A whodunit that mixes poverty, race and the high society of classical music in an intriguing mystery. Here is my book review The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb.
A poor black child from North Carolina, Ray has few options. Despite his apparent musical talent his mom wants him to drop out of school and get a job. She wants him to pay rent and work…and stop making all that noise with his beat up school loaned violin.
But Ray’s grandmother sees something special in his talents, and when she bequeaths him an old beat up family violin he is thrilled. Helped along by a handful of people who see beyond his race to his exceptional talent, Ray soon discovers the beat up violin is a priceless Stradivarius.
Ray’s life changes dramatically as he is recognized, more for the story of the unsuspecting Stradivarius, but also for his burgeoning talent. Then he is invited to the renowned Tchaikovsky Competition, and the media storm grows around Ray and his violin.
But the unthinkable happens, the violin is stolen right from under his nose. Ray feels like one of his arms has been cut off. How will he get it back? How will he pay the ransom? Who would do such a thing? There are lots of suspects, friend and foe.
Will Ray find the violin in time for the competition? You’ll need to read The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb to find out.
****Four stars for The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb.
Thank you for reading my book review The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb.
We spent five weeks in a condo in West End, Roatan, Honduras, without a car, so we stuck pretty close to our neighborhood. It’s a very authentic little village, though also with lots of tourists. We liked it better than nearby West Bay because there are no big resorts in West End. Just a cool local vibe. Our Airbnb condo (see it here) was about a half a mile walk (with a very steep hill) to the center of the tiny town of West End. We did the walk nearly everyday and sometimes more than once. Over the course of our time we got to know the village pretty well. So here are our favorite things in West End, Roatan, Honduras.
West End
Our condo deck
The Main Drag
Funky West End
Just walking along the main drag is entertaining. West End is in a protected bay, so many of the dive, snorkel and fishing operators are based here. The water taxi to West Bay is also based here, and they tie up the boats here at night. This creates a nice nighttime scene with lots of bars and restaurants, although it never seems too noisy. West End was originally a fishing village and remains focused on water activities, although the town is bursting at its seams in its small one and half mile stretch of road that fronts Half Moon Bay.
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay
There are just a couple beaches to swim from in West End, the best one is the public beach at Half Moon Bay. A very narrow beach with easy water access that feels safe. Nice sandy bottom makes it a great place for families or those who just want to float around. Palm trees provide beach shade and the sargassum grass and trash are cleaned up each morning.
Snorkel Tour
Snorkel in West End
Because I suffer from extreme motion sickness, I can only snorkel on a calm day. While the weather is usually calm, Roatan, like the rest of the world, was having some unusual weather during our visit and we experienced a lot of wind. But we managed to pull off a wonderful hour long snorkel right off the beach in West End on one of the best weather days. Very calm and sunny as we did an afternoon snorkel of the Blue Gulch that we booked through Roatan Tour Guide Association. We highly recommend working with Dani from RTA who was very helpful and understanding for my concerns. We had a great snorkel.
Rent a Kayak
Kayak in West End
We didn’t need a guide, although there are guided kayak tours as well as kayak snorkel tours. We just wanted to leisurely paddle around beautiful Half Moon Bay. So we rented a kayak from Harry’s Hideaway in West End for $18 an hour. It was just perfect to get out and enjoy the water on a calm day and get some good photos looking back at the village of West End.
Water Taxi
Water Taxi
Even if you have no reason to go back and forth between West End and West Bay we still recommend taking the water taxi just for the fun of it. The $5 one way charge is reasonable and gives you a great view from the water side. The Water Taxi runs all day long every day and is located right in the middle of West End.
Fun Shops
Rusty Fish
As I have said before, I am not a big shopper. Mostly because we have no room in our suitcase, but also because I just don’t love shopping. We did however visit a few shops that were fun, such as Rusty Fish, which is a recycled art store. My favorite shop in West End however is an absolute don’t miss… the beautiful Waves of Art Gallery. Unlike most the other shops it is full of LOCAL artists works and I bought some beautiful handmade baskets from the Lencan Indian Tribe of mainland Honduras.
Waves of Art
I also visited the Roatan Chocolate Factory on several occasions to pick up something from the bakery on the main floor. And then on my birthday I took a chocolate making class in their upstairs kitchen and museum. The class was $40 and I was the only person in the class. It was great fun to learn the process from bean to bar.
