A Central American Adventure Ends September 19, 2009

A two month overland excursion, or should I say diversion, took me as far as Honduras, Central America.  And with it – a pile of amazing stories, awe inspiring sights (some rather frightening!), and goodbyes that still leave me teary.  Following are some of my Central American Bests/Worsts/Craziests/Notables…

PANAMA

Most: American Retirees (complete with orthopedic shoes and fanny packs) and food chains; oh, and RAIN!

Best: School Buses - Panama wins the creativity/most artistic school bus award!

Meanest: Coral (I destroyed the top of my foot on a reef!  Pretty snorkel though…)

And the Panama Canal!

COSTA RICA

Most: expensive! (only a 4 day stay…)

Worst: view of a volcano (weather strikes again)

Notables: Xtreme canopy ziplining! Complete with Tarzan swing!

NICARAGUA

Best: Activities!  Cock fighting in Leon (a must see Sunday afternoon activity); tobogganing down Volcano Cerro Negro at 45km/h, and the Bull Run stands alone (see previous blog); and I almost forgot the rum!

Worst: Men (beware of Matagalpa…gross); Journey (8 hour boat ride to the Corn Islands.  Seating: 1 sq. foot of rice sack, stuck between nasty foul mouthed Nicaraguan women, 12 pigs, 1 bull, various bits of cargo, animal waste, and vomit…AFTER, a night’s accommodation in a brothel.)

Cheapest: Mango! 5 cordobas for 3! 25 cents!

Notables: Snorkeling with nurse sharks and eagle rays on the Corn Islands (worth the horrible journey); Surfing in San Juan del Sur!

Honduras World Cup Qualifier

The Panama Canal

The Panamanian School Bus

Ziplining – Costa Rica

Overcapacity – Worst Journey Ever!

Flor de Cana – Little Corn, Nicaragua

Cockfighting – Leon, Nicaragua

Sand Boarding – Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

Diving – Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

 

HONDURAS

Most: Friendly, sand fly bites (they´re sneaky and ruthless!)

Best: Beach Party! (Flor de Cana, the infamous Nicaraguan rum, and cervezas while laying in the crystal blue mar – what´s better?)

First: Coup (With President Zelaya wandering around Nicaragua looking for a bus back home, political tension was higher than normal.  Missed most of the rioting, protests, and the curfew fortunately!)

Notables: World Cup Qualifier between Honduras and Trinidad!  Go Honduras!; After a minor anxiety attack under water, I learned how to dive! (and saw a moray eel and barracuda which frightened me a little.); the Copan Ruins (a lot of old stone, but beautiful.)

A final best: the company.  The stories, whether amazing or uncomfortable, scary or stunning, are always best when shared.  I owe much of my experiences to the free-spirited, generous and warm hearted people who I´ve had beside me.

And now…back to South America.  More countries to see, more bests and worsts to be had.  Until the next update…xxx.

I said in my heart, “I am sick of four walls and a ceiling.  I have a need of the sky.  I have business with the grass.” -Richard Hovey