Roatan Insights © February 2002
News from the Honduras Bay Islands and North Coast
February 2002
By Pierre Renaldo, The Coastwatcher©

After having spent the last two months in the civilized world, (my first trip back to the U.S in over 5 years ) I need to comment on a few things that I have forgotten about after enduring such a long time in the fabled paradise of the Western Caribbean. I speak to this subject for the benefit of those of you who will be traveling here for the first time or for a repeat visit after an all too short exploratory trip or two. Also to those of you who plan to someday join us permanently in our delightful corner of the Caribbean Sea.

I repeat this information annually due to the ongoing requests for information from readers who are planning a trip and who need these reminders to stimulate their memories about the dos and do-nots when visiting third-world and/or resort communities the world over. This advisory is now exclusively for Roatan.

These places are in recession and tourists are lucrative targets of the locals who are absolutely convinced that Americans (especially), Canadians and Europeans have unlimited resources and are fair game for scams, gyps, outright thievery, and numerous other devices and acts that will relieve them of money and valuables.

Those of you who come to Roatan )or other Caribbean islands) by cruise ship should be wary of the children sent to the pier area by their patent(s) to beg money, steal anything they can grab and run away with, (some unsuspecting ladies have lost ear lobes to snatched ear rings and have neck abrasions from a purloined necklace), pick your pockets, snatch your purse or otherwise relieve you of valuables. (They are not punished in any way for stealing).

No matter what mode of transportation you utilize to get here, make sure you agree on the price in advance if you hire a taxi to take you from the airport or pier area to anyplace on the island. Also verify that the price quoted is for all the people in your group collectively and not per person, that are using the taxi.

What to leave home:

Expensive camera equipment, valuable and or flashy watches and jewelry, especially dangly gold ear rings and attractive necklaces, expensive shoes and accessories. Do not carry valuables in backpacks, or over-the-shoulder bags. Do not carry large amounts of cash. Never leave anything of value in your car, not even the locked trunk. Do no walk the streets at night.

Things to bring:

Sun screen, insect repellent (lots), mini first aid kit including: Imodium, aspirin, iodine, band-aids, cortisone ante-itch ointment, tooth paste, razors and shaving lather, shampoo, Alki-Seltzer, Pepto-Bismol, sewing kit, throw-away camera, **cheap pocket calculator**, Dollar Store sun glasses.

** Never leave home or hotel room without your handy dandy pocket calculator . It speaks a universal language, no matter where you go or how inept or proficient you are in the local dialect. You can bargain with street vendors even if you do not know one word of the language.

Leave most of your credit cards at home.

Do bring one or two credit cards but be sure to inquire in advance (on Roatan or other Bay Islands) if the merchant charges a premium if you use it for payment in that establishment. (The practice of charging an additional fee for using credit cards is not used on the mainland in almost all instances. I do not do business with the crooks on Roatan who charge a premium for accepting credit cards when paying for merchandise or services.)

As of this writing I do not think merchants on Roatan or most of Honduras are set up for debit cards. I would be most cautious about double or triple charges (intentional or otherwise) if using a debit card in Central America. Watch your credit cards and merchandise like a hawk and you will not get burned.

I encourage you to study the numbers in Spanish so that you can recognize them as they are spoken by the locals. After all you don’t want to be shown up by a third grade genius who knows his multiplication tables when you are hiring a taxi on Roatan.

You may, as have I, notice the complete lack of any sort of class or polish in the behavior of the local populace. Women and female tourists are very often the butt of outright insulting remarks/sounds or lurid physical gestures instituted by the male segment of society here, who all seem to suffer from the incurable, common, mind deadening disease of machismoism. It is more commonly know as the MACHO SYNDROME( which disables any semblance of logic, reason or intelligence, if these characteristics ever existed in the individual to any degree in the first place) and while most prevalent in males, spills over to the feminine gender in ever increasing epidemic-like spurts.

I am aware of it in public places like banks and grocery stores whenever some female muscles me aside while I am standing in the checkout or teller line, and proceeds to the head of the queue.

There is more to this machismo malady. You will find that common courtesy is almost non-existent on the highways, and other places too. Yielding to someone trying to get in or out of a tight parking place or turning around on a narrow road does not even enter the minds of motorists here.

The lack of civility spills over into everyday life as well. It will become apparent to you because it is such an outstanding deficiency in these uneducated masses. They have never been taught any of the social graces that are so common we hardly even think about them. (They think the “Golden Rule” has something to do with the soccer playoffs).

