Itinera mundi mentisque

Yesterday, I was mostly familiarising mysef with different types of lines and waiting. First line was at Tegucigalpa airport; Everyone seemed to have chosen this day to return from holidays. It took about one hour to reach the American Airlines check-in counter. Then, a much shorter line to pay the airport tax.

The flight to Miami was delayed almost by an hour, so we had to wait in the terminal that didn't feature enough seats for all passangers.

At arrival, surprisingly, there wasn't any line to passport control. This was, however, compensated by another hour's wait at the luggage belt (as 'customs clarance at final destination airport' is an unknown concept in the US).

Then, when we were supposed to board our flight to DC, they announce that they are still looking for some crew members... Good things for the rest of the trip:

1. They finally managed to find some flight attendants for our flight, which ended up only about half an hour late.
2. 50% of the luggage did actually arrive with us - it is of course understandable that the Miami airport could not make the transfer, since there were only four hours between the flights. So for the final touch, some standing in the line to claim missing luggage.
3. There were taxis at the airport so we didn't have to walk in rainy DC.
   
   

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 10:40 | Permalink | Comments

Half an hour drive from Tegucigalpa lays Valle de Angeles, a small village full of artisan shops. Though a bit touristic, the village is very pittoresque and offers great vatiety of good buys. I would have bought a richly decorated chest if only it hadn't been so difficult to carry...


On the way back, we stopped at another little village, Santa Lucia, which offered a stricking night view to illuminated Tegucigalpa, which reminded me of Rome viewed from the hills after dinner time.

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 15:17 | Permalink | Comments

We flew yesterday from La Ceiba to Tegucigalpa with an Atlantic Airlines flight operated with an Avro 748 that was probably the oldes aircraft I've ever flown.

Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, is located in a scenic valley between mountains at an altitude of about one kilometre. The weather is sunny but pleasantly cool. At night it gets almost chilly.

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 12:30 | Permalink | Comments

We managed to get back to La Ceiba just a couple of hours late last night. The boat was waiting for another temporary licence from Tegucigalpa until the very last moment, after which the sail woudn't have been possible the same day any more. We were supposed to go to visit some hot springs today, but they have been sweapt away, or rather destroyed by a mud slide during big storms a week ago. So I'm just going to read a book under the palm trees. Not a bad option.

Here are some more photos from Utila, including the empty dock where the boat was supposed to leave from.

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 10:28 | Permalink | Comments

I guess this morning has been the mandatory chaos part of any trip. We were supposed to take the 14:00 ferry back to La Ceiba after a lazy breakfast and morning at Bundu Cafe, clearly the most comfortable place on this island. Getting to the docks for bying the tickets in advance, there is a total bazar. Apparently the paperwork for the boat was not in order, and it had no permission to leave for today, but they were trying to get a temporary licence sorted out (the morning ferry was supposed to have left at 6:30).

The second discuovery: Bundu cafe is closed on Wednesday so good bye for a nice cappucciono for breakfast. After breakfast we go back to the harbour to find out that the boat is justr about to leave. So I rush with the golf car to pick up the luggage from the hotel and check out. Alas, the vehicle is not very fast, and we miss the boat by some 10 minutes. They also say the boat is not coming back today in any case.

Off we go to inquire about fligts, and are told that it is possible to charter a small plane this afternoon, but the booking wouldn't be possible until after luch. We go for a coffee and come back just to double-check that it's possible to book on aftrenoon. You guessed it probably already: the plane is completely booked for the rest of the day. For Elsa it is essential to be at La Ceiba tomorrow morning, since she has some work-related stuff there. So, we book a plane for early tomorow morning.

Coming back from the flight agent (whom we already paid), we see people gathering around the docks with their luggage - miraculously, the boat has got it's licence and is going to leave as scheduled at 14:00...

So, back to the flight agent to cancel and get our $150 back. The office is closed for lunch. Call to the lady there, and she tells it's no problem, we can get reimbursed at 13:30 when she'll be back from lunch. So, apparently we are leaving with the boat in an hour and a half.

But I'm not counting on it.

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 12:17 | Permalink | Comments

I haven't (at least yet) managed to make the wap work in Honduras, so the comments are coming with a delay. New year's pictures are all too dark, so at least without manipulating or before getting Elsa's or Miwako's photos there is not much to show there.

I went diving today and we have also rented a golf car, a popular means of transportation in the narrow paths of Utila.

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 16:46 | Permalink | Comments

We took a modest boat to the small Island of Utila, where our booking at Relax Inn resort had been cancelled without reason. Fortunately, despite the island packed with people coming for New Year's celebrations, we managed to find very nice accommodation elsewhere (Margarita Villa).

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 19:27 | Permalink | Comments

Miwako and Elsa at lunch shortly after arrival in San Pedro. We missed the flight to La Ceiba, and istead took a taxi that took us there in 2.5 hours.

Labels: English, Honduras, Round-the-world, Travel

Posted by Janne at 19:10 | Permalink | Comments