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.

Life Beyond Peace Corps

I've just finished up my 2 years and 3 months of Peace Corps in Honduras!! Before heading back to the US, I'm taking a few months to travel starting now in Guatemala, heading to Belize then back through Honduras and south ending up in Chile and getting back to the US mid August.It's hard to believe the 2 years have already gone by. There were times when it seemed they would last forever, but now it's time to move on. I spent yesterday climbing a volcano (Pacaya) and actually got to walk on lava that dried the day before and poke live lava with a stick, but it was just a little warm. The architecture in Antigua is absolutely amazing with several of the colonial buildings in tact. What I've seen of Guatemala so far seems to be far more develloped than Honduras as far as the infrastructure goes. But of course, I'm also not living with the locals now but am travelling with the tourists. It's nice to have no responsibilities anymore and just have some time to relax and see the world.


Pictures from Antigua




In front of colonial Antigua

Pacaya Volcano

An Uninvited Guest
Last Thursday, after having some friends over for dinner, I was going to watch the dishes when I noticed an unwanted helper. After a slight alarm, I brought the cat over to chase the tarantula next to my sink and eventually managed to get it outside.

It’s been a while since I last updated my blog. Now I have just over 2 months left of my Peace Corps service in Honduras. From there I’m going traveling around Latin America for a few months, and then probably back to the United States to work. I’ve had a great experience here and I know I’m going to miss many things, but I think I’m ready to move on to the next adventure, wherever that will be. I’ve done some decent work and learned a lot about myself and the world, but there have also been many frustrations. I wonder if anything I did will really have a positive long-term effect. But it's been a fun time and I've met lots of great people and had great experiences and I'm glad I did it. And I still have a couple more months to finish everything.

May the ground be solid beneath your feet and that the path slope slightly in your favor

I walk up with a group of men with machetes, a few kids, and a few dogs to observe the water source at the top of the mountain. I struggled to keep walking. The first hour we walked from one town where they were going to get the new water system, to the neighboring town, about 6 km away on an impassable dirt road. There the community members were arranged and an agreement was reached between the two communities to allow the use of the water source for a fee of about $1000. Before the contract could be signed, we had to view the water source, a task much easier said than done. I was still tired and covered in mud from the hour walk out to the village, but if everyone else wanted to do it, the engineer couldn´t refuse giving her professional opinion of the water source. So we started on the 2.5 hour hike up and down and up the mountain. I don´t know how I made it to the top. One of the villagers offered to carry my backpack, and another cut me a hiking stick which I definitely needed as a third foot to make it up and down the muddy slopes. Somehow I mustered up enough strength to make it to the top. I was able to have a little rest when we made it to the top. There was plenty of water at the source and it was well-protected. We took a measure of the flow rate, and then it was time to descend the mountain and return to the village. It was going to be a struggle to make it down the muddy mountain, and I was already past tired, but I didn´t have any choice but to continue. But then it started to rain. It quickly became pretty much impossible to walk, and after sliding down for a while, someone cut me another stick to try to give me some more balance. I was now skiing down the mountain. The community members were accustomed to walking in such conditions, and only I and the mayor´s representative seemed to be struggling. Somehow I made it back to the village; I was soaked and covered in mud, but fortunately without any serious injury (my camera did not fare as well). They wrote up and signed the agreement and we walked the hour back to town, where my ride was waiting for me to drive the hour back to La Esperanza. I got home just after dark and ate a big supper. Then all that remained was to do the 18 km study of the water line, beginning the next day. Somehow I managed to back it back out there the next day and begin and we finished with the study 2 weeks later. The following week we finished the report, and are now waited for funds from the government through the Strategy to Reduce Poverty. I don´t think I have ever been so sore or tired in my life, but if the project gets built and the 130 houses get water, it will be worth it. And when else can you go hiking on paths where no one else travels, where the path is cut right before you measure by your small army of men with machetes.