Santa Lucía is a beautiful mountain community with cobble-stoned streets situated above Tegucigalpa. The cathedral was built in 1572 by the Spanish invaders who enslaved the indigenous folk and mined and stole their silver and gold before being expelled from the country after 300 years of subjugation. My friend Celeste accompanied me there last weekend to visit the host family who provided me room and board when I arrived for training as a Peace Corps Vounteer in February 2009. I have remained in contact with my host family visiting every few months and consider them actual family for their kindness and generosity over the years.

It is rare for a home to be constructed of wood in La Paz, La Paz, Honduras. In years past most homes were constructed of adobe brick. Generations of families still live in long-standing adobe homes. In our modern era most homes are now constructed of cement block or brick. These three homes are in the modest neighborhood across the street from where I live. The sturdy residences will last for additional generations. Compared to the sawdust glueboard homes built in the US one can wonder which is the most advanced home builder. All these residences will have ceramic tile floors throughout including in kitchens and bathrooms. Cheap linoleum, prefab plastic showers, flimsy hollow doors and bacteria-collecting wall to wall carpet do not exist here. Honduras is in a modernization phase that will soon connect the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean with a modern four-lane highway twisting safely through beautiful wooded mountains from seashore to seashore. Our new international airport will be the wonder of Central America. Eat your heart out world.