For many people right now the only thing that matters in Honduras is the current political situation and what is happening between the government, the military, and the people. The problem is that the reports often depend on the perspective of the reporter, the slant of the publication, and personal opinion.

We have plenty of reports telling us what is going on in Honduras coming in from the major news sources, but what about the voices of the people in Honduras? So many of them are going unheard.

That is why since the start of the crisis in Honduras, (the coup, as mass media has called it), the blog written by La Gringa in Honduras, her Blogicito, has been constantly publishing articles that project an opinion of recent events that many are unaware of.

Right now, travel and tourism to Honduras is at an all time low, which is obvious, given the political state of the country. However, for those who really care about Honduras and are interested in gaining some new perspective on the political situation there, the blog mentioned above provides some interesting food for thought.

Whether you agree with La Gringa’s reporting, or with what you have heard on CNN, educating yourself on this little country of Honduras will help broaden your view of politics, media, and Hondurans.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if the current political situation wasn’t enough to make you second guess coming to Honduras, the weather should be. Lately, so many news reports have been full of political reports, little attention has been given to the heavy rain, flooding and mudslides that have been affecting Honduras for the last fer weeks.

Currently there are a couple of television infomercials released by the government warning citizens to steer clear of potential flooding zones, and advising waterways be kept cleared.

Ill effects have already been seen in some areas, such as El Durazno, where a hill collapsed, burying two houses and forcing families to dell for their lives.

Water levels are rising across the country, and caution is needed when driving on roads near waterways, or farming near rivers. Water levels can rise quickly and suddenly, so if you are in a danger zone take care to have the means to move on a moment’s notice.

For the fast majority of us foreigners, the rain is just an annoyance, added to the political strife in Honduras, and we are set to weather out multiple storms.

HondurasThisWeek.com reports on things from within the Honduras borders. They are a reliable source of information from a first hand point of view and have been establishing themselves as a reputable news publication for years now.

So, it is with great interest that we read Marco Cáceres’ article entitled, “The Civil Coup the World Overlooks.” It is a summary of the events that happened from June 25 to June 28, 2009 in Honduras. Here is the introduction from his fantastic article:

Contrary to the popular view that has developed during the past couple of weeks, the “coup” in Honduras did not occur on Sunday, June 28, 2009, but rather on Thursday, June 25. What the world witnessed on Sunday morning in Tegucigalpa was a police action ordered by the Supreme Court of Honduras to put down a coup perpetuated by President Manuel Zelaya three days earlier.

If you really want to get the full picture of what is happening in Honduras and why, please read this article. It will help to round out what you have heard in other sources of mainstream media.

www.hondurasthisweek.com

The Honduran Crisis is all over the internet, news, and pretty much ever other medium for sharing information.

I promised myself I wouldn’t share any opinions on this issue, but if you are looking to find out more about how things are going in Honduras from an insider’s point of view, I recommend you visit La Gringa’s Blogicito. She lives in La Ceiba, and has been blogging about Honduras for years and has done a tremendous job in posting up lots of information that you won’t see on CNN.

The Blogicito will hopefully round out your view of what the current situation really is in Honduras. It would be a shame to base your opinions only on what you’ve seen as presented by American media.

If there is one restaurant you have to try while visiting La Ceiba it is Playa Taty’s. It has been open for going on two years now, and is open 7 days a week for dinner (not for lunch).

Playa Taty’s has everything going on that you would expect from a beach restaurant: bright colors, a palm leaf roof, a little patio thing overlooking the beach. The atmosphere is quite relaxing, which puts you in the perfect mindset to enjoy some good food!

In a country where service isn’t exactly priority on anyone’s list, Playa Taty’s does it right. I have never heard complaints of the wait or kitchen staff, which is a great sign! (Many speak English and Spanish, although not all do.)

The menu serves up a decent variety, with the bright spot being the seafood dishes, considering we are right on the beach. Chicken, steak and pork are all on the menu, which is a mix of like a Creole – Caribbean style plates. The food is a little pricier than many restaurants in La Ceiba, but it is definitely worth it. You may pay less elsewhere, but you also get less.

Appetizers are about average on the price scale (around $5), but decently sized. Most of the entrees are served with a side dish and a salad. The salads aren’t your typical Honduran style either; they are actually fresh green salads served with your choice of dressing!

Don’t pass up the dessert either… my vote is for the coconut raisin peanut brownies sundae… yummm.

Seriously, eating at Playa Taty’s is better than pretty much anywhere else you could choose in La Ceiba, so give it a shot. It is in the Zona Viva, one block east of the Quinta Real hotel.

If the economic situation in the States has led you to think about relocating and you are considering Honduras, even with its current political state, there are several things that you should consider first.

1. Where have you learned about Honduras? Thanks to the internet, there are loads of ways to learn about this great country. However, what is the source of your information? Is it a tourism agency, a real estate agent, a travel agent, or anyone else who has something to gain from your moving here? Make sure you consider the source as misinformation is prominent, even among bloggers (they may have only spent a week here!).

2. Have you ever been to Honduras? If the answer is yes, for how long? Did you fall in love with the country or did you fall in love with the resort? Everyday life in Honduras is very different from what you may experience in just a week or two year. I suggest coming down and renting for at least 6 months or so: just long enough to give you a variety of typical Honduran scenarios, but short enough that you won’t be scarred for life if you can’t handle it.

