THE FUN HAS STARTED. Well I made it to Utila. The flights more or less went as expected. It was fun in La Ceiba. The plane was not there and no one spoke a word of English. The weather looked to bad to fly but eventually the plane showed up and I got here about 6pm. The flight takes about 10 minutes to go the 18 miles. The weather had improved and it no problem.

Peter, the course director, met me at the dive shop. He explained a couple of things and then took me to what they call a hotel. I've stayed in some dumps before but this place was truely awful. The room was small and had absolutely no storage for clothes. There was a second bed so that became my closet. There was no toiler paper and no towels of any kind. Luckily I didn't have to go.

I got settled in and decided to walk the town. Its probably about 2 miles through the entire cove so I walked it all. Many things were closed but several bars and eateries were open. I ate at the dive shop bar/eatery and had a few beers. The beers were a buck and the fish sandwish was about $2.50. Not as cheap as I had hoped.

A nice storm popped up and it poored for awhile. I waited until it slowed down and made my way back to the hotel about 8 blocks away. The room was leaking badly. Water was puddled in the middle of the room right were the electric fan was sitting. Needless to say I carefully walked around the water and avoided the fan. I climded into bed (it was dry) and tried to sleep. I think I finally faided away about 3am and got about 4 hours sleep.

I thougt I had really screwed up at this point. I walked the street again about 7am and found a little bakery where I got a giant and very fresh bagel. At least I wasn't hungry. I started looking for apartments and found a sign indicated some were available. I walked down the street but couldn't figure out which person ran the apartments that I never saw. I walked away and down the street to look for more. Nothing was close to the dive shop so I walked back to the sign. This time the owner saw me wandering around on this back alley and asked me what I wanted. I indicated an apartment. The only one available was on his farm in the "bush". He took me there in a golf cart and it really was on a farm. Lots of local veggies and fruits along with this little shack. It was okay inside but it was in bug heaven. I'd have to walk through several hundred feet of farm to get there. He cut a fruit from a tree and gave it me and we ate some strange tiny black fruit from another tree. It didn't taste very good to me.

I told the man I wante to walk back to I could check the distance. It was pretty far and to hard to find so I have up.

I went to the dive shop and told them I needed to move NOW and we found a poster for another place. ROSA met me about an hour later and showed me a place about 3 blocks from the dive center. It was nicer and big - 2 bedrooms with full kitchen, cable TV and it seems secure. I took it on the spot for $430 per month. As we walked back to the dive shop another couple stopped us and wanted to see the apartment. ROSA said Charlie has just rented it.

Rosa picked me up at the so called hotel about an hour later and took me to my new home. I unpacked and got settled in.

Lunch was at a little road side stand and was about a dollar for two home made pita's with refried beans and some parmesian cheese. Not too bad for the price.

I took a specialty class on Whale Sharks that afternoon and it was fun and intereresting. Plans are to go looking for them tomorrow after I take a first aid class.

I got my wireless connected at the dive shop but it closes about 7pm so I'm outside with the bugs writing this story.

Spaggetti with shrimp and calamari was dinner and it was great.

STAY TUNED>