Copan Ruinas

Copan Ruinas
Wow, what an amazing place, I think I really love Copan more than any place I have ever been.  It is so quaint and cute, it is in the mountains so it is cooler
but I was also there for rainy season...I'm not sure it is always so nice. I could picture myself living there for sure.  It is a back packers hub because it is
so close to the Guatamala border...If I would have been thinking I would have brought my passport, thay way we could have crossed the border...even if for one
day...oh well, next time for sure...  We started Thursday off with taking a really early bus to San Pedro Sula, the bus dropped us off on a street corner and from
there we took a taxi to the bus terminal where Pontos and I sat in Espresso Americano (thank GOD Honduras has a Starbucks spin off!) getting to know each other and
 watching people stare at us...we def. stuck out!!! Many people looked and some even
asked...what are you doing here.  At one point a reporter from the local news station came up and started talking to us. She asked Pontos to say something nice
about the City and he said he has only seen the airport and the bus terminal, she said she didn't care, so he said that San Pedro was very pretty and than he
liked it very much... they also filmed him so it should all be on-line, how crazy is that! Pontos and I had really good coversation about lots of things, like
life in the states vs. Sweden vs. Honduras, relationships, our friends back home, ect his
English is pretty broken, but it is funny to hear him talk and try and say funny things...he will say things like "of course, my horse" it is just funny :)
So we boreded the school bus that will take us to Copan Ruinas the ticket was like 5 dollars,  The bus ride was AMAZING! It was cool and breezy with the most amazing
views.  We would randomly stop and locals would get on the bus selling plantain chips, cookies, pepsi, water, or agua dela coco (coconut water).  I so badly wanted to try
everything, but was very worried about germs so I just looked :)  I wish so badly I could describe the views of the montains with palm trees, coconut trees, banana
trees, pineapple growing, the clean mountain air the bright sun...it was amazing, best time I've ever had on a school bus, that is for sure!!! When we arrived the
clouds had just started to rain...we were walking around trying to find a place to stay and boom....the clouds opened and that was it...the streets were flooded,
I was WET, we walked through the river (street) and made our way to La Posada de Belssy a cute little hotel (15 $ a night) for two beds and a private bath, with
warm water...it was cute.  I will admit staying in a room with someone I have only known for a few days was sort of weird if you stop and think about it, but it
was actually not too bad...we got along well.  He is unfortunatly A LOT like me when it comes to being anxious/nervous and being a control freak, I really didn't
think that anyone could be worse than me...wow, I was wrong...he sort of drove me crazy by the end of the trip! I think communication is def an issue as well. 
So we got cleaned up and went to find a place for dinner...all I had eaten was a peanut butter and banana sandwich at like 6am, and some cheese and crackers
on the bus...I was starving!  We found La Case de Todo (house of everything) where we ate dinner...an amazing turkey, ham, tomato, and avacado sandwich...to die for!
I found a book at the book exchange...because I'm stupid and didn't bring ANY books with me!!! Had a beer, Imperial...my fav, relaxed while it continued to rain, called
my mom and then we went to Via Via Cafe, where we got happy hour drinks (fresca and rum) and started talking to a group of people, most from New York.  They had been
 on the island of Utila getting dive certified and were making their way to Copan and then home to New York...they were so fun!  We had amazing conversations with
them a few drinks and then off to the club/kareoke bar next door... there were several locals there...Hondurans take their singing and dancing VERY seriously here!
There were another group of Gringos (white people) in the bar, turns out they are med students working at a make shift doctors office (outside) and giving treatment
to people that have never seen a dr before... wow do they know how to party!!!  YEEEOW!  On dude tried to sing Livin Lavida Loca...he sucked it up and ruined the chances
of any other Gringo taking their turn and Espanol Karioki :)  We danced with the New Yorkers...made up some pretty silly moves and then headed back to de Belssy to bed
so we could meet up with everyone the next day for a "hike" to a waterfall.  The next morning we got up and went to look for food...we were trying to stay budget friendly
by grabing something at the "mini super" in town...we went for coffee, again gotta love Espresso Americano...and then to a little store..I picked up some strange vanilla
bread, some Quaker Oatmeal cookies and a Gatorade...yum.  Pontos got some weird bread...it looked like hot dog buns...and that was not the last time he ate that meal...
