http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/smop/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from smop en-us Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:05:54 BST Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:05:54 BST Well guys I have finally managed to get up to real time....I am sitting here in my hammock typing this entry from Caye Caulker in Belize. The weather is glorious I have a 5 star hotel with airconditioning and a pool.....it's a hard life this budget travel lark. Ok so it's not exactly budget travel....but hey you only live once. On our way down to Belize City we stopped of at Orange Walk to have a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Cayo-District/blog-309523.html With over 20 million people in the city I didn't know what to expect from Mexico City. All I knew when I arrived was that the 20 million were all coming in the opposite direction to me on the streets I had heard all the stories about crime but it was no different to any big city I had been to. The hostel we stayed at was pretty cool set around a courtyard right in the centre of the old city. T http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/blog-309485.html The drive to the Mexican border was like being in a Sauna on the truck for 13 hours I think most of us were prepared to jack it in there and then. Linda says Mexico is where cars come to die.....there are so many abandonned cars and scrap yards I think she may be right Mexico is also home to the VW Beetle in all shapes sizes and conditions. They are everywhere often falling apart but still g http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/blog-309444.html Most of the group had arranged to hike down and back up the Grand Canyon. In my infinate wisdom I decided I wouldn't go because a I would rather have root canal treatment than walk in 140 degree heat and b it's not that interesting. The rangers were also advising people against it bacause of the heat. In my smug and relaxed pose it was like watching a military operation as everyone got ready the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-306777.html Hi Guys.....sorry I haven't posted anthing for a while but wifi has been a bit scarce in these parts. You will be happy to know that I am fine and dandy and writing this whilst sitting on a beach in Mexico.....life is hardBut first let me update you......Leaving Canada and reentering into the USA was relatively easy...the border guards were frosty especially when they saw the floor compartme http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-306774.html Canada turned out to be a bit of a damp squid Everywhere we went the rain and cold followed....we had better weather in Alaska which is crazy Luckily the heavens cleared on a couple of days and so I was able to get some good photos. Another thing I noticed about travelling in Canada is that it is soooooo expensive...everything costs twice as much as the USA. Our first stop in Canada was Dawson C http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/blog-292833.html Sorry about the interuption folks had to go off and cook dinner for the clanWhere was I We travel up to the Artic Circle following the pipeline which travels almost 1000 miles above ground traversing along the Dalton Highway this leads up to the Artic Ocean....except you cannot go to the ocean without going on a tour of the oilfields as it is restricted. By now we have bush camped for 4 day http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-283162.html So after a 3hr flight from Seattle I finally arrive in Alaska. My taxi driver takes me to my hostel in Anchorage along the way he cracks open what looks like a can of beer...after seeing the horified look on my face he explains in broken English that it is actually an energy drink Upon depositing me outside the hostel he proceeds to give me his mobile phone number. I'm not actually sure if he i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-283077.html Seattles Green Tortoise hostel was in a great location right next to the Farmers Market where the locals sell all their fresh fish fruit vegtables and flowers. The city is unusual in that it is full of high rise buildings and yet it is surrounded by snow capped mountains. I didn't do too much research before I arrived as I was only going to be there for half a day. Everyone I spoke to told me i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Seattle/blog-283063.html Hi there sorry I haven't been in touch for a while but I have been in a communication blackspot Miami is the home to the beautiful and the rich. As the bus drives to my hostel we drive past huge apartment blocks waterfront residentials yachts and cruise ships. No more so than South Beach where I am staying. My hostel is wedged between designer clothes shops and one block away from the famous O http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami/blog-279854.html The Taxi driver takes me to the India House hostel.....Well what can I say about it Well it's basically a hippy hangout...there are murals of Budha on the wall people who have stayed there for decades free condoms in the bathroom and alcohol allowed everywhere.....It only cost me 10 per night so I wasn't expecting too much. The French Quarter is easy to get to as the old trolley stops one bloc http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/New-Orleans/blog-277710.html Hi everyone firstly let me just say thanks to all of you that has emailed me so far. It's been a bit hectic and sorry I haven't yet managed to reply I will do so once I get settled on the organised part of my trip.On the second leg of my bus journey to Memphis I encountered Michael Crawford a 52 year old guy from Ohio. He was quite funny and managed to keep me awake chatting from 11pm to 1am http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Tennessee/Memphis/blog-275643.html Well here I am in Savannah Georgia.....a place full of charm. It's a beautiful city made up of tree lined streets and shady squares. You can almost imagine the ladies of many years ago having picnics and entertaining their southern gentleman. As you walk through the historical district the smell of jasmine and honeysuckle lingers through the air. People here speak with a southern drawl which is p http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Savannah/blog-274340.html As I made my way to the William Penn House I was unsure what laid instore for me. I knew before I booked this accomodation that it wasn't your average hostel. This hostel was run by Quakers now I am not really knowledgeable about the Quaker religion.....but their office hours were 8am to 9pm they have morning prayer silent meditation at 7.30am and quiet hours from 10pm to 8am. As you can ima http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-273487.html Well here I am in Boston. It's an unusual place after coming from New York. The sky line has the occassional sky scraper and it is desperately trying to cling on to what heritage it has. The city has a sort of yellow brick road running through it well it's not actually yellow or a road. It's called the Freedom Trail and it's like a treasure hunt of American history as you can expect this doesn' http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-272290.html It's been almost 6 years since I was in New York. Last time I was here it was shortly after 911 and the mood of the city was totally different. The atmosphere was subdued insular and people were in a hurry to get to their destination. Now people are more friendly and relaxed there are more people on the streets. Helicopters once banned from the city now fly at their non stop speed ferrying pa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-270665.html