Jordan and I left for Hondo on Weds Feb 22. 3 hour flight to Houston – we got off plane hungry and needing to use restroom but we thought we better find the gate first. After riding a few trams we arrived as they were calling our name waiting for us to board. Fortunately plane had a restroom and light breakfast was served. About 2 ½ hours later we were landed in Tegus. Nice smooth landing – nothing like the scary u-tube videos I had seen.
Customs stopped us in Tegus and tried to ask me about my bag – Jordan was able to understand him enough to know that he wanted to know if we had any fruit. I said yes apples. When he searched the bag he also found 3 oranges that I also brought along. They confiscated the oranges and made me sign an Agricultural Terrorist form. I think they would normally have sent me off to prison but fortunate for me the prison had burned down the week prior to our arrival.Justin and Jen were waiting for us on the other side of customs. We jumped in taxi and headed to hotel. Taxi’s outnumbered other cars about 5 to 1. Roads were built about wide enough for 1 car but somehow they are traveled by 2 lanes of cars plus motorcycles weaving in and out and people walking. Lots of hills, curves, and near collisions – I might open up an auto body shop and get rich – however most of the taxis were really beat up and I doubt they really would pay to get it fixed. Traffic jams everywhere with street vendors trying to peddle their goods or wash their windows.
Hotel was very nice and modern. Beautiful pool – nice air conditioned rooms. After check in we headed out for dinner. At the Las Tetras… Steak, rice, beans – awesome! We were told to not eat any fresh veggies but the salsa looked amazing – so I went for it – yummy! We then headed to downtown Tegus. People and cars all over. Huge traffic jams and trash all over. We saw a big church a park with some shady characters walking around, a sweet bakery, some clothing and souvenir stores. We went to grocery store to buy the necessities – bottled water and cervesa (beer in American lingo) Beer was sold by the can – had to dig to find a 6 pack as no one can normally afford that many at one time – no 12 packs or Busch Lt 30’s. Went back to hotel as sun setting and temps dropping to 70’s. Perfect for hitting steam room and hot tub. The steam room was very small. Some guy put some kind of flowers or weeds under the steam. Not sure what it was but it really helped clear my sinuses and also gave me a few flashbacks from my college days… Justin and Jen went back to Justin’s home and Jordan and I went to bed.
Next morning we ate breakfast at the hotel – awesome buffet - fresh pineapple and fresh juices. I tried telling the waitress I wanted some coffee and she said something and I said si’.. I ended up with half coffee and half cream. Justin and Jen arrived and we jumped on an old school bus and headed up the mountains to Valle De Angeles. On way up we see hundreds of small little huts selling fruit, flowers, grilling meats. Nice friendly quiet town with shops selling paintings, pottery, coffee etc.
Ate lunch at a nice local steak shop. We got on bus to return to Tegus but part way back the driver must have got word that more peeps were waiting for a bus so we turned around and picked them up. We then went to Justin’s school.
The girls BB team was playing a game in an outdoor gym – which was painful to watch. School was nice – Justin’s room was small -with walls that any noise bounced off. We stopped at Justin’s Tegus home. Very small but comfy. We met his Mom and maid and then went up on the room of the house and could see houses built upon top of houses.
Justin’s friend who teaches at the University picked us up in her car and we went to a Japanese restaurant. It took about an hour to get there – cause Justin was lost…It took about 10 minutes to get back! Typical Japanese Diner. Back at hotel Justin and I decided to check out the casino which was attached to hotel. We played some 7 card poker – we couldn’t really figure out the rules but somehow won 1300 lempiras (about 65 bucks). We collected our winning s and went to a local bar down the road. The QB on Justin’s football team was the bouncer. We also talked some football to a LBer on the team. Justin introduced me to his friend Tokee – quite a character. He had a brother that went to Cornerstone so he had made a few trips to Michigan. He said that one time they saved some money and flew into Flint – He said Flint is a scary town… and he lives in the murderous capital of the world!
Justin took a taxi back to his house and Jen spent the night with us in our hotel. I can’t figure out the taxi business. It costs about 60 lemps for a taxi ride and gas costs about 90 lemps a gallon…not sure how it adds up? Also drivers are crazy. They spend most of time weaving in and out of traffic, honking horn and disregarding all stop sings and traffic lights. They don’t seem worried about getting stopped by police – and actually I seldom saw a police car. The police are all standing guard by businesses. Literally every restaurant, gas station, bar has a security guard standing watch with an AK 47…Not sure why?
Friday after breakfast we went to the mall. Typical mall just like one you would see in Grand Rapids. We ate lunch at Coco Belleadas. Tortias with beans and eggs and then you could add salsa or meat or cheese – very yummy We rested poolside for the afternoon. For dinner we ate at Gino’s. Your typical quaint little Italian restaurant…
On Saturday we went to a huge market –like the Rockford farmers market on steroids. Literally thousands of vendors selling fruits, veggies, crafts plus some peeps grilling up chicken, beef, hot dogs etc. One section was all fresh meats – smelly fish, chicken, big slabs of beef… you just asked the guy for a hunk of beef and he would cut off a chunk, weigh it and you would pay a few lemps. Next we went to a huge soccer stadium and took some pics. 
Then boarded another old rickety school bus and headed up the mountains to Santa Lucia. While waiting to take off several vendors came on the bus trying to sell us bread, fruit, DVD’s etc. Santa Lucia is way up in the mountains overlooking Tegus. Very peaceful, quaint calm, small shops, small pond…We climbed up some steps and took some pictures. 
Back in the steam room I met a local who was trying to form a baseball team – Justin may join! His wife is looking also looking for softball players – Should have bought Jens glove. It would have been better that lugging all the football equipment because none of it fit Justin and I had to bring it all back to the US.
We had great weather the whole time. Sunny and 80’s but no humidity. Culture is to wear long pants – Justin referred showing legs similar to going topless – so I didn’t wear my shorts much. White dudes in Tegus get some strange looks – showing legs can get you beat up.
That night we ate dinner at El Patio. Awesome kabos of chicken, steak, pork. Place was hopping including a Mariachi Band. 
Post dinner we walked back to hotel. Some of our walk was probably not real safe – but what the hay it was our last night! Justin and I went back to casino and lost all our winnings from the previous trip. We headed to pub and saw a few more football players and 2 peeps from the states that knew Jen. Evidently they were in Camacatus and were being chased by some masked bandits and Jen saved them. Not sure I heard the whole story on that one…
Next morning we said our goodbyes and jumped on shuttle to airport. Good thing we got there early and that Jordan could speak Spanish. We bounced from line to line until we eventually got on our plane to Houston – then Chicago – then GR. Mom was waiting for us with the van running – good thing – snow and about 20. But we are home safe and sound.
Overall great trip – Jen and Justin were great hosts and we made some great friends! To summarize:
Typical city – Trash – Armed guards – Crazy taxi drivers – Beautiful mountainside villages – Great food – Sunny and warm! I am already looking for a return trip!
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