taxi overload

we had to go to the marriott yesterday to fix a few group reservation things and upon pulling up to the road in front of the hotel, we find it is completely blocked off with taxis. taxis parked in the middle of the street-no, all over the street. the taxi drivers were out on the sidewalks hanging out talking, and some were in the front of the "line" of taxis picketing and such. it was a rather crazy spectacle. as janet's telling me not to get shot (thanks janet), i go outside to take some pics. it is amazing how many strikes/riots/angry mobs occur here. everyone here is angry with the rising prices of gas, bus fares, food prices, etc, so they strike in front of the presidential house, which unfortunately for the marriot is right next door. the sad thing is that the people think the president is going to be able to lower gas prices, so they lose a day's wages sitting there waiting for him to respond. their strikes aren't helping them at all, just causing traffic jams everywhere, and trust me the Hondurans don't need help with that. it is hard to see people suffering so much from these rising prices, and even harder to know that their efforts aren't working, at least for right now. the president isn't even addressing the needs of the people. please pray for the Honduran people as the struggle continues.

and oh, by the way, the airport is open. does that mean i'm flying out of it next thursday? nope. it appears that mr. president has a different definition of "open" than the rest of the world. he has put numerous weight restrictions on the planes and the major airlines (American and Continental) are refusing to fly in based on these guidelines. i don't know if people are actually going to believe their eyes when a full-sized jet does actually land in Toncontin. mercy.