There are several “mini-marts” offering beverages, snacks, toilet paper and some other essentials but no meat and very little produce. The nearest supermarket is in the larger town of Coxen Hole, about a 15 minute drive. But we used Roa Market for must of our smaller needs and they had the best selection.
There are a couple of fruit markets in the village and we stopped in about every other day for fruit, tomatoes, avocados and occasionally we could find lettuce. Our favorite was Frutas Verduras.
So Many Restaurants
There are so many restaurants in this little tiny town. Really amazing. When we visited West Bay there were not nearly as many restaurants, except for the ones in the resorts. Another reason we loved West End. We cooked most of our meals, but ate out a few lunches, a couple breakfasts and about once a week for dinner. Our last five days we were out of food so we ate out each night, and we never ate anyplace twice…we wanted to try them all. Here is a list of our favorites, with links when possible. Most restaurants use What’sApp for reservations.
Celebrating my birthday at Roatan Oasis
Roatan Oasis – hands down the best meal we had. Definitely get a reservation.
Blue Thai Elephant – very authentic and delicious Thai food. Reservations recommended.
Stowaway Gastropub – teeny and delicious little place. Reservations recommended.
Calelu’s – open breakfast, lunch and dinner also great take-away. This is THE place for baleadas, the favorite food of Honduras.
Gingers – delicious seafood and Caribbean favorites with a nice waterfront location.
Pazzo – our driver Dario recommended we go here. Without his recommendation we would have overlooked it. Authentic Italian pasta and more. Possibly the best beef carpaccio ever. Cash only and bring your own alcohol.
Tijuana Taco Stand – friendly proprietor right on the beach, very authentic Mexican food to eat at the picnic tables or take away.
La Ruta Del Sabor – is a teeny place that front an abandoned hotel but where you will find the most authentic and delicious El Salvadorian pupusas. I’m drooling thinking about it.
Fun Bars
We don’t spend a lot of time in bars, but we did stop into a few places, watched football at a few places and enjoyed mostly the local beer called Salva Vida. We visited the Sundowner (nice view and they also serve food), Blue Marlin (also nice view), Tequila Jack’s (beautiful view and some appetizers), Harry’s Hideaway (fun bar and restaurant on the water), Tita’s Pink Seahorse (an awesome hidden beach bar worth searching for) and Booty Bar (great for football and excellent food).
Our Advice
There are no sidewalks. It’s kinda annoying. Unless it’s early in the morning, most cars drive pretty slow, because the heavy traffic requires it. But you are walking in the street with cars, busses, taxis and scooters. This is true in most places in the island. So be prepared and stay aware.
We always felt safe, but that said don’t carry a lot of cash or unnecessary valuables.
Use bug spray. The tiny sand fleas (also known as midges and no-see-ums) are prolific, and not just on the beach. Bites are painful and take 7-10 days to heal. Also don’t forget your sunscreen.
US Dollars are widely accepted but your bills will not be accepted if they are torn, written on, old or damaged. Carry fresh pristine bills…but try to use the local currency if you can.
There aren’t really any addresses, so having a good driver is useful. Currently there is a ton of road construction going on, widening the main road that runs through the island. That work will continue into 2024.
We used Omar’s Tourist Transportation and our driver Dario for several trips we made. We highly recommend them if you want a safe and reliable transfer service. Reach them at visitroatanisland97@gmail.com
Taxis are abundant and there is also a funky little bus system. Not actually busses but vans. Flag them down. Cheap too.
If you don’t already, download What’sAp to use during your visit. It is the communication tool all the locals use including for dinner reservations.
Don’t drink the water. Filtered water is easily available and very inexpensive.
Thanks for reading our post Our Favorite Things in West End Roatan. It’s a safe and wonderful option for visiting Honduras. We hope to visit this tiny place again someday.
Celebrated memoir author, food writer and former editor of Gourmet Magazine, Ruth Reichl’s first novel is for foodies as well as anyone who has lost someone they love. Here is my book review Delicious by Ruth Reichl.
Billie Breslin has a most discernible palate – a talent to pull every spice and flavor from a recipe with just a taste. But Billie refuses to cook….why?
Billlie’s abrupt decision to flee her home in Santa Monica for the big city of New York has her family flummoxed. She lands a job with Delicious, a well known food magazine. She is the new assistant for the editor, and to her surprise the quirky collection of staff become her new family.
