Page 52: - No Return Ticket - Just a Ride Report /w Pics - From the beginning
Gracias, Honduras:
We finally make it to Gracias. They have had torrential rains in the area the last few weeks, probably creating all the deep ruts we experienced. But for sure, this stretch from La Esperanza to Gracias is a fantastic ride and highly recommend for adventure riders. It’s a beautiful and unique part of Honduras.
Gracias is a pretty and small mountain village complete with cobble stone roads and street food vendors. Hotel Posada del Don Juan has courtyard parking and is right on the main street coming into town. This is a good spot to spend a night or two and explore the area.
The ride across Honduras toward Copan Ruins is fantastic. The shape of the landscape here is interesting with various sized coned shaped hills. They remind me of the glacier ‘mounds’ found in Wisconsin. I’m thinking these hills must be formed by volcanic activity to be so perfect in shape.
We pull over for a gear adjustment. This is the second person that passed by with a bundle of fire wood balanced on their head. We passed several other people carrying wood on the highway, some with a bicycle and some on foot. Wood is used for heating homes and cooking here.
We turn off the main highway at La Entrada and start to climb towards Copan ruins. We pass fertile farmlands, forests and hills on our way toward the ruins and the Guatemala border. Soon we start to see people in palm roof huts setup along side the road. They’re selling fruit and some are yelling out to us. One kid ran out onto the road at us with a pineapple in one hand and a machete in the other while yelling Yeah, we assume he wanted to sell us the pineapple……
The village ‘Copan ruins’ is small and very cool. Coffee shops, hip bars and restaurants surround a clean quiet central park. One hotel in our guide book sounded good, it lists parking and a roof top terrace.
Two blocks passed the bridge we hang a left and pull into the Hotel Brisas de Copan, $35 a night. We are two blocks from central park. The rooms are big and have a balcony over the street. The food and coffee is fantastic here but we are paying real money now. Several bars in town have good ‘happy hour’ deals.
Copan ruins:
The Mayan ruins of Copan start 2 kilometers from town, it’s an easy walk.
Model of the site.
The grounds here are huge and spread out. While looking from the top of a pyramid Heidi and I theorize what the different areas were used for and what the people must have been doing here a thousand or more years ago. What happened to these cities and the people who use to live here? Why did they leave?
The structures are huge.
One of the largest ‘playing field’ in the Mayan world.
What game did they play here? No one knows but for sure this was a place where distinguished people met.
Center court seats. I picture dignitaries sitting here.
I envision a Jaguar being released from this hole to an awaiting gladiator or human sacrifice. I can see the roaring crowds.
Copan is unique and famous for the carvings and hieroglyphics found here.
God of Wind & Storm:
This is the only known hieroglyphic pyramid of the Mayan world. The pyramid is covered with a tarp for protection.
Every step is carved.
Two thousand years old.
The surrounding jungle is beautiful.
Parrots fly around the ruins.
Sorry dude, we have no crackers…..
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