It's the diversity throughout Nicaragua that slows your progress. Fortunately so since Nicaragua is a country to take slowly. We entered from Honduras at Las Manos, paying our $12 entry visa at the dusty border crossing jammed packed with waiting cargo trucks. After acquiring Cordobas from the persistent but polite money changers, we were directed to a departing chicken bus headed to the highland city of Esteli about two hours away. Cool and comfortable, Esteli is a busy agricultural town that we found to have really tasty hamburgers in its Central Park. For about a buck and half, you could have a burger bigger and better than a Big Mac. Two trucks in the fashion of taco trucks competed for business. Having our fill of beans, rice and platanos, we tried them both. The best being ... read more

The Belizean countryside is nothing like Belize City. Safe, relaxed, mellow and incredibly easy to strike up casual conversations. The hawkers, street sellers, bus drivers, attendants and country folk are polite, accepting and easily approachable for directions or advice. We witnessed this bussing it south on the Hummingbird Highway from Belize City to the small fishing town of Placencia. Along the way I was approached by the country's Softball Sports Commissioner. He not only informed us of the 2012 World Softball Tournament whereby Belize is the host country , but how to get to Placencia quicker and cheaper. We followed his advice, ending up in the village of Independence, catching a ride on a skiff named the Hokey Pokey, skirting mangrove shores until a sundown arrival at Placencia. Placencia is the typical sleepy Caribbean seaside village. ... read more

I didn't expect to be making life or death decisions on our last day in Cancun. All I wanted was a haircut and shave for the clean look in front of Amei's ever present photography efforts. Of course, just as I was approaching the barber chair, Amei's worries about possible dull and reused HIV contaminated razor blades now concerned me. Ah what the heck, now we can't even get a clean shave without worrying. Well, we were in the back alleys of central Cancun, next to a local dilapidated outdoor market with hanging meats, dirty food carts and the offensive odors of open sewers. The $2 cost for the shave overrode my caution and I went for it. Immediately, my fear of infection was replaced by pain. The dull blade simply pulled and plucked my chin ... read more

We're now on the floor in sleeping bags counting the last few days before departure. After three months of selling all possesions, our home of fifteen years now echoes of emptiness as we ready ourselves for our around the world adventure. We kicked off preparations three months ago with a humongous yard sale, followed by trashing, donating and really just ridding ourselves of everything we owned. The challenge of total house cleaning is more emotional than physical. Try disposing of your kids collection of soccer, piano or academic trophies. But with years of road travel ahead, something has to give. Now the mail has been forwarded, bills made paperless, neighbors and friends bid farewell to and our house rented, the countdown has begun. Amei and I have always held a wish to woldwide wandering, dreaming and ... read more