Tag: pictures

According to schedule, today would have been my first day in South America. But as explained in the previous posts, instead I am now forced to spend a little more time in Central America.

Today I climbed up the volcano Concepción on the island Ometepe (side note: the city I’m gonna be working at in Chile also is called Concepción). For that I had to meet my guide in the morning and then take a bus at 5:00 am. Unfortunately I didn’t hear my alarm (neither did one of my friends) and got up at 5:07 am. After rushing incredibly preparing my stuff, I managed to get the bus (which luckily was delayed). The 6h hike was very exhausting and due to fog I didn’t have any of the great views. Still it was a rewarding experience. Afterwards I relaxed in a volcano mineral bath (cold water though).

Tomorrow I plan to say goodbye to my friends and to continue towards Costa Rica.

As I now found an option to ship my car, I finally know how much time I got leftover. This is why I know that I’m able to spend a little more time exploring Nicaragua with my friends.

We got up late (the first time for me during the trip) and strolled through Granada. Later we went to San Jorge where we took a ferry to the volcano island Ometepe, where we safely arrived at Moyogalpa, NIC. Going up this volcano has been the first thing on my “to do” list for this trip and tomorrow it’s finally gonna happen.

I am not yet 100% sure whether I should actually take this container ship, as it would result in having to drive on average 13.5h every day in South America. But I am strongly leaning towards it and to pull through disciplined.

I safely arrived in Tegucigalpa, HON. On the way I passed San Pedro Sula, said to be the most dangerous city in this most dangerous country I’m passing through. I was nervous, but that was probably only because of all the bad I’ve been told and not caused by the actual experience, which was a typical southern, metropolitan city life.

Arriving in Tegucigalpa I was overwhelmed. By the size and busyness of this city. And also by how poorly developed it is for a metropolis.

Here, for the first time of this trip, I met other travelers. So far I’ve always stayed in hostels which were empty or in airbnbs. It is inspiring to exchange stories and to go out together.

Tomorrow im heading to Nicaragua and I will actually be giving a ride to another guy from the hostel.

I found paradise. I safely arrived in El Remate, GTM, less than an hour away from Tikal.

Seeing Tikal was a long time dream coming true and it was incredible. After visiting two ancient Mayan cities in Mexico, I was in doubt whether it was worth to see another. But I’m glad that I did it. It is much bigger than the others and in the middle of the jungle. Not all the buildings are uncovered from vegetation of one millennium. Mystic. And it’s permitted to go and climb up almost anywhere (unlike Chichén Itzá). This is what makes Tikal a gigantic adventure playground with a gigantic heritage. The perfect location to come back with kids one day!

Unfortunately I stayed about a minute too long so that I missed the sunset over the lake, which I am staying at. Still it was beautiful and I can’t wait to take a swim in it tomorrow morning. I am staying with a family via airbnb who is living a carefree life in simple, palm roof hutts right at the lake. For the first time in my life I sleep under a mosquito net.

I don’t know yet what to do tomorrow except for swimming in the lake in the morning.

Today I visited Chichén Itzá, a site of Mayan ruins. Seeing this ancient architecture for me is impressive, and I can’t stop thinking about how amazing it must have been for the first European settlers to discover and explore it.

Afterwards I went swimming in a cenote, a kind of an “underground lake” (there is an underground water network, but the cenotes themselves are the openings – so it isn’t underground). I was a bit scared but it was a great experience.

In the evening I met with another friend of mine who I met in Sevilla.

Also I finally received my car’s title. Technically I planned to leave right after that, but tomorrow is Mexican’s Independence day. I am still not sure whether I want to go to Belize tomorrow or to stay for that celebration.

I don’t understand how this could happen, but today everything went as planned. I safely arrived in Villahermosa, MEX. On the way I decided to take a longer route which led me along the coast and later followed a river. It was a beautiful trip crossing pure nature and cute little villages. At one point I stopped at an abandoned building and and held my feet into the Gulf of Mexico.

The city Villahermosa in reality isn’t the most “hermosa”, neither the safest, but it’ll do for a night. Tomorrow I’ll continue driving towards Mérida, but will probably not make all the way – we’ll see… (the less you plan, the less can go wrong!)

I totally forgot to post yesterday evening, I apologize. I had a good time exploring the pyramids of Teotihuacan and then safely arrived in Veracruz, MEX. Though it is claimed to be a dangerous city, again in the city center there was no reason to feel unsafe.

Today im planning to go to Bellavista.

“If you want to make God laugh, make a plan.”

That’s a quote that I really like and I feel like it represents this trip very well. Not only did I have to change the main goal, but also it seems like every time I mention where I’m heading to the next day, i don’t make it for different reasons.

Today I’ve not reached Mexico City because I started a little later and then got into heavy traffic jams several times in a row. When the estimated time of arrival became later and later, I decided to make another stop for a night before going to Mexico City. It simply isn’t recommended driving through that city when it’s dark.

I decided to stop at San Miguel de Allende, MEX, which I got recommended by a friend. It honestly is one of the prettiest towns I’ve been to in my entire life, in which time seemed to have frozen in the 19th century. So after all I’m glad that my plan to go all the way to Mexico City went wrong.

I don’t even dare mentioning it but but tomorrow I plan to finally get to Mexico City.

I finally did it! I finally crossed the first border. There were no complications at all and I safely arrived in Monterrey, MEX. I am glad that I didn’t do this trip yesterday anymore because it did take a little longer than the expected 7h of driving. But having left this morning at 6am, I arrived comfortably at 5pm. For the first time I had some time for doing some sightseeing in the city I arrived at. It was an interesting experience until the point when it suddenly started raining cats and dogs. And by suddenly I mean within 5 min after a clear sky.

Tomorrow I plan to get up as early as today to make it all the way to Mexico City.