Copan Ruinas, Honduras-my home stay
My family stay in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
After the fiasco at the border, I was ready to relax in Honduras and start my studies. But first, let me tell you a little about the family with whom I would live for the week. I had checked in with them the day before.
I had been in Copan Ruinas 2 years earlier and enjoyed my homestay with a Honduran family. I asked the school “ Ixbalanque” to assign me to the same family. The family was headed by a very nice woman by the name of “Ruth”. She was a widow and somewhere in her 60’s. The maid that lived in the house was named Trinni and she was the same maid from my previous stay.
I had been met at the bus station by Kathy, one of the owners of Ixbalanque. I told her I could find my own way to the house, but she insisted in putting me in a golf cart taxi which, because of the narrow streets, is the method of transportation in Copan Ruinas.
When I knocked on the door, Trinni took a look at me and then recognized me and gave me a big hug. She went to tell Ruth I had returned. Ruth gave me a hug and we sat down and chatted for a few minutes before dinner.
This is Trinni and her daughter
My room was very similar to the one I had before: a single bed, private bath and the room opened out to the courtyard. Just fine for me. Here are some photos to give you an idea of my accomodations:
Copan Ruinas, Honduras-the patio of the home where I stayed
Copan Ruinas Honduras-the view from my room in my homestay
Copan Ruinas Honduras-the entryway to my room in my homestay
Copan Ruinas, Honduras-the garden view in my homestay
During dinner we had a chance to get reacquainted and get caught up on each other’s life. It is hard to explain how you can be caught up in a very busy life in the United States and then just a day later be living in a small Honduran town in the Copan valley. Life was good.
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here
Next-starting classes in the Ixbalanque Spanish School in Copan Ruinas
Guatemala to Honduras border crossing-Problems (con’td)
Problems crossing the border from Guatemala to Honduras (cont’d from part 17)
The guard refused to budge on the issue. My companions were very nervous because they had depended on me to keep them out of trouble. At least they had their original passports!
Finally, the guard said she would allow them to pass, but not me. I kept telling her the bus driver had assured me there would be no problem when I had left Copán Ruínas that morning. She wanted to know the driver’s name. Geez, I didn’t know his name!! She just could not believe that I left Honduras with only a photocopy of my passport and that I had not stopped to clear Guatemalan immigration upon entering.
I knew I was a long way from a U.S. Embassy at this small checkpoint. Also, complicating things was that my family back home had no idea I was even in Guatemala.
I remember standing in the immigration office looking at the trees on the hill through the window and wondering if I would end up sleeping on the leaves until I could figure a way out of this jam. I also thought about making a dash for the border, but without knowing the consequences, I decided that was a foolish idea.
During all this time the guard kept asking me the same questions: what driver had told me it was ok to cross into Guatemala without an original passport? The answer from me was always the same: How do I know what his name was? We were just going around in circles.
Finally, I decided to swallow my pride…….and beg for forgiveness!! I explained I was just a student that didn’t know any better. I showed her my business card and told her I was a legitimate businessman. I may have even showed her my AAA card……..I’m not really too sure. I promised her I would never do this again. She finally just looked at me and said something like “get out of here”.
We walked quickly across the border which was about 50 yards away, no one saying anything to anyone else, never looking back. We all ducked under the road barrier at the same time.
Have to say, when I stepped across the border, I breathed one big sigh of relief. There was a mini bus waiting and the driver shouted for us to get on, he was leaving. I was not going to miss that bus and risk staying around.
We jumped on the mini bus and headed back to Copan.
Next-I will start giving you a perspective on the town of Copan Ruinas, Honduras.
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here