Simple courtesies like saying “thank you,” or “excuse me” are hardly ever spoken. They will try to get through a doorway first, rather than holding it open for someone, even their own mother.

Expect the unexpected. Be prepared for long lines in stores during peak seasons and banks at any time. You will be wise to convert money and cash travelers checks in the banks and not on the street. While these services are conveniently offered by merchants and street vendors, you will be money ahead in every instance by doing business with the banks when it entails money changing.

I’ll describe one of my typical trips to a bank on almost any given day.

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When I walk in the door, and after my vision acclimates to the dim lighting, I realize much to my chagrin, that there are twenty people in line ahead of me. The usual two tellers are in place but there is only one person standing in front of window number 1 and all the rest of the customers are lined up in front of window number 2.

I am dismayed. What could be happening in line number one that would cause everybody to stand in line number two? Then it becomes all too clear. The person being served in line one is one of those multiple transaction people. There are several different kinds of these bank ‘customers’. One woman collects the transactions from a group of businesses and takes them all to the bank for a small fee each. This releases the businessperson from having to stand in a long line, and instead can tend the store or do the laundry.

Sometimes the guy in line number 1, is a taxi driver who has accumulated a number of small bills on his own endeavors, and is also assisting a couple of his fellow taxi pals who are too macho to stand in any kind of line. Besides, they cannot count past ten with their shoes on and the banks don’t go for the barefoot business.

You know of course that the teller will have to count the money at least six times per transaction. All of the denominations are entered into the adding machine, and counted repeatedly, until there is no more ink left on the notes. Then the teller has to fill in the deposit tickets and enter everything into the passbooks of the eight or ten accounts the messenger is representing.

Banks love to put many ink stamps on all the little bits of paper they require. I have not figured it out yet, but it may be something they picked up from the bureaucracy or vise versa. I remember a couple of years ago when all the bank computers were down because of the millennium hoax. Everybody was frantic because they did not believe their computers were smart enough to count from 1999 to 2000. So they turned them all off for six months while the computer was taught this new ‘way out’ technology of counting.

However, that was when all the fun started. Anybody who was in the ink pad and ink stamp business had to score big. I’ll bet these bank tellers went through a ton of inkpads and ink stamps. When you walked into a bank, you did not hear the clinking of coins, or the shuffling sounds of bills being counted. It sounded more as if a roofing job was in progress with all the hammering sounds.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The check you were trying to cash was covered with ink stamps, front and back. You could not read the numbers any more. They were totally obliterated. I wonder if they ever screwed up my balance by doing so many stamps? How could the auditors read the numbers on the checks with all that ink all over everything?

The little teller guy seemed to really like his job back there pounding all those papers with ink. He would happily take my transaction, look it over, then run to the back room to ask the manager what to do and come right back and do it. That is if he remembered everything, and didn’t have to run back to the manager’s office again. Then began the money counting routine; it was done repeatedly until you thought you are going to loose consciousness. But the teller kept smiling and so what can you do? You can’t be impatient with a guy who is being very through handling your money. Besides, he looks so happy.

Things are a little better since the banks in French Harbour have their computers working. The lines move a little quicker with all that automation. However, the tellers still have to run back to the manager’s office for just about every transaction to find out what to do. Computers can’t do everything.

The banks offer checking and savings accounts. The name of the currency in Honduras is the Lempira, named after an Indian chief of the Mayan’s, who was instrumental in early efforts at the organization of the Republic of Honduras.

The denominations of the Lempira currency are: 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s, 20’s, 50’s, 100’s, and 500’s. Nothing larger. Some banks also offer U.S. Dollar saving accounts. If you are going to be here for an extended stay, then this is the best method to hedge against the inflation of the Honduran currency.

U.S. Dollar checking accounts are now available in some banks in Honduras. You can have cashiers checks, drawn in U.S. funds from your dollar saving account at banks that do not offer U.S. checking products. Of course they charge a fee for that service and it sometimes takes two days or so for the check to be written over on the mainland and then sent back to the island. Ask about the time element beforehand if time is of the essence in your transaction.

Off shore banks offer U.S. Dollar checking accounts. There are conditions and since policy varies radically from one to another, I will suggest you talk “one on one” with the local representatives before making any decision. Get it in writing if it sounds too good. Lies are an everyday business practice out here. It is a way of life.

