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
Honduras, Power Chicken lunch in San Pedro Sula-Part 11
Honduras-Part 11-lunch at Power Chicken in San Pedro Sula
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
Honduras, fruit markets of San Pedro Sula, Part 9
Honduras-Part 9 -The fruit markets of San Pedro Sula
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
Honduras, public meat market of San Pedro Sula, Part 8
Part 8-Honduras- the public meat market of San Pedro Sula
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
Part 7-Honduras, the street markets of San Pedro Sula-the Tortilla market
Part 7-Honduras, the street markets of San Pedro Sula-the tortilla market
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
Honduras, Ni Fu Ni Fa restaurant, San Pedro Sula-a great choice
A great dinner at Ni Fu, Ni Fa in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
I asked the hotel to recommend a place where I could get a very good dinner. They suggested a steakhouse named Ni Fu, Ni Fa. They told me to take a hotel taxi and make sure to have the same one pick me up when I was finished. In other words, don’t take a “rogue” taxi. Santos happened to still be outside the Hilton with his taxi, so I commissioned him to take me.
When I walked into the restaurant, I was the only customer in the place. I thought, “uh-oh….this may not have been a good idea”. However, the servers seemed to be very attentive to me. The waiter suggested I try the steak, which I did. I have to say, it was probably one of the best steaks I have ever eaten in my life. So tender, I could cut it with a fork.
Steak dinner at Ni Fu Ni Fa restaurant in San Pedro Sula, Honduras
I was enjoying a nice leisurely dinner by myself. Soon, a rather large party of about 12 came in. At the head of their table sat a gentleman that looked like the “godfather.” He seemed to command a lot of attention in the restaurant. His group seemed to be all high class, well educated people. I observed them with a great deal of curiosity. Soon, the “godfather” came over to my table and asked if he could sit down with me. He introduced himself as Jorge Marinkakis, the owner of the restaurant and he wanted to know what I thought about it. For the next 45 minutes he told me his life story. He was half-Greek, half-Honduran. He owned this restaurant plus 3 others in San Pedro Sula, and also a fishing boat. His children were almost all U.S. educated, mostly at the Ivies.
The restaurant soon began to fill and people kept coming up to our table to exchange greetings with Jorge. Obviously, he was a big hitter and well known. Pretty soon, two (2) other gentleman sat down at my table to speak with Jorge. One was another restaurant owner in San Pedro Sula, and the other appeared to be a senior level executive with one of the banks in San Pedro Sula. They spoke very good English and seemed to have all night to talk. However, I did not. I had a big day planned in the markets of city. I excused myself after about 30 minutes with them. However, I also mentally made notes to myself: 1. Bring my wife to San Pedro Sula. 2. Take her to dinner at Ni Fu, Ni Fa .
I asked the restaurant to call Santos to come back and pick me up. I was back at the San Pedro Sula Hilton Princess by 10 p.m.—exhausted from the big day.
Next-the street markets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about all of my travels click here
Honduras-part 5– My first attempts at the streets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras (Cont’d)
Honduras-part 5– My first attempts at the streets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras (Cont’d)
At our agreed upon time, Santos picked me up in Parque Central. He seemed a little stunned that I had disobeyed him by going into the market area that he had told me to stay out of.
San Pedro Sula, Honduras-Parque Central, I am pointing the number on the side of Santos' taxi.
I told him I wanted to go to more markets the next day and asked if he would take me. He pondered it for a moment and said (in Spanish), “ok, I will be your driver tomorrow even though I am scheduled to be off”. He asked me if I liked produce markets. I told him, I did. He said “ok, then before I take you back to the hotel now, we’ll cruise a produce market to see if you like it enough to see more of them tomorrow”. I believe he thought I might be bluffing.
The produce street market was starting to close down, but he parked his taxi on the street and we walked a few feet.
San Pedro Sula Honduras street market-it was close to closing time.
There was pick-up truck loaded with some fruit.
A truck load of fruit in San Pedro Sula street market
There was a man in the market who introduced himself as Francisco. Francisco was sitting on the tail gate of his pick-up, surrounded by 5 or 6 friends. He was friendly and asked me the standard questions…..Where are you from? Why are you here in the produce market (and Honduras)? Where did you learn Spanish? etc, etc, etc. Francisco seemed a little amused to see a gringo in a Honduran street market in San Pedro Sula. His friends just stared at me. I stared back.