But when Delicious is suddenly closed with no warning, Billie is the only staff kept on to continue to serve Delicious readers with the “Delicious Guarantee”. Alone in the old historic building that once housed the magazine, Billie discovers a hidden room, that opens a world of history to Billie and sets her on a quest to discover a World War II girl named LuLu and understand LuLu’s relationship to renowned Chef James Beard.
Along the way Billie will face her own ghosts, grief and past, and open her heart to the possibility of love and cooking again.
Diving is king here on this tropical island, in the Caribbean, just off the coast of Honduras. But if you are not a diver, there are still lots of things to do. Whether you are here for a long snowbird stay or just for a brief visit from a cruise ship, take a look at our Twelve Things To Do On Roatan for Non-Divers.
This is my honest opinion on the things we did during our five weeks in Roatan, Honduras.
Roatan Sunset
Take an Island Tour
One of our most favorite things was a full island, full day tour of Roatan. If you only have one day this might not be for you, but those staying longer definitely should do this. We booked with Omar Tourist Transportation and our driver Dario was amazing. We discussed the things we were interested in seeing and he made sure we saw those and much more. He also took us to the most amazing place for lunch, an out-of-the-way, over-the-water spot with delicious food called La Sirena. We would never have known about that without Dario. One of our favorites of our twelve things to do on Roatan for non-divers.
Island Tour
Daniel Johnson’s Sloth Hangout
I really wanted to hold a sloth. I know this is against some people’s beliefs, but for me, it was on my bucket list. So on our full day island tour we stopped at Daniel Johnson’s Monkey and Sloth Hangout in French Caye. There are other things to do at Daniel Johnson’s but I was only there for the sloths, so we were in and out quickly. There are many tours to Daniel Johnson’s or you can arrive on your own and entrance fee is $12.
Hanging with Sloths
West End Snorkel Tour
We booked a snorkel day right in West End where we were staying with Roatan Tour Guide Association. Dani runs Roatan Tour Guide Association and he was great. He took seriously my concerns about my motion sickness (something I have dealt with my entire life) and created a tour just for me. The coral reef that surrounds Roatan is part of the second biggest in the world (the MesoAmerican Reef) and it really was a wonderful thing to see…and all the fish too. Definitely work with Dani.
Snorkel in West End
West Bay Beaches
We took one day to visit West Bay. It’s very different than West End where we were staying. West Bay is home to many resorts along a long sandy white beach. It’s very pretty but also crowded so if you want a beach spot arrive early. Personally I am glad we stayed in West End and not West Bay.
West Bay Beach
Water Taxi Between West End and West Bay
Whether you are staying in West Bay or West End, you should take the water taxi just for fun. It’s five dollars one way and a great way to get out on the water and see the island. It’s also a great service to get between the two small towns; West End which has more restaurants and shops and West Bay which has more resorts and a bigger beach.
On the water taxi
Gumbalimba Adventure Park
Okay I didn’t love this place, but it had a few fun moments. Lots of cruise groups come here but it was pretty quiet the day we visited. You start with a guided tour learning about flora. Next some rather outdated dioramas of the history of the island. Then you get to see animals which I really enjoyed. Giant iguanas, beautiful scarlet macaws (the national bird of Honduras) and white faced monkeys. If you want to hold the monkey or birds the guides will help make this happen. These animals are wild, but know to come to the guides and they will get a treat.
We also spent a little time on the beach here…chairs were not in great condition, nor was the restrooms. We ordered a hamburger and it was awful. Entrance fee of $35 seemed really expensive for this rundown Gumbalimba Adventure Park.
Scarlet Macaw at Gumbalimba
Carambola Botanical Gardens
We took the local “bus” three miles from West End to Carambola Botanical Gardens. Their website is not very well maintained, but the gardens were fun to see, if you like natural sites like this. I do and so we went. You can also hike up to the top of the mountain on a poorly maintained trail for a beautiful view.
Hiking in Carambola
Take a Cooking Class
We found a lovely local lady who came to our condo and we cooked Honduran food together. We booked this class through Viator Cook With a Local. First we went to the market to get all our ingredients which was fun. Then we spent two hours prepping, cooking and eating a delicious meal. It was a wonderful day. Definitely request Karla if you do this class. She was wonderful.
