Salsa Much?

If you are ever in this part of the world, you must go Salsa dancing at least once. Tegus might not be the Salsa dancing capital - but some of us enjoy the music, the dancing, and the atmosphere.

There are two places that I know of that play salsa, sometimes even live.

Sabor Cubano

There's a Cuban restaurant called Sabor Cubano in Colonia Palmira, apart from having delicious Cuban food, it is a great place to go anyday, but from Thursday to Saturday you'll find more people, from professional dancing to amateur dancing and dancing just for fun.

You can check out their fanpage on facebook here..

Sabor Cubano

La Caramba
They recently re-opened. It is where local artists get the chance to jam. I'm not loving the new location, but their bar food is good, beer is always cold and the bands are top notch.
But what's important in this post is their live Salsa on Saturdays.
Son de Tepas is the band that they have on Saturdays. Amazing live band.
So put on your dancing shoes, and Salsa the night away.
La Caramba's facebook page opens up when you click here --> La Caramba
You can follow them on twitter as well : @LaCaramba.

Plus, this weekend...

Pin-Tegus

I love that my friends share my love for Tegus. As I mentioned in earlier posts, with Tegus, its the small things... the friendly people, the little places that have a story, the whole-in-the-wall places to eat, buildings with history that nobody seems to notice.
I might be biased, because after all, Tegus is where my heart is, it is my home.

And in this post, I must share a little of the nice things my friends see in Tegus.

There's a quote that says something about beauty being in the beholder's eye. You can see that in Ash's pictures (Ash is here <--- to the left). He hasn't lived in Tegus for long, but in his time here, he's captured not only a place in our hearts but amazing images of this little city. I am truly a fan of his pics, but the ones of Tegus are just impressive.
You can check them out in the "I Heart Tegus" tab in this blog... or just click here I <3 a="a" tegus="tegus">

Dani, on the other hand, has this amazing project going on. She calls it "1578" which is the year Tegucigalpa was founded. It is a movement that seeks to promote a positive image of Tegus. You often listen to the people who live here (or Capitalinos) saying: "Ughh, there's nothing to do here!". Well, Dani and her project believe that is not true, so she gets collaborates with creative, interesting people, NGOs, cultural organizations, etc. and shows us we are wrong. There are choices, there are places, there are things going on. You can check it out on facebook: Facelifting the image of Tegus: 1578



Beautiful Kris does her part too! Artist and dear friend, Kris has a mild addiction to Pinterest. She has the most random, interesting boards out there...and today I just saw she posted a board  about Vintage Tegus! It would be a crime if I didn't share it with you! You are just a click away from going to a retro Tegus. Enjoy!
Tegucigalpa de Mis Amores - a board by the lovely and talented Kris Vallejo



So these are a few of the ways my friends show Tegus their love. I really do hope this increases your interest in it.

I hope you enjoy!
Happy Friday!

Lost and Found!

I know, I know... I've disappeared for a while now, but I'm back!

It's time we get this blog going on and make it useful for you guys out there. I hope you enjoy the information that I post. If you have comments and/or suggestions they are more than welcome!

Tegus is a little rainy today. Kinda droopy but by no means does that mean that there is nothing going on.  I have been updating the "What's Happening" page for you. Lots of events and places to go this August, so be sure to check it out.

Making this a quick to the point post. Just wanted to let you know I was back!

Cheers!

A Must!

Baleadas

On my way from school today in the morning, I had to make a mandatory stop. Not only becase my stomach was screaming for food, but because the best Baleada place is on my way!

A baleada? you must be asking yourself. Yes, a Bah-Lee-Ah-Dah. A very very typical thing to eat, not only in Tegus, but all over Honduras. If you ask me, you'll find the best ones in the North Coast but I can't drive 4 hours every day to get my baleada fix, so I settle for the ones in Tegus. Not bad at all. You'll find them everwhere in the mornings... a lady with a gas stove and a big thermos of horchata selling them in every corner and hundreds of baleada spots all over.

This yummy thing consists of a flour tortilla that can be filled with pretty much anything you can think of. The basic one is filled with refried beans, mantequilla (our better version of sour cream), and salty crumbly cheese. You can add or subtract anything you can think of, from eggs and avocado to chicken and meat.
My favorite combination is refried beans, mantequilla, cheese, scrambled eggs, and avocado. You must try this at least one.

