honduras this week, saturday, march 31, 2007
DESCRIPTION
VOL. 20, No. 13 (933) TegucigalpaTRANSCRIPT
YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007
VOL. 20, No. 13 (933) Tegucigalpa www.hondurasthisweek.com Lps 6.00
Cubans using Honduras as transit country on their way north
PAgE 3
CHURCH continued on page 4 Alex Jones/Honduras This Week
A view of the Basilica Suyapa from the studio where the Catholic channel is broadcasted.
Alvaro Morales MolinaHonduras This Week
globalization is forcing all of the elements in society to develop and evolve, one of them is communications, and, as the Scion Protocols said at the end of 18th century, controlling the basic elements of production and the media is a must to control the human race. There is definitely a difference between those religions that use the media to control and those who use it merely to broadcast their message, but their methods remain similar.
In Honduras, there are two religions that compete for the biggest following, the Catholics, the majority and more tradi-tional, and the Evangelists or protestants, a growing, minority with less organization and newer concepts. Both have been successful in attracting new followers, and both feel the need to communicate their message through the media.
The Honduran Catholic church discovered some decades ago the benefits of media, with Radio Catolica and then the newspaper ‘Fides’ and some years ago they started to transmit TV with their Channel 48, all of them together form the Catholic Foundation of Social Media. The Evangelists have had the Voz Evangelica de Honduras for some decades and Channel 57 since the 1990s. The competition has been tough and today they offer a technologically perfected product.
The evangelist International Christian Center began eight years ago as a small church with a missionary and evangelistic vision, but today they have more than 60 churches in various cities throughout Honduras and other countries around the world. “We are an independent Honduran church with a fraternal rela-tion with a Mennonite church in United States but I can assure you we are independent,” Alberto Solorzano, pastor of the church, says with pride.
Catholic and Evangelical church spreading their message on TV
La Ceiba in preparation for Semana Santa
PAgE 7
Things to do and places to go around Tegucigalpa this Easter week
PAgE 16
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK2
O P I N I O NYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW
L E T T E R S
Letters to the Editor PolicyAll letters should be no more than 300 words in length, and should include the writer’s name, address and phone number. We will not publish street address, e-mail address or phone number unless specifically requested. All letters become property of Honduras This Week and are subject to editing for length, content, grammar, punctuation, etc. You can send us letters to the editor via email: [email protected] or mail your letter to:
Honduras This WeekPO Box 1312 Tegucigalpa, Honduras
The most important religious event for Christians is the celebra-tion of the resurrection of Christ. During Holy Week, the events surrounding his death and resur-rection are remembered.
In Honduras Catholicism is the dominate religion. However, since the 1970s, the number of protestant churches has been growing. They are organized in three confederations: The Association of Pastors, the Evangelical Confraternity and the Apostolic Network. In spite of their differences, there are funda-mental aspects that are shared by both movements. They both believe that the grave of Jesus is empty, since he overcame death and was resur-rected. Everyone agrees that he trained twelve men that weren’t exactly intellectuals: some were simple fishermen, there was also a tax collector and a terrorist (zealot). These men, together with Paul of Tarsus, revolutionized the known world, traveled tirelessly and were even ready to die for their faith.
Two millenniums later, Christianity is the faith with
the highest number of followers in the world. Nevertheless, the light of the gospel preached by Christ doesn’t shine with the same intensity anymore. When gandhi was asked why he didn’t become a Christian considering he was always reading the Bible, he answered: “When you convince me that the Christians live according
to the teachings of Christ, I will be the first to convert.”
To live in accor-dance with the teachings of Christ is very different from going to a church and adopting a passive and comfortable role: the church as a social club. Christ, the Word personified, showed the way with his acts, passion and
movement. He summed up every-thing by saying that we should love the Lord with all our heart and our fellow man as we love ourselves. More love of god, more love of our fellow man, more love of ourselves: that is the perfect trilogy, radiating a light that can’t be hidden.
Holy Week is a time to enjoy, because Jesus came for us to have abundance of life and therefore our existence should be a worship of life.
Time to enjoy
Founding Editor 1949-2006Mario Gutiérrez Minera
Publisher/General ManagerMario Gutiérrez Pacheco [email protected]
Administration Manager Andrea Gutiérrez Pacheco [email protected]
Online PublisherStanley Marrder (Houston)[email protected]
Graphic Design and Video Santos Ortiz Banegas [email protected]
Subscriptions & Maya Calendar EditorRosibel Pacheco de Gutié[email protected]
OfficeAngela Molina
Managing Editor
Anette Emanuelsson
Staff and Contributors
Jorge Agurcia, Patrick Ahern, James
Bodden, Alex Jones, Alvaro Morales Molina,
Daniel O’Connor, Anna Smith, Bruce Starr,
Louise Wallace
Bay Island Correspondant
Don Pearly
Copan Correspondant
Howard Rosenzwieg
Advertisement
Ernesto Lopéz
Nadia Osorto
Member of the Inter-American Press Association
All original articles and photographs published in Honduras This Week are protected by interna-tional copyright law. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without prior written permission,
is strictly prohibited.Col Payaqui Frente al Instituto San Miguel #7 Casa 3644 P.O. Box 1323, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Telephones (504) 239-3654, 239-0285 - Fax (504) 232-2300 [email protected] by Talleres de Impresión de PUBLYNSA, Honduras
Dear Editor,
At the Online Think Tank our teams are constantly working to solve the World’s problems. Indeed there are challenges around the globe that will not go away without intervention and action. Our most recent project was taking a good hard look at Central America and our own Western Hemisphere and considering what pressing issues needed to be addressed.
Thankfully, a lot is being done to help our neighbors to the South. Texans have played a huge part in making a difference. Their efforts are nothing short of a Herculean effort and it is amazing to see the positive progress. This is about people, real people and we see Jenna Bush has taken it
upon herself to put a face on the problem, as she is writing a book after her UNICEF intern in Panama.
As our Online Think Tank sifted through all the data and long list of organizations that are helping in Central America, it became apparent that these activities are showing tremendous progress. For instance in Honduras we noted villages which had been rebuilt after Hurricane Mitch, medical missions to help the rural poor and schools being built.
At the Bay2Bay.org organiza-tion, students collaborate between galveston Bay and Puerto Cortes Bay in problem solving to remove pollution, as clean water is the key to healthy living. That goes for first worlds as well as third worlds.
We are all in this together. If our students have open communication lines now, then in the future there will not be political impasse and we can work out any differences.
The diplomacy we are doing now and the wonderful achieve-ments of volunteers puts them at the top of our list of the super stars of humanity. It’s just awesome.
All the best,
Lance WinslowOnline Think TankVia Internet
The Online Think Tank Medical Mission eBook is currently avail-able for download at hondur-asthisweek.com
To live in accordance with the teachings of Christ is very different from going to a church and adopting a passive and comfortable role: the church as a social club.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW 3
N A T I O N A L
Alex Jones
Honduras This Week
Last weekend, 24 Cuban refu-gees arrived on the Bay Islands and 14 touched land on the Mosquitia coast. That comes as a reminder that Honduras is increas-ingly being used by Cubans as a transit country to reach the United States.
Last year, according to german Espinal, Director general of Migration, more than 500 Cubans are reported to have entered the country “all with the intention of making their way the US…The business of illegally getting people from Cuba to the U.S is becoming an incredibly profitable one, now earning some $22,000 per person.”
Cubans who enter Honduras are allowed to stay if they can prove that they have the resources to be independent, “then they don’t have to leave…we do ask if they want to stay here, but they say ‘no, the reason we have come here is because we want to go all the way to the US’.”
“It is still a reality that many
Cubans want search a better future in the U.S, and many want to meet their relatives in Miami.” U.S law states that any Cuban who manages to set foot on North American soil cannot be deported. This acts as an extra incentive for Cubans to attempt the dangerous journey, and may be the reason it is so hard for them in particular to succeed.