3. Do you speak Spanish? If not, you may want to start learning now. English is not widely spoken in Honduras, despite what your travel guide may have told you. While your Spanish will improve drastically  just by using it here on a day to day basis, you are going to want to have a base to build off of.

4. Don’t trust anyone. I know that sounds terrible, but so much of what you read isn’t true, and misinformation is so prevalent. Even the Honduran Consulate offices in your home country have been known to give bad information. Attorneys are corrupt, land deals go bad, and even your “friends” may be looking for a way that they can get something from the Gringo. Just keep your eyes open.

5. Two words: CULTURE SHOCK. It will happen, no matter how prepared you think you are for the move. Even long time expats still get hit with it sometimes, when the Honduran line of reasoning is so different from our expat “norm.”

Semana Santa is coming up in April so I am making plans to travel to Santa Rosa de Copan for their week long celebration!

In the meantime, I was looking around for other things to do in Santa Rosa and have therefor been researching the area. Turns out Santa Rosa de Copan is the center of the Honduran tobacco trade and has been since colonial times.

Now, I’m not one for a smoke,  but I do enjoy history. At La Flor de Copan Cigar Factory you can take tours Monday to Friday at 10 am and at 2 pm, and it only costs about 2 dollars.

If you do enjoy cigars you’ll be happy to know at the end of the tour you get to stop by the factory shop and try some of their hand-rolled cigars. I have been told that the Santa Rosa is a favorite – mild, but satisfying.

The factory, which is located only about 2 km from town employs around 240 workers and produces over 30,000 cigars daily.

For more information ask in town, or call 504–662–0185.

A favorite in La Ceiba and arguably the only “cool” cafe in town is Ki’Bok cafe, which according to its founder Rosalia Alcantara originally of Santa Rosa, was one of the first things she noticed La Ceiba was lacking upon moving there.

Ki’Bok, which means “aroma” in Mayan, opened four months ago and since then has drawn a crowd of regulars with its coffee and artsy feel. But, Alcantara’s dream is much larger than just your average coffee shop.

“We are trying to make this place a cultural center,” Alcantara is quoted as saying in the latest edition of HondurasThisWeek.com.

A month ago Ki’Bok cafe hosted an exhibition featuring Brazilian native Sonia Ribeiro, who is well known around La Ceiba for her painting lessons. Guests over the age of 18 were offered a glass of wine, and had the chance to mingle with other artists and Sonia herself.

Alcantara wants to continue in this direction, drawing more attention to culture and the arts. Ki’Bok already serves as the meeting place for a filmmakers club and has hosted poetry readings in the past. Local published poet, Tania Claudina Alvarado, has worked to organize many of the events held at Ki’Bok and her book “Brisa Sediciosa,” is available for sale at Ki’Bok.

Ki’Bok is located in Barrio El Iman near La Plancha restaurant and the stadium and is open from 7 am to 8 pm Monday – Saturday and from 8 am – 12 pm on Sunday.

Ki’Bok Contact Info: (504) 442–2673 or kibok.cafe@yahoo.com

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in Honduras is not government regulated, which means it can be hard to find a true professional. The search, however, is over. Ivonne van Leest is the answer – she is a true physical therapist, having received her education in Holland.

Ivonne got her postgraduate degree in sports physical therapy: intensive therapy tailored specifically to athletes and designed to get them back to top performance level after an injury or surgery. She uses that education and training,and a total of 29 years working in therapy and rehabilitation to create new methods of treating injuries of all ages and athletic levels.

Ivonne has dubbed her new method “Fysio Total,” and it is exclusive to her clinic. In Honduras the typical solution is a prescription, an ice pack or an injection, and the physical therapy centers that do offer medical gyms often don’t know which exercises are appropriate for certain injuries.

At Fysio Total, Ivonne makes good use of a variety of treatment methods, including exercise equipment and the Power Plate, an accelerated training machine.

Ivonne stated in an article for HondurasThisWeek.com:

Our mission is to get you in a state of well-being.We’ll teach you things you can do at home, how to prevent future pain or discomfort, and what exercises are best for you. We’ll do an assessment, which includes your analyzing your work environment, even your home environment if you’re interested in that.

We’ll get you back on your feet - that’s our goal. Not just pain free - we’ll get you back to your daily activities, back to your normal athletic performance level, no matter if it’s for fun, fitness or at the professional level. Our programs are like personal training: 45 minutes of one-on-one “Fysio Total.”

For more information about Fysio Total you can email Ivonne at ivleest@yahoo.com.

La Tigra National Park dwarfs Tegucigalpa’s United Nations Park with over 238 square kilometers of cloud forest. Central America used to boast a great number of cloud forests, but in recent years that number has been reduced greatly. Honduras still has a variety of protected areas that are rich in cloud forest vegetation. La Tigra National Park is the closest one to Tegucigalpa, being located just 11 km outside the city.

Most people arrive to La Tigra National Park by way of El Hatillo, the closest and fastest way from Tegucigalpa. Just inside the Hatillo entrance there is a small lodge called La Estancia where guests can stay the night and enjoy some amazing bird watching in the surrounding pine tree forest.