I'm Back! Here's my story-with pics

[Poyzinous]

Well I spent July 23rd to August 3rd in Honduras, and it was fun, terrifying, sad, and routine. First, from the plane, headed into the country. No Idea what Island mass that is...quizas es Roatan? Heading past Puerto Cortes Well now. The weather was fine. 92 and sunny every day. Very hot. Lots of sun. My rental vehicle this trip was a 2006 Toyota Hilux. Which is like a Tacoma, only Diesel, and an inch narrower. Comparing it to my last rental, a 2001 Nissan Frontier diesel, I prefer the nissan. Not just because thats where my heart lies, but because of the experience. Unlike the Hilux, the Frontier didn't have power windows, locks, or mirrors. But what it lacked in those luxuries it made up for in reliability, 4wd supremacy, driveability and build quality. The Toyota had a rusty battery cable I had to wiggle repeatedly to get a good connection to start. The right mirror was inoperative past a view of the right rear tire. The CD player ate my CD. It had a more difficult to drive with 4wd system. It had a body that squeaked and creaked over the slightest bumps and numerous road imperfections. The engine had absolutely no power untill 2200rpm, and it had a 4400rpm redline. It did have more power than the frontier from 2500-3500rpm though. The other reason I wish I had the frontier was because the Hilux in Honduras is like an Escalade in southeast DC. The truck was popular among mafia, drug dealers, etc. I was stopped by security guards at every mall, checking my license and registration and then letting me go when they saw I was american. A guard told me that he stopped me because The Hilux was common transport for the aforementioned people, and want to be alert for any trouble. We spent a lot of time at the wife's aunts house. At the top of a busted street you see here: The picture doesn't do the actual drive experience justice. No cars dare go up that street. People on motorcycles and dirt bikes step off and push their way up. There are 5 and 7 inch deep craters, and the steep broken concrete street requires truck like ground clearance. Here's another pic. The street is narrow as well. Only 3-4 feet wider than the truck. Here's a pic from the front door of aunties house. Here's a chicken I'll probably eat my next visit She was aggressive. Wouldn't let me grab one of the chicks. Not that it was easy, they run away from you if you try to grab them. They're slippery guys. But Wifey got one. I go almost every other day to this place: The CITYMALLThats the food court looking up at the theater section. Movie tickets are equivalent of $3.25 and a Drink and Nachos is about $4.00The theater is much cleaner than any theater in the US I've ever been to. Since its a tourist area, the whole mall is clean and very nice. 18-25 Armed security guards in and outside the mall at any given time depending on weekday or weekend.

Looking out to front street enterance. We stayed 3 days and 2 nights at the Gran Hotel Sula, the nicest non-american brand hotel (ie Hilton, etc) in the city. It was $143.22 US. The hotel is to the right, not visible, but the pic is showing the center plaza, where the municipal palace is (not pictured). That big building that says Pizza hut, yeah its a Pizza hut. They are all like that in Honduras. Huge. 2 or 3 floors, seat 200 or so people. Restaurant like. They are everywhere. About 8 within 15 minutes driving distance of each other. On one main street, an inner city highway, divided by a median, there is one on the northbound lane and another on the southbound lane a half kilometer down the road. And They're Cheap too. 2 Pizzas, 6 drinks, 18 boneless wings for $25 US. The currency down there is called 'Lempiras'. $1=19lps. Here is the Hotel room, before we tore it up: Unfortunately, I violated the terms of use with the after pic, so you won't see it. Here's a view out the balcony, looking towards the gym. And a little to the right Another nice place to go to is Zizima Water Park. Entrance is like $8 US per person. Food you'll need $7, so basically $30 for two for a good time. http://zizimawaterpark.com Went to see the Olympic stadium, (the really old one, not the kinda old one) Here's a view from the top looking toward the city. 15 min from home/hotel. Well about the stay. I was pulled over by police twice. Once for making an illegal U-turn. Hard to know it was an illegal maneuver, since there are about an average of 2 traffic signs per mile of road. No signs saying no u-turn allowed, no speed limits, its a DOT logistical mess basically. The officer wanted to sieze my license, but the wife charmed him in to letting me go since I was not familiar with the unwritten, unmentioned, and unquestionable laws. I wouldn't (neither should you) dare mess with a cop down there. They make the equivalent of $480 US monthly, and walk around with shotguns and assault rifles. 4 per truck, so no, I dont wanna mess with that. The second time I was pulled over 4 days later, the cop said he pulled me over for running a yellow light. A Yellow light. Not red, or purple, yellow. I said HEY?! it wasn't red, so how is that wrong? I guess he would know better, I mean he was parked a block ahead of the light with no way to see it change. Anyway, he took my license and started talking to me about how rough it is in Honduras, and That by pulling me over he will give me a ticket for 800lps and take my license, and I'll have to go to court tuesday (plane departs monday) to pay and get it back. I explained it was not possible, so he said something, SOMETHING would have to be done as a penalty. He started telling me how I just contributed to wasting precious fuel from his motorcycle (that gets 120mpg) in idling by the road so he's ready to chase. He insinuated that I should help him recouperate those costs, so I slowly accumulated 300lps to bribe him away. While he's looking through his book of traffic laws and I guess their field manual, he quietly says to stick the money in there and I can go. He turns his head looking for any sneaky possibilities, and I slip the money in his book, letting one of the 3 hundreds fall out between the seat and the door, him not noticing. So there was my big sin. Bribing a crooked cop $11. Just so I could drive away with my license and possibly my life.

