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Published: August 30th 2007
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Welcome
Honduras is on the list of poorest countries in the world ... even though Delmonte has huge plantations here. The ruins of Copan were the first stop in Honduras. The reason for the second stop at La Ceiba, was to meet the divers who had been for the previous five days on the Islands of Utila or Roatan and would be staying a while longer.
When arriving at Copan the 'monster’ progressed smoothly into town and I rejoiced to know we wee going to stay in town. I had decided to stay at Via Via a hostel run by Belgians with similar locations in a few places in the world, all boasting the same level of friendliness, ecological concern, cleanliness and good food and drink.
Minnie had stayed in Via Via in other parts of the world and she was looking forward to similar hospitality.
The truck stopped. OK we would all get out and walk into the town. NO! The JEFE was eying an empty field. And there we sat while it was discovered who owned the empty lot. When it turned out to be unavailable ....who wants a monster on their lawn? ... JEFE, undaunted was apprised of information about another place where the 'monster' could stop.
And then the truck turned around and headed
Vegans Coffee Concern
Knowing the habits of the truck group I hope the coffee bushes are not close to the tenting area. out of town. BE still my heart.
The chosen place turned out to be the yard of a vegan coffee grower. No toilets but hey there was a Texaco station across the street. And look how close to the entrance of the Copa Ruins we were situated.
When I heard about the gas station toilets I grabbed what I needed and started walking to town. ViaVia here I come.
Minnie Paul and I shared two rooms that had six beds. Sorry about being greedy but we had not ha a shower for two days. Every day was a repeat of the one before… sweat, stick and stink.
Did a wander the first afternoon giving myself the next day for the ruins.
The staircase covered in hieroglyphs is worth the visit. It was enthralling. To imagine it as it was with the red colour derived from the leaves of the teak tree, intact, surrounded by the high priests in their jaguar capes and feathered head dresses and the chants and rhythms of ceremonial music is to be transported back into the humid dense rainforest of times past.
This is what standing before this magnificent stairway and
walking around the two meter tall resplendently carved stellae did for me. It was worth more than $15.
On the way in huge parrots greeted all comers. On the way out a guide was overheard speaking about the loyalty these parrots have for one another. When one of the mated for life pair dies the other soon follows.
Copan is huge and all day can be spent wandering from one temple to another. AS per usual was in a rush.
Satisfaction came from seeing the sculpted stone which here at Copan is more prominent than at any other Ruins.
By lunch time of the day after a fantastic night of salsa dancing and loud music and more than one shower at ViaVia we were off heading for the Caribbean Ocean and La Ceiba … named after the national tree of Honduras.
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