Monday, May 20, 2013

          The trip to the farm today was expanded and included a trip North about two hours to the city of Comayagua.  The town is full of history and we learned some of it in a museum and a walk-about.  (I know—they probably don’t do “walk-abouts” here.)  The streets were narrow and traffic was busy but manageable.   It was hot and since we weren’t expecting this trip, we had no sunscreen and no insect repellant.  We weren’t out in the heat much and only had to swat a few flies, so we were fine. 

          The man who drove us had a nice Toyota truck with a second seat.  Four of us squeezed in that second seat together and really had to bunch together to get the doors shut.  It was a long ride, but we weren’t too uncomfortable, and there was lots to see.  For a large part of the trip we were able to travel on a new highway that looked like a freeway.  Part of the drive was on roads that were unbelievably broken up and broken down.  Some of that problem is caused by run-off from the heavy rains that has no channel along the roads in which to drain.  Therefore, the roads are undermined and then the pavement crumbles.

          We saw lots of children leaving school and walking through the town.  They were all wearing uniforms and we were told that they attend public schools.  They all looked really sharp.  

We were able to see the oldest clock in all of the America’s and the second oldest in the world.  It is the oldest functioning clock run strictly by gravity in the world.  Glade and our driver climbed the chapel tower to check it out and see how it worked.

Everyone decided on fish for lunch and I agreed since they were all so anxious for it.  The driver turned down this scary little dirt road and I suddenly wasn’t very hungry!  However, a sweet blessing just floated right down from Heaven for me—the gate was shut and the facility was closed.  Well, they all sighed with disappointment, the driver backed all the way up the “trail,” and we were off to another adventure.  We did find a nice little place that they felt was safe and we had really good chicken, rice, beans, and fried bananas—and Fresca with no ice J

          On the way back to Tegucigalpa, we stopped to see the chicken farm.  The small houses, unkempt fields, and skinny animals that lined the two-mile roadway said a lot about the hardships and poverty of the people.  However, I am not sure that they feel that way—it is just the way it is for them.

          Anyway, back to the chicken farm—there wasn’t much to see except three buildings with long rows of chickens standing side by side in their cages-about 10,000 of them.  They were well-cared for and sent up a huge chattering wave of welcome as we approached.  I felt sorry for the poor things having no room to roam.  They each lay one egg a day.  After a career of two years, they are sent to the butcher to fulfill the rest of their purpose and appear on grocery store shelves or perhaps on restaurant table.

          We stopped at a grocery store briefly just before getting back, then hurried to shower and get ready for Home Evening.  Glade gave a great lesson and we served chicken salad sandwiches, chips, drinks, and strawberry ice cream for refreshments.  I think it was a hit.   Now we must rest because it is back to the temple tomorrow.

Arriving in the town of Comayagua

A street corner

L-R:  Sister Bassett, Brother Bassett, Glade, Brother Salgado,
Young man giving  us information, and Sister Salgado.

A courtyard

Front of the Cathedral--it is very old and veryh beautiful

A really old organ in the cathedral we visited

This pole is on the side of the organ and was pumped up and down while
 someone played the organ to get air into so the notes would sound.

The pedals of the organ

I think the date, which is set into the sidewalk outside the cathedral says 1550

The old clock that works on gravity

One of the saints on the cathedral front

Parking for the bikes on one of the narrow streets

Glade and friend in the museuml

The Petersons

The Salgados (The temple workers who have the chicken farm)

An attorney's office

Having lunch

Outside the restaurant where we had lunch

Chickens at the chicken farm where they each lay an egg a day

A little closer view