comayagua

Last weekend, after a week of being sick, for a little fresh air I went to the capitol of my department, Comayagua. What a beautiful colonial city. It is exactly what I imagined Central America to be like. The streets are narrow with store fronts right up against the streets. The Parque was like no place I have ever been. It was totally designed for sitting and hanging out. I sat there with my friend Oscar for four hours just enjoying the sun and the music that the city has piped in. It seems that bands are playing just for you from the bushes.

Just off the Parque there is the Cathedral which is the highlight attraction of the town. I think it was built in the late 1500s and is a masterpiece. As I sat in the parque drinking cafe con leche I jotted this down: ¨This church, this cathedral is beyond anything I have ever seen before. Structures like these make me believe there is a God. The builders - artisans - who built this Holy Place must have known something greater. The place is massive and smokey and stirs your emotions just being near it. It is peaceful at the same time a comotions of spirit. I feel fraudulant to enter and enjoy the space. I feel like I would be moved to tears for reasons I don´t understand. I know I am welcome here but am not certain enough to enter.¨ Later in the afternoon Oscar and I went in. Oscar, being catholic, showed his respect in true catholic ways as I stood by unable to breathe at the beauty and magnitue of this place. I still can´t really put it to words....

We went to a museaum and learned about the ancient-ness of the area. We saw stone pots and pans and weapons and jewlery from the Lenca people dated around 900 years ago. In the town there is an old building ruined in an earthquake 200 years ago that was a merchantile building in 1400. Comayagua was one of the few towns of Central America back then with it's location being important because it is centrally located. If my Spanish was better I would have understood more of what the Docent at the museaum was saying.

Oscar was an outstanding tour guide. It is really nice to have a Honduran around to help translate, show you around and give you glimpses into the life of a Honduran. He's great and I am happy he is my friend.

My trip to Comayagua was great and this weekend my roomates and some teachers from another biligual school are going to look around. Who knew such a cool place has been 25 minutes away this whole time!

Today is a sunny day, which are few and far between these days. Like in Portland, sunny days are just as exciting as if you found an oasis in a desert. Quinton and Julie dropped off their laundry and we will run some more errands in town after lunch at Taco Belly´s. Maybe I´ll have me a gringa for lunch...they do say you are what you eat!.

I am starting to miss home....I think because people are talking about Holiday plans, and I have none. I do feel happy and content with this place, but I miss having people that I know and love AND people who know and love me nearby. But you all are in my heart and as cheezy as it sounds, thats where you are the most important. So my love is soaring out to you all. Cyber hugs and kisses to you all...

jessa