removing an obstacle

Beach erosion caused by the recent "polar vortex" winter storm exposed a chunk of the foundation of the old beach club on Big Beach (destroyed by Hurricane Mitch in 1998). We brought in a backhoe to drag the chunk ashore so that it could be broken up.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

update: the black iguana

The rails around the various decks of the Black Iguana beach bar are nearing completion. This new facility on Bliss Beach is coming together beautifully.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

flashback: memories of april, 2008

Came across this old post from back in April, 2008. Back when the Paya Trail was still under construction (and only half-finished...)
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Path Building
Monday, April 18, 2008

   
This afternoon Bannis and I put in about four hours of work on the new path through the Virgin Tropical Garden Reserve. It's hard, sweaty, slow work; but the path is shaping up very nicely.


View of the new path under construction


Bannis, aka "Iron Man," is our resident "paths engineer"

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Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

update: the black iguana beach bar

We are currently working on the 'upper' deck that's adjacent to and several feet above the Black Iguana's palapa-covered area (Paya Bay connoisseurs will recognize this as the deck where the Zen Path gently delivers you into the beach zone). The stacked-stone retaining wall is now complete (as can be appreciated in the photos below, it turned out beautifully!). The deck's floor will be treated with the same exquisite, locally-harvested, natural stone used in other areas of the bar.

Located some three stories above it, this space features stunning views of Bliss Beach; the gorgeous, private bay it sits in; and the colorful Caribbean Sea that bathes it. The completion of this deck will mark the culmination of the heavy construction phase of the Black Iguana beach bar project. Next are the interior design, landscaping, and operational details: handrails, lighting, furniture, sound system, and all the necessary bar equipment. It will all come together. With the support of our amazing clients, there's no doubt we are creating one of the premier, most blissful beach bar facilities in the Caribbean.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

update: the black iguana

The stonework on the mezzanine deck has been completed. The Black Iguana beach bar continues to materialize beautifully on Paya Bay's Bliss Beach!

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

update: the black iguana

As the "mezzanine" level of The Black Iguana beach bar nears completion, I'm feeling tremendous satisfaction at how it's coming together. Our Master Builder, Miguel Padilla, is doing fantastic work (assisted by his hard-working team).

A short flight of rustic stairs lead from this deck to the main level of the bar. The rail around this section will feature a sleek, curved bar top for resting cocktails (and elbows); the only furniture will be bar stools placed at key spots along its entire length. With its commanding, unobstructed view of the plunge pool and Bliss Beach, I suspect this "eye candy bar" will be a favorite part of The Black Iguana.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

channeling the universe

Lighting is a crucial element of any space. We've started the project of lighting the Black Iguana beach bar. Here are some glimpses of the beautiful, ethereal ambiance(s) already possible in this fantastic new Paya venue....

And think... This is just the beginning! It only gets better. (Special thanks to my soul brothers, The Scotts, for lugging lighting hardware all the way from Atlanta on their recent visit. Love, love, love!)

 Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

rustic hand basins

We worked with stone and added bamboo elements to give hand basins of the new beach bar restrooms a rustic yet contemporary look.

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

update: the black iguana

Work continues to progress on the Black Iguana beach bar. We are currently working on the mezzanine area right above and to the right of the plunge pool deck (as indicated in the first photo).

The last photo shows the awesome view of the plunge pool from this new level. Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

update: the black iguana beach bar

Now that the scaffolding has been removed from the flying balcony, one can really appreciate this architectural element of the Black Iguana beach bar facility. The last photo gives an idea of the spectacular view of Bliss Beach to be enjoyed from this prominent veranda. (Rails shown are temporary safety rails.)

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.

fit for a queen

The vista balcony just added to the Black Iguana beach bar is just... WOW! (Note that some supportive scaffolding is still in place. Once the temporary supports are removed, this rebar-reinforced "flying" balcony will pop.)

Paya Bay Resort, Roatan, Bay Islands of Honduras.