Honduras 8/Utila Island

Finally got to my first Honduran Island of Utila where I could scuba dive and snokel. The coral reefs were close with plenty of beautiful bright blue, yellow, orange, and multi-colored tropical fish. Saw 2 stingrays, a polka dot sea snake, a moray eel, and plenty of nearly invisible jellyfish. I got stung a few times, but by the time I got out of the water, there was no evidence of contact. My dive master Allan was highly skilled and loco! Sorry I didn't have an underwater camera and they were not easy to get:-(

The tarantula greeted me from across my room and hung out on the curtain. I asked some other travelers to help and one young brave man did a 'catch and release'. I also had him to check my rooms for cousins, aunts, and uncles. Thankfully, there were none and I slept well.

Currently on the beautiful island of Roatan where I plan to scuba and snorkel. My hotel room is across the street from the beach and the town is quite beautiful. I walked around last night and found a place called 'Barefoot Bar' and that's where the party was! I danced for over an hour with another traveler who was from Germany and he danced like a Jamaican! I ate a nice BarBQ chicken dinner for $5 and it was delish!

Roatan is definitely more expensive than Honduras in general and my room cost the highest so far, $25/night w/ air con., cable tv, and hot water. I plan to spend another night here before heading back to the mainland where I hope to do buy a few items before heading home.

I truly hope all is well with you and it would be nice to hear a comment or note so I can know if I'm even talking to anybody. Just say Hi, Bye, something?

Peace and Blessings,

Lonnie

Honduras 7

Stayed at the Jungle river lodge in Pico Bonito Nat.Pk and the highlight was the white water rafting trip down the river....Awesome! The river ran through the canyon in front of our lodge and I got to listen to it all day and night!

On our way to Tela, we passed through Progresso and the streets were lined with KFC, McDon, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts, etc. can't escape these american exports, eh?

Honduras 6

Me a John from Holland, Maria Antonia (local), a beach in the town of Tela and a Garifuna village.

Honduras 5

Another day in Paradise. Hiked into Azul Nat.Pk with a Swedish couple who were great company. The hike was long, hot, humid, but beautiful. The hanging nests were impressive and numerous. Met nice locals along the way and got a ride down the hill. Had a good plate of Chicken and veggies before we went separate ways...great day!

Honduras 4

These photos are the end of my stay at Pulanpanzak National Pk where I got to witness multiple baptisms while people prayed, sang, chanted, and celebrated. After the Park, I visited another national park and had to hike for hours to reach a falls that was small, cute, but offered no swim holes. I met a couple from Denmark who shared the hike, laughs, chats, and eventually lunch with me. We met a wonderful local couple who were visiting the park as a birthday present for the wife. They gave us a ride down the mountain we hiked up and were very impressed that we hiked upward on a winding mtn under blazing heat for about 8 miles! I was impressed and exhausted.

For the wife I sung the Stevie Wonder version of Happy Birthday to You! and it was a big hit! Thanks to my voice teacher Dean, I had the confidence and good notes and a hot melody!

and she had a birthday she´ll never forget... awwwwe
loveya,
Lonnie

Honduras 3 photos

Honduras 2

On Saturday, Mel and I arrived at Lake Yajoa and checked into a well known travelers and beer lovers spot called D&D Brewery. The owner Robert is from Oregon and has been making beer for over a decade. Mel loved the beers and the samples I tasted were all the same to me (definately not a beer drinker). There was a swimming pool, restaraunt (the food was edible but not delish!), plenty of games, books, and other travelers. Mel and I took a walk to the river which leads to the lake. We took photos and absorbed the abundance of natural beauty; lush green trees, tropical flowers in amazing colors, large varieties of birds (there are nearly 500 species in the area), and lush green 8000 ft moutains partially covered by clouds, creating a cloud forest.

We met Malcolm the birdman, an eccentric ornatologist that clearly has a passion for nature, birds, and nature and bird lovers. He was quite a funny man in that he had no interest in politics, tv, modern inventions, etc....loved him!

After Mel and I took cold showers (was supposed to have hot water), she got in the bed and promptly jumped out screaming. Pulled back the covers to see big black dead ants. I pulled my covers back and discovered the same, the room had been exterminated but not cleaned. Then we were upgraded to a cabin which was large with a private shower and bathroom. Unfortunately, this room had not been cleaned either. The owner Robert was away and left a newly unemployed American named Lauri to look after his place. Clearly the employees were taking a break too, and not cleaning). We called Lauri to the room and she was embarrassed and apologetic. We changed the linens, swept the floor, and I never slept as the mattress was not comfy.

We moved out the following morning and are now staying at El Cortijo which has view of the lake, a talking/singing green bird, dogs, a white cat, and clean rooms. Mel had to study her University coursework. I got to visit the waterfalls at Pulanpanzak Nat. Pk. The local people are sweet and very helpful so I got around on the locals buses effortlessly. The hike to the waterfall was a long hot one but alas, I followed the sound of falling water until I was there, along side of the falls, walking on slippery rocky steps with my China town umbrella keeping camera and I safe from the mist. I saw another sista (local) who wanted to take a photo while holding my umbrella, then her friend did, and another, and etc. The umbrella was a big hit and the ladies later joined me for a chat and lite lunch at the local eatery. Pictures to be posted soon.

I take a break for now and chat more later. Miss U Mucho,

Lonnie

Lonnie´s in Honduras

Hola Hola,

Arrived Thurs. morning in San Pedro Sula, Honduras then took a bus to Copan, city of ancient Mayan ruins (see photos). I met a Canadian woman named Mel and we shared a tour of the ruins. We were amazed and impressed by it all: the history of the Mayas, routes, culture, architecture, engineering, irrigation, etc. The animal and human sacrifice signifigance was clarified and put in perspective with the Mayan beliefs regarding life and death. Because various groups are involved in excavation projects at the site, there are tunnels from which other levels ands histories are contained. The lights in the tunnel were out during our tour so I really didn´t take any photos as they would have been disappointing. The one thing that did impress me was the latrine was a work of art and insight. It was set up so that you could sit while toileting, then lake water washed waste down and out to a river with continuos flow.

On Friday night, the buckets o´rain came with earpiercing thunder and blinding lightening. Power went out for a while, but I was impressed with how quickly it was restored as well as how much damage and flooding occured in other areas. The cobblestone streets of Copan got a good wash, and all was refreshed in the morning. My breakfast came with a most wonderful cup of coffee. The beans roasted, ground, and brewed on site of my $15 per night room which was clean, comfy, equiped with a fan and cable TV! Breakfast was $3!

On Saturday morning, I decided to skip a horseback riding tour to the coffee plantations and other points of interest due to the previous day´s heavy rain. The last thing I wanted to do was sloosh around muddy moutains on a caballo!

I went out for breakfast and was plesantly surprised to run into Mel who was supposed to have been on her way to Guatemala. She had some technical difficulties and decided to join me on an adventure to El Lago di Yajoa (lake ya-ho-wa). And adventure it has been. Will write more later about that. For now, suffice it to say, I´m sooooo glad to be here and having a wonderful hot, sunny, rainy, humid wonderful time...wish you were here,

besos (kisses),

Lonnie