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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.