From North to South: May 2006

Sergio's home

One day after arriving in the Moskito coast we crossed the lagoon and spent the afternoon talking to Sergio and his family. The conversation was intense, dealing with current tensions resulting from colonists moving onto Moskito land. The coconuts they offered us were incredible. Sergio's sons spent 25 min. finding the perfect ones.

Tabetha learning how to open a coconut with a machete

Nicole

Rob

Sergio and his family

Sergio

Skilled with the machete

The Moskito Coast, Honduras

Washing

Bread Fruit

Doug and Nicole

School teacher who brought us to his house for coffee

Moon over La Moskitia

Departure into the Moskito coast

Washing clothes

View from the hostal in Rai Sta where we spent the first three nights

After waiting 4 hours on the beach for a ride the pick-up truck finally came. In total 18 people and all their gear made it aboard.

Doug and Erik holding on for dear life

The lagoon at sunset

Hanging out on the dock in Bruce

Minor tribulations with a sand bar

Peace from the professors (Erik and Nicole)

Landing quite literally in the middle of nowhere

Heading into the jungle fore 10 days

Staying at Pepe's place in Pico Bonito

Jen

Rob after kayaking down a good stretch of white-water

Lago de Yojoa and surrounding areas, Honduras

Escaping from the heat by swimming under a waterfall

Lecture time!

Boy whose family owns the farm that we visited

Soldier in charge of protecting national park

Incredibly green

Home-made water filteration system

Semuc Champey

Felicitas and I decided to travel together for a week before I left to meet up with the APU class in Honduras. We went to Semuc Champey, one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala, even if I did find a tarantula in my bed a few hours before trying to sleep (note the “not actually sleeping” part). On the morning after visiting Semuc Champey (see photos below) we took a cave tour. Holding candles, we swam through pools, climbed up waterfalls, scaled the rock walls, admired stalactites and stalagmites and generally worked our way through the underground river system. It was a really amazing experience! Well worth the four dollars!

Me

Felicitas

Final waterfalls at the end of the terraces

People who picked us up on the way out of the area and gave us a free ride back to Coban (see earlier post entitled People Are So Nice)

Looking down on Semuc Champey

Felicitas as during our mini-hike

The lookout

Bridge bringing you to the entrance of the park

It is spectacular

Carla's House

A few photos from Carla's house, where I lived the last five days I was in Xela. I love Carla and her family (Angie, Jonathan and Oscar) but I have to say that their house is a bit random, sometimes verging on gross in terms of cleanliness levels. Anyway, here's a few photos.

One of many similarly adorned shelves

Jonathan and Angie's bedroom

The "key ring holder" says "God Protect Us." Only instead of putting their keys on it, they put their numchucks on it. Note: There is a painting of a very placid looking angel directly above the God Protect Us quotation.