Within a couple of minutes a sultry looking woman suddenly appeared at the truck, looked at me, and said something to Francisco. Francisco laughs and tells her that I wouldn’t understand. In Spanish, I asked her what she said, and she replied “soltera”, meaning single woman. Then she flashed a big toothy smile at me. They all started laughing. Santos looked embarrassed. I told them I understood completely and then they laughed even more. I showed them my wedding ring and they laughed harder. Santos was getting nervous and said it was time to go. When we left, they were still laughing. Ha, Ha, ha.
By this time, Santos was convinced I was truly up for the street markets. I told him that in the morning I wanted to hit every major street market in San Pedro Sula. He said it would take 3 hours and to be ready to go at 8 a.m. I headed back to the hotel for dinner.
Next-a great dinner at Ni Fu, Ni Fa
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about all of my travels click here
Honduras, the streets of San Pedro Sula-Part 4
Honduras-My first attempt at the streets of San Pedro Sula Honduras. Part 4
It was late in the afternoon when I had decided it was time to tackle the street markets that I had heard so much about in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The front desk of the Hilton Princess San Pedro Sula told me to be careful out there alone. I asked if they could supply a driver to take me. They suggested a hotel taxi. Santos was my driver and agreed to drop me off in the street markets. He spoke no English.
When we got to the markets, there was plenty of activity. However, Santos asked me to stay on the fringes of the street markets and not venture alone into the center of the markets. He did not think it would be safe. He agreed to pick me up at Parque Central in two hours.
Honduras-parque central in San Pedro Sula
I spent about 15 minutes walking the fringe markets, very boring, plenty of booths, but not a lot of activity. You can see for yourself…..but just wait!
Honduras street market-San Pedro Sula-this was a little boring.
HOnduran street market in San Pedro Sula
Honduran street market in San Pedro Sula
Finally, I made the decision that if I was going to have any true experiences, I would have to disregard the advice of Santos and go into the center of the markets to see what was really going on.
I made sure I had everything safely tucked away i.e. camera, money, etc. I crossed Avenida Tercera which seems to separate the tranquil markets from the active markets. Soon, I was in the thick of the action.
Crossing tercera avenida in the markets of San Pedro Sula Honduras
It was one crazzzzy market. I was very careful. No doubt about it……I was the ONLY tourist there!
Honduras street market after crossing tercera avenida in San Pedro Sula
I was first waved over by a man who introduced himself as “Wilson”. Wilson had his arms around 2 girls and wanted to practice his virtually non-existent English on me. He had a few body piercings and was a friendly sort. He wanted to know what I was doing in Honduras and why I was in the markets. We talked for a few minutes while his girlfriends stared at me. After 5 minutes, I shook hands, said goodbye, and went on my way.
Parque Central in San Pedro Sula Honduras-you can find the money changers here
Next, I was stopped by two (2) currency street traders named Angel and Carlos. They were (2) two really hyperactive guys whose eyes were always darting around. Angel had once lived in the U.S. I asked them to tell me about a day in life of a currency trader on the streets of San Pedro Sula. They said they made a few cents on every trade, trading both sides of the currency i.e. dollars to lempiras and lempiras to dollars. I asked them if anyone had ever given them counterfeit money. They emphatically said “no”. I had a feeling if anyone ever had, it was probably the one and only time they ever did.
I didn’t really like the feeling of standing on the streets of San Pedro Sula, Honduras with people who had large stacks of money in their hands, so I made an excuse to leave. They asked me to come back the next day and talk with them some more.
Next stop was a store that sold new and used clothing. The manager, Jose , was standing out front. He was missing most of his front teeth, and spoke about 10 words in English. I asked him where the used clothing came from. He said the U.S., but couldn’t remember any other details. He said he had been in jail in Texas and that was his only experience living in the U.S. About that time, a fight broke out in the booth next to his store. It started out about 20 feet from me and quickly headed my way. Jose said a guy was trying to steal some stuff from the booth. The booth owner grabbed the suspected thief by the shirt and gave him one good drop kick. Fight over. I quickly left the area.
