7 steps to Honduras Cultural Immersion

There are many ways to enjoy this wonderful diverse country in Central America. Honduras is bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, with the Pacific Ocean to the south and a large inlet of the Caribbean sea by the Gulf of Honduras. There is much to explore in Honduras for visitors from the clear waters, its pristine beaches, lush jungles, breathtaking mountains, challenging rivers, to its fascinating ruins. A trip to immerse yourself in the culture of Honduras includes the experience of the traditional and the modern side by side, giving you a fully rounded picture of the country’s diversity.

1. To really immerse yourself into the Honduran culture you need to experience a little of its past. The best way to learn about Honduras’ past is to visit some of its historical locations that are available. A fantastic place to start is the Copan Ruins found in the west of the country, revealing the Mayan culture. You could also visit Comayagua, Honduras’ former capital city, to get a feel of the old culture. These places will give you a good starting point for your immersion into Honduran culture.
2. The next place to continue with your Honduran cultural immersion is to experience the natural preserves that are all around Honduras. Experience your natural surroundings and embrace the natural beauty of one of Honduras’ most impressive national parks, the Montana de Celaque, and an ecological preserve in the shape of a wildlife refuge like Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero Y Salado. Getting to know your environment better is essential to getting to know exactly how the Honduran people interact with different parts of their environment.

3. As you continue with your progress into the new found culture it must not be forgotten that history and nature are only the start. The next place on your list should be food as by now hunger may be evident, and to carry on with your cultural immersion some traditional authentic food from Honduras would be good. The best place to start is with some baleada as well as some carne asada, an excellent way to get to know their cuisine.

4. Travelling to Honduras it will depend on what you want to do while there as to when to go. Rainy season is between May and November while it is dry the rest of the year. However one time to avoid is October and November as this is hurricane season. There is one celebration to be recommended and this is la Feria Isidra, the friendship carnival where people come from all over the world for the week’s festivities. It would show you how the Hondurans celebrate their holidays while immersing you further into their culture.

5. As in the past communities still gather in the main squares of towns around Honduras, with cafes and shops nearby, street entertainment and vendors to be found. Here you can immerse yourself in the local culture with the traditional costumes, cigarettes, ceramics and food of Honduras. Walking through the markets you can take in the sights, smells and sounds of the people going about their everyday business. You can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and take in the smells, and taste what is on offer, of the local culture.

6. The next step is to meet new people, make friends and talk to them about their lives. The markets and cafes are great places to do this, and you can ask them what they do. You can also meet local artisans in their shops, learn about their family roots and their ancient traditions at first hand. This is a good way to relax and unwind, a good time to mingle in an unstressed atmosphere.

7. Another great way to immerse yourself into the culture is to volunteer through the many programs from around the world that take annual trips to Honduras. Honduras is known for being a country of contrasts, with its pockets of wealth but the majority of people struggling. There are charities that take annual trips to help those less fortunate, with education and conservation projects for starters. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to experience Honduras as tourists rarely can.

Any of these steps above is the perfect opportunity to truly immerse yourself in a foreign culture. To see the world through the eyes of the inhabitants of that country is often an eye opener, yet a great experience. However you choose to do it you will be forever changed by your experiences. So plan your trip carefully, making sure you make the most of the time there. Following these guidelines will help make your trip to Honduras unforgettable.

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Legends of Honduras — the Pech of Las Marias

There is a lost city in Honduras which is considered mysterious, and this is Ciudad Blanca. It has been the focus of many expeditions searching for this lost city.

The Pech people moved to the Rio Platano area, settling in Chilmecca, near Casa Blanca. This according to a native was a city carved in white stones. Casa Blanca was apparently the same place as Cuidad Blanca, made by the gods with giant stones carved in various shapes, wild animals and giant grinding stones.

The Cuuidad Blanca is said to be the birthplace of gods, filled with golden idols.

According to legend among the Pech lived a Tawaka Indian man. After being mistreated by the community he left, cursing the city and ever after disease and other disasters occurred. The Pech were forced as a result to leave Ciudad Blanca, they felt that they had no choice.

The tribe ended up at Sakorska Uya, the big written stone, the site of a large petroglyph which is still there. The Pech lived there for several harvests and moved downriver to Buena Vista in the early 1900s. It is unclear why the Pech moved here but from here they moved downriver again to Quiaquimina, returning to Buena Vista. The Pech moved to Las Marias about forty years ago.

