| Page Views: 1,865 Last Visit to Copán: - | copan ruinas - copan by willy_wonka - last update: Sep 4, 2006 |
a short hop over the border from guatemala led me to copan, officially known as "copan ruinas", famous for its mayan site of the same name. i didn't really know anything about this site, or this country, but my short time here made me dying to know more.
copan became a turning point in my life... i dont know why it had such a profound effect on me, but it made me realise that the hardships of the early months were trivial compared to how other people have it. here i was, in such a beautiful village, surrounded by jungle, with a history so deeply rooted in the land. yet also here, i saw that even the most beautiful of lands have their fair share of problems.
the orphanage in central copan village was a place i would never forget. holding onto children who just wanted some affection will remain with me forever. having to let go of them and say goodbye was even damn harder. while there were tourists streaming through the ancient mayan site just out of the village, very few of them come here. they probably dont even know it exists. the old lady that runs this orphanage, often using her own money to feed and clothe the children, was crying when we came in with shopping bags stuffed full of food and goods. when we were to leave, she came to me, and was crying, and rattled off in spanish, which i later learnt she had said "thank you for your gift today, you are a beautiful woman, may god bless you". damn, that sure started the waterworks!
the hardest thing of all though, was saying goodbye to laura. she's the one in the yellowy/cream top with the red necklace. she had a quietness about her. i learnt that she, and many here, had been physically abused by family, relatives etc. she hung back, while the younger ones ran towards us. she stood in the shadows, looking, wanting, but afraid. i went up to her, and said hi. we got talking, with my very bad minimal spanish, but it seemed to work. during my time here, she just hung out with me. if i went to pick up one of the younger toddlers, she would grab one too. if i went into the kids sleeping quarters, and said hi to the youngsters in there, she would come too. i let her play with my camera, she was so happy that i let her touch it. even happier when i let her take photos with it. saying goodbye though.... f**k, it was hard. i told her we would be friends forever (gotta thank the barcelona olympics for that theme song!) and she wouldnt let go of me. i walked away with tears in my eyes, trying to be strong and not show them. Birgit told her i was crying because i was happy to have met her. but i was crying because it just wasnt fair. no kid should have to live like this, even though the orphanage tries its damn best with what little funds they have.
as i walked through the gate (that you see behind us in the photo) i walked back to the charming little village centre, complete with tourists snapping away. 5 minutes away the tourists were buying the postcards, buying the icecreams, strolling without a care in the world. i meanwhile was sweating from all the playing with the children, face tear-streaked, red eyes puffy from crying. 5 minutes back to the "tourist" world.
this is the copan i remember. while the ruins were fantastic, the village beautiful, and the food great, i cant help but remember the angels, especially laura. i know that copan is more then the orphanage, and i know that i should maybe create an opening page giving the basic facts of the village, things to see and do etc, but i just cannot help it. this is what i SAW during my time here, this is what affected me most in copan.
all i know is, i have to come back.... happy angels |
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| Pros: | "amazing ruins, great food, quaint village life not spoiled by tourists" | | Cons: | "intense humidity, underlying social issues" | | In A Nutshell: | "copan is more then the ruins, as honduras is surely more then copan!" |
willy_wonka's Copán Travel Tips
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 Comments for willy_wonka about Copán | | | | |
pg12359 Wed Nov 11, 2009 04:46 UTC
Heading to Honduras soon. Bringing lots of clothes, diapers, bottles, etc. and money. Now I know where to take it. Thank you. | risse73 Fri Jul 10, 2009 00:20 UTC
Thanks for visiting my Puno page. I enjoyed your Copan tips/pics! Not sure if my planned trip here will happen this year, but I'm hoping it will soon. Loved the heartfelt story about the orphanage. I felt the same way in Cuba. Cheers! -Marissa- | mircaskirca Wed May 21, 2008 19:48 UTC
This is a very touching page Anna! I recalled some beautiful moments I spent with those innocent children, the little angels, that I met on my trips. Though a very sad experience, you realize how much you learned from them. | nepalgoods Sat Mar 1, 2008 09:40 UTC
Amazing colors! Great page! |
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