Cantarranas hosts festival of traditional foods this weekend

Performance art, puppets, dance, theater and handcrafts are part of the program. 

By KYLEE DAVIS

Special to Honduras This Week

CANTARRANAS — The Festival of Traditional Foods now in its eighth year began as an effort to rekindle interest and knowledge of traditional foods.  It is said the festival was born out of a conversation between friends around a kitchen table reminiscing over the traditional foods of their youth, dishes that were fast disappearing from the tables of Honduras. 

One of these people was Edilberto Borjas, professor at the UNAH, writer and resident of Cantarranas and from the beginning a driving force behind the planning and cultural activities, which make up the festival.  Each year the festival has grown in terms of the number of people involved and the visitors that it brings to the picturesque, colonial style town of Cantarranas.

A committee of volunteers from the community run the Festival and work with the groups who prepare the food and with youth who train as guides for the festival.   The committee receives support from The Secretary for Culture, Sport and Arts, The Honduran Institute of Tourism, the local sugar factory Tres Valles and the Mayor’s office.

What’s in the menu

A great deal of time and preparation go into the planning of menus, to maintain traditional elements resulting in delicious dishes such as Nacatamales, Nacarigüe, Pastelitos de Perro, Sopa de Albondigas, Tamalitos de Frijoles Fritos, Chanfaina, Gallina en Pinol and of course the favorite Mondongo.

To accompany your meal with a traditional beverage, there are plenty to choose from including  Tamarindo, Pina, Horchata, Pozol, Pinol and Cafe de Palo.  If you are looking for something a little stronger, to say the least, try the Chicha de Maiz, Chicha de Pina or one of the other many varieties of Chicha served during the festival.

If you are looking for something to take home, there are the traditional breads such as Rosquillas, Rosquetes and a variety of sweet breads including Semitas and Pasteles de Pina.  Equally attractive are the traditional candies and sweets such as Micos, Dulce de Leche and Quesito de Papaya.

Folklore and fun

While you enjoy your meal, listen to the live music both from Cantarranas and all over Honduras including folk and marimba and much more.  Other acts include dance, theater, puppets, and performance art as part of the diverse cultural mix that makes up the festival.

This year for the first time the festival will incorporate an artisans market sponsored by Aid to Artisans and Rotary Club Tegucigalpa.  A variety of quality handcrafts from throughout Honduras, in a wide range of media will be on display for promotion and sale.  The festival begins on Saturday 27th of April at midday and continues Sunday 28th of April from 8am until 6pm.

Cantarranas (officially known as San Juan de Flores) is located a one hour drive from Tegucigalpa via Valle de Angeles or alternatively can be accessed via Zamorano and Villa de San Francisco.

Restaurant review: 
Gringo's Ports of Call Restaurant and Bar

TRUJILLO, COLON - Navy soldiers erect a lifeguard watchtower on the beach in front of Gringo's Ports of Call Restaurant and Bar in Trujillo owned by U.S. expatriate Jack Walker. Mr. Walker sponsored navy activities and police patrols during Semana Santa when thousands of Hondurans flocked to north coast beaches. 

By MARIA FIALLOS

Set on the idyllic, white sand shore of Trujillo Bay, Gringo's Ports of Call Restaurant and Bar is the perfect place to spend a day in the sun with the family. The outdoor, beach restaurant offers breakfast and a varied menu of well-prepared seafood platters, as well as the traditional gringo meals of hamburgers and hotdogs. On weekends, Mr. Jack prepares a southern style pork and chicken barbecue to be looked forward to. 

Within the breezy restaurant, a full bar provides a relaxing atmosphere in which to enjoy a cool drink, while keeping an eye on the youngsters. A smaller snack bar, conveniently set on the beach, caters to you and yours' frolic in the sand and sea. The dining and bar areas are located in a large, wooden structure with a thatched roof and decorated with ornaments; buoys, lifesavers, shells and coral collected from the ocean. There are also several thatched roofed tables located right on the sand, allowing the family to install itself for a day of fun. Prices are modest and affordable, and the friendly staff provides excellent service. Another advantage and impressive feature of this restaurant is the cleanliness: the beach is maintained immaculate, garbage containers are conveniently located everywhere on the grounds and four hygienic restrooms contribute to a sanitary environment.

