Palenque, Mexico

We arrived In Palenque and it is still steaming, its so humid, we have to have the fan on all night and then we're still sweating!

The place of Palenque isnt that amazing but seem to enjoy having festivals in the main square on a saturday night. The ruins only a short distance from the town are amazing. Again like Tikal they are set in the Jungle but not quite as mystical as Tikal. The ruins here are pretty impressive but was much busier than Tikal, maybe as it was free to Mexicans on Sunday!

Headed off to an amazing set of Wtaerfalls near Palenque and enjoyed playing around in the water to cool down, just a little concerned by the police presence nearby so decided to get a taxi to the place. Met a nice couple from germany who gave us a lift back to Palenque.

Next we're off to San Christobal

Tikal & Flores Guatamala Wow 40C Amazing Ruins & an Earthquake in one day!

Well we have made it to Tikal the amazing Mayan Ruins!

Flores is the little town near Tikañ where you stay to get to Tikal Mayan Ruins some 2 hours away.

Flores is a nice little town and we enjoyed our time there. They even bizarrely have a Burger King which came in very handy when we had run out of money and needed to use James credit card to eat!

Tikal is a stunning place. Mayan ruins set in the middle of the Guatamalan jungle. the hefty entrance charge has recently been increased from 50 limpiar to 150 thanks to the new government. Still it was so quiet with hardly any tourist it was like we had the place to ourselves which only helped to make the experience even better. Check out the photos on the top left.

Stayed a nice place near the ruins where we camped for only 70 limpars which was strangely cheaper than the municipal camping and had far more facilities such as decent tolets etc. Very important!

It was toasting hot in Tikal though and it had apparently reached 40C and we felt it!

That night Mariana woke me up to tell me what was that. I said it was nothing and to go back to sleep. She was convinced it was an earthquake. Next day strangely enough another person thought she had felt the earth quake and sure enough on return to Flores we read the news paper that said there had been an earthquake in Honduras about 200km away which was about 7 on the Ritcher scale!

Next were off to Palenque in Mexico via Frontier Corozal, we're not sure how easy it will be or how long it will take but that is part of our ongoing adventure!

Honduras- Omoa, Rotis Place

So we made our way to Omoa going through Honduras

Omoa is a lovely beach resort that unfortunately has lost its beach due to them positioning a wave break for the oil terminal out of town so it has now literally swept away the beach which is a shame as it looks like it was and still is beautiful except it is very narrow.

We stayed a nice couple of days in a place called Roti's Place. It only costs about $USD5 each! Had a little kitchen and we lived in our very own little tree house! Great fun. James was woken in the middle of the night for some reason and came across a scorpion though which was a bit of a surprise but at least it wsa more scarred by James than taking him on!

We then made our way overland to the northern Honduras Guatamalan border. We werent sure how easy this would be but were pleasantly surprised how easy it was. Still the Guatamalans tried to rip us off at the border by trying to charge us for the whole mini bus rather than just the 2 seats we wanted. that was until we found out from officials how much it really cost!

Then it was off to Rio Dulce with a surprisingly efficient connecting bus / minibus servuce and made it there in record time!

Nicaragua- Leon , Granada & Isle de Ometepe

Well we have been having a great time here

First we had to traverse the Costa Rican - Nicaragua border and got mobbed by money exchangers as soon as we got of f the bus. We were a little worried as we had head that Nicaragua can be a bit dangerous but we had no problems. They always try to tell us that the exchange rate is rubbish across the border and then as soon as we get to the other country its fine. they also like to charge us a little entry fee of around $7 USD for entering the country!

We made our way with 4 others 2 from UK and 2 from Holland. Nice to have some travel partners.

We stayed in Rivas for the night before heading to Island of Ometepe (the volcanic islands) in a large lake in the middle of Nicaragua.

Next it was off in a local bus (old converted yellow school buses from US) to Granada.

Granada was really nice with a very chilled atmosphere and felt very colonial. It was very safe and we enjoyed how cheap it was there. Often only having to pay $5USD for a hostel room a night! Food was also cheap. Nicaragua seems to be cheapest place in Central America. We enjoyed visiting all the old churches and nice old colonial houses in the city.

Next off to Leon on the local buses again. We were a little concerned again by travelling through the capital Managua but we managed to get a bus to drop us off in the centre terminal and get another bus direct to Leon.

Again Leon was very chilled and filled woth lots of old churches again. very similar to Granada but Granada appeared more conservative but Leon was more revolutionary with its history but pretty similar places

Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

Well we're enjoying Costa Rica. In a tiny little village Called Cubuya near a more happening place called Montezuma on the coast near a national park. The locals are very friendly :-)

Nice to relax and enjoy the beach and the amazing mangoes and fruit you can literally pick off the floor!

We have been enjoying mango ice creams every day and coconut from the trees to name but a few of the beautiful fruit in our garden! Yes we're renting a house here for a change and enjoying the garden!

We must be so healthy with all that fruit!

We have been chilling out at the beach. Amazing place.

Heading to Nicuragua over the next few days and heading up north toward Honduras, Tikal In Guatemala and then up to Mexico depending on how the flu is by then, maybe in 3 weeks.

Welcome to Miami Beach!

Well we have made an unscheduled stop in Miami Beach for a few days to have a little 1st world life so we don't have to watch everything all the time and very nice it is too. Staying at a nice place right next to the water.

Heading off to San Jose, Costa Rica tomorrow- 5th May!

Heading towards Mexico but hoping that the flu will blow over so to speak by time we get there. US TV seems to be more relaxed considering they are so health conscious so that is reassuring.

Ocean Drive very cool and enjoyed seeing the sights from Bad Boys and CSI Miami!

Well we'll keep you posted, but don't worry we'll be watching that old flu so we don't bring it back to the UK!

Machu Pichu---- WOW!

Machu Pichu was amazing, but its strange. You see all these amazing pictures of Inca City on top of the mountains and you have to blink and realise that you are actually there!

Great to spend 2 days there, but shame couldn't do the Inca trail "says James" as they are booked up for months in advance, at the moment they are taking booking for July! So if you plan to come here at any point book early!

Cusco was a really nice city and really enjoyed it but can't say we liked Lima too much but did have a nice hotel to stay overnight whic was nice even if we did have an early morning flight!

Flights had been delayed due to Swine Flu scare at the airport so we didn't leave for over 4 hours after we we're due to go. Still we had time to check out Lima airport verrrryyy well.