If you expect to use these institutions long term, then I suggest you research thoroughly the reputations and rating of such banks. Some Caribbean institutions and governments have very unsavory reputations and your money could be subject to undue risk as a result.

Interest Rates for Loans:

I remember reading stories about loan sharking back in the ‘good old days ’ and how the loan sharks would break legs if the payments were not made on time. That was back when there were usury laws. Then along came deregulation, when loan sharking became legal in the U.S. However, I don’t think the old timers could hold a candle to the banks in Honduras. These guys are the inventors of loan sharking. How does 38% per annum sound to you? I remember a local business tycoon excitedly telling about how he had borrowed at a real bargain rate; he got a fantastic deal at 36% APR.

People here actually borrow money at those rates. I suppose it has something to do with the inflationary rates here in times past, when inflation hit 40% and better. It has slowed somewhat but I don’t advise leaving your Lempiras in a saving account for very long. You will loose money every week as the exchange rate falls, and the banks don’t pay much interest on passbook accounts. You can hardly expect to stay even when the interest paid to you is less than 3%, and the annual inflation runs 10-12%.

You will barely keep up with inflation by purchasing CD’s in Lempiras,
6-12% depending on the amount deposited. The off shore people will waltz some fancy numbers past you about the very generous rates they pay for dollar CD’s, but check them out thoroughly before you commit. They do a little double talk to get you on the hook. They must think we have never heard of fraud.

My wife came running into my office one day and she was very excited.

“Do you know what the rate of interest the St. George Bank is paying on CD’s?” she asked me, all out of breath. Then she promptly answered her own question. “8-3/4% per month!”

I looked up from my solitaire game, pondering her astounding statement.
“8-3/4% per annum?” I questioned. “They would not be able to handle the volume of business knocking down their door if they paid 8-3/4% monthly. I’m sure that is the annual rate. St. George’s would go broke paying that kind of interest monthly.”

“No! The man just left my office. He repeated it three times. I even asked him again before he left, just to make sure, and he repeated; 8-3/4% per month. That’s per month, every thirty days. Wow! I’m going to get in on that. Can you imagine 8-3/4% every month? I can make a lot of money doing this.”

Of course, when she ran down to their office with some of her money and read the large print, she found out that the friendly agent had made a slight mistook, to which he sheepishly admitted. The guilty grin. What the hey! Just caught in a little lie, eh missus? Everybody around here does it.

The best way to hedge against inflation of the Lempira is to quickly convert into dollars. Some banks on Roatan will not sell dollars, so that should be a consideration when and if you begin your banking relationships in Honduras. Select the bank(s) that offers the services you will want most, and consider the possibility of using two different banks if it takes that to get what you need.

THE MONEY CHANGERS:

Warning:

DO NOT CHANGE MONEY ON THE STREET
HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SCAMS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER

The folded bills. The quick counts. The diversions. The counterfeits. Getting strong-armed out of your bankroll.

Don’t take unnecessary risks.

I have, on occasion, before the legalized money changing offices opened, and to avoid waiting in the long lines at the bank, changed money on the street. On two occasions I caught the folded bill being counted twice ( Opps! sorry señior, I musta make mistook!) The other time everything worked out just dandy because I went with a big, tough, mean looking friend who really was a very mean guy and he knew how to talk their language.

I have never tried to get cash from any of my credit cards here. I would anticipate a thorough third degree grilling, after offering irrefutable identification, signing over my first born, and then I am doubtful if it could be done in a bank in Honduras unless you are a very well known long time customer. You might stand a chance at an American Express Office if you needed to get emergency cash on short notice.

Many businesses, restaurants, super markets, even medical facilities will accept credits cards for payment. I was totally astounded the first time I purchased a small order of groceries in Honduras using my credit card. I noticed the Master Card/Visa logo on the window of this beautiful supermarket where I was shopping, so I thought I would do it just to see what happened.

There was a little routine that I had to get into in order to complete the transaction, but it was only a short distance to the Caja’s (cashier) booth in the store. I was accompanied by a clerk who made sure I didn’t get lost on that twenty meter journey and after a few moments I signed the receipt and the clerk took it to my checkout cashier and away I went. I could not believe my credit card company knew I was in Honduras. How could they know that?

