It was a bad week for me because of injury and illness! While climbing a small mountain on the Gulf of Mexico coast, a loose boulder fell onto my hand. Two days later we arrived in Durango where Graciela came with me to get it checked out at the hospital. I got an x-ray and it turned out my thumb was fractured and now I have to wear a splint. The same night, I was really sick with Montezuma’s Revenge. It was bad for two days so we got the neighbourhood doctor to take a look. She prescribed a drug [View Full Entry]

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We left Roatan early as scheduled and made our way towards Rio Dulce in eastern Guatemala. We went through the Entre Rios border crossing but unfortunately we found out that the paperwork needed to legally enter the country with a car could only be done in Puerto Barrios, 45 minutes from the border post. We left Matt´s passport hostage and went to do the required work. After two hours and six lineups, we returned, got the passport back, and we were officially back in Guatemala. After spending the night in Rio Dulce and deciding not to do the long boat [View Full Entry]

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We arrived in La Ceiba to get the boat to Roatan. I was excited to start the beach part of our vacation. The van was left on the mainland in the parking lot close to the boat dock. After an hour and a half of Caribbean Sea, we were on Roatan. Our beach town is called West End and it is small enough to have a welcoming feel. The hotel where we are staying is called Posada Arco Iris (meaning Rainbow in English), which has rooms high in a jungly setting. Outside our hotel is the main road of the [View Full Entry]

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This is Grant making a quick update. We left Leon and as planned made it through Honduras to El Salvador for the night. We stayed in a nice place on Playa El Zonte, where Erika spent a week last summer. The waves were huge, but Matt went boogie boarding anyway. We then moved on to Antigua, where we got set up for Lana´s arrival by plane in Guatemala City. I got to almost meet the judge, as the van got clamped as I was parked a meter into the red zone while spending a minute checking a hotel vacancy. I [View Full Entry]

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We left Panama City early so that we would get the most out the day back at the beach in Playa las Lajas. We settled back in very easily and enjoyed another five days there. We walked the beach, went swimming and body surfing, read books, and had lots of discussions with the local families as well as Yves, Darren, and Sandra. We got acquainted with a couple of other newcomers, Maurice from Quebec, who has cycled 23000 kilometres, and Simon and Sarah, a nice backpacking couple from central England. Matt has spent a lot of time with the young folks [View Full Entry]

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We have found paradise. Even the locals think that Playa las Lajas is paradise, and I have met a lot of locals. We are camping on the beach under a long palapa, next to the Pacific Ocean. The waves are pleasant, and fun for boogie boarding/surfing when the tide starts coming in. I am always with company, because of various friends I have met around the place, even though it is not over touristified or busy on weekdays. When arriving, Dad and I met some fellow Albertans from Edmonton. A couple, Darren and Sandra, and related Angie had five boys about [View Full Entry]

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We heard from fellow travellers that the ziplines in Nicaragua are cheaper and just as exciting as the ones in Costa Rica. We took the van part way up the volcano just outside Granada where the canopy tours are located, and experienced them. Big ceiba trees supported the ziplines, and thankfully us. Supposedly a 500 lb person could survive them! Dad and I were latched onto the lines and flung across the jungle of trees and coffee plants. The guides helped us do tricks such as the superman or upside-down sliding. Satisfied from the thrill, we cooled down in a cafe [View Full Entry]

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At Tapachula, on the way to the Mexican-Guatemalan border, we asked a stranger for directions. He turned out to be a Mexican who has lived in California, but now living in the area with his Honduran wife. Juan invited us into his small house and we met his wife Iris who is trying to get Mexican citizenship. We were warned about the gun-toting Guatemalans and the problems at the border. That night, before crossing, we stayed in a mistress motel (with air conditioning!) that Juan helped us to find. We had the expected hassles at the border, the van especially taking [View Full Entry]

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The past week, Dad and I have been staying at a paradise beach called Playa Faro de Bucerias (Diver's Lighthouse). It is in the state of Michoacan and famous for being isolated from the rest of Mexico until twenty years ago. Supposedly there were bandits who roamed the hills but not anymore. This beach is perfect for a quiet relaxing stay, if you enjoy camping. Dad and I set up the tent under a palapa in the midst of a few VW hippie vans. I caught a fish and filleted it for one of our meals. The most interesting part [View Full Entry]

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Hello everyone, This is Grant here to do the first blog. We had a fast trip to Dallas (it snowed while we were there!) and enjoyed our time with Jaime and Robert. Thanks again for your hospitality and Matt says he´s a better bowler after practicing with the Wii! And you´ll make great parents with upcoming junior! Thanks Rhonda too for everything. Matt and I spent a few hours at the 6th Floor Museum in Dallas, which is very worthwhile if you´re interested in the JFK assassination. We also really enjoyed an afternoon at the Alamo and the River Walk in [View Full Entry]

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