Casa de Cultura - House of Culture

During our recent visit to the city of Santa Rosa de Copan, in Honduras, we visited the Casa de Cultura.  This is a facility that provides lessons in music, art, and dance for the youth.  It appeared to be a very busy place. We stopped by in late in the afternoon.  Ballet dance lessons were in session as well as some beginner guitar lessons.
It was inspiring to see the quality of art on display, and the number of kids taking part in the dance and music lessons.  We were invited into the guitar lessons and granted permission to take a video of a small  performance.  It is posted below.

Artwork on Display in the Casa de Cultura

Guitar Lessons

The Casa de Cultura is located a block from the Central Plaza, so if you are in the area, check it out.

PFC - School Supply Program

The main purpose of our stay at Copán Ruinas in February 2013 was to participate in the School Supply Program created by Paramedics for Children.  This program delivers school supplies to Mayan Chorti children in schools that are located in the mountains around Copán Ruinas.  In Honduras, the Government provides a school and teacher, but does not supply note books, pencils, pens etc.  Many of the children are from families who cannot afford to buy what is needed, and would otherwise have to go without.

A Day on the School Supply Trail

Each morning were up at 7 a.m. and served a delicious breakfast at Hacienda La Esperanza.  We enjoyed typical Honduran Breakfast, Pancakes, Oatmeal or Yogurt & granola along with fresh fruit.

Between 8 & 9 a.m., we boarded the 4 x 4 Mules and headed into the mountains for the scenic drive to the various schools.  The roads were a a bit rough to say the least, but the scenery was spectacular.  We passed through small communities, coffee plantations, pine forests and many steep inclines.

The arrival of the Mules at the schools always created a commotion.  The children were excited to see Roger (program founder) and Marco Tulio (program coordinator), as they have been visiting these communities and bringing supplies to the children for the last 17 years.







One group of students made signs welcoming Roger, Marco Tulio and "Visitantes" - that would be us.  Quite often they had a song or two, and always a "Gracias" and a smile.

Everyone lines up and receives a plastic bag to carry their supplies.

Children display their supplies.

The children are given 2 notebooks, two pencils, a pen, ruler, eraser, a box of pencil crayons and a candy.

Inside one of the school rooms.  On average, there were 3 grades, 30 to 40 students and one teacher.

Marco Tulio presents a Soccer Ball for the students.

Students at a school just across the border in Guatemala

Visiting with the teachers and children was a big part of the experience.  

Roger entertaining children with his favorite puppets.

In all, we visited 23 schools, and delivered supplies to just under 2,000 children.  The experience was educational and very rewarding.  The schedule allows ample time to learn as much as possible about the schools, and the culture of the people.  

Click here to learn more about Paramedics for Children, or make a donation to this worthy and efficiently run program.  I recommend it!!!

Operation Fruit for Life

click for official website

"Operation Fruit For Life" is a program started by the charity Paramedics for Children.  The purpose of the program is to combat malnutrition by planting a special breed of hardy fruit tree at the homes of some of the poorest people in the world.  These fruit trees are bred to grow quickly and should produce fruit within 2 to 3 years.  We spent a couple mornings planting mango, orange and avocado trees at the homes of Chorti families in the mountains surrounding Copán Ruinas.

Chorti Community

 The Project is designed to be relaxed and intent on familiarizing the participants like us, with the families, their lifestyle and culture.  These people in general live on a diet of corn and beans.  The addition of fruit trees will add variety and compliment their diets for years to come.

Planting a Mango Tree

Chatting and admiring our work

We found the visits interesting and rewarding.  The lives that these people lead are so far removed from what we are accustomed to, that it is hard to believe.  Their homes are barely more than shelters from the rain.  They collect firewood to cook their food.  They dry and process corn by hand in order to make tortillas.

Chorti woman removing corn from cobs

About 4 months supply of corn.

Kitchen Stove

The people we encountered seemed shy and reserved, but ready and willing to help dig the holes in order to plant the trees.  It took a little time, but more often than not I was able to engage in some sort of conversation with them. (in Spanish)  The lady in the picture above chatted with me and explained the process she used to make tortillas from the corn she was preparing.

Members of the Chorti Community

Marco Tulio - coordinator of our daily schedule

The kids usually hovered around and were happy to have their picture taken with the blooming flowers or sometimes with one of us.  I got the feeling that we were somewhat strange or a novelty in their eyes.  Tourists regularly visit Copán Ruinas, but "gringos" like us seldom venture into the mountains to offer assistance and visit in a neighbourly fashion.  Despite their shy manner, we felt welcome, and the air of appreciation was definitely fresh and sincere.   

Paramedics for Children - "Operation Fruit For Life" 

I recommend it!!!!

