The Crazy Adventure in Palenque

                About two years ago, in the summer, my aunt and uncle came down to Honduras with a mission’s team from their church. They brought their son and daughter along with them, so we were Able to meet up with family and meet some new friends. We lived in Santa Lucia and traveled to Zambrano, where we used to live, because there was a missionary who had a house we could use for so many of us and we were able to help him out in any way we could. They stayed for a week and we did many different things, we mainly did kids related events though, where we would teach and play games and do crafts and give presents.

 There was one event that was by far the one we remembered the most. We were going to go up into the mountains to Las Botijas where my best friend lived, it was an hour up in the mountains and we were going to do a kids event where we taught and played and gave stuff out. After Botijas, we would then travel to Palenque which was thirty minutes to an hour further up the mountain. It had rained the night before and the road to go to Palenque was muddy, the two trucks we were travelling in couldn't get through. So, we had to walk all the way there, carrying the different games and items we would need, it would be a two or three hour walk. We had two horses though that we used to carry the things we needed and also to place my brother up there with someone else who was having trouble walking. We started out, all was well, we were getting hot, as the sun was out and there were some big hills we needed to climb up, but all was good. We were walking for a good while and then it started to rain. It started out as a sprinkle but then turned into full rain. We were five minutes from the town of Palenque, we could see it from the top of the hill/mountain we were on, and the rain stopped, but the road was so muddy. We would slip and slide as we were walking towards this town to have fun with the kids there. We eventually arrive to Palenque and we play with the kids, didn't matter how muddy, dirty, and wet we were, we still played and taught just like in Botijas. We finished with the event and realized we had to walk all the way back to Botijas and then get into a car to drive back to Zambrano. I did not like this idea, I was tired, wet, and hungry, and I didn't want to walk two to three hours more to get back to Botijas. No matter, we started out, same way we came. However, this time we split into groups as some walked faster than others. My sisters and our cousin were the first ones to go, then my best friend and I and then several other groups behind us. We start walking and soon enough it starts to rain again. But this time, it was pouring rain, and then it started lightning and thundering. This is where my best friend and I started freaking out that we would be hit by lightning and die. The road going uphill looked like it was made of chocolate as the rain washed the dirt away to unearth more dirt. We saw a tree that was down that wasn't that way when we walked to Palenque, and then we saw a tree fall down further along the path as it was hit by lightning. It was crazy scary. It took longer to get back than to get to Palenque, it took three to four hours to get back to Botijas. We eventually got to Botijas and we were given hot coffee and cookies that my best friend’s mom made.

Everyone was safe, cold, wet, and hungry but nonetheless safe. When everyone arrived, we piled up into the back of the truck to get back to Zambrano. They put a tarp over us to keep us from catching a cold and from getting any more wet, we all squeezed in and were already to get back ‘home’ and eat, as it started getting dark at the ending part of our long walk. It was dark now and we all wanted to go ‘home’ and eat and take nice hot showers. We start along and BAM! The truck’s wheel gets stuck in a ditch/pothole in the middle of the road. We all have to pile out and wait until they can get the truck out. They’re finally able to do so and we all pile back in but this time we don’t bother with the tarp and we just sit wherever we find space. We started again to go back to Zambrano and we finally arrive at the house we’re staying at. Everyone is relieved to be back ‘home.’ We eat and shower and go straight to bed, everyone is too tired to do anything but those three things.

This was one of the many adventures I've had in Honduras. I get to say I've walked three or so hours in the rain to play and teach kids in a little mountain village, if someone asked me to do it again, I might say yes. Actually I think I would say yes, as much as it was tiring and I wouldn't want to do such a draining activity, I liked walking in the rain and mud, in a weird way it was actually fun. I experienced something that very few people from first world countries get to experience, I got to experience exactly what it’s like for those mountain villagers to walk to and from Palenque. It’s an event that I believe could “only happen in Honduras,” as is the saying in this beautiful country. What a day!

Goodbye, until next time!