Change of Plans... Stay in Gracias for one more day.

Today I stayed for an extra day in Gracias. This is such a charming little town. Tourism hasn't spoiled it yet.

After sleeping really well for what seemed ages, I went to a fort. El Fuerte de San Cristobal is pretty interesting and it has some really creative sculptures. It also holds the tomb of former president Juan Lindo. After walking around the fort for a bit, I headed to a museum called Casa Galeano. I got lost on the way, asked for directions, got lost again and ended up taking a tuk tuk. The Museum was interesting too; it told the history of Gracias from the perspective of the Lenca indigenous people. The town is making a strong effort to recuperate its indigenous identity. People here are very proud of Lempira, the indigenous leader who resisted Spanish conquest.There is monuments to him, he is in t-shirts and the national currency is named after him.

For dinner I went to this charming little place called El Rinconcito Graciano. They had Lenca food and everything was served on traditional Lenca pottery and or made from recycled materials. The owner was university educated and had a vision of expanding her restaurant to include a hostel that would be eco-friendly. She was talking about recycling water which I think is kind of gross, but I agreed with everything else.

I kinda wish I could tell you everything I have learned, but you probably don't have the time to read it all ja ja

Legend goes that when the Spanish captain in charge of finding a suitable place for the the colonial capital found the are where Gracias was built he said "Gracias a Dios"

Fuerte de San Cristobal 

This was an inscription in the tomb of Juan Lindo; former President of Honduras and El Salvador. He institutionalized free education. It reads: One may be a hated ruler of ones time: but if you want to favor the vote of future generations open schools. 

Iglesia Las Mercedes was in pretty rough shape. The side door was crack open and I went inside for a look. It was so awesome to be in there by myself

Rinconsito Graciano. I tried to go there twice and it was closed. This last time I shook the doors before leaving and as I walked away the owner came out and opened the door... Some Spaniards joined later.