While there, I noticed many political rallies and protests and things. I'd go the the mall (different than pictured) and see a dozen armored police trucks and all the officers in full gear and assault rifles. Even though we were just casually shopping, they were there in preparation for a rally that would be happening 2 hours later. Although I felt safe with so much police, I was utterly terrified and scared out of my mind, since Police are pretty rough. But they all seemed good spirited and happy drinking their beers and frozen coffee drinks from Expresso Americano(like starbucks, literally everywhere. 2 per mall everywhere.) I wanted to interview one and post the video here, but my wife dragged me away before I could pull out my Nico business card and tell him I was an internet reporter for an Online club. Oh well.There was always a midnight curfew, lifted August 1st, the same day I went out with wifey, her cousin Oscar and his pregnant wife, and cousin Pamela. We went to see transformers 2, the 9:20 show. We got out at midnight. Good thing the curfew was lifted that same day...On the way to Pamela's house, the house at the top of the hill in the crazy beat up street pics, something bad almost happened. I would always creep up the street in reverse, since I hated backing out of the street in reverse. Thats also why I park in reverse, so when I leave my destination, I get in and drive away. Anyway, the truck has 2% tint all around (no tint laws in Honduras, unless a cop decides he needs gas money) so I lower the two front windows to get a clear view of the narrow street, which is lit up by one street light 20 feet down from Pam's home. As I'm burning up the clutch from the impossibly steep and beat up street, I notice someone standing around the corner, to the left of Pams house, hiding behind the wall that is the neighbors home. My wife says it must be her cousin G, who just got home from work. But I didn't think so, since he's a bus driver who wakes up at 530 to work from 6am to 8pm, and 5 hours of sleep doesn't do well for 14 hours of work. As I get closer, I notice the dude has his hat down low, and he's got a wood and metal barreled contraption strongly resembling a shotgun held in his right arm pointing down his leg, and just as I realize Its not some random hunter, pam barks to me that the guy is a criminal. "drive DRIVE DRIVE GO!!!!" and so I shove it into 1st and start rolling down the hill as fast as the truck can safely maneuver on the busted street. The guy stands out into the street and I'm thinking he'll open fire, but instead runs off into the connecting street. I'm thinking he's getting into his car to chase us or something, so I roll out the little pueblo and jump onto the main highway, practically 100ft from the street entrance, and fly down the highway at 110. KPH. Its a crusty diesel truck. the very next town is where we live, and I drive in and start driving down the road and quickly clearing all speed bumps and turn off my lights and drive down the dark road leading into our town, in Lopez Arellano, and drop off Oscar and his wife in Cerro Verde, where they live, and quickly go home, just 4 minutes closer back. The whole time my wife has her heart at her throat and is having a minor asthma attack. I was calm, mostly, everyone else was a little shocked. Turns out Pamela recognized the guy since she works close to the Jail where she saw him get out of a few days earlier. I'm guessing the reason the dude wanted to carjack me was because I was in a Toyota Hilux and wasn't a gangster or such and assumed I had paper stacks in my pockets and ice on my wrist. Well, an hour later police showed up to either make sure the dude was gone or to see if he was successful, since there are plenty of crooked cops who work with criminals and such. I'm just glad everything calmed down. Anyway, the next day we had dinner at TGI Fridays and let the wife get a good buzz off some Don Julio and a Delicious Hurricane. Monday came, and: Goodbye Central America.I left all my bootleg movies down there. They cost $2(35lps) for the theater recorded bootlegs, complete with audience laughter and whatnot, and $3(50lps) for the bootlegs recorded off the film itself, in almost DVD quality. Bought Ice Age 3, Transformers 2, Hangover, GI Joe, and some chick flick due to be released next week or something.I'll be back in November. Hopefully.

Questions? Comments? Let me know.
Modified by Poyzinous at 9:07 PM 8/5/2009

[TISon28s]

Very nice pic. Hope you had fun! I'll be leaving for Slovakia this friday. Post some more pics!

[SVTCOBRA]

Glad you made it home safe!!!Cool pics!!!

[pfarmer]

Next time tell the chick to put down the chick, we don't want to see the chick, we want to see the chick.

Perry

[bschurr]

Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures and your adventures.I am always kept in check after some travel to other places. We often take for granted the simple pleasures of liberty and law & order until we no longer have it huh?

Glad it all worked out for you and your wife. Welcome home!

[Poyzinous]

It was hard to take a pic of the chick, it flies away if its not held. So next time I'll put it in a little cage or something. Or did you want more pics of my chick?

