North Coast

I am about half way through my sight seeing tour or Honduras. I have a week left before it is time to start working and get out La Moskitia. My trip has taken me aong the North Coast of Honduras. There seem to be banana plantations in every direction. It really is strange that bananas were a common food for us to be eating in the states. So Dole meets our demands with these vast banana, palm and pinapple plantations. They cover most of the flat land in this area. Beyond the plantations are foothills where families grow their own food corn, rice, yucca and plantains. Most hillsides also have several sinuey looking cattle. If abundance of an animals makes it the national bird then chickens would surely stake that claim. They offer several services like bug and weeds patrol and of course providing various their two types of protien. Its absurd to even classify the type of eggs you would buy here, of course they are free range, where else would they live. Behind a veil of clouds are steep fortresses of forest and mountain. It looks much cooler up there, in the dark green forest and gray clouds, there just doesnt seem to be a practical way to reach them. Fortunately there is the ocean, iced coconuts and cold coca cola.

I spent five days in Trujillo, at an orphanage/school run by a catholic organization and a group of volunteers from the states. I was warmly welcomed by everyone and found a balance between being productive and finding time to rest and enjoy myself. I helped out by helping build chicken coops and a security fence, and sticking around to watch the weekend soccer games. I was also treated to a visit to a swimming hole. The highlight of my week was the trip I took to a near by mountain community called Buena Vista. I was able to join Beth , the volunteer who runs the health clinic, for a trip up to do some house visit with patients living in the remote community. Most of the homes were made from mud walls,
and thatched roofs. Most of the gardens behind each home had more types of flowers than i can hope to every hope to remember, everything from hybiscus, hydranga, and roses to the tropical flowers that only seem to have local names. I also got to meett with the community leader and listened to him talk about
the coming of the rainy season and his concern about the immenent errosion from the construction of newly constructed road. He also explained the way he had changed the way people in the community farm in order to reduce errosion. It was incredible to be in his house listening to him articulate ideas that i have read in scientific paper and technical terminology. His version was complete with examples of the hillside behind us and delivered in spanish from a swaying hammock, and entirely captivating. Perhaps when I get back to reading and writing those papers I will at least have memories like these to color my writing.

As for pictures, it may be a while. The camera i brought is not doing well with the heat or humidity. It has only turn on once, long enough for me to point the camera and have the whole operation shut down. I am looking into buying a new camera soon.

As for the heat, it has got be 100 degrees and 100% humidity here in Tela. I think I know the sensation of melting. Being a puddle all day makes it difficult to accomplish much. A beer and the beach might help me reconstitute.

Saludos
Spencer