On the large expanse of beach in front of the restaurant, boat owners often come by offering their services for rides around the bay or to the Guaimoreto Lagoon, a national park, famous for the large number resident and migratory birds found there. The Bay of Trujillo, the second deepest in Central America, is home to Puerto Castilla, a thriving port, where ships of all sizes come to dock. Other excursions and attractions in and around Trujillo include: hiking in the Capiro Calentura national park, a tropical rain forest set on the mountain right behind the town; a trip to Santa Fe or other nearby Garifuna villages (Afro-Caribbean communities); a Spanish colonial fort; a museum; the grave of William Walker, the famous filibuster; and a monument honoring the first mass held in America by Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher Columbus's brother, this year is the 500th anniversary of that historic event.

Also, just a few doors down from the restaurant, in a nearby resort, water and sand vehicles can be rented by the hour. Open from 7a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Sunday, Gringo's Ports of Call Restaurant and Bar, will add a unique experience to your stay in Trujillo. The restaurant is also well experienced in catering to groups for one-time events or over prolonged periods, for more information or reservations, call/fax Jack Walker at (504) 434-4277 or e-mail jackw@hondutel.hn 

Sombreros off to journalist Ron Mader, his web site planeta.com received a mention as a Site To See in the NY Times March 24 editions' Travel Watch column which appears each Sunday. The site offers up lots of info on eco-tourism news in Latin America and offers especially good coverage on Honduras. Check out the site at www.planeta.com

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Pres Maduros' Zero Tolerance policy against crime received some well-deserved press in the March 5 edition of the NY Times. The article titled; On Mean Streets, a U.S. Import: Zero Tolerance. Maduros' tough stance against crime has earned him high marks from Hondurans whom have grown tired of rising crime rates and an ineffective police and judicial system.

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According to The Ministry of Tourism, the goal is to double tourism revenues in the next four years, in 2001 tourism brought in $256 million, the new tourism police corps which kicked off it's first squad in Tela in March will spread to the Bay Islands, Copan Ruinas, La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula amongst other sites, investors in the area of tourism are slated to receive additional benefits such as the simplification of paperwork and the exemption from paying import duties on equipment as well as a partial exemption from Honduran income tax, as well foreigners will be permitted to have dominio pleno (full legal title) on lands that were previously off limits to foreigners since they were located on the coast, as well a National Tourism Fund is being set up with support from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, the Interamerican Development Bank and other international groups. 

Amongst the priorities for the government in terms of tourism the following have been singled out; an airport for Copan Ruinas, completion of the highway CA 13 which connects Puerto Cortes with Guatemala and the construction of a pier in Omoa capable of handling cruise ships. Royal Caribbean, the powerhouse of the cruise industry will begin offering Honduras on some its Caribbean itineraries. Right now, nine cruise lines include Honduras on their schedules. Last year some 326,000 tourists ' cruised into ' Honduras an increase of 50% over 2000.

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In a survey of 20 Latin American nations done by the Interamerican Development Bank, Honduras came out in 18th place in a survey of Economic Competitiveness. Just below Honduras bottoming out the list are Nicaragua and Paraguay.

If Honduras is to truly get it's tourism sector off the ground in the coming four years of the Maduro administration, one key factor is the war the nation must fight to become more competitive in an increasingly global marketplace. When barriers are lifted, paperwork streamlined, incentives given and a functioning judicial system are in place, then the natural result of this will be the increase in global competitiveness and consequently an increased flow of foreign capital into the tourism sector. Pres Maduro more than any other Pres in Honduras' history knows this all too well, armed with a degree in economics from Stanford, Maduro is one of the nations' most successful entrepreneurs - he is by no means a professional politician - thus pragmatism and common economic sense hopefully will take center stage where previously bitter political infighting has relegated the nation to continually poor showings on a variety of international and regional surveys.

