A day for taste testing

Yesterday, we closed up for our annual maintenance here at Barefoot Cay Resort in Roatan.  We’ll be closed for a 2 week period in order to get any noisy maintenance out of the way and keep our resort looking fresh and beautiful for our guests.  We have a great new landscaping project in the works on the shore side of the property, just to the east of our Barefoot Divers building.  We’re putting in several small palapas with built in tables to eat at, so that we can offer a lunchtime grill on this side, as well as expanding our garden area. 

The kitchen will be getting a thorough scrub down and re-0rganizing, kitchen staff will be receiving training, and we may even be getting a new chef!  Today we sampled a bit of the cooking of Chef Doug, to see if he’d make a good addition to our team.  As my faithful readers know, I’m always testing new things before offering them to our guests, to make sure that they receive top quality and service, whether it’s an activity, spa service, or in this case, a meal.  Today, I was joined by two other members of our management team, Doug and Yannie, so that we could try out the chef’s creations.  I’t's my day off, but sometimes sacrifices need to be made (when the sacrifice includes a molten lava cake, I’m in!).

We started with a lobster and asperagus ceviche served with a mango puree.  The main course was a honey-roasted peanut encrusted fish topped with watermelon sauce, served with coconut milk rice.    Dessert, as I mentioned, was an ultra-decadent lava cake topped with ice-cream- mmmm!

I know most of you are now wanting to know-  ‘Will he make the cut, is he going to be joining our team?”   I guess you’ll need to book a trip down to find out!  We re-open on October 15th: come and see who’s cooking in the kitchen!

 

Fun at Barefoot Cay Resort

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Another gorgeous day in paradise, here in sunny Roatan.  Guests at Barefoot Cay shared their morning coffee today with Chacarron, the resort parrot who had snuck out of his cage and made his way over to the dining room.  Elsewhere on the cay, a couple indulged in a couples massage out on the palapa, where they relaxed under the skilled hands of our massage therapists, and listened to the water lapping the deck.

The pool made a great place to cool off.  For those seeking sun and adventure, an inaugural trip on the pedal boat was in order!  The champagne voyage headed out this morning to explore the calm waters of the channel- have fun guys!

On the other side of the channel on our shore property, our maintenance guys are busy installing a few palapas and surrounding gardens for our new snack shack that will be opening soon.  The resort will be closed October 1st to 15th to work on this project as well as other property maintenance, making Barefoot Cay more beautiful and better than ever.

Have time to come down for a visit?  Come see us when we re-open!  The week of October 15th to 22nd, we have a special running for only $749 per person inclusive in the studio loft- see our website for details: www.barefootcay.com/rates/specials

 

Up, up and away!

Always on the lookout for new activities to recommend our guests at Barefoot Cay Resort, parasailing has recently been on my research list.  There are two parasail companies currently operating on the island of Roatan, both out of West Bay.  The first provided very poor service with my initial inquiries, so I moved on to the second company.  Honduras Watersports (www.HondurasWaterSports.com) were great- they answered all my questions, have well-maintained equipment and friendly staff.

I headed down to West Bay with my two boys, 6 and 8, to give it a try.  I’m a bit of a wuss, so soaring 800 feet above the water with just a rope holding me to the boat was a little scary, but I was game to give it a try.  We climbed on to the boat, and got fitted with harnesses and lifejackets.  All three of us were able to go up at the same time.   We went to the back of the boat and got clipped in, with the brightly coloured parachute billowing behind us.    Slowly, we climbed up, up, up.

The view was absolutely breathtaking.  I eventually slightly relaxed my deathgrip on the ropes (in order to reassuringly pat my 6 yr old’s shoulder, who very matter of factly stated that he was a bit scared), and soon my heartbeat slowed from the rapid pounding and I began to really enjoy the bird’s eye view as we cruised along the west coast of the island.

Eventually, they reeled us towards the boat, and let us dip down to touch the water with our feet, before lifting us back up again and reeling us the rest of the way into the boat.  Getting back on board was smooth and easy, and we got unclipped and seated for the ride back to shore.  Hopped off the boat, and stayed at West Bay for awhile to enjoy the beautiful snorkeling from shore- another day in paradise!

 

Taking the Plunge

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In the morning, I awoke to the sound of rain teeming down.  Uh oh- not a good sign for a wedding day!  Most of the year, we have incredible weather on our sunny Caribbean island of Roatan, and a destination wedding at Barefoot Cay normally means a backdrop of beautiful blue skies touching down to a sparkling blue ocean.   However, we wouldn’t have such a lush, green island if we never got any rain!  But not to worry, we frequently have night/morning showers that clear up early in the day to beautiful sunshine.  I headed in to work and straight to the computer to check on a weather site.  Not looking good- 60% chance of rain for the afternoon.  The other days during the week also had a fairly high chance of rain: a bit better odds than the current day, but definitely not a guarantee.  

