The last time I visited Honduras was back in February (If you’re curious about my first impression of Honduras check out the February posts). I’m not sure if I’m just more familiar with things this time around, but things seem a bit calmer this time around.
There is a certain civility to the roads here that I’m not sure I noticed before. While there is a fair bit of honking of horns and such right outside my window, I also noticed today drivers almost anticipating that they were going to get cut off and so they stopped or slowed (driving defensively?) to allow other drivers to pull out into traffic.
The last time I visited, as we drove across the country to and from the airport, we were stopped at a number of police checkpoints. Coming in yesterday, there were none out on the roads. Now, it was Sunday and it was hot and the sun was bright. It is entirely possible that the police just didn’t feel like setting up the checkpoints, but I don’t think so.
A few months ago, the country was still a bit on edge from the transition in their government. Now, it seems as if people are used to the new normal and living their lives. We even saw a protest that blocked the road for around 20 minutes last time, but there was no sign of anything like that yesterday. On the road from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba, we have to pass over some small mountain. Every few hundred yards (it seemed like) there were mountain streams with people cooling off and passing their Sunday afternoons in the water.
One thing Elmer, Alex and I discussed on the drive was the economic situation in the US and its influence here. Elmer explained that “when the US gets a cough, Honduras gets pneumonia.” They are very dependent on us for their own economic viability. So, he was happy to hear that things seemed to be improving in the US. I did notice some new construction here in town today, too. And not as many young men hanging out in the park in the afternoon. Those seem to be good signs for Honduras.
Very early in the morning Elmer and in the morning are going to get on a small commuter plane and fly out to Puerto Lempira, Honduras. (If you have Google Earth, check it out) That is the real purpose of this trip. In February, I learned about the Moskito Indians and the toll harvesting lobster by hand takes on their bodies. This trip, we are going to visit the “capital” of La Moskitia and see things first hand. There is a place there where impaired divers are given physical rehabilitation. Even so, most of them only last a few years because of their injuries. It should be quite an experience.
Before I left home, Elmer told me to bring good boots, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. So, it’s off to the jungle we go. If I can connect from La Moskitia I will post from there. No clue at the moment, but to be honest I am doubtful I’ll have any access at all. Stay tuned for more…pics will follow soon..