GRAND CAYMAN, THE BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS, AND GUATEMALA JUNE AND AUGUST 2013

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GRAND CAYMAN TO THE BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS TO GUATEMALA:

JUNE, JULY, and AUGUST 2013

Hi, Everyone,

We hope this blog finds all of you happy

and healthy! 

 

We have been enjoying the islands of Grand Cayman and The Bay Islands, Honduras (Guanaja and Roatan and we will see Utila in a few months) and Guatemala, since our last blog post. We had a great overnight sail from Grand Cayman to Guanaja.  We sailed the next day to Roatan. We had been there before, and knew it was a spectacular place, but only planned on staying for about 3 days then move onto to Guatemala.  Well, we ended up staying for over 2 months and it was FANTASTIC!  We stayed at a great place called "Fantasy Island" and it is truly just that as you will see in the wonderful photos!  A BIG THANK YOU to Jerry the Dockmaster for such a great job and making our stay so great. We are so happy to have also caught up with Ocean Star again!  We also met wonderful friends, S/V TRUE NORTH from  Holland (Fleur, Judith and Chris), met up again with Stephen and Jody S/V BLUE PELICAN from Australia that we had not seen since Grenada, Bob and Vicky of S/V FOX SEA, Steven and Marie of S/V Saben, and  Nicolas, Virginie, Oscar and Atheena of S/V Phaleus.  Lots of fun times of Happy Hours, exploring, great guitar music, and of course lots of singing and dancing!

 

 

We are now in Rio Dulce, Guatemala. A very beautiful and interesting place. We have changed up the blog a bit, since you last saw.  We  now have sponsors for our blog, and it is COMPLETELY FREE for you to click on them.  The fun part is, that if you do, that we receive credit for that and it will help pay for our boat expenses and adventures.  We sincerely appreciate your support! The Sponsors are located on the right hand side of the screen as you scroll down our blog pages (i.e., Active Captain, Cruising Outpost, Caribbean Compass, etc.)

 

We have had many more fun adventures lately and we hope that you enjoy this blog entry!
 

P.S. - You can also check out the link of the article that we recently wrote for tthe August 2013 issue of Caribbean Compass Magazine about our adventures in Guadeloupe, French West Indies.   

http://www.caribbeancompass.com/backissues.html

 

and then select August 2013 from the archive list. Just click and it will begin to download.  Enjoy!

 

Love to all of you,

J & B & Sailor Kitty : )

SOME HIGHLIGHTS WERE:

• MORE JET PACK FUN:MORE FUN WITH BILL AND JOANNE AND THE JET PACK - GRAND CAYMAN
  
  CATCHING SOME GOOD AIR!
  
  
  
  
  

 

 

 

• FUN TIMES WITH ISMAEL AND OLGA FROM "S/V CUATRO PATAS"
  
  
  

  

  
  

• WE SEE BAREFOOT MAN FOR THE FIRST TIME: WE HAVE ALL OF HIS MUSIC, BUT HE HAS ALWAYS  BEEN OFF ISLAND ON ALL OF THE ISLANDS WE HAVE TRAVELED SO WE ALWAYS MISSED SEEING HIM.
  
  
  

  

  
  

• SAILOR KITTY'S 4th BIRTHDAY

YES, THAT IS OUR KITTY WEARING A HULA SKIRT!:  )

• FANTASY ISLAND RESORT, MARINA AND DIVE CENTER

NIGHT SWIM AT ONE OF THE MANY FANTASY ISLAND BEACHES

• THE FIREMEN CAME TO EXTRACT A HUGE BEE HIVE THAT HAD BUILT WITHIN THE F.I. HOTEL WALLS.  THEY EVEN BROUGHT US SOME FRESH HONEYCOMB DRIPPING WITH HONEY.  YUM!

•  EVER WONDER WHAT A RIPE SEA GRAPE LOOKS LIKE????? WELL, HERE IT IS, JUST LIKE A RED GRAPE.  WE DID TASTE THEM, BUT THEY DO NOT TASTE AS GOOD AS A RED GRAPE, THEY ARE SWEET, BUT MORE SOUR THAN SWEET WITH A LARGE SEED INSIDE.  WE HAVE NOW TRIED IT, BUT IT IS NOT OUR FAVORITE.

