December 8th was our last day in Honduras.  We started our journey home early on the morning of December 7th with a 7 hour bus ride from Trujillo to San Pedro Sula. The two of us with our six pieces of luggage boarded a school bus-style coach that did have what appeared to be coach seating. At 8:30 we headed west. 

On these buses that bump around Honduras, in addition to the driver, there is a trip manager who solicits riders at every stop and gets them to pay the appropriate fare once they are settled into their seat and we are again under way.  We were wondering if we should have held out for the "nicer" bus, which was a Greyhound-style, but the ticket master assured us this was a direct bus.  Since the seats looked good and it was leaving at the right time, we opted for the school bus.  

Looking forward to six hours on this bus

Not very many of us were on the bus initially so we were able to claim two seats each.  Rick has done a few trips by bus between Tacoa and Trujillo for car repairs, so we knew how this worked. The bus can be flagged at any point to pick up or drop off a passenger.  While travelling slowly through the towns along the way, sometimes the manager would yell the destinations and if someone raised a  hand, we would stop and collect them.  Other times there were regular stops where the ticket seller would get off and  get people to come on board.  These stops are most interesting because of all the vendors that either board the bus and sell their food and drink, or walk along the sides offering their fruit plates and chicken dinners up to the open windows.

It is quite a frenetic time because there is usually only a few minutes for the vendors to do their thing and the aisle gets jammed with people.  Chicken, sliced fruit, coconut water in a bag, fresh baking, homemade sweets, and cold drinks are on offer, and once one group passes through, another group selling almost the exact same things boards and repeats the routine. We have purchased the fruit before and this trip we bought coco water (helado de coco), and a couple of pastries. Everything is well presented and covered in plastic so it is likely quite safe to eat, and you can tell the people who prepare it take pride in their efforts as this is what they do to earn income. No need to get off the bus and purchase anything as you can be fed and watered quite royally by these vendors.  I suppose this sales extravaganza happened about 5 or 6 times during the seven hour journey.  

Vendors offering sustenance

Another type of character who may hop a ride on the bus is an orator who stays on until the next stop. We got to hear the ravings of a religious zealot with a Bible under one arm and Gabriel's horn under the other. Sometimes he laid down on the floor of the bus and prayed or just preached at the top of his lungs. No one paid any attention - live and let live. Next, a young spoken-word-type artist spent some time with us. We couldn't understand the Spanish but he seemed to be making up the story as he went along. His efforts did garner a few lempiras. Overall the trip was enjoyable, due in part to the cool, rainy day, and by the time we got to San Pedro the bus was full. As we pulled into the city, it was like driving into any other urban area with overpasses, lots of industry, and familiar US franchises. Traffic was heavy as the bus wound its way to the huge main bus terminal. 

We sampled some local baking

We had been warned that San Pedro Sula is currently in the running for "most dangerous city in the world" and to watch out for thieves and unscrupulous taxi drivers. However, disembarking was quick and easy and a friendly taxi driver was waiting to take us to our hotel.  He went to the wrong one first, so we got a 45-minute tour around the city and an opportunity to make small talk in Spanish. After we got settled in to our simple and quiet B&B, we walked around the neighborhood looking for a restaurant for supper. It was obviously a safe area with 2 security guards standing on corners within a block of our hotel. We understand that prayers for a safe trip were answered. We decided to go to TGI Fridays for a change from Honduran food.  It was nice to be in a bit more familiar surroundings and as we sat drinking our wine and beer (had to use up those last lempiras), we toasted our adventure and felt quite satisfied with the past three months.  What an amazing journey with many moments to continue to process as we enjoy a retreat with other global workers in Orlando.   

Big city comforts in San Pedro Sula

May the blessings of the Christmas season be upon you all!