Chat Zone for The Big Big Trip Journal!

[HobbesOnTour]

After a break I rejoined you on the road and on 1 July you get robbed!
This may be a pre-emptive question, but did you contact the consul/embassy? or would that have been too much of a delay?

Hmmmmm. Interesting question. Thinking back now, I don't think the notion even crossed my mind.
My priority was to get my new phone up and working.
I didn't even consider going to the Police, bad citizen that I am. That was mainly driven, I think, by a distinct lack of Police visibility (as compared to México) and also from the next day, a drive to leave the situation in the past.
I'm a huge fan of the Irish embassy as a concept. They were fantastic to me when I was in México and in a previous life I've had need to contact them on my behalf and on others. They have been unfailingly professional, helpful and empathetic. To be honest, and perhaps harsh, street crime, such as I experienced, is nothing unusual in those parts. I don't think I would even have received any sympathy from them!

Have just visited the complex at Copán.
Looks amazing.

Aaaaah! Yes, Copan Ruinas was a bit special.
Looking back, I'm pretty sure that I was benefiting from the "Covid effect" and reduced numbers.
There is no shortage of such places in that part of the world, some of them almost disappeared, some very commercialised and one magical place on the Guatemala/México border that was denied to me by Covid and now seems to be denied because of the dangerous border situation. But Cópan has those birds!

In other news, I've been very busy recently getting to grips with not just a new job bit a whole new career!
My wanderlust is being satisfied by local wanderings for the moment which is more than enough. I chose this area for the friendly people and I haven't been disappointed.
I've also been enjoying setting up a simple, basic home and cooking. Lots and lots of cooking! How ironic that the first time I have a TV in years and years that the rugby turned out to be heartbreaking!

The very, very early steps of inspiration for TBBT II are being put in place. I picked this up yesterday......

Local roads

There's not a lot of water but.......

 

[FrothNinja]

Any idea what species of pine/larch/conifer they were here

 

[FrothNinja]

269 - the nearest trees in pic 4 look like Poinciana [Delonix regia] - scarlet flowers & was used as street tree where I grew up

 

[FrothNinja]

278 - red flower looks like it might be a ginger or similar, very pretty

 

[FrothNinja]

284 - Is the church the Iglesia Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria?

 

[FrothNinja]

294 - Grew up next to the Pacific, kinda regard it as my pet ocean

 

[FrothNinja]

329 - Notice you encountered a Prickly Pear tree in flower - did you get to try the fruit? It's odd but not unpleasant.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Any idea what species of pine/larch/conifer they were here

269 - the nearest trees in pic 4 look like Poinciana [Delonix regia] - scarlet flowers & was used as street tree where I grew up

278 - red flower looks like it might be a ginger or similar, very pretty

Oh dear! I'm no botanist (arbolist?). My interest in trees stems from how they speak to me. Palm trees are exotic fireworks. Bamboos are green explosions from deep in the earth. Solitary trees speak of strength and hint at stories from long ago. Pine trees tell me that I'm high. Sorry!

284 - Is the church the Iglesia Inmaculada Concepcion de Maria?

Google tells me that it is!
I'm intrigued though....... of all the pictures of churches why does that one inspire the question?

294 - Grew up next to the Pacific, kinda regard it as my pet ocean

Lucky you!
Sometimes on my more dull bike rides (and to be fair they are few and far between around here) my mind wanders, The notion of riding my bike to the Pacific always makes me smile.

329 - Notice you encountered a Prickly Pear tree in flower - did you get to try the fruit? It's odd but not unpleasant.

My body considers it lucky if I eat a "normal" fruit! I'm not about to go pulling at spiky specimens on the side of the road!
The range of fruit, though, in those parts of the world is amazing.

Many thanks for the questions and links. It's a great opportunity to go wandering down memory lane on a cold, damp work morning!

 

[FrothNinja]

of all the pictures of churches why does that one inspire the question

This will sound odd, but some buildings talk to me in a similar way trees talk to you. This church strikes me as being quite uncomfortable one to stand on

 

[FrothNinja]

spiky specimens

Luckily the spikes are on the outside and vanish when peeled (with pliers). It goes a vivid orange or red (depending on type) when ripe & is a surprisingly pleasant eat. They do turn up in European shops from time to time.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

This will sound odd, but some buildings talk to me in a similar way trees talk to you. This church strikes me as being quite uncomfortable one to stand on

Not at all! I sometimes wonder about my sanity with all these different things chattering away to me

That church struck me as well, in much the same way. Cold. Stark. Sharp. Brutal. Almost the complete opposite of what a church should be, in my book.

Further down the road there's a church that doesn't just speak - it hums and sings!

Luckily the spikes are on the outside

I tend to stay away from spiky things!

 

[FrothNinja]

#333 - Did you ever find what the bronze lizard, amongst the Okefenokee type trees, was?

 

[FrothNinja]

#343 The bananas & sugar cane remind me of my home state

 

[FrothNinja]

#345 Another memory of home - a bottlebrush tree!

 

[FrothNinja]

#346 - The Ichthyosaur/Pliosaur type thing looks quite similar to Queensland's Kronosaurus.