“They come here illegally, in some cases they are picked up by fishing boats from the coast of Cuba. The common routes are from grand Cayman to either Belize or the Bay Islands (of which Roatan is one), or from Jamaica to Puerto Lempira in La Mosquitia.”
The authorities of Roatan have
Cubans using Honduras as transit country on their way north
Alex Jones/Honduras This WeekMany Cubans travel aboard fishing boats such as this one docking at the Bay Islands
CUBANS continued on page 7
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW
N A T I O N A L4
CCI, as it is know in Tegucigalpa, is located towards the east of the city, and inhabits a big building with a noteworthy archi-tecture. It used to be a bowling course, called Planeta Zipango. In the front of the building, a huge planet earth sits on top of a tall post that can be seen from around the city. That way, what used to be the logo of a bowling course is now the symbol for an evangelical church trying to reach the world with their Christian message.
The CCI have churches in the most important cities in Honduras and in all of Central America, some
cities in United States, Canada, South America, Japan, India and ghana. They now call it the World Network of CCI. “People want to relate with a live god,” says Solorzano justifying their effort to transmit their message via media. Their message is one of “forgiving-ness, to give back to society and to have a positive influence on other people’s lives.”
Solorzano has a luxurious office nicely decorated with big paintings in maroon walls, illuminated with indirect lights that give the room a relaxed and comfortable feeling. On his desk a flat screen computer
completes the exquisite combina-tion of luxury and good taste. In all, his office confirms that this Christians do not suffer poverty, at least in the offices where they work, a contrasting element to the reality of most of Hondurans.
The Catholics know the poten-tial of the media in the mission of evangelization, a concept understood as the polarization of the Christian message to their followers. Ricardo Banegas is the general Manager of the Catholic Foundation of Social Media. This includes Radio Catolica, Newspaper FIDES, educational channel TELEBASICA, and the TV channel 48.
He explains that communicating the good news of a Christian life is a must for the Catholic Church of today, and it must be an inherent duty for the leaders of the church. Peace, justice, truth, progress and development are all, according to Banegas, the characteristics of what he calls the new Catholics.
“The new Aropagus of the civilization is the media with out a doubt,” explains the catholic priest, referring to an antique greek method of communication used in public places during the greek illumination age of philosophers, to transmit doctrines.
Banegas, who receives his visi-tors in a conference room without any kind of protocols, is a young priest that does not wear a sotana (outfit usually worn by priests), but looks like a simple executive of a commercial organization. He explains that the manipulation of truth is one the biggest problems today with the media in general. It should not be the function of an opinion leader. According to Banegas, it is not bad to explore and participate in the revolution of technology this information era, as long as it includes moral ethics and Christian values, whether the person who practices it is religious
or not.The problem of the Hondurans
is, according to Solorzano, the inheritance that the Spanish left after the colonization. “That people came with a lot of problems, bad manners and customs. The corrup-tion is not a thing from today, it is a left over of that bad group,” he says, suggesting that other tradi-tions brought by the Spanish such as Catholicism were equally bad.
While the Catholic Church in Latin America has a long tradition of social work, the CCI ideology is different. For the pastor, criminality and gangs are a direct manifestation of evil, and should be fought with Christianity, and it should be done aggressively through modern technology. “We are fighting a war against bad and evil, and we are not loosing,” confirms Solorzano with joy.
The Evangelists also say that being Christian is not the equiva-lent to being poor and victimized in the society. They claim that richness and joy in life on earth is a blessing from god. “Whenever there is change in the spiritual life of a human, there is for sure going
to be a change in the material life of that person,” says Solorzano.
The CCI network has a news-paper publication, a radio station and a TV channel that will soon be launched on the internet. It will be digital and broadcast at least 60 percent original productions.
Channel 48 of the Catholics is also a digital channel with 24-hour broadcasting in and according to experts, it has one of the most modern production equipments in Honduras. It also possesses one of the biggest TV studios and the most modern satellite transmission units in the country.
Banegas does not find it immoral to take advantage of the technology or for the different religions to transmit their message. The problem according to Banegas is when people manipulate the truth and use it in individual and personal interest.
Countering the comments of Solorzano, that the Catholic tradi-tion was forced upon Honduras by colonizers, Banegas points to how many evangelical churches came to Honduras in the 1950s in direct relation with a document called the Rockefeller Report. According to Banegas, at that moment was the movement was part of a political ideological strategy of the right handed parties in the United States who where worried by the growth of the left handed movement in Latin America at the time.
“I respect them but I do no share their theology. I think there are some good Evangelists, just as there are some bad Catholics, but everybody should care for the content of the message that they are transmitting, especially consid-ering the responsibility to educate and inform a needy society.”
“Communication is a science and an art form, a bad communicator can easily become a good domi-nator,” Banegas says, emphasizing the importance of using the media to transmit positive messages and not only bad news. “We should illuminate the conscience of society, but the sound of a falling tree is louder than a flowering forest.”
CHURCH: Honduran evangelists represented across the worldcon’t from page 1
Alex Jones/Honduras This Week Pastor Alberto Solorzano in his office at the International Christian Center.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW
N A T I O N A L5
Anette EmanuelssonHonduras This Week
´Safe summer, happy summer´ is the slogan of this year’s Easter week campaign launched by the Commission for Prevention of Accidents (Conapra) on Friday. The launch was carried out at the intersection between the Tegucigalpa – San Pedro Sula highway and the road leading to El Progreso and beach towns Tela and La Ceiba.
Due to the high increase in traffic on these and other major roads during the Easter holi-days, Conapra will set up 151 check points to make sure that Honduran holidaymakers keep the speed limits and don’t drive under the influence, while also handing out leaflets about acci-dent prevention and medicines. The check points will be strategi-cally located to make people slow down before dangerous curves or accident ridden stretches of road.
Throughout the road network they will also hang banners with acci-dent prevention messages.
Conapra is composed of the police, the armed forces, the Red Cross and 15 other governmental and non-governmental organi-zations and only works during Easter and Christmas, when there is a sharp increase in traffic and accidents. Last Semana Santa, 17 people died and 66 were injured in car accidents. In 2005, 26 people died. The most common causes of death were speeding, followed by negligence on behalf of cyclists and pedestrians. A smaller percentage of the deaths were attributed to mechanical failures. To avoid the latter, Conapra checks the breaks, steering and wheels of all buses that have applied for a special permit needed to leave the cities. The vehicles that don’t pass the inspection are remitted to a repair shop and have to return for a second check-up. The vehicles that do pass receive a sticker that reads “Revisado, Conapra 2007.”
During Easter week there will also be mobile help units traveling along the most trafficked highways assisting cars with mechanical failures.
Many Hondurans visit the beaches or swim in the rivers during Semana Santa and there-fore Conapra also works to prevent drowning. Last year, 27 people drowned during Semana Santa. Most of them were minors that drowned due to a lack of supervi-sion from their parents. Alcohol and poor swimming skills were other important causes. Since many improvised swimming holes appear during the summer seasons, the municipalities are asked to provide a list of the most popular ones, where Conapra send policemen, firemen, soldiers or others that can work as lifeguards.
The campaign is largely financed by donations from the business community and during the campaign launch representa-tives from the private sector did a symbolic handover of the money.
Campaign for a safe Holy Week hoping to reduce accidents and drowning
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW6
N A T I O N A L
Alex Jones
Honduras This Week
Eight trucks of sand will be making their way to the Hotel Marriott this Semana Santa to construct Playa Teguz 2007. The sand will be spread out across the hotel car parks, forming a local beach for all those visiting or staying in Tegucigalpa Thursday through Saturday.
The inland seaside (unfortu-nately without any imported sea) will be open to all for to come and
play football, beach volleyball, or compete in a marathon. The other option is, of course, to sit back, relax and enjoy the…mountainous city surroundings. Maybe you could make even make a sandcastle or two?
To play volleyball will be L. 300 per team, to enter the football tour-nament L. 1,500 per team and to try out the marathon/10km walking race L. 120. You must sign up by Wednesday 4th April.
