I got a note today--one of MANY such I've gotten in past years.  As
usual this person who shall remain nameless has lost a boyfriend and
thinks he is hurt in a motorcycle accident and wants me to help her
find Joe Jones (not the real name but the real one is just as
impossible to track).

Since I've written this answer so often, I decided to post it.

<<I'm guessing you've called or e-mailed where he is staying?  You
didn't say where so that sort of puts things off. And the name is not
of much use when it's such a common one. If you did call he HAS been
given the message--but I'm one of few people who has a working e-mail
this week--phones are also acting up on West End --which is NOT unusual
here so~~~~.

He will NOT have a phone in his room here--and can't call stateside
without $$$--and even then only a few places have systems to allow
guests to make such calls. The bulk of those are down right now. We can
get USA calls--we can't make them--some can't even do e-mail--we're
lucky that we can do e-mail here at CBI today on backup systems--but it
costs a FORTUNE to have such a system in Honduras.

Here's some more numbers to try.

Two REAL hosptials here only. Jackie Woods-- 011-504-445-1031
or 445-1227 for the cheaper local's hospital.

If he got any medical care that matters it HAD to be at one of these
places. There are no others.

Governors office--011-504-445-1292
Police--445 3438

That said,  the US embassy MUST be called to get a body back stateside
or if ANY American dies.  So if he's dead they'll HAVE to know it.
Phone is 011-504- 236-9210.

Sorry to be blunt--but it prevents confusion--esp when people are
freaked out.  Call and then you'll know and can quit freaking out,
right?  And you can quit wasting HUGE bucks on phones at $1 per minute.
<smiles>

If he is injured past a few scrapes--they will airlift him stateside in
at most 48 hours as we have no decent medical care here for serious
stuff.  Likely the embassy may know this too. If he's not home in 48
hours and the embassy hasn't heard-- then he's fine.

Otherwise, most likely he is just resting up and it's too tough to walk
to the nearest phone to call stateside as few places here can allow
such calls.

Or he has been scalped to penniless at the local hospitals --didn't
plan for emergencies properly--and has no money for such at $1 per
minute. Hospitals here do NOT accept (or even understand the concept
of) medical insurance. So they take cash only--and are quite good at
getting it.

When is he due back stateside? Can check his airline to see if he has
re-comfirmed flights back.

Also~~~
Cars here don't go much faster than 15MPH or less in West End--roads
stink.

Death from such accidents there is almost unheard of--ditto serious
injuries

However~~~what DOES happen VERY often.
Most folks get here and forget EVERYTHING they have back home--a bit of
rum--some dancing--and so on.  It's our JOB to provide guests with a
good time. Most likely he's having fun and simply forgot to "call
home." Or has tried and phones aren't cooperating--as usual.

If I had a nickel for every girlfriend who I've heard of in your
postion I wouldn't be looking to rent rooms to make a living.

Most likely he'll come home on schedule--and all will be fine--it
almost always is.

If not, you now know how to find out.

As always we hope this helps.

If not, there's nothing else I can do as I'm not family of his--nor is
he a guest here--so I have no "status" to check up on him.