Costa Rica: Monte Verde, Fortuna and San Jose

While in Monte Verde the entire group went 

on a zip line tour of the Monte Verde Cloud Forest. After a brief instruction we were on way. There were about twelve different lines; varying in length and height. I think the highest elevation was either 408 or 480 feet. About halfway through our tour we also had an opportunity to try the Tarzan swing.

I would not hesitate a second to give this adventure sport another turn. I had a blast, not scared at all and the adrenaline rush was unbelievable. A great way to close out my 20s!

Happy Birthday to Me! The next morning we took a bus and a ferry to Fortuna. Later that afternoon a few of us went on a short walk. Unfortunately the sky was clouded over and we could not see Arenal Volcano. Our next stop was to Baldi Thermal Spa. We spent about two hours testing the water temperatures of several pools. One of the pools included three water slides. I went on the fastest one first, thrown around the tunnel due to the speed, kind of hurt so I didn't make another attempt. The other two slides were a bit slower or had more bumps, not nearly as painful as the first. I heard a lot of people screaming on their way down the fastest slide and then complain later, so I was glad I just hadn't become soft.

Back at the hotel and got dressed to party! We went to Volcan Look Discotheque. Quickly after entering the club members of my group soon began buying me drinks and a shot here and there. At one moment I had a drink in hand and two more in front of me! "What is this?, a drink for each decade?" I did manage to pace myself and the night did not end in a complete mess (at least for me). The Intrepid group was there as well so I had a few more people to celebrate with and more free drinks came my way.

The next morning a bunch of us went rafting along the Rio Toro, a class 3-4 white water trip. A thrilling ride that left us all exhausted. Before dinner there was one last thing to make my birthday complete. For weeks I had talked about getting a pinata. My tour leader was kind enough to purchase one for me. A few of us took turns and soon enough candy and other "treats" fell out. 

The next day was the last of the tour. In San Jose we had another fun night out and a final farewell.

My next "big trip" I hope will be Australia and New Zealand beginning sometime in October.

As for now, I'll have to go back to work, what is that again? Although, maybe I'll be sent on the road somewhere so my bags won't gather too much dust. In the meantime- I'll be making rough plans for the land(s) down under! 

Nicaragua: Granada and Ometepe

We took a boat ride around Lake Nicaragua. After a quick swim we stopped by a large tree that had a few monkeys hanging around. One of the females jumped on the boat, gave the river guide a hug and roamed around for a minute before taking a rest on my lap. She returned to the tree upon hearing one her "kids" crying. 

A few pieces of property were for sale. The land didn't look like much but we were told a lot could be done with such small parcels of land.

The next day I walked around town for a little while, camera in hand.  I felt especially hot in this town and was grateful for a swim in the pool of the sister hotel I was staying in.

The island of Ometepe. Sun, swim, and drink. The next two days were spent relaxing on the island. There was an option to take one of two hikes on the two different volcano trails but with the absence of lava the walk did not sound appealing. Both days, around 3pm, a large swarm of flies appeared. I made sure to duck into my room at that time to avoid the nuisance.

While waiting for our 5:30 am departure I took a few photos of the sunrise. Goodbye Nicaragua, hello Costa Rica!

Honduras: Part 2: Utila Island

Finally, early one evening, we met up with the group on Utila Island. That night all of us meet for dinner to celebrate a birthday.

Pip's birthday was one of three birthdays we would celebrate during this trip.

Since I only had one full day on Utila Island I decided to skip a snorkel trip and just walk around and explore. I did spend a few hours alternating between reading by the ocean and taking a swim. 

After playing cards for a while at the hotel a few of us took a short walk to one of the bars. The place was packed with people dancing and another guy traveling around was spinning fire. 

The toilet was weird and gross at this bar. The facilities were like an outhouse and everything went directly into the ocean! I wouldn't advise swimming close to that place. But, you have to expect anything when you are traveling around Central America!

Honduras: Part 1: Copan

Due to laundry issues (the lady closed early on Saturday and was closed all day Sunday) Stu and I didn't begin the next phase of our trip with our new group. All transportation to Antigua was booked so we couldn't leave Copan until the following day, when our new group would be leaving Copan for Utila. The next 2-3 days were spent trailing the new group of people.

