November 28, 2009
Sarchi and Grecia
We had a really nice day today looking at furniture in the towns of Sarchi and Grecia which are about 20 miles away from where we are staying. This meant the longest trip that we have had on TT the scooter. Well even on the autopista going much slower than the rest of the traffic we did just fine. Bev just held on for dear life. Then the up and down of the mountains as we went up the hill to Grecia.
These two small communities make up most of the furniture in Costa Rica and there are literally hundreds of small furniture makers here. You can buy from what they have or they will make it custom for you. We stopped and looked till we were ready to drop.
Unfortunately the styles that they had there in the shops were not really the style that we were looking for, but we did get some cards and will look some more but now we know where we can have it custom made and shipped to us.
There are several other shipping possibilities that we are looking into and may even wait till our return to Mexico to make a final decision. For now it is just a process of elimination for all of the pieces.
The return trip was less stressful as I did not take the autopista but the back roads that wind up and down the mountains and the views of the coffee, sugar cane and other fields was really great. One nice thing is that Costa Rican drivers tend not to push you when you are going slow. They do use their horns much more than in the US though.
Here also they call their speed bumps muertes (which are mostly like the half round steel balls that we see in parking lots). Sort of means little death.
We returned tired this afternoon but we did purchase one small table which we will try to find a place for in the RV till we get home.
Lots of different wood to choose from though. Guanacasta, Laurel, Rosewood, Cedros and a very hard type of Ash.
Ah well now is time for dinner and a break. Last night was Chinese out. Really nice little place and on the way we came on a huge one day farmers market. Dozens of stalls just set up for Fridays only with eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables (many of which we have never heard of), chicken, beef and baked goods. I got some tortillas (real thick and corn) that they fill with cheese and you heat them and eat them for breakfast.

November 27, 2009
In San Antonio de Belen

Today we went to Alajuela first to do some banking (needed to change some dollars into collones). Well that was certainly and interesting experience. The line outside the band was about 20 feet long and they security check you with a wand just like the airports to get in. Then take a number from the computer similar to the DMV in California. There must have been over a hundred people in there. Next overhead screens both visually give the next number called and an electronic voice also calls it out. Then after about 40 minutes my number was called and I could change some money. They really should have more banks.
After that we went by the central park and the central mercando but did not stop. It was on to Olinda’s house and see if she was home. Well I must congratulate myself because even after all this time I still knew the way there. She was not home when we arrived and we were just about to leave when she pulled up in a friend’s car. She was so delighted to see us and we also. We must come in and sit down and she had to make us one of her famous refrescas (blended drink with fresh fruit, etc). Then she tried I thought to call her daughter Luz but I thought that she could not get her on the telephone.
After some time I said that we had to go as it was almost 12:00 and did not want to impose lunch on Olinda. Well no we should not go and my Spanish heard that Luz would be there at 2:00 pm and so I said that we would return at 1:30 and meet her then.
Wrong again Luz was coming then and we were to go to her house and see it and visit and have lunch there. Well it was a grand ride up to Luz’s new home and what a lovely view from the top of a hill looking over a parque (these are more like our national parks and more rural). We had a great lunch and it was really nice to visit with the family that we had come to know so well when we were taking Spanish here in Costa Rica so many years ago. Sunday evening we will be taking the family to a restarante for dinner. That should be great as one of the kids is graduating Sunday. Here the school year goes from the end of January to end of November. End of November and December and part of January off but only two weeks vacation in July and August.
After leaving we drove back to the RV where we are now and will try to call the kids tonight. I must say that Tiny Tigre has served us well but driving on the freeway in Costa Rica was not what it was meant to do. I did get a message that the pink slip for the Scooter has been sent by DHL and should arrive Monday.

Playa Del Coco to San Antonio de Belen
November 26, 2009

Well Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Today we drove from the Pacific Ocean to close to the airport near the capital of Costa Rica, the city of San Jose. It was lots of up and down and around mountains with a two lane road and lots of trucks that really slowed us down. Five hours to drive about 150 miles and that was with two stops to let the transmission cool down. When we drive so slowly up long hills (4-5 miles long) it tends to overheat the transmission. I think that I may have the fluid changed here before we go home.
This will probably be the furthest south that we drive. If we go to Panama it will probably be by bus.
Last night was our night to splurge on what Bev said was the best seafood dinner she has had all year. It was a nice bistro on the second floor balcony overlooking the street in Playa Del Coco. She had the seafood platter with calamari, crabs, shrimp, and fish and mussels in a white wine sauce with vegetables and rice and was really great. I had the catch of the day in there macadamia nut sauce and we both had a Caesar salad and then coffee (really strong coffee) for dessert.
Today we spent some time shopping for souvenirs and