Tab in Tegus – Guitar festival comes to the capital

Alex Jones
Honduras This Week

The Festival Rotario de Música ’07 will kick off next Thursday 22nd of February in Tegucigalpa, and let forth four days of guitar concerts, all focusing on a different style of play.

The festival, brought to Tegucigalpa by the Rotary Club and Credomatic, is the first in what the organizers want to make an annual event. It will start with an ‘invite-only’ night of classical music in Latino style. Then Friday will be a night of Flamenco. Here Rafeal Lopez of Honduras, who made an appearance and played one of his songs in the 1999 Oliver Stone hit ‘Any Given Sunday’, is on the line up. Following this, Saturday will see a lil’ bit a’ Jaaazz. One of the musicians here is Luis Salina, a world famous artist from Argentina who had his latest CD nominated a Grammy. The festival is then drawn to a close on Sunday with a free and open concert in the Parque Central. Here four Honduran rock artists will play from 3.00pm.  

“We have decided to initiate a guitar festival, and we hope it will be successful in many ways,” says Francisco Cosenza, President of the Rotary club in Tegucigalpa. “We want to contribute to the musical culture of the country. Bringing some of the best musicians in the world here will give less experienced players a great chance to learn.” He added that “some of the players will be going to various universities in the city to teach some of the music students over the course of the coming week.”

He also highlights that the annual fiesta is to be a tribute to Hector Galvez, “a musical phenomenon here in Honduras - and in fact the first Honduran to hold a concert in Europe.” Cosenza wants to make it a thanks to the musician for all that he as done for music in Honduras, from teaching it to developing it.

A third aim, Cosenza tells me, is “to obtain funds for the Mario Mendoza Psychiatric Hospital in Tegucigalpa.” Mario Mendoza was a “psychiatric doctor who contributed a lot to psychiatry in Honduras. Unfortunately, however, the hospital now needs much help and has many problems with its infrastructure. We want to provide them with some high quality equipment and medicines. This is where benefits from the two ticketed nights will go.”

Cosenza is optimistic about this as the first in a long line of Festival Rotario de Música’s, and is expecting a full house at each event. But underneath it all he is just looking forward to some good music. When I ask him ‘why guitar?’, he says “the three guys behind organizing this festival, we’re just crazy about guitars.”

For more information call 232-2911. 

New Travel Guides on Honduras and the Bay Islands

Patrick Ahern
Honduras This Week

Patrick Ahern/Honduras This Week
Three travel guides on Honduras have recently been published.

The last year was a very good year indeed for Honduran travel guides books. Two totally new guides were published and the fourth edition of the Moon Handbook on Honduras by Chris Humphrey came out in October. The newcomers come from Hunter Travel Guides written by Maria Fiallos and Lonely Planet written by Gary Chandler and Liza Prado. Previously Lonely Planet dedicated only a few chapters to Honduras in their Central America on a Shoestring.

It is difficult to compare three books, especially when they cater to different audiences with Lonely Planet catering more to the low budget crowd, Moon plays both sides against the middle and Hunter's is higher end. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. The Hunter and Moon Guides give more cultural and historical background. The Moon Guide is in its fourth revised edition by the same author and the accumulated experience shows. Moon also has the most comprehensive bibliography. Hunter's 45 page section on the Mayas of Copan is excellent and was aided by the renowned Honduran anthropologist Ricardo Agurcia. However, Hunter's Fiallos worked for the Honduran Tourism Institute and often just describes hotels or restaurants without judging. I personally prefer to hear stronger opinions about what is good or bad and that is done more by the other two.

Hunter's weighs in at just over 500 pages and has a lot of background and generally lists more hotels and restaurants. Moon comes in at just under 500 pages but is smaller and laid out in snappy way by giving 10 and 25 day itineraries. Lonely Planet fits most easily into your back pack at 352 pages and also has suggested itineraries. Lonely Planet's Gary Prado told me that they don't pretend to give all the food and lodging options; just enough in each category to get you started in a city or region. He also said that people don't want to read too much history and background. Not true for me who lives here, but perhaps for those traveling through.

