http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Angel 1/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Angel 1 en-us Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:16:10 UTC Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:16:10 UTC From Granada Nicaragua to Santa Teresa Costa Rica in a day...justI left Granada at 7.15am and managed to board several buses and reach the border by 11. Unfortunately there was a bus crash that stopped the buses leaving the Costa Rican side. Although the border crossing was pretty smooth...if you allow for strange Nicaraguans that follow you with the exit forms and a pen then ask for money I http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-324417.html Lago de Apoyo is about an hour from Granada on the bus there are a couple of places to stay. I stayed at the Monkey Hut. This is an incredible crater lake that allows for fantasic swimming and kayaking and lots of chill time. However if you attempt the hike to the lookout be prepared. Information is scarce but it is a fairly easy climb depending on the weather. Mud was a huge problem and some o http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Laguna-de-Apoyo/blog-324412.html Nicaragua is full of surprises and one of its most glorious unspoilt areas is here...the twin volcanoes in the lake Clearly visible from the main road to Rivas and onto San Juan del Sur the volcanoes dominate the skyline. Volcanos Concepcion and Maderas sit in the middle of the immense Lago de Nicaragua whilst clouds hover on the summits of both Concepcion is by far the biggest and most open http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/blog-324410.html Managua is well worth the stopover especially if you stay at the Managua Backpackers Inn Chaman 75 Varsul sur colonial Los Robles. Near Metrocentro.This incredibly chilled place is a joint effort run by some great people. Manager David and owner Dan and all the people working there are wonderfully friendly and helpful. The place is immaculately clean and there is a fantasticly equipped kitchen http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Managua/blog-315438.html Just west of Leon about an hour on the bus is the beach of Poneloya and Las Penitas.i spent a few days here relaxing on a beautifully clean brown sand beach. I went to surf but as it happens there was not much swell...pretty unusual for here So I spent my days swimming without getting hammered sunbathing and just lying in a hammock readingI stayed at the Hotel Oasis and for 7 a night I was http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Leon/blog-314416.html It doesnt matter how far you go or how short you assume the journey for some reason it always takes a day My trip up to Matagalpa was just thatI left Leon on a local bus and headed to San Isidro as apparently i could get another bus from here a faster bus was heading to Esteli but I had to wait an hour. Several hours later I am dropped off on a major highway junction...Im used to this by no http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/blog-314411.html Well Nicaragua has been a lot of fun . Quite strange being in a place where my sister mum and dad have all been...although things here have changed a great deal im sure The town seems quite prosperous and there are such lovely museums markets and great stuff to do not to mention fantastic nightlife Bands bars clubs to suit all and with Mojitos at 25 Cordovas just over a dollar you have t http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Leon/blog-312661.html Wow i didnt realise it has been so long since ive written and ive crossed 2 bordersEl Salvador is not really on the GringoLonely Planet trail...many people avoid it due to its dangerous reputation. Lucky meIt is a beautiful country with fantastic people who just want to talk to you. They are a very proud people and have put up with a ridiculous amount of torture oppression and poverty over t http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/El-Salvador/San-Salvador/blog-311859.html I wish someone had given me this advice...but here it is for anyone doing this trip From Lago de Atitlan to XelaLeave San Marcos by taking a pick up2Q or tuktuk10Q from the top road by the school. They will drop you at a road in San Pablo...wait for the first chichen bus It costs 10 Q to get to the junction at 148kms known as this Leave in the morning...i left at 7.30. The buses tend to http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Quetzaltenango/blog-304114.html Some of the amazing Mayan ruins i visited throughout Mexico and Guatemala. All have their own story and represent a different era some spanning several eras and cultures mainly Mayan and Toltec. http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/blog-301981.html Los Amigos is one of the best hostels I've stayed in. Located in Flores the tourist stop for Tikal Matthias and his friends have created a haven of tranquility good food great people and amazing documentaries. It is hard not to want to stay here as the restaurante serves up amazing vegetarian wholefoods. you never go hungry here in fact the biggest complaint is that your belly hurts because http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-301963.html Phewve just completed 4 days of Spanish school When in Rome...Antigua is reknown for its Spanish schools so I thought I'd try to learn something more than my dodgy French and vague Italian courtesy of Italian Disc 1 2 and 3 thanks Martin and hours of train journeys and lonely Italian meals for oneImagine putting yourself in a position where you feel like an awkward adolescent loosely tran http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-301956.html During my travels there are many things that upset me and rubbish is one of them. In Australia we are lucky enough to be at least partially aware of the dangers of human waste and this is obvious by the pristine beaches and landscapes...although we would all agree improvements still need to be madeIn Central America waste is a huge problem and making my way through the countryside on the old amer http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/blog-298450.html Be aware that there is a Belize 37.50 fee to leave Belize then at the Guatemala border i was charged 20 Quetzals. other people were charged 20Q for 2 or nothingHmmmComing into Guatemala was a treat as it seemed so clean compared to Belize and friendly...great to hear Spanish again The Mexicans in Yucatan were a surly bunch...cant blame them with all the Cancun touristsAt the border just w http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Cayo-District/Benque-Viejo-del-Carmen/blog-298444.html Quite a trek heading from Tulum to the Cayes...seems simple enough and started off on the 08.30 busgreat Arrived at 11.30 to find there is only one bus going to Belize City at 14.45. hmmm 3 hours in chetumal...i really wouldnt recommend spending any more time here. I have developed a sligt aversion to hot dirty towns so apologise for being completely biased throughout my writingI just about ma http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-298441.html Mexico is such a diverse place I never cease to be amazed. My trip took me from the coolness of San Cristobal to the tropical jungle setting of Palenque on to Merida and then the east coast.Palenque is a grotty little town with little to offer so i jumped in a taxi after asking fellow travellers if they wanted to share 40 pesos dont pay more to el Panchon. This is a great hideaway a few ki http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/blog-295503.html Id heard that San Cristobal de las Cases was and amazing place but little did i realise just how amazing. This town has such a blend of culture art history and an incredible energy. At the weekend the streets teem with theatre and music from rap stand offs to pan pipe bands. The bars clear the tables for acrobatic shows salsa lessons and bands play rock to reggae into the night. Mayan villagers http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Mexico/Chiapas/San-Cristobal-de-las-Casas/blog-291320.html