There are prizes for the winners, including L. 4000 for the winning footballers. But “winning
the events isn’t what is important, it is the taking part that counts,” according to the Marriott manager. “It is an event for all the family…an additional activity for those in Tegucigalpa this week.”
If sports aren’t your thing, then it is possible just to come and get a bite to eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is free to come and relax around Playa Teguz 2007, and on Friday evening there will be live music and partying from 19:00 till 01:00. Entry for this is L. 120, though here a drink is chucked in on the house.
When the beach party came to town
Louise Wallace Honduras This Week
The reputation is that in Semana Santa Tegucigalpa will be deserted. The streets will be quiet; the shops empty and the fume belching traffic that thunders ´Wacky Races´ style through the city will be none existent. Only in Semana Santa is Tegucigalpa said to be vacant. A skeleton of a city – its people adrift in exotic loca-tions, celebrating their holiday in guatemala and Honduras’ wild North Coast. Some are attracted to this peace and silence. Others do not have the money to go away. Yet for the Evangelical and Catholic churches, Semana Santa will be a time to celebrate in the city, utilizing Tegucigalpa’s age old traditions in their efforts this
Easter to be closer to god. For the Catholics, worship will
begin on Sunday 1st April with a Palm Sunday procession from the church El Calivario to the central plaza. Such processions will from a vital part of the Easter celebra-tions, uniting the community of worshipers and using a combination of color and symbolism to bring the Easter story to life. “These proces-sions are distinct to Honduras and to Tegucigalpa” stated Father Carlos Manoa, representing Tegucigalpa’s Cathedral. “They are responsible for bringing a great deal of visitors to our celebrations, who then hear the word of god.” Further processions, which are often thought of as symbolic of Central America, will take place on Holy Tuesday, good Friday and, of course, Easter Sunday.
Though the Evangelical Church is set to begin its Easter campaign later in the week - special services beginning on good Friday - the preparation and planning involved in creating a memorable Semana Santa that does justice to Christ’s crucifixion and subsequent resur-rection have been equally thor-ough. “We will be having special conferences, to which every sector of Honduran society is invited, in order to spread the word of the Lord,” said Reverend Alberto Solórzano, pastor at the International Christian Centre (CCI) in Tegucigalpa. “Every year the people of Honduras see these processions. It becomes habit. It is our aim to explain them. To get the population thinking about our Lord and what he suffered.”
Though both churches recog-nize the threat of the North Coast parties, their plans to combat it is radically different. Father Manoa feels there is no need to compete. “Christianity will never pass out of fashion. Yet neither can we force it on people. We have to let the people know that there are services going on, and if they are
interested they will come.” Yet Reverend Solórzano disagrees. “The Evangelical church has to be strong at this time. We will be on the beaches ensuring our message
is heard and preaching the word of god.”
However, both agree that Easter is the time to remember god.
The Evangelical and Catholic churches prepare for Easter
Courtesy of the Institute of TourismA sawdust carpet in central Tegucigalpa.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW 7
T O U R I S M
Louise WallaceHonduras This Week
The coastal town of La Ceiba is a hub for tourism in Honduras. Its cocoanut clad beaches, steamy jungle mountains and ‘tranquilo’ North Coast atmosphere distin-guish it from its competitors, drawing crowds that exceed the town’s hotel capacity. La Ceiba’s Chamber of Tourism is keen to build on this success. In an ambi-tious project that will include the reopening of a bridge and a schedule of music and dance appro-priate to the town’s Carribean links, Anaite Sebt, coordinator of this institution, hopes that in 2007 La Ceiba will produce one of the most memorable Semana Santas in the North Coast’s history.
“Tourism in La Ceiba has three essential components” Sebt stated, in explanation of La Ceiba’s
attraction. “The green compo-nent, including the national park Pico Bonito; the beaches and the people.” La Ceiba has a diverse
Latino and garifuna ethnic mix. The fusion of cultures and geog-raphy has created a wealth of music, food and tradition that gives the town its distinct flavor.
Yet despite its natural charisma, La Ceiba’s tourism industry faces many tribulations. Considering its popularity, the town remains seriously underdeveloped. The demand for hotel rooms far exceeds the number available, policing is minimal and transport links desper-ately need improvement.
These are the things that Sebt hopes to change. “Already a project is under completion that will provide an additional 400 hotel rooms. Tourism police will be stationed on the beaches and the rivers, and the bridge that had been damaged recently due to heavy weather has been repaired and will be reopened.”
Tourism is admittedly an infant
industry in Honduras. Unlike other Central American countries, like Costa Rica and guatemala, Honduras has been slow to capi-talize on the growing number of wandering foreigners, attracted to Central America’s natural beauty, turbulent history and warm, latino charm. Though spots such as Utila and Copan are known internation-ally, the greater part of Honduras remains relatively unexplored.
“The Chamber of Tourism in La Ceiba is only four years old.” Sebt continued. “Our initial challenge is to develop as an organization. We need to build unity in order to see
things progress.” She hopes to see greater funding from the govern-ment, who she believes has thus far neglected La Ceiba. “We are also working with a Dutch NgO that aims to incorporate rural and micro communities into the tourist itinerary.”
And so far the prognosis is good. “Last year we had approximately 120,000 visitors in La Ceiba in Semana Santa. We expect this to increase by 10%.” Sebt is evidently proud of the statistics. “La Ceiba is fertile investment ground. We have no doubt that it will continue to grow in popularity in the future.”
La Ceiba in preparation for Semana Santa
been accused of helping Cuban natives enter Honduras illegally. The discovery came after inves-tigations into accusations made by local NgO’s revealed that last year the municipality invested L. 75,000 transporting and feeding Cubans between Punta gorda in guatemala and Roatan. Politicians in La Mosquitia have also been implicated. According to the Mayor of Roatan, however, he has simply been providing the refugees with basic humanitarian assistance.
“The people who work the illegal trafficking business are often also dealing with the trafficking of minors for prostitution,” said Espinal, “and use the same routes as those trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean. There is an existing relationship between these areas.” In addition “we can confirm that
there are relations between ‘people smuggling’ networks in Honduras and those in surrounding coun-tries.”
There are, says Espinal, various possible solutions. For starters there needs to be an international agreement signed between the affected governments on how to approach the problem. “The policy of the Honduran government is not to send them back to Cuba, but to look for a third country where they can go.”
“In no way have Honduran rela-tions with Cuba been damaged,” said Espinal. “Illegal trafficking is a crime in Cuba, Honduras and the U.S, and there are interna-tional agreements like the Palermo agreement that oblige the states to respect the immigrant and to fight against the crime of traf-
ficking people for immigration and minors for prostitution. We have been analyzing as a group, all of the countries that have been affected by this crime, how to approach the problem.”
Many people travel via Honduras on the search for the American dream. Last year, in addition to the 500 documented Cubans, there were many people in particular from Ecuador, Peru and Asia via Jamaica.
Last year an average of 270 people a day are thought to have left Honduras in search of the American dream, and over 80,000 Hondurans were deported back. The remittances sent from Hondurans working in the U.S currently play a crucial role in balancing the Honduran economy at over $2 billion last year.
CUBANS: International agreement could solve migration problemcon’t from page 3
Courtesy of the Institute of Tourism The church and the municipal building in down-town La Ceiba.
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW8
T O U R I S M
Natural, archeological and culinary treats at Lake YojoaAlex JonesHonduras This Week
Lake Yojoa’s name derives from the Word Yoco-ha in the Lenca language, meaning “accumulated water on earth.” Its origin is volcanic, as proven by the sedi-ment and volcanic ash that are found in this region. It is the only natural sweet water lake that exists in Honduras, located between Comayagua, Cortes and Santa Barbara.
