It has been awhile since my last post. One may be wondering whether I died or fell in a volcano? MFL could not be that lucky. The real reason is that I am feeling my age and this traveling is beginning to kick my butt. However, with Rick around, I need to push myself or get left behind. We are honestly having a great time and I enjoy Rick’s company on the remainder of the trip. In Copan, we spent most of the day exploring the vast ruins. I have been to ruins all over the world and can declare that these are more than worthy of the apparent transitional costs of actually getting here. We hired a private guide, which is recommended to learn and explore at ones own pace. The ruins are vast and bigger than Chichén Itzá and, just as, if not more impressive. The cravings, structures, and walled sections were in great shape because they were preserved under the forest for hundreds of years, prior to being discovered and preserved. In the end, you can really getting a good “feel” for the overall layout of the temple complex with recreational facilities and gathering spaces. Each king built a new structure over the previous royal structure; so, you have a time capsule of past temples like a nesting doll system of royal temples. Each trying to be grander that the last to display the progress being made. They had a few explored and we were able to go into the tunnels. Much work is left to be explored. It would be interesting to come back in 10-Years to see all of the new discoveries there.
After getting beaten up by the sun, we retreated the the apt to recover. Later in the afternoon, we visited a parrot farm to see all of the different indigenousness birds that were scared to the Mayan people. We had a great time walking around seeing caged birds that were trying to get out of there cages. Nothing like 10 beautiful Scarlett macaws testing each square inch of wire to find the way to freedom. All joking aside, this place actually nurses them to optimal health to release them into the valley, where they are protected. It was easier to digest knowing this. Some of the birds were tame enough to get up close, like the toucan. All and all, this was a good side trip. The rest of the evening was spend explore the downtown and listening to the local band on the town’s square. We joined in by eating street food under a tent and, I, even helped a women set up her tent. People are super nice here but English speakers are harder to find. The next one and a half days were set aside for driving to Nicaragua And we needed every minute for those roads, as the roads were rough and slow going. We stopped in the capital of Tegucigalpa for the night, but were to exhausted to even leave the hotel, not that the city had much to offer. We made to the bird about 11:00 and cleared custom and driving papers by 3:30 pm. Hence, four and a half hours to cross the border was painful to say the least. Rick and I are still having a great time with our eyes squarely on Nicaragua and what it has to offer.
From Arizona to Panama Canal 