It' s hard to believe that this part of my life is finally coming to its close. I've had a great adventure and it's about time to move on with life back in the States. I've already faced probably my greatest moral dilemma, throwing toilet paper into the toilet. The toilets in Chile, like in the States have better plumbing and can handle the tp, which I occasionally remember to put there instead of the trash can. I'm enjoying my last couple days of international vacation. Yesterday we toured Chile's biggest winery and today we're heading out to some museums. Hope all is well and see you back in the States!

By the salt and the cacti


View through the Train Cemetary


Trying to fight the rock monster eating Liz

One Week Left
I´m now in Valparaiso, Chile at the beginning of my last week travelling. It´s hard to believe my time in Latin America is coming to an end and I´m already returning to the United States. I spent the last week touring around amazing scenery in the Salt Flats of Bolivia and the sand dunes and Valle de la Luna in Chile. Being in Chile is a good stepping off point back into US culture, the roads and paved and signed and even have emergency lanes, there´s no trash on the ground, and the prices are more than triple the prices in Bolivia.

Ecuador to Peru to Bolivia


Chan Chan Ruins by Huanchaco, Peru

Rafting in Ecuador


Macchu Picchu, Peru


Hiking to Macchu Picchu


Macchu Picchu

I haven't updated my blog in quite awhile but I have been having a great time! I'm currently in Cochabamba, Bolivia and only have 3 more weeks to travel!! It's hard to believe it's already coming to an end, but I'm looking forward to some things back in the states (except having to find a job). But if I survived the World's Most Dangerous Road (supposedly) how hard can returning to the states be? Unfortuneately, these are now all the photos I have of Peru and the beginning of Bolivia due to a misplacement of the camera.

In Both Halves of the World

Today we traveled to the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World). After asking around about how to get there, we thought we had the directions figured out, but when we got to the first trolley stop, the ticket seller informed us that the trams were temporarily not running but we could walk to the other station. We walked to the other station, and there the trolleys were also suspended due to the march. We tried to get a bus, but none went where we wanted. Then we tried to get a taxi, but it was too expensive (aka $7 for 3 of us). So we waited and the trams started up and we crammed into the first one. Then at the first stop, more people crammed into the overly full trolley and this continued pretty much for all 15 or so stops:) so we were slightly hot and I even got a blister on my hand from holding on. But we eventually made it after changing onto another bus. We entered this huge compound with a big museum in the middle, restaurants, shops, and a planetarium, which all seemed slightly excessive for the 20 or so tourists that made it out there. But it was a thrill to stand in both the northern and southern hemisphere in the same moment. And the trip back was much easier, except that it decided to start pouring rain about 5 minutes before our stop. But we made it back in time for Elizabeth to make her movie debut and are now safely back in the hostal in Quito. Tomorrow we are heading down to Baños, Ecuador.

Lions and Turtles and Birds... Oh My!

Tour of the Galapagos Islands

We just got back to the island of Santa Cruz after touring around the Galapagos on a 10 person cruise boat for the last week. The scenery was amazing and the animals were not afraid of humans at all. We could go right up into the animal´s face and it wasn`t even slightly agitated. And the baby sea lions came right up to swim and play with you. It was some great animal observation and we even timed it right to see a live birth of a sea lion!

We've left Colombia now and are in Quito, Ecuador. Tomorrow we are flying out for a cruise in the Galapagos Islands! We spent the last few days on express buses (a total of about 50 hours in bus) travelling from the north coast of Colombia down to Quito, with only a one-day stop along the way in the beautiful city of Bogota. We successfully walked across the border into Ecuador and made it to the tour office in time to pay for our Galapagos vacation (although we had to struggle to hold onto our bags at the bus station in Tulcan to keep about 6 bus companies from pulling them in different directions). Unfortunetely we didn't make it to the beaches in Parque Tayrona because of our Galapagos trip, but the wildlife there should make up for it! I hope everyone is doing great in the states and I'm looking forward to seeing you after 2 more months of travelling!

We just got back from a 6 day hike through the jungle, farms, native villages, and rivers to the Lost City. The destination was moskito-filled ruins of the Tayrona Indians discovered only about 50 years agos. There were beautiful sites along the way. Liz slightly injured herself and needed to go on horseback the last day (she doesn´t read my blog so no one tell her I put this up). We were heading out to the beaches of the Parque Tayrona, but instead had to go straight to Ecuador.

I have left Central America and am now in South America. My sister has made it safely down and so far we are getting along and she is helping to keep me from getting lost. We spent the day bathing in a mud pool on the top of a volcano outside of Cartagena, Colombia.