The site of Copan is known for its stelaes. There were a lot of carved stone pillars found all around the ruins. Some were more intricate, detailed than others, some more complete than others.

Later in the evening, after dinner we stopped by the Red Frog. Soon after our arrival a few folks from Intrepid came in as well. They quickly saved us from a strange man that kept repeating himself over and over again. 

Guatemala: Part 3: Antigua

Our return to trip to Antigua was delayed a bit due to a triathlon. 

After lunch a few of us wanted to use the net but it was busy. We stopped at the bar/restaurant a few feet away and suddenly I found myself in Red Sox territory. Photos, jerseys of the Sox were surrounded by signs against the Yankees. I had a good laugh and thought maybe I shouldn't mention I'm from NY.

The next few days were spent wandering and photographing the town. On Saturday night we went to a club, danced a little salsa and then moved to a different club to hear live music and ran into the Intrepid group again.

About an hour and a half's drive from Antigua is Pacaya Volcano. 

After a 2.5 mile walk/hike we were ready to toast some marshmallows. The lava was flowing, smoke was coming out of the volcano and I was surprised by how drastic the temperature changed when I moved only two feet closer from where I was standing. We stayed just until it began to get dark and then began our walk back down. 

That evening was our last official night as a group. Antigua marked the end of the Mayan Sun Tour portion of my trip.

Guatemala: Part 2: Chichicastenago Market and Lake Atitlan

Left Antigua on a chicken bus. Before our arrival to Panajachel we stopped at the Chichicastenago Market. There were numerous vendors: food, crafts, clothes, etc. This market definitely reminded me of the Otavalo Market in Ecuador.

We toured one of the churches and after an hour of wandering around I was done browsing. 

We arrived in Panajachel late in the afternoon. I walked around the town, took photos and bought a messenger bag made from an old coffee bean sack. After dinner we had a few drinks at Pana Rock, the sign was exactly like the logo for the Hard Rock Cafe. 

The next morning we took a boat tour around Lake Atitlan. We stopped by three towns/islands; Santa Catarina, San Pedro and Santiago. A parade was underway when we arrived at Santa Catarina. While watching the marching band and majorettes a few young boys began goofing around for our cameras. After each photo they had to take a look and kept asking for more photos to be taken.

During the lake tour we also visited a few churches, walked through another market, and saw Maximom, a statue that the residents pray to and believe is alive. Maximom is fed three times a day, is given cigarrettes, and is even dressed every morning and evening. 

 

Guatemala: Part 1: Tikal and Rio Dulce

Now in Guatemala- another stamp on the well used passport. I spent the day wandering around the town of Flores and relaxing in a hammock at the hotel.

The next morning we made a trip to Tikal. Spent a good six hours touring the site. I think it is the largest city from the Mayan civilization. For you Star Wars buffs this site was featured in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. 

After a long day spent at Tikal we were all starving. I ask you, Is there a  better meal to have than an Angry Whopper from Burger King after exploring an archeological site?

We arrived in Rio Dulce mid afternoon the next day. Relaxing in a pool and drinking rum sounded like a great idea to myself, Becca and Stu. We didn't leave the pool until shortly after midnight!

Early the next morning (5:30) we began the Monkey Sunrise Kayak Trip along the river. We only saw two monkeys but I enjoyed kayaking. First time I took a proper kayak trip. I spent the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge, swimming and reading. Always a good thing to take a break from the constant "on the go".

Belize: Part 2: San Ignacio

In San Ignacio we stayed at The Trek Lodge, complete with eco friendly cabins and toilets. The eco-friendly toilets were just a fancy name for outhouse.

During our brief stay here I went caving in Crystal Cave. We spent about three and a half hours walking, crawling, and climbing through the cave. There were some slippery moments and a few tight squeezes. Also in the cave were Mayan artifacts, left intact and exactly where they were found. Pottery fragments, tools, fire pits and a few human remains were scattered throughout the cave. It is unknown what purpose this cave served: ceremonial?, sacrificial?, did one Mayan enter or did several enter together, how long did they stay? Lots of questions left unanswered.

