Copan, Honduras

The reason that everyone is coming in increasing numbers to Copan (even Richard Gere was here before Easter) is to visit the Mayan ruins (our last ones we promise). They are less extensive than Tikal or Palenque but are famous for the number and quality of their sculptures. This is a statue of King 18 rabbit, son of Smoke Jaguar (how Ciaran loves their names, especially when Mayan for Smoke is Butt). Beautifully set in the surrounding forest however with a fabulous museum attached (enter through a stone snake´s mouth).
A highlight for the kids (and us) upon crossing the border from Guatemala to Copan, Honduras was a trip to a bird sanctuary called Macaw mountain. They had a beautifully laid out series of aviaries with lots of room for the birds set in a mountainous jungle area. The birds all looked incredibly healthy compared to many of the scrawny and moulting specimens we have seen in Hotels and homes.
Best of all there were some relaxed birds they were able to hold such as Ciaran with a red macaw (the national bird of Honduras) and Romany with a parakeet.

Blair´s favourite was the keel billed toucan at left, an unlikely mass of colours that we had previously seen in the wild at Tikal.


There was also a lovely dammed pool on the stream which was really needed at the end of a hot tour. Couldn´t get Ciaran out from behind the waterfall either!

Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Our last destination in the Guatemalan highlands was the twice weekly Mayan market at Chichi. It is one of those Gable heaven spots, visually magnificent. All the stalls are put up the night before and the market is packed from 6am until 4pm when they start packing up again.
Each trader erects a set of poles they carry to the market and then drapes an awning over it before filling it up with all their goods as at left. Never was a truer word said than that the Mayans don´t do drab. A place for Seybs!








As well as trading some of the Mayans take time to worship and do penance at the local church. As in other places this is mostly old Mayan worship with a smattering of Catholicism thrown in. This woman is swinging an incense censer on the steps of the church before going in. Generally it is a bad place to be a chicken too as they often constitute the main offering inside the church.