There are some contradictory things between the books. Hunter's says Olancho means rubber tree in the Nahuatl tongue of the Aztecs and Moon says that it means tulle tree. I will vote for the rubber tree option-it makes more sense. Maybe Chris heard tulle when it was really "ule." Hunter's says that Tegucigalpa comes from Nahuatl whereas Moon says it comes from the Lenca language.

Both agree that it probably does not mean "hill of silver" as I and most school kids were taught because the Indians had no interest in mining before the conquistadores arrived. Hunter says it may mean "in the houses of painted stones" and the other two say "the place of the painted stones." Linguists or others are welcome to write to the editor of Honduras This Week with their theories on the names. They are all referring to El Picacho which is painted a beautiful purple around sunset time.

Even though the guides have come out in the last six months, they all have mistakes and list closed restaurants or old telephone numbers of hotels etc. This is partially because they finish writing many months before the books come off the press and it is an incredible amount of information to keep track of. There are also glaring omissions. Only Moon's Guide lists includes Usami, the best Japanese restaurant this side of Tokyo which is celebrating its second anniversary this month. None of the three mentions Weekend's Pizza in Santa Rosa de Copan which is by far the best pizza I have had in all of Honduras.

If I could buy only one guide to Honduras, it would be Moon's Handbook. Moon's is more complete and well laid-out and has been perfected through its four editions starting in 1997. Maria Fiallos said that Hunter's Guide only sells in the US, but she personally is receiving a shipment this week to place a limited number on consignment in Tegucigalpa bookstores, but will take most to Roatan where they sell "like hotcakes." Lonely Planet is actually dated January 2007, and should be available in Metro Media in early March. All three books are $20 (actually $19.99), although I suspect you will pay more down here. It is unfortunate that these guides are not more readily available in Honduras. Metro Media has only one Moon Guide left---but did not say in which of their four locations. Happy hunting.

Oh yes, if one wants an outdoor and hiking guide, "Adventures in Nature: Honduras" by James Goolin is excellent although it is dated 2001 and should be ready for a new edition.
You face hard choices in choosing a guide book to Honduras. Why not just get all four? I did.

ART

WOMEN IN THE ARTS
- Mujeres en las Artes. One of the strongest artistic movements in Tegucigalpa.  Mujeres en la Artes Leticia de Oyuela constantly sponsors workshops, exhibitions, conferences, art shows and community events in the city. For the complete schedule, log on to www.muaartes.org.hn or contact Veronica Romero at 222 3015.

OSMOSIS IN CONCERT.
Atiko music band invited. Bohemia local: 7 calle, 8 ave. El Benque in San Pedro Sula. Saturday, January 27th 9:30 p.m. General entrance Lps. 40.00

SENSE OF HUMOR IS A SERIOUS MATTER.
A creative group has decided to create a website approaching our country problems.
Visit: www.elmonstruario.com
 
FRENCH ALLIANCE CINEMA CLUB.
Contact www.afhonduras.com

CLASSIC MUSIC WITH GREAT MASTERS AT PANAMERICAN RADIO:
95.9 FM. 7:00 p.m. Mondays - Fridays. Beethoven, Mozart, Ravel, Tchaikovsky. 

VOICES AND SONGS OF HONDURAS.
"National identity audio". Saturdays, 9:00 a.m - 10:00 1.m. at H.R.N. (92.9 F.M.)
ECOLOGICAL ADVENTURES IN HONDURAS. Children aimed by adults. Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m at H.R.N. (92.9 F.M.)

“WE WANT TO BE LISTENED”, A RADIO PROGRAM.
At  88.7 FM from 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. from Monday thru Friday. Contact
 smarybelsanchez@gmail.com

TERCO CULTURAL PRODUCTIONS.
Contact them; they always have info on cultural activities.  E-mail: tercoproducciones@gmail.com. Visit www.karlalara.com

PROYECTO GRITON ACTIVITIES.
Visit  www.proyectogriton.com and focus on KUPIAKUMI, you'll find the daily logbook of the activities of this cultural group.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
- Cafe Paradiso (downtown) is always performing cultural activities. Contact paradiso@cablecolor.hn

INFORMATION ABOUT CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
- Contact contacto@rds.org.hn

INFORMATION ABOUT PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA ACTIVITIES.
Contact 235-4019

NATIONAL LIBRARY INSTALLATIONS FOR EVENTS
- These installations are appropriate for book presentations, expositions, conferences and any other cultural events.