I set out in search of the bride and groom to discuss options with them- different date, different site?  In North America, changing a wedding date on the day of the wedding might be impossible, but here in Roatan, it can usually be done if needed: musicians, photographers, pastors are accommodating.  They decided that they would stick with the original day, and try to aim for the beach that was originally intended, with a back-up of the palapa if it looked like it was going to pour. 

The decision, and the attitude of James and Sherida when they made it, reflected a lot about their personalities and their ability to cope with problems that inevitably arise in life and marriage.  The rain and clouds weren’t in their plans for their wedding day, but they chose not to let it get them down, and just slightly alter their plans and keep moving forward.

The rain stopped in the morning, and though there were clouds overhead, it looked like any more rain would hold off.  Our Barefoot Cay wedding team got the beach beautifully decorated with a bamboo arch draped in white, navy and lime green, and the aisle sprinkled with hibiscus.   Champagne was iced down and ready to be popped.

The hairdressers arrived, and headed over to the bride’s beachfront bungalow to start coiffing her locks.  The kitchen staff prepared the wedding table in the Lookout Lounge, and the getaway barge got decorated and ready to whisk away the newlyweds.

The pastor arrived, followed by the photographer and the videographer.  The bride slipped into her dress and gotten buttoned up by her mom.  Meanwhile, everyone gathered down on the beach, where the clouds miraculously held tight onto their raindrops.

The guitarist was strumming softly as Sherida made her entrance.  On her father’s arm, she walked the aisle up to her position next to her future husband.  The pastor started with traditional vows, and then they exchanged vows they had written themselves, and I passed out kleenex  

Husband and wife joined with family and friends and toasted to their new lives together.  Then, while everyone else went to enjoy a few appetizers and reggae music by the pool,  James and Sherida went to pose for photos.  A few raindrops started to fall, and then stopped!  Menacing clouds loomed overhead, but refused to open.  The rain held off, not just for the ceremony, but also for the rest of the evening.

After dinner, everyone danced by the pool, and the grand finale was when James and Sherida took the plunge- literally  

Congratulations, guys!  Thanks for sharing your special day with us.

Happily Ever After

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The Caribbean sun smiling down on them, Karina and Raymond said ‘I do’ this weekend at Barefoot Cay Resort in Roatan.  The couple escaped to our tropical paradise for an intimate wedding ceremony with just the two of them.  Friends of the bride contacted the resort to arrange a surprise gift of a stylist to come and do Karina’s hair and make up for their destination wedding- she made a stunningly beautiful bride   The weather was gorgeous- sunny and warm, with a breeze coming off the sea.  The wedding took place on the beach at the far end of the cay.  Barefoot, of course- what else could you expect at Barefoot Cay?

After the couple had exchanged vows, they toasted to the start of their lives together, and shared their wedding cake.  Then we had some fun taking a few candid shots along the shoreline and out at the palapa as the sun was setting.  The kitchen prepared a romantic dinner for them.  As for the rest of the night?  That was spent behind closed doors in their beachfront bungalow, as they were already at their honeymoon destination

For more information on weddings and honeymoons at Barefoot Cay, you can visit our website at  http://www.barefootcay.com/Weddings/WeddingsVowRenewals/

Shopping at Barefoot Cay

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Today, we had our first clearance sale at the Resort Shop at Barefoot Cay.  We’ve got a great selection of stuff that have been discounted up to 50% off, as well as second-hand wetsuits and assorted kitchen items for sale.  It’s great, I love a sale   I stopped by to take a few pictures, and walked away with a few purchases!  David’s out on the grill, barbequing burgers, and Haydee and Carmen are busy ringing up the sales.  The guests who are here can get some great deals on t-shirts, hats, sunglasses and more, and there were several Roatan residents checking out the sale as well.

 

Happy Shopping!

Learning to Dive

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Roatan is a gorgeous island, covered in lush vegetation, swaying palm trees, sandy beaches.  But one of it’s biggest attractions lies beneath the surface, in the waters surrounding the island.  The coral reef of Roatan is part of the 2nd largest barrier reef systems in the world.  Snorkeling is a great way to check out the reef, and diving is even better.  If you’re not a certified diver, it’s easy to give it a try for the first time with PADI’s Discover Scuba experience.  The Discover Scuba just takes a 1/2 day to complete, with a short academic session, followed by a bit of practice in the shallow water, and then a dive wtih your instructor.  If you get totally hooked on the sport, then the dive can be used towards a Scuba Diver or Open Water certification.

At Barefoot Cay, all dive instruction is offered through our on-site dive center, Barefoot Divers.  We have a great group of instructors working for us, who will make sure your experience goes smoothly.  They’re super-patient, and safety is always the top priority.  They’ll make sure to point out all the little creatures you might miss if you’re not looking carefully: lobsters hidden in crevices, little nudibranches inching along the wall, flounders camouflaged along the bottom.

If you’re already a certified diver, it’s a great idea to continue your education with a specialty course.  We have a photo/video pro, if you’d like to learn how to use an underwater camera, or would like a custom shoot for some memories to carry home with you.

