You may think that living in another country means we didn't get to celebrate the 4th of July... well think again :) Lucky for us, there are so many expats living on this island, one of the resorts here does a full-blown 4th of July celebration! We spent the afternoon volunteering at a fundraiser for the clinic, which was a carnival for little kids. Eric and I created an obstacle course where the kids had to jump rope 10 times, do a 3-legged race to the cone and back, crab walk, and then race back to us and hit our hands. For whatever reason a lot of the kids thought this was potentially the best game that had ever been created in the history of games, and we ended up raking in quite a bit of money for the clinic while they all kept competing against one another to beat each others' scores.
Once the fundraiser was over, Eric and I were able to play to beach volleyball, snorkel, and enjoy the "American-style BBQ" which consisted of hamburgers, beans, and french fries :) (note the mound of food Eric is holding in the picture below). There were even fireworks set off over the ocean that we got to enjoy! Below are a few pictures of the day:
I also wanted to quickly show you some pictures of our day in Coxen Hole Saturday. Eric and I go to Coxen Hole every other Saturday (or at least we have this past month) to get whatever supplies we need in town and go grocery shopping. Coxen Hole is an interesting place. It is the largest city on the island - it's where most of the local commerce takes place, the cruise ships dock, and many of the locals live and work. It's the closest thing to a shanty town I have personally ever seen. Some stores are made of cement, but many are made out of wood and covered with corrugated tin roofs. Most of them are completely falling apart and there is generally trash everywhere. The stores and the town in general are in pretty bad condition, but many vendors will sell things at good prices.
When going down the main road from West End, you have to take a right to get into Coxen Hole. Ironically, if you go left, you will find the largest grocery store on the island. Keep in mind that none of the locals can afford to shop here. The shelves are stocked with predominantly American style food and brands. For example, I noticed this past trip that a jar of JIF peanut butter is almost $8.00! There is some Honduran style food there, but the store is clearly intended for tourists and the rich expats who call Roatan home. Below you will see some pictures of Coxen Hole and then the grocery store that Eric and I are lucky enough to get to go to every other week (and spend a small fortune). I just think it's an interesting way to show you the incredible range that you can find here between wealth and poverty, 1st and 3rd world.
Pictures of the main road in Coxen Hole:
Below is a picture of Eric buying a fan at one of the stores in Coxen Hole. So far this fan is our most prized possession - it is a life saver!
And then, up the street a bit you will find Eldons, a grocery store that you may find anywhere in the USA. It's the longest I've ever been able get Eric to shop with me because he can cool down in the amazing air conditioning :)
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