Trujillo

Trujillo is a small city located on the coast of Honduras. First discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, the area is rich in history as well as natural beauty. Possessing one of the deepest bays in Central America, ships of any size can dock in Puerto Castilla, a few miles around the Bay of Trujillo. This geographical feature attracted many a pirate, including William Walker, who is buried there. The Santa Barbara fort was also built to protect the area, the vestiges of which can still be visited today. A short walk from anywhere in Trujillo is a small museum rich in artifacts from times past, including part of a fallen C-130 airplane. As along the rest of the Caribbean coastline in Honduras, several Garifuna (Afro-Honduran) communities in and around the town contribute their unique blend of tropical culture to the area. 

For the nature lover, trips to the two protected areas close to Trujillo can be made. The Capiro and Calentura Park, a lush tropical rain forest rich in wildlife is located in the mountains just behind the town. The Guaimoreto Lagoon is famous for its complex system of waterways and surrounding wetlands were a great number of birds can be seen, native as well as migratory.

Trujillo can be reached by car, just take the highway east out of La Ceiba or by plane. The town is also a point of departure for travelers to La Mosquitia (Brus Laguna, Palacios, Puerto Lempira), be it by air or by sea.



Restaurants

Gringo's Bar -- Located on a well-kept beach a few doors east of the Christopher Columbus Hotel, this restaurant offers fine beef and seafood platters, as well as burgers for the kids, full bar service, satellite television and a special barbecue on Sunday's. Pleasant atmosphere.

Pantry Restaurant -- Located in downtown Trujillo, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Famous for it's pizza.

Campamento Restaurant - Located just four kilometers from Trujillo on the road to Santa Fe, this eatery is renowned for its fine dining and specialty seafood platters.



Hotels in Trujillo


Christopher Columbus. 434-4966

Villas Brinkley 434-44-44

Casa Cristina 434-4545

La Quinta 434-4732

Campamento 434-4244

Colonial 434-4011

Hotel y Club Ejecutivos 424-8321

Trujillo 434-4202

Emperador 434-4446


Restaurants y Eateries in Trujillo.

Campamento Restaurant.

Located only 4 km. from Trujillo 

This week we start off with the latest news from West Bay, which is considered by many beach connoisseurs to be one of the Bay Islands finest beaches.

The Bite On The Beach Restaurant, famous for it's wonderful seafood and spectacular beachside deck is now under new ownership. Diane and Gene the previous owners worked long and hard to make The Bite one of the best seafood eateries on Roatan. Reports have it that new proprietors, Ed and Laura Moulder have hit the beach running, fixing up the dining deck and making other improvements.

As for Diane and Gene, they are still on Roatan and still in the food service business. Diane can be found these days till the end of October at the helm of the Que Tal Cafe where she will be working her culinary magic for breakfast and lunch. In addition to her guest chef duties at Que Tal she is starting up a catering service, Diane's Delight which will specialize in catering parties, weddings and private dinners for beach house residents.

Other West Bay news, Mr. Mike Wendling, formerly the Manager of the Lodge at Pico Bonito is now at the helm of the Mayan Princess located on West Bay. Future plans call for the Maya Princess to get bigger and better, adding 32 additional guest rooms, a conference center, pool and restaurant with the intention to bring the property up to a four category. Info www.mayanprincess-roatan.com info@mayanprincess-roatan.com

Reports out of West Bay have it that a mighty fine all you can eat Italian Buffet can be acquired at the Henry Morgan Resort. For those of us expats who live in Honduras, just the thought of an all you can munch Italian extravaganza on the beach is enough to get salivary juices flowing in abundance. Tel 981-1315

The Las Rocas Resort is now bigger and better than ever having inaugurated their new dive school operation recently. The school boasts first class equipment and boats and of course Las Rocas Resort itself is a wonderfully relaxing spot from which to avoid a few nights o West Bay. Info: www.lasrocasresort.com info@lasrocasresort.com

