Honduras and Copán

Just got back from Copán, the Mayan site just over the border into Honduras. We left at 4:00 AM, and most of us slept most of the way - fortunately! It's a five hour trip! It was fun to get our passports stamped for Honduras. After a quick breakfast at our hotel, we went directly to the ruins. The site is fabulous - a lot of structures to see, as well as stellae - the tombstone-shaped stones with Mayan carvings on them. We had a good guide - a biling ual guy of 74 who had been giving tours for YEARS. He made a point to joke with all the tourists, and chat a little bit with each one about their hometown baseball team. (Yes, he knew all about the Giants!) Our guided tour was about two hours long; afterwards, we lingered in the central plaza area, enjoying the lush, green surroundings, the spectacular views, the sacred ceiba trees, the noisy but gorgeous macaws, and the general ambience. One photo shows the seven of us (three folks stayed in Antigua) and the other shows Ari Sandoval investigating a tunnel. We also saw a rabbit-like animal often used for food. Jean-Pierre (originally from Cameroon) recognized it and said it is eaten there, too.

We left the park just in time to miss the downpour - but we were caught in the middle of it as we went out into the town to look for a restaurant for a late lunch. Because of the downpour, we spent most of the afternoon lazing in hammocks, napping or reading. By early evening, the rain had stopped so we went out to wander around the town. Again, the rain came - , in buckets. We found a restaurant with the soccer game - Mexico vs. the U.S., being played at the Rose Bowl, for the "Copa de Oro - on so we ate and cheered at the same time. Then, because we had no other choice, we walked back to our hotel in the pouring rain!á

We spent most of the day in the van, returning from Copán. We're safely back in Antigua in time for our "last supper." The van comes to pick us up at 6:30 AM to take us to the airport. We'll be home tomorrow evening - hard to believe. It's been a great trip!