http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Dora-The-Explorer/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Dora The Explorer en-us Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:33:58 +0000 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 03:33:58 +0000 28th 29th MAY 2009 JOURNEY HOMEI woke up at about 5am Butterflies in my belly I was nervous excited scared happy and sad all at once...and it wasn't even time of the month I stayed in bed for a bit trying to get back to sleep but it was no use...I was wide awake and could not stop thinking about the long journey home I got up at around 6 after tossing and turning for a while and s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/Heathrow-Airport/blog-403822.html 25th MAY 2009 TRAVEL TO MANUEL ANTONIOWe headed away from Fortuna in the taxi. The lady that spoke to us was in the front the driver was driving obviously and another guy was in the back with us. I was a little apprehensive about taxis after the story about the American girls getting robbed but my fears heightened when the taxi stopped en route to pick two more guys up. I had such bad feeli http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Manuel-Antonio/Costa-Rica/blog-403802.html 23rd May 2009 ARRIVAL IN FORTUNAWe were so pleased to finally arrive in Fortuna after another 2 bus journeys. There had been far too much time spent on buses over the last few days. We arrived at around 5pm and it seemed like a nice little town upon 1st impressions. As we got off the bus a lady stopped us and asked if we were looking for somewhere to stay that was cheap and close to the town. W http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Arenal/blog-402865.html 22nd MAY 2009 ARRIVAL IN COSTA RICALoads of taxi men outside the bus station again but after hearing the American girls story we decided to give the taxi a miss. We asked at the bus station for the nearest ATM and luckily it was just up the road. I drew 70000 colones out Love it Armed with cash we managed to find a hostel nearby. It wasnrsquot anything special but much better than the p http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/San-Jose/blog-402864.html 20th MAY 2009 I HATE BUS JOURNEYSI got up at around 6am after hearing a couple of others get up and potter about. Our bus wasnrsquot until 7am and so I took my time getting ready and sorting myself out so I was ready for the off We had bought some jam and bread for breakfast however the kitchen was locked and Nat had to throw down some fisticuffs to get the night man to open the kitchen fo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Managua/San-Juan-Del-Sur/blog-402863.html 19th MAY 2009 A LITTLE TIME IN COPANMy alarm went off at around 3.30am. I tried putting the covers over my head and wishing I could just have another hour at least but unfortunately the time kept ticking and I had to get up. After a quick wash I dressed and we headed down to wait for the bus. Sooooo sleepy and as usual being on the mini bus was like being on a rollercoaster but I did manage http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Copan-Ruins/blog-402862.html 18th MAY 2009 A TRAVELLING SET BACKAgain I woke up early and could not go back to sleep I read my book for half an hour and then went to brave the shower. It was a case of needs must The bathroom was filled with mosquitoes and the shower was shocking It was colder than Mr Freeze and all the power of a wet lettuce I looked in the mirror and reassessed the situationhellipdid I really n http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-402859.html 17th MAY 2009 A DAY AT THE LAKEI woke up at around 6am. Our bus pick up was at 7.15am and we had to be downstairs 15 minutes prior. Once ready we headed down picked our premade sandwiches up no substitute for the free breakfast...I mean who wants a ham and cheese sandwich at 6am when they could have had pancakes and then sat in the bar waiting for the bus. Again security was paramount http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Lago-de-Atitlan/Panajachel/blog-402858.html 16th MAY 2009 TOASTING MARSHMELLOWS OVER HOT LAVA....SURREAL EXPERIENCEI woke up at around 8am after a really good nights sleep. Much needed I might add. Only Nat and I were left in the room. Our other 3 roomies had left at around 5am that morning after unzipping and rezipping their bags at least a 1000 times. Sure won't miss that being woken up at all hours when I get home though it will b http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-402161.html 15th MAY 2009 A DAY FOR FILMS AND SLEEPINGWe got off the bus driven by Colin Mcray at around 6am after arriving in Guatemala City. Despite it being the capital city we had been advised that it was very dangerous and not to stay there. We therefore jumped straight on another bus with the 2 girls from last night and 4 