the saddest thing was seeing the dogs follow us wherever we went...because we had food.  I honestly felt HORRIBLE eating any of it...these dogs are litterally skin and bones
and some are just bones... and when you see one that looks a little healthy...they usually have owners the rest live on the street...so sad.  So after giving more than half
of my breakfast away we ended up meeting up with everyone and getting in the back of a pick up truck heading out of town to where our "hike" would begin...when we started
I thought this was going to be like any other hike I've done in Colorado...we got to the waterfall, no problem, swam, jumped off a log, swam some more..then the "hike" really
started!  We were climbing mountains of jungles, walking through creeks, streams and rivers, with boulders,crossing on logs, crossing under barbed wire fences, and
looking out for snakes and spiders...wow what an ordeal!  At one point I'm pretty sure all of us thought this was a "walk the stupid Gringos in the middle of the forest
and gut them with the mechetti hike" We finally got to our ultimate destination which was a canyon about 15ft tall where we could jump off into a cold spring...It was very
nerve racking...but "live in the moment" right?  So I went for it...a couple of times actually!  I got some really good pics..will have to up load when I get back to the
states.  After we had our fun jumping and swimming it was off through another crazy treck throught the Jungle!  We finally made it to the main road and thought the truck
would be waiting...not the case, so we walked and walked some more...all of us very VERY hungry, since most of us fed the dogs instead of ourselves...we finally made it
to the truck and headed back into Copan so we could eat, shower, and get ready for the next adventure :)  On our way back into town we talked about how overwhelming the
marketing PEPSI has done to this country!  It is crazy, we litteraly saw a church that was sponsored by PEPSI...people's houses, pepsi, the middle of a river, pepsi, a
school, pepsi...it is everywhere...I would really love to know the story behinde this... that wasn't the only thing either..TIGO is a cell company...it is everywhere too
and Ciaro...a DISH company...it is crazy to see mud and stick houses with a Dish on the side...hey..."it is what it is" So back to Copan and to a little Cafe next to
la Belssy.  I got dos tacos, they were soft shell tacos with veggies and pollo (chicken) lightly fried I guess...they were so yummy!!! All the New Yorkers could talk about
was food and man they can eat some food, I think we had several hour long conversations about food...so funny!  I tried the fried plantains, a crepe balleada, and empanadas.
All of it was so good!  Showered and then off through the mountains on a coffee plantation tour.  All the guys rode in the back while I rode in the front with Rita, she was
a beautiful lady and I was so sad that I couldn't tell her how amazing her country was.  I did tell her it was "muy bonito" which means very pretty! On our way up the mountain
it started to rain slightly...no worries..we went to the plantation, saw the plants and then went through the process of how they shell and roast the beans...very cool.  We
were then offered a cup of coffee, I was so excited to taste it because it smelled SO GOOD! Instead it tasted like water, or as Pontos says it..."cat piss!"  lol, so I bought
2 bags...ha!  Luke one's for you...there was a really cool handmade bag it came in...so whatever.  Then we were off to another plantation to actually see shade grown coffee in at
a farm...on the way it really started raining, but we decided to go any way.  As we are following our guide through someone's back yard with their hourse, and lots of hourse
poop, trash, and then over a log bridge because  there was a creek, I'm not talking a swaying bridge, I'm talking like a log, walk across a log to the other side, balance
and hope you don't loose control...HA!  I made it and as soon as we got to the coffee plants the heavens opened and we were drenched...I couldn't take any pictures and we
were so worried about all our electronics we had with us.. needless to say that was our close to our last pair of dry clothes, well all but me that is...since I pack until
my back pack bursts, I had one last pair of clean undies and an outfit...thank goodness :)  On our way back down the mountain I again sat in the cab while all the boys were
still getting rained on...they were in the back all trying to think of songs that had to do with water, "its raining men, yellow submarine, make it rain, and lots of other"
I was wishing so bad I wasin the back singing with them! Oh well, Rita and I had a good laugh for sure.  It is rainy season so it usually rains in the mountains from like 3
on... so that it did, it rained for the rest of the night, I thought to bring an umbrella, which was my bro's girlfriends, not sure how I ended up with it, but was very thankful
THANKS Alyssa! My roomate on the other hand was not so lucky, he was wet all weekend, despite the rain jacket he brought (too thin) :) WE were both pretty drained, I went for
dinner at the same place I had lunch it was very good an cheap!  It was so nice eating on the terrace of this place all by myself, well there were lots of Geko's around, but
truely I believe that is the first time I had gone to a resturant to eat alone, and I loved it.  I'm sure it had to do with my surroundings, the FREASH air, the food, and the
beautiful sound of rain hitting the banana and mango trees, but still, I'm quite certain I will be making this a part of my routine back in the states.  It's so amazing how
much I have learned about myself being here and about how happy I am with who I am...very reassuring!  I will admit, I have definatly had my self consious moments when I think
EVERYONE here is talking to me...oh well, you get used to it :)  It was nice that there were several people speaking English in the more touristy areas like Copan Ruinas.
