El ultima dia

Well, our Honduran adventure is coming to an end. One more look at the beautiful place where we are staying, beginning with la Iglesia en la Plaza:



Copan is a city built along the side of a hill. Melissa, por seguro, won't miss trudging up the hills:



For the third time, I was blessed to be able to stay with the Alvarados--here we are with tiny Dona Rosita, el Padre Rodolfo y mi Amiga Cristian:



Rosa is a wonderful cook--we were treated to many wonderful Honduran dishes.

The point of the trip was to improve our Spanish, which I think we all did. Now to find opportunities to practice when I get home!!

But it was a great trip, and we are all ready to fly home tomorrow.

Hasta luego!

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Lunes

Back to the routine. Sunday was relaxed (no, Padre did not go to church this Sunday...). We read in the morning, then went to a small museum in a former prison where we identified a new Mayan King (named Mata Moscas--Kills Many Insects)



Then down the hill for some iced coffee.

Today (Monday) we returned to class. Alex is proud that he has almost caught up with me in our Spanish studies, but it continues to be enjoyable, and I am beginning to understand things I didn't before--por y para, past vs imperfect, etc.

This afternoon we all had mega naps, and then some wonderful comida tipico--empanadas:



Muy sobroso!!

The weather is warm, but it cools off in the evening, where we hang out at Twisted Tanya's (meeting Tanya tonite!!), who had named us the "Internet family":



Thanks for following us, and for keeping us in prayer. Thoughts are beginning to head homeward.

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El Parque de Los Aves

Everyone here in Copan told us we should go see the Bird Park just outside of town. We took a mototaxi to the park, a place where exotic birds are rescued, bred and when possible returned to the wild.

We were led by Carlos, an excellent guide:



Who showed us a great place with beautiful flowers:





And beautiful birds, including Toucans, the national bird of Belize:






And Macaws, the national bird of Honduras:






At the end, we were able to be with the birds up close and personal. At first, I was uncertain:



But in a moment they became fast friends:


Melissa had a similar experience:









Even Alex got into the act:


What a great, tranquil day. Now enjoying a relaxing lunch at Alex's favorite place, Twisted Tanya's.

Have I made you jealous yet??

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El fin de semana!!

Yay! The weekend has arrived. A break is appreciated, as learning Spanish is hard work.

Here is the school, Ixbalanque:



It is a pleasant, peaceful place with lots of beautiful flowers. Alex has his class on the second floor, lurking through the roses:



Melissa is here with her maestra Ada:



After three intense hours, classes end at noon. We walk home, up several hills, this being the one closest to the house:



We are ready for lunch after this climb!

We are all working on different things--Melissa is working on verbs, Alex on verbs in the past tense (preterito, for there are two past tenses), and I am working on the mysterious difference between por y para. Lots to remember, but it is amazing how some of it is actually sinking in!!

After our siesta, we head out for a walk where we catch up on what is happening in the outside world. Wifi access is good and easy to find, so we feel connected.

We are half way through our adventure here. Alex is ready to come home now, I think we all will be when we get on the plane next Saturday!

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Into a routine

We are settling into an enjoyable routine. We begin the day with a light desayuno (breakfast) and then head down the hill for class, which goes from 8:30 until mediodia--noon.   Then almuerzo, then a siesta.

Then we go for a walk, heading to one of the many nice, wifi equipped spots in Copan. Today we went to the wonderfully named cantina Twisted Tanya's:

It is a great place that I have never been to before in my previous visits. Very funky, with a "Backpacker's Special" every day. Not a bad place to relax:

In the small world department, we met Scott, Lynn and Valerie who are from Incarnation, practicing Spanish at the school prior to their mission trip which will begin on Friday.

We did learn something new about Alex that we did not know before, but you will have to ask him!

All in all, a good day. Tonight everyone here is excited about the Honduras--US soccer match. We'll be watching, with very divided loyalties!!

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Domingo

Yes, el Padre does go to church when he is away!! There is a little Episcopal community in Copan, led by a layman, Carlos. He is a kindred spirit who plays the guitar :



There is no priest in this area, so they had Morning Prayer. They meet in a parishioner's home. There were about 20 people there, obviously hard working folks and of course, beautiful children. Here is Carlos' daughter:



After the service, Carlos drove me to the site of their new church building. Right now, it is only a foundation, but the dream for them is to build a two story church and rectory like the one we at Epiphany worked on at Santiago in Siguatepeque.

The announcements at church centered on how they had bloques, pero no cemento. They are doing small things to raise money to keep building. Seems like building programs are part of every church!

This afternoon is rest time before classes resume tomorrow.

The weather is fairly hot and humid, exacerbated by no A/C. I feel like I always have a glaze on me!!

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Copan Ruinas

Today we took a tour of the Mayan ruins of Copan. Their civilization flourished from 400-800 AD, and were skilled builders and stone carvers. They had a written hieroglyphic language and a base 20 numbering system which included a zero long before we in the west developed it.

Maya means people of maize, of corn. So much of our Southwest cuisine--tortillas, tamales, cocoa, etc.--come from these people who disappeared 1200 years ago.

Interesting morning. Then we piled into a mototaxi:



And then stopped in a nice cafe for lunch and rest:



Very relaxing!! I hope everyone's summer will be as good.

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Day One in Copan

Thursday was a long travel day. We arrived in Copan about 7pm, with the three of us and all our luggage crammed into a tiny mototaxi--it must have been a hilarious sight!!

It was a treat to return to la Casa Alvarado, where I stayed in prior visits to Copan. They are a lovely family, with tiny Dona Rosa and padre Don Rudolfo, Karla y Gilda and mi amigo Cristian, who is six and finishes school today.

We will have clases this afternoon, so right now we are enjoying a cup of coffee and catching up.


Life is good!! (Note the attempt at growing a goatee--right now it's lincolnesque...)

Bill


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