Cooking with Karla
Make and Eat Chocolate
There are two chocolate making facilities in the West End and we visited both Mayan and Roatan. Roatan Chocolate Factory was very close to where we were staying and we stopped there several times to get some things from their bakery. Then on my birthday I decided to spend a couple of hours in a chocolate making class. This is something I have never done before and I really enjoyed it – especially since the earlier class that day was big for the cruise crowd but in my class I was the only one. And of course I got to eat what I made. $40 if you book direct, it’s a lot more expensive if you go with a tour group. I really enjoyed this activity, and my guide Jackson was amazing.
Making chocolate
Overnight Visit to Utila
We took the ferry to the small island of Utila for two nights, just to see what that was all about. It is very tiny and very focused on diving BUT we had an awesome morning of snorkeling so I am so glad we went. I saw lots of things I’ve never encountered snorkeling before including a gorgeous Eagle Ray, a Reef Shark and a Puffer Fish. There a many, many places to stay…but don’t expect luxury. Our simple and a bit run down hotel Coral View Beach Resort was clean, and the bar and food was excellent. We snorkeled right off their dock.
Snorkeling right off the dock at Coral View Resort (Mainland Honduras in the distance)
Visit Microbrewery
A bit out of the way but definitely worth it is the Roatan Island Brewing Company. Only open 11am-5pm Wed – Sunday, they serve an excellent selection of their own microbrew (changes regularly), superb food too, all under a beautiful palm canopy. A must visit.
Happy Hubs at Roatan Island Brewing
Try Some Local Foods
We always love to eat – and on the island of Roatan we had some wonderful local foods. You definitely need to try Conch while visiting. Available in different preparations, we enjoyed Conch fritters and especially Conch Ceviche.
Conch Ceviche
As you might suspect, being an island, seafood is abundant. The shrimp here was the best I have had anywhere in the world! We also tried Lionfish for the first time. You will find lots of Grouper, Red Snapper, Wahoo (Ono) and sometimes tuna available.
Coconut Shrimp
Two local specialties we fell in love with. Baleadas are a Honduran specialty. Like a very big taco, but the tortilla is much thicker and soft. A baleada always has beans and queso. Then you add your protein. Super cheap and super delicious. We tried pollo, pastor, and egg and avocado.
Baleada
Cheesy Pupusa
The next local specialty I LOVED was the pupusa. Native to both Honduras and El Salvador, we first had these on our visit to El Salvador a few years ago. The ones we had here in Roatan were fresh made to order. They are like a corn cake filled with lots of yummy goodness. Just amazing.
As I mentioned above, you must eat the locally made chocolate from wild cacao trees while you are here. So good.
Twelve Things To Do On Roatan for Non-Divers
Though not as upscale as Maui or some other tropical destinations, Roatan has many activities to enjoy even if you don’t dive. So hopefully this post Twelve Things to do on Roatan for Non-Divers helps you see why you should visit this hidden gem in the Caribbean.
Next week we will have another post about West End, Roatan.
My second book by V.E. Schwab, I loved The Invisible Life of Addie LeRue a couple of years ago. And this week’s haunting novel has a similar feel, with Schwab’s talent for the gothic story unfolding beautifully. Here is my book review Gallant by V.E. Schwab.
Olivia Prior never knew her father and still hopes her mother will return for her at the Merilance School for Girls where she has spent most of her life. Olivia is a loaner at the school, has a gift for seeing the dead walking about, and understands she is “unusual”. But all she wants is a home and a family.
When a letter arrives inviting her “home” to Gallant Olivia is stunned. But when she arrives no one in this strange mansion is expecting her. But Olivia immediately feels a pull to this house.
But strange things are lurking, two shadows are battling, and Olivia knows she must unravel the mystery of the mansion, and its twin just beyond the crumbling walls. Who or what inhabits it? Has she been called to make amends?
A haunting novel that does not feel like a violent horror story, this book is in the vein of Neil Gaiman, one of my favorite authors. Excellent and compelling characters carry the novel forward and keep you turning the pages. Thanks for reading my book review Gallant by V.E. Schwab.
We all have some kind of fear. Our fears are the thing that often keeps us from pursuing our dreams. Fear of failure. Fear of spiders. Fear of flying. Fear of inadequacies. The first thing to overcome your fear is to acknowledge it. And that is exactly what I did. Because I was, and still am, afraid of flying.
