The beauty of Honduras

What an amazing weekend it has been! Yesterday, after my morning Spanish class, I went with Tita, Joel, and Stephanie (a new volunteer from San Diego) to a hot spring nearby. We hiked up beneath the rainforest canopy to a natural hot spring where the water was boiling up to the surface. Down the slope from the hot spring was a natural pool we could swim in. After relaxing in the warm water for a bit, we each got a full body massage and volcano mud bath. It was quite refreshing! 

There was a canopy tour via zip lining as well, but we decided not to do that.  For lunch, we went to a restaurant in Sambo Creek (another Garifuna village on the coast) where I had chuletas de cerdo (pork chops) and fried plantains (my new favorite food!). After lunch, we walked on the beach for a bit and got to see part of a drum circle where two men were playing African drums and others would take turns going into the circle to show off their dance moves - quite an enjoyable experience that made me feel like I was in a tribal village in Africa.  I was so tired when I got home, I had a quick bite to eat for dinner, did some homework, and fell asleep early. 

Today's excursion was to a group of small islands nearby called Cayos Cuchinos. We took a small motor boat out to the islands (which was a bit thrilling at times with some of the waves coming in from the sea). It was about a 45 minute ride, and on the way out, there was a little 4 or 5 year old Honduran boy behind me crying in fear of drowning. I brought a mini Buffalo Bills football down here with me and had it in my backpack, so I told him to hold into it, and it would keep him safe. He was hesitant at first but then clutched onto that ball for almost the whole ride! 

When we arrived at the first island, we watched a quick video about the area and the conservation efforts that were put in place to preserve it. Then, we headed over for a quick hike through the woods of another island where I got to see a small boa rosada (pink boa constrictor). Our tour guide, Melvin, taught us that if you pour cold water on the snake's head, it will become very sleepy and docile, so I quickly offered my water bottle so I could hold him. 

After our hike, I got to do the most amazing thing I've ever experienced - snorkeling through a coral reef. The bright colors of the tropical fish, clear water, white sand, and beautiful coral made it a truly unforgettable experience. I got to see schools of fish swimming around, tiny jellyfish inches beneath me, and large exotic fish with the most amazing patterns. 

We had lunch on a small Garifuna island (which we had ordered hours earlier because they literally had to go catch our lunch). There is no electricity on the tiny island, and everything is made fresh. I had shrimp, fried plantains, rice with beans, fresh mango, and pan de coco. Many women were going around selling their handmade jewelry, so I picked up a few necklaces and a turtle made of shells.  We swam on the beach for a bit while I got a chance to chat with some other volunteers from LA, England, and Boston, as well as a teacher on holiday from Quebec. The boat ride back was even bumpier than the way out, and I was relieved to finally set foot back in Sambo Creek when we returned. 

After experiencing the extreme poverty in Honduras, it was great to be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. There is so much the country has to offer, and I can see why the people here take pride in it. Tomorrow, I will finally have a chance to start my volunteering. I am anxious to meet the kids and put my Spanish classes to use!

Spanish phrase of the day: "cuanto cuesta?" which means "How much does it cost?" - an important one to know when you are souvenir shopping!