A Short Vacation: La Ceiba, Cayos Cochinos and Tela

It's been a few days since I last wrote, but we had budgeted for one special trip while in Homduras. It was a choice between the Mayan Ruins of Copan or the Caribbean. The beach won out! We also decided to take the trip last week so as to break up our study time and give our minds a chance to relax as well. Saturday we piled into the faithful "busito" with the Fittz family and headed for Villa Helen's 15 minutes outside La Ceiba. As we drove we passed plantations of palm trees which gave way to fields of pineapple. It is borderline jungle, therefore the weather is hot and humid unlike Seguat. Helen's is fairly secluded. It is very quiet and the beaches are beautiful.





Taken on an early morning walk with Barbe





For the most part there was very little traffic of any kind on the beach...for the most part.

We had opportunity to take a 45 minute boat ride to Cayos Cochinos . It is actually a series of keys and is a protected national park. The seas where rough and the boat small, but we arrived intact though completely soaked. As we approached the largest key you couldn't help but think of Treasure Island, The Swiss Family Robinson or Robinson Caruso. It really isn't that far off. The only people who live on the island, other than a man who owns a dive school, are 45 Garifuna families. The history of these people and how they arrived in Honduras is quite interesting.

Our pilot, Darrell, took us to a quiet cove where we donned snorkeling gear and spent some time viewing the amazing fish, conch and coral below the surface. To be honest, I didn't see much as I was finding it very difficult to get used to the idea of breathing under water. Fortunately, Darrell took the boys far out and helped them find good spots to snorkel. He also helped us look for and find a Pink Boa Constrictor that is only found on these islands. They grow to a size of 9 feet. This one wasn't quite that large, measuring in somewhere around 6...inches. Later, we went to another smaller key for a lunch of fried fish, platinos, rice and beans prepared by the Garifuna people.  



A Garufina lunch on Cayos Cochinos




Dug out canoes used by the Garufina for fishing



Pink Boa Constictor found only on Cayos Cochinos
















On Sunday night we were able to attend a service at one of the local Garifuna churches. It's been a long time since I've experienced such powerful singing. It was water for my thirsty soul. Tuesday we traveled to Tela staying at Hotel Ceasar Mariscos, also on the beach, but in town. We stopped and visited with several pastors and their families along the way. In the afternoon, Mark Fittz, took us to a special jungle retreat they had found. The bamboo, the jungle, the birds are amazing. The kids swan in a cool mountain stream while Barbe and I lost ourselves on some of the trails that meander through the bamboo jungle.

Me standing in front of an age old clump of bamboo

Overall is was a great trip. We were glad to get back to our "cabana" and to all our friends here. We were even glad to get back to school. Time is flying by, less than three weeks until we go back to the states. I still have several projects left to finish. The one of a kind sheep pen I've been slowly working on. Allan is laying adobe block at the little church I blogged about. I hope to go and help him tomorrow. I want to return to Destino with Barbe and the boys and we have just taken on a ":project of love" that has already been such a blessing to us. I for one, am not ready to come home yet. I'm just starting to get the hang of this suffering for Jesus thing. LOL!