A Great Last Day

After all the crazy trips to the airport, it was nice to spend the day just hanging out. After changing rooms from D&D to our private cabin at Paradise, we headed to Santa Barbara National Park for a short hike. The ferns there were mammoth, larger than many of the trees back home. The plants were really exotic too. I expected a dinosaur to walk around the corner any minute. The hike took longer than we anticipated, and we were famished when we finished.





It took every ounce of self control to skip the buffet offered at the base of hike and head to Agua Azul Restarante. It was worth the wait. The food was fantastic (I got more seafood soup), and the view was incredible. It is located right on the shores of Yojoa Lake, Honduras's largest lake. After enjoying the view and doing some bird watching we headed to the Pulhapanzak Waterfall.




I'm a waterbaby and could spend all day swimming in and around water features. This waterfall was not exactly the kind you want to swim under, but they did offer a hike under the falls. I thought it would be an easy, established trail with a walkway and a handrail. It wasn't. We had to swim in places, clutch to the sides of rocks in others. The water was coming down hard on top of us, reminding us that just one false step could be disastrous. At one point my legs were shaking so hard I asked Regina, "Did we really pay money to do this?" I tried to pictures in the caves behind the waterfall, but there was so much moisture, I mostly just got blurry spots. The experience was beyond frightening, but I had an adrenaline rush for the rest of the night, which we spent eating anafre (Honduran nachos) and drinking at the D&D Brewery before heading back to our cabin.

Still good Friday

After enjoying all the traditional ceremonies (and food), we headed back to San Pedro Sula to pick up more friends at the airport. We stopped at the scenic Lago Yojoa for some fish for lunch. It was super fresh! We actually got to pick our fish and there were little kids selling fresh cheese.

We checked into our cabin at the D&D Brewery. I was SO excited for dark beer. As much as I've grown to love the Imperial, it just is not a porter or stout. Again, we learned to never trust someone who tells you, you have a reservation. It took us awhile (and a beautiful walk to Paradise) before we were situated. Then it was back to the airport. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but driving here is ridiculous. Every road is a three-lane road, even around blind corners and there is no such thing as a no passing zone.

Happy Good Friday

It was amazing to see how the lines of tapes we saw the night before turned into the total masterpieces we woke up with. The alfombras covered street after street. People plan out their offering with such precision and care. I still cannot believe that these intricate designs are made of sawdust! After spending the whole night creating these alfombras (and for some of the more intricate ones, the minute they are complete,) a procession walks over the image, destroying it. The procession begins with a series of young boys and young men carrying crosses, followed by a short sermon by a priest, and, finally, a group of men wearing hoods eerily similar to the KKK boost a platform with Christ carrying the cross on their shoulders. Although I do not understand the symbolish completely, it was an absolutely beautiful to see people spend so much time and effort to make such a meaningful offering, all to have it destroyed beneath Christ's feet.

Good Friday-Almost

We spend Good Friday Eve in Comayagua, the cultural center for traditional Semana Santa celebrations in Honduras. I cannot believe that this beautiful town does not have a more prominent position in the guide books. The town plaza is absolutely beautiful, with a colonial church looming over it. Even though we stayed out late, it was still full of people. It reminded me so much of the Plaza in Segovia (Spain), where I spent many nights hanging out with my friends in the shadow of the cathedral.

The night before Good Friday the locals reenact Christ carrying the cross and the crown of thorns. The Christ is carried on a large platform by people dressed purple and white shepherd's robes. The Christ platform is preceded by a bad, men carrying chains and rattling them on the ground, and women holding candles in handmade torches. It was eerie.

We partook of the street food and watched the locals put down street tape to mark out there alfombras. The guide book describes them as rugs made out of colored sawdust. I could not actually picture this until I actually saw it for myself. The whole town stays up all night making these unbelievable works of art, all so that it can be destroyed the next morning during the recreation of the procession of Christ.