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Here's some long awaited good news for a change, Honduras long awaited Tourism Police will finally get their chance to show their stuff starting March 25. Tela will be the first tourism pole in the country to test out the new police force to be called Policia de Turismo Balam. Balam is the Maya word for jaguar men. The idea of the tourism police is to use Tela as a test site after which the force will be expanded to other tourism poles such as the Bay Islands, Copan Ruinas, La Ceiba and other destinations. President Ricardo Maduro as well as Minister of Tourism, Thierry de Pierrefeu will be on hand in Tela to inaugurate the new corps. The project has the support of the Honduran Ministry of Security, the Ministry of Tourism, the Municipality of Tela, the Tela Chamber of Commerce and the Tela Chamber of Tourism. In recent days, the Ministry of Security has taken out full page color ads in major weekly papers in a campaign aimed at informing the public that the tourism police are on the way, using the tag line, "Now the beaches of Tela will be protected by Jaguars ". The first group of Jaguars numbering 15 will be made up of 12 police and 3 officials.

The Honduran Institute of Tourism has become increasingly active in recent years not only in the marketing and promotion of Honduran tourism in key outgoing tourism markets such as the US, but as well the Institute has waged an aggressive campaign in the national print media to get the word out to Hondurans that tourism is everyone's business and that the multiplier and trickle down effects of tourism affect a broad range of sectors not normally associated directly with tourism.

Copan Update
By HOWARD ROSENZWEIG

Did you know that commercial air traffic in the US fell 12% between October 2001 and September 2002? By 2003 a 14% increase is expected which will put the airlines at the same level of 2001. In Honduras the numbers for the period January 2001 - January 2002 actually look pretty good. In January 2001, 38,170 international passengers flew out of Honduras. In January 2002 the figure stood at 37,509.

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The US is attempting to identify top officials and others in Latin America who are guilty of corruption, money laundering and drug trafficking. The U.S. Dept of State is trying to identify high-level criminals and deny them visas to enter the U.S.

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Did you know that according to the Honduran Ministry of Tourism, in the past five years the number of tourist arrivals grew 25% and just one year after Hurricane Mitch, tourism grew 28%. Other interesting stats include the fact that 36% of tourists visiting Honduras are from the US, 50% from Central America and 9% from Europe.

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In addition to the Barcelo Hotel chain that is getting ready to open its first Honduran resort shortly near La Ceiba, another Spanish hotel chain, Sol Melia is working on its resort on Roatan. The resort is slated to open late this year.

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After the 9/11 attack in NYC the cruise ship industry took a big hit. Prior to the attack, the industry was predicting that 10 million travelers would take a cruise of which 7.5 million were from the US and 2.2 million Europeans. In the next four years the capacity of cruise lines will increase 40%, thanks to 38 new ships with a total of 70,000 beds coming on line. Although the cruise ship industry took an immediate hit after 9/11, since December business has rebounded. The major cruise lines have waged an all out price war in their attempt to lure back passengers to ' the friendly seas'. Carnival, the world's largest cruise line, saw profits dip 40% in the first trimester of 2002. However reservations are now up and things are looking bright for the cruise industry. Honduras and Roatan in particular have benefited greatly in recent years as cruise lines have begun to include Roatan as a regularly scheduled port of call.

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And finally, Copan Ruinas is now in the midst of its annual town fair, plenty of carnival rides and attractions for the kiddies as well as adults. This year a big Ferris wheel is the main attraction as well as the usual assortment of games of chance, food and fun. Copan based Paramedics For Children will host a rodeo as well. So ya'll come down to Copan this weekend ya' hear and join us for a down-home, Western Honduras, Copan style town fair. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants to fit all budgets, from country chic with pool, bar, restaurant and jacuzzi, to backpacker funky basic, Copan's got it all, and don't forget, tell 'em Copan Update sent ya. Have a great weekend!

Did you know that commercial air traffic in the US fell 12% between October 2001 and September 2002? By 2003 a 14% increase is expected which will put the airlines at the same level of 2001. In Honduras the numbers for the period January 2001 - January 2002 actually look pretty good. In January 2001, 38,170 international passengers flew out of Honduras. In January 2002 the figure stood at 37,509.

* * *

The US is attempting to identify top officials and others in Latin America who are guilty of corruption, money laundering and drug trafficking. The U.S. Dept of State is trying to identify high-level criminals and deny them visas to enter the U.S.

