Not to be confused with the
Adventure of Coban from a few weeks ago, Michael and I went on an adventure to
Copan in Honduras. Copan Ruinas is a beautiful town of cobble-stone streets, cheese shops (who would have thought?), and delicious eats from a German micro-brewery to a yoga inspired health cafe. It is also the sight of stunning Mayan ruins, not quite as grandiose as Tikal in Guatemala, but even more well preserved. Nestled 11 kilometers from the border of Guatemala, it is a relatively isolated and quiet town, but still attracting a healthy crowd of American tourists and international expats.
Michael, looking suave as usual.
Fortunately, Michael had visited Copan this past September with his parents, so he wasn't fazed by the extreme switchbacks, destructive potholes, and random road wash outs during the five hour drive. Unfortunately, however, an ominous banging sound began thumping upwards from underneath Michael's 4-Runner about mid-way through our journey. Puzzled, we just gave each other meaningful sideways glances as we winced through the plethora of large speed bump.
Crossing the border was a a relaxed Central American affair, with as much ceremony as lifting up a road block and waving us through. Rolling into town Copan, we headed to a beautiful bed and breakfast, La Casa de Cafe, and were showed to our room by our New Jersey transplant host. After a dutiful search for bedbugs (none!) we walked across the dimly lit central square at dusk for a dinner of elaborate macaroni and cheese and beer at the Germany brewery, Sol de Copan (with, who else, but a gregarious German expat).
Michael beating me in chess.
The next morning, we walked to the site of the Mayan ruins, and quickly upon arrival encountered a flock of swooping, screeching, undeniably beautiful macaws. Native to this region, the macaws, as so many other species, had been brought to the brink with a market for their feathers and as companion pets. In an effort to rescue and rehabilitate birds that were discovered during illegal trafficking, a refuge was established at Macaw Mountain, and a project called the Scarlet Macaw Care Project was born. In 2011, the first release of these birds occurred at the Copan ruins, and there are now upwards of 50 birds living freely amongst the pathways and stone structures of the ancient Maya. It is especially striking as the Maya revered and worshipped the macaws, and many structures boast artwork and sculptures of the bird looking rather fiercely in any given direction.
I loved the trees.
To escape the heat of the day, we headed back into town for a lunch of caprese sandwiches and milkshakes at San Rafael, lazing away the afternoon reading and cracking jokes. Refusing to anything was too serious with his car, Michael crawled under the 4-Runner to discover that the wear and tear of our Coban Adventure had caused a piece of rusted metal to weaken and eventually break. As a result, six feet of muffler pipe were now free to bang up and around the undercarriage of the car. Luckily, it was hanging on by one last welded section and we hoped, would make it the 5 hour trip home.
On Sunday morning, we headed over to the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Natural Reserve. The well funded and beautifully landscaped park allowed us to observe all types of birds local to this region, from parrots to owls to falcons.
I think this guy was super tired.
Michael in the macaw rehabilitation enclosure.
Taking it relatively easy on the way back in an effort to not lose the muffler entirely (although there was a strange smell of baking cookies emanating from somewhere in the engine), we landed back in Guatemala City in time for a homemade dinner of lasagna and garlic bread.
In a few days I will be leaving to embark on a new adventure, and I will surely miss all the amazing times in Central America, and especially miss my Michael.
The year of travel continues...
