The steward/stewardesses passed out a couple of customs forms for us to fill out. Cardboard boxes were stacked in the aisle. I'm sure that has to violate some FAA regulation. We landed about 12:54 P - about 6 minutes early. The temperature was 81F. Not bad - but not as cool as I expected.

The Tegus Airport (Toncontin Airport) was a real treat. I somehow expected a little more form the only airport of the capitol of a country. It's kinda like the Beaumont International. Walk down the stairway thing that they had pushed out for us. Then into a room where they had 3 1/2 lines leading up to some old brown booths: 1 line for citizens, 2 lines for non-citizens, and kind of a half line for diplomats.

Stood in line next to a military guy who was returning to duty. He couldn't believe that I was here for a vacation. I asked him about the capitol. He said Tegus is dirty and poor with nothing to see or do. I asked about other places in Honduras and he said that they all are dirty and poor. He did say that the ruins at Copan are OK as well as the beaches at Tela. (I began to think about staying in the airport and getting on the next flight out) He then left to try to go through the diplomat line. As usual, my line was the slowest. I switched to the other non-citizen line. It slowed down. Finally some guy came out and told us we could get in the citizen line.

Having read about bribery and "fees" associated with Central American countries, I prepared for the worst. Sailed through like a champ. The guy in the booth never even turned to the page where I had paid $20 for a $5 visa that wasn't required in the first place. (But that's another story) Next was the baggage inspection. Having read about bribery and "fees" etc. and after watching them search the suitcase of the woman two people in front of me, I prepared for the worst. Sailed through like a champ. They never opened either of my two bags.

Next came the mass of people outside the terminal. Having read about pickpockets, beggars, vendors, etc. I prepared for the worst. Sailed through like a champ. Everyone was there to meet relatives and no one seemed to care about me except for a couple of taxi drivers and a money-changer. I walked through the crowd, through the parking lot to the railing on the far side of the parking lot, watching all the while for muggers, pickpockets and rapists. It wasn't far - it's a small parking lot. The terminal parking lot is on the side of a hill, has a nice white railing around it, and is well patrolled by police. The parking lot and passenger pick up area are small but seem to operate efficiently.

I decided not to get a cab ($5 to town) at the airport but to walk to town instead. After a while, it occurred to me that perhaps I should reconsider my first decision. I realized I had no Idea where I was going, what was between here and my destination, or how to recognize it when I got there. I swallow my pride, wipe the sweat off my face, and hail a cab.

He doesn't speak any English, I speak nit-noi (that's Thai for very little) Spanish. Fortunately, clever American that I am, I have written down the address of the place I'm going. We agree on $2 American. "dos dolares Americano" (Since I hadn't changed any money at the airport, I have no local currency) We get to where the hotel should be but can't find it. I tell him "Aqui bueno", hop out and pay him. Figuring that a country boy like myself can find this place in no time at all. The neighborhood is pretty run-down. I'm really glad I got a taxi because this is the nicer part of town and I sure wouldn't want to have would up in the rougher area (Comayaguela) which is kind of an industrial/lower class town with really cheap hotels and dangerous places that I don't particularly want to visit on my first day and carrying all of my possessions.

Let's see now, I can tell from the 3 street signs that are up that I am in the right area. I start widening the search pattern (Part of my extensive military training) looking for the hotel. Wait - what's that? It's a large stadium! Hmmm, I remember a large stadium on the large scale map that's in one of my books. Let's see what it says. Wow! That's Great! I'm in the slums thank you very much. This is the wrong town! That's good news and bad news: GOOD = Whatever direction I go in things will get better. BAD = I'm here.

Since things can't get any worse, I decide to walk to Tegus. I can see where it is now. (and I've lost any faith in taxi drivers)

Actually, the walk turned out pretty good. I found Tegus, it looks pretty good, the pedestrian mall shows promise ... but, it's getting dark, I haven't found my hotel, and I'm not going to pay another taxi to drive me to a hotel that I'm sure is only around the next corner. I decide to stay in the first decent hotel I see.

Hotel Granada - Nice looking place: clean, neat, private bath, no TV, no phone $5.50 per night. Drop my stuff off and then it's off to find a place to eat. Given the way the streets turn and twist, if it gets dark I'll never find this place again.

I find a chicken place a little ways down the street. Deep fried whole chicken. Seems healthy enough. At least the germs should be dead. I don't want a whole chicken (around $3) so I ask for a chicken sandwich. (Hey, it was on the menu). I can't seem to get them to understand what I'm trying to say (even tho the guy behind me seems to understand fine). I walked out.

Across the street is a Chinese cafe. My first meal in Honduras was stir-fried rice. Pretty good also! Coke plus a Nacional beer. Total was about $3.30 incl. tip.

Next (It's beginning to get dark) I walk to a little park a few blocks from the hotel. There I just watched the traffic and people. This traffic makes Houston look like a love-in. Huge buses - some looking like something from the Road Warrior some just school buses with air horns and exhaust stacks but all in very good mechanical condition. The buses usually have the driver's name on front, his nickname (Kinda like a CB handle I think) or the name of his girlfriend. Virtually no traffic signs or signals. I just realized that in all of my walks I have seen only one stop sign and no traffic signals (and this is downtown in the capitol). While I'm sitting in the park soaking in the local atmosphere, I spot a shady looking character coming down the street. I rapidly scan the area for escape routes and to see if he has any accomplices. He eyes me suspiciously and steps out into the street to avoid getting too close.

Back at Hotel Granada, or more properly, the Hotel Granada Annex: $5.50 is really not bad. I just took a shower. Hot water (could use more pressure) a showerhead that I could actually stand under. That makes twice in my life, the other was in a high-school in Galveston in 1980 after a volleyball tournament - I remember those things!. Nice toilet tissue (two rolls) pink, to match the soap (which contrasted rather nicely with the yellow tiles) A towel that's been around for a while but clean. A blanket (Pink) just in case. I've paid more for less.

I need water to brush my teeth and rinse my contacts. I guess I'll get a baggie out, put water in it and add the purification tablets.