folk from Israel who were in their pajamas and headed to Antigua. All the r http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-402154.html 14th MAY 2009 A LOVELY DAY IN FLORES ON MY BIRTHDAYI woke up at around 6am but dozed until around 8am. It didn't feel like it was my birthday...not even when Nat popped her head over the bed and said Happy Birthday as well as reminding me that I was another year older. I always remind myself though...getting older is mandatory but growing up is optional. I opted out of growing up a few years http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-401318.html 13th MAY 2009 CROSSING THE BORDERS TO GET TO GUATEMALAThe bus to take us to Guatemala was not a luxury 1st class like we had become accustomed to in Mexico. There were no reclining seats no air conditioning and no films dubbed in Spanish We were all crammed onto a small minibus with bolt upright seats and so little leg room that my knees were crushed again the seat in front. I can safely s http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Flores-Tikal/blog-400645.html 12th MAY 2009 BEAUTIFUL BEACHSIDE RUINSI woke up at around 7.30am but after glancing at my watch I kept my eyes firmly shut. I could hear that Phil was up and about as he was going on a diving trip at 8.30am and so I stayed in bed until he had upped and left. It may sound harsh but I wasnrsquot in the mood to chat to him as he pranced around in those tight white pants. He really was more of http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Tulum/blog-398476.html 11th MAY 2009 A PANTS ENDING TO OUR FIRST DAY IN TULUM......SO FUNNYWe arrived in Tulum at around 12pm lunch time. As we hadnrsquot booked a hostel and didnrsquot have directions to any we were hoping for an information desk or a tout We got neither and it looked like we would have to trek about to find a hostel. We turned left out of the bus station and followed 4 girls who looked li http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Tulum/blog-398475.html 10th MAY 2009 HANGING AT THE BEACH SALSA SQUAREWoke up early again this morning and relaxed in bed reading until I heard Nat stir at about 8.30. Up and out at 8.30am.....on a Sunday We wandered to a nearby supermarket to buy some stuff for breakfast and then headed back to the hostel to eat it. Once eaten we decided to act like it was Sunday and so we lazed around the hostel for a couple http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Cozumel/blog-398474.html 9th MAY 2009 SNORKELLING IN COZUMEL....I SAW A SEA TURTLE...TOTALLY AWESOME DUDEGot up at around 7am...the early bird catches the worm and all or at least the best pick of the breakfast offerings After stocking up on breakfast so that we wouldnrsquot be hungry until at least lunch time we browsed the net for directions to a couple of hostels in Cozumel and then set off to the bus sta http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Cozumel/blog-398473.html 7th MAY 2009 ARRIVAL IN CANCUNWe arrived in Cancun at around 7.30pm. Everything seemed different as soon as we stepped off the bus and I could tell that we were in a totally different place to where we had been previously. Everyone seemed to be speaking English loads of tourists about touts on the streets and a real holiday feel to it We went onto the street to try and follow our own direc http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Quintana-Roo/Cancun/blog-398472.html 7th MAY 2009 CHICHEN ITZA RUINS NOW I KNOW WHERE QUIDDITCH COMES FROMI woke up at around 7am and went straight to the net for an hour whilst it was free. Nat must have got up at the crack of dawn as she was already on when I got there. We searched for details of a hostel in Cancun for when we arrived later that day. Trying to be prepared and not get caught short like in recent days. At aroun http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Chich%E9n-Itz%E1/blog-398470.html 6th MAY 2009 SWIMMING IN THE SINKHOLESI was back to not sleeping very well last night...very restless once again. Think I am getting nervous about nearing the end of my trip as well as having other things on my mind At 5.30am I was wide awake and didn't have a prayer of going back to sleep I laid in bed tossing and turning for ages but it was no use...I was awake for the day. I got up at a http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Merida/blog-398465.html 4th MAY 2009 RELAXING IN MERIDAThe overnight bus was ok. The guy that I was originally sat next to smelt of stale booze and dirt. I was so pleased I had a mask on When the bus stopped after a couple of hour to pick some more people up I managed to swap seats. Not as much room but odour free and I curled up in my seat and managed to get some shut eye. I only woke up once during the rest of the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/Yucat%E1n/Merida/blog-397711.html