Next-Stay tuned. It gets more interesting
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To see more of my travels click here
Honduras, Hilton Princess, San Pedro Sula Part 3
Honduras, Part 3-A stay at the Hilton Princess, San Pedro Sula
I have always liked the Hilton Princess San Pedro Sula hotel since I first saw hit. Seems like an oasis in the middle of a lot of the hustle-bustle of San Pedro Sula. Here’s a pic:
A view of the Hilton Princess, San Pedro Sula Honduras
As I mentioned in my first blog, I had met the General Manager, Mr. Javier Ortega, on a previous trip to Honduras. I had eaten breakfast at the hotel and he was gracias enough to give me a tour of the city. I felt the least I could do was stay at his hotel the next time I came to San Pedro Sula. I always try to pay back the hospitality when I can.
I was going to be traveling by bus the next day, going 3 hours to the west to Copan Ruinas, and needed a good night’s rest. I booked a room on the concierge floor, which included complimentary beverages, snacks, a delicious breakfast, computer usage, etc. The people that work on the concierge floor are very friendly and accommodating. Here is a look at the special dining room on the floor:
HIlton Princess, San Pedro Sula Honduras. The dining area on the concierge floor
The hotel front desk was very willing to help me with money exchange, directions, lining up a driver the first afternoon, and in general, just making sure I felt secure.
I think the best way I can show the hotel is through a series of photos. So, here goes.
A view from the window of the San Pedro Sula Hilton Princess hotel in Honduras-
a view of San Pedro Sula from the window of the Hilton Princess Hotel
the fountain area around the pool at the Hilton San Pedro Princess hotel
Pool area of the Hilton Princess
Pool area of the San Pedro Sula Hilton Princess Hotel
HIlton Princess San Pedro Sula Honduras-pool area
All in all, I was very pleased with the Hilton Princess. All very polite and nice people that work there. I highly recommend it if you are going to be in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Ok, enough of the hotel pics. Time to start seeing the city of San Pedro Sula. I had been warned before about walking the streets alone. Stay tuned…………….
Next-the streets of San Pedro Sula
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Read about all of my travels click here
Honduras, A visit to a plantation near Progresso-Part 2
Part 2-cont’d
Honduras-visiting an orange plantation in Progresso–
I have a couple of friends that are from Honduras. Their parents still live in the town of Progresso which is located very near San Pedro Sula. When I told them I was planning a return trip to Honduras, they insisted their family pick me up at the airport. I didn’t want to impose, but when they said they thought it would be safer than me just grabbing a taxi at the airport, I took them up on it. So, their dads, Mario and Ernesto were there when my flight arrived. They spoke very little English, so everything was in Spanish. It was extremely hot when I arrived in San Pedro Sula.
Mario and Ernesto and their families live in Progresso. They took me to visit their homes for some refreshments. I was no longer a typical tourist. I was quickly absorbed into the real Honduras lifestyle.
After resting up and being shown around town, Mario wanted to take me up into the hills to see his citrus plantation where he had 1500 orange trees. Of course, I welcomed that opportunity. We drove up into the hills until we ran out of pavement. We then proceeded down some pretty iffy dirt roads. Mario told me I was the only person from the U.S. to ever step foot on his plantation. That made me feel very special.
Honduras-a view of Progresso from the hills
We were in a very remote area. When we got out of the truck, Mario pulled out a heavy duty pistol, tucked into his pants and said, “you never know who/what you will run into in the hills, so we need protection”. Okay by me!! My only question was……how many bullets do we have?
We walked through the plantation for a while. Mario pointed out various things of interest.
A walk through Mario's plantation in Honduras
The area was very rugged as you can see by the following photos:
Honduras-the rugged hills with the orange groves
Honduras-An orange tree growing on the side of the hill
Honduras-the rugged hillside with the orange trees
Honduras-another photo of the rugged countryside we were in.
Mario talked with me about his orange trees. His caretaker showed up and we chatted with him for awhile.
Soon, it was time to leave. Mario was taking me to my hotel in San Pedro Sula. Quite honestly, I was looking forward to the air conditioned room. To be continued…..
Next-an overview of the San Pedro Sula Hilton Princess
Read about all of my travels click here
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
