While riding the bus to San Pedro Sula (SPS) to surprise my parents at the airport (they thought I was making them take a Honduran bus all by themselves! ha!), I received a text message from my mom that said “There is a problem—check email.”
Well, I was without a computer and definitely without internet access, so I had no choice but to call them and find out what the “problem” was—and ruin my planned surprise!
Turns out that even after running through the ATL, they were still unable to make their connection to Honduras, meaning they would not be arriving until AFTER the last bus left for Copan Ruinas-problem!. They were scared they were going to be stuck in SPS with no Spanish! Luckily, I had already planned to go meet them at the airport.
They did finally make it (5 hours late!)—but without luggage.
The 3 hour ride from SPS to Copan with our hired driver was great! Fast, bumpy, curvy, a little scary, like always, and a perfect way to introduce Honduras to my parents.
Their first day in Copan, we spent at Mayatan celebrating Folklore Day (see the blog entry below!) and at the Bird Park!
Following the bird park, we had a burrito dinner with our 
Honduran “family." This family has really taken us in and made up feel like part of their family while we are here. I am so thankful for this family and I wanted my parents to meet them, so we planned a welcome dinner for the first night my parents were here.
Early Saturday morning, I put my parents on another bus and we headed to Antigua, Guatemala.
Arriving Saturday afternoon, we just spent time roaming the town, taking pictures of the famous arch, watching music in the park, getting shoes shined, and visiting the market, where Allan and my dad bought some genuine cowboy hats.
We also found my mom’s house!
The next morning, I requested that my dad wake up and go on a hike with us up an active volcano. He was down for the challenge so we woke up with the chickens and loaded the bus to go to the volcano. It was realllllllly cool! and super hot! But one of the cooler (haha) things I have seen in my life
. 
(Almost there!) 
(We made it!)
My dad did a great way on the way up—the way down was a bit more challenging……and slippery! Near the bottom of the mountain, the trail turned into a dust trail. I warned my dad of a really slippery part…and next thing I know I hear a yelp from behind and turn around to see my father on the ground. Oh man. I am glad he is a good sport because I could NOT stop laughing! (I’m actually laughing as a write this!) Luckily we hiked the trail with ER doctors, but luckily he didn’t need that much attention…just some Tylenol to help a sore buttocks.
We happened to visit Antigua during the most popular (and revered) time of the year—Semana Santa. It was quiet an experience. Upon returning from the hike, we were told our bus could not go into the town because of the processionals. Well, when I saw what was going on, I understood. It was a processional like I have never seen in my life with crazy elaborate floats and men in purple dresses. It was neat to get to see a huge celebration on Semana Santa like that. 
(A float decoration) 
Another way Semana Santa is celebrated is with HUGE carpets made of sawdust. They are just gorgeous and people spend HOURS working on these carpets for them to only get ruined by the processional walking over them. They truly are super beautiful though—even just for an hour or so.
We were only in Antigua a short time and headed back to Copan on Monday. It was nice to have more time in Copan to get to show my parents where I live and how I live everyday. We did so much! Almost too much to blog about so I will let the pictures do most of the telling.
On Tuesday, I took my parents to my favorite grocery store in Copan, Victoria’s to buy food for breakfast and there my dad saw his first milk in a bag. :)
After the grocery store experience, we smooshed onto a 15 passenger van that was crowded with 24 people (there is always more room for other passengers!) and headed up to Sessesmil to visit the plant nursery and eat some homemade chicken soup. (I’m talking killed the chicken in the back of the restaurant home-made). Yummmmmmy :) 
In addition to a great meal, we got to hang out and take a picture with some Honduran police, who, of course, had to show their guns.
Tuesday night, I put my dad to work again. I had asked him to bring some of his clown things because I thought my students would really enjoy it. Turns out he didn’t get to do a show for my students because of Folklore day, but we put him to work with the some other children we love around town—like the kids (of all ages) in our Honduran family! Walking through town with a clown was one of the best parts because EVERYONE loves clowns! But the best part was arriving at the house and seeing our little friends expressions and shouts of glee! They were SOOOOO excited about a clown. I take growing up with a father who is a clown for granted. I always had the cool birthday parties, but a clown is a rarity for these kids and “Rip” was a lot of theirs first experience with a clown I later found out!
Take a breath, get a glass of water, and come back and read part 2 :) Sorry it is so long! We just had too much fun :)
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