The legend of the lost city, Cuidad Blanca, was based on historical fact. Created by lightning and thunder by the Pech god Wata the large stones sculpted into statues of animals, traditional musical instruments and grinding stones. The city is believed to be the city of Patatahua, the primitive ancestors of the Pech.

The myth of the Ciudad Blanca is known as the Cuidad de los Antigues or Cerro de la Palmera. It is called Wahia-Patatahua in Pech, the village of the ancestors, or primitives. However Las Marias was the last Pech community.

According to ancient writings Ciudad Blanca is the origin of the human deity Quetzalcoatl of the Toltecs and Kukulkan by the Mayas and worshipped for their knowledge and wisdom.

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Deposed Honduran leader prepares risky return…

Honduras’ deposed president headed toward his nation’s border Thursday to prepare a risky return home to reverse an ouster that is testing the vitality of democracy in Latin America.

The interim government that sent Manuel Zelaya into exile vows to arrest the president if he sets foot in Honduras. Zelaya said he would make a second attempt to return home Saturday, saying U.S.-backed attempts at mediation had broken down.

Accompanied Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, Zelaya drove a white jeep out of the Honduran Embassy in Nicaragua, heading toward the northern town of Isteli, where he said he would spend Friday preparing for his return. Honduran Embassy officials broke into applause and chants of “Long live Mel!” using his nickname.
Zelaya said he hoped soldiers at the border would stand down when they see him. He called on supporters to meet him at the border, although he has not yet said exactly where he plan to cross into Honduras.

“I think the guns will be lowered when they see their people and their president,” Zelaya said at a news conference shortly before leaving.

All governments in the Western Hemisphere have condemned the coup, in which soldiers acting on orders from Congress and the Supreme Court arrested Zelaya and flew him into exile. Nations on both sides of the political spectrum say Zelaya’s return to power is crucial to the region’s stability.

Latin America expert Vicki Gass said that if Zelaya’s opponents succeed in driving him from power, it could have a ripple effect in a region where left-leaning elected governments are challenging small classes of elites that have ruled many countries for decades.

“Coups could then happen in Peru, where President (Alan) Garcia has a very low approval rating, or in Argentina or in Guatemala,” said Gass, an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America which promotes human rights and democracy. “Constitutional order and rule of law have to be restored.”

Zelaya said the mediation efforts, led by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, had failed after representatives of the interim government flatly rejected the possibility that he might return to the presidency. They say they cannot overturn a Supreme Court ruling forbidding Zelaya’s reinstatement.

But Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of American States, held out hope that the two sides might still reach a settlement—and called Zelaya’s attempt to return without an agreement “hasty.”
“He has always wanted to return to his country, but it’s important to make an effort to avoid a likely confrontation,” Insulza said.

He said that neither delegation had officially responded to Arias proposal, which calls for Zelaya’s reinstatement, amnesty for the coup leaders and early elections.

The United States warned of tough sanctions against Honduras if Zelaya is not reinstated, but also said Thursday it does not support Zelaya’s plan to return on his own.

“Any step that would add to the risk of violence in Honduras or in the area, we think would be unwise,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in Washington.

Zelaya dismissed the concerns of Insulza and the U.S., saying “defending our rights is not an act of violence … we are going to seek dialogue.”

In Honduras, Zelaya supporters turned up the pressure, blocking roads throughout the country Thursday and occupying several government buildings in peaceful protests.

It was unclear exactly when or how Zelaya planned to enter the country. Zelaya has set and let pass a series of deadlines for his return, and spokesman Allan Fajardo said Thursday that Zelaya could travel by air, sea, or land from any of Honduras’ three neighboring countries.

Fajardo told The Associated Press that Zelaya would set up base Thursday in the Nicaraguan city of Esteli, near the Honduran border, and then figure out his next move. He said Zelaya would be accompanied by family, supporters and journalists.

The Honduran military thwarted Zelaya’s first attempt to return home July 5 by blocking the runway at the airport in the capital, Tegucigalpa. The flight sparked clashes between Zelaya’s supporters and security forces in which at least one protester was killed.

Lorena Calix, a spokeswoman for Honduras’ national police, said Thursday that officers were ready to detain Zelaya if he makes another attempt to come home.

“When he comes to Honduras, we have to execute the arrest warrant,” she said.

Honduras’ Supreme Court ordered Zelaya’s arrest before the June 28 coup, ruling his effort to hold a referendum on whether to form a constitutional assembly was illegal. The military decided to send Zelaya into exile instead—a move that military lawyers themselves have called illegal but necessary.

