Running the gauntlet - Colombia to Ecuador border crossing, March 2011

Everything you read about the road to Ecuador from Colombia tells you it is dangerous and under no circumstances, to do it after dark. Also, to be prepared for rigorous checks for drugs and weapons, on both the Colombian and Ecuadorian sides of the border. We did follow the advice and went in the daytime (although we met a mad German lady in the Colombian border town of Pasto, where we stayed, who was continuing onwards that evening - who knows where she is now!). However, we found the offices on both sides of the border to be efficient and friendly and not once did anyone check our bags!

 

A clothes shop in Pasto, Colombia.

Got us accross the border; but only women allowed to use the toilet!

The cathedral in Ipales, Colombia.

Llamas in tiaras. How could you resist??

Carnival in Ecuador - turned the one hour bus ride into three.

The market in Otovalo.

Return to Colombia - March 2011

We arrived in a wet Bogota on 2nd March after a very uncomfotable flight from Costa Rica - my seat was broken! We stayed in Hostal Platypus which was very comfortable. The only problem was the very noisy Spaniards who kept us awake until nearly 2am with their loud talking...


It did pass through our minds that we could visit some British schools whilst there, but the weather was so awful - wet and cold, that we decided we could not really live there, even thought he city is very cool.
Spent a couple of days exploring leisurely, didn't feel under any pressure as we have been here before, but still a fabulous city.

The local sweet shop.

Our friends, Juan and Monica, on a night out in La Candelaria area on Little Friday or Juienes - plenty of good bars and lots of students. A small part is a little bit like Camden!

Where's Wally?

Our first delicious cheesy arepas this trip to Colombia. I have dreamt about them for two years! Richard spoilt his though bu following the advice of the pictured locals and smothered it with honey. They were pretty tasty though! Just after we took this photo, another local told us we were in a dodgy part of the city and to put our camera away.

The very informative Museo of Independencia, Bogota. Where else do you get to swing in a hammock and watch an installation on the ceiling? (see below)

Typical street, La Candelaria

Our plug socket in our shower - luckily for us they had put sellotape over it so the shower was safe...

Richard gets a dancing lesson whilst we shelter from the rain during our walking tour - this is the tour guide.

A street scene.

This is the gorgeous bar with an open fire that we found on our last night in Bogota two years ago. Only fitting that we should have a drink there again.

Something for the s**t shelf just lurking in a bar.

More arepas at the end of the night, yum, yum. We made quite a mess of our room with the wrappers. Very good hygiene too.

Costa Rica - A One Night Stand - February 2011

 

This is me 'pondering' over the awful TACA website for on line check in. It took us hours to complete successfully.

This is part of the swanky hostel called Pangea. It even had a pool!



This is the view from their roof terrace. Lots of corrugated, tin roofs, leading up to gorgeous mountains.



Nicaragua - February 2011

We were very happy to be returning to Nicaragua, although the method was not very enjoyable - 8 hours from Tegucigalpa on a bus with no airconditioning - phew! 

Our first stop was Leon, where we have been before. The city seemed much busier than last time, with far more options for eating, drinking and sleeping. We couldn't get into our first choice hostel, so stayed in the very young (in people terms), Hostal Auberge.

The Aussie/Kiwi travelling companions, Jack and Jess, first met in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, then shared sweaty bus ride to Tegucigalpa and taxi to Hostel, then we saw them again after this in San Juan del Sur, where once again we were in the same hostel! Austerity measures meant we were able to have a couple of the local beers with them and we ate steak too! A rare treat.

One of Leon's many fine churches.

A religious procesión that came past our hostel - they had spent all day walking from the next town. The Virgin looked very heavy.

Another of Leon's fine churches...

...and another, this time the one in the main plaza.

And now for something not religious, a close up of the belts of a stall holder. We especially liked the one with the gun.

A Very Hot Granada - two minibuses and a walk.


After beautiful Leon, we could not miss returning to Granada. We had such a fab time here last time, at the carnival and the Hippicampo horse festival, where we met our friend Emma who works in Germany.

One of the churches, with a view back towards the cathedral and the main plaza.

A funky, old car.

We did take time to visit a few museums. This is a photo from a pot museum, which is owned privately. These are all funerary pots, made to look lie the stomachs of pregnant women to symbolise rebirthing, our enthusiastic guide told us.

Dan, we thought maybe you would like to  buy these offices - it's difficult to tell, but they are for sale!

 

It was so hot here, we had to find a pool, even we couldn't go out during mad dog time.



A typical street scene in the restored colonial part of Granada.



The Deck Chair Boat to Omotepe

Again, we have returned to a place we have been. Last time we were here though, we stayed in a dodgy hotel with a dry swimming pool, so left after one night. This time we stayed for two nights and did the volcano climb...8 hours of torture.

The deck chair boat to the Island, with our English friends, Gemma and Rob. Oh, we felt so British, just the hankie on the head missing.

The boat to Omotepe - it did make it!

A cheap, tasty, but as usual fried meal with Gemma and Rob in our hotel.

Angry with Richard, Becky considers going off with a guide, but then realises she would have a lifetime of trekking and decides against it. This was the near the start of walk - I am still smiling.

A surreal world: a peaceful lake inside the volcano's crater.

Rain made things very slippy. Becky managed to fall on a pointed stump, you can imagine the rest. She laughed so much she could not get up.

The rewarding view on our way down; the 4am start was worth it.

San Juan Del Sur

We returned to the Nicaraguan riviera to celebrate Becky's birthday with pizza (yes, pizza, that's what she wanted!), candles, cake and an international Harley Davidson convention on the beach. You can imagine the entertainment bikers need...we quite enjoyed it too.

Richard on VERY dangerous ground; trying it on with the bikers wives (actually they were really friendly).

This is what we are talking about. Hours of strutting, hip shaking and pouting and bossom shimmying. Richard's eyes had trouble staying inside ther sockets. There were also bands with live music, but they was a little overshadowed.

Vroom, vroom, hanging out with the record breaking biker from Costa Rica. He danced worse than us, but was interviwed for the national TV.

4am, not wanting the party to end and searching for a kebab, we bumped into them again. No kebabs, but enjoyed a dirty hotdog.

Birthday recovery on the beach.

Birthday pizza.