* * *

Did you know that according to the Honduran Ministry of Tourism, in the past five years the number of tourist arrivals grew 25% and just one year after Hurricane Mitch, tourism grew 28%. Other interesting stats include the fact that 36% of tourists visiting Honduras are from the US, 50% from Central America and 9% from Europe.

* * *

In addition to the Barcelo Hotel chain that is getting ready to open its first Honduran resort shortly near La Ceiba, another Spanish hotel chain, Sol Melia is working on its resort on Roatan. The resort is slated to open late this year.

* * *

After the 9/11 attack in NYC the cruise ship industry took a big hit. Prior to the attack, the industry was predicting that 10 million travelers would take a cruise of which 7.5 million were from the US and 2.2 million Europeans. In the next four years the capacity of cruise lines will increase 40%, thanks to 38 new ships with a total of 70,000 beds coming on line. 

Although the cruise ship industry took an immediate hit after 9/11, since December business has rebounded. The major cruise lines have waged an all out price war in their attempt to lure back passengers to ' the friendly seas'. Carnival, the world's largest cruise line, saw profits dip 40% in the first trimester of 2002. However reservations are now up and things are looking bright for the cruise industry. Honduras and Roatan in particular have benefited greatly in recent years as cruise lines have begun to include Roatan as a regularly scheduled port of call.

* * *

And finally, Copan Ruinas is now in the midst of its annual town fair, plenty of carnival rides and attractions for the kiddies as well as adults. This year a big Ferris wheel is the main attraction as well as the usual assortment of games of chance, food and fun. Copan based Paramedics For Children will host a rodeo as well. 

So ya'll come down to Copan this weekend ya' hear and join us for a down-home, Western Honduras, Copan style town fair. There are plenty of hotels and restaurants to fit all budgets, from country chic with pool, bar, restaurant and jacuzzi, to backpacker funky basic, Copan's got it all, and don't forget, tell 'em Copan Update sent ya. Have a great weekend!

Interview with T. Evans McNab, Bay Island Congressman

By EVA L. BROOKS
Special to HTW

Recently I had the pleasure to meet briefly with the newly elected Diputado for the Islas de La Bahia (Bay Islands), T. Evans McNab. A Diputado is akin to a Senator or Congressman. He functions as a link between his district or department and the National Congress. Thus he represents his department’s goals and works toward getting assistance for diverse problems. There are 18 departments in Honduras each represented by one or more Diputados. They comprise the National Congress whose head is appointed by the president. Porfirio Lobo Soba is the head of the National Congress at this time. 

T. Evans McNab is uniquely suited for this complicated task and the demands of is position. He is an islander, has a beautiful home and a well equipped and organized office in French Harbor and is intimately acquainted with the needs of Bay islanders - their well being, their hopes and their potential. He plans to spend three days of each week in Tegucigalpa and three days on the island to look after local affairs.

As almost everyone knows there are many thorny problems on the islands, especially on Roatan that can not be alleviated without the input and sustaining support - may those be financial, legal or political - of the federal government. 

We touched briefly on some these issues. Clearly, the island’s judicial structure needs “improvement.”

Thus the legal system here is about to be overhauled with the goal of attaining a transparent, more efficient system of justice. (See HTW , 2/16/02, regarding the new penal procedure code) McNab was quite adamant: .”The islanders need a sense of security and order,” he pointed out. In line with this, Roatan’s municipality will have a preventive police headed by a new commissioner.

I raised the issue of communication with islanders. Unfortunately, at this point we do not have a local paper, spreading news, something like a Roatan Gazette, spreading news and informing locals of issues, and what processes are being set up to minimize problems, in health care, the schools, or neighborly disputes or conflicts. Early last year an attempt was made by some real estate people, Caldwell Banker who provided the island with The Island Breeze for a very short time. The Breeze was part of Honduras This Week and much appreciated here. I am well aware that the good old method of word of mouth has worked quite well in the past, but as the islands grow it will no longer be possible to see the Alcalde (Mayor) and other municipal employees with personal “grips and grieves.” McNab plans to set up Open Forums in each of the municipalities on a regular basis and this combined with the radio stations should serve inform everyone consistently of new approaches and problem solutions.

