La Ceiba.

We're having a beer in a palm thatched beach hut on Roatan. That’s one of the Bay Islands of the coast of Honduras. A few days ago we stopped in Trujillo. Interesting place if you’re interested in William Walker. Who was William Walker you ask. Well he was from Tennessee. In the 1850s he got this great idea to take Baja California from Mexico. It didn’t work out but a few years later he raised an army of desperados and managed to take over Nicaragua. Even had himself declared president. Things went so well he set his sights on a few other Central American countries but his army was defeated and he left in a hurry. He made one last try but the Hondurans caught him in Trujillo (with a bit of help from a British warship) and put him in front of a firing squad. Un, dos, tres and that was it. Hasta la vista Senor Walker but just to make sure he was really dead they tied his body to the mouth of a cannon and blew him apart. The various pieces are buried in different spots. We visited the cemetery where Walker’s torso ended up then went for lunch at the Villa Brinkley. Red Snapper with a tartar sauce.

I've been told I must write something about Arthur in present time (He's in Thailand). Then I have to get the younger Arthur back from India to Swinging London. Who said narrating was easy? I’m just an old drunk you know.

La Ceiba is named for a huge old ceiba tree that used to grow here. It was a popular landmark for mariners but it's long gone. Which I find disheartening. The girls are disappointed too. There is nowhere to shop. They had been expecting Miami. We take stock of the locals….a few balding gringos, a couple of local gangster types, a group of whores, some sleeping borachos…..and we are on our way.