Taking the road from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula will bring you comfortably alongside a long line of fish restaurants. This is your welcome to Lake Yojoa. The thing about these fish is that they are amazing. You eat them fried and with lime, tajaditas, pink cabbage salad and perhaps a chilled cerveza (provided you are the lucky one not driving). After making the entirely arbitrary decision of which restaurant to frequent in this economically bizarre line of eateries, you can drive on, well fed and entirely satisfied with the view. By this stage you will, without a doubt, be aware that you are embarking on a trip of supreme environmental eye candy.
The lake is a hub of life: from plants to fish to mammals to birds to insects. Lake Yojoa has a high biodi-versity including 379 bird species, both migratory and native. In the
past, bird watchers have spotted, in the space of only a few hours, 37 species in one tree. Fish species include Black Bass, Black Lobina and Tilapia, and also the native species guapote and Dormilon. There are 21 endemic species of flora and fauna. Animal species include the otter, pich-iches, ducks, raccoons, guatuza, lazies.
Lake Yajoa is surrounded by Cerro Azul Meáambar and Mountain of Santa Barbara, which provide 100% of the lake’s water. The Cerro Azul Meambar National Park sits to the east of the lake, with 478 square kilometers of protected wildlife, constituting a band between 415 and 2,080 meters above sea level. In the National Park of Santa Barbara you find the second highest peak of the country, the Cerro Maroncho with a height of 2,744 meters over the sea level. The area boasts sections of humid tropical forest, pine forest and cloud forest - you can imagine the amazing variety of animals that have accordingly set up camp here.
As well as being a stunner for those who enjoy living things, it is also a must for those historians and
archeologists amongst us who like their entertainment to be long dead. Los Naranjos, certainly inhabited by the Lencas, may previously have been home to various Maya commu-nities, we don’t really know. It has
mounds very similar to those that can be found in Copan, only smaller and not yet excavated. There is a small museum and a forest trail that takes you on an exploration around the area. Mosquito repellent is an
absolute must here, though that shouldn’t put you off…it is not often you get to walk around places with such amazing insect life and, aside from the well defined and wide path, only occasional huddles of human
influence - of which some sort of Lenca mound is one.
Many artifacts such as jewelry and dolls were discovered in the area when a hydroelectric canal was built in 1960. Studies then began in the
late 70’s and 80’s by two American archeologists who agreed that it was populated during the pre-classic, classic, and post-classic periods. The early structures are influenced by the Olmeca culture, one of the principal meso-american cultures. After this the Lencas came to the area. The area was inhabited from around 800 BC. However, the town reached its peak between 400 BC and 550 AD. The main structures are from that period: late pre-classic to early classic. Then during the post-classic period, 950-1250 AD, the site began to decline.
When I was visiting I spoke to a man living in the area, who expressed a near certainty that there are many unexplored ruins around the lake. So maybe there is a chance this Semana Santa for one of us to become the next Catherwood or Stevens and discover another Copan?
Pullapanzak works out as the local beach. It is a series of natural pools around an impressive water-fall. People swim in the pools and if you are careful it is perfectly safe. However disregard can be very dangerous here, as in some
areas the currents are strong. The park is popular among local tourists, particularly from San Pedro Sula, and there is also an eatery.
The caves of Taulabé can also be
visited when staying around the lake. These are incredibly underrated, rarely visited by Honduran tourists and practically never visited by folk from around the world. However, the heavy humidity and heat within their depths all add to a simply surreal experience. There are some
very noteworthy formations, ranging from six foot angels wings to dubious maps of Honduras. But perhaps what was most memorable to me about this place was the first class pulperia just outside, serving quesadillas to rank alongside any quality restau-rant.
Alex Jones/Honduras This WeekIf accompanied by a guide, visitors can reach the cave behind the Pullapanzak waterfall.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW 9
T O U R I S M
Natural, archeological and culinary treats at Lake YojoaAlex JonesHonduras This Week
Lake Yojoa’s name derives from the Word Yoco-ha in the Lenca language, meaning “accumulated water on earth.” Its origin is volcanic, as proven by the sedi-ment and volcanic ash that are found in this region. It is the only natural sweet water lake that exists in Honduras, located between Comayagua, Cortes and Santa Barbara.
Taking the road from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula will bring you comfortably alongside a long line of fish restaurants. This is your welcome to Lake Yojoa. The thing about these fish is that they are amazing. You eat them fried and with lime, tajaditas, pink cabbage salad and perhaps a chilled cerveza (provided you are the lucky one not driving). After making the entirely arbitrary decision of which restaurant to frequent in this economically bizarre line of eateries, you can drive on, well fed and entirely satisfied with the view. By this stage you will, without a doubt, be aware that you are embarking on a trip of supreme environmental eye candy.
The lake is a hub of life: from plants to fish to mammals to birds to insects. Lake Yojoa has a high biodi-versity including 379 bird species, both migratory and native. In the
past, bird watchers have spotted, in the space of only a few hours, 37 species in one tree. Fish species include Black Bass, Black Lobina and Tilapia, and also the native species guapote and Dormilon. There are 21 endemic species of flora and fauna. Animal species include the otter, pich-iches, ducks, raccoons, guatuza, lazies.
Lake Yajoa is surrounded by Cerro Azul Meáambar and Mountain of Santa Barbara, which provide 100% of the lake’s water. The Cerro Azul Meambar National Park sits to the east of the lake, with 478 square kilometers of protected wildlife, constituting a band between 415 and 2,080 meters above sea level. In the National Park of Santa Barbara you find the second highest peak of the country, the Cerro Maroncho with a height of 2,744 meters over the sea level. The area boasts sections of humid tropical forest, pine forest and cloud forest - you can imagine the amazing variety of animals that have accordingly set up camp here.
As well as being a stunner for those who enjoy living things, it is also a must for those historians and
archeologists amongst us who like their entertainment to be long dead. Los Naranjos, certainly inhabited by the Lencas, may previously have been home to various Maya commu-nities, we don’t really know. It has
mounds very similar to those that can be found in Copan, only smaller and not yet excavated. There is a small museum and a forest trail that takes you on an exploration around the area. Mosquito repellent is an
absolute must here, though that shouldn’t put you off…it is not often you get to walk around places with such amazing insect life and, aside from the well defined and wide path, only occasional huddles of human
influence - of which some sort of Lenca mound is one.
Many artifacts such as jewelry and dolls were discovered in the area when a hydroelectric canal was built in 1960. Studies then began in the
late 70’s and 80’s by two American archeologists who agreed that it was populated during the pre-classic, classic, and post-classic periods. The early structures are influenced by the Olmeca culture, one of the principal meso-american cultures. After this the Lencas came to the area. The area was inhabited from around 800 BC. However, the town reached its peak between 400 BC and 550 AD. The main structures are from that period: late pre-classic to early classic. Then during the post-classic period, 950-1250 AD, the site began to decline.
When I was visiting I spoke to a man living in the area, who expressed a near certainty that there are many unexplored ruins around the lake. So maybe there is a chance this Semana Santa for one of us to become the next Catherwood or Stevens and discover another Copan?
Pullapanzak works out as the local beach. It is a series of natural pools around an impressive water-fall. People swim in the pools and if you are careful it is perfectly safe. However disregard can be very dangerous here, as in some
areas the currents are strong. The park is popular among local tourists, particularly from San Pedro Sula, and there is also an eatery.
The caves of Taulabé can also be
visited when staying around the lake. These are incredibly underrated, rarely visited by Honduran tourists and practically never visited by folk from around the world. However, the heavy humidity and heat within their depths all add to a simply surreal experience. There are some
very noteworthy formations, ranging from six foot angels wings to dubious maps of Honduras. But perhaps what was most memorable to me about this place was the first class pulperia just outside, serving quesadillas to rank alongside any quality restau-rant.
Ernesto Lopez/Honduras This WeekJohn Chater at El Cortijo del Lago taken his guests on a tour around the lake.
Alex Jones/Honduras This WeekMound in eco-archeological park Los Naranjos.
