Honduras = Guns, Cowboy Hats & Landslides

We´ve seen more of the above than you could shake several sticks at. Unlike the other Central American countries where every man, child and dog carries a machete, here, its all about guns. Luckily we didnt see any close up, but first stop was Danli.... not a place to linger long. The police have giant machine guns, security guards have humongous air rifles and every one else has pistols. Lovely!

Travel around Honduras was entirely on old American school buses, in various states of disrepair, surely the US dont ask for any money for these buses?

Onto Lago de Yojoa where we stayed at a micro brewery (think Zero Degrees with hammocks and a pool), Matt wrestled a rather large spider for his life jacket (check out the photo!!) and we enjoyed a spot of kayaking on the lake.

The hot springs of Gracias were calling us, the highlands of Honduras were surprisingly chilly, even had to dig out a jumper! We still had yet to see a single other tourist in Honduras!! Where is everybody?? Gracias was a lovely cobbledy street kind of place, v nice to chill out there.

Copan Ruins next, where we were sure we would see some other tourists.... we saw a grand total of one! Our first Mayan ruin, and it was goooooood. Very impressive sculptures, even more impressive having the place to ourselves.

Nicaragua Extravaganza

Possibly the worst border crossing ever experienced between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.... but several hours later we emerged (and several more dollars poorer). First stop Isla de Ometepe, twin volcanos rising out of Lago de Nicaragua- luvly. Met up with Mawson and the Balgue community kitchen building team to give a hand on the construction site.... last nights Flor de Cana (rum) was not our friend in the blistering heat trying to mix concrete (Matt) and brick lay (Sarah). Trekked up the nearby Maderas volcano too, having to climb a tree to get a view.... not the most accessible! Not sure what was more knackering, the eight hour climb or the eight hours of attempting to speak Spanish with our guide!

Off for a bit of beach and surf action at San Juan del Sur (whole build team taking some time out there), little did we know the whole country shut down on sundays, making the journey ever so fun.... was very strange to be around so many other gringos for a change!

Onto Granada, beautiful colonial town, with an even more beautiful posh hotel swimming pool we treated ourselves to (to rest those aching surfing muscles). Another volcano experience in Masaya, this time extremely active, with our throats and nose burning from the sulphur (angry volcano and even angrier taxi driver... cheating scumbag).

Flying stop in the capital, Managua, which to put it politely is an absolute shithole choc-a-block with terrible drivers, and onto the coffee highlands of Matagalpa, which wierdly is the first town we have come across with no restaurants.

Amazingly not a drop of rain fell on us in Nicaragua, having just missed the hurricane that passed through end of September (others we met enjoyed seven days of solid rain). Score.

Off to Honduras next....

Conquering Cerro Chirripo & Costa Rica

Navigated the dodgy bridge border crossing into Costa Rica and rewarded ourselves with a few days chilling out on the Caribbean coast, some awesome beaches and snorkelling around there.

Decided to brave the dodgy roads (and dodgier public transport) to find the town of San Gerardo, the base town to climb Costa Rica´s highest mountain (3820m). The guidebook vaguely mentioned the path was steep, and 8 hours into the first day to base camp, we would definitely have classed it as frickin´ steep!! The race was on against the days thunderstorm, and unfortunately the last few km of that day was in torrential rain as we tried to ignore all the dead burnt trees and lightening around us.... staggered to base camp and a very unwelcoming welcome, the ranger wouldn´t even let us have any hot water for our noodles.... boo hoo. Second day was pretty darn hard too, 26km and steep steep steep all the way. But we did it!! (Couldnt walk for the next three days but thats not the point!!)

Onto La Fortuna next, where we explored lava fields, waterfalls and even managed to time it right and see Volcan Arenal erupt!! wow weeeeeee!