VISIT AN EXCELLENT WEB SITE
- The Association Women in the Arts, Aid Center and Visual Arts is inviting you to visit the web site: www.instala.hn. You will find information on different art activities.

MUSIC & DANCE

BUENOS AIRES HEART SHOW: CARLOS GARDEL.
February, Friday 9th. Juan Carlos Square, Convention Center, Plaza San Martin. Tickets for sale at Quick Photo and Plaza General Hotel. General entrance: Lps. 1,100.00 . 8:00 p.m.

PUTUMAYO PRESENTES ¨DANCE¨" A LATIN DANCE PARTY.
Cd´s for sale at Restaurants, Hotels. Some profits will be donated to the United for Colombia Organization.

LIVE MUSIC, 60/70's
- Restaurants Pa-pa Chacalín at Blvd. Morazán. For more information contact  bigbbang_arte@yahoo.com

ENJOY AT HONDURAS MAYA HOTEL.
Thursdays and Fridays enjoy the "Catrachas and Mexican" nights. On Saturdays and Sundays you can enjoy your beer around the pool.

SABOR CUBANO
- Come and enjoy the best Latin Rhythms:    Salsa, Merengue, and Rumba. Every Friday at Restaurant-Bar:  "Sabor Cubano" Learn how to dance with the best dancers in town and enjoy the original "Mojito Cubano"! Colonia Palmira, No. 1933, half a block from Taco Taco. For more information call: 235-9947.

EXCELLENT LIVE MUSIC
-Fridays and Saturdays at Restaurant El Corral, Col. Alameda. Meats are their specialty.

EXCELLENT MUSIC FROM 60´S AND 70´S.
At "Memories" in Plaza Millennium. From Wednesdays thru Saturdays from 7:00 p.m

MARRIOTT HOTEL ACTIVITIES.
Every Thursday you can enjoy live music with the artist  Hector Casas, from 8:00 p.m. thru 11:00 p.m. Happy hour from 5:00 p.m. thru 8:00 p.m. 2X1 Miller bear, frozen Margaritas and tequila Jimador.

COCINA LATINA AT MARRIOTT HOTEL.
A special flavor every day of the week: Monday: Asian, Tuesday: Italian, Wednesday: Peruvian, Thursday: Mexican, Friday: seafood, Saturday: Italian/Mexican, Sunday: Honduran cuisine

MISCELLANEOUS

INTEGRITY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION MARCH.
Saturday, February 10th, 8:00 a.m. Departure point: Central American Integration Bank. Journey: Suyapa Blvd, UNAH. Enroll and  be a volunteer. Contact info@cna.hn

SANTA MARIA DE LOS ANGELES MUSEUM.
This interesting museum is open since October 2006. It is located in the town of Valle the Angeles. You will enjoy a great collection of interesting objects, old photos from 1800 - 1900, antiques of history, art and culture. Visit us at www.museosantamaria.com or e-mail us  to: santamariamuseo@yahoo.com

LEADERSHIP CONGRESS FOR YOUNG  PEOPLE.
February 4th thru 8th, 2007, at the Tourist Center, Palma Real in La Ceiba. Inscription fee: US$ 100.00. For more information contact: congresojuvenil@anedh.org 

CONVOCATION NOTICE FOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FROM SPANISH AGENCY OF COOPERATION.
Application interval: February 12th thru 28th, 2007. Contact Norma Carias becasycursos@listas.rds.prg.hn

CONVOCATION NOTICE FOR ADMISSION TESTS FOR DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 2007-2008 IN SPAIN. 
The application dead line is May 11th, 2007 at the Diplomacy School in Madrid for Spain residents or at the Spanish Embassy for no Spain residents.  Visit www.mae.es/es

