Parades and Tela

Hi everyone, lots to report.

So we went to the parades the Friday before last, and were amazed and astounded when we got there. The first parade was the one for the pre – school aged kids but just because they are so young no less effort was put into their costumes. We defiantly felt underdressed in our (compulsory) beige trousers and blue blouse. Each of the children were given a special part to play, from banner bearers and flag holders to the five girls representing each of the central American countries and the boys playing toy drums at the front of the high school band. My role was to get the four flag – bearing four – year – olds to march in a square, and the one boy with the Honduras flag to march in the middle. This was no easy task. The boys were immaculately behaved, however their ability to march in a square was seriously limited and as a result I basically ran about the supposed square pushing different children into place. It was good fun though, and we made Honduran TV!

The Sunday high – school parade was less fun, mostly because we had to wake up at 5.30 to get there for the 7.00 start. However, this being Honduras, we then had to wait on the hot road for THREE AND A HALF HOURS until anything happened. Not impressed we finally set off at 10.30. While there were some fantastic costumes and every school has a samba band, which are all so good, it was soooooo hot and soooo long I didn’t enjoy it half as much as the Friday one.

However, we had the trip to Tela to perk us up. We hopped on a bus after the parade and we were off! The journey was amazing, the coach was practically empty and the views were great. It was just so nice to get out of Sigua for the first time since we’ve been here and see somewhere else. You could tell as we were getting closer because the air was getting more and more damp, and you could start to smell that wet, green, plant - like musk of the rainforest.

We woke up on Monday to rain. In a slightly bad mood we set off to find the tour we were planning on going on which took you to a national park. Firstly. the hotel where it was based had changed addresses and when we finally found the correct place we were told we needed 5 people to go on the tour. Slightly disheartened, we decided to set off in search for the botanic gardens, which the guidebook had recommended, however when we finally got there it turned out to be shut. Third time lucky, we set off for the Garifuna (a Caribbean ethnic group who live around the Honduran coast and on the islands) Villages. We were greeted by a man in a tuk tuk who offered to show us round the community. We went out on a lake in a canoe, had the best seafood soup I have ever eaten in my life (and probably ever will), made by our guide’s aunt, walked along the beach, saw the local radio station, and saw how the Garifuna boys fish. Exhausted we went back to Tela and spent the rest of the day on the beach. It’s the first time I have ever seen the Caribbean sea, and it is so beautiful (and also very warm).

On Tuesday we decided to go and see fellow volunteers Meryl and Rosa, who live in Tela and had just gotten back from their holiday to the Mayan ruins in Copan. It was great to catch up with them and then we went to the botanic gardens (which were open this time) with them and the American volunteer they live with, Luis. Now, when I heard botanical garden, I envisaged Edinburgh botanic gardens, but hotter. It was quite different, was more like wandering through the rainforest than anything else, the trees and plants were so cool and we were the only ones there. Afterwards we sadly waved goodbye and hopped on the bus home.

Then yesterday we participated in a 6k fun run through town. It was extremely well organised (for Honduras): each runner got a number and every finisher got a piece of corn (yum!). It was really tough because it was so hot and quite hilly, and we haven’t managed to run since we’ve been here. It was good to do some proper exercise, however, and the views were absolutely stunning. The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing at the pool with Ione, Michaela and Katie.

Next weekend we have the Monday off, so guess what – Tela again! This time Ione, Michaela and Katie will be coming too, and it will be nice to have a group of us, and maybe this time we will manage that national park!

Our school's band

My flag boys

Our Garifuna guides: Jose and Marcos

Garifuna boys fishing