RIPE SEA GRAPES

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE A GREEN CLUSTER OF SEA GRAPES

OUR WONDERFUL FRIEND AND SECURITY BROUGHT A BUNCH OF  HUGE
AVOCADOS AND MANGOES FROM HIS YARD!

CHRIS, GABBY AND BILL WORKING ON OUR NEW PENN FISHING RODS THAT
 S/V TRUE NORTH GAVE TO US!

A BARRACUDA THAT CHRIS CAUGHT FROM THEIR BOAT THAT WILL BE USED AS BAIT!  BILL IS CUTTING IT FOR  THEM

FERNANDO (GREAT FRIEND, MAINTENANCE GUY AND GARDENER) AND JERRY (GREAT FRIEND AND DOCKMASTER)

 

 

 

• OUR 13TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

 

• 4th OF JULY

• BASTILLE DAY
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  

 

• VIRGINIE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

 

 

 

• LOTS OF GREAT HAPPY HOURS AND ULTRA MOVIE NIGHTS
  
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

 

ULTRA MOVIE NIGHT "LES MISERABLES"

 

• DIVING, SNORKELING, DIVE PLANING

 

  

 

 

 

 

• BILL'S SON, DAVID CAME TO VISIT IN ROATAN

 

• LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS
  
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

•  FIRST FISH WE HAVE CAUGHT SINCE WE SAILED FROM GRAND CAYMAN TO THE BAY ISLANDS.

BLACK FIN TUNA!  SUSHI-RAMA  : )

OUR FRIENDS ABOARD TRUE NORTH GAVE A US A SHORTER VERSION OF PENN RODS THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.  WE WERE SO HAPPY TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF CATCHING FISH UNDERWAY!

WE USED RIVERS BRAND RUM TO POUR IN HIS GILLS TO KILL HIM RIGHT AWAY! WORKS WELL AT 180 PROOF!

 

WE FINALLY GET TO SEE THE BAREFOOT MAN PERFORM AT "THE WHARF" RESTAURANT

FUN TIMES WITH ISMAEL AND OLGA

 

 

THE WHARF RESTAURANT

THE FUN OWNERS OF THE WHARF RESTAURANT

 

 

 

SNORKELING UNDERNEATH OUR BOAT

IN GRAND CAYMAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

DINNER ABOARD ULTRA WITH EDNBAL AND CUATRO PATAS

ROGER AND SASHA MADE HANDMADE LOBSTER SUSHI! YUMMY!

OLGA TEACHES US HOW TO PREPARE THE OCTOPUS THAT OUR HAITIAN FRIENDS GAVE US IN HAITI SPANISH STYLE!

OLGA, ROGER, SASHA,
JOANNE, BILL AND ISMAEL

OLGA PREPARED DELICIOUS AFTER DINNER DRINKS

EVERY DAY WE BIKED ALL OVER TOWN, SO WE WOULD PICK UP A JAMAICAN PATTY AND SOME PLANTAIN CHIPS

 

OUR HOMEMADE BIKE TRAILER

BRIE, BLUEBERRIES AND A BAGUETTE
LIFE IS GOOD!
WE HAVE NOT SEEN THESE ITEMS IN A STORE IN A LONG TIME!

OUR WHEELS!

AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME, WE GAVE SAILOR A RUB DOWN WITH AN ICED COLD WASHCLOTH
HE IS LOVING IT!

 

 

 

THE VIEW OF GEORGETOWN, GRAND CAYMAN FROM ULTRA

THE TORTUGA RUM COMPANY GROUNDS

IT IS COMPLETE WITH LOTS OF BIRDS AND IGUANAS!

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL POST OFFICE BOX!

 

DINNER ABOARD CUATRO PATAS

 

THIS IS A SNAPPER THAT IS BEING PREPARED SPANISH STYLE "ESPINA" AND ABOUT TO BECOME A GOURMET MEAL!

 

SPANISH WINE, IT IS SOO YUMMY!

 

 

THE FISH IS PERFECTO!

