next to us, not sure what that was about. We went out to Mary's Place were I got to see a cool little mollusk called a Flamingo Tongue. He was very pretty. We also saw some lobsters. No underwater photos taken this time since we had to do some "skills" in the water with Arturo our dive instructor. Next dive site was called Connie's Dream. I wonder who gets to name these sites. We did get some pictures there with our crumby little camera, see how those come out. 2 down and still trying to decide if we wanted to continue or not. With 2 dives and 3 pool "dives" we are labeled scuba divers and can go on and finish the course later.

Lunch at the gas station

One of the other dive masters, Ricardo, who was leading some other people insisted we stop at the gas station and try these baleadas they make at the gas station. He claimed they were the best, and well how can you say no to Ricardo? Baleadas are a Honduran national dish made with a tortilla. Ours had refried beans, eggs, beef, sour cream and cheese. What's not to like? All that for only 25 lempiras, or $1.50. Delish. Also on the bus I got talked into finishing the PADI open water course. So back into the pool this afternoon.

Pelican dive

We were in the pool finishing some skills when the pelican crashed the party. He just decided to land and hang out in the pool. He was a big fellow, and a little intimidating when he swam towards you. He liked the football some guys were throwing around. I don't know if he thought it was a fish or what. He later decided to head out to the beach.

Closed

We tried to go to a place called Smuggler's for dinner and the instructions were vague on how to get there. Off we set into the pitch black at 7 pm. It gets dark here early. Well about 1.5 miles later we flagged down this security guard that was patrolling the neighborhood we wandered into. It was a nice neighborhood but when they guy showed us were we were supposed to be headed it was closed. No wonder we missed it, sign was pitch black. So the guard was nice enough to drop us back at the hotel. Which was awesome because we walked up 1 steep hill and down it so we were going to have to go back up one side to get back.

Moray Eel and Baracuda

We tried to go the the Thristy Turtle again but when another loud bunch got seated and got drinks and dinner ordered before our guy came back we left. We realise it is always "island time" but that was ridiculous. So we walked down the back to "Bite on the Beach" were we had a decent dinner with some country singing guy that kept telling us he was a song writer and like he knew all these famous people in the country scene. It was rather amusing but he did say he had an album on itunes--Rare and Well Done. The restaurant is right on the water and they have 3 huge spotlights peering onto the shallow rocks and out there was a huge green moray eel and 1 baracuda.

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