McCaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Preserve-Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Visiting the McCaw Mountain Bird Park in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
By now you have read some of my other posts about different leisure activities I have participated in while visiting Honduras. If you haven’t, you can catch up on all of them by clicking here.
I don’t know anybody that is not interested in seeing the beauty of tropical birds. Well, Copan Ruinas in western Honduras has a great place to see them. It is the McCaw Mountain bird sanctuary.
You will see plenty of colorful birds at the McCaw Bird Sanctuary
One of the beautiful birds
One of the guides available to take you through the park
One of the students from the Ixbalanque Spanish School enjoying one of the birds
My new best friends
One of the teachers from the Ixbalanque Spanish School enjoying the birds
Some of the "inmates"
In Copan, the means of transportation for tourists are the small golf cart taxis. That is what you will ride in up into the mountain where the sanctuary is located.
Taxis in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
On the day I visited, the trip was arranged as a side excusion as part of my studies with the Ixbalanque Spanish school in Copan, but you can find any golf cart taxi to take you.
There is an admission charge to enter the park. Plan on spending 2-3 hours. I wanted to share with you some of the photos I took while visiting the park.
The park is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fee is $10USD per person. If you are interested in checking out their web site, you can click here.
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here.
Comments? Please post below or email me at ssb11@prodigy.net
Horseback riding in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
During both of my one week study programs at the Ixbalanque Spanish School in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, I have taken advantage of their after school excursions. One of my favorite activities is the horseback riding into the countryside.
Both years, I have had the same guide for my horseback ride. I don’t remember his name, but he is one of the nicest, most accommodating people I have ever met. Here is a photo of him:
My guide for the second time on the horseback ride in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
My first trip, I was the only person on the ride with him. When he brought the horses to the school, the other students all came outside of the building to watch me climb on the horse. What they didn’t know was that I was from Oklahoma and have had my share of horseback rides. Foot in the stirrup, swing up on the horse, and away we rode. I think they all expected me to fall off the horse!
My guide brought the horses to the school
When we got to the outskirts of town we rode into the Copan River. We stopped in the middle of it to allow the horses to drink. The water was up to the belly of the horse. I had to raise up my feet to keep them from getting wet. It was 8 a.m. There was a light fog hanging in the Copan Valley. It was a beautiful morning. It was about as good as it gets.
Crossing the Copan River by horseback
My guide spoke no English. I could understand about half of what he said in Spanish. We rode down the middle of the river for several hundred yards, finally climbing the bank to get up on a dirt road for better footing and more rapid travel.
Riding down the middle of the Copan River
We rode past several small farms. As we rode side by side, my guide told me about his life in Copan, his family, and how much pride he took in his horses and making them available for tourists.
horseback riding down a rural road outside of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Part of the countryside outside of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Part of the landscape outside of Copan Ruinas
The countryside as seen from on top of a horse
We continued to climb higher and higher into the hills until we reached the top with an incredible view of the Copan Valley. As I surveyed the valley below, I remember thinking, “only a few days ago, I was sitting in a white shirt and tie in my office and now, here I am high on a hill in the tranquil Copan Valley, sitting on top of a horse”!
A view of the Copan River
A view of the Copan Valley and Copan Ruinas Honduras
So, if you visit Copan Ruinas, Honduras, I highly recommend that you take a morning and invest in a nice leisurely horseback ride through the countryside.
Next-I will give you an overview of the bird farm
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here. If you want to read my entire Honduras blog click here.
The Kimpton Palomar Hotel-Los Angeles
Just completed my second stay at the Kimpton Palomar Hotel in Los Angeles. The Kimpton Palomar is located on Wilshire Blvd. just a stone’s throw from the city of Westwood and a few short blocks to the UCLA campus. This is one of my favorite areas of Los Angeles.
I have stayed at several hotels in the area including the Hyatt and the Intercontinental which are also nice places, but decided it would be better if I stayed with one property and made it my hotel of choice. I chose the Kimpton not only because of the location, but also because they offer some very good internet specials from time to time if you are a member of the Kimpton “in touch” repeat guest program.
The Kimpton Palomar is a nice break from the normal “brass and glass” 4-star hotel. The design could probably be described as an art deco style. You have the feeling of staying in a small, high end European hotel.