THE REAL SPANISH HAM OR JAMON

SERRANO HAM

WE LEARNED IT IS MADE FROM PIGS THAT ROAM THE FOREST EATING ACORNS

THEY ARE ONLY BLACK PIGS

THE CLASS OF PIG WE ARE TOLD IS THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN THE CLASS OF A HORSE AND OF A DONKEY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOW BEGINS THE CUATRO PATAS DISCOTEQUE

COMPLETE WITH LIGHTS, GREAT MUSIC, AND LOTS OF DANCING!

TAPAS ABOARD ULTRA WITH  CUATRO PATAS

 

 

 

TODAY WE ARE BOUND FOR THE BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS

 

We are very blessed going west, since we can fly out spinnaker, too.  We had a great overnight sail. Instead of stopping part of the way at Swan Island to rest, we decided to go  all the way.  After some rain during the wee hours of the morning, we had a beautiful rainbow while coming into Guanaja, Honduras.  We also were greeted by a huge pod of dolphins. FANTASTIC!   After making our way safely through the reef, we arrived at the anchorage. A boat guy named, Red, came up and offered us a lift to check in and also to show us around.  All of the buildings and homes are built on pilings.  They say it is due to the terrible sand flies.  We checked in and then headed off to the overnight anchorage.  We jumped in the dink again and toured all around this place. 

 

 

SAILOR ASSUMES HIS USUAL UNDERWAY POSITION.  TOTALLY HYPNOTIZED BY THE BOAT MOVEMENT AND COMPLETELY SACKED OUT UNDER THE HELM!

LOTS AND LOTS OF DOLPHINS!

BILL IS GIVING SAILOR A CLOSER LOOK!

