mariacallas

Didn't know what to expect. Impressions - raw beauty, desperate poverty - 50% unemployment and those who work make about 4 cents/hour. Yep, that's right. People still bitter about Hurricane Mitch- where did all the relief money go - apparently not to those who suffered most - so where then? Basic services- water, sewer, electricity - scarce and pricey.

Copan is just about the nicest/safest place to go except for the islands.

Landscape there is much like one might expect to find in parts of Africa.

Bad alcoholism problem due to severe unemployment and poverty.

Kids are lucky to get even a third grade education unless their parents are rich.

supposedly the most corrupt government in Latin America - seems many are on the take. Even at the expense of the poorest of poor.

Many parts of San Pedro Sula are too dangerous to even drive through. Ditto with Tegucigalpa these days.

Beware of Chaga's disease - look it up - estimated that 40% of Honduran population has it - causes early death from heart disease. Little bugs that bite you on the face at night. get a sleepsack and mesh face hood for sleeping in all but the very fanciest places.

How to keep from getting sick- wipe out glass and wipe off top of drink bottles before drinking - ALWAYS.

eat no lettuce, cabbage, or unpeeled fruit, no ice or water. Chew two pepto tablets before every meal. Eat local foods - not from street vendors- they often mix in untreated water into food.

wash your hands OFTEN.

If you get sick go to a Pharmacia - if you're allergic to anything get it written properly in the local language before you go to give to the pharmacy.

Dude

Doesn't make it sound too appealing. I worked there directly following hurricane Mitch in the Teguchigalpa area. Although crime is a problem and unemployment very high, I met and worked with many locals who were wonderful to me and excited that people would visit to help out. It is an interesting and beautiful place.

Latitude9Lisa

Very informative post maricacallas. Did you travel to the Bay Islands (Roatan etc) and find the same travel precautions ie: Chagas, eating of fruits and veg and non-potable water. We are leaving on Tuesday, many thanks.

Lisa

faithie

What a shame , and imagine these poor people have to live there , cant get away from it like a tourist can . They say it is the poorest after Haiti in this part of the world . I hear the incredibly lush natural beauty is simply amazing , and is this not the original Banana republic ??

mariacallas

The people I met were lovely. The islands are very different. I've been to two and have a good friend whose been to Utila many times. It's very different there. Safer and more tourism income.

How to avoid getting sick applies to all of LAtin America gathered from my travels there and many other world travelers.

You don't want to be sleeping under thatched roofs or in old adobe to avoid Chaga's unless it's been fumigated annually.

It is interesting and beautiful country yes, but difficult to imagine the people's hardship, and their precious resilience. Like Africa, the lush beauty of the country defies the difficulty of living there (for those who were born there). Abject poverty can do that.

One tragic effect - in Copan - home of some of the most beautiful and sweet women in Latin America - so many of the young women - raised to be modest - dress very scantily, hoping to lure a rich American who will take them to America - and to what. They think America is the panacea, when in fact many would be shocked to find equal but different hardship here, especially for a woman with a meager education at best.