The little ticket had my name printed out on it and all those numbers and it was just like back in Florida. I could not get over it. Imagine! Here’s little ol’ me, all the way down in Honduras and that computer knew exactly who I was and that my credit was good and that my card had worked to charge my groceries! Now, I want to ax these people down here one question. If their computer was smart enough to know I was in Honduras and it let me charge some stuff, how come they couldn’t get that same computer to count from 1999 to 2000 without shutting down half of the country?

Credit card fees are built into the price you pay for your goods and/or services. Don’t let the shrewd talker sucker you with a sob story about having to pay the bank a service charge when you pay by credit card and that they have to charge you 5% or 10% more or they would lose money. Always ask before you purchase anything if they take credit cards and if you have to pay extra to use this method of payment. If they say they want more money, don’t do business there. Credits cards are an essential part of doing business, not some rocket science. This is a swindle that the businesses on West End and West Bay and French Harbour (all on Roatan) are notorious for, something they use on the tourists. Don’t let them do it to you.

(Note: On the first two occasions of taking a walk to the Caja’s desk I lost some of my grocery order. It just disappeared! Do not ever leave your merchandise unattended or you will probably lose some or all of it. I also lost some of my purchases whenever two or more clerks assist in bagging my groceries. They just disappeared.) Shop in pairs whenever possible and be alert. Never leave your purchases unattended.

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Every once in a while I hear something that is very difficult to imagine could happen in real life. So please fasten your seat belts or hold on to something for this one.

Yes, we have no Lempiras, we have no Lempiras today. (Sung to the tune of “Yes! We Have No Bananas.”)

The 15th of the month is a significant date in Honduras, because that is one of the two times monthly that all contract labor in the country is paid. About half of them are paid in cash but the others get some kind of cheque (pronounced chec-kee) and they head straight for the banks. That is a good day (the 15th of any month) to not go to a bank in Honduras. The lines are incredible and the tellers have to run to the manager’s office to find out what to do for every transaction.

It was the 15th of December, about two years ago and not only the laboring public was cashing checks but plenty of other people were getting money for holiday shopping and whatever. At about ten A.M. Banco Atlantida in French Harbour closed its doors. It was like the old days after the big stock market crash of 1929, when bank failures started runs on other perfectly healthy institutions, causing a great panic, forcing many such institutions to close shop.

There were many people standing outside Banco Atlantida wondering why the place was closed up at ten in the morning. They knew about the 11:30 to 1:30 lunch ‘hour’ but this situation was very unusual and there was some nasty mumbling in the crowd. Rumors were abundant and some people really got the jitters. The guards with the shot guns were standing steadfast outside the doors refusing entry to everyone and conversations were getting really shrill.

Finally the manager came out and explained the premature closing. There was no need for panic she told them. Somebody had forgotten to call the armored car company to bring over the necessary cash for the 15th of the month rush. There would be no Lempiras until next day. The bank had run out of money! “Sooo sorry,” she cooed. “ Please come back tomorrow.”
A new kind of ‘bank holiday’ had been born.

They weren’t even embarrassed about this fiasco. Can you imagine your bank in the U.S. running out of money? It would make national headlines and be on all of the network TV news programs for sure… “Now this just in! From Channel 9 News…. As it happens…Blah…Blah…. Blah.”

I laugh every time I think of it. Another incident comes to mind; one of those “there’s a first time for everything,” things.

On the first day of business of the New Year in 1998, for the first time ever, the National Treasury of Honduras issued LPS 500 notes, to be put into circulation through the local banks. The highest denomination note previously in circulation was a LPS 100 note.

I stopped into my bank to pick up some cash for a shopping trip over to the mainland and my favorite teller, (we call him Inky) counted out some of the new LPS 500 notes. Figuring correctly that these new bills would create some consternation among businesses where I would be trading, I pushed back two of the LPS 500 notes and asked my teller to give me ten, one hundred Lempira notes, instead.

He was most accommodating, and with his usual smile, he took back the 500s that he had just given me from his own cash drawer, that had never been out of his sight and held them under the black light to see if the were counterfeit. Then he hit them again with some special yellow marking pen that would change color if the bills were funny money. I could not control my mirth. In fact I burst out laughing.

Well, at least he didn’t have to run back to the manager’s office to find out what to do.

Acquiring a telephone and dealing with the worlds worst telephone company (Hondutel) can be a joy.

Getting a phone has always been such a breeze that you may never realize that in some of the backward parts of the world, it can be a problem. Roatan is such a place. There are telephones in the communities on the western parts of the island but the farther east you travel the less likelihood there will be for the existence of telephone lines.

