Copan Ruinas, Honduras-The Mayan ruins (Part 1)
The big attraction to the town of Copan Ruinas, Honduras is the Mayan Ruins located only one (1) mile outside of town. It is an easy stroll. Part of it being a tree lined walk. Suggest you go in the morning, because of what can be sometimes be intense heat. Make sure you wear a hat! If your walking partner starts to complain about the heat or the distance, just remind them of all the work the Mayans did while on a corn diet!
The tree lined walk to the Mayan ruins of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
I have visited the ruins on two (2) different trips to Copan Ruinas. The second time was like being there for the first time, because there is so much to study. I have visited a number of sites in Central America and Mexico. Each time I learn a lot more about the Mayan civilization.
You will need to pay an admission charge to enter the park. Plus, I strongly suggest you get a guide. They can add so many details to the tour that you would never get on your own. There is a little office on your left as you enter the park where the guides hang out. You can make arrangements there. If you are going to spend all the time and money to get to Copan Ruinas, Honduras then let go of a few bucks to do the ruins in the best possible way. The cost of a guide for 2 hours was around $25.
The entrance to the Mayan ruins of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
There is an open air museum that is very interesting where you will actually buy your tickets to the park. In addition to the open air visitor’s center, there is an enclosed museum building with some very interesting examples of the Mayan work.
The musuem center of the Mayan Ruins of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Don’t try to take the easy way out by only visiting the museum. You HAVE TO visit the actual ruins to get the full effect of the Mayan life. Don’t let the Mayans think they did all that work for nothing!
Next-we will go visit the actual ruins!
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about the rest of my travels in Honduras
Read about the rest of my other world travels here
Comments? Please post below or email me at ssb11@prodigy.net
The Grab Guard(R)-a really neat travel security device
A really neat travel security device-the Grab Guard(R)
I am always on the lookout for cool travel accessories. Some of them are listed in my travel tips column. I am huge believer in practicing security when I travel. I have heard too many horror stories from other travelers who have had backpacks, purses or bags stolen right in front of their eyes. So, I was particularly intrigued with this easy to use locking device called the “grab guard”
The Grab Guard in black
It is an easy to use two (2) number combination cable lock that is extremely lightweight and serves the purpose of temporarily delaying any thief that is trying to make a “quick getaway” with your stuff. Usually all it takes is a slight deterrent to make a thief choose a different target.
I often travel with a 22 inch roll aboard suitcase and carry a small backpack. The problem is when I am sitting in an airport waiting area and trying to keep both the suitcase and the backpack secure. With the Grab-Guard, I simply put the cable lock through both pieces to keep them secured together.
I recently used it on a trip to New York and it eased a lot of my concerns with keeping my bags secured together. I really liked using it. My next trip was to Chicago, where I forgot and left the Grab-Guard at home. On that trip, I had much more anxiety about my bags when I wasn’t using the Grab Guard.
The grab guard in brown
I wanted to get some other people’s opinions about Grab Guard. I started out with my daughter who travels a lot. Her comments were “Yeah! I can totally see this in the airport. I am always afraid I am going to fall asleep and someone will walk off with my purse” “Now, I can attach my purse to either me or the armrest while waiting for my flight. This would be perfect for travel”!!
When I showed it to my wife, she said, “Wow that is a neat little gadget! It’s cool! It’s small! I wish I would have had that this morning to have secured my purse in the restaurant when we were having breakfast”!
My friend Kim said, “I think it is perfect for securing my purse in the cart at the grocery store.” “I see women all the time that are getting ready to have their purses stolen because they just set them in the grocery cart.” ” I am going to have my husband get me one”!
I then interviewed some random 20-something(ages) young women at Starbucks. Their comments were, “I would use it at the airport or in the grocery store”. “It would be perfect”! “I really like it.” The most shocking comment I got from the younger girls was a shrug when asked if they would use in a restaurant. Several of the younger ones said “I probably wouldn’t use it to secure my purse in a restaurant, because no one in this city would ever steal your purse off a chair” (???) Famous last words of the uninitiated!
Grab guard secures purse to chair
Grab Guard used to secure backpack to chair
Do yourself a favor and check out their website for ordering info. Plus you can see the video on the various uses of the product. www.grabguard.com
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about my travel tips here
Read about the rest of my other world travels here
Comments? Please post below or email me at ssb11@prodigy.net
Copan Ruinas, Honduras-the Street Markets (Part 2)
In addition to fresh fruits, vegetables and meats in the street markets of Copan Ruinas, Honduras; you will also find a variety of products that the people use in their daily lives. Seeing this stuff in the markets gives you an insight into how the people live.
My last trip to Copan Ruinas, Honduras was where I found the colored lassos. It was the first time I had seen them in a market. It certainly makes for some interesting photography.
Need a plastic container or a lasso? Take your pick
Hammocks, lassos, or mangos
You can buy any type of hat in the street markets of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
As you can see, there is no end to what you can buy in the steet markets of Copan Ruinas, Honduras. It is an interesting way to spend the day.
In addition to the markets where the local people shop, there are also plenty of street vendors selling a collection of crafts, jewelry, etc. to the tourists. Some of the vendors seem to be backpackers that are just trying to get enough money to continue traveling on.
Next-we will take a look at the Mayan ruins of Copan Ruinas, Honduras-
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about the rest of my travels in Honduras
Read about the rest of my other world travels here
Comments? Please post below or email me at ssb11@prodigy.net
The street markets of Copan Ruinas, Honduras (Part 1)
Ok, I have been really bad lately by letting my blog posts dwindle just a little . I have been taking a couple of really tough classes in translation and interpreting that have been eating my lunch!
I stopped doing everything except studying for these classes. The sad part is my travel adventures have also been stacking up. Have I felt guilty for not blogging? Yes, everyday, especially since people have been sending me e-mails asking for information.
I also recently did a product trial on a travel security product called “Grab Guard” which is a really nifty travel product. I am going to write a review on it in just a few days, so you will want to stay tuned.
Ok, back to Honduras.
As you read in my previous post about the markets I visited in San Pedro Sula before arriving in Copan Ruinas; you could tell that I thoroughly enjoy the street markets of Latin America.
For me, there is no better education than seeing new things that you would never see otherwise. Not only, do you see different fruits, vegetables, crafts, art, but you also get a chance to talk with people who are just as intrigued with you as you are with them.
Does it help to speak some Spanish? You bet, but don’t let that stop you! I have found that through hand gestures (the nice kind), it can be quite easy to communicate with people who don’t speak your language.
In Copan Ruinas, Honduras there is a small market, but yet has some great produce as well as colorful useful products. The market is located right off the town square, so you can’t miss it. Just look for vendors standing around on the street in front and you will easily find the entrance. Let’s take a look at some of what I saw.
The vendors are setting up shop outside the market entrance to appeal to the passerby
Some people like to just drive their truck and just park on the street at the town square or outside the market.
just sell it out of the back of your truck
Once you go inside the market, the array of colors is overwhelming
It is tight quarters inside the street market of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
No shortage of produce in these markets
These mangoes are ready to eat!
Great looking produce in the street markets of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Take a look at this bowl of peppers
Man, don’t they do a great job on the display of fresh produce in these street markets of Honduras? Often times, consumers buy produce everyday because they want it as fresh as they can get it.
I took a couple of photos of some other interesting stuff in the market. I will post those shortly.
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about the rest of my travels in Honduras
Read about the rest of my other travels here
Comments? Please post below or email me at ssb11@prodigy.net