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW10
T O U R I S M
Louise WallaceHonduras This Week
Situated 30 kilometers from Tegucigalpa, the region of Yeguare has been, until recently, a tourist wasteland. While local towns Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles absorbed day trippers from the country’s capital, foreigners have
by passed the region, skipping to such tourist power houses as Copan and the Bay Islands. It is not that the area is not attractive. On the contrary, a geographic diversity that includes fresh, green moun-tains and dry, golden planes give the region a natural magnificence that should surely appeal to visi-tors. So too does the region have
an interesting and distinct set of traditions that stretch back to the country’s colonization. However, its people suffer from poverty levels that are among the highest in the country. This has brought the accompanying ills of poor educa-tion, lack of aspiration and under development. Quite simply, the region has lacked the educational and financial resources to build a sustainable tourism industry.
This is a problem that interna-tional agricultural school Zamorano has recognized. Thus Zamorano has pledged to turn the situation around. While poverty was respon-sible for the underdevelopment of tourism in the area, it will be the development of tourism that will help bring the area out of poverty. The plan is simple - to work with local families and businesses, from rose sellers and owners of the local “comedor” to the owners of the coffee plantations and the farmers. “Our objective is both to show these people what they can offer in terms of tourism and how to go about it and to show the people of Tegucigalpa and beyond the quali-ties that the region has to offer” José Antenor Romero, represen-tative of Zamorano agricultural school stated.
The town of Yuscarán in Yeguare is one such “pueblo” that has already benefited from Zamorano’s attention. Journalists are greeted on arrival by a colorful procession of dancing ghouls and enormous paper mache statues that demonstrate the level of creativity and enthusiasm the town’s inhabit-ants have invested in the project. There is a town square where fami-lies relax in the Yuscarán’s fresh, warm climate; a pretty colonial church and also a museum that offers charming colonial relics.
Excellent Honduran food is served in “Comedor Lita,” utilizing the age old culinary skills that the
community has thus transformed into a ladder out of poverty. Children accompany tourists, proud to show what their town has to offer. They smile with heady excitement at their town’s growing prospects, yet still innocent to the fact that the tourism industry will secure them and their own
children a future - a poignant fact considering the regions 40.9 per cent young population. Clearly the whole community is involved. “It is important that everyone is involved. If there is only one shop or one museum worth seeing, tourists will not come” Romero continued.
Yuscarán and Yeguare use tourism to build future
Louise Wallace/Honduras This Week The town’s attractions make for sustainable tourism.
Louise Wallace/Honduras This Week Paper mache figures represent Yuscaran’s vibrant culture.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW 11
B U S I N E S S
Financial corporation Aval, belonging to Citigroup, recently launched its Elite Club Aval at the haute couture fashion show Aval Elite Verano 2007. The Elite Club Aval is described as a pass-port that gives those with an Aval Platinum or gold Card the oppor-tunity to attend the country’s best shows, cultural happenings, sports events as well as scientific confer-ences in the areas of medicine, engineering, and architecture.
“The Elite Club Aval has reserved the best seats of the best shows in Honduras, and all you have to do to enjoy it is to stay
with us,” said Fernando Fortin, the Director of Commercialization of Aval.
At the event, models from several Latin America countries presented the 2007 summer collec-tion of celebrated Honduran designer Miguel Chong matched with jewelry designed by the renowned Salvadorian Juan Carlos Tobar.
At the end of the evening, Aval also launched its Club Jaguar in which those who spend a certain amount of money participate in a draw to win a Jaguar XK 2007, worth US$134,000.
Aval launches Elite Club for loyal clients
Courtesy of Aval Fernando Fortin, Director of Commercialization, and Regino Cordova, the host of the show.
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW12
A MUCH MORE POSITIVE START
We begin this week’s edition with a great food review. In West Bay, a new restaurant has risen and it calls itself Buffalo. They call it a Western atmosphere and it is the closest thing we have found to being just that. good country music featuring all of the islands favorite songs including “Where My gonna go when I get Home” and the ever popular “Blind Love”, the theme song from guanaja, played at just the right volume to allow dinner conversation. The menu is simple but effective, if you came for excellent beef you came to the right place. Rib eye, T-bone and New York grilled on an open fire to your specification. generous salads, baked potato, rice and vegetables and your choice of four sauces for the meat.
Spotless kitchen integrated into the main dining area and super helpful staff that includes a dancing chef. Expect to pay about L 1,400.00 for two including tax and tip if you have a couple of drinks each. Pricey but a really good dining experience.
SPEAKING OF TIP INCLUDED
Very few American visitors ever get used to the tip being mandatory here in Honduras. They all seem to agree the tip and the amount of the tip should always be left up to the customer. They are willing to pay well for courteous, fast and friendly service but resent being told how much and that they must pay even if the service is poor.
What is worse, HTW has factual proof that many prominent establish-ments do not, repeat, do not forward those mandatory tips to the staff. Could this be why the “I don’t really care” attitude is found throughout the country? The incentive is gone gone gone as to being rewarded for provide a lasting experience for the client.
COLD CASE
The police department reports no progress on the solving of the Murder of Mr. Nicoli. Zero response to our request for information leading to the finding of the perpetrator whose computer generated composite picture we ran two editions ago. Should you have any informa-tion what so ever, please notify the Roatan D.g.I.C. squad at police head-quarters.
WEATHER REPORT
Boring, boring with a combination of sunshine, sprinkles, more sunshine, cloud bursts, almost balmy mornings and cool tropical breezes. Eat your hearts out East Coast of America.
RECO REPORT
X$*DD@S#%&¥
AND YOU MAY QUOTE US
T O U R I S M
The New Clinica Esperanza – The People’s Clinic
Dr. Patrick, a major contributor to the well being of island families these last few years came on the show a few days before the official grand opening of Clinica Esperanza on Saturday, March 10th. The new clinic is located just east of Anthony’s Key Resort in Sandy Bay.
Roatan Bruce: Tell me a little about you and the role you have played with Nurse Peggy.
Dr. Patrick: I have been an emergency medicine in Phoenix, Arizona for thirty years. I have been semi-retired for the last two years. Semi-retired to me means doing the kind of work I want to do rather than the work I had to do. I still work at emergency services at a teaching hospital in Phoenix in a major trauma center doing primarily pediatric emergency
medicine. I thought I was going to relax
a bit when I first came here two years ago, but I have found plenty to do. It has been very exciting and I have made a lot of friends. I think we have been able to do some good things in the community.
Roatan Bruce: So many people have come to relay on you, Dr, Raymond and Nurse Peggy these past years at the different loca-tions. Tens of thousands of people have come for medical aid. My good friends Dave Wilbur is quite a hero on the island. He basically built the clinic and Shelly Katz from Toronto donated the windows to help complete the clinic. Tell me about what we would see if we were walking through the building?
Dr. Patrick: What we have is a 4500 sq ft., two story building. The first floor is mostly complete. We are already seeing patients there for the last few weeks. Chuck Laird and his family were most generous in donating space to us in the Sonrise Hotel just down the street from the clinic these last two years. We now have three or four times as much space as we had.
Roatan Bruce: Tell us the history behind Nurse Peggy and the clinic of past years before the Sonrise?
Dr. Patrick: Miss Peggy is an American nurse who semi-retired here five years ago. She had previ-ously been doing service to the people of Honduras for the last twenty years. When people from the island realized that they had a nurse living in their midst, they started appearing at her back door. She soon found herself running a clinic out of her kitchen.
She never turned anyone away nor did she seek compensation for herself. She got some people to donate medication she was giving out. After a period of time, she moved the clinic downstairs to the apartment beneath her home and ran it out of there for a few years. It was then that the Sonrise offered her the use of their building. They have been seeing around 600 or more patience per month there ever since.
Roatan Bruce: We now have a state of the art clinic right here in Sandy Bay.
Dr. Patrick: Yes, Peggy has been out seeking help from a diverse group of people with varied backgrounds who have contributed to this effort. We have 3500 fami-lies on our list of patients that are registered with the clinic. What I have been the most impressed with is the quality and dedication of the Honduran doctors. They are well trained and concerned about their patients. What they lack is resources. They need tools and medications to take care of people. We need to find them the tools for them to use.