Many people purchase telephone lines from others who are moving or leaving the island. Often, a new building will have phone lines available, or someone vacating an office will sell their phone ‘privileges’ to new occupants. In any event, should you want the phone in your own name you will have to make application with our Stone Age telephone company. This entails the typical bureaucratic paper shuffling but if you are a foreigner, you must have two Honduran citizens sign guarantees for payment of your monthly bills in case you skip the country owing them money.

Hondutel is a sorry excuse for a telephone communications company. It is a state owned entity, very poorly administered which results in vast money losses for the Honduran Government. This has resulted in the creation of a two-headed monster for this lackadaisical public utility.

1.) Maintenance and repair of equipment and infrastructure only happens after a breakdown. Often, the repairs are not effected in a timely way resulting in interruption of service for vast numbers of customers, with little care or notice on the part of Hondutel. The attitude is, that you are lucky they provide you with anything at all, so quit complaining. You will be charged the regular monthly charge whether you have a dial tone or not.

2.) The lack of funds has prohibited acquisition of new infrastructure and modern equipment needed to expand the system and accommodate new customers to gain much needed new revenue. The resultant shortage of telephone services has perpetuated many forms of corruption that are a deterrent to expansion. When new telephone lines do become available, the bribe required (mordida) is too expensive to attract all but the most desperate.

Who wants to pay $2,500. to $3,000. for the privilege of acquiring mediocre telephone service. That is only the bribe. You still have to pay for all the wiring and labor to hook up, plus the up front deposits and application fees.
Management is purposely oblivious to the public needs. They just keep new services in secret for themselves until there is the possibility of money creasing their palms. Having more customers is just a lot more work and who needs that?

You can pay your phone bill at just about any bank. Just be sure you pay with cash or with a check drawn on the bank where you pay the bill. If you pay at Banco Atlantida, then the check will have to be drawn on an account from Banco Atlantida. Also, keep your receipted phone bills handy so that you can prove you have paid when they turn off your phone. If you can’t prove you have paid the bill in question, then you will have to pay again.

Hondutel will on occasion shut off your telephone ten days or so after you pay your bill. It will be due to late payment on your part and has no bearing whatsoever on the fact that Hondutel was late or did not get the bills out in a timely way. So they shut off a large number of phones and make those people come in with receipted phone bills to prove that they have paid. No receipt and you will have to pay again. The same routine will occur with your Internet service if you choose Hondutel. They will block the phone line you use to access the Internet until you prove you have paid. Every time you get on the Internet it will result in long distance phone charges. Hondutel is not recommended.

A month after Hurricane Mitch, Hondutel turned off all the telephones. They did not get the bills for October printed until late November and you had to go to their office, locate your bill from the heap, then go to the bank to pay it, and then come back with proof of payment before they would restore your service. It was truly a circus. How’s that for efficiency?

One other important thing for you to remember. It is your responsibility to anticipate when your phone bill is due. True there are people who sometimes bring your bill to your house or office, or even leave it with someone in your building or neighborhood. However, if they do not deliver your bill and you do not pay by the due date, your telephone will be shut off. Therefore, if you think your bill is overdue, you are probably right. Better head for the Hondutel office (behind the municipal building in Coxen Hole) to find the current bill and get it paid.

A FEW MORE OBSERVATIONS WHILE TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE U.S.

It has been my habit to closely observe people and listen to them talk. I was appalled the first time I ever listened to a recording of myself. I was speaking to a group of sales people and decided to record the session to make sure I covered all the subjects I had considered necessary. Besides I wanted to hear how my own voice sounded to others.

Like many people , I stammered, puffed and snorted, used the auxiliary phrases, “anduh” “um” “yaknow” “like I mean”, “er”, “ah” and many other useless murmurings all too frequently, in addition to other idiosyncrasies of speech so common to our society. It is very disconcerting to hear someone being interviewed, who uses these and other crutches endlessly, sometimes causing the listeners to lose sight of what the talk was about or how the question was answered.

My TV watching is rather limited on Roatan so I indulged myself while in the U.S. in order to catch up on the goings on in Afghanistan, Wall Street and the world of sports, especially American Football and the NFL playoffs.
I was for many years convinced that the most abused four-letter word in the English language was the “F” word (most commonly drummed on HBO and in our stylish modern-day movies). After watching a multitude of interviews on U.S. television, I have discovered that another four-letter word has surpassed the “F” word by vast numbers, and altogether too many interviewees, high profile political persons, TV and radio commentators, celebrities, educators, high ranking military types, athletes, etc. abuse this word.

