So much to tell...part 1: El Sur

It was Sunday night, finally. Matt had made his temporary home in the bathroom, alternating between sitting and kneeling before the porcelain throne...I had put Rebekah down and was in shock as I thougth about all that happened that day :) It all started early Sunday morning.

My dad wanted Matt to experience the unique culture of El Sur (the southern country of Honduras). We had decided to make a day trip since it was about a two and a half hour drive. After breakfast we set out for El Sur, driving through the winding mountain roads. The views of the rolling mountains were beautiful. As we drove we saw poinsettia trees in full bloom, which Matt had never seen. Since the sky was so clear, we caught glimpses of the Gulf as we rounded the mountain tops. We passed several small villages where my dad had worked as a young doctor. My dad loves this part of the country and he was proud to show it off. Some of the villages are known for their fresh fruit and the Jicaro, which is a tree that produces big round fruit that has seeds inside used for making Horchata (a sweet drink).

We stopped at a place called Jicaro Galan, where we always stop when my dad is driving to have a plate of Curiles (Curiles are clams that are eaten raw (alive) either out of the shell or out of a bowl). As we were chowing down on them, Matt was persuaded to try one. Matt, wanting to experience the culture to the fullest was brave enough to try a Curil ;) My dad put one on a cracker with onion, tomato and worchestershire sauce and when he squeezed the lime juice on it, the clam contracted in retaliation...then Matt took it and down the hatch it went. My mom, dad and I were watching intently to see what his reaction would be...laughing inside :) Matt did`t have a big reaction...he just said that he didn`t like it nor did he want more.

After the plate of Curiles, we drove a half an hour further to have lunch on the bay, San Lorenzo. We stopped at an outdoor restaurant and sat down under a thatched roof to eat. We ordered fried fish which comes with fried platanos and a salad. In the meantime we paid a roaming band of two to sing and play some rancheras for us. We had to undress Rebekah because it was really hot. She adapted really well like she had lived there her whole life :=) After eating, Matt asked for the first of many times, adonde esta el baño? If you don´t know this phrase, learn it before visiting Latin America ;)

We then took a boat tour on the bay and then got back on the road to head to the ocean...to be continued!!! Check back soon. It gets more interesting!