Before we toured the Mira Flores Locks, part of the engineering feat of the Panama Canal. We also were able to travel down the canal entrance to a beautiful island with empty beaches, fish, and pelicans.

Flying through the water
I spent this morning scuba diving in the ocean, first to a wreck site and then to see some colorful coral. It's amazing to just float by and observe a whole other world! So I'm going again tomorrow:)

I left Panama City today and flew over to Bocas de Toro, a group of islands off the north coast. It seems like a nice island, and I am going to go scuba diving in the morning! But I think it must be the off season because I followed signs to an Indian restaurant and it said closed to July. Then I went to a pizza place and they said they didn´t have pizza this month. But I did eventually manage to find an open restaurant and the hostel has a pancake breakfast, so I´m all set. I'll be heading back to Panama City in a few days to meet my sister!

I finally left Honduras for good and am now in Panama City. It's the first time that I'm traveling by myself (until my sister comes in less than a week!!) and I've found that people are friendly and helpful. The lady I was sitting next to on the plane even gifted me a model house after I said I'd never been to Costa Rica, where she was from. Panama City is much bigger and more modern than I imagined and I'm very excited because I can even drink the water write out of the tap!

Tomorrow I'm leaving Honduras and flying to Panama. I just got back from my friend's wedding yesterday. It was a small and simple wedding and reception with some fun and interesting cultural exchanges. The groom couldn't figure out why we were hiding his bride from him until the ceremony started. Crystal has been a great friend during my Peace Corps service and I wish her all the best in her married life!

Lago de Atitlan back to Antigua then back to Honduras
I'm now reaching the end of the first part of my trip. I've finished up travelling north of Honduras and am now heading back to Honduras and specifically to La Esperanza to finish some things up and attend my friend's wedding. Even though I've only been travelling for a little more than 2 weeks, it feels kind of nice to return 'home' one last time before undertaking the majority of my trip. We had a wonderful time at the lake and I should add pictures of some of the beautiful views soon.

Around Coban: Caves and swimming
Yesterday, we headed up to the serene town of Lanquín where we stayed in the loft of a thatched hut next to the river. From there we headed out for the day to the caves and swimming adventures of beautiful Semuc Champey. We swam and climbed through a cave carrying a candle (I somehow managed to keep it lit the whole time!) and then jumped off a swing into the river before tubing down it. In case that was not enough adventure for one day, we proceded to hike over to the pristine pools, climbing up to a wonderful lookout point and then swimming through the natural pools and going down the waterfall with a rope ladder and finally jumping into the cool river. It was a great day, but I'm a little sore today from all that climbing. We're staying in Antigua tonight and tomorrow heading out to Lake Atitlan.

The Travel Continues:
Guatemala to Belize and Back to Guatemala
After spending a few days in Antigua, we headed on to Belize. We took about a 5 hour bus ride to Puerto Barrios to cross by a small boat into Punta Gorda, Belize. After a night in the small beach town, we heading on to the island paradise of Caye Caulker. We went out diving at the blue hole, gradually submerging to a depth of about 120 feet, swimming under a cave with stalactite hanging down, and emerging on the other side to shark filled waters. We spent a few more days snorkeling with stingrays, turtles and sharks, chilling on the beach, and watching the beautiful sunsets before heading back to Guatemala. From there we camped out in the middle of the jungle in Tikal and woke up to watch the sunrise from the tallest temple in the Mayan Ruins where we were greeted by spider and howler monkeys and an array of birds including toucans and parrots. Now we are in Coban and heading out to a supposedly bueatiful swimming place in the morning. Travelling so far has been a great life. Pretty much everyone we've met has been friendly and helpful and the sights have been absolutely amazing. I should get some more pictures posted soon.

Here's just a few things I've noticed have changed for me after spending 2 years in Honduras and now interacting with other foreigners.

Results of living in Honduras so long

• Someone asks you what US bands you like and the only thing that comes to mind is Shakhira and Mana


• Every meal you eat is the best meal you've ever had


• You stare at foreigners and have to remind yourself not to pick your nose in public


• You're immensely impressed by paved roads and think that Burger King is a special treat


• You expect to be the center of attention


• You feel a meal without tortillas is incomplete


• You can ask directions and follow them but a map is impossible to follow


• You forget how to use a credit card


• You can cross barbed wires and streams, but a road with a little traffic throws you off


• You say inappropriate things in English thinking no one can understand

Hasta la proxima.