gone south

We entered Honduras a couple of days ago, by Copan ruins. The last of the Mayan sites that we’ll see on this go round. We met a group of Americans who were riding motor cycles from Peru to VA, USA as a fund raiser. Interesting to chat with them as we waited for our car permit. At our camping spot right across from the ruins, we met a young Australian woman riding her bicycle to Costa Rica. Her spanish was great and we ended up playing cards with her and the local kids by the campfire. Was really a unique time. So far the border crossings have been pretty mellow, though at the Guatemala border - we crossed into a 1 lane bridge & mud streets.
We thought we were used to driving CA by now, but we’re at a whole new level of craziness! The roads are pretty good but the drivers are flipin nuts, nothing gets the heart racing like going into an uphill corner and seeing a car in your lane coming at you, with no place to bail out. So far they always pull back just in time. We rode through some incredible mountain scenery, some times jungle then pine highlands that look like the american west. After seeing sign warning of landslides ahead - they mean RIGHT ahead; some are from above and block part of the road, others are where the road was under cut and slid down the hill. Just gone!
Last night we pulled into a place hoping to camp for the night. Oh we don´t do that anymore they said. However, we live just down the road, why don´t you camp in our yard! Another night of sleeping to the sound of surf. After a day of laundry & re-suppling, we´ll head to La Ceiba and a boat ride to the Bay islands for snorkeling. When we can find wifi again we´ll post photos. From all we hear - we´re glad to not be in VT weather!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

posted in Tela internet cafe.

  We have finally figured out how to post photos so that you can click on them to see full size. ALSO- go to right side of page and under Blogroll, click on “a look at our trip photos” to go to a web album of pictures.

Well, it’s raining like crazy but it’s warm and beautiful here. We are presently at a somewhat ecolocation that is just wonderful; a central building with kitchen and lots of porch space with tables and hammocks, then there are sections that have treehouses for rent and small cabinas. A 5 min. walk leads through their gardens and farm animals to a small lagoon with crystal clear water for swimming. Will add photos after the rain.

Guatamala so far has won our hearts. The country is spectacularly beautiful (imagine being an ant traveling a road that runs through meringue hills. Tons of pointy green hills that are sometimes under cultivation and sometimes dotted with livestock), the people very warm and they speak a version of spanish that is slow and precise making us feel like we know more than we do.

Seems we are zooming through but we expect to spend lots more time on the return trip in the western highlands.