Blogs from Sambo Creek, Northern, Honduras, Central America Caribbean

Up at 5am to catch a 7am ferry. The ferry system here isn’t completely disorganized, it is just chaotic. I decided to try to minimize the chaos by going at 7am on a Sunday. That has to been the best time to go, right? (As Monday at 9:30am was packed.) Turns out, Monday was not packed. Today was packed. Like what Ellis Island must’ve been like. Or a mosh pit. I thought, “what sort of insane person would take a 7am ferry on a Sunday?” ALL of the insane people, apparently. The term “Sunday driver” takes on a whole new meaning when you pack a ferry full of ‘em. The trip made Villa Helen’s all the more welcoming, as it is tranquil, secluded, and mildly eccentric. On the ride here, through La Ceiba, brightly colored laundry ... read more

The equivalent of one third of Honduras’ GDP is wired home every year by Hondurans living and working abroad, the vast majority of course in the States. Without that constant inflow, the economy would collapse completely. Everywhere you go, somebody is asking you where you are from and telling you that they once worked for a year or two in Minnesota, Texas, California, or even Ontario. More often than not they are going back there in a few months. Throughout the country there are Western Union outlets, as well as less well-known operations, dedicated to keeping that money flowing. On a Friday afternoon there will often be a lineup down the street outside these tellers, young mothers picking up the money from their husbands that will feed the children, older mothers receiving pensions from their grown ... read more