I’ll let you ponder that thought for a few minutes so you can try to recollect the bothersome offender (to me). I do not ever remember being so aware of how people sound when they (we) talk, especially when they (we) have an audience. As I listened and cringed, I wondered why I did not recall this phenomenon during my life in the civilized world. Is this something new and contagious? It seems like almost everybody on the tube has caught it. Even some people who do not speak English as their native tongue. I wondered how many times I answer a question the same way?

Have you guessed it yet? Watch the next interview on TV, where some very prominent politician, news commentator, government official or sports figure is being asked (a) question(s). When she/he answers, what is often the first word out of their mouth(s)? Almost all of them do it. Give up? You will have to wait a little longer to see my answer.

PROGRESS UPDATE: ON THE COASTAL ROAD

After a two-month absence I found the coastal road in abominable condition. The road building company, who seems to be in a contest with Hondutel to be in first place as the worst business on the island, and at this moment I think they made it. If you like driving adventure, taking unnecessary risks in a vehicle and want to demolish a car or truck, then this trip is for you. The temporary bypasses at the sites of new bridge construction are unbelievable.
These road hazards are a reflection on the mindset of the management of said company, reflecting total disdain and disregard for all mankind, especially the driving public of Roatan. If you come here and rent a car, be sure to ask one of the van drivers in front of Casa Warren in Coxen Hole, what the condition of the coast road to Flowers Bay is, before you drive it.

Now we shall go back to our earlier discussion of the most abused four-letter word in the English language. Of course this is solely my opinion after having watched TV diligently while in the U.S. You may disagree until you become aware yourselves.

Here is my answer:

WELL

Start counting. You will be totally amazed. I hope this is the beginning of a reform movement against use of what I believe is the most overused and most abused four-letter word in the English language. Not that it should be eliminated but just to encourage people to begin answers to questions by not saying, "Well Mr. so and so, I just blah, blah, blah.” So many do it that it must be politically correct.

Well……. I’m not gonna ever again begin an answer to a question using that four-letter word or begin a statement using that four-letter word, not ever, never, never, (I hope). Well, maybe just once in a while.

VERY SLOW PROGRESS ON PIER IMPROVEMENTS

I was pleased to see that a workboat and barge with a big crane on it were tied up at the public pier in Coxen Hole. I noticed some new wood pilings had been driven but saw nothing like the rumored expansion of the concrete structure as of this writing. We are getting several cruise ships in each week. I think there are four calling on Roatan, but thus far I have not seen the big ships that bring in 2,500 persons when they tie up at the pier. The smaller boats are a welcome boost to our dragging economy.

RECENT EVENTS ALTER MY FUTURE IN THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN

There are times when things happen unexpectedly that change the course of our lives. Such an event took place in Central Michigan last summer and changed my life forever, when my wife, Gloria, became critically ill while visiting family there. She has been diagnosed with Wegener’s disease, a very rare malady that causes the immune system to attack the vital organs of the body.

Gloria had unknowingly suffered total kidney failure and just barely survived. She has recovered from the disease, which is now in remission and is on the kidney transplant recipient list. The medical staff that attends her said it will be something on the order of three to five years for her to receive a kidney.

She will not be able to live in Honduras, where she has been involved in missionary work for the past five years plus. Her absence on Roatan is cause for great sadness because she has truly been an angel of mercy and hope for many people, especially the children.

I have returned to Honduras to put our affairs in order here and will in the not too distant future, return to the U.S. permanently. We will however visit Roatan and Honduras from time to time since we have roots here and I intend to continue to write things about this part of the world for you, my loyal readers.

It will of course be necessary to sell my house and the nice business started by my wife several years ago. It is a mail service with mail boxes called the Mail Room where you can send and receive mail weekly. The boxes are rented on a monthly basis. She had introduced health foods and pet supplies including dog and cat food (dry) and a vast array of things needed for pet care. There are regular patrons for the vitamins and dietary supplements.

This little enterprise has grown into the number one pet supply store on Roatan. There are two large connected, air conditioned offices, fully furnished, computers with the most upscale accessories, faxes, two telephone lines, etc. The beauty of this business is that one person is all it takes to operate it, without hassle. ( Ideally suited for a couple). An nice, clean money maker, up and running, just walk in and take it over. An existing Honduras corporation is included. Located at the entrance to Coxen Hole, second floor rear, in J.C. Commercial, behind Paradise Computer. Supplier accounts are well established to insure continuous product availability.