GERMANY SCHOLARSHIPS.
The Internationale Journalisten Programme (IJP) is organizing for 2007 an interchange program between German and Latin American journalists. The Latin Americans participants will receive an opportunity for work during 2 months like visiting writer in a newspaper. spiewak@ijp.org

USA EMBASSY SCHOLARSHIPS
- For more information contact Ledy Pacheco, information specialist. pachecoLC@state.gov  or 236-9309

SWEDISH SCHOLARSHIPS
- For Ph.D and post Ph.D. studies or for Master programs. Visit www.studyinsweden.se or contact the Swedish Institute, Box 7434 SE-103, 91 Stockholm, Sweden.

SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED BY AUSTRIA INVESTIGATIONS CENTERS. 
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Austria offers scholarships of studying and investigation, pre-graduated and Master studies, Doctorates, contact www.grants.at

VIRTUAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
The National Littoral University in Argentine is offering postgraduate scholarships. Contact www.educoas.org/portal/es/becas

RELIGIOUS FAIR.
Honoring Suyapa Virgin in Tegucigalpa, from February 2, 2007 at Suyapa Village, next to UNAH.

MUSEUMS & GARDENS

TEGUCIGALPA

MUSEO DE HISTORIA REPUBLICANA
The Museum of Republican History is located at the Villa Roy building in Tegucigalpa's Barrio Buenos Aries. It is open 8:30 to 3:30, Tuesdays through Sundays and features portraits, paraphernalia, and other interesting items from past presidents. Admission is Lps. 20 for non-resident foreigners and Lps. 10 for Hondurans and Central Americans. For more information, call 222-3470 or 222-1468.

CENTRAL BANK MUSEUM
The Central Bank of Honduras located at the Comayaguela annex building is open from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. It has a permanent coin and painting exhibit. For special presentations, call the Emision y Tesoreria department at 237-2270 (-78), ext. 2117 (-2120). [CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.]

NATIONAL ART GALLERY
The Galeria Nacional de Arte features rock art, pre-Columbian ceramics, colonial paintings, religious art and a wide selection of 20th century Honduran painters. The gallery is located at the Plaza de la Merced in downtown Tegucigalpa. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for senior citizens, Lps. 3 for students and Lps. 1 for children accompanied by adults.

IGUANA FARM
The Biosfera Ecocentro Iguana Farm in Colonia La Joya invites the public to come and learn everything about iguanas. Admission is Lps. 5 for adults, Lps. 3 for children. The facility is open every day (except Wednesday) from 9 to 5. For more information, call 230-6346.

COMAYAGUA, COMAYAGUA

COMAYAGUA MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Located in the city of Comayagua, two hours north of Tegucigalpa, the Comayagua Museum of Archaeology is in the building that served as the seat of government in the 19th century. Exhibits include prehistoric fossils, cave art, ceramics, and objects used by indigenous cultures during the pre-Colombian era. The museum, which also has a small library, is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COMAYAGUA RELIGIOUS MUSEUM
Located in the Casa Cural in front of Comayagua's cathedral, this museum features religious paintings and objects dating back to the 16th century. Hours are 8-12 and 2-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. For more information, contact Leonardo Letona at 772-0348.

LA PAZ, LA PAZ

LA PAZ HOUSE OF CULTURE
The La Paz Casa de la Cultura is located in downtown La Paz. It features an attractive exhibit of the Lenca handicrafts and culture. It is open Mondays through Sundays.

SAN PEDRO SULA, CORTES

SPS MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY
The Museo de Antropologia e Historia de San Pedro Sula features exhibits on the development of Sula Valley, from 1500 B.C. to the middle of this century. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is Lps. 10 for adults, Lps. 5 for students and children under 12, and Lps. 2 for senior citizens. For more information, call 557-1496/557-1798 or fax 557-1874.

