barrygahan's Guestbook

Great stuff!
Love all the bird photos and the cute dog :-) The lake looks lovely too. I can't believe how many of my "wish-list" countries you are managing to visit - SOOOO jealous!!

puffy birds
Fantastic bird photos. I love the one of the two green parrots all puffed up ("Cute Parrots"). I have yet to visit Honduras...it's on my list. Sounds like great fun. I am excited for you to see the ruins of Guatemala and MX!

Fantastico!
Still keeping up with your blogs. At least this site isn't banned in Syria unlike Facebook!! Great photos.

Nica...love it!
Next time you must visit Jinotega too, north of Matagalpa. And stay overnight at Selva Negra ...the howler monkeys are super active in the morning and scurry right though the lodge trees if you're lucky. I was in Matagalpa on Sandinista Independence Day last year. It was quite an experience...young Sandis running all around the town on the back of trucks waving flags and such. I was a little nervous being there on my own. The locals told me not to go out because the revelers get a little out of control. Staying in was not a problem since I came down with a traveler's stomach that night! I'm so glad you enjoyed and recommended Nica. I'm so fond of it and dream of going back. Definitely my favorite country in Central America....Panama is #2.

nicas
nice blogging . well done. stories and photos. nicalandia is one of my faves (2003, 2004) except from Altagracia I took the ferry to San Carlos and headed down the Rio San Juan past el Castillo. When I got sick with parasites the sandanista doctora cured me in a few days with her magic pills and refused payment. From Castillo we doubled back to Rio Frio and travelled down into Costa Rica and ended up in Montezuma. I suppose you'll head north to Guatemala or Honduras. I've been in Quito exactly on week. Bought a bike and will take it to Manta by bus tomorrow. I'm older now so am more of a homebody and won't be on the go for the next month as much as you two, but I'll definitely his the "poor mans Galapagos" and Manta. Happy trails. You ought to publish a book.

Wildlife
Great to see the wildlife in such proximity - love the colourful frogs!

Enjoyed the summary
Enjoyed the summary - am considering Panama as a destination this winter!

Thanks for detailed report
We are doing this trip in the next few weeks. Thanks for all the pics and info.

Thanks for the posting ...
- however Mindo and surrondngs are cloud forest and not rain forest - differences are elevation, density of forest and size of trees, climate, and location - the photo labeled "Orchid" is actually a heliconia and the photo labeled "Orchid close up" is a tillandsia.

Lovely blog
Hi Barry, I loved reading your blog. I wanted to visit Columbia after my stay in Peru last month but it just got too complicated. The 'Botero' museum was on my list was was Cartegena. Thanks for all the info on the smaller towns. I will definitely try to get there before the hoardes. Enjoy Central America. Carolyn ( blogger name ' gunga')

Can't wait!
I'm especially enjoying your Ecuador blogs and can't wait to see it for myself! I'd wondered if all the equator stuff might be a bit gimmicky but I guess from what you say here it's well worth a visit.

izhcayluma
i'm gonna mark it on the agenda, Barry