WE ARRIVE IN THE BAY ISLANDS     WE HAVE ARRIVED IN GUANAJA!    THE HONDURAS FLAG!                       EVERY SINGLE HOME IS BUILT ON PILINGS! WE ARE TOLD 8,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN THIS ONE SMALL AREA!             RED, OUR BOAT GUY IN GUANAJA! His grandfather was from New York, but settled in Guanaja and had a huge plantation. His family has been here ever since!       THIS IS ONE OF THE FERRIES THAT GOES TO MAINLAND HONDURAS       ULTRA ANCHORED IN GUANAJA             ALL OF THESE WOODEN BOXES ARE LOBSTER TRAPS         BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSE ON GUANAJA WE SAW THIS AFTER TAKING THE QUICK TRIP UP THE RIVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF GUANAJA             THESE ARE ALL LOBSTER TRAPS!       After dinking around Guanaja,we pulled up the hook and sailed to Roatan. We have not been to Roatan in a few years. Last time we came to visit, we stayed at Las Rocas Beach and Dive Resort in West Bay.  It was a great deal at around $50 per night.  Not that way anymore though.  It is a full blown dive resort now.  We arrived in beautiful French Harbour.  We tied up at the dock at Fantasy Island Resort and Marina. They also have a great dive center here, too.  Just outside the reef is spectacular diving and inside the reef is great snorkeling and of course, the famed Lobster City, which is just like Stingray City, but with Lobsters.  Hundreds and hundreds of lobsters crawling all over the place at this beautiful marine park.  Steve and Alice of S/V Ocean Star is also here, so we are happy to have met up with them again!  Now more fun begins as you will see in the following fun photos!  Jerry is the Dockmaster, and he used to run the Yacht Club in Saint Maarten.  Fernando is the maintenance man and gardener of the marina.  They both do a great job here at Fantasy Island! Ivan is the owner's son of Fantasy Island, and he does a great job of running the hotel.  The resort is full of wonderful animals: monkeys, parrots, peacocks, chickens, turkeys, iguanas, hutias and much more.  The water is gin clear and fish and corals all over the place. We met wonderful friends during our stay here. We celebrated 4th of July, Bastille Day, birthdays, our 13th wedding anniversary, Happy Hours, BBQs, Ultra Movie Nights, lots of scuba diving and exploring, Bill's son, David, coming to visit us from Texas.  His first vacation in 5 years!,and much more as you will see in the following photos! ENJOY! : )           WE SPOTTED A SHRIMPER ALSO NAMED OCEAN STAR! THESE ARE SOME OF THE KIDS THAT WE SAW EVERY TIME WE DINKED INTO TOWN WE ALWAYS BROUGHT LOLLIPOPS WITH US TO GIVE OUT TO ALL OF THEM SO FUN! :  ) THEY WOULD ALSO PERFORM FOR US AND DO FLIPS, ETC. PARROT TREE PLANTATION RESORT YES, THIS IS A CONTAINER MADE INTO A WATERFRONT HOME!         SHIPWRECK DIVING YES, THIS IS AN AIRPLANE.  A DC-3 TO BE EXACT.  STORY GOES, IT IS A DRUG  SMUGGLING JOB GONE BAD ALL OF THE  WITNESSES, SAY THAT NO ONE DIED IN THIS CRASH HUGE MORAY EEL! ULTRA MOVIE NIGHT!       OUR LITTLE MONKEY FRIEND.  HE IS SO FUN AND EASY GOING! LIONFISH BEING CLEANED BY PEDRO   TYPICAL AFRICAN GARIFUNA TRIBE (HONDURAS HERITAGE) HUT BIRTHDAY AT PARROT TREE PLANTATION RESORT FOR THE OWNER'S WIFE.  THIS IS THE OWNER'S WIFE AND SHE ALSO A MARRIACHI BAND AND EXCELLENT LOCAL FOOD AND THE ENTERTAINMENT IS "JOKE NIGHT".  WELL, ALL OF THE JOKES WERE I SPANISH AND ALL OF THE JOKES HAD A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF HUMOR.  THAT IS OKAY, WE ALL MADE THE BEST OF IT. HAD A GREAT VISIT, HAD SOME GOOD FOOD AND DRINKS AT CHEAP PRICES AT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE!  HER AUNT MADE HER DRESS IN ONLY 2 DAYS!  AMAZING AND SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND A VERY NICE PERSON! THE FIRST NIGHT WE MET NICOLAS AND VIRGINIE!  THEY ARRIVED AT THE MARINA AND IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT WITH ALL OF US!   