Day 8

First off, we wanted to thank everybody for keeping up with our blog, unfortunately this is the last one, but today couldn’t have been a better day to spend the “longest day of the year,” the summer solstice. We woke up around 6:30am, and enjoyed the typical breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, French toast and eggs with an assortment of fruits. We then boarded the bus for an hour-long journey to Tela, where we would board our boat to snorkel and go on the Eco Tour. Little did we know, the company lined up to take us out on the tour must have decided they wanted to watch the Honduras soccer game instead, leaving us to find a new guide and boats. After relaxing on the beach and swimming, Nicola and Kevin arranged a great tour company. While we waited, both Dyson and Mark got their hair braided by some ladies walking along the beach; they looked really good...check out the pictures.

We took our boat about 40 minutes out into the water and arrived on the beautiful Punta Sal Island, a national park occupied by two Garifuna families. We snorkeled for about an hour, saw some coral and a barracuda. Our tour guide gathered coconuts and sliced them open for us to drink the fresh coconut milk while we floated in the water. The Garifuna family on the island prepared fresh fish for us caught just before we arrived, delish. We wandered along the beach, climbing on the rocks surrounding the island, and then boarded the boat again to go to the other side of the island for the Eco Tour. We traveled through the rainforest, saw some hollar monkeys that made some frightening sounds at us, threw acorns at us and attempted to pee on the teachers. The noises they made sounded like ferocious dogs. Right before we left, we made a quick stop at a natural tunnel formed through the mountain, where some of the brave swam through to the other side, pretty exciting. After the tour, we got back on the boat and returned to the mainland.

The island was gorgeous not only because of the tropical scenery surrounding it, but because it was completely isolated and practically unoccupied with the exception of the two families. Our lunch was cooked on a mud stove, and then served to us as we sat at rustic homemade tables while looking out at the Caribbean. A few of us even got to eat while lounging in hammocks.

Tonight’s dinner was at a restaurant that has become a trip favorite. The food was similar to lunch, freshly caught fish with rice and fried plantains and beans. Some were even brave enough to eat the eyes of the fish…yum…

With our final day approaching, we’ve all been thinking about this experience. Being here has led to us having a greater appreciation for the things we take for granted back in Richmond, such as money, food, and our families. Although we have only been with the ProNiño boys for a short time, the bonds that have been created seem as if we’ve known them for years. Meeting them was not just a simple acquaintance, but the experience of breaking the language barrier and getting the boys to open up to us. Friendships were made and strengthened throughout the week, and leaving them tomorrow will be difficult. We all hope to continue helping the boys through fundraising and donations while we cannot physically be here with them, we can be a part of their lives, forever.

Thanks for reading and we all look forward to seeing everybody when we get back!

----megan, colscon and emma

Thanks to our families for allowing us this incredible opportunity.

A special thanks to Lindy and Erica for all the great pictures they’ve taken throughout the week, and to John Charles for uploading them and managing the blog!!!!!

For more pictures from day 8 click HERE