HONDURAS December 21, 2010: Americans in Honduras – Dia 2

Dia Dos – Dia del cumpleanos de Michael (Miguel)

Greetings from Comayagua:

We woke up at Lago de Yojoa this morning… and after desayuno tipico (frijoles), we set out for Comayagua — about 60 miles south of where we had been staying. Driving was “interesting”… seems as if double and solid lines don’t mean much — even on curves and on hills.. Big trucks riding in oncoming lanes pass us rather aggressively… We chose to stay in the “slow” lane and trudge along, although occasionally we fought back and passed as well.. but a bit more cautiously than the Hondurans.

Along the edge of the lake there are dozens and dozens of little “fish shacks” where Lola or Ana or Maria or Delores cook the fish from the lake (each of these little stands is once again named for the woman who runs the place — which is just three or four stools at a counter).. The fish shacks butt up against one another in a line and all of the signs with the name of the place also advertise Coca Cola.

I forgot to mention (how could I possibly have forgotten) yesterday, that the urban areas are totally inundated with American fast food restaurants, which are all much larger than what we have in the states.. So, should we be longing for Wendy’s or Pizza Hut or Dunkin Donuts or even Taco Bell — no problem. As we go deeper into rural areas and away from cities, the proliferation of American culture immediately disappears.

Comayagua is a very sweet (though dusty) town — colonial in format — and recently went through (or is still going through) a renovation that is restoring much of its obvious early charm. We visited the cathedral – supposedly the best in Honduras, and the very pretty national palace.. we walked the town, and then set out to visit the restaurant that I hoped to take Mike to for his birthday tonight — Villa Real. We located it, but as luck would have it — it’s only open Thursdays through Saturdays.. so the birthday dinner is a bit of a pot shot. We’re headed to someplace called La Casita that is a bit out of the center, but recommended by the hotel guard.. Oh forgot to mention that every hotel and restaurant has an armed guard.. and in the plaza where we sat and watched Honduran daily life play out for about an hour — you’ve got the army with sub-machine guns; well-armed police somewhat distracted on their cell phones (taking personal calls I’m certain), and then armed guards for banks, etc. They all look pretty young and are quite friendly. I asked directions several times and they responded immediately, in spite of my rather rudimentary Spanish.

So, we are now back from the “birthday dinner.” La Casita was not exactly what I had expected.. but definitely a local joint. Food was pretty basic — meat, plantains, rice, and beans.. no alcohol. The place was packed with families and young couples. After dinner we went back to the town square Parque Nacional.. and searched for a place to have a drink. Had a beer and strolled back to our hotel – the Casa Grande which has a charming little courtyard; the place was pretty empty..

That’s it for Day Two. Tomorrow we have a really long drive to Tela — we backtrack north to the lake and then head northeast to the northern coast. By the way, for the weather watchers, evenings are totally delightful — probably about 63 and breezy; daytime it’s been in the high 70s so far.

Buenas Noches –
Fern