Entrance to Kimpton Palomar Hotel in Los Angeles
The staff is very friendly and helpful. Each morning, there is a very nice coffee bar set up in the lobby. There is also an ample supply of newspapers. It is nice to sit in the small lobby, read the newspaper and have your cup of coffee.
Kimpton Palomar Los Angeles Hotel Lobby
The hallway to the rooms at the Kimpton Palomar-Los Angeles
Inside of a double room at the Kimpton Palomar hotel, Los Angeles
The rooms have a modern or art deco style. Takes a little getting used to the first time you walk into one of their rooms. But, it is a nice diversion from the “standard” hotel room.
The furniture in the room has a modern look to it.
The modern furniture inside the rooms at the Kimpton Palomar Hotel
the entrance hallway to the elevators in the Kimpton Palomar Los Angeles
This is the hallway that leads from the restaurant to the main lobby in the Kimpton Palomar
If you want more than coffee, there is a great restaurant in the hotel. Breakfast prices are decent and I like the varied menu. Try the 3 cheese omelet or the yogurt/granola dish. They also offer a good selection of organic teas.
So, if you want to stay at a place that is just a little different, but with an elegant flair, I highly recommend the Kimpton Palomar hotel on Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles. Kimpton has a number of other hotels in large cities across the U.S. You can check out their web site here or just type in www.kimptonhotel.com
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here
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
Jocotan Guatemala, crossing back into Honduras-problems begin
Honduras-problems crossing back from Jocotan, Guatemala into Honduras(Part 17)
Do you remember in Post #13 where I said I should have known better than to cross the border with only a copy of my passport? Yep, it was time to pay the price for that.
When we arrived back at the Honduran border after a day in Jocotán, there was a man waiting outside the bus to make sure we checked in with the immigration office. This was a big change because when we had crossed into Guatemala that morning there was no one at the border making sure we stopped and checked in.
The man at the border made sure that we checked in with the Guatemala immigration office where the guard was stunned that we had originally entered the country without registering. After a long discussion, he told us we would have to pay a fine of $10 per person. Grudgingly we paid the fine. We were not negotiating from a position of strength.
We thought we had satisfied everything and were ready to leave when we were told we would also have to check with Honduran authorities. That is where it really got difficult. The guard was not going to allow us to re-enter Honduras because I only had a photocopy of my passport which was not sufficient to allow me entry.
When I tried to tell the guard that all my stuff was in Copán Ruinas, Honduras and I was enrolled in a school there, she wanted to know what proof I had that I had EVER been in Honduras! Naturally without my original passport with the Honduran arrival stamps in it, I had no proof that I had ever entered the country legally. I was in a real mess!
To be continued
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here
Jocotán Guatemala, strolling the streets
Strolling the streets of Jocotán, Guatemala
After we spent some time walking through the markets, we strolled through the rest of the small town. When in Jocotán, Guatemala, you really feel like you are away from the rest of the world.
We found the people to be very friendly there and we enjoyed exploring a different world for a few hours.
To give you a feel for what you can expect when you go to Jocotán, here are some more photos:
Store front on the streets of Jocotán, Guatemala
Chicken and Papas on the streets of Jocotán, Guatemala
street scenes from Jocotán, Guatemala
the Streets of Jocotán, Guatemala
a colorful storefront in Jocotán, Guatemala
the central park in Jocotán, Guatemala
a neat set of wheels in Jocotán, Guatemala
Murals in central Jocotan, Guatemala explain the rights of the students
the 2nd mural in the central part of Jocotán, Guatemala explaining the rights to the students
the third of 3 murals in the main part of Jocotán, Guatemala
At the end of the day, it was time to return to the border so that we could cross back into Honduras.
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about the rest of my travels click here
Jocotán Guatemala, visiting the meat market
Honduras-Visiting the meat market of Jocotán, Guatemala
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
Jocotaán Guatemala, the public markets
Honduras-Visiting the market of Jocotan, Guatemala (part 14)
The attraction of Jocotan is their street market . The bus dropped us within a block of the market.
The bus station in Jocotan, Guatemala-
We did not see any other tourists in the market. We spent 3-4 hours looking at everything. It was very interesting. Lots of different stuff.
the market street of Jocotan, Guatemala
inside the market of Jocotan, Guatemala
Kathy bought a few hand made items. We had some snacks, and walked around a lot. It was very hot there.