Many people from all facets of life have contributed time, money, ideas and support in multiple ways. It is truly a clinic of the people. It is a Honduran adventure. I am simply an advisor. Dr. Raymond, the Medical Director, is a native of Roatan and Miss Peggy has been the focal point of this project. It could not have been done without all the many people who were such an important part of this incredible project.
Bruce Starr is the host of The Roatan Bruce Show now heard on 106.5 FM weekdays from 10 am to 1 pm across the Bay Islands and Northern Honduras. Please visit his website at roatanbruce.com or contact him at [email protected] with your comments and suggestions.
Bruce Starr/Honduras This Week Nurse Peggy in the middle, surrounded by Dr.Raymond, Dr Patrick and others.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW 13
Industrial estate under con-struction in Choluteca
The first bricks were laid on Wednesday of ZIP Choluteca by the business man Juan Chanahuati, an industrial estate that will bring the textiles industry to the south. However, Orlis Solís, president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the South (CCIS) has urged the government to accelerate the production of an airport, a port in Amapala and a dry canal to connect the South with Puerto Cortes, Honduras’ primary export region. The project, which will comprise between 10 and 12 warehouses, has involved an alleged 100 million US dollars of investment and will generate between 3,000 and 4,000 jobs in a year. El Heraldo
Repavement of Toncontín will cost between 2 and 3 million dollars
It has been estimated that the repavement of the 1,800 meters of runway at Tegucigalpa’s Toncontín airport will cost an estimated two to three million US dollars. These were the figures presented by César Cáceres, Superintendent of Licenses and Concessions. The complete repavement of the runway was one of the recommendations given by the International Organization of Civilian Aviation (OACI), fol-lowing a review of Honduras’ four international airports. El Heraldo
Power company Comerical Laeisz wins Roatan electric-ity bid
It has been determined that the power com-pany Comercial Laeisz has won the public bid in order to provide the Honduran island of Roatan with electricity. According to Mario Zelaya, technical advisor to the National Energy and
Electricity Company (ENEE), Comercial Laeisz put forward the best recommendations to pro-vide the quantity of electricity needed at a low price. El Heraldo
Holiday Inn Express to be built in San Pedro Sula
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) will build a 104-room Holiday Inn Express in San Pedro Sula. This hotel will be the first Holiday Inn Express in Honduras and the fourth IHG property in the country. The 11-story hotel is scheduled to open September 2008.
Currently, there are three IHG properties in Honduras including the Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula, the Real InterContinental Tegucigalpa and the Holiday Inn San Pedro Sula.
“The decision to bring the Holiday Inn Express brand to the country of Honduras reflects the development of tourism in the region,” said Alvaro Diago, area president, IHG Latin America. “We have assessed the travel market in the region and feel that we are ahead of the trend and that it is timely to bring this mid-scale brand to the country. Businesswire
European bank Procrédito to receive authorization in Honduras
The German and Dutch bank Procrédito will be authorized to begin operations in Honduras by the National Commission of Banks and Insurance in the next few days. The bank, which is primarily dedicated to micro credit, will bring a capital of 227 million lempiras to the country. Procrédito applied for authoriza-tion in November 2006 and its authorization will thus be the culmination of a long legal process. La Tribuna
BUSINESSWEEK IN REVIEW
B U S I N E S S / T O U R I S M
Anna SmithHonduras This Week
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, promises to be full of vibrant cultural and religious events in Copan Ruinas this year.
Copan Ruinas is a welcome alternative to chaotic Antigua for Holy Week, with the entire street in front of the cathedral in the centre square covered in alfom-bras, painstakingly created in a myriad of colors with cultural and religious scenes. This traditional art form will be displayed begin-ning Friday afternoon of Semana Santa in the centre of Copan, prom-ising all of the beauty of the alfom-bras in Antigua, but with the more intimate community spirit that is characteristic of Copan Ruinas.
Copan Ruinas is a favorite vacation spot for tourists, as the town is small enough to allow for real community interaction, but offers world class hotels and restaurants. One can spend days wandering the cobblestone streets and visiting shops and various attractions, feeling at home at once with the friendly atmosphere and townsfolk. The Mayan ruins are of course the main draw to Copan Ruinas, however there are a host of other attractions to keep visitors engaged for days in Copan, espe-cially during Semana Santa.
The Maya Chorti village of La Pintada will be offering cultural tours of their village during Semana Santa, showcasing the best of their traditional crafts and cuisine.
While most tourists visit the Mayan ruins in Copan to witness the ancient Mayan world, many are unaware that dozens of Maya Chorti villages dot the mountains around Copan Ruinas. Plagued with chronic unemployment, malnutrition, health problems and lack of access to education, these villages have suffered the ills of poverty for generations, reaping few of the financial benefits of tourism to Copan.
The village of La Pintada serves as an example of what a village can accomplish with community co-operation and some outside funding. This village has created a sustainable tourism project that offers a tour of two women’s craft co-operatives in their village, one with Tuza, or corn-husk dolls, and the other of a weaving workshop, with samples from each for visi-tors to purchase. Visitors can also participate in a craft class, led by one of the Maya Chorti women, to make a doll or a weaving sample.
The tours are led by young people from the village who have been trained to guide tourists, and is the only tour in Copan where 100% of the proceeds return to the Mayan community, some of the proceeds going towards an educa-tion fund for Jr. and Sr. high youth in the village.
The basic tour is comprised of information relayed in Spanish or English regarding the history of the village and a tour of the craft co-operatives and the wonderful restaurant. The beauti-fully-designed restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Copan Valley, and a variety of typical Honduran and Mayan dishes. The kitchen is run by Michaela, a resident of La Pintada and former chef at Hacienda San Lucas, one of Copan’s most renowned hotel
destinations.There are additional aspects
of the tour that can be requested, including a tour of Los Sapos, the mystical Mayan sculptures in the hills near La Pintada, and a visit to the 20 or more waterfalls that descend the hills one after the other, following a picturesque hike through the hills from la Pintada.
This one-of –a –kind cultural experience can only be arranged by visiting or contacting Libélula, a new fair-trade store in Copan Ruinas designed to showcase the best of Maya Chorti artisans in the Copan area. The store was started to give Mayan craft projects a place to sell their art at a fair price as well as to provide information and arrange tours to their villages. A variety of other local Copan artists also sell their items at Libélula, located two blocks west of the Central Square, across from Via Via. Libélula can be contacted by email at [email protected] or at (504)-9958-4898.
A variety of other events will be offered in the town square for Semana Santa, with a number of religious parades leading to the cathedral throughout the week. On Wednesday, April 4th from 5 to 7 pm, a marimba band will be playing in the Central Square, and on Thursday at 4 pm Oscar Polio, a renowned Copan musician, will be playing traditional flute music at the same location. He will be playing for an art exhibition offered by Sacbe Art School in Copan. At 7pm on Thursday, Arte Acción will present a film for the community in the central Square, and will also host an art exhibit by local children at 10 am on Saturday in the Central Square.
At 4pm on Saturday another marimba band will play at the same location, and at 6pm a folklore group will present a showcase of traditional Honduran dancing.
Copan Ruinas clearly promises a rich cultural experience for all who take the opportunity to visit this charming colonial town during Semana Santa.
Rich cultural experiences for Semana Santa in Copan Ruinas
Anna Smith Two boys in the village La Pintada in which the proceeds from the tours go to the Mayan community.
Anna Smith Maya Chorti girls from La Pintada selling their Tuza dolls.