JUNE 23, 2013 OUR 13TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY:  WE SPENT IT DIVING AND ENJOYING A $5 DRINK EACH AT LITTLE FRENCH KEY.  WE HAD ALREADY GIVEN OURSELVES OUR ANNIVERSARY TO EACH OTHER OVER A MONTH AGO, WHEN WE WERE IN GRAND CAYMAN AND DID THE JET -PACK THERE.  THAT NIGHT, OCEAN STAR PREPARED A SPECTACULAR ANNIVERSARY DINNER FOR US!   OCEAN STAR MAKES US A DELICIOUS ANNIVERSARY DINNER COMPLETE WITH CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE! YUMMY! THEY ARE DEPARTING FOR RIO DULCE TOMORROW.     TONIGHT, NICOLAS, VIRGINIE, OSCAR AND ATHEENA OF S/V PHALEAS INVITED US OVER FOR HAPPY HOUR! THE ARE FROM FRANCE. WHAT A FUN, FUN FAMILY! THE NIGHT WAS COMPLETE WITH NICOLAS PLAYING EXCELLENT GUITAR, US ALL GETTING TO SING AND DANCE TOGETHER.     BILL DEMONSTRATING TO EVERYONE HOW TO CLEAN A LIONFISH PROPERLY! THE MORAY EEL IS HERE TO EAT THE SCRAPS.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO TEACH THE OTHER FISH TO EAT LIONFISH SINCE THEY ARE TERRIBLE FOR THE REEFS AND DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE ANY PREDATORS!  LIONFISH PICO DE GALLO THE FISH WAS TOO SMALL TO MAKE CEVICHE   ATHEENA SPORTING SOME OF OUR COSTUMES OSCAR BECAME A CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE   DINNER ABOARD ULTRA WITH NICOLAS AND VIRGINIE! POTLUCK NIGHT AT FANTASY ISLAND MARINA. BILL IS MAKING HIS YUMMY CONCH FRITTERS!       A BAG WILL KEEP SAILOR BUSY FOR HOURS.  NO STORE BOUGHT TOYS FOR HIM, JUST OLD LINE AND BAGS.  HE IS A HAPPY KITTY KAT!    ULTRA HOSTED THE CRUISERS 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION COMPLETE WITH LOTS OF GAMES: BEACH VOLLEYBALL,  SHOTPUT THE COCONUT, LIME IN THE SPOON, EGG TOSS, BEACH GOLF, BEAN BAG TOSS, SEAHORSE RACE, AND MUCH MORE. WE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME!  THE HOTEL WAS CLOSED,SO WE ALL HAD THE BEACH TO OURSELVES!  WOO HOO!       JODY AND STEPHEN BROUGHT THEIR BOCCI BALL SET THE POWER IS OFF, SO WE DO NOT HAVE MUSIC.  GOTTA HAVE IT AND LIGHTS FOR THE MOVIE NIGHT TONIGHT.  OFF TO GET THE HONDA GENERATOR OFF THE BOAT! KIDS GOT COCA - COLA SHOTS FOR THEIR REWARD AND THE ADULTS GOT SHOTS OF RUM! VIRGINIE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY! ATHEENA, JUDITH, JODY, JOANNE AND VIRGINIE BILL BROUGHT OUT ALL OF THE COSTUMES!  WOO HOO! SO FUN! NICOLAS WAS AN EXCELLENT DJ FOR US AND WE DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY! MORE FUN BBQS AND HAPPY HOURS DAVID IS PERFORMING SOME OF HIS GREAT MUSIC FOR EVERYONE, TOO! BASTILLE DAY: S/V PHALEUS HOSTS AN EXCELLENT BASTILLE DAY CELEBRATION! A REWARD FOR OSCAR FROM ULTRA HE COMPLETED HIS ADVANCED DIVING CERTIFICATION AND HE IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD! HIS REWARD WAS A BEAUTIFUL SHARK TOOTH NECKLACE! STEPHEN AND JODY NICOLAS VINCENT VIRGINIE: LET THEM EAT CAKE! EVERYONE IS WEARING WHITE IT IS A CUSTOM IN FRANCE TO WEAR WHITE ON BASTILLE DAY   VIVA LA FRANCE WE RENTED A CAR AND TOURED THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF ROATAN! THIS IS THE BUNGALOW THAT BILL AND JOANNE STAYED AT THE FIRST TIME  FOR CHRISTMAS IN ROATAN AT LAS ROCAS RESORT IN WEST BAY.   GREAT DIVING IN ROATAN     VIRGINIE, ATHEENA AND JOANNE SHADOWDANCING BEFORE THE ULTRA MOVIE NIGHT!   THIS IS HOW WE CARRIED PLYWOOD HOME FROM THE WATERFRONT HARDWARE STORE 3 BAYS OVER FROM US! WEST END, ROATAN LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, THIS WAS A SAND ROAD. THE NEW MAYOR HAD PROMISED TO PAVE IT AS SOON AS HE MOVED INTO OFFICE.  HE DID. WE PREFER IT SANDY THOUGH, IT HAD MORE CHARM ALONG WITH ITS' HUGE SHIP ROPES THAT ARE THE SPEED BUMPS! POTFULL OF LIONFISH TRUE NORTH'S NEW PANGA BILL AND JOANNE JUMPING OFF OF THE DECK AT BOTTOMS UP, LITTLE FRENCH KEY DAVID AND BILL READY TO CHILL OUT IN THE NICE COOL WATER AT LITTLE FRENCH KEY WITH A RUM AND COKE IN HAND!   