Last one from Puerto Castilla

I'm writing from on board the Caribbean Mercy this time (I still don't have a connection fro my laptop sorted). It remains very strange being here on board after so many years but it has been good to catch up and I've even managed to get a little research work done, a couple of interview and some time with the community health education team.
I now feel fully justified in my research topic- Medical Missions/ Brigades are a virtual industry here according to one interview and it seems I won't go far without tripping over them. My initial perceptions of the size and nature of this "industry" are being confirmed.
Anyway tomorrow we travel back north along the coast to the city of La Ceiba, third largest in Honduras and the site of another medical mission which I will be joining at the end of the week. Hopefully there I will also be able to get my laptop connected and will be able to write more regularily... and perhaps add some more photos.
...and thanks "Kai Li" (I know who you are!) for the helpful comment- I have changed the coments setting so anyone can comment. Feel free to add comments, or if you'd rather contact me less publicly send an email!

Trujillo- Puerto Castilla

Hi from the warm, sunny (mosquito ridden) North Coast of Honduras. We are now in Trujillo, or more correctly near Trujillo and the Puerto Castilla- a major port for the fruit export industry and where the Caribbean Mercy (Ship) is currently berthed.
We spent a couple of very relaxing days in Copan Ruinas, sleeping in, swinging in hammocks... and it would have been very nice just to stay there but we have work to do. We had a bit of a nightmare journey to San Pedro Sula (SPS)- the Spanish word "directo" does not seem to mean "direct" when it comes to Honduran buses! We stayed overnight in SPS in an expensive, windowless box of a hotel room before catching another "directo" on Monday to Trujillo. This area is quite remote- we are at the end of the road' the next step is "La Mosquitia"' the jungle.
We are now staying at Casa Kiwi, a hotel/ backpackers right on the beach between the towns of Trujillo and Puerto Castilla. It is owned and run by a kiwi woman, and features All Black memorabilia over the bar, kiwi burgers on the menu, and a long stretch of white sand beach. And hammocks of course. It is hot and sticky but there´s the beautiful Caribbean to swim in and a nice light breeze across the hammocks where I lie to write my research notes. Such a hard life really!
Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to the ship for the first time... it's is over three years since we so we were unsure what we would find there. And it was different. Much tighter security (it took us half an hour just to get on board), and only a handful of people we know. Once on board things are much the same although it feels much smaller. We will be spending some time tomorrow (Friday) and Monday with the ship clinics and will hopefully get a better feel both for the ship now and the process of doing research.
Below are photos from Copan (uploaded over two days because of the dodgy internet connections around here. We will add some of Casa Kiwi and the ship soon.

Birthday girl, out for dinner in Copan Ruinas 

The plaza, in the town of Copan Ruinas 

The Mayan Ruins at Copan 

Luis at the hyroglyphic staircase, Copan ruins 

Checking out the creepy skulls on a Mayan temple (spot the gecko) 

Luis at the Copan Ruins 

Parrot at Copan Ruins 

Our hotel was at the top of this street. 

View from our hotel in Copan Ruinas 

Copan Ruinas, Honduras

We have finally arrived in Honduras- and what a trip. It took us about 30 hours to get from Auckland to Guatemala City, and although it all went smoothly we arrived exhausted. We arrived at 10:30 pm and were picked up at the airport by a driver from the guesthouse ( Dos Lunas) whose wife made us an amazing homecooked meal- rice, beans, fried plantains and cheese tacos- Luis was in heaven!
The next afternoon (yesterday) we caught a bus to a town called Chiquimula (3 hours), and from there it was a 45 minute taxi ride to the border (believe it or not my first ever land border crossing). One minibus and 15 minutes later were were in Copan. This despite Luis' attempts to communicate with drivers in English (thus loosing our negotiating advantage!)
We spent this morning relaxing (still catching up on sleep!) and this afternoon visited the Mayan Ruins- amazing. Not as large and impressive as Tikal in Guatemala but much more creative- carved staircases, stelae etc. They call it the Paris of the Mayan world.
Today is my birthday (by the date anyway- I think it was yesterday in New Zealand!).. so Luis is going to take me out for dinner... soon, so I'd better finish this and get back to the hotel to clean myself up a bit (it was a lovely warm afternoon, just a little sweaty!).
I'll post some pictures of Copan here as soon as we can (don't have my laptop connected yet and no USB port in this internet cafe). Check back here early next week for those.

Wellington, NZ

We're off to Honduras! In just 2 days we will be flying back to Central America to spend three months doing research, visiting friends and family and re-acquainting ourselves with the country and culture. We plan to use these pages to share news and photos of our travels- so check here regularly. Use the links on the left to see exactly where we are, to learn more about Honduras and to find information on the thesis research project. Hasta la vista!