Impressions of Copán

Posted on 18. June 2014 by FroeWi

After another long travel day we arrived in Copán/Honduras. Copán is famous for the Mayan ruins which are fascinating and unique among Mayan cities. Declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1980, Copán contains some of the most important Mayan ruins found to date, and many unusual artistic features. But it is also a charming and relaxing place with really good coffee places 😉

Of course we did a guided-tour exploring the Mayan ruins and learned more about the culture, history and the mysterious disappearance of this creative civilization. Learning about the mayas numerals: The numerals are made up of three symbols; zero (shell shape, with the plastron uppermost), one (a dot) and five (a bar). The powers of twenty are numerals, just as the Hindu-Arabic numeral system uses powers of tens. Our guide was amazing, he knew everything about the Mayans and we walked through grassy plazas filled with intricately carved and decorated monuments, statues and staircases. Huge carved faces stare at us from ancient walls, but see your self.

After our history and culture lessons it was time for some relaxation. Therefore, we all went for the local hot springs in the jungle which are an one hour drive from Copán. The drive was an experience itself: sitting in the back of a pick-up truck on a very bumpy road through the jungle and some local villages.

Impressions of the Maya Ruins IMG_20140618_083932

The parrots welcomed us in the Copán Ruins Papagei IMG_20140618_103042 IMG_20140618_103133

Inside one of the ruins

The picture showes the number 2014. IMG_20140618_105139

Kids playing on the main square of Copán IMG_20140617_203359

Impressions of Suchitoto

Posted on 14. June 2014 by FroeWi

After a long day of travel via bus, boat and van we arrived to the colonial town of Suchitoto. Nestled in the mountains of the north of the country, Suchitoto is perched on the edge of an impressive artificial lake called Suchitlan Lake, also known as Embalse Cerron Grande.

The next day at a city tour we learned a bit about the tragic history of this small town (it was scene to crual crimes during the civil war) and set off into the nearby nature preserve. We hiked to a lookout and a waterfall called “Los Tercios”, which is famed for its unique composition of hexagonal blocks of stone along a vertical wall.

On the way to El Salvador Painting on jeans trousers (a lot of cow boys around here) The biggest church in Central America

Impressions of Ataco

Posted on 14. June 2014 by FroeWi

Ataco is a small town and the home to some talented artisans who have painted bright murals throughout town (see the pictures). We walked around the city, did some shopping and during a coffee tour we learned how coffee is made. Apparently, some of the worlds best coffee is from the region around Ataco.

A coffee bean is actually a seed of a plant and looks like a cherrie. When dried, roasted and ground, it is used to brew coffee.

In the evening we went out for dinner and the weather seemed to be up to something. After reaching the typical Pupusa Restaurant, the heavy rain started and a few power failures happened until the lights didn’t turn on again and we waited with candle light in the restaurant for 1 hour but nothing changed. The whole city was pitch black. A Salvadorian boy felt pitty towards us and he told his mother: “ Mummy how would you feel being in a foreign country walking home in the rain and dark”. Therefore the nice mother offered us a ride back to the hotel. Pupusa is a traditional Salvadoran dish made of a thick, handmade corn tortilla that is usually filled with everything you like e.g. spinach, cheese, chicken etc.

Bright murals throughout town

Our Hotel in a nearly 360 degree view

Coffee tour

Fields where the coffee is dried

This is an optional process in which any silver skin that remains on the beans after hulling is removed in a polishing machine

The woman remove the defective beans by hand while the beans move along an electronic conveyor belt

People working in the fields

IMG_20140616_154606

A storm is brewing

Romantic dinner by candlelight

Surfing Turtle Logde at Los Brasiles Island

Posted on 12. June 2014 by FroeWi

After our lunch stop in Leon it was just an one hour drive to La Bocanita from where we catched a small boat to an island called Los Brasiles. After a 15-minute walk we arrived at the Surfing Turtle Lodge.

Surfing Turtle Lodge is a beachfront, solar powered off-the-grid beach lodge hostel situated along a secluded beach on Los Brasiles Island, Poneloya with amazing views of Central America’s ocean to the west and volcanoes to the east. Close to the historic city of Leon, in Nicaragua’s North Pacific coast.

Enjoy the sun, beach and hammocks My favorite horse in Central America. He was really cuddly and grateful for some company

Some Impressions of Granada

Posted on 11. June 2014 by FroeWi

Granada is Nicaragua’s third largest and oldest city and retains its traditional Spanish colonial character. We explored the city for two days, went out, walked along the old cobblestone streets and enjoyed the colorful painted buildings.

As a summary it may be stated that Granada is a really beautiful city but we good recommended not to walk in certain areas and especially at night time always take a taxi for safety reasons.

How we got to Granada: Ferry, chicken bus and squeezing into a tuk-tuk 😉