HONDURAS 12/31/2010: Americans in Honduras – Dia 12: Birds and Politics

Ola en el dia ultima de 2010
31 Diciembre 2010

After a leisurely breakfast out on the patio of the Hacienda, we set out for the Macaw Mountain Park — a bird sanctuary and large park with trails, a little cafe, and a river running through. I should note that mornings and afternoons when daylight streams into our room here at the Hacienda, it’s totally delightful. We’ve also been able to connect wirelessly, for a change, so bye bye ATT (at least for this last day of our travels.)

So, for the bird sanctuary… Toucans, macaws, parrots (many different species).. many many just flying around … some are rescue birds.. There’s one spot where a guy with a long pole can get each of about 30 birds to come on the pole and then he places the bird(s) on your shoulder or head … naturally, so that visitors can have their picture taken… OK, OK.. I had one on my shoulder! Mike too… Photos to prove it.

Last night at dinner, we engaged in a conversation about Honduran politics and it can be simply summed up (and re-affirming everything others here have said)… It doesn’t really matter who is in power, the country is very corrupt and run by the narco-gangs. Everything is based on bribery and corruption.

Some feel Zelaya made a difference; others seem to feel that there is truly no difference. The main issue seems to be that once there is an election, the president is supposedly in power for four years.. but that they really only function for two of the four at best. The first year is total chaos. And the fourth year nothing happens .. so at best the two middle years hold promise, but not much. When a new administration takes power every government worker loses their job and is either re-hired or not… everyone even street sweepers (if such a position exists). This is what was explained to us.

So, the sense — to some people here — is that whether or not the US was involved in the coup.. and whether or not Zelaya found himself caught in a struggle between Chavez and the US… for the people of Honduras there isn’t much difference in their lives… not until the narco gangs can be dealt with, and Honduras is way too poor to do anything about this.

But, alas, places like Copan and the Hacienda continue on — peacefully and apparently without problems.

We did hear a few horror stories about Columbian and Mexican professionals traveling through the country en route to Copan being detained (although not for very long) and questioned. And we are now quite certain that the police stopping us yesterday definitely wanted money.

Anyway, we head to San Pedro Sula Airport in the morning. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive and we are keeping our fingers crossed that our little Hyundai makes it for this one last trip. Our flight is at 5, with check in at 3.. but we are leaving here at 9am… just in case.. and also because we need to return the rental car and have no idea how the process works. If we are there with a few hours to spare.. no problem. I brought lots of work with me.. and only did a small portion of it.

Tonight, for new years we are headed out of the Hacienda into town. The Hacienda doesn’t serve dinner on either New Years Eve or Christmas Eve so that its 25 staff members can be with their families. On Christmas Day and New Years Day they open the place for the families of the staff.. with a big lunch and other activities. Too bad we won’t be around for that. Should be fun. Hacienda San Lucas’ staff are all locals.. and many are related. Some of the younger staff have gone off to school to learn to be guides or to run hotels. Actually, they are a fairly large employer… and staff is well treated.

So we head to a restaurant named Taty Zaty or something like that. We are not driving, since getting to and from here or even just driving anywhere in the dark is really treacherous, and we’ve avoided it whenever possible. Pilo, from the Hacienda, will take us and then pick us up. Not sure how the town celebrates.. but driving the other day … all along the roadside there were stands selling fireworks of various kinds … Each stand had enough stuff.. that if ignited would be like an IED in Iraq.. And we counted more than 30 stands within a stretch of about 1/4 mile… Scary… Not sure who’s buying them, but hopefully they are not near the restaurant.

Oh.. one last comment, overall.. If ever you’ve seen some contradictory iconic images.. it’s everyone — cowboys, kids, farmers riding donkeys with hay piled high, the drivers of little three wheel motor scooter “taxis”… everyone is on a cell phone. Not sure who’s really studied this phenomenon.. how this device is changing cultures around the world… especially developing countries.

Signing off.. See you in the states in 2011

Feliz Ano Nuevo y gracias por leer (leando?? ) mis letras de Honduras (????)
Fern