Mon 15th Feb: Back from Honduras safely

We set off at 5 and had an amazing journey over the border through large mountain ranges covered in grass or pine trees and deep gorges with rivers in the bottom and at times English type farming land with cows grazing.

It was fairly easy to get over the border in our private little bus - we had to pay 3 dollars each to get in just to go to Copan Ruinas for the day.

There is a town called Copan Ruinas just near the ruins and it is very nice with cobbled streets set on steep valley slopes overlooking peaceful valleys.  Very clear crystalline air as we moved up to around 1500 ft I think.  We went to the Casa del Cafe hotel and had a lovely breakfast then hit the ruins to see Mayan carving proper for the first time and the huge pyramids and ball court where they played the funny game of pelota with the hard rubber ball they bounced off their hips, elbows and various other parts - and the loser could get sacrificed!  It is a UNESCO site and has been really nicely preserved with excellent museums.  It was also sited in beautiful grounds full of birds - it was hot and tiring but it was good to go round with a guide and get to understand about the old kings like 18 Rabbit and Smoke Rabbit and Smoke Jaguar and see their pictures on the stones or stelae.  It was a long journey back in the heat but we managed and got back just in time to order dinner.

This was la Casa deal cafe in Copan where we had a lovely breakfast in the garden.

The town of Copan was very attractive

The weather was amazing and the bird life was plentiful

There were tame macaws on the ruins site and a monkey

This was my favourite character - I love the gloves on his hat and the sunglasses

This staircase on the pyramid is covered with glyphs telling stories

This is a full size replica of a carved pyramid found under one of the big pyramids here - and these are the colours they would have been painted

This is a turtle but also a sacrifice chopping block for the ritual blood letting- gruesome

This one has had a bad day I think

Often the men pose like indian characters

Anyway lots of photos were taken and lots of facts were learned which makes the Maya world a little clearer.  Going to bed very tired and will be taking it easy on the lake tomorrow, weather permitting