Russia - The Hermitage
Foto: Copan (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Honduras - Saul is already waiting for me in front of the hotel. He immediately starts telling me all sorts of things about Copán—about the men on the square and his frustration with the litter they leave behind, about the cathedral, and about the people of Copán. Saul is an enthusiastic man full of stories. He tells me he has been a guide for 21 years. I follow Saul on foot to the historical site of Copán. Copán was once the southernmost city of the Maya empire. The temples, stelae, houses, and other structures date from just before the start of our calendar to around 700 AD. Every 52 years, according to the Maya calendar, new temples were built. To do so, old temples were often destroyed and their remains used to make the new structures even taller. As I reach the Copán temples from the side, I’m immediately impressed. The pyramid-shaped Maya structures, which I’ve seen so many pictures of, now stand before me among the trees. Impressive! Saul explains the original purpose of the buildings and how the area was once used. The center of Copán, the Acropolis, was the domain of the wealthy. The poorer population lived on the other side of the river in simple huts. At Temple 16, the older underlying temple was not demolished; instead, the new temple was built on top of it—perhaps because the original was too beautiful to destroy. This lower temple was only recently discovered. You can visit it via a tunnel, but Saul advises against it. It’s relatively expensive and many visitors find it underwhelming. He recommends visiting the museum instead, where there is a life-size replica of the temple. At the 72-step staircase, I say goodbye to Saul. He has given me over two hours of fascinating information about the ruins of Copán. Now I have time to explore the remaining structures on my own. The 72-step staircase is unique because it features the longest Maya inscription ever carved, written in hieroglyphs along the steps. To protect it, the staircase is now covered with a temporary cloth canopy. This is understandable, of course, but it does detract a bit from the overall impression of Copán. I walk back toward the exit via various temples and ancient buildings.
The town of Copan Ruinas
Honduras - After lunch back in the town of Copán, I walk in the afternoon to the Via Via. Geert gives a guided tour of the town and talks along the way about life in Honduras. In the market hall, he speaks about the country’s low minimum wage and how it can easily ...