HONDURAS!!

Hello beautiful people.
Today is my last day in central america, and while I am super excited to get to Peru, it definately feels very strange. I sent Mae home with my guidebook, after she reminded me that I wouldnt need it anymore. I didnt like that. But let me back up...
I hung out for a few days in San Pedro, the 2nd largest city in Honduras, and is nothing special. Met an awesome Canadian though, Sharon, which was nice since I wasnt really alone after that. Mae finally came, with a broken foot (which she neglected to tell me beforehand, which was lovely), but we took it easy and had lots of fun. There were many adventures to be had...Honduras is not nearly as developed as Panama and Costa Rica, and getting things accomplished is always a challange. But the slow and relaxed pace is part of its charm. We went first to Copan Ruinas, which is an adorable colonial town that I fell madly in love with. We wandered around, and the next day went to Mayan ruins, which were very cool. That afternoon we did a 3 hour horseback ride tour through Copan, which was beutiful and fun, and we got to see Hondurans going about their daily lives. Next was Lago de Yojoa, a really beautiful lake. While we never actually made it into the lake, since we had gotten on the wrong bus and ended up a bit too far out, we still had a very relaxing day reading and tanning and looking at the prettiness. Next day we went to Pulhapanzak, an incredible and GORGEOUS waterfall. It was 43 meters high...dont worry, I didnt jump from this one!! So all in all, it was a great time with Mae, and it was so nice to see a friendly face from home. And she brought me starbucks, which was HEAVEN.
Back in San Pedro, I met up again with Sharon, and we spent the next few days in Santa Rosa and Gracias, two more colonial towns that are so cute and lovely. Of course, day 2 of our journey the coup takes place (i dont have the time or energy to explain, you should all have CNN), but other than having the bus schedules a bit slow, no electricity for a few hours, and a 9pm countrywide curfew, we didnt notice too much change, and enjoyed our time in some much cooler climate. And talking to locals about the government, country, and situation has been so interesting. Yesterday we did an awesome and intense hike to and then through a mountain, then at night went to hot springs to relax. Amazingness. For everyone who kept asking me ´ummmm why honduras??¨ now I have an answer. It is beautiful and relaxed and friendly and while it is also very poor and underdeveloped with a long way to go, I have loved my time here.
With that in mind, however, today I definately felt the effects of the coup. VERY long story short, we had to leave Gracias to get back to San Pedro today...Sharon has to get to work, and I have my flight tomorrow morning. I wont get into the details but make sure to ask me about this day when Im back home...suffice to say that campesinos who support the president got pissed, so they decided to block all long distance buses throughout the country. It ended up taking us about 7 different buses to get back to San Pedro, and many many many extra hours. It was definately an experience. Then we get back, and I find out that the airport was closed yesterday...everything is supposed to be back on schedule now, and heres hoping I make it out of here tomorrow without problems.

This time next month ill be home!! get excited. although I can add that while I was in Copan with Mae, our beautful dog passed away. Our family definately is smaller and sadder now, and as much as I love you all, you probably know that she is why I usually come home. So that definately put a cloud over the end of my trip, and if I end up staying abroad and skipping out on senior year, just blame it on marabelle!

on a happier note, i have a layover in costa rica tomorrow, which excites me a lot! I get to use up the last of my costa rican money that I found in my bag, and be back for about an hour :)

COUP!

well, you all got my ¨im not drowning in a flood¨ post, and then the ´i didnt get killed in the earthquake´ post...here is my ´i survived the coup´ post!! I´ll post a real honduras update soon, but lots of people have been sending me messages and making sure im alive...i am indeed alive and safe. it has been very interesting, but all of the action and riots and craziness is in tegucigalpa, the capital, and im hours away from there. if you have no idea what im talking about, turn on the news, its really interesting stuff.

i love latin america!! thanks for all of your concern and love :)

Hola from Honduras!

God damn this country is hot! But I have arrived safely in Honduras! I have until the 21st until the fabulous Mae arrives, so I am hanging around San Pedro Sula until that glorious day. Spent alllll day walking around and hunting for air conditioned places to go. There is supposed to be a really nice walk out of the city that I hope to do tomorrow...im trying to stay busy and active.

I cant belieive that Panama is over, I had an amazing 3 weeks. It really is a wonderful country that I highly recommend to cheap travelers on a budget and those with bushels of money. There are things for everyone to enjoy and its beautiful and so fun.

I will be in Honduras until July 1st, and then I fly to Lima for my last month. My plans are coming together and I am super excited for the rest of my travels...which are going by so fast, I cant believe how the time just flies! I have no desire to get back to the real world...if everyone could just come visit me...and bring me my favorite foods...i would be all set. Lets make that happen!

lots of love.

The travels continue

Hello from Panama!!
Everything is fantastic and I am thinking about staying in this amazing country for a very long time. I spent about 5 days in Bocas del Toro, a delicious Caribbean beach town that definitely started my trip off right. I was alone but met so many awesome people...not to mention the dolphins, starfish, snorkeling, deserted beaches, gorgeous scenery, perfect tanning weather, and very fun bars. It was wonderful. I then took an overnight bus to Panama City, where I met up with Evya that night. We have been having a great time in the city...i took him to the canal and other areas i went to last time i was here, and it was really nice to be able to find my way around and know where i was and what i was doing. We also ate dinner at Hooters one night, since I had never been before. Absolutely hysterical...and the wings really are so yummy!! We then went to San Blas. I actually have no words to describe those 3 days...it was without a doubt the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life. Picture an island in the middle of the caribbean, smaller than a football field. Throw in some wooden huts, hammocks, palm trees, coconuts, white sand and perfectly clear water. It was that idyllic fantasy island that doesnt really exist...except that it does exist, and i found it, and was there!!! Just amazing. An indigenous group, the Kuna, live on the islands, and it was great to speak to them and learn about their way of life...they are fiercely independent and have such interesting lifestyles....it was paradise and heaven all rolled into one. If anyone is looking for a great vacation spot...its relatively cheap and really a once in a lifetime experience. Even though I want to go back lots of times!!! I cant wait to show you all pictures of the island!

Now we are in David, a city near the Costa Rican border. A few days here and in a nearby area, Boquete, to be outdoorsy, and then back to Bocas to end our time in Panama.

Love and kisses!! Keep in touch everyone!!