Zelaya’s opponents, who objected to his populist and socialist policies, have argued the president was trying to change the constitution to extend his term. Zelaya denies that.

If he is arrested, Zelaya faces four charges of violating governmental order, treason and abusing and usurping power that could bring 43 years behind bars. Prosecutors say they are investigating a raft of other allegations ranging from misappropriation of public funds to drug smuggling—accusations Zelaya says are purely political.

Arias has urged both sides to set an example by becoming the first country in modern history to reverse a coup through a negotiated settlement.

“The clock is ticking fast,” Arias said, “and it’s ticking against the Honduran people.”

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Exotic & Traditional Food To experience in Honduras

If you are traveling to Honduras for the first time you are probably interested in knowing what type of food that you will be exposed to. Is it good food? Is it too exotic? Is it something ill like? Well we will take a few moments to explore some of the delicious and wonderful food and drink you will experience in Honduras.

With a few notable exceptions there really is not that much of a difference in with the food in Honduras as here in the United States.

Breakfast in Honduras:

A typical breakfast in Honduras will usually consist of scrambled eggs, beans, and tortillas. In the bigger hotels and resorts of the area typical American breakfast are also available which often include orange juice, toast, eggs, bacon, and coffee.

Honduras Meals:

A normal meal in Honduras is usually consistent of a variety of things. These things would include beans, rice, tortillas and a grilled meat usually chicken but you will find that they use beef and fish more in certain parts of the country. On the west coast of Honduras or in the bay inlands, seafood is the most widely used cuisine. But traveling there a trip would not be complete without tasting a fresh catch of shrimp, lobster, or the common favorite among natives the conch which is pronounced caracol in Spanish.

In the larger cities of the country like Tegucigalpa, and San Pedro you would be hard pressed to find a variety of American restaurants sine they keep popping up. You will be able to eat at some of your favorite us restaurants like T.G.I. Friday’s pizza hut, KFC and even cinnabon.

Other Honduras meals:

Some other popular meals that are in Honduras that are must tries are

Burritas: they consist of a chopped meat, refried beans, homemade cheese and avocados, all rolled up into a crispy tortillas. These are not to be mistaken for burritos they are quite different.

Tamales: A major addition to the cuisine in Honduras is Tamales. They include vegetables or potatoes as well as chicken or pork. But beware if you by them off the corner street sometimes the chicken bones are left in there and can easily make you choke. But, major restaurants are going to be safer from visiting gringos to eat at anyway.

Pastelitos de Carne: This includes deep-fried flour pastries filled with meat, rice and/or potatoes. But, any combination of meats, chicken, and pork. Along with a variety of different vegetables so be daring and try a variety.

Snacks & Sides in Honduras:

Anafres: This a traditional Honduran snack usually served before the main course. It contains hot black beans and cheese dip served with corn chips.

Tostones: This is a deep crunchy plantain this is the staple of traditional Honduran cuisine. It is also known to natives as Platanos fritos.

Ceviche: This is another traditional snack that is truly Honduran. It is made up of raw fish, shrimp or conch and is mixed with tomatoes, onions, barley or cilantro, and is marinated in juice. It is then served with hot tortillas and chips and is something to try if your near the coastal regions.

Honduran Desserts:

Of course now we get to the good stuff traditional Honduran desserts..

The first one is my personal favorite

Tres Leches Cake: It is just as it is named it is a cake that is made with three different types of mike. Each one that provides for a eventful flavor it includes evaporated milk, sweetened milk, and milk cream.

Arroz con Leche: This particular cake is soaked in sugar and hot milk, cinnamon and some homegrown traditional spices. It is also referred to the Honduran rice pudding.. a must try for any dessert lover.

Beverages in Honduras:

Of course what is a vacation without trying some of the local beers or liquors you might come across. Some of the more popular brands of beer in Honduras are Salva Vida, Barenea, and Port Royal. But if your really in the mood or daring you may want to seek out Giffity and Fiery Garifuna liquor.

Of course with any visit to a foreign land always make sure you are aware of what you are eating and that no allergies are present that may make you sick. They cook there food differently so even in “American” restaurants the food will taste different. So be prepared and most of all enjoy yourself and indulge in this wonderful Cuisine.

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Honduras Under Siege

This is an interesting video on Honduras pleas let me know what you think??
Bertha Oliva: Coup leaders are reviving despotism of the 80s in bid to crush participatory democracy

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