http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Team-Dalziel/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Team Dalziel en-us Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:09:34 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:09:34 +0000 I wanted to say thank you to all of you for your loyalty and love and kindness over the years. We are on our way back to Victoria but only for a week. Rod has been offered his position back in Smithers again and it is a really good opportunity for him. There is alot of room for growth and advancement in his job in Smithers that he can't get anywhere else. It is the best place for us to be at th http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-150636.html So the last we left you we were on our way to Belize. The backpacker island of Caye Caulker to be exact pronounced key. Well we kept reading and hearing how incredibley expensive Belize is so we were a little worried when we ended up having 6 days left there instead of the planned 3 or 4 days. We caught a bus from Flores that nicely avoided Belize City and dropped us off right in front of t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-Barrier-Reef/Caye-Caulker/blog-150615.html Q How many people can you fit in an 11 seat collectivo minibus From the town of Coban Guatamala we arranged a tour which took us through the depressingly deforested hills to a remote protected area. The area encompasses the gorgeous river and pools of Semuc Champey carved into the limestone rock of the area. A short hike into the park brought us along the river and up to the beautiful turquoi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/blog-149731.html So the last time we left you we were on our way to Guatemala. Well we made it and spent our first night in Antigua. We lucked out and found a little hotel with brand new mattresses Wow... what a treat Then we booked our shuttle with them to go to Chichicastenango Chichi the next morning. Chichi is supposed to have one of the biggest markets in Guatemala and we have been waiting to do some s http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-146990.html The road to Honduras began at 3am at the Bearded Monkey Hostel in Granada Nicaragua. From there the marathon began with an hour taxi ride into Managua to board the Tica bus at 5am. A few hours to the Honduran border with the usual young armed men digging through the buses cargo. Off again for a few hours to the Honduran capital of Tegucigulpa and an hour stopover before loading back on the bus http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/blog-143451.html Buenos Dias Mi Familia y AmigosWhen we last left you we were preparing to cross the border from Costa Rica into Nicaragua. After the hours of waiting on the Costa Rica side all went well. We boarded a small riverboat filled with locals heading up the Rio Frio. We crossed over the border on the river and checked in with immigration in the next town of San Carlos Nicaragua. Nicaragua is by far http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/blog-138710.html So after leaving San Juan del Sur along the craziest road ever we had our first chicken bus experience. Wasnt so bad there actually. It was just from Rivas to Granada which was only about a 3 hour ride and the bus wasnt crowded at all. We had heard about the hostel The Bearded Monkey a few times so thought we would give it a shot. The only problem was arriving in Granada mid day and not qui http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Bearded-Monkey/blog-143454.html Buenos Dias AmigosFrom Monteverde we took the crazy bus trip outta there along narrow rough mountain roads to Punta Arenas and the ferry across to the Nicoya Peninsula and down to the little beach town of Montezuma. Stayed at nice little hotel on the beach where you can see the incredible sunrise each morning from the veranda.Have heard quite a few stories of theft in Costa Rica from travellers http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-135715.html So we were pretty excited to go to MonteVerde and check out the cloud forest get a little rain yada yada. Well I think this was the dryest place so far. They are supposed to have 2 seasons....wet and more wet. We didnt see a drop of rain. Nor did we see a forest in the clouds. OK first the drive there. It is advertised as a Jeep Boat Jeep tour to get from LaFortuna to MonteVerde. Sounds pret http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-134326.html Well I guess it is my turn at this bloggy thing. Let me start with wow what a country. With the warm climate rainforests beaches jungles abundant wildlife relaxed Tico culture and ease of travelling it would be difficult not to enjoy your time here. With a country that is nearly 25 protected no military and a booming ecotourism industry it should be an example to nations around the wo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-132407.html What I wanted to see the most on this trip was a turtle. Boy did I get my wish Moments after getting our kayak in the water a black turtle swam beside me The black turtles are only found in the river. If I am not mistaken we are too early to see any of the large ocean turtles.Ok I digress. I was just soooo excited about the turtle that I had to talk about that first or I couldnt focusSo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Puerto-Viejo-de-Talamanca/Rockin-Js/blog-131127.html We took the city bus back to the town of Cahuita with Tanya and Jessie. We wandered this cute little town and then headed straight for the Park. We were wanting to see some wildlife. We got pretty lucky and saw 3 sloths alot of monkeys and some racoons. They were a lot smaller and not as violent like at home.It was a very fun day. We took the last bus back to Puerto Viejo and chilled for the nig http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Cahuita/blog-130931.html We decided that we needed some beach time to start off the vacation. So we headed to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We went in Puerto Viejo and stayed at a crazy hostel called Rockin Js. The hostel is this huge compound esque of a place. There are dorm rooms cabinasprivate room tents you can bring your own tent or rent one of the many many hammocks to sleep in. There is also a tree hou http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Limon/Puerto-Viejo-de-Talamanca/Rockin-Js/blog-130930.html Well it was pretty interesting arriving in San Jose last night. When we got out of the airport there was a swarm of people waiting outside and holding up various signs. They all want you to go to their hotel.Very overwhelming and took a little bit before we found the right guy for our hostel.Its a good thing too that they have shuttle service there. There is no way that you would find the hoste http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/blog-128845.html Well Rod is in the shower right now and we are getting ready to go to the airport. I have spent the last couple of days ok....weeks being soooo sad about leaving everyone at home. My friends my family my clients.... I just love where I work and have the best boss in the world. I love the great people that I work with. I can't imagine not being there every day. One of my bestest friends in the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/British-Columbia/Vancouver-Island/Victoria/blog-128245.html