[G_whizz]

Or did you want more pics of my chick?

Wow... dude that sounds like an total unforgetable epic adventure! You almost got jacked by a criminal with a frikn shotgun in another frikn country!! Thankfully, you only managed to get jacked by local law enforcement..LULZ!!

Awesome pics! I heard Roatan is beautiful especially for diving.

How was GI Joe??

LOL @ 4400 redline...I can't even remember what that feels like!

Seriously...great pics!!

Glad your back!

[joe603]

Wow! Doesn't sound like a normal, boring vacation...Glad you made it back without any extra holes.

[pfarmer]

It was hard to take a pic of the chick, it flies away if its not held. So next time I'll put it in a little cage or something. Or did you want more pics of my chick?

The chick that picked up the chick is the chick who should put down the chick so we can see the chick.

Perry

[Focusedintntions]

Chica!

[AZhitman]

Gabriel, what a cool thread!

Welcome back - Glad you made it home safe. Those pictures really point out what we take for granted here in the US.

I know a little more about Honduras now... Thanks for sharing!

The chick that picked up the chick is the chick who should put down the chick so we can see the chick.

Perry

Your wife is beautiful - I assume she returned home to NOVA with you?

[kmckis1029]

my jeep has like a 5k redline... so much different than our Gs...

glad you made it home... we both had intersting trips i see

[Poyzinous]

Glad you made it home safe!!!Cool pics!!!

your avatar-what happened to your dog?

The chick that picked up the chick is the chick who should put down the chick so we can see the chick.

you crazy old man

Those pictures really point out what we take for granted here in the US. Your wife is beautiful - I assume she returned home to NOVA with you?

not this trip. hopefully next one...We take a lot for granted here in the states. No matter how much I hate taxes and mean, donut hogging authority, we need it for all the public service and peace and security.

my jeep has like a 5k redline... so much different than our Gs...

My friends Volvo 12 liter inline 6 semi has a 2500rpm redline. I invite anyone here to visit someday. Of course, stay in the tourist areas, but its a great experience and lots of wonderful things to see and do.Next time I'll go to wonderland and see the Mayan ruins at Copan. My Aztec ancestors would not approve...but oh well.

[zozoka1212]

Sweet, cool pictures. Glad you made it back with no issue.

If you have more pictures load them up. Would love to see more.

[SVTCOBRA]

your avatar-what happened to your dog?

Oh, that's Rudy our mini aussie. He was attacking the big aussie Jax (prev. avatar).

[Poyzinous]

Heres some from my previous tripsThis Mini resort is located in Puerto Cortes, its called Hotel Playa. They have package deals for 2 people, 2 nights, 3 days, $300, breakfast lunch and dinner included. Big yummy meals too... Looking out from the patio to the beach With happy sauce The pool, with barstools The pics suck cuz I took them with my old phone, not my new G1.I have a few more I can't find. Yet.

Glad you made it back with no issue.

I had a few issues actually. Read between the paragraphs.

[zozoka1212]

With happy sauce

Picture is just perfect. LOL

Sorry I've read it thru I was going to put down big issue but these issues were kind of expected. It doesn't make it easier to handle it for sure. The country is unstable and corruption is on the rise.





I had a few issues actually. Read between the paragraphs.

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

my jeep has like a 5k redline... so much different than our Gs...

glad you made it home... we both had intersting trips i see

Im in the same boat with the jeep... But it makes all of its power between 2200 and 3500... anything more than that you are just spinning lol...

Glad you are home safe... and sweet pics... Cuban here and can't wait for cuba to open up... would love to visit the country, my grandfather... 85 says it is the most beautiful island in the Caribbean

DJ

[Poyzinous]

Cuban here and can't wait for cuba to open up... would love to visit the country, my grandfather... 85 says it is the most beautiful island in the CaribbeanDJ

Well being half Puertorican I must say that La isla del encanto, Puerto Rico, is the most beautiful island in the Caribbean But my Dominican Homegirl would say no, DR is the nicest! and any Jamaican buddies would say Jamaica, etc...we all have our ethnic bias, lolThey are all wonderful. Except Haiti. just kidding

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

The funny part is that all of the different islands hate Haiti!

It doesn't matter who you ask any one you ask they will tell you its the Haitions they don't like...

By Grandfather is Spanish... we all have light skin lol... and that was his opinion of all the Islands... He had been to most of them... and he was not from any of them... I took it as an unbiased opinion lol..

DJ

[Poyzinous]

no idea why everyone hates haiti. Even GTA Vice city had them in a negative way...

[AZhitman]

I'd like to see PR again. Lived in Humacao for a year as a kid... wonder what it's like now?

[Omegamerc]

I'd like to see PR again. Lived in Humacao for a year as a kid... wonder what it's like now?

A much better place

[AZhitman]

[Poyzinous]

Never been to humacao. Never actually spent much time on the east side but for San Juan and a friend in San Lorenzo. I'm usually on the southwest side. Sunsets are more beautiful there, with the sun setting over the ocean...