After our cave exploration we went for a swim in the Blue Hole of the National Park.  After a quick cool down and swim we returned to the lodge. The evening's festivities included a walk to the local fair. Bumper cars and a BB Gun game were some of the highlights. I didn't see any fried dough nor any cotton candy, a bit disappointed by that. 

Belize: Part 1: Caye Caulker

After two bus trips, a border crossing, and a water taxi we finally reached Caye Caulker. Our first night all of us were exhausted from our early start (5:45am) and travels.  A friendly and severely obese man served us excellent BBQ dinners from his shack of a restaurant.

The next morning the five of us; Ellen, Elena, Becca, Stu and I (small group on this two week trip) set sail for our snorkel trip. Another group, Intrepid, was also on board. This group was following the same route as us and for the next month we kept running into each other.

Anyways, we snorkeled around Shark-Ray Alley and the Hol Chan Reserve.  I saw a variety of coral, some sharks, two different types of sting rays, and lots of fish. Somehow I ended up with a few bruises- how, I'm not sure. I don't remember hitting any coral but there was someone who unknowingly? kept kicking me with her fins. 

Later in the evening we participated in trivia night at Lloyd's Sports Bar. We finished tied for third, only 4 points out of first place (I surprised myself by how much useless knowledge I do have) and the tiebreaker was a beer chugging contest, Stu took on that challenge and won. We received 20 Belizean dollars off our bill. I also was able to walk away with the only souvenir I wanted from Belize: a Belikin beer glass and bottle.  Belikin has a Mayan temple on its labels.

The motto on Caye Caulker is "Go Slow". Difficult for a fast paced walker but I quickly adjusted to island life. Back in 2000 I spent a few days in San Pedro, another island off  the coast of Belize. I enjoyed my time there and here and look forward to a return trip to either one.

Mexico: Part 7: Chichen Itza andPlaya del Carmen

Made a stop at Chichen Itza before our final destination of Playa del Carmen. Explored the site for about two hours before continuing on. We arrived in Playa at about 9pm, exhausted and hungry.

Food, drink, shop, beach, drink. That pretty much sums of the last few days of my time in Mexico. After two weeks of constant "on the go" it was nice to have a few days to do nothing but relax. Never much of a beach bum I enjoyed soaking up the sun with a few "cool off" moments in the ocean.

Our farewell dinner was followed by a string of card games back at the hotel. We ventured out to The Blue Parrot shortly after midnight and some of us didn't end the evening until about 6-7am!

That morning after a few hours of sleep myself and some others took a bus to Cancun. Some of my travel buddies were moving on and I had to meet up with the new/next group of people. Because of the late night none of us were interested in making it a night out in Cancun. What I did see of Cancun I wasn't all that impressed. Why leave Playa?

The next two days were a mixture of hanging out with the old and new group. Still mostly beach time and I have a nice tan to show off.

Mexico: Part 6: Merida

Another night bus brought us to Merida. However, there was quite a commotion on this bus. A man had been drinking throughout the ride and was continuously snorting, coughing, clearing his throat, snoring, etc. For whatever reason after he had been kicked off he was allowed back on. Very few of us managed to sleep that night. 

The hotel we stayed in was pretty funky. Sculptures, paintings, murals, knick knacks, art was everywhere! The morning of our arrival Sylvie and I walked into town, took a few photos and then entered a clothing store. We then spent most of the afternoon shopping. An unusual activity for me while traveling but I had a lot of fun. Only bought a dress but had a great time trying on clothes. I returned to the hotel for a quick swim before meeting the group for dinner.

The next morning I visited the sites of  Uxmal and Kabah. Since a woman fell to her death a few years ago while climbing Uxmal the site was roped off. 

Later in the evening, shortly after dinner we stopped at a bar. A woman was giving Salsa lessons. Dom told the student he wanted to learn how to salsa and soon after a few of us were shown some basic steps. I had a good time learning the dance, curious if I'll have the opportunity to put my new found moves to the test.