Think of it as our very loved and popular version of a burrito.

The Recipe:

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Serving: 2 people

Tortilla Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups of white wheat flower
- one teaspoon of oil
- baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of warm water

Beautiful

Gracias is a Must.

My trip began with the breakfast of champions... no, not a cigarrette and a cup of coffee, but a delicious typical Honduran breakfast. We stopped in Siguatepeque (on the road to the North, CA-5) just to eat in Comedor Suyapa. This place used to be a house where they sold food to hungry truck drivers, now, it is a restaurant and have two or three locations. They serve one plate, that's all - but oh what a plate it is! If I could eat breakfast like this everyday... the plate consists of Eggs (your choice, mine is scrambled), avocado, carne asada, refried beans, cheese, mantequilla (sour cream sort of) and tortillas. It is a bomb if you're not used to eating like this, but your stomach gets used to it fast. This is, in general terms, the Honduran dish. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

We spent our days in the middle of nowhere, Lempira. Lempira is one of the 18 states Honduras has. Located in the western part. Mountains, mountains, and more mountains. Absolutely beautiful. Mainly produces coffee and cattle. Here are some pictures of La Union (a very small town) and Gracias, the capital of Lempira. I was very impressed, very neat, lots of stuff to do, lots of places to eat and stay, I missed out on the hot springs, but I will go back for them...and you should visit the place.

Finca "La Majada", a friend's country place.

San Cristobal Fort

View from the Fort

Central Park... the local governance had a screen set up in the middle of the park and a movie showing so people could watch for free on Saturday afternoon. Neat huh?

The Cathedral

On our way back... we made the mandatory pit stop in Yojoa Lake. Ordered the most amazing fried fish and chips you will ever ever have in your life. There are tons and tons of "Champas" on the roadside and go in. You get to choose your fish, they're frozen and the price depends on their size, a small to medium fish is around 80-100 Lempiras. Once you choose your fish, the ladies fry it and take it to your table accompanied by tons of plantain chips and lime. Cabbage salad and pickled onion is up to you.
I owe you the Lake pic, I was too anxious to eat to take a pic ;)

Fish and Chips Honduran Style, sans and with the yummy onions and cabbage salad.

Overall, it was a great trip! Lempira is definitely a place you should take time to visit, plus it is only like 30 minutes away from Santa Rosa de Copan and the Mayan Ruins. DOOOO EEEEET!

It's here and almost gone...

Summer, for most countries is in June... for us, Summmer is one week in March or April, Easter for most, Semana Santa for us.
We have to thank Jesus for this week everybody gets a vacay. Some take to it religiously, some pack their bags and get out of Tegus.. FAST.
It is Wednesday, and I can say I wish Tegus was like today everyday. No nerve wrecking traffic, not busy or bustling, and what needs to be open, is. I only wished I owned a bike. It is about the only time you could bike around safely 'round here. No cars to run you over, no smart ass villain trying to get your stuff, no people anywhere. ahhhh.

Tegus Folks usually leave the capital to go all over the place... the beaches in the north coast (Tela and The Bay Islands being the most popular amongst us), the south coast (Coyolito, Amapala,and such..), others ditch the beach and sun and just stick to the sun in their hometowns or visit Copan.

I, my friends, am going to uknown territory. I have never been, but I have heard wonderful things about Gracias, Lempira. A colonial town located in Western Honduras. Forts, churches, nature, hot springs, and amazing food + people.
I'll let you know if Gracias is worth leaving Tegus, but my wild guess is YES!

More info about Gracias, Lempira...

Where it is:

Amazing People

Hot Springs

all pics by Juan Carlos
taken from the Gracias, Lempira Blog


San Cristobal Fort

Photo by: Joselito Vega
Taken from:

Have a fun rest of the week!

