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

 Going through the meat market is always interesting.  Lots of good photo opps exist.  It is always interesting to me to see how the rest of the world prepares their food.  In my experience in the markets of Latin America, the people are always very proud to show me how they prepare and display their goods for sale.  Take a look at these photos:

Chicken parts in the meet market of Jocotan, Guatemalahanging meat in the meat market of Jocotan Guatemala

a little sausage mixed some beef-doesn't look too appetizing

making a selection of fresh meat

a few fresh hoofs for the next meal-purchased fresh in the meat market of Jocotan, Guatemala

 After we tired of the market, we spent a little while just walking around the town.  Not much else to see, but in the next post I will post a few photos to give you an idea of how the town looks.

Next-a quick stroll through Jocotán, Guatemala

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

To read about my other travels click here

When I travel I am always interested in what the local people like to eat.  At the Hilton Princess  hotel, they told me THE place to be seen in San Pedro Sula was right down the street at Power Chicken.  So, it was off to Power Chicken for lunch.     PChick. is Honduras’ answer to McDonalds.

the outside of the Power Chicken restaurant

  The place was packed!!  It was assembly line cooking and service at its finest.  Very efficient.  I ordered chicken fingers, fried yucca (yum), white rice and a Diet Pepsi for $6.  I thought the price was a little high, but they gave me a lot of food.

Fried yucca fingers (yum), chicken fingers, rice and a Diet Pepsi at Power Chicken in San Pedro Sula

Needless to say, I was the only gringo in the restauarnt.  It is always fun to go into the local places.  Reminded me a little bit of Pollo Campero in Guatemala.

After lunch I had to hoof it back to the hotel to get ready to leave San Pedro Sula by bus.

Next-Taking the Hedman Alas bus to Copan Ruinas

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

To read about my other travels click here

The fruit and vegetable markets are co-mingled, but for purposes of illustration, I thought I would separate the photographs and just show the vegetables in this post.  It probably makes it more interesting. 

The produce market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras-steve barrymore

Santos walked through the markets with me for the entire time.  Having a Honduran with me seemed to give me more credibility with the vendors.  Santos acted more like a bodyguard than a taxi driver.  He was always staying close by, looking around, watching the people, etc.  I finally asked him about it.  He said he used to be a security guard and it was just second nature to him to be watching the crowd to make sure no one tried to pick my pocket, or grab my camera.  OK with me.  Later, he told me I should never go into those markets alone.  Said lots of pickpockets were there.

fresh vegetables in the produce market of san pedro sula, Honduras-steve barrymore

While we were strolling through the markets, I could occasionally hear comments in the background about the American guy taking photos, but could not discern exactly what they were saying.  A number of the vendors just flat-out asked me if I wanted to take photos of their produce.  I think I was just an oddity there.  I was probably a break from their normal Saturday market routine.  Every time I spoke with one person, (3) three others would come up to listen just because they were curious.  Fine with me.  The more the merrier. 

Peppers in the produce market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras-steve barrymore

Ok, check out these photos.  Pretty good looking stuff, huh?

Yucca Plants in the produce market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras-steve barrymore

Radishes in the produce market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras-steve barrymore

Onions in the produce market of San Pedro Sula

I think these may be Garbanzo beans in the San Pedro Sula produce market

Avocados in the produce market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

After a few hours in the markets of San Pedro Sula, it was time to return to the hotel to get ready to leave for my 3 hour bus ride to the west to visit the little town of Copan Ruinas.  But first, lunch!!

Next: A trip to Power Chicken for lunch!

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

To read about my other travels click here

After we got our fill of the meat markets, I was ready to move to the produce markets.  The fruit market first, then on to the vegetables.   The thing about produce in Latin America is that it always looks fresh and ready to eat.  I don’t know how they keep it looking like that in all the heat. 

By 9 a.m. it was incredibly hot.  I had sweat dripping off me.  I didn’t wear a hat because I didn’t want to look like a tourist…….like I really looked Honduran.  Right!!

The traffic in the streets around the market was horrendous.  I have no idea how Santos got through those tiny holes in the traffic, but somehow he did.

Try to navigate traffic in the produce markets of San Pedro Sula

The vendors seemed to welcome me taking photos.  Many of them wanted to talk with me and show me their produce and how they peel or cut it.

Lets take a look at the types of fruit you can expect to buy in the markets:

Pineapples in the San Pedro Sula fruit market

Fresh citrus in the San Pedro Sula market

Fresh Mangos-ready to eat in San Pedro Sula

Bananas and mangos for sale in San Pedro Sula

Papayas in the San Pedro Sula market

a truckload of fruit for sale in San Pedro Sula fruit market

Santos acted nervous the entire time.  He was always guarding my back and looking around.  He seemed a little uncomfortable in the tight quarters of the markets.  In any event he said it was time to go to the vegetable market.  OK, Santos….you are the boss.  I am in your territory now!  Let’s go.

Next-the vegetable markets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

To read about my other travels click here

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in the meat market of San Pedro Sula.  I was prepared for anything.  I actually found it to be reasonably clean.  It was one booth after another.  All selling varying kinds of meat.

Hanging beef in the meat market of San Pedro Sula Honduras

Hanging beef and sausage in the meat market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Hanging beef in the meat market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Beef and sausage in the meat market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

I think these may be something like Pork rinds in San Pedro Sula, Honduras meat market

hanging meat in the market of San Pedro Sula Honduras

Fish in the market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

One of the meat stands in the meat market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Shopping for meat in the market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Again, like in the tortilla markets, the people were friendly and somewhat amused that I was taking photos.  I was the only “gringo” in the market.

Next-on to the produce market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

To read more of my travels click here

Since I was scheduled to meet Santos at 8 a.m. to hit the markets, I first needed to gobble down an energizing breakfast on the concierge floor of the Hilton Princess.  They serve a buffet breakfast with plenty of choices.  The flavor of the fresh squeezed orange juice was incredible!!

Breakfast on the concierge floor of the Hilton Princess in San Pedro Sula, Honduras

 I needed to catch a 1:30 p.m. bus to Copan Ruinas in western Honduras, so after breakfast, I  packed my bags to be ready to go when I returned from the markets.

Santos was waiting outside the Hilton Princess to take me to the street markets at the appointed  time.  Off we went.

Our first stop was the tortilla market.  I found it to be very interesting.  The ladies that worked in the booths all smiled or laughed as I was taking photos of them making their tortillas.  Here are some pics.

The Tortilla ladies of the tortilla market in San Pedro Sula

Fresh tortillas cooking in the tortilla stands of the market in San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Rows and rows of tortilla stands in the market of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

It was in the tortilla market where one of the women asked me if I wanted a girlfriend.  I told her I was married, and like the lady in the fruit market the day before, she said it wasn’t important.  She wanted   to be my Honduran girlfriend anyway.  I politely declined, but gave her a friendly smile.

On our way out, we passed the same tortilla stand. I gave the lady a wink,  and all the rest of them had a good laugh!

As we left the tortilla markets, Santos said he wanted to take me to the beef and pork markets.  Let’s go Santos!!

Next-the meat markets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net

If you would like to read about my other travels click here