| Roatan
Revisited - Living On The Island Of Roatan |
| By Lyle
Burke |
| Roatan
- is an island of pristine beaches, lush jungle covered hills, welcoming
people, unique cultures, world renowned diving and an endless array of
activities. It is Caribbean and it is inexpensive Caribbean.
The island of Roatan, the most developed of the Bay Islands Archipelago,
is located only 40 miles northeast of mainland Honduras.
Lyle Burke
and his family lived on Roatan. Lyle shares the island and his experiences
there with Escape From America readers. Lyle now runs Tropical Pathways
tours, a tour company geared to helping wantabe expats find their place
in the sun. It's an intelligent way of seeing a country along with a professional
who know the territory. We have talked with individuals who have taken
Lyle's tours and they speak very highly of the experience. |
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| Some have
already made the move to a new country based on what they learned from
Lyle and his tour. It's a perfect way to avoid taking the wrong path to
the wrong spot and wasting time. A tour from someone who knows the ground
prepares the tour-taker to explore further on their own with an invaluable
base of knowledge. Tropical Pathways offers all-inclusive Investment tours
to Roatan, Panama or Belize. For more information visit Lyle Burkes website
- Tropical Pathways Tours
- EscapeArtist -
Roatan Revisited
Are you looking
for an island with Las Vegas style entertainment? Or championship golf
courses? Maybe a choice of 5-star hotels? Well then, Roatan Island
is not the place for your next vacation---
On the other
hand, if your idea of a wonderful Caribbean experience includes world class
diving and water sports, a beautiful mountainous island offering both spectacular
vistas and beaches, friendly English speaking native islanders, and a chance
to rediscover the art of the casual conversation, then read on----- |
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| Maybe I
should start over-I never imagined that a trip taken with my sister back
in 1993, would have become a catalyst for a lifestyle change for my
family and myself. We were so taken with the island, that several trips
later, in early 1996, I made the move with my wife and two daughters to
Roatan.
When family,
friends, and clients ask what had brought us to Roatan, it was easy to
name several things that appealed to us other than the sheer natural beauty
of the Island and friendly Islanders.
To begin with,
although not a mainstream destination, there are regular direct flights
from either Miami or Houston to Roatan's small but modern international
airport airport. Infrastructure, although basic, continues to improve.
Computer buffs won't find DSL service, but they will be able to log on
at several Internet cafes/hotels on the island. |
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Offshore Resources Gallery
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Scuba diving,
snorkeling, and sailing our Hobie Cat, was just a few minutes away from
our front door on beautiful West Bay Beach. There was nothing like walking
down the beach to West End Town and stopping by the Boulangerie, known
for their delicious French pastries and hot, local coffee. In the evening,
West End town offers a lively assortment of eateries and roadside pubs
where it is not unusual to hear people conversing in French, German, Spanish,
Italian, English, as well as the local
island patois.
Fresh seafood
was only a short drive away at the Flying Fish in Cozen Hole.
Here we had a wide selection to choose from, and purchased our pick of
the catch at bargain prices, next to the boat that caught it.
When we felt
the need to be pampered, we would drive to French Harbor for sunset cocktails
at the French Harbor Dive and Yacht Club, steeped with an old world colonial
feel to it. And then onward to either Romeo's or Gio's Restaurant in French
Harbor Town for gourmet fare with an island flavor. A must, whenever family
and friends came to visit, was the scenic drive to Oakridge. |
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| Often referred
to as the "Venice of Roatan", most traffic around Oak Ridge is via
water taxis, or private boats. Oak Ridge is the largest community on the
sparsely populated east end of the island. From the bus stop, where motor
and water vehicles meet, we would take a water taxi through the mangrove
tunnels and dock at Bob and Rhonda's "Hole in the Wall Bar and Grill",
known for their great bar-b-que and local flavor. In the late afternoon,
we would board our water taxi and boat up to pristine Carib Bight, for
a refreshing swim in crystal clear water. Another colorful spot on
the East End is Punta Gorda. The first Garifuna settlement in Honduras,
this village was first settled in1797. A carnival occurring April
12 each year celebrates the founding of this community and is an event
to plan for.
When island
fever struck we would hop on a short flight to La Ceiba, a lively city
on the coast of Honduras. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| There we could
catch a movie, shop, or make plans for white river rafting or a trip to
the Mayan ruins in Copan.
For over four
years I worked with an international real estate firm helping others realize
their Caribbean dreams. In early 2000, fulfilling a promise made to my
oldest daughter we relocated to San Antonio Texas so that she could prepare
herself for college.
Prior to
leaving Roatan, I began putting together Tropical Pathways, a company
specializing in real estate investment tours. I wanted to utilize the experience
and knowledge that I had gained as a realtor on Roatan to help others make
profitable and safe investments in real estate. At the same time, I am
able to maintain a connection to an area that I truly love. Tropical Pathways
currently offers investment tours to Roatan, Panama, and Belize. Our travel
calendar offers several travel dates, throughout the year, for each destination.
Sleepy Roatan
is beginning to wake up and catch the eye of potential investors because
of the excellent real estate buys currently available. Whether you
are looking for a residential lot, a finished home, business and or commercial
property, there are variety of choices with excellent value for the dollar.
If you are looking for a very good investment opportunity or simply a change
in the pace, believe me, Roatan is worth a look. |
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Article
Index ~ Honduras
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