What is in our sink?

I came home from work this afternoon and was relaxing before I realized I forgot to get the laundry from the dryer last night. As I walked out there with the hamper, I happened to peer into the sink and behold....this is what I saw!!!

GROSSSSS! I freaked out and luckily Ken was home to go and investigate....and take some pictures. I don't think I'll be able to go back there, or do any laundry, until the little guy leaves! Ahhhhhh!!!

On a happier note: This will help me get my mind off of the crazy thing in our sink...

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE...YUM!!!!!! 

Roatan in pictures :)

A true sign of what Tattascan does to you...

What is a tropical dog?

Downtown West End

Porch at the hotel

The room

First sunset

American candle in Roatan :)

Boys being cool with their cigars

Cary

Jenna and Elio

Karaoke with the girls!

West Bay Beach

Cary being a beach babe

Beautiful

Dinner at Tong's Thai Restaurant

Independence Mayhem

Yesterday, I was interrupted at school by my janitor to let me know my alarm system was going off on her daughter while she was trying to clean our house. Ken had accidentally turned on the alarm when he went to work and forgot Fanny was coming. Of course I didn't want to just give our code away so I decided that I would need to book it back to my house from school to turn off the alarm. The catch was, there was the Independence Parade going down the entire street of San Isidro which is a main street I have to cross to get to our house.

I ended up taking our friends moped to get back, thinking it would be fastest, however I wasn't able to cross the street anywhere until I went all the way to the mall and cut across the back side of La Ceiba. I was then able to shoot back up to our house to turn it off. On the way back to school....mind you this is 25 minutes later already (and I thought it would take me 10 minutes maximum to get there and back) the moped died...it actually RAN OUT OF GAS in the middle of the road as I'm trying to get back to school. I ended up having to leave the moped on the street and take a taxi back to school. I of course got the most incompetent taxi driver ever who went back into the parade traffic, stopped for gas, and just drove so slow. All in all it took 45 minutes to get to my house and back to turn off the alarm system. Oh phew, I'm glad we are heading to Roatan today!

Finca del Nino and Columbus's Fort!

Yesterday, Cary, Luke, Kimberly, and I took a little road trip to Trujillo. It's about a 2.5 hour drive from La Ceiba and we headed there to visit the Finca del Nino, an orphanage well known in Honduras to drop off donated toys and clothes from our students at Mazapan for Children's Day. Children's Day is a big celebration here and kids usually get parties and presents for it so we decided that it would be great if our students were able to help those in need receive some nice things on this special day. Here are some of the views I got on the roadtrip!

The mountains in the countryside - everything is so green!

Dora and I were pretty comfortable sitting together in the back seat.

It turned from luscious green to dusty and brown!

Nothing like some cows crossing the road!

We had heard of Finca del Nino from some past Mazapan teachers who had volunteered at the farm awhile back. It's a Christian organization that takes in children who do not have anyone to care for them until they are 18 and legally of age to be on their own. There are schools on the farm along with housing, a church, and of course a soccer field. It is a huge place that is right on the beach with a breathtaking view. I'm sure it makes all remember how blessed they are. For more information on Finca del Nino, take a look at their website, http://www.farmofthechild.org/. When we got to the finca we were given a tour by one of the missionaries and we were able to see their classrooms and homes. The children are separated by age and sex in their housing to prevent behavior issues and of course to help them with development.

This is the 4th grade classroom! Just this little building.

Here's the blackboard...

These are the students desks and the back of the room. How grateful I am!

This is the elementary school's campus. The Honduran flag pole is in the middle and each grade has their own little building like the picture above. There are about 70 elementary students that come to school each day.

One of the girls from the finca :)

This was our car crammed full of donations from our students. What great kids and families we have at Mazapan. Thanks to everyone who helped make this Children's Day special for them!

After we dropped off our donations, we headed to the beach to have some lunch at El Dolfin. The restaurant was literally on the beach where you could put your feet in the sand while waiting for your drinks and food. PERFECT I'd say!

Kimberly, Cary, and I waiting for our food.

I found the titanic while waiting for my food too!

Yum! My delicious fried fish and plantains.

Our last stop in Trujillo was at the fort Christopher Columbus built when he arrived in Honduras. I was so excited about going to see this because going inside forts are always cool of course. This one was pretty well preserved and lots of the main infrastructure was still there. There was even a soccer game going on in front of the fort! Oh and I finally got to use my residency card and only had to pay the "honduran" rate instead of the "tourist" rate! WAHOOO!!! 

Outside the fort at the main entrance.

The other side of the fort's main entrance. Loving the palm trees.

Always time for a jumping picture with cannons in the background.

The back of the fort. Cannons lined the entire fort along the coast. 

Attack!!!!!! 

Inside one of the buildings. It looked like it was where the prisoners were held.

One of the watch towers with my girls.

The view of Trujillo from the fort.

The second watch tower. I thought this door was going to break off! Eek!

Not too shabby of a view my friends...(from the second watch tower)

View from inside the museum out to the ocean. I'm in love.