Odd…very odd

19MR08

People are strange when you’re a stranger
Faces look ugly when you’re alone
Women seem wicked when you’re unwanted
Streets are uneven when you’re down
When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
People are strange when you’re a stranger
Faces look ugly when you’re alone
Women seem wicked when you’re unwanted
Streets are uneven when you’re down
When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
When you’re strange

They are very long days here. I think it is because we wake up so early here.

We went out in the morning to find a the tourist agency that the hotel recommended, or any tourist agency. We found the police station, but we never did find one. I’m not sure I want to run off to some tourist site yet. I think I need to get bored with this city so that I will be glad when we are all working so hard at school. Maybe I am at my adventure limit, maybe being in Comayagua is an adventure, and I don’t need to run off to find a new one yet. Maybe, I’m not looking all that hard for an oficina de turismo…

We found an Internet café right beside the cathedral. I tried to connect with their cable, but my computer said there was no internet connected. There was a wireless connection there - linksys, and I connected with it and talked to Greg on Skype. It was too inconsistent to post anything, so I left there and went to another internet café on the Boulevard.

The kids were happy playing some internet games, and I was able to plug and play with my laptop. We were there for several hours and I posted my new blogs and some photos. We stopped at Jumbo on the way home and stocked up on a couple of things, as all the stores will be closed for the next couple of days.

We unpacked my computer and the groceries, and rested for a while and the kids had tostadas for lunch.

We went to leave again to go to try to find some Queen size sheets, as I got double by accident. We got a couple of blocks and Ciaran had to go to the washroom, so we came back. Some of the neighbours were talking outside – I think it is the landlord’s family – they have a nice house attached to the apartment compound. They have a little girl about 8 and she tries to come play with the boys quite a bit. Aodhan helped her carry some bags that she was bringing to her house and she showed him her new in-ground pool. It would be quite small by North American standards, about 12x12 square, but it seems to be quite an unusual luxury for here. Their entire house is being renovated right now. It will be quite lovely when it is done. We talked to the neighbours quite a bit, tried to use some Spanish to ask them about el caballo (caviyo) tied up beside our compound. They didn’t really know whose it was and suggested that it was not really a riding horse. They had no suggestions about where to go to ride. The little phrase book that Hilary gave me is worth it’s weight in gold. Amber, my nieghbour from Florida, came out and we talked with the neighbours for a while. They asked us to come swimming tomorrow if we want – they are filling the pool today. Ciaran says it will be too cold, and Aodhan says he may or may not, depends on how he feels and if he wants to or doesn’t. I can always count on my kids to stifle any opportunities. Maybe at least they will sit by the pool in their bathing suits. I have to admit – I’m not sure I want to go in – I didn’t bring my wetsuit and it will be cold. I really hope my Spanish improves – I would really like to get to know some of these people – they seem really nice.

We finally left again and went up to the boulevard for helado. We were walking down the street towards the small mall and Puran caught up with us. She had a great time in Tegucigalpa – stayed with a doctor friend. She is going away Thursday again for the evening to see another friend. We walked to the small mall and then to the Jordan Hardware store which turned out to be closed, and then went up through the market and across past that strange fort like thing. It looks like it may have once contained a post secondary school, but now seems to be the public works department? Maybe the library is part of the university? Does Comayagua have a university? We continued on towards the police station, and turned at the other neat little tower thing which is attached to the police station, and walked down behind the police football field to he river. There was a game going on with a bunch of topless, athletic policemen. Now I know where to go for my entertainment!

There are quite a few shacks down by the river, with people washing things – in the river, which one of the people there told us not to go near because it is like a sewer for Comayagua – for the toilets etc. We watched for a while as Aodhan and Ciaran followed the path along the river a bit. These people are very poor. As we left, we passed one of the other shacks where two teenage girls were sitting smiling in the doorway. One looked like she may be pregnant. They were quite pretty, but dirty and barefoot. I noticed in the darkness over their heads, the glare of a television set in their shack!

We went back through the Central Park and stopped in the Cathedral, where a service was just about to begin. As we sat down, Puran realized to her horror that she was wearing shorts. We stayed for a few minutes as a young boy sang a soft lilting tune and near the end of his song the priest joined in and began to sing in a deep melodic voice. It was quite beautiful. We decided to go because Aodhan was concerned it was getting dark (he already seems to understand that vampires will emerge from their lairs once the sunlight fades) and Puran was concerned someone was going to ask her to leave because of her shorts.

We walked through the park and stopped at the vendors on the other side. They are set up especially for Holy week. I got some gringos & papas for the kids & I for supper. Gringos are a tortilla with little sautéed beef, pork and chicken pieces wrapped inside and cheese melted in, and several salsas on top. It was delicious. Ciaran of course had his with no queso por favor. I have to be faster when ordering the papas as they are determined to put mayo and ketchup and are shocked and concerned when I ask for no salsa and need to ask three times to make sure and then they still try to sneak some mayo on.

It took a lot longer to get the gringos than I thought, and it was quite dark by the time we set off for home. Here, about 6:15, the sun turns a golden shade. It stays this way until about 6:30 when it is like someone turns off the lights. Darkness comes so suddenly. I am not sure if it has to do with the mountains, or the proximity to the equator or what. I left Puran at the corner between our houses and we each went the last couple of blocks alone.

The boys watched a little of Totoro and fell asleep exhausted. I followed pretty quickly after.

I can hear people shouting and dogs barking and car alarms and babies crying honks, screams and yells and things, but I can’t tell if they are happy or sad sounds. In some ways it feels like in one of those science fiction horror movies where everyone is turned into zombies or vampires except one little group of people. In the daytime it is all right to go out, but at night everyone locks themselves in little sheltered compounds.