The next topic, we briefly discussed, was the island’s economy. McNab informed me that the fishing industry was in serious trouble during the last year. While this industry needs every possible support available, the island can not sustain itself solely on this sector. 

This brought the discussion to tourism and its strength and weakness. The much discussed handicap - the impediment to tourism growth on the islands is, of course, high airfares. This is clearly a problem for the Federal government. Yet McNab believes that the “future of the tourist industry can not be estimated.” He feels that we need more shops catering to tourists as well as cruise ship passengers, offering unique Honduran created handcraft items, more top quality live entertainment using both local talent and stars from abroad, some festivals celebrating history and ethnicity and a night-life beyond that offered at West End. “Surely,” he said, “We do not need more cab drivers, buses, or tour operators. We did not discuss the real estate, building industry nor sustainable development and the environment because of time restraints. I hope to get another opportunity to discuss those issues at some future date.

The people of the islands, I believe will be well-served by T Evans McNab’s know how, industry and organizational ability. I congratulate islanders for having voted for this man as Diputado for the next four years.

New resort hotel to initiate construction on Guanaja. According to published news reports, the eagerly awaited Iguana Bay resort on the island of Guanaja will soon start construction. The $13 million luxury project has two well known partners; actor Christopher Lambert and the new Minister of Tourism Thierry de Pierrefeu. This may be the project that puts Guanaja on the map.

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What to do on Easter break...Easter Week may be a time of quiet religious reflection for some, but for others it’s one big, week long beach party. Semana Santa as it is known here is the biggest time of the year to hit the beach, as the entire country shuts down for a week and everyone and anyone who can pack into a bus or squeeze into a pickup seems to be heading to the same place, the beach. 

As Semana Santa approaches the national newspapers begin to run full page spreads with color photos of bikini clad local girls out for a little fun in the sun. If you’re looking for a laid back, relaxing Easter Week away from the heat of the cities and the crush of bodies on the beach, then I would recommend staying clear of the coast and instead head inland. Copan Ruinas, Gracias, La Esperanza, Lake Yojoa makes for a great, hurried and relaxing trip - I call it the Honduran Highlands Route. Temperatures up in the mountains are cooler - the scenery fantastic, there are no maddening crowds and not a thumping boom box in sight.

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Japan to the rescue of Copan Ruinas. The Japanese government donated recently equipment valued at $2 million. The gear will be used to further investigations underway at the archeological site.

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Looking for a fast, comfortable bus to get you to Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Copan Ruinas or La Ceiba? Tired of the same old chicken bus filled with hordes of people? Well fear not as relief is at hand. The Hedman Alas bus line that has been serving Honduras’ highways and byways for 50 years, offers up 1st class, luxury class buses with plenty of departure times, comfortable bus terminals and good fares. For info contact Tel 557-3477 in San Pedro Sula, 651-4106 in Copan Ruinas and 441-5347 in La Ceiba.

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So what’s new in Copan Ruinas these days? Well glad you asked, after the success of illuminating the archeological site for the recent presidential inauguration, the Institute of Anthropology and History decided to extend the show for a couple of weeks. During the month of February, visitors were able to purchase an additional ticket enabling them to tour the illuminated ruins at night. 

Plenty of new, funky, brightly painted and aesthetically pleasing business signs have sprouted like spring corn in the past months, all thanks to the entrepreneurial efforts of Carin Steen of Copan Pinta, and while we’re on the subject, Carin’s new shop La Casa de Todo has raised the bar and set the standard for souvenir shops in Copan, it’s bright, airy, lively and actually looks like a boutique should!

Tela

A coastal town, graced with seemingly endless miles of white sand beaches and warm, tropical waters, a stay in paradisiacal Tela is full of Caribbean flavor. Founded by the Spanish Conquistador Cristobal de Olid in 1524, the town was originally named Triunfo de la Cruz. The town was further developed during the last century when international fruit companies established banana plantations in the region.

Located a mere 90 kilometers from the San Pedro Sula International Airport, Tela is easily accessible by car and is also just an hour away from the port city of La Ceiba. From the capital city of Tegucigalpa, it is only a five-hour drive, over the mountains, past Lake Yojoa and through the Sula Valley.