Fabrics in the market of Jocotan, Guatemala
Found the people in the market to be very friendly. Here is a lady with a couple of pigs that she wanted to show us.
A lady with her 2 pigs in the Jocotan, Guatemala market
Lady with turkey in the market of Jocotan, Guatemala
We even visited the meat market which was interesting. You need a strong stomach to visit the meat market in Jocotan,Guatemala. I will save that for the next post.
Next-the meat market of Jocotan, Guatemala
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here
Honduras, crossing into Guatemala(part 13)
Part 13-Crossing the border into Guatemala
The next a.m. I met up with the two other students, Sharon and Kathy, in the central park in Copan for what seemed would be a pretty simple trip to Jocotan, Guatemala. I had done a little research and found out there were some mini buses in town that carried passengers every hour to the border 8 miles away. The cost was about $1.
When we arrived at the corner from where the mini-buses departed, I realized I had left my original passport in the house where I was staying, but I had a copy of it with me. The van driver told me not to worry because as long as I had a copy, I would be ok. MISTAKE #1. At this point, I should have listened to my “inner travel voice” and returned to get the original.
The driver was yelling “frontera, frontera” (translation, “the border”). He crammed 18 of us into a 10 passenger van. We took off for Guatemala, driving fast, and dodging cows in the highway.
When we arrived at the border, it was a very relaxed setting. We simply walked across. There was a small immigration office, but no one seemed to be checking much.
The border crossing into Guatemala from Honduras
Photo shot from the Guatemala side after crossing over from Honduras
The bus at the Guatemala/Honduras border to take us to Jocotan
As seen in the photo above, on the Guatemala side of the border there was another bus waiting to take the new arrivals the last 40 minutes to Jocotan. The bus driver encouraged us to get on and not to worry about anything. MISTAKE #2.
It was an interesting ride to Jocotan. The people on the bus were very friendly to us. We were the only tourists on the bus.
The lady sitting in front of me carried a pet sparrow in her purse. She took it out to show to me.
Honduras-on the bus to Jocotan, Guatemala. My fellow passenger carries a pet sparrow in her purse
The plan was to spend the day in the markets of Jocotan before returning to Honduras.
Next- The markets of Jocotan, Guatemala
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read more about my travels click here
Honduras, the bus to Copan Ruinas, Part 12
Honduras-Part 12-taking the bus to Copan Ruinas
After lunch, it was time to catch the bus for the 3 hour ride to Copan Ruinas in the northwest part of Honduras.
I had asked Santos to come back to the hotel to take me to the bus station. He couldn’t do it, but he sent his friend, Alejandro. When Alejandro dropped me off at the bus station, he told me it was $8 USD. I told him I thought that was too high, so we agreed on $7 USD (still too high, but what the heck).
There is a very nice, new bus station in San Pedro Sula. It was only about 15 minutes from the Hilton Princess hotel. I checked in at the bus line—Hedman Alas. I had taken them before. They are a first class, quality bus line. Their waiting area resembles movie theater seating. Take a look at this photo below. I look like I am eating popcorn waiting for the movie to start. Actually, I am eating plantain chips waiting for a bus!
Hedman Alas bus station in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
I know, the first rule of blogging is not to load your blog with a bunch of photos of yourself, but this is the only one I had around the bus station. You will just have to endure it.
At the bus station, I met two teachers, Kathy and Sharon, going to Copan also to study Spanish at the same school where I was attending, Ixbalanque Spanish School. They asked me if they could hang around with me in Copan. I said “sure”. I mentioned I might go to Guatemala the next day and they latched onto me quickly. We agreed to meet at the central parque in Copan the following morning.
The (3) three-hour ride through the countryside is very interesting. You pass through a number of small villages. I think Honduras is a beautiful country.
The bus arrived in Copan at 6:30 p.m. One of the co-owners of the school, Kathy, was there to meet us and take us to the respective families we would be staying with. My house would be a repeat stay from 2 years ago.
When I arrived at my homestay, the cook/housekeeper, Trini, remembered me, gave me a big hug and ran to get the mother of the house, Ruth, who was also very glad to see me return from two years ago. They fed me dinner and I was feeling “at home” in less than one hour.
Tomorrow: We cross the border into Guatemala
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here
