The Five Lempira Note and the Battle of Trinidad

I've often wondered about the battle scene on the reverse of the five lempira note, so I couldn't resist the temptation recently to take a small detour to see where the battle took place. From Tegucigalpa, on the road to the south, a few kilometers past Ojojona, there is a sign indicating that to the right, 2 km. down a small dirt road, is a monument to the Battle of Trinidad. About a km. down the road is a small, unassuming house with a larger than life statute of Francisco Morazan. I guess the owners are really proud of their heritage.





A minute further down the road, we get to the sight of what is probably the most important battle in Honduran history, the Battle of Trinidad, which was fought on Nov. 11, 1827 between the liberal forces led by Gen. Franscisco Morazan against the Conservatives. Morazan's forces won and this battle catapulted him to power. The battlefield is very modest, no visitor's center, no tourists, just one single monument...But the detour is well worth the extra ten minutes or so in order to put the five lemp note in it's proper historical context.

Off the Beaten Path- Cedros

On a recent trip to Honduras, my family and I visited the small village of Cedros.  It's only about an hour away from Tegucigalpa, in the direction of Olancho.  

It's an old mining town, dating back to the 16th century and still retains its charm, full of colonial buildings and cobblestone streets.  Reportedly, it was the first capital of Honduras, if even for just one day.  The first National Assembly met here, and then I guess they promptly moved the capital.  The church has been newly renovated with painstaking detail. 

All in all, it makes a pleasant excursion for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.  You can see the see the town and enjoy leisurely strolling in the streets all within 30 minutes.  Now wouldn't it be nice if they had a picturesque sidewalk cafe so you could linger for a while longer over a glass of Chilean  wine and tapas?