El Terrazo de Don Pepe. From my balcony seat I got to watch some electrical linesmen work on a transformer. (Note the yellow "cherry picker" to the left of the telephone pole)
December 11, 1994
Up and about around 9 AM. The place is really pretty calm about then. Not many people around, lots of places closed, not many cars. Unfortunately, that means that the cars that are out can go like hell. Since it hasn't rained here in a couple of days, that kicks up even more dust to get into my contacts.
|
|
|
El Terrazo de Don Pepe. From my balcony seat I got to watch some electrical linesmen work on a transformer. (Note the yellow "cherry picker" to the left of the telephone pole) |
Had lunch at the "Terraza de Don Pepe" It was one of the places I went into but didn't stay yesterday. It's a large place, upstairs, with a balcony overlooking the street. Pretty much the same view as I have from my balcony - tops of buses with all the associated noise - but in this case, a special treat: some guys from the electrical company were working on a transformer on the other side of the street. The food was very good - I had their Carne Asada a la Pepe (or something like that). Rice, fried bananas, grilled meat, refried beans, cole slaw, a plate of salsa, and some of their little tortillas. All this with two glasses of papaya con leche. Around $3.00.
After this it was back to the Centeral Plaza for a while. I found a place to sit - which is hard enough given the multitude of ways they have to keep you from sitting (This city has some of the
nastiest anti-sitting devices I have ever seen. Everything from simple lengths of re-bar sticking up to sharpened wrought iron to needle sharp nails. There's a lot of places they REALLY don't want you sitting) - and just enjoyed the day. While I was sitting down, two girls came by and tried to talk and make conversation. Every now and then I heard the word "Wendy's" so I suspect that either they wanted me to take them to Wendy's, or, more likely, give them some money so they could go. I played even dumber than I really am and they gave up and walked away shaking their heads. And of course there were the usual chiclet sales-people and so on. It just occurred to me - the only time girls have approached me has been while I was sitting down. Perhaps my height intimidates them? Perhaps a wheelchair next time??|
|
|
NO SITTING! |
Tired of the attention, I went back to the Hotel. Took part there in an old Honduran custom: Sunday afternoon football on ESPN. I think their announcers are better than ours are - at least they don't sound as "stoopid" as Madden.
Had the Sunday paper - same price as the daily L1.5=16cents. It has color comics and is a little bigger. They have about 8 different papers. Several appear to be national in scope and several are primarily from San Pedro Sula (the other large town in Honduras)
Talked for a while with some guy named George - from Chicago. His father is Spanish and his mother Cuban anyway, since they raised the rent he's moving on. He says he can usually live on $5 per day in countries like this. That includes room and board. And he's probably right - it certainly wouldn't be hard - especially if you can speak Spanish the way he can.
Decided to see how the Pizza is over here so I walked back through the Plaza looking for a place the owner of the hotel had described. The plaza was really busy. Probably more people there at 5PM than at noon during the week. Unfortunately, I wanted to get the pizza and get back before it got dark. Didn't make it. I think they had to grind the flour for my pizza. The pizza was actually pretty good - even though, at L37, it was one of my more expensive meals.
I brought the pizza back and ate it while watching some HBO movie with Spanish subtitles.
Met some other guy from Pittsburgh. He's studying archeology at some of the ruins around here.
I've gotten rather good about avoiding that area of the pedestrian mall where my "friend" works. I hate to let her spoil my explorations by forcing me to avoid certain paths - but, I think my day would be spoiled even more if I run into her. It seems like a small sacrifice.
