http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/bluelily/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from bluelily en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:36:26 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:36:26 +0000 Today we slept in went to the supermarket got breakfast and lunch and just chilled on our balcony reading chatting and watching the world go by. It has been lovely Off to San Jose tomorrow when the tour finishes. I cant believe how quick time flies. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/La-Fortuna/blog-364810.html Another travel day... Thankfully left at 8 so not too bad a 2 hour bus trip 1 hour boat ride and a 30 min bus trip to La Fortuna. We arrived lunch time. So all in all not too bad We went to the activities office to see what we could do here. Rafting has been cancelled due to the result of the earthquake last week. Not that I was going to Signed up for the viewpoint of the volcanoe and the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/La-Fortuna/blog-364807.html The day I had been looking forward to for a while Heather Amy Kate Aimee and myself had booked in for zip lining and suspension bridge walk through the cloud forest. We got picked up at 8.30 driven up into the cloud forest further. We were kitted up in harnesses and set off with 4 guides who attached unattached us to 12 zip lines the longest being 600m where we went through cloud and had http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-364803.html Early start at 5.45 to get a 40 min ride to the ferry hour ferry ride and then bus to the bus station followed by a chicken bus to the border. The worst border crossing since weve been here 2 hours and then our bags being searched we opened them and they prodded our clothes and then a chicken bus for 2 12 hours which was stopped 3 times by police needed to see our passports and then a pr http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Monteverde/blog-364800.html It was an early start so we could do the 3km hike not in the mid day sun. It took about 40 mins to drive to the volcanoe bottom. The other side of the Island was a lot carmer than the side we were staying on. The 1st km wasnt too bad but the heat was picking up the 2nd km almost killed me and so the 3rd km I walked really slowly. The joy of malaria tablets It took 2 hours to get to the waterf http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Santo-Domingo/blog-364798.html Work up feeling awful which is never good on a travel day. Serves me right for those 2 glasses of wine... Went to the smoothy place and Aimee had a lovely breakfast where I went for the safe option of just a drink We left Granada at 10 walking 15 mins with our bags to the market to get on the chicken bus. Wasnt impressed with this Toucan were on the same bus so chatted away to them saw the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Isla-de-Ometepe/Santo-Domingo/blog-364794.html Had a lazy start again to the day and went to the Garden Cafe for breakfast with Aims and Carol. This place was so pretty and peaceful.We then did a tour to the Markets of Masaya and to the Masaya Volcano. The Markets were not nearly as impressive as ones wed been to previosly and they werent letting us beat down the price We went with Toucan the group that Aimee should have been with. Was int http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Municipal-Market/blog-364164.html Had a relaxed start to the day and we went for waffles at the waffle house. They were really good. Heather had organised our own walking tour today through Granada so we went to the bell tower and got a nice panaramic view of the city and went to the 2 other main churches there but as it was mass we just looked in the doorways The buildings are brilliant bright colours and really stand out. We al http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Parque-Central/blog-364158.html So day 2 of a 12 hour travel... So started with a taxi to the bus station a bus to the border with a relatively painless crossing and then 2 chicken buses. Thankfully it didnt rain as our bags were on top of the 1st chicken bus. We stayed in Cocibolca which had a lovely courtyard swimming pool and fountain with 3 turtles living in it We got in latish went to the tourist office to see what to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Nicaragua/Granada/Parque-Central/blog-364157.html Left at 6 to get the 6.20 ferry the proper ferry this time thank god Heather made a friend a farmer in Gloucheshire who'd been travelling for 11 months returning back to the farm. Then taxi to the bus station and then an 8 hour bus trip to the capital of Honduras. We got in at 5 got a taxi to the Hotel horrible traffic no real system for driving Grenada 3 and we ordered in pizza and wat http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Tegucigalpa/blog-361926.html So after turning my bed around so I slept under the fan I got a better nights sleep than the previous night. Aimee and I went for a late breakfast at GB's again and then spent the morning chilling at the hotel reading. I'd bumped into Adam the diving instructor at the bar last night and had promised to pop down for some fun dives. Rob and I walked down via Munchies and I booked myself in for 2 div http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Bay-Islands/Utila/blog-361925.html So after not having air con and a slightly hot room we got up and wandered to Munchies for breakfast. Finally got my bowl of cereal and milk weird the things you crave before meeting up with Amy and Heather to go to the public beach.Walked about 25 mins to get to the public beach. Hayley and Kate were already there. Within 2 mins of sitting down Id been bitten 7 times so went straight into the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Bay-Islands/Utila/blog-361923.html So left the hotel at 6 to get the 6.20 bus. The 1st of 4 transportations we would be enjoying this day. In fairness apart from almost cooking myself in the bus with no open windows it was comfortable and I did have leg room... I woke up and there were people sitting in the aisle on little stools. They really do know how to make the most out of the space. After 3 12 hours we changed buses onto a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Bay-Islands/Utila/blog-361919.html So the first day with the new group and the last day of private transport and we're leaving at 6 again. Josh and Claudia came to say goodbye which was sweet of them I'd have been in bed if I didn't have to get up It was about a 7 hour trip to the border and then onto Copan only 20 mins after the border.Here we could go and visit the Copan Ruins go to the bird park and get pictures of you wi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Copan/blog-361917.html I will apolagise now as after I promised I would do no dangerous activites we were offered the chance to climb a volcano and get really close to flowing lava... At the time it sounded a great idea. The 6 am start to get to Pakaya wasnt ideal the 2 hour hike to get to the lava only 4km.. again wasnt that fun but I did get pictures of lava The hike up was through jungle then sand and then la http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Antigua-and-Barbuda/Antigua/blog-361271.html Left the beautiful Panajachel to return to Antigua. As this has been the cleanest place we have been to I was glad to be going back to spend some more time here. We got in around lunch time and being the creatures of habit we have turned into we went back to the place we spent New Year for some lunch with Amy and Heather.Aimee and I then did the coffee plantation tour. I do realise that I dont dr http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Antigua-and-Barbuda/Antigua/blog-361268.html The group all went on the boat trip nice early start except Michelle as ill. We had a breakfast stop in an amazing place. Would love to come back and stay here. It was called Hotel la Casa he views were amazing the food divine... It was a great start to the day. We then went onto Santiago Atitlan went to the church. Here we had another odd experience. We went to visit Maximon their god that http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Panajachel/Lake-Atitlan/blog-360114.html Was ready for 8 and Josh was waiting for us This is a good start Got private transport to Panajachel via Chichicastenango market. We got there just after 10 and had 4 hours to go shopping mad. Wish I could speak or even understand Spanish now The markets were colourful thankfully a little quiet as in was new years day but it was good fun to wander around tring to barter with the stall http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Chichicastenango/blog-360111.html Long travel day again to Antigua. We were meant to be meeting at 9.30 to get the water taxi over to get the bus for 10. This time we were prepared and knocked for Michael after he was 10 minutes late... Thankfully we are on private transport but still we shouldnt be waiting for the guide.Drove through Guatamala City. They have got awesome buses over here. Photo will follow I promise Glad we are http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Guatemala-Antigua/blog-360109.html Got into Rio Dulce yesterday not too late got a bit for late lunch and then waited a while as the heavens opened before we moved. Had a quick wander around but not much to see bit of a market. Got the water taxi over to Tijax where we were staying. It was a group of huts joined together via boardwarks separate showers and loo Thouhg not as bad as the long drops at Trek Stop. I think if we http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Rio-Dulce/blog-360104.html