a week in a country is never really enough time to get to know a culture or a people and i knew that when i decided to spend a week in Honduras. but as i look back now, about a week later, i find that in a week Honduras showed me much of itself through it´s beautiful landscape, generous people and fabulous food.
It all started with a bus ride (see photos from past posting) and not surpisingly ended with one as well. i spent a significant portion of time in transit- on various forms of buses, vans, taxis and in the back of many pick-up trucks (hitching rides is common and relatively safe in Honduras!). i had two locations to visit before i arrived in Honduras, the island of Utila and the ruins of Copan. However i wasn´t overly excited about the island for some reason so when the trio from Floating Doctors (want to know more? check out the website) invited me along with them to Lake Yojoa i happily agreed. They had heard of the location from other travelers who spoke of the amazing waterfalls and the randomly placed brewery/hostel. i love water and who doesn´t love a waterfall? and a brewery/hostel? well this i had to see!
D & D Brewery...the only microbrewery in Honduras. Started, owned and operated by a man from Oregon. He also has a coffee farm, blueberry farm...and they serve amazing blueberry pancakes for breakfast with their very fresh coffee! yum!
now is the time that i admit that for the first time in my trip i was scared. yep, not just nervous or apprehensive but actually a bit afraid. the crew and i headed over to the waterfall which you can view and also get a guide to take you under-beneath-behind the waterfall and into the tunnels-caverns. the photo does not really do the waterfall justice, nor does it show the amount and force of the water. in only shoes, bathing suits-shorts we found ourselves completely submerged in the water which was fun, refreshing and yes at one moment a bit scary. standing in a cavern with water up to our chests and the falls at either entrance...oh and a guide saying "come on, just look down and feel for the rocks, oh and hold hands"...yeah the longer i stood there, the longer i had time to consider the stupidity of the options before me. however not one to be left behind or one to falter to my fears i forged ahead. of course i am glad i did, not just because i overcame the momentary fear but also because the view from the next cavern-rocks was fantastic! no photos of that though or any of the experience as my camera is not waterproof...note to self, next trip, bring a waterproof camera.
a view from the hills and mountains above the village of Pena Blanca. This region of Honduras is, in my opinion, incredibly beautiful...but here´s the thing, all the parts of the country i saw were in my opinion, beautiful...ok with the exception of Tegucigalpa...not so beautiful but definitely vibrant.
As i mentioned above, i found the people of Honduras to be incredibly friendly, helpful and generous. i cannot count how many times people approached me or one of the other travelers just to see if we were ok and ask us about our travels. one of the consistent questions i was asked by people young and old, women and men.."what do you think of my country?" there is so much pride and so much passion for their country and i was so happy to say that i found the country beautiful and to hear them tell me their thoughts on places to visit, things that made their country unique and foods-drinks i had to try to truly experience Honduras.
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