 

Hanging out at Barefoot Cay

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Part of a good vacation is having enough ‘kick back and relax’ time.  In Roatan, where everyone goes by island time, there’s definitely time to chill out and escape from the hustle and bustle of life.  And so many options on where to do it!  One of my favourite spots to lounge at Barefoot Cay is out at our palapa, where there’s always a little breeze to catch when swinging in a hammock, or you can sit in one of the chairs gazing out to sea, checking to see if you can spot any rays gliding by.  Beach lovers might prefer to lie out on a lounge chair along the shore, either working on their tan or keeping cool under one of the beach palapas.  And of course, there are the super comfortable padded lounge chairs next to the pool, which also have the advantage of being close to the bar.

Not a ‘sit still’ kind of person?  No problem: there are enough activities around Roatan to keep you busy from sun- up to sundown!

Ziplining at Caribe Sky Canopy in Roatan

A new zipline company has recently opened on Roatan, just a few minutes away from Barefoot Cay Resort.  Caribe Sky has 12 lines, a total of over 7,000 feet in length to zip down.  That’s a lot of zipping!

As with all the activities we recommend, we send out one of our staffers to try it out, both to make sure it would be something guests would enjoy, as well as to get all the information we need to describe it accurately to anyone who’s thinking of going.  This time, I sent one of our guest service staff, Manuel, to give it a try.  Before I went, I made sure I had a copy of his will, and that I was included on it   Ha, ha, just kidding: the zipline meets or exceeds all the current safety standards, including having a double cable, and keeps all their equipment well maintained, so I knew Manuel would be in excellent hands- afterall, I wouldn’t want to end up short-staffed!

Manuel was a little nervous, as he’s a bit scared of heights, but he confronted his fears and went to go conquer them.  One of the zips was close to 2,000 feet, and it’s the 2nd one along the course, so he wasn’t quite ready for that one on his own.  No problem: a guide went along just behind him to help him through it.  They’ve got great staff that will make sure that you have an amazing experience.

By then, he had built up his confidence, so he did the next one (over 1,600 feet) all on his own.  For families with younger children, the company can arrange a guide to strap in with your child and take them all the way down- as young as 4 years old!

The canopy tour sends you sailing through the beautiful lush vegetation of Roatan’s jungly hillsides, with an incredible view of the Caribbean and the French Harbour area.  On each line, one guide goes ahead to help get you on to the platform at the end of the line.  He can take your camera and get a few shots of you coming down.  A 2nd guide follows the end of the group, and has drinking water with him for anyone who needs rehydrating.

The tour finishes at by the office and the parking lot.  The zipline company can pick you up and drop you off at the resort at no extra charge, and as it’s so close by, you’ll still have plenty of time left in the day to hop in for an afternoon dive, go snorkeling off the palapa, or relax in a hammock and celebrate your bravery with a Barefoot La la.  Ah, that’s the life!

If you want to see more about this canopy tour, you can check out their website:  http://skycanopy-roatan.com/

Snorkeling in Roatan

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One activity that almost everyone who comes to Roatan participates in is snorkeling.  It doesn’t matter your age or health level, snorkeling is a relaxing, fun adventure to try.  I’ve had my kids in snorkeling since they were 4, and I’ve seen people in their 80s and 90s that still enjoy this past-time.  Snorkeling is easily transportable: throw a set of mask, fins and snorkel in your bag, and you can hop in anywhere around the island.  A few places, it’s a bit of a swim to get out to the reef, but at Barefoot Cay, you can hop in off the end of the dock with the palapa, and within a few feet, you’re already at the little wreck.  A few fin kicks more, and you’re at the inner reef.  Below the surface, a whole new world awaits.  Lobsters and crabs peek out of crevices, schools of fish stream by, a sea fan waves gently in the current, a barricuda hovers mid-water.

If you’ve never snorkeled before, it’s pretty easy.  The salt water makes you buoyant, but if you’re not a strong swimmer, you can always put on a snorkel vest.  With a snorkel to breathe through, you don’t have to lift your head out of the water to take a breath, so you can just float leisurely on the surfact while taking in all the beauty below.  It’s easy to lose yourself in everything you’re seeing, so make sure to put on some heavy-duty sunscreen or slip on a t-shirt, so you don’t end up frying your back!

A few things might look tempting to pick up and carry home as a souvenir, but please don’t.  If everyone did this, there would be nothing left!  Roatan has a protected marine reserve on the west and south side of the island, so it’s not permitted to take out anything including shells, living or dead.  Also make sure that you stay far enough away from the coral that you don’t accidentally kick it, as coral is a living, made up of coral polyps that have taken thousands of years to grow.  That means that there’s definitely no standing on the coral either!

If you’d like to find out more about all the interesting creatures you’ve seen, there are excellent marine ID guides, like the Paul Humann series, to help you identify marine life and learn more about each organisms life.

If you don’t have your own snorkel gear, Barefoot Cay guests are welcome to borrow this through our dive shop at no charge, and you can keep it in your room so that you can hop in whenever you want.