Day 9-Copan Ruinas

Last night after using the slowest internet cafe ever, I head over to the bar across the street called the Red Dragon. They are playing Motley Crue and Snoop Dog...it is very Americanized and the bartender is from Chico (he actually asks me if I know where that is while he wears a Coronado Shores t shirt). After two long hard days I drink plenty of rum and cokes while sitting on a tall bar stool overlooking the town. Jorge and I are minding our own business when the town Gringo transplant begins to hit on me. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I did not come all this way to get hit on by a retired vetirinarian from Colorado, although my travel buddy thinks it is hilarious. The local guy gives us some "insider" information, since he noticed the 2 "journalist" at the cockfight earlier today. He actually sews up the chickens for the townpeople here. He sends us to another local bar, which is across a bridge and it is very dark...I tell Jorge I am going to die because this is where they send blonde Americans, although I speak loudly since I am pretty drunk at this point. Once we decide it's not that safe we turn to head back and meet 4 people from Spain who are environmental scientist researching near Antigua. We all head back to the Red Dragon where Quinn, the local guy, has moved on to a 16 year old Honduran. Good luck to her...The Spainiards are very nice, although I really need to learn some Spanish...Caridad, that will be your job when I return. Our group closes down the bar and in fact the bartender gives us our last beer in a to-go cup and basically kicks us out, even though it is only midnight. On the way home I walk right past the hostel and the worker of the hostel laughs as I stumble in...doesn't he know I am on vacation? This morning I wake up with a slight hangover, but it is nothing that the cold hostel shower water can't cure. I write all my postcards out to my loved ones, but it turns out the post office is closed all week for Holy Week, so you people won't be getting any mail from me. It is so hot here that I tell Jorge we must find a pool, which is at the nicest hotel in town. There are 3 little kids there with their dad and grandpa and I play with them until I fall asleep under the trees. My skin is almost the same color as my Columbian buddy even though I am lathering on the SPF 30. It is now time for the Rodeo!! There is one of those trucks blaring through town with the speakers on top and they tell us we can hitch a ride down to the rodeo park with them....good, because it is hot. Once there we grab some food of carne, salsa, tortillas and this good Honduran beer...I must find it in the states. I am the only woman there and believe me I am working very hard to look my worst everyday. There are more police here then in the Gaslamp on a weekend and their guns are amazing. The bulls are getting revved up so I begin to take my journalistic photos. I also get some of the cowboys as they change their clothes (you know, for all my girlfriends back home). Their muscles are amazing! Pretty soon the queen shows up and then a little tuk tuk car like in India, except this one has bull horns on the front...just like in Texas, I kid you not. As the people pile in the singing starts and it is none other then the winner of the Guatemalen American Idol. OF COURSE I got my photo with him because I may never have that opportunity ever again. After the cowboys draw their placement numbers out of a hat more music starts. It is Alan Jackson and then the Gambler by Kenny Rogers. I am loving this! I know every word and can dance but I really hope it's not how the Honduran people learn their english, by listening to Alan Jackson sing "Chasing that Neon Rainbow." After watching 5 bulls I decide to head back to town. It is hot and tomorrow will be a long day traveling to Antigua. I will try to meet up with my friend Kelly while I am there. She is working for the Peace Corps so the 3 of us should have a great time hiking volcanoes, swimming in the lake and celebrating Holy Friday. Saturday I plan to head back to Caye Caulker where I'll meet up with Iris, a girl from Germany, who was my roomie last night at the Green Apple (the hostel where we are staying in Copan Ruinas). Have a great night.