This was our most complicated connection of the entire trip. Cerro Grande was the meeting point for the San Max group coming from Comayaguela, the NPH El Rancho group coming from LaVenta and our driver, Luis, who would be taking us to San Jeronimo. It was amazing — we all connected shuffled luggage in a fairly timely manner. We left for Comayagua, the heart of Honduras (not to be confused with Comayaguela next to Tegucigalpa).
In Comayagua we met up with Alma Velasquez (aka Alma Full City Roast) and her husband Luis Alonzo for a quick tour of the charming colonial town center. Afterward we had a Pupusa lunch — pupusas are a very typical Honduran food. It's a thick corn tortilla pancake filled with beans, cheese, or meat filling. Very delicioso.
Alma escorted our two vans to San Jeronimo where her sister, Chella and Chella's son Max are Dentists. From the dentist office we picked up our two Mountain Taxis. This was the ride of a lifetime and it was an incredibly scenic drive up the mountain. We were greeted at the Velasquez finca by Abilio and his wife Bertilia. They had a cooler of refreshments and homemade wine made from tropical fruits that grow on their farm. They served the wine in handmade bamboo cups. (Several of which were purchased by Gringos).
Shortly after we arrived we hurried to set up tents before the rain came. Didn't quite make it in time. We were drenched! After we got the tents re-settled, they proved to be a good escape from the uninvited guests mentioned in the next paragraph.
Accommodations — that was also an adventure in living. The ecocasitas (cabins) are made from wood, bamboo and materials found on the land. All of the furniture was made by Abilio. There were a few uninvited guests in some of the cabins — scorpions, a tarantula, very large moths, and an assortment of cucarachas, fire ants, flies, etc.
The food and hospitality was fabulous. We sat at a long table on the front porch of
Abilio & Bertilia's casa. The table and stools were all made from trees by Abilio. The table actually could seat about 30 people. We were served traditional Honduran food. The coffee was exceptionally good. Bertilia did most of the cooking with the help of her neighbor ladies. At breakfast, she asked if the children would like milk and if so, she would go milk the cow. She needed to be at work by 8:00 so we said we'd drink juice. She is the only school teacher for 60 children in grades 1-6. The school is a short distance from their house.
The group went for a three hour hike up the mountain in the morning and in the afternoon toured the coffee farm and the new hydroelectric turbine system that provides electricity for Velasquez compound. Led by Abilio, some of the braver members of our group went under the waterfalls — clothes and all. It was the best shower all week.
This morning we said goodbye, had a beautiful mountain taxi ride, connected with Luis our van driver in San Jeronimo. It was a three hour ride to Valle de Angeles. The Friars from San Max will be joining us for dinner tonight at the hotel. Shortly after we arrived around 2:30 pm, the boys were in the pool and many others ventured off shopping.
###
No comments:
Post a Comment