Roatan

We are just back from a wonderful cruise around the Caribbean. This trip included a new-to-us Port of Call, Roatan, Honduras. The shopping area outside the port was beautiful, inviting - and cheap! - so we decided to hire a taxi and an English speaking driver to give us a three hour tour of the island.

We saw incredible beaches, the funky-fun West End hippie/tourist area, multi-multi-million dollar homes, one room shacks where whole families live, the mall (suited for American tastes - there are 15,000 Americans and Canadians living on Roatan), the "downtown" commercial districts, and plenty of local attractions. The best part? The driver's story...

Our driver's English was good because he lived in the USA for nine years. From the Honduras mainland he tried three times between the ages of 14 and 18 to enter America illegally from Mexico. His third attempt was successful because he spent seven months in Mexico learning how. He rode the underside of a train, covered in oil and finally entered from Nuevo Laredo. From there he made it to San Antonio, then to Georgia where he had friends. He eventually met an American girl (she spoke no Spanish and he spoke no English at first), married, had two children - a boy and a girl - and worked as a house painter. One day ICE came and he was deported back to Honduras. The money he had sent his mother and sister over the years was gone (on bad things). That was five years ago.

In spite of having an attorney and American citizens for a wife and children, having been an illegal in the country has prevented him from returning legally. He is still hopeful he will be able to return legally soon. He sees his wife on her rare visits to Roatan and when he can, Skypes with his children. He said his wife and her family have been very supportive. Meanwhile, back on the Honduras mainland (I'm never going there!), his sister and two nieces were murdered (they were up to no good I think) and his mother passed away.

There is a lot of talk about illegal immigration these days. Hearing a real story from a real person made me stop and think a little more about it. 

I will not forget Roatan any time soon...