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Published: September 21st 2006
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Local Bus in La Ceiba
Jill and Jenna on the bus that wasn't so successful. Wednesday started bright and early. We caught the local bus (which is actually just a school bus) to the middle of town where we waited for a bus to the Ferry. We waited... and we waited. There were many buses but none to the Ferry, so we ended up taking a taxi.
Once at the Ferry, we bought our round-trip tickets and waited for our boat. We realised that our boat was MUCH smaller than the one going to Roatan but was cute and meant not as many people, more choice of where to sit, and that the boat would go faster, therefore getting us there quicker.
It was a pretty nice ride actually. It took us about an hour, but it was so nice to look out at the mountains in the distance and the miles of water before us. I'm such a cheesy loser I realise but I just love that kind of stuff. I felt so relaxed.
Once we arrived on the island, we were bombarded with people from different dive shops, trying to get us to dive with them. Apparently that's the biggest thing to do on the island. Anyways, I spotted a guy
Waiting for the Bus That Never Came
Sitting at the local bus stop in the center of town. holding a sign that said "EBH" on it. I thought that was weird that other teachers would be arriving from our school. I then looked closer and noticed that it said the names "Sarah, Leah, Chris" on it as well. I nudged Chris and was like, "ummm, Chris. That sign has our names on it." We approached the guy who was holding the sign and he said that our friends had arrived the day prior (Jeff and Kari) and that they were diving with them. He then said a truck was coming to pick us up and take us to the Dive Centre then to the Mango Inn for our free hotel room. Jill, Jenna, Julie, and Nadia decided to go up to the beach and find a hotel that they had heard about called Margaritaville. Chris and I said we weren't sure where we'd be staying so let them go and then we went with Dominique (Dom) and Caitlin to the Dive Centre. I don't have pics of Dom but there's a pic of Caitlin holding up the sign with our names on it. Dom is from Jersey, England and Caitlin is from Vancouver, BC. Both were very nice.
Waiting for the Ferry
Chris and Nadia... both look very impressed. We arrived at the Utila Dive Center and then had to fill out tons of paper work. I asked Dom if I was signing away my life. He said no, but on closer reading, did sign that I wouldn't blame them for death caused by complications in diving... lol... lovely. I met my instructor Tobi as well, who is a great guy from Israel... he doesn't hurt the eyes either 😉 I then paid my money, got my book and was sent off to do reading before my classes started at 4pm. I opted for 2 free fun dives instead of the free accomodations at the Mango Inn, so that I would be able to stay with my friends at whatever hotel they chose. Kari and Jeff had done the same.
Chris filled out his paperwork as well, but because he checked that he had asthma, he was told that he would have to get checked by the local doctor and be cleared for diving... quite ridiculous since he's already certified. He did try to do this on Thursday morning but the spanish doctor was closed for 2 days and the line-up for the english doctor was FAR
The Docks
I just thought the area was very pretty so took a bunch of photos too long to wait, so he ended up not diving afterall.
We then went to look for the others at the hotel they had mentioned. We found them at a restaurant across the street so Chris and I ordered food, then went to check out if there was room at the same hotel (Margaritaville) that the others were staying at. We did get a room for the two of us, so we each got our own double bed. Pretty nice hotel too for about $15US a night each.
Lunch on the dock at this restaurant was fantastic. I was still in awe of being on an island in the Carribean, with beautiful blue water with aqua patches. So beautiful.
I then spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in a nice big wooden chair on the porch of our hotel, reading chapter one of my diving text. Chris took a nap and the girls went to the beach. I went to the Dice Centre around 4pm and started my classes. There were 2 other guys in my class who are from the Czech Republic. They weren't very much fun. They were kind of serious, didn't joke around
much, and had a hard time in English, trying to understand everything. My instructor Tobi was awesome though. He liked to joke around. All my instructors did actually. I got along well with all of them. At first I thought my instructor, Syril, hated me. I later discovered he liked to tease me. Kari thought he had a crush on me.
Anyways, I had 3 instructors (Tobi from Israel, Caitlin from Vancouver, and Syril from Switzerland) and a divemaster in training (a step below instructor) named Vic who was from England. I definately felt like I'd be in good hands, being surrounded by this many diving professionals. The first day was just videos though.
I then met up with all my friends for dinner. Kari and Jeff didn't make it on time but the rest of us had dinner at a place called "Mermaid's", which had a buffet of food to make a plate from. It was really good food... lots of it for really cheap. We then took it into this little back room which was the only place that was air-conditioned. Kind of amusing.
After dinner we went to a bar called Tranquila. It's awesome...
The Boat We Took
Much smaller than we were expecting a long dock over the water. I just sat there looking up at the stars. It's always so much prettier when you don't have the lights of the city poluting the night sky. I kept thinking to myself "Wow, here I am... in this tropical place... staring up at the stars and watching the sheet lightening over the mountains in the distance." It was awesome.
Chris started falling asleep on the bench and I was tired too (and had to be up early for diving) so we head back to the hotel and went to bed. I was really nervous as I fell asleep. I knew that tomorrow I would start diving and would actually be getting in the water wearing the equiptment. That's scary...
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Mom
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Awesome pictures
Wow those pictures are beautiful - makes me wish I was there. Can't wait to see all the diving pictures next! Love Mom