Jun-2014
Leaving Utila in style for Copan
It’s time to leave this gorgeous tropical diving paradise island named Utila. Well, for now that is. I am sure I will be back sooner or later for some more diving and visiting the super sweet people I have met over here. However, let me focus on my next destination Copan, where Maya ruins can still be found in very, very good conditions. I can definitely not skip this ancient city during my voyage towards Guatemala.
The mainland
The ferry from Utila to La Ceiba
The first thing that had to be arranged was buying a ticket for our way-to-early 6am ferry leaving Utila for the mainland, also known as La Ceiba. A pretty expensive 50 minutes high air-con ride if you ask me, because the ferry costs US $27 per person one way. Anyway, after getting back to the real Honduras it was time to see how we would get to Copan. With we I mean my two travel buddies and I. They are cousins, Kali (from London) and Mickayla (from Nebraska), and they basically adopted me into their family since we met and now travel a bit together having way to much fun! Oh yes, those party evenings are not good for my liver and I really need some vegetables besides eating Pizza and Nachos every day.
Murder capital of the world
The “spacious” taxi from the port to the bus terminal
We basically had two options. One was getting a “chicken” bus for a cheap price, but needing to change bus terminals in San Pedro for a different bus or option number two, which was getting the fancy Hedman Alas bus for a couple of bucks more, but not having to get out of the bus terminal. You are probably wondering why the getting out of a bus terminal would be a thing to think about. Well, this bus terminal changing in San Pedro pretty much means crossing the most dangerous city in the world also known as the #1 murder capital. So yeah, I was not really up for that this time… Normally I love getting a local bus and sitting there with the locals, but this time I thought I should go a little more classy and just pay those US $40 for a decent bus that would get me, my friends and our luggage safely from point A to B. Just for this once.
Picture I took from the bus while driving through San Pedro
Locals trying to sell food in San Pedro
Hedman Alas
The company Hedman Alas is truly worth the extra money. When we arrived at their bus terminal in La Ceiba we could leave our luggage, which got a luggage tag, and chill out at their communal area watching movies. That was nice already. We still had to wait for about 2,5 hours before our bus would leave, so we could use a comfy chair and basically a place to relax at. We bought some snacks for during the ride across the street at a gas station (so cheap compared to Utila by the way!) and watched a movie. Well, two of us did, since my friend Kali tried to catch up with some sleep in those nice chairs. Once the bus arrived we had to show our tickets and passports and a security guard wanted to check our bags for any weapons. I kind of like it when they check these things over here. We also got to pick a bottle of soda or water and a snack from their trolley to bring on the bus. Nice! We also discovered that the seats on the bus were fully reclining, meaning that we were going to sleep A LOT. Luxury we had not had in a long time. The only really big down side was that the air-con during the ride was simply freezing our noses off. We are probably not used to air-conditioning any more after staying at places with a weak fan if there even was one. I am not a big fan of air-con anyway.
I actually truly miss Utila already. The super sweet people, especially at the dive centre, the stupid yet funny golf carts racing through the streets, the lovely diving spots, the party locations, getting food and Wi-Fi at Munchies, the strange cinema, our hostel room, the dock where we could jump off into the ocean, cheap Baleadas, the pretty beaches and crystal clear waters, but not to forget: I am glad that now we are done with the freaking annoying sand flies!
Tomorrow it is time to discover Copan. Maya ruins, you better not be closed tomorrow!
About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
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