After 16 hours on a bus through three checkpoints, self-catered lunch at a toilet block on the side of the road and the final hours spent winding up and down the Andes, we reached Mérida in western Venezuela. I was hamstrung for available activities by a lack of funds due…
natural wonder
up
/ 29/03/2013Back in South America, starting in Crackers…I mean Caracas. Even if I had been feeling up to going out and exploring on the one afternoon I had in the city, the five keys on my hostel room key ring to get past all the secure doors led me to believe…
starry nights in Santa Catalina
/ 18/03/2013The sleepy, secretive surf haven of Santa Catalina lies on the Pacific coast. Dark super-fine sand stretches in all directions around the bay where we stayed at Oasis Surf Camp. The flat sea bottom gives up smooth baby waves for several metres making it ideal for learning to surf before…
hiking and biking and goodbye-ing in Boquete
/ 15/03/2013Boquete is in the highlands of Panamá and reminds me of Monteverde with the low cloud, rain and mountain scenery. It’s also a big ex-pat retiree community with big houses and nice cars and wine bars. Nadine, LaLa and I endured and enjoyed a full day of activity with hike…
water, water everywhere
/ 12/03/2013I’ve lost count of how many border crossings I’ve gone through but they’re usually in semi-formal halls with barrier belts, security guards and x-ray machines for your luggage. Crossing into Panamá we passed through the immigration checkpoint on a muddy track and housed in a low building where you stand…