Rays Touring Central America...part 3

When we got back to Puerto Barrios, the plan was to stay another night at the Hotel Del Norte.  Well, there was a little protest from a few in the group (not mentioning names, but to clarify, I was not one of them).  So we decided to hit the road and find a hotel somewhere.  Dad, I could tell, was trying to please all, but was concerned about finding a hotel, even tho this is the main road that leads to Guatemala City.  Each night he makes mention of making sure we are 'there' before dark.  I thought it was due to safety.  Well as we drive, and drive, which seems like forever, it begins to get dark.  I asked him about the danger- well, the danger wasn't at all what I had thought, it wasn't people- it had to do with the roads! The danger in the fact the road may no longer be there, or a big section is gone!  I witnessed this twice later in the trip!  Both times it was on a side of a mountain, and there was a tree limb in the road.  That's what this naive girl thought.  What it really was- was where the road fell off the mountain (I guess- it wasn't there) and instead of repairing it, they put a tree there!! So you drive around the tree. Problem solved.  The second time we came to one, I was prepared so I was watching the road's edge- Mistake!! I felt like I was about to fall off the cliff when we got to the tree/hole- it was straight down, and we were right there!!!  I'm not sure if anyone in the car knew how much that freaked me out.  I decided to enjoy the scenery from there on out, and not focus on such things as missing roads and cliffs!!

Beautiful scenery - God's gift - and I thank him for it!

Back to travels, so it's getting dark and we drive into this town.  We have driven thru many little towns by now, and they are so interesting because the buildings and houses are right on the road. Everything is close together and seems less than 1/4 mile wide. Also not large enough to have a hotel.  Well this town was hoppin!  Seemed to be where a lot of semi trucks stopped while heading to Guatemala City.  So Dad whips off the road in front of this aqua colored 2 story 'hotel', right on the edge of the road.  He said, "we will stay here tonight, I'll go see if they have a room".  Well, it really was what I expected to stay in, but we had been staying in better than I thought hotels, so when I saw this, I sank a bit.  I told myself, I would NOT complain, or make a face (I hope I didn't), it WILL be fine, I CAN do this!!!  I'm not sure what everyone else was thinking - no one said a word! (which alone was impressive)  Well..... they were booked- no rooms available!!! And they suggested a hotel down the road.  So prepared for another 'hotel', we slowly drove down the busy street looking for the sign.  We thought we had missed it because we seemed to be heading out of town, I looked to my right and a sign facing the other way read "Hotel Santa Monica"! We pulled thru the gate into a big parking lot and it was like an oasis in the dessert!  It was glorious, it also was empty...Dad had to go hunt for an employee, then she went to find a guy who didn't act like he had expected any visitors - like ever.  So with much discussion, with Dad and man, we had 2 rooms!  I just could not get over this place, it was a hidden treasure, just fabulous!  It did have a/c, it did have hot water, and a wonderful shower!  It also had such pretty flowers, plants and HUGE ferns!

Hotel Santa Monica ~  Rio Dulce, Guatemala

We ate dinner down the road at a street side, open sandwich/ice cream shop (open meaning- literally no walls).  They were blaring old 80's American music, and there was lots of activity on the road, people walking, cars, trucks passing- busy.  I thought it was great, and loved my cheesy quesadilla! Things were good.  We got up the next morning, ate breakfast at the hotel, and struck out for the border of Guatemala and Honduras.  Now this border was much busier, with lots of people.  I'm glad we experienced one that wasn't small and just us, but I'm glad it wasn't more crowded!  Now that we were back in Honduras, next stop Copan!  Mom had talked about this town for 20 yrs, and this whole trip, so I was glad to finally arrive.  I know now why she liked it so much.  What a neat town, cobblestone streets, very hilly streets, nice little shops, a few American speaking people, Maya Frozens & Cappuccinos :). Spectacular!!  It was fun hearing stories of them in Language School and living there.

Mom talked the whole trip about eating at Jim's Pizza, she said it was the best pizza she ever ate.  Well about 2 days before we got there, it dawned on me that 20 yrs had passed since Mom ate at Jim's Pizza, what if it's not even there!!! Oh the disappointment.  So when we got in town, we found the pizza place and planned to eat there for supper.  And sure enough, it was a delicious pizza, I mean- really is worth the trip, and a must do if you are there! Jim himself was there, and come over to speak.  It was a lot of fun and I was so relieved it was still around.

Look at that happy mama!!  and those empty plates.

The next morning Dad, Anna Ashley, John Buck and myself went to tour the Mayan Ruins. Mom opted out, she had been there.  All our lives my dad has taken us to historical places,  I think we have seen every fort on the east coast, Adam may have been the only real interested one.  I'm curious enough to want to go, but usually miss most of the point of the tour, Mom is not a fan- and it does seem to be super hot at every one.  Thank goodness Dad has a bunch of grandsons, and they LOVE going, and will go again and again.  Dad has 2 more that are just getting old enough, I hope they live up to their older cousins :)  Anyway, hi ho hi ho, off we go, walking about a mile to the entrance.  True to Ray family tradition, we declined the tour guide!! The first thing we saw are these BIRDS! They are fabulous, beautiful colors, so exotic- and very loud. They are the Scarlet Macaw.