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW
CASA DEL VIAJEROLOMAS DEL GUIJARRO AND LA HACIENDARooms with A/C, TV, Internet Wi-Fi, Laundry, Breakfast, Free Shuttle and Parking.Daily, weekly and monthly rates available.Tel. 263-0418 / Cel. 99902-2706
Copan ApartmentsTegucigalpa
The Best Completely furnished apts. in Tegucigalpa. Full service: daily maid, swimming pool, laundry/ironing, hot water, telephone(direct, private lines) T.V. cable, microwave, A.C.,V.C.R.(video), fax, barbecue area, garden, individual garages, security. 1,2,3 bedroom /2 bathrooms, studio room (optional), free internet, a country house for week-ends at Zamorano Valley(4 manzanas of land), fruit trees, walking roads, 45 minutes from Tegucigalpa Col. Palmira, Las Acacias St. 2 blocks west from the former United Nations Bldg. Tegucigalpa MDC Tel (504) 238-1751, FAX:(504) 238-3752
Apartment For RentFor an executive located in Col. Florencia del Norte, private security, garage. Hot water, telephone line, furnished or unfur-nished. Electricity, water and private security included in price. Price $350.00/month.
Office For RentLocated in Florencia del Norte, private security, area: 50 mts. 2, bathroom, tele-phone line, parking space, Price $350.00
If you are interested please contact:Mr. Ochoa Phones: (504) 3358-5432,
232-4594, or e-mail: [email protected]
Guest Rooms & Apartments
For both short and extended stays at affordable prices. All of our rooms incluide air conditioning, wireless internet, cable television, direct dial-telephones, daily maid service. Large family room and full service kitchen 24-7 security. Please see our website to fully appreciate our establishment at www.humuyainn.com American owned and managed. Information
(504) 239-8962, 235-7276, 239-2206, 235-7275 Fax: 239-5099 or
San Pedro Sula For RentTwo bedrooms , clean, secure, convenient location. Lps. 3,500. Contact: 984-3217 or send mail to : Chieko Cano, P.O.Box 5, Siguatepeque, Honduras.
Beautiful House for Sale in the Best Town of TegucigalpaLocated in Col. Lomas del Guijarro, excellent location. Six bedrooms, studio, living room dining room, big kitchen, terrace, garage for four cars, one apartment with living room, kitchen, dining room, ceramic floors in the entire house, it has everything you want!!! Perfect for a bed and breakfast or any business. If you are interested contact me to:
[email protected] or andrea_gutierrez@hotmail.
com. Phone(504) 232-2300.
For SaleCopan Ruinas, Property for Sale, apprx 2 acres, one of few large properties available within village boundaries, view of village and valley, mature trees, water, elect, tele-phone access, street access, located on road to Macaw Mtn Tropical Bird Park, 5 minutes to center of village,
[email protected] [email protected]
EXTRAORDINARY Land acquisition opportunity on the leeward side of the highly desirable eastern end of Roatan. ±70 acres of exceptional white sand beach and roll-ing hills with protected harbour. ±400 meters of waterfront. Idea for mixed-use resort, marina, condo-hotel and residential development. Principals only.
For more information please contact:
Daniel “DOC” O´[email protected]
U.S. Toll Free 1.888.417.2660In Honduras 504.236.9200 office 504.9946.5220 cell
House for Rent, Sale or Exchange
Located in Comayaguelas´s best commercial area, ideal for business. Location novena calle entre 3 y 4 ave. Across from ¨Japon Internacional¨ (Mitch Proof Location).
Six rooms, plus a seventh room in a mezzanine. 1 ½ bathrooms, warehouse, water tank, steel entrance door, steel bar protected windows, e/w sound isolation(glass reduces external noise). Two telephone lines, roofed patio, safe ceiling bars, ceramic floors, and a 30 ft. tower for communication. The house has the following measurements: 151.94 mts.2, 217.93 vrs2.
Sale Price:2 million, (0r exchange for a house located in Col. Los Robles,
Roble Alto, Las Hadas etc.) Monthly rent: L.7,500. If you are interested Call
Phone: (504) 234-5018, or e-mail: [email protected].
For SaleTired of warm weather? Beautiful prop-erty for sale. 3 bedrm, livingrm/kitchen house in 1000 square feet. It has a creek and approximately 300 trees. 2 ½ Km from a nationally declared historic town of Ojojona. 34 Km from the capital, Tegucigalpa. [email protected], Central
America (504) 3380 1069 & 767 0810.
Terrain Located in El Hatillo 2.3 Km. ahead of Pinares School, 5,000 V2, completely square and plain. Beautiful view of Tegucigalpa. US $12.00 V2, If you are interested please call us at:
Tel: (504) 3364-7047 or e-mail: [email protected]
R E N T A L SCentral AmericaSPANISH SCHOOL
A SCHOOL WITH UNIQUE TEACHING TECHNIQUES!
OUR PROGRAMS:* Intensive Spanish Language program in:
* La Ceiba * Utila Bay Island * Roatan Bay Island
* Eco-Spanish, Biological and Scientific Program
* In Cayos Cochinos marine protected area.
* Ecological Intensive Spanish Language Program
* In the National Park Pico Bonito.* Mayan and Beach Intensive Language Program
* Available in La Ceiba, Utila and Copan Ruinas.
* Transfer Credits available from US Universities. Call: 440-1707E-mail: [email protected]
www.ca-spanish.com
S E R V I C E S
Wash & WetChat while you do your laundryOpen from Monday through Friday , from 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturdays trough Sunday, from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., We are located in Col. Palmira 1era calle, Ave. Panama.
Phone:265-2037. Come and visit us!!
Alcoholics Anonymous RoatanFor meeting schedules and times,
call 445-1334, 9967-0934, 9991-3215.
General Contractor AvailableFlorida Certified General Contractor recently relocated to Tegucigalpa. Over thirty years of experience in commer-cial, institutional, industrial (heavy), underground, marine and high end residential construction. Expertise in administrative and field management. Also available to oversee and inspect the construction of your new office or home.
Call Mike at 504-230-7207, or e-mail: [email protected]
Searching for the best profiles? Searching
for the best job?
Don´t search for more, just visit: SM COMPANY, Honduras and Latin America,www.smcompany.net, www.honduem-pleos.com, [email protected]
We guarantee the best.Ph. (504)221-0874, 553-3386
Bellas Properties• Lake Yojoa, 100 acres, canal with access to the Lake, plane. Price$8,000 per acre.• Property near the Lake and Peñas Blancas, 123 acres to grow coffee, cacao and others. Price: $1,600 per acre.• I front of Lake Yojoa, spectacular view, 940 mts2. Price $250,000/350 mts. $8,000.• TELA 175 acres , with 6500 feet of Caribbean beach front. Price: $17,000 per acre.• ZAMBRANO, terrains from 1,500 mts2, natural environment, private, stoned, water, electricity, 30 minutes from the city. $7.00 per mt2.• CHOLOMA near San Pedro Sula and Puerto Cortes, beautiful property, water, perfect for Agro projects. 350 acres. Price $8,500 per acre.
GUANAJA, 190 acres, beach front.More information and photos
Phone: (504) 9990-7183E-mail: [email protected]
F O R S A L E
For SaleSiguatepeque, Spring like all year, two places on 2+ acres each, both with a large house and small house for employee, fruit trees. water, electric, all weather road just off major hwy. short distances from town. $65,000 each If interested contact:
For Rent
Main Street, Colonia Palmira, #2036 ½ block from United Nations Building and La Salsa Restaurant :
• Perfect for Office with more than 10 Units
• Meeting/Board Room • Air Conditioning
• Electric Generator • Available Computer Network
• 3 Phone Lines • Water Cistern • Lush Gardens
• Social/Break room Areas • 4 Car Garage
• 3 ½ Restrooms
Information: Tel. 232-6263,
Sr. Enrique Moncada
Apartment For RentGood Location in Col. La Reforma, close to the US Embassy. Apartment has two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room, din-ing room, kitchen, storage room, service bedroom (bathroom included), interior patio, telephone line Price: $375.00 If you are interested please contact:
[email protected] call Tel: (504) 236-5526 at night.
