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Central or Meso America is the thin section of land that links the North American continent with the South American continent. Geographically part of North America, is made up of seven small, mostly tropical countries that have much more in common with South America and Mexico than the more affluent north.
The wonderful blend of the Spanish and native populations has produced a culture that is unique to this region.
I had the pleasure of visiting a honey production cooperative in Honduras. This was a very rural and poor area where the locals depended on their harvest for survival.
Tegucigalpa at sunset
The Mayan influence is very evident in the culture and customs of the area. The people are very proud of their ancient heritage and have preserved and practiced many of the ancient traditions of their ancestors.
I had the good fortune to meet this man in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, who designed and handmade beautiful silver jewelry. He was of Mayan descent, and many of his pieces reflected the Mayan culture. We sat and spoke for quite a long time and eventually agreed upon a set of earrings and a ring that he would make for me. Three days later, he met me at my hotel with a set of hand-crafted, detailed, silver jewelry depicting Mayan scenes that I consider priceless!
While in Tegucigalpa, I was once again able to find good fortune and witness a festival that celebrated the great heritage and culture of Honduras. A mixture of the Spanish traditions as well as the magical Mayan culture was to be offered to me each day while there.
Known to have the most dangerous commercial airport in the world, landing here was a dramatic and quite frightening experience! I will never forget it. The landing seems as if it is continually turning, the plane on at a severe angle. As it gets lower I swear you can see the laundry hanging on the buildings and see people as it makes it approach. All of a sudden a 45-degree angle to the left and the runway suddenly appears and within seconds you swoop onto the runway and hope there is enough room to stop. Only Lukla, near Everest, was the worst!
When visiting Tegucigalpa, it is best to never walk anywhere after dark to avoid being a victim of crime. Thieves tend to be around areas near tourist hotels, especially the Hotel Maya where I stayed. Petty crime is also high, so keep your valuables close to you and do not walk on side streets alone. I went to a small restaurant recommended to me by someone in the hotel. I was joined by a local friend, and even though the restaurant was within very close walking distance, insisted on taking a taxi both ways. There are private guards armed with shotguns standing in front of most tourist restaurants and hotels.
The Colombian drug cartels use Honduras as a useful depot on the way to Mexico. Lots of drugs, lots of guns, lots of blood. Many Hondurans choose to leave their country and migrate north in search of a safer place to raise their families.
I took this photo while in the high mountains in rural Honduras.
Stopping to have lunch one afternoon, we parked our vehicle on a dirt road overlooking the valley below. After lunch, I began to walk down the dirt road and came across this young mother with her two daughters doing the daily wash. The water was running off the rocks from the mountain into a small pool in the rock that served perfectly as a wash basin.
After lunch, we resumed our journey back to the capital city. As I jumped into the bed of the pickup, my driver and host informed me to "stay low" as the last time they drove through here, the "banditos robbed us."
Located northwest of Tegucigalpa, the small village of Santiago de Puringla, Honduras, is a place that time has left behind. No running water, sporadic electricity, and unpaved roads are the norm here. The people make some money by growing coffee and tending bees for honey.
Poverty is very evident here, and the people struggle to survive. The children attend school periodically, and the young girls are often needed to take care of the younger children while both parents work the fields.
Located at over 5000 ft., Santiago de Puringla sits above the coffee fields that surround the valley below.
One Saturday afternoon, I was wandering through the small colonial town of Valle de Angelas, Honduras, located northeast of the capital. During my exploration, I passed a church that was preparing for a wedding. There were several women proudly making the inside of the church a festive place for the wedding that would occur a few hours later.
A little later, I stopped for lunch at a rooftop cafe overlooking the main plaza near the church. As I was waiting for my food to be brought to the table I happened to look over the railing and spotted the bride making her way to the church.
High in the rugged mountains near Las Crucitas, Honduras, I came across this young horseman. It was very foggy that afternoon and all I could hear was the hoofbeat of the horse in the distance. As I struggled to see what was coming down the dirt trail this image of the man on the horse appeared. He came past me when I called him to come back. I showed him a photo that I had taken as he had passed me and asked him if he could take the horse back up the trail and come down slowly this time. He was happy to oblige, and I was able to take this wonderful photo of him and his horse. Las Crucitas is known for its honey.
This area of Honduras houses many beehives and cultivating honey has become a thriving agribusiness. I had the pleasure of visiting a honey cooperative in Siguatepeque about 60 miles northwest of the capital. The honey was superb and I was able to purchase several bottles to bring home.
The joy of a simple gift of a soccer ball!
Futbol is played all around the world, and children can be seen playing everywhere. Even though it only calls for simple equipment, a ball, many communities did not have one. I saw balls improvised from plastic bags wrapped in duct tape to balls made from straw and string being used by poor communities around the globe. I had made a habit of purchasing soccer balls on my trips and gifting them to the communities that I visited. It was amazing to see how such a small gift would bring joy to these communities. It went a long way in breaking the ice with the communities and always helped me get closer to the people.
A small town south of Las Crucitas, named Crucitas, lies just north of the Nicaraguan border. It was here that I ran across some beautiful handmade pottery crafted by native Nicaraguan potters from the famous "Village of Pottery", San Juan de Oriente. I was able to purchase a couple of handmade, unique, and sought-after works. Several years later I spotted a very unique piece similar to these in an antique shop in the US. It now joins the others in my home.
Local police "cruiser" in downtown Tegucigalpa.
Slideshow of my travels through Honduras.
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