Escuela Nacional De Ciencias Forestales - Our Home in Siguatepeque

 Welcome to the Escuela Nacional De Ciencias Forestales, our home in Siguatepeque Honduras for the duration of our Habitat for Humanity build this past February.  This is an institution set up to teach students from across Central America forestry skills which include preservation and sustainability of the forests and the associated ecosystems which are so important to the environment.  There are also training facilities pertaining to harvesting and uses of the resources.

Our Cozy Room

We stayed in the hotel section of the school.  The room was basic, but clean and otherwise comfortable. There was lots of hot water so that trumped any other short coming.  There was a television, pool table and ping pong in the main lobby.  Wireless internet was available.......most of the time. There were also some couches and chairs which made our evening game time comfortable and more competitive.  The main gate was about 100 meters from a gas/convenience station which sold snacks and cold drinks (including cerveza).  What more could one ask for..........our home away from home was pretty well complete.

Old truck still runs??

Flowering tree on the property

Our team leader arranged for a tour of the property.  The school has an operating sawmill, furniture building shop, machine shop for sharpening blades, a seed extraction facility and class rooms for the teaching of the various subjects and courses.  The grounds were adorned with many colorful plants and trees.  Our visit was during the dry season, so the colors weren't as lush and vibrant as they would be at their peak.

Sawmill

Giant Band Saw Blade

Large Circular Blades in the Machine Shop

Pine cones drying before seeds are extracted and prepared for planting.

Experience the Rugged Beauty of Honduras without roughing it!

Hacienda La Esperanza

Hacienda La Esperanza is located just south of Copán Ruinas. (Map)  It is a short 10 to 15 minute walk to the Central Park of Copán Ruinas.  If you prefer, a Tuk-Tuk ride will cost you about one dollar.  Copán Ruinas is the home of a Mayan archeolocial site, Macaw Mountain, (a bird sanctuary), and has many boutique style shops, cafes and restaurants as well as a local fruit and produce market.  You may also like to horseback ride, take a trip to the hot springs or the Zip Lines.  

Clinica La Esperanza

Hacienda La Esperanza was created and operates soley for the purpose of supporting the Indigenous Mayan Indians in the surrounding area.  Paramedics for Children is a charity founded by Roger Harrison which provides medical services at subsidized rates to the Indigenous, as well as purchasing and delivering school supplies to the children attending some 25 schools in the mountains surrounding Copán Ruinas. 100% of the proceeds of this beautiful B&B go to support the programs of Paramedics for Children.

Lower level grounds

View from porch

We stayed at the Hacienda and enjoyed every minute of our time there.  The room was spacious and clean.  The plumbing was up to north American standards which was a plus.  Hot water, large showers and nice beds made the stay quite comfortable.  Each morning, I enjoyed a coffee while watching a variety of colorful native birds perch in the trees or take a drink from the fountain.  Watching the cattle go up the road to pasture along the river and listening to the birds singing made for a relaxing environment.  We enjoyed the Baleadas, Pancakes or "Tipico" style breakfasts that were served.  The Staff was friendly and Roger made sure we had everything we needed.

If you plan to explore the beauty in and around Copán Ruinas,  I would recommend staying at Hacienda La Esperanza.  I was satisfied not only with the accomodations, but happy that I was contributing to well being of the Indigenous community that lacks so much in Honduras.  Rooms are limited, and  reservations must be made in advance.  Click Here for more info.  Hope you enjoy your stay as much as I did.  Happy travelling!!!

A Gem in Copán Ruinas, Honduras

Our recent trip took us to the town of Copán Ruinas, in western Honduras.  Copán is known for the archaeological site of the Maya civilization located there.  We were there to help an organization called Paramedics for Children deliver school supplies to Chorti Mayan communities in the mountains around Copán Ruinas.  Because of the school schedule, we were usually free for the afternoons and were able to enjoy the beauty of the town as well as the unique shops and cafes.

Our walk into town took us past a studio/ workshop of an artist who made carvings from wood and stone.  It was interesting to stop and watch as he chiseled his way through a block of stone or carve birds into cedar planks.  Our almost daily visits resulted in some conversation, and Marco Tulio Ramirez soon brought out some of his work in hopes that maybe he could make a sale.  He was working on a carving of a Humming Bird with some flowers.  It was partly finished, and looked pretty nice, but I told him I'd have to think and come back.  When I finally saw the finished product, he had a sale.  Hand carved, hand painted, and signed by the artist, I carefully packed my gem into my suitcase and brought it home.

If you visit Copán Ruinas, take a stroll south of the Central Park until the road goes down the hill.  The studio is at the bottom of the hill on the left. (see map below)  With any luck you will find Marco Tulio working away on another hand made gem.
 

Marco Tulio Ramirez

Map