The house (multi-level, 3 Br, 3-1/2 Baths) is oceanfront, located on the Ironshore/Cascade Coast, facing the mainland, with a constant breeze, spectacular views, crystalline waters and a living reef just a few feet from the foot of the concrete stairs that go down to the sea. On calm days you can snorkel or dive, and when the sea is up you will witness an astounding spectacle as the entire coastline erupts into a dazzling scene of dancing waters you will never tire of watching. The sunrises are magnificent, and on many days you can see the mountains on the mainland, including Pico Bonito, the highest mountain in Honduras.

The location is the west end of Flowers Bay, accessible by the coast road (scheduled for paving this summer) and the new paved road from West End/West Bay, (2-1/2 miles to either) less than three miles from Coxen Hole. We have truly loved living in this location, not only because of the serenity, but because it is so convenient. The vans that run into Coxen Hole, directly to the front entrance of Warren's, stop a short walk from our house and cost L10 for the ride.

I will send particulars to any legitimate inquiry, whose name, address and phone/fax numbers are made known to me. I am not interested in idle chitchat, so please do not waste your time or mine. This is not a distress sale, we are not desperate, but I will offer the house at less than reproduction costs, and the business, including the corporation,offices/fixtures/equipment, etc., will be realistically priced.

BOOK UPDATE

I am happy to announce that my latest book to be in print,

"How to Avoid the Pitfalls: Building Your Dream Home"

will be available from 1st Books Library this month. Just click bkorders@1stbooks.com If you are ever going to build your dream home, then this is must reading for you. It is a simple to understand, step by step guidance system for those who know little or nothing about the home building process but are determined to go for it anyway. It will show you the way to have your dream become a happy reality without getting into troubles that can be avoided.

The novel "IRONSHORE" is also nearly ready for print and should be available by late March. This is the novel that takes place on Roatan in the early 50s. It is a supernatural thriller based on actual events that occurred here in Flowers Bay.

"Red Dog Chronicles" my first novel in print, can be ordered at the same source or through your favorite bookstore. It is centered on two phases of aviation history and chronicles the activities of the only airline (All American Airways, Inc. that eventually evolved into U.S. Airways, a world wide air carrier today) that ever existed that picked up and delivered mail on the fly, without landing!

Secondly, it recounts the advent of helicopters being used as assault weapons for the first time ever in modern warfare, during the Korean War. It is about the life journey of a young pilot with many hilarious adventures and some heartbreak along the way.

Many of the scenes describe conditions on the home front during W.W.II and how the some of the young men, not yet of age for the military, helped out the war effort. Party along with some unusual characters in Old Key West, shortly after the end of W.W. II.

The following are available as e-books for those of you who are interested.

“HOW TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME IN A THIRD WORLD PARADISE”

This book will be of great assistance for those who want to try pitting their expertise against the local geniuses who claim they know how to do everything. Most of them cannot read, so you want to be very careful about who you get to do some or all of the work on your dream project in paradise.

“HOW TO SURVIVE IN THIRD WORLD RETIREMENT: THE HANDBOOK”

This is a very essential handbook for those who plan to come to Roatan or Honduras to live. It gives an overview of the moving process, what paperwork and documentation you need and many useful hints that will make your move much easier on your constitution and your pocketbook.

“FELIX PRINCE OF CATS & MITCH THE GREAT STORM OF THE CENTURY”

A true-life story of our survival through the 5 precarious days of Hurricane Mitch, our determination to protect a litter of kittens we were raising to give away, and the aftermath of the most devastating storm in Honduras history. A story of love and survival for animal lovers of all ages.

You can purchase any of the e-books at www.roatanet.com

Next Month
We will cover some of the pitfalls of building on a third world island, the vast differences of logistics, availability of products, and some important things to remember. It will be excerpts from: “How to Build You Dream Home in a Third World Paradise” Don’t miss it.

As of February 5, 2002 the dollar buy rate on Roatan is:

$1 U.S. = LPS 16.15
You will exchange on the island for about 15.75 to 15.90

For questions or comments: elouis@globalnet.hn

Ciao
Pierre

By Pierre Renaldo, Mountain Coastal S.A,. General Contractors, Construction Management and Construction Consultants.