Papá Gordo's Page

Where is Belaire - Where can you stay?

Over the past sixteen months, Mary and I have visited the home of Evelyn and Jose Castellar at least a half dozen different times. Our first encounter occurred at a little cantina just outside the gates of the Hospital Loma de Luz near Belfate, on the northern coast. Mary, Gregg Rushton and I were working at Loma de Luz helping our good friend Judy Greene computerize their eye glasses inventory. I was having difficulty negotiating the amount due for a couple of soft drinks when the man standing in line behind me said “she (the cashier) said you owe her 38 Limpira”. I said thanks, paid for my drinks and went outside. I didn’t notice that the man had followed me and when he saw the CHHF sign on the side of the truck, he asked where Limon was. Gregg told him and said that we were headed there the next morning. The man introduced himself as Jose Castellar and after learning that we traveled with medical brigades; he invited us to stop by his farm the next day saying “You’ll drive right by our clinic and if you stop Evelyn, my wife, will give you some pineapples.”

Well, the next day we found the clinic and went into meet Evelyn and, of course, Jose hadn’t mentioned us and she didn’t know who we were or why we were there. But being ever gracious, Evelyn sent us up the drive to wait for her at her home. An hour later, after enjoying a wonderful lunch and loaded down with fresh pineapples we left. We left in love with the community and this couple from Federal Way Washington who are giving so much of their time and resources to help those so much less fortunate – the people of the surrounding villages that Evelyn simply referred to as her “neighbors”.  Now after conducting two different week long medical and eye care clinics at Evelyn’s Clinica de Los Angles, we plan on being regular coworkers at the clinic.



Clinica de Los Angeles



Since our return from our most recent visit and after numerous reports that we have posted on the clinic and the crisis that faces the people of the neighboring Cloud Forest, I have gotten several inquiries regarding how to get to the clinic and what accommodations are available?  The Lord knows that there are plenty of reasons to visit Belaire.

The village of Belaire is about 45 minutes from Cruzadas on the main road from La Ceiba to Saba (it is the second or third village beyond Jutiapa). Unfortunately the Pepsi Cola sign that tells you when you are approaching Belaire was knocked down by an errant cattle truck so it is difficult to know when you are there. The Clinica de Los Angeles is located just across the driveway from a very well kept soccer field which will be on your right as you are going from La Ceiba to Saba.

Sambo Creek, Jutiapa, Balfate and Belaire

As for lodgings, there are a number of excellent choices. Evelyn can get you in-touch with the Canadian (http://www.hotelcanadien.com/). She is good friends with the proprietors. Team Belaire has for the past two years stayed at Helen’s Beach Hotel (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g292023-d631095-Reviews-Villa_Helen_s_Hotel_Restaurant-La_Ceiba.html). Helen’s is immediately adjacent to the Canadian. If you contact them, ask for Jack and tell him that guf, the fat man from AHMEN, told you to call. The separate bungalows are a very nice feature at Helen’s. They are very comfortable and have full kitchens/dinettes/living rooms and can be rented by the day or week.

Helen’s and the Canadian are adjacent to one another

When Mary and I are in the area by ourselves, we stay at La Delphina B&B (http://www.ladelphina.net/). This is a rather new facility that caters to small groups (they only have five double rooms). The owner is a man named Richard (ladelphina@hotmail.com). Again tell him the fat man from AHMEN told you to call.

Richard (striped shirt), Mary and Mario chat

Another possibility is the Palma Real (http://www.expedia.com/Northern-Coast-Hotels-Hotel-Palma-Real-All-Inclusive.h1817785.Hotel-Information?icmcid=191.tripadvisor.ExpediaHotelImagesUS.freesearch&foop=0&crti=4&itty&itdx&rdct=1&itid&nfla=1&from=f&hashTag=picturesAndTours&flag=l&hwrq&spsh&spsi&ICMCID=191.tripadvisor.ExpediaHotelImagesUS.freesearch&htid=1817785#). This beachfront resort is located within a half mile of Richard’s and probably within a mile of Helen’s and the Canadian. It is physically close, but it is in another world. Mary and I have never stayed there, but we have toured the place. It is where the rich and famous in Honduras vacation. Actually it is not all that bad when compared to US luxury resorts. And the food is free.

Palma Real, where the rich and famous stay

One other option exists. A couple of hundred feet beyond the Canadian is a small Bed and Breakfast/ Bar & Grill called Paradise Found. It is owned and operated by an expat couple from the US. Like all the other options, Paradise Found fronts on the Caribbean. It is relatively quiet and informal. We have never stayed here but our 2010 team did eat dinner there one evening. Their grill enjoys an excellent reputation amongst everyone we talked to. Unfortunately our experience was not the best we’d ever had in Honduras. It became evident that their staff’s ability to handle crowds of more than five or six is limited. We showed up (with prior notification) with around ten at the same time as another group of around eight showed up. We’ll probably not return.

The tables and benches are all made from very heavy slabs cut from driftwood found floating in the Caribbean