LIONFISH THIS FISH GOT SOME HOW CAUGHT UP IN THE RING OF AN OLD SEA BISCUIT SHELL, WE FOUND HIM AND DAVID AND JOANNE FREED HIM. THE FAMILY THAT BEGAN THE MARINE PARK IN FRENCH HARBOUR HAVE BROUGHT MANY BUCKETS OF SARDINES FOR THE FISH.  WE ARE HAND FEEDING LOBSTERS, GROUPERS, GRUNTS AND MANY OTHERS. DERICK, THE DIVEMASTER AND HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND 2 MONTH OLD SON. THE VIEW OF THE REEF FROM OUR BOAT  AT FANTASY ISLAND! SETTING UP ULTRA MOVIE NIGHT, COMPLETE WITH IGUANAS, HUTIAS AND CHICKENS RUNNING AROUND! MEMORIAL FOR OUR FRIEND WILL.  HE LIVED ABOARD HIS BOAT IN ROATAN AND PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY.  JERRY, THE DOCKMASTER, HOSTED A BRILLIANT MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR WILL. HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. STEPHEN,OF S/V BLUE PELICAN'S BIRTHDAY PARTY We dinked over to town with Stephen and Jody and hiked over to Dixon's Palapa, a great local place, to have a great lunch to celebrate and then over to the iguana farm and then birthday party  on the F.I.M. dock with everyone! WE HAVE WAITING FOR THIS BABY TO BE BORN.  HE IS ONLY A FEW HOURS OLD. SO CUTE! HE WAS BORN THIS MORNING! THE ENTIRE ROAD ALL THE WAY IS COVERED WITH IGUANAS IT IS OWNED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT BEGAN THE MARINE PARK IN FRENCH HARBOUR GREAT DAY OF SNORKELING, BOAT PROJECTS AND THEN HAND MADE SUSHI WITH BLUE PELICAN ABOARD ULTRA! Atheena is pretty in pink!         WE HAVE ARRIVED IN BEAUTIFUL GUATEMALA GUATEMALAN FLAG   After a great overnight sail to Guatemala from Roatan, we arrived in Livingston, Guatemala.  We had a great check in with Girson (the customs agent) and the other officials and then were on our way up the beautiful Rio Dulce, River.  The sounds of parrots, howler monkeys, birds of all kinds singing, and friendly voices in dugout canoes paddling by  saying "Buenos Dias". The sites up the river were fantastic: lush green mountains and forests, the canyon walls are covered in wonderful rock formations, and numerous palm frond fringed huts line the shoreline.  LIVINGSTON, GUATEMALA ENTERING THE RIO DULCE            FISH MARKET IN TOWN PRODUCE MARKET IS FANTASTIC! THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THE CHICKS HANG OUT!  :  ) ALL DIFFERENT AGES! THESE ARE BEDS   WE EXPLORED MORE OF THE RIO WITH ALICE AND STEVE TODAY AND TOOK THE DINKS UP 11 MILES ON WAY TO SEE THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE AND VILLAGE. WE ARRIVED AT THE BRIDGE AND EXPLORED, BUT NEVER FOUND THE VILLAGE, ONLY FARMS.  IT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL TRIP FOR SURE!  IT IS THE JUNGLE!   THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE Add caption MAGNIFICANT TREE!   THE NEXT WE TOOK OUR DINK TO TOWN AND THEN EXPLORED THE RIO SOME MORE WE STOPPED AND HAD A BEER AT THE "LA MEXICAN Y  KANGAROO RESTAURANT" THE FORT IN THE RIO DULCE THE RIO DULCE BRIDGE   MARIO'S MARINA! THIS IS WHERE WE ARE STAYING! IT IS A GREAT PLACE! ULTRA TIED UP AT MARIO'S MARINA THIS IS A CUSTOM BOAT THAT IS NEXT TO US IN THE MARINA! BILL COOKING FRENCH FRIES FOR THE POTLUCK GAMES BEFORE ULTRA MOVIE NIGHT MARCO AND HIS LOVELY WIFE, MYRNA DINNER ABOARD ULTRA BEFORE ALICE LEAVES TOMORROW FOR TEXAS! WE ALSO PLAYED HEARTS.  STEVE AND ALICE WERE VERY PATIENT WITH US.  WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PLAY CARDS, SO WE ARE CARD PLAYERS IN TRAINING AND THEN THERE IS MORE TRAINING.  BUT SO FUN!     THIS IS THE FAMILY OF THE HOME THAT WE HAVE BEEN DONATING MANY OF OUR ITEMS ABOARD TO. CLOTHES, FOOD, LINENS, SOAP AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. THEY HAVE NO RUNNING WATER, NO ELECTRICITY AND NO INDOOR PLUMBING. REALLY NICE AND GRACIOUS FAMILY AND THE GRANDPARENTS AND DAUGHTER ARE RAISING 4 KIDS THERE..   We still have lots  more exploring in the Rio Dulce and all of Guatemala.  Lots more adventures to come.  We hope that you enjoyed this blog entry! Cheers, Bill, JoAnne & Sailor Kitty :  )