Day Of The Dead

Copan Ruinas, Honduras -  A few days after Halloween everyone went to the cemetery to remember and celebrate loved ones.  What surprised me most was hearing stories of women being murdered.     

This gentleman's daughter and granddaughter were murdered.  For 20 minutes he followed me around like a ghost.

This guy just broke my heart.  His mom was murdered during a robbery.  He no longer lives in Copan but traveled several days early so that he could paint her tomb.

This family was interesting for they were cleaning their relative's graves all the while standing in their own mausoleum.

The cemetery is running out of burial space hence the new mausoleums.  

This gentleman was upgrading his sister's wooden crucifix with a concrete one.

Cemetery entrance.

A Graduation First

Copan Ruinas, Honduras - Suyapa and Noami, 21, are twins.  They are the first in their family to graduate from high school.  Their parents Doña Mikaela and Don Mauro were over the moon with pride.  Afterwards they bought a big bottle of soda and celebrated.  

As a photographer's fate would have it my camera battery died at the beginning of this great day.

 

Little Fishermen

Copan Ruinas, Honduras - Saw these two boys hunting for fish as I was taking pictures for my rock sculptor essay.  I have no idea how they caught fish barehanded but they did - they caught two!

Walk About

Copan Ruinas, Honduras

Doña Aura

Copan Ruinas, Honduras - This was the most difficult thing I have ever taken a picture of:  to be with someone when the doctor said, "This is very bad.  This is cancer."

Doña Aura Lopez is only 30 years old and has one eight-year-old child.  She said her first symptom was six years ago when an itchy mole appeared.  She said she scratched it and then her eye progressively got worse.

The hardest part of this experience for me was when the doctor made Doña Aura cover her good eye and asked her if she could see.  Crying she responded "Yes" as she pulled her hand down to look with her good eye.  It was so painfully obvious that she had no vision.

The only thing the doctor could offer was to take a biopsy and pray for the best.  If our prayers are answered this medical brigade can perform reconstructive/plastic surgery this coming April 2010.

Fruit Gang

Copan Ruinas, Honduras - Walking to a soccer field I stumbled across these kids climbing trees collecting fruit.  One kid saw me from about 40 meters and stashed his fruit in the tall weeds as if I was going to report him to the fruit patrol.  I told them I was not the fruit police.  They were thankful and proceeded to show me how good they could climb tress.

Shoe Endorsment

Copan Ruinas, Honduras - As with most athletes the shoe makes the man or woman.  I went to a soccer field hoping to catch a game.  My objective was to take a photo of their cleats and an accompanying portrait.  Because rain was in the air no one showed up except Toño.