14
O T H E R S
Help Wanted Experience license real estate agent, call dreams of paradise real estate and devel-opment. You can contact us at: (504) 445-4331
or (504) 445-4332or e-mail: [email protected], ask for
Jeff Kukene.American man learning to speak Spanish is seeking Spanish*speaking Hondureñas to correspond with by mail. I’m 45; I’m an artist, musician and lover of mountains and trees. Please send me a letter and I will write back soon. Jeff Hacking W.S.R. No. 9971742, P.O.Box 777, Monroe, WA 98272 USA________________________
Hombre Americano aprendiendo a hablar español, en busca de Hondureñas para intercambiar correspondencia. Tengo 45 años de edad, soy un artista, músico y me encantan as montañas y árboles. Por favor envíame una carta y les escribiré rápidamente. Mi dirección es: Jeff Hacking W.S.R. No. 9971742, P.O.Box 777, Monroe WA, 98272 USA.
Executive EscortIn San Pedro Sula, Cortes, with beautiful girls, seven days a week and every hour, only in Hotels. Contact: Cel: 9984-8492 or email: [email protected]
In Search of Bilingual Teachers
Teachers needed for Math, Science and English courses, for elementary and high school. School is located in a small town, 3 hours from Tegucigalpa, Good Salary.
Teachers interested please contact us to: [email protected] or call:
(504) 9883-1932.
Bar and Restaurant for SaleFor sale by not being able to care of. Restaurant now open for public, well loca-tion near the Valle de Angeles Park. If you are interested please contact us!!
Tel: (504)766-2124 and out of the area(718) 4922338. Price: $10,500.
For Rent2 bedroom apartment (semi-furnished) located at Fort Saphery Hotel and Restaurant in West End-Roatan. Complex is located on the beach and is available on April 15, 2007 for occupancy. Price: $650.00 per month (water and light included) Call Olin at Phones: (504) 445-4213, 445-
0256, for additional information.
Saturday, March 31, 2007HONDURAS THIS WEEKYOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW 15
Saturday, March 31 , 2007 HONDURAS THIS WEEK YOUR CENTRAL AMERICAN WEEKLY REVIEW16
T O U R I S M
Alvaro Morales MolinaHonduras This Week
Almost half of the city’s popu-lation leave Tegucigalpa during Easter week, and the other half spend the days in a mixture of worship and relaxation. After Wednesday, most of the streets in Tegucigalpa will be deserted, as if a Sunday had been put on replay, right up until the end of the week, when all of the sunburned and bankrupted tourists come back to reality.
During this holiday, the public transportation system stops and the normally noisy and contami-nated streets of the city become a quiet and peaceful place. One can literally lie down in the middle of the pavement and have a nap without the risk of being run over by a taxi cab.
Tegucigalpans have two reasons not to travel during this holiday. Firstly, not having money to travel, and secondly, having a strong Christian belief. They instead go downtown and become part of the processions that emulate the cruci-fixion of Jesus Christ.
The abundance of free time and hot weather mean that people look for places to refresh. Here are some suggestions of what one can do.
The cheapest and simplest option is to take this opportunity and assist the variety of events prepared by the Caballeros del Santo Entierro, a catholic organi-zation of men who, during Easter, dramatize Jesus Christ’s Passion night after night. Alternatively you could admire the artistic colored carpets of sawdust that the different parishes of the city design. They are visible in all their splendor for just a few hours before the processions pass over and destroy them.
The main hotels in the city offer one day packages that include pool and food for a reasonable price - some also include live tropical
music. People can arrive at the hotel pools from 9.00am and stay until 5.00pm. good buffet food is offered in the packages and most of them have professional lifesavers on duty.
For those with a vehicle at their disposal, Tegucigalpa also offers many nearby destinations to spend the day.
For example, on the Road to Valle de Angeles you can find:
Santa Lucia is a little town located 11 kilometers to the east of the city. After a short ride along a curvy road you arrive in a small village with cobble stone streets, surrounded by green forests of pine. Here you can relax by the lagoon and enjoy some fine restaurants. However the main attraction is the old church of the Black Christ, one of only four in the Americas. Inside is the image of Santa Lucia with her eyes on a plate. The story tells that a woman offered her eyes as a Christian sacrifice. In response she was made into the saint of the blind. In front
of the church there is an impres-sive and unique view of almost all of Tegucigalpa. Public transporta-tion to Santa Lucia can be found in front of the San Felipe Hospital in Tegucigalpa for a reasonable price.
Valle de Angeles is 21 kilome-ters east of Tegucigalpa. Many locals are specialized in handicraft, and there are also several nice restaurants with both typical and international food. In addition there are a selection of bars and art galleries. Surrounded by pine tree woods and located in a former mining region, it is a nice place to spend a day or two with some well maintained and comfortable hotels.
El Mineral de San Juancito and El Rosario can be found 12 kilome-ters along the road past Valle de Angeles. Towards the mountain of La Tigra there is this beautiful little town (San Juancito) with signs of a past gold fever. Today, however, it is just a ghost town with views of oxidized metal roofs, denoting a forgotten history of gold and a later sad presence of indif-ference.
La Tigra is a national park with a wide diversity of wild-life, including the quetzal, and an imposing cloud forest. At the entrance of the park you find a welcoming and spacious hostel that also rents affordable bungalows (if you pretend to be Honduran). From there you can explore several interesting trails, ask at the hostel for more information.
Three kilometers further into the mountain is El Rosario. This is the place where the Rosario Mining Company had its headcounters and coordinated the mineral business of the region. Abandoned buildings and offices complete an interesting image to contemplate.
Cantarranas, or San Juan de Flores is located 41 kilometers from Tegucigalpa on the same road. This town has a notable Spanish influence in its architecture, and also offers the best typical sweets of the whole country. It is famous for its festival of typical foods, held in March every year, where you can try food from all regions of the country. One of the major sugar cane factories, known as Ingenios, is located just outside Cantarranas, and possesses one of the best agricultural lands in the country’s central region.
The road to San Pedro Sula 17 kilometers along the road to
San Pedro Sula, at the refreshing Balneario de San Matias one can, for an affordable price, spend the day swimming in a river with a beautiful water fall, nice natural pools and a little cafeteria.
Bosques de Zambrano is 34 kilo-meters to the north of Tegucigalpa. There is a private park, with two swimming pools (one covered with a roof), sauna, gym, tennis courts and even a mini train for the little ones.
Parque Aurora, close to Bosques de Zambrano, is a nice place to spend a day and have a picnic next to pine trees and a beautiful lagoon
where one can rent boats and later swim in one of the two pools of the park. For an amazingly affordable price you will definitely have lots of fun here with the mini-golf course and small zoo.
Road to Danli and El ParaisoMoantaña de Uyuca is just
outside the city and boasts one of the most admirable views of the Zamorano Valley. Here you find the Uyuca Reserve, one the oldest pine tree forests in central Honduras. It is protected by students of La Escuela Agricola Pan Americana, the most prestigious agricultural school of the Americas.
The school is located in the middle of the small valley of Zamorano and surrounded by huge mountains. Here there are pretty stone buildings with classical archi-tecture. One can also observe all kinds of plantations and different kinds of animal species produced and studied by the students at Zamorano.
guinope. The orange city, as it has been nicknamed by Hondurans, is a small town located one hour to east of Tegucigalpa. With nice weather, owing to its high altitude, a classical Spanish city layout and stretches of stone roads it is a plea-surable day out that takes you back to the colonial era.
The peaceful and quiet town of Yuscaran, next to the great and famous mountain of Monserrat, maintains its Spanish influence. This is particularly visible in the quality of the town’s central build-ings.
Road to the southOjojona, located 22 kilometers
from Tegucigalpa over the Cerro de Hule, has a nice fresh climate and many typical handicraft stores and factories. It also has one of the oldest Spanish capillas (small chapel) of the region, which has recently been restored.
Things to do and places to go around Tegucigalpa this Easter week
Alex Jones/Honduras This Week The afternoon mist setting over a trail in the La Tigra cloud forest.