After dinner I went to the main floor where the owner of the resturant had made some jewlery out of local nuts.  It was beautiful...and if you know me I am such a sucker for
jewlery, so I bought 4 pairs of earings and I paid 200 lemperas, thats about $10, not the problem is, which do I give as gifts or keep for myself :)  sorry sis :) we decided
 to venture out in the rain yet again for one more night a via via cafe, we decided to leave one day early so we could stay in San Pedro Sula, so I could meet Minor (Maynard)
Anyway it was a fun night of talking with the New Yorkers and meeting some new people at the same time!  We met a British guy, who spoke some sweedish, and hebrew, ahhh so may
 languages!  Everywhere we go it seems to be that way! oh well, its interesting to hear!  I just wish I could speak more! The next day I had made plans to go to the Ruins with
the British guy because he was the only one that hadn't gone out of our group and my roomate decided he didn't wan to go.  I was sort of dissappointed, I was some of the ruins, but
didn't really want to pay 30$ for a guide...stupid, I should have, so I didn't see the coolest parts and we had about 2 hours because we had to check out and take another 4 hour
bus ride to San Pedro...ughhh, I wasn't feeling it, but it was amazing and beautiful...off on our next adventure to San Pedro, the bus ride was very uncomfortable because yes
we go rained on AGAIN!!!  No I literally didn't have any dry clothes or clothes that smelled like WET...great! WE go to the bus terminal and the Honduras vs. Costa Rica game
was on...MANY people were huddled around the tvs watching as the game went down.  I was tired and hungry, trying to get in touch with Minor to tell him where we were, while
Pontos ordered Pizza hut...yeah thats right PIZZA HUT, 2 personal pans, he was very impressed, he had never seen anything like it, he was very hungry to, because all he had
 eaten was a bag of hot dog buns, so funny!  So we watched the game and waited while it rained yet again...this time so much that the streets were flooded and Minor could not
get through traffic to come get us.  So he talked to the taxi driver via phone and he took us to a really nice hotel with HOT water, TV, and breakfast...Minor came and we hung
out at the bar for a while.  It was good to see him again...not sure if we will stay in touch, but you never know. He was leaving for Huston the next day so he didn't stay
out too long.  I felt pampered with a long hot shower, ac, and yup I caught up on a little Jersey Shore action... The next day we were off to the bus terminal after a nice
breakfast of coffee, fruit, and toast...yes they had a toaster! San Pedro was already steamy hot at 9am! We ended up taking the nicer bus this time...and would you believe
me if I said I would PREFER a chicken bus, or school bus as we would call it! LOL!  We made it home as I relaxed in the hammock all afternoon, sorting pictures, and doing
laundry.  That night we met up with Sam, our other roommate and had dinner at the beach...amazing garlic shrimp, backed potato, and veggies...the best part pon de la coco,
which is a coconut bread with garlic butter on it...so amazing!!! What a great end to a weekend.