MUSEUM OF NATURE OF SAN PEDRO SULA
Sponsored and managed by the Fundacion Ecologista H.R. Pastor Fasquelle, this new museum was inaugurated last December in its current location at the Biocentro on 3 Avenida and 9 Calle Noroeste. It has 24 exhibits on the environment, natural resources and biology of Honduras. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and 8 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. Admission is Lps 5 for students from public schools and Lps. 10.00 for everyone else.

YUSCARAN, EL PARAISO

YUSCARAN HOUSE OF CULTURE
Yuscaran's Casa de la Cultura is located at the former Casa Fortin in downtown Yuscaran, El Paraiso department, just 45 km from Tegucigalpa on the road to Danli. It is open Mondays through Saturdays.

OLANCHO

PECH CULTURAL CENTER
The Pech have built a small house in El Carbon, Olancho to display their modern handicrafts. An exhibit of archaeological finds in the area is planned. You can ask to see the collection and/or get a tour of a Post Classic era fortified site. The Pech Cultural Center also offers medicinal plant tours, nature hikes, Pech dinners, etc. There is no admission fee to the cultural center. Hours: If you ask, they will open it.

COPAN

COPAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Located in the village of Copan Ruinas, Copan department, the museum exhibits a splendid assortment of Mayan pieces that have been found in the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park just 1 km away.

LA PUENTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Featuring a sizeable collection of Mayan handicrafts and photographs as well as a room with Japanese antique ceramics, this museum is located at the El Puente Archaeological Site, about an hour's drive from Copan Ruinas.

MAYAN SEPULTURAS MUSEUM
Inaugurated in 1996, this is the premier Mayan museum in the Mundo Maya, featuring the finest examples of Copan's tombs, sculptures and architecture. Located at the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park, the museum is open Monday through Sunday.

TELA, ATLANTIDA

LANCETILLA BOTANICAL GARDENS
Located 2 kilometers from Tela on the Atlantic coast highway, the gardens feature one of the largest collections of tropical and subtropical plants, shrubs and trees in all Latin America. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Mondays through Sundays. There is an admission charge.

LA CEIBA, ATLANTIDA

TROPICAL BUTTERFLY FARM
The Tropical Butterfly Farm & Gardens of La Ceiba is open to the public Wednesday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The farm is located at The Lodge at Pico Bonito in the village of El Pino, about 25 minutes west of La Ceiba. Admission is Lps. 30 for adults, Lps. 15 for children and $6 for international visitors.

BUTTERFLY AND INSECT MUSEUM
Thousands of butterflies and insects from Honduras and 18 other countries are on display in La Ceiba' private Butterfly and Insect Museum. It is located in Colonia El Sauce, 2nd etapa, casa G-12. Visiting hours are 8-12 and 2-5, Monday through Saturday. The museum is closed Wednesday afternoon. Fees are Lps. 15 for adults and Lps. 10 for students. Tel. 442-2874, e-mail: rlehman@ns.gbm.hn

TRUJILLO

TRUJILLO RUFINO GALAN MUSEUM
A private museum which has a memorabilia section, old chairs, anchors, silverware, beds of famous people locally. There is an industrial archaeology section on how lights, axes, stoves, sewing machines, typewriters have changed over time. They have a good collection of Garifuna handicrafts and the best collection of NE Honduras archaeological pieces -- all unmarked. A written guide to the museum is available at the Trujillo Tourism Office in English and Spanish. The museum is open 8 to 4, closing for lunch. Adults Lps. 20, children Lps. 10. Located on Calle 18 de Mayo, next to the Crystales River and the famous "piscina" or pool, about a 15-minute walk out of town.

ROATAN, THE BAY ISLANDS

CARAMBOLA BOTANICAL GARDENS
located in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands. A wide variety of exotic plants is featured here, including "Roatan's most extensive orchid collection." It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 445-1117 and ask for Bill or Irma Brady.

BAY ISLANDS MUSEUM
A private museum at Anthony's Key Resort, Sandy Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, it mostly includes archaeological pieces, but there is a small section on the modern Bay Islanders. Museum admission is included in the cost of the dolphin show at Anthony Key's Institute of Marine Sciences. Small buses or taxis will take you to Sandy Bay from most Roatan towns.