Happy Independence Day Honduras!

sept 15 is independence day in honduras.  it is a big holiday:  no school, alot of the stores are closed and of course:  a big parade.

i have been waiting for this parade for quite awhile.  we have a school on the beach behind us and i have heard them practicing their drums for weeks and weeks now.   and they have practiced marching up and down the beach.

it is a big deal here.   the amazing thing about this parade is the elaborate dresses that the girls wear!  wow.. they are like grad dressses!  these dresses aren't cheap either.  all of them are hand made and range from 35.00 to 70.00 or even more.   at first i thought why would they spend some much money on a dress to wear it one day. it seemed like a waste when so many can bearly find enough money for food and to pay their bills. 

and then this thought occurred to me this morning:   they need this!   they need to feel beautiful.  they need to dress up!  they need to spurge a little bit.

when a person is faced daily with poverty they need to be able to do more then 'survive'

so my hats goes off to everyone who helped to organize the parade, for those who taught the drills and the drumming, for all the parents who sacrificed and skimped and saved, and mostly for the students who marched in the hot sun, sweating, dehydrated and yet they gave it their ALL!

so proud of them

here are a view pictures for you to enjoy:

this band was spectacular!   amazing energy and talent!  they did a tribute to michael jackson
i am sorry that it isn't a good photo but there was a group gathering around them and that was as close
as i could get.   one thing i loved about this parade is that we were standing at the place where the bands
actually performed (sometimes for as long as 15 -20 min) so it was like a show/parade!

look at those costumes!  so adorable!!

beautiful in their white gowns and parasols

this is the oldest teacher still living in roatan. he is 91 years old

these are the youngest drummers! look at all that attitude

this was taken from the top of the carrion store...

look at those gowns!!  wow!

bob watching the parade