Pic Nic de la Francofonía

Yesterday, apart from being my birthday, the Alianza Francesa celebrated the French speaking peeps by organizing a Pic Nic.
There were food booths set up, music playing, wine, and yes, French speaking people. It was held at the Villa Olimpica.
I got there around noon, the sun was burning hot and my stomach was ready to munch on some food.
I expected a lot more food alternatives and many more French options - there really wasn't any except for some crepes. But when you're hungry, you're hungry. They had typical Honduran food like Mondongo and Tapado, Pupusas, Meat and Chorizo plus a local French inspired bakery/cafe stand.
My day was made when I say a man with a cart... not just any man, not just any cart. It was a man selling "Minutas". This is shaved ice topped with very homemade fruit syrup that can be upgraded for just Lps 5 to a super minuta with condensed milk added. I will stop ANYWHERE for one of these. However, they have a bit of a bad rep. Street minutas are known for not being the most sanitary thing you will find on the streets. Plus the minuta man will always grab the ice with the same hand he grabs your money. I still take my chances- sugar overdose, bacteria, and all.

El minutero...

Las minutas...

It was fun to hang out with my friends, do something different, being able to sit around in the grass. I hope they repeat it next year.

Have a wicked end!

Tonight is the last night of the 4th Annual Jazz Festival in Tegucigalpa. It ends with a presentation by German Jazz band, Underkarl. I went last night, Saxos de Honduras played, and absolutely loved it.
Here's the info.

Also, "Latin Grooves" @ Habia Una Vez tonight. The line up includes Tato Banton, KIKA, and Tijaax Tunes with a special presentation by ESPECIES EN EXTINCION. Starts at 9 pm.

Tomorrow, there's a cultural festival going on @ Paseo Los Artesanos. There will be theatre, marimba, dancing, good, handmade products, traditional games, music... all around fun. It is a free event that everybody can enjoy, see you there!

Greetings from the cabin!

From the radio cabin that is!

This is me and Enzo saying hey.

One of my jobs, actually...the only one right now, is entertaining Tegus folks every day from 5-7 on a radio show. So if you're here, ask your cab driver, your friend or tune your ipod in to 100.1 fm.. Super 100 Stereo.

On another note, I've updated the page a wittle bit. More events on the What´s Happening page going on this week and weekend, also I had Chinese yesterday, and take a look at why and where you should have it too.

Nice sunny day here in TGU. I didn't enjoy it the way I should have (going downtown and blogging for you about it and such) because my sleeping schedule is all screwed. Bare with me, I'll have interesting things for you up in no time.

It´s going to be a beer filled night for me. Barena, one of the local beer brands is having a party for media, and guess who's invited. Barena is a light beer, easy to drink.. think our version of Corona. Give it a try with a little lime and salt.
So enough said, I'm on air. Salud!

Check out what's happening this weekend!

The What's Happening tab is where you'll find the fun stuff that you would be doing as a local.
This weekend, there's a music festival and local bands playing.

Take a look!
Le Fou and Sueño Digviana in Concert Friday @Taramundi

Grito Rock on Saturday @ Club del Quimico Farmaceutico

Have a fun weekend!

Not everything you hear is true.

"You're going to Tegus? It's not worth it." "Going to Tegus? It's dangerous." Yada, Yada, Yada.
I'm sure you've heard that before, and if you haven't, expect it. As I mentioned before, no beaches or ruins in Tegus, but a nice package of things to do and see. From a messy historical downtown to nearby picturesque towns and amazing hiking trails in a rainforest. You probably wouldn't want to spend a week here, but if you get stuck here, make the most out of it.Two or three days gives you a good time frame to rest from all your traveling, plan the rest of your trip a bit, and other what-nots.
If you fly here, fasten your seatbelt and clap your sweaty hands when you land - to blend in and give thanks that you're alive. If you come by bus, get out of Comayaguela ASAP. Comayaguela is the part of town where most buses arrive at, and not a fun part to be at, at any time. Yes, we have developed a reputation of being a dangerous city. I'm not going to lie to you, it's no Sweden. Like all cities in the world, there are places you should just not go to, people you should not talk to, and situations you should look out for.
Just keep the basics in mind. Have your money in different places, not all your cash with you, don't walk around with flashy gadgets, have the number of a cab company with you, not too much walking at night, you know the drill. We are done with political demonstrations for the most part, everything closes at 2:00 am, most people do not speak English, public transportation is, well, difficult. Learn your basic spanish, we get a kick out of anyone trying to be nice enough to learn a couple of words. Be careful and enjoy the things Tegus has to offer (no, no drinkable tap water included).

My personal favorite is the way Tegus looks at night, that in itself, should make your pitt stop here worthwhile. Take a look for yourself:

Photo: Ashraf Hassanein