Home to several Garifuna (afro-Caribbean) villages, Triunfo de la Cruz, Tela/Timsa, Tornabe and Miami, a delicious meal of fried fish and plantains or conch soup is readily available in the many beachside eateries found in these communities. Several local tour operators also offer guided tours to the two protected areas located on opposites of Tela Bay, Punta Sal and Punta Izopo. These usually entail a car ride or walk along the beach to reach a boat that will then transport the intrepid traveler to a tropical paradise of pristine beaches, clear open ocean waters and abundant wildlife such as monkeys, birds and turtles. 

Another must see in Tela are the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, famous for their enormous collection of tropical plants. Spend an afternoon walking the paths through bamboo gardens and seeing such extraordinary plants as lychees and cannon balls. 

Restaurants in Tela

Casa Azul: Located between the Central Park and the beach, Italian Food Menu, Art Gallery and book exchange.

Cesar Mariscos: Seafood specialties, excellent service.

Villas Telamar: International and national a la Carte menu, weekend buffet, located in Teal's largest hotel.

El Tucan: Located on the beach at Honduras Shores Plantation, excellent service, and large pool.

How about we start off this week with some good news for a change? The latest stats on the new administrations war on crime are out and thus far results are nothing less than astounding. According to the spokesman for the National Police, the Guerra Contra La Delincuencia (War Against Crime) as it is called here has achieved a 75% reduction in crime nationwide. Fighting crime was a major promise of President Maduro who is now marking his first month in office. President Maduro has vowed not to let up on his fight against crime and additional funds for the Ministry of Security are being freed up by a 17% across the board budget cut by the various government ministries. 

One of the major beneficiaries of the government's anti-crime campaign is the tourism sector. The safer the country is in general - the safer tourists will feel during their time in Honduras - thus creating happy tourists - thus creating the all important good WOM (Word of Mouth) - thus leading to increased tourism due the ' multiplier ' effect. Hats off to Maduro for putting his money where his mouth is and getting off to a rousing start by biting in to one of the country's toughest and most neglected problems.

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Big news these days from Copan Ruinas -in case you haven't been to Copan in a while- the small mountain village of Copan Ruinas is quickly becoming the cultural capital of Honduras. 

In addition to the main archeological site, the Sepulturas site, the world class Maya Sculpture Museum and the village archeology museum Copan now has a new museum to offer the public. The Casa K'inich (Casa del Sol) Interactive Children's Museum is now open to the public. The museum features a host of exhibits in a brightly painted and airy space located inside the old colegio (High School) located right on Copan's' newly renovated Central Park. 

The exhibits are interactive, giving the young and not so young alike, the opportunity to learn by doing. There are exhibits on Maya architecture, languages, writing, math, the calendar, astronomy, religion, the ball game, the environment and music. There is a lot stuffed into a small space which makes it great for kids, as well as their bushed and hungry parents, as they won't tire tramping from exhibit to exhibit as happens in larger museums. There is a full time guide available to answer questions and offer guided tours to larger schools, churches or other groups. Hours are 8am - 12pm and 2pm - 5pm Tuesday - Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call 651-4105. Casa K'inich is sponsored by the Copan Association that is headed up by Honduran archeologist and full time Copan Ruinas resident, Ricardo Agurcia.

As Copan Ruinas continues to develop it's tourism products it is important to note that new projects have for the most part been undertaken with a keen sense of quality and niche marketing in mind. The Enchanted Wings Butterfly Garden is an exceptionally well-executed project that has opened up an entirely new niche in Copan where butterfly and plant enthusiasts can engage their passion. Future plans include Copan's' first orchid exhibit. The soon to open Copan Tropical Bird Park will be a top flight operation where visitors to Copan will enter a private nature preserve filled with exotic parrots, macaws and toucans, just minutes from the Central Park.

The Casa de Todo crafts shop is fast on it's way to becoming the finest souvenir shop in town. It's key to success is in the quality of it's product line, which includes many one of a kind items hand crafted by it's proprietor and the execution of it's sales space which features sponge painted walls inside the shop and out as well as indirect lighting and innovative product display.