HISTORY, HOSPITALITY AND DOLPHINS AWAIT WORLD CUP VISITORS IN HONDURAS  

© all pictures: Lydia Rypcinski

The influence of Spanish settlers is seen in the city’s colonial architecture and urban street layout, particularly in its “zona viva,” or commercial district. Anchored around the Boulevard Morazan (named after one of Central America’s greatest military and political figures, Francisco Morazan), Tegucigalpa’s old business district is a maze of narrow, winding hilly streets braced on all sides by centuries-old, shoulder-to-shoulder stucco buildings. 

World Cup fans will enjoy photographing such classical architecture landmarks as the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel (known simply as la Catedral), the Galeria Nacional de Arte (National Art Gallery) and the exquisite Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Suyapa, (Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa, patron saint of Honduras and the most revered site of Honduran Catholics). A number of museums, including the Museo del Hombre Hondureño (Museum of the Honduran Man) and the Museo Nacional de Honduras (National Museum of Honduras) offer visitors a look at the work of contemporary Honduran artists and Honduran history, respectively.   

In contrast to the colonial and classical architecture, air passengers landing at Tegucigalpa’s Toncontin International Airport are greeted by row after row of modern-day houses, office buildings, hotels and restaurants shingled into the mountains that surround the Choluteca Valley. Skyscrapers tossed into the mix include the two headquarters hotels for the 2003 AMF World Cup, the Intercontinental and the Clarion. Both are just minutes away from Planeta Sipango; and the city’s largest indoor mall, the Multi Plaza, is across the street from the Intercontinental. While the mall and hotels offer ample opportunities for delicious dining, visitors are encouraged to seek out and sample the many fine independent restaurants in the area boasting ethnic cuisines, including Japanese, Italian, Uruguayan, Chinese, Argentinean, Spanish, Mexican and traditional Honduran eateries.   

Honduras’ national language is Spanish and its currency is the lempira, named after a chief of the indigenous Lenca Indian tribe. The exchange rate is approximately 17.50 “lemps” to the U.S. dollar, and ATMs are available throughout Tegucigalpa. Most require a major bankcard such as VISA or MasterCard for access. (Ed. note: Money changing at Toncontin Airport is done by independent moneychangers outside the international arrivals terminal, with the tacit approval of the local police, and they exchange only U.S. dollars for lemps or vice versa.)  

Copan Ruinas, a colonial-styled city built around the ancient Mayan Indian ruins preserved there, is approximately three hours southwest of San Pedro Sula. The ruins date back to least A.D. 426 and were home to a dynasty that lasted some 400 years. Painstaking excavation has restored or recreated many of the features of that time. Official tour guides can be hired at the archeological site to help explain the ruins. A museum with more artifacts sits next door, while a sprinkling of red parrots, Honduras’ national bird, makes its home in the carefully tended preserve.   

Hondurans are rightfully proud of their natural wonders, especially the “cloud forests” that grow on the mountaintops. The forests are so named because the high elevation drapes a permanent shroud of fog around them. One cloud forest within driving distance of the Bowling World Cup is the Parque Nacional de La Tigra (Tiger National Park), approximately 12 miles northwest of Tegucigalpa. La Tigra was Honduras’ first protected natural preserve, and it is popular among hikers and backpackers, thanks to well-laid trails and knowledgeable park guides.  Those who prefer sunning to hiking can visit the Bay Islands, located in the Caribbean Sea off Honduras’ northern coast. The islands are easily accessible by air from Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Though part of Honduras, the islands—particularly the resort paradise of Roatan—have a distinctly Caribbean flavor, and most resort workers speak Creole-accented English. 

Like much of the Honduran mainland, the islands were nearly decimated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Today, their resorts feature breathtaking tropical landscapes for outdoor activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, boating, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. Deep-sea scuba diving to view the largest coral reef in the Americas is popular. Many resorts, such as Fantasy Island on Roatan, offer a full program of diving activities, including lessons and night dives.  Visitors can swim with the dolphins in the crystalline Caribbean waters that surround Roatan, most notably at Anthony’s Key Resort, where a dolphin research station has been built. It’s also possible to see whales by taking a boat trip into the deeper waters of the Cayman Trench.  Whether on the Bay Islands, in the mountains or in the city, expect Honduran days to be hot and evenings pleasantly cool, and pack accordingly. A variety of Internet sites can provide details on weather, travel, tourist sites, customs and general information on Honduras, including www.honduras.com/hondurastips and www.letsgohonduras.com. 

The AMF Bowling World Cup is the world’s largest annual international sports championship in terms of number of participating nations, More than 90 nations are expected to send their male and female national champions to compete in the weeklong tournament, recognized as one of the premier events in international amateur bowling. The 2003 edition marks the first time the Bowling World Cup has been staged in a Central American/Caribbean nation.   AMF Bowling Worldwide Inc., the founder and principal sponsor of the Bowling World Cup, is the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers in the world, as well as a major manufacturer of bowling center equipment. The company owns or operates approximately 500 bowling centers in the United States and overseas. More information on the company can be obtained at www.amf.com.