Tela
I arrived by civilian bus about 1 mile from the Tela at 2000 hours. I took a taxi (cost? About $1.00) from there into the city and made my first mistake. I told the taxi driver to take me to an " el hotel barato" (a cheap hotel). He did - Oh boy, did he ever! Two double beds with springs and a thin mattress that sagged; a private bath (really!) with no water. It was turned on by the proprietor when I asked, no air conditioning (but what do you expect for $5.00 - that's right $5.00!). Being very tired and getting late, I decided to suffer that night and would look for a better hotel the next day. My second bad decision for the day! The next morning I started into the bath and found about 2 inches of water on the floor. Oh well, waded thru, splashed some water on my face, and set out to find a better hotel and explore this town.
The first thing I saw was a typical street market
- really reminded me of the flea market you can
visit in Paris France. Buy anything from all kinds of tropical fruit (bought a banana for
$5.00, but attached to it were 66 of this banana's brothers and sisters on a stalk!) to
various souvenirs, clothing, and really just about anything you might need. Being hungry,
I started looking for a "restaurant". Found one!
Great tropical fruit breakfast for about 90
cents!
Just down the street from this "snack bar" was the El hotel Puerto Rico overlooking the Mar Caribe o de las Antillas. Took a room there on the top floor (2d) overlooking the Caribbean - cost? - about $12.00! Great room. Again 2 double beds (no sags, firm, air conditioned, 19" TV hooked to Satellite, private bath. No hot water! (and the higher you go up in the mountains, the shorter the shower - something to do with the water becoming colder as you go up. Ha!) This is the norm in Honduras unless you cater to the tourist hotels for about $100. per night - again not my style! Also be aware that the sewer system in Honduras leaves a lot to be desired! Toilet tissue, once used, is not flushed down the commode - the system won't handle it - no, there is a container placed nearby where you deposit the used tissue! I was aware of this before visiting having pulled up a world of information on Honduras thru the WEB prior to leaving the states.
Ah, on the beach! Want some fresh, I mean really fresh coconut milk? Just ask any one
of the many young boys on the beach for a coconut. He'll shimmy 
up a tree better than a monkey,
whack one out, and shimmy back down. Then with one deft whack of his machete opens the top
and its ready for you! Cost? About 15 cents!
Ten days later, I left Tela returning directly to Soto Cato. This is the bus I
rode on. Look familiar? These use to ply the US highways in the '50's!
After spending two nights at Soto Cato, I was able to get a seat on a 757 "Freedom Bird" going to Howard AFB, Panama, Atlanta (custom check), and on to Charleston. With the stops at Howard, and Atlanta, this return trip took about 9 hours! Take the C17 if you can!
How do I rate Honduras? It's not for the weak of heart, but a truly great adventure. Unless you are in a tour group ( I have disdain for this type of travel with everything laid out for you - something I call the sheep syndrome), children would be a problem. An adventurous wife? You betcha! See Honduras and meet some of the most gracious, friendly people in the world
Brazil