So the Mayan Ruins are impressive, in the fact that they were found, still together, and the fact they could make them with such detail in stone so long ago.  Other than that......well, I hope it's not bad to say, but I was really more interested in those birds!  And the trees and tree roots fascinated me!! They were huge, so impressive.  The top right picture above is of air plants that grow on most of the trees.  This was a cool thing to see also, some were so big! And what happens to the ones that fall to the ground during a rain storm (which was just the night before)??  So here are some photos:

1- Anna Ashley and me reenacting climbing these steps for a picture Dad wanted to send Mom- we had only climbed a mile and were exhausted.  AA was none too pleased to have to go back down and then back up for photo op. Cracks me up! (bottom left) This is how they find the pyramids and then they put them together like a puzzle.

John Buck impressing us with his master climbing skills - he really did get up there quick, it was a 6ft step

Now for the really cool part.  1-JB standing by this enormous tree! 2-Tree growing sideways out of ruins. 3-JB standing on root of tree. 4-check out these cool roots - awesome! 5-JB standing by this crazy growing tree, look how big the branch is to the right side, then the trunk/root to the right of JB.  I would like to thank John Buck for standing in has a measurement comparison in these photos! Also, I didn't think the root pictures would show up good, so I didn't take NEAR the amount I wish I had.  You're welcome :)

 Good times were had by all!  I would like to know how many steps we really did climb!!

Dad pointing out where all he has gone in this photo.  He has been to all but 2 of these places: the Vatican, and one of those bottom 2 (sorry Dad- can't believe I forgot- please let me know, so I can correct)

 

For lunch we ate at this lovely restaurant.  I love that most of the restaurants here have courtyards and outdoor seating.

After lunch we toured the town some more.  Here are a few points of interest (thru the eyes of Hayes)

Check out that fancy trash can! They were all like that.  It's things like that that can make a town super neat. The last picture is the sink that goes with this bathroom - outside of the bathroom, just neat to me.

1- Oh, these Maya Frozens were just what Mama and I needed, John Buck trying out new drink :) 2- took this picture because of cute little old man, but you can't even see him- but got a shot of that awesome flat fan palm!! 3-4: town views 5- I loved this tree, so pretty

The Cemetery! Isn't this neat.  Anna Ashley and I thought so!

Our hotel. The Hotel Acropolis Maya. The pretty garden in the center.  French doors to the balcony.  But our favorite part was this open sitting area on the second floor. 

Us hanging out in "our" living room. It was wonderful, always a breeze, beautiful scenery, and we could just hang out together and talk, laugh, and oh yeah there was wifi too!!!

For Dinner that night, we walked around and discussed several options, checked out the menus, but we all were intrigued of the gaudy restaurant at the end of town, so decided on that one!!  Good choice- if you are ever in Copan, I highly recommend it and the fajitas :)

We did have a little adventure while out in about.  While we were walking to dinner, the lights in the town went out - a black out again!!! YET this time we were on the streets! Yikes!!  Dad said to remain calm, get close together and keep walking.  Well I hooked up like Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and the Lion- trying hard not to act like the cowardly lion!!  So with me, Mom, Dad, and AA arm in arm, and JB being brave by us, we walked on to dinner where they had a generator!!  Dinner was awesome, in case you haven't gathered that, and we had a great time, but when it was over a storm started brewing.  So now we are walking back in the dark with the chance of rain.  Good thing was, by this time there were generators scattered about so it wasn't so bad.  I was still locked in arm in arm, really wishing I could remember the words to follow the yellow brick road (but then there would have been the singing issue- and didn't think Dad would have seen the humor or think it appropriate!)  Needless to say we made it back to the hotel safe and sound.

Sadly this was our last night in Copan.  The next morning we headed to San Pedro Sula, and will fly out the next day.  Here are some fun and interesting things we passed on our travels.

We ate breakfast at the internet cafe - as the parents called it.  They had many fond memories of this place.  When they went to school here, this was the only place you could get online, so it was a fun meeting place and hang out!  It was a neat little place and several pictures earlier are from here (flowers, banos and sink). There was a restaurant, little gift shop, book swap section, and of course an outdoor seating area.  I'm glad that we got to go see this in person.    We were served breakfast on these clay plates. Ain't that quaint :)

The girl on the back of the motorcycle is carrying a metal frame of sorts- but look how she is transporting it!! Next, this truck was in front of us way too long, because the whole time I was afraid they would hit a bump and fall off the back!! there is no rail, rope, support of any kind on the back, and he is casually standing with his feet crossed, and the young girl that you can barely see on the right near the cab- well, she was listing to music and sitting on the edge and not holding on, as I would have preferred!! actually I would have liked her to sit in the base of truck bed.  The next is a picture of a truck with the side that lower for loads too wide.  They are common, just not to me. The trees I just like :)

Top 5 were several towns we drove thru.  Then all of a sudden thru a town we come across these two beauties!  That was a surprise. Then we came to a really nice shopping center- out of the blue- wonder what brings money to this little town? We did get to stop at a Burger King :) When entering the shopping center, the cop with the big gun, gave us a ticket, which Dad kept on his person, because no car can leave the center without a ticket!! That's one way to prevent car theft.

Burger King was having a party and check out the cute way to do the balloons!!  I was so impressed! Group shot to remember the moment :)  Love my family.