Aymi’s Adventures

Me Overcoming one of my greatest fears and learning to dive!

So when I finally arrived in Utila and looked around for a hostel I soon realised that there was not a lot to do here if you dont dive.  So I decided to just go for it and fully conquer my fear of the sea.  I had no intention of doing it before I got here, then all of a sudden it sounded like a good idea.  I wasnt so sure at some points, like the first night, after being shattered after a full day of travelling and then having to go watch PADI diving videos and complete knowledge reviews – needless to say I fell asleep after the first unit!!  And having to get up at 6am to be at the dive shop for 6.30 was not my favorite, but what I did discover was that diving is a great cure for hangovers – fantastic!!  I also found that I really liked being under the water and able to see everything thats going on around you.  Its so peaceful and relaxing and also educational.  I never though I would be the kinda person who would enjoy identifying different species of fish and coral, but its actually really cool!

So my days on Utila consisted of lots of diving, lots of theory, rushing around a lot and generally having fun.  Utila watersports became my little family, we dived together, ate together and drank together for 9 nights – almost resulting in me missing my 6.20am ferry back over to La Ceiba on the mainland!!

The boat, me diving, my instructors & dive buddy’s

The I went over to Roatan  – the largest Bay Island to meet up with Dave who I met in Costa Rica.  Roatan was a lot more beautiful than Utila, there was more to do here, like laze on the beach (Utila didnt really have a beach) but also a lot more expensive than Utila.  The first 2 nights I stayed in a well posh place for $25 per night as I thought I should treat myself, the last 2 nights I stayed in Daves house which was really cool, actually on stilts over the water and a cat there had just had kittens which were great fun to play with.

The gang in Roatan & Mummy & kitties.

Back to La Ceiba on the 1pm ferry meaning I missed England’s penalty shootout, although when finding out the score I was actually glad I wasnt subjected to watching it!! 

So we decided to Spend the night in La Ceiba and take the direct bus to Copan tomorrow.  Although I had heard bad things about Ceiba, I actually quite liked it.  Everyone seemed really friendly and we had a good night out in a bar called Expatriots!

The only piccie I have of Travis & Casey – my travel buddies from the Bay Islands all the way through to Antigua in Guatemala – havent forgotten about you Stephen but the stupid computer has lost all my other piccies!

After the long bus ride to Copan we all knew we were going to like the place.  It was kind of like Grenada in Nigaragua, but smaller and quainter.  We spent 2 nights in Manzana Verde, part of Via Via which was a really cool hostel, went round the Maya ruins which were pretty impressive, very different to the Inca ruins in South America – much smaller stones, but much more intricate heiroglyphics.  Spent the afternoon moving from happy hour to happy hour – needless to say the bus journey up to Antigua, Guatemala the next day was not the most pleasant.