Mexico: Part 5: Palenque

On our way to Palenque we stopped by two waterfalls, Aqua Azul and Misol Ha. Aqua Azul offered many swimming holes, many of which were crowded. Melanie, Stef, Gillian, Sylvie and I finally found a place further up the path that wasn't as crowded. The water was a welcome relief, from the bus ride and the intensity of the sun. After an hour of wading/swimming around we hopped back on the bus and within an hour we arrived at the next swimming hole. 

Misol Ha wasn't crowded. Not only was there a waterfall but we also explored part of the cave. Some of the guys found a good place to jump off of. I finally got up the nerve to give it a try myself. Getting to the jump off spot was more terrifying than the jump. The area was slippery and I needed some assistance with crossing the crevice. A few more minutes to rid myself of nerves and I finally jumped in. I was the only girl to do this- the females had to be represented by someone! (apparently I was the only one crazy enough to give it a try) I think the jump was only 10 meters high, if that.

Eventually we arrived at our hotel, set in the jungle. The next morning we toured the site of Palenque. An excellent guide showed us around for about 2-3 hours before we were given time to explore on our own. 

Mexico: Part 4: San Cristobal

An overnight bus brought us to San Cristobal. The night bus was a typical experience, sleeping on and off throughout the evening. After a quick nap at the hotel I ventured into the town. I viewed Santa Lucias Temple and then climbed the steps to Templo de San Cristobal. 

Next I walked over to La Merced, a church and former convent. An amber museum resides in the old convent. Several pieces; jewelry, small sculptures were displayed. 

I returned to the hotel to pick up a few things where I found out that the lock to our room didn't work. After several attempts to lock the door (by myself and the hotel staff) we were given a different room. With our stuff safely locked up Sylvie and I, joined by Gillian took a walk to the Mayan Medicine Museum.

Along the walk to the museum we passed by several markets. The museum is located in a more rundown section of town, dirt roads, shanty homes, etc.

The museum had a small exhibit, a garden with different plants and herbs explaining what healed which ailment. A video also showed a woman giving birth with the help of a midwife. 

The next day the majority of the group took a tour of Sumidero Canyon and the town of Chiapa de Corzo. The canyon offered splendid views, including a small chapel/shrine in the mountainside. The town we stopped by had little to offer but I enjoyed walking around. Photographed a very old tree, a crown- like structure with a fountain inside and saw a small exhibit by local artists.

Back in San Cristobal Sylvie and I walked around the town some more. We found interesting signs, doorways, and anything else we considered worthy of a photo. Our walk led us to the Blom House. Mr. Blom was an archeologist and his wife was a photographer, journalist and environmentalist. I could see myself living in this house and there are guesthouses on the property. A future stay? I fell in love with the garden, possibly a future hobby. There was so much to photograph I became dizzy. Touring this house was a pleasant surprise and quickly became one of my favorite places.

Interesting note: There was a display of artifacts from two seasons of Mr. Blom's archeological excavations. A student from the University at Albany archived records, photos, etc from these excavations for her doctoral thesis. Her advisor was none other than the professor I worked with during my field school in Belize. Talk about a small world! 

Mexico: Part 3: Oaxaca

We arrived in Oaxaca by 5pm on March 31st. During dinner our leader Demian bought some fried grasshoppers. I'm adventurous but not so much when it comes to trying something new to eat, let alone an insect. Some brave folks gave it a try and seemed to enjoy them. I'll let this one remain a mystery.

The next day I explored the town. Again I was asked a few questions about myself from two teenage girls. They were very giddy, nervous about having to speak English. After that encounter I saw a small exhibit on a few local artists.

I continued to walk around the town, viewing many churches including Santo Domingo. Very ornate and some renovation and reconstruction is taking place. After several hours of wandering around and taking photographs I decided to grab a bench in the park and read for awhile.

The next morning a few of us took a bus to Monte Alban. A small museum houses several artifacts and stelaes that were removed from the site for protection, replicas reside in their place. 18 skulls, all children were on display. It is unknown whether the children were sarificial victims or not.