My fear – flying
Travel and Fear
About thirty years ago we had a bad experience on a flight. We lost an engine. We had an emergency landing that involved lots of firetrucks and the plane was doused with flame retardant. Yep…it was frightening and it changed me into a fearful flyer.
Conquering my fear
I worked really hard to overcome this fear…it took me a long time. I was embarrassed about my fear and didn’t want to seem weak. But for me travel was far more important than fear, so I persevered. I studied and found ways to acknowledge and address my fear. The best way I did this was with a book called Flying Without Fear by Duane Brown.
Your fear could be very different than mine, but it still may be the thing that is keeping you from Becoming a Traveler. Finding your fear, and finding a way to fearless travel – conquering your fear – will be different for each person. No matter what your fear is, acknowledging it is your first step to opening yourself up and stepping forward.
Travel With Someone You Trust
Someone to travel with
Once you acknowledge your fear, whether it’s snakes or flying, talking to someone you trust is the next good step. And finding someone who understands your fear who can travel with you is your goal. I am lucky to have my husband who holds my hand during take off. Who might you have who can help you conquer your fear? Your fear might just be the unknown of stepping out of your box. Take a friend, a family member or find a like minded traveler who you can be honest and open with. Together is the best way to exit your comfort zone.
As you step forward towards becoming a traveler, look to destinations that give you peace of mind. You don’t need to go to unusual places…start slow and find places that offer the amenities that make you comfortable. As you grow in your comfort as a traveler you can then grow too, to explore more destinations that reach further from where you began.
Peace of mind
CNN Travel has a great list of destinations for 2023 that would each be a great place to start conquering your travel fears. See it here 23 Places to travel in 2023
Start Slow
Don’t try to do too much – 15 cities in 14 days? Forget about it. Find one destination (or maybe two) where you can settle in and get to know the place. Allow yourself lots of time to sleep and relax because jet lag and travel fatigue can increase your fears. Eat healthy and drink lots of water. Then take your time to explore at a pace that works for you.
Relaxing and not trying to do too much
Travel Fatigue is real – I know! And it can cause you problems whether you are on a short trip or are a full time nomad. Being aware of what it is and how it affects you is an important part of travel. Learn more about it here – Travel Fatigue Explained
Fearless Travel – Conquering Your Fear
With each trip your confidence will build and you will conquer your fear…or at least learn to manage it. That is what I have done with flying. Over the past seven years I have take 172 flights for a total of 253,130 miles flown!
And I’m afraid of flying! If I can do it so can you.
Acknowledge your fear. Find someone to talk to about it. Connect with a travel partner. Go slow and have fun!
This was an audible book for me while we were on the island of Maui. It was an easy and interesting story that would work well in audible, kindle or paper. I enjoyed it. Here is my book review The Night Ship by Jess Kidd.
Parellel Storylines
Like many historical novels, The Night Ship is told in two parallel storylines. First we meet 9 year old Mayken in the year 1629. Mayken’s mother has recently passed and she is about to set sail to find her father who she has never met. Her guardian Imka is sailing with her on board the Batavia as they leave Holland heading to the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta Indonesia) . Mayken has had an interesting childhood so far…with an unconventional mother, Mayken is curious, feisty and intelligent. She is naive about the coming long voyage, and her imagination, fueled by Dutch folklore propels her into lots of adventures onboard the ship.
In alternating chapters we follow 9 year old Gil in the year 1989. Gil is a lonely, young boy struggling with his gender identity. His mother has recently passed after a battle with substance abuse and mental illness. Gil is sent to live with his grandfather on Beacon Island off the west coast of Australia. The tiny island doesn’t offer much for a nine-year old boy, and friends are hard to make particularly because many of the islanders dislike his grandfather. Gil’s one friend, is an ancient tortoise named Enkidu who offers a humorous respite to this grim story.
The Batavia
The real life wreak of the Dutch East Indies flagship The Batavia in 1629 is the basis for this fictional novel. Wreaked near Beacon Island, the horrifying experience of the survivors of The Batavia is some of the most barbaric ever recorded. Kidd brilliantly chronicles the events in both fact and myth through the eyes of two small children in The Night Ship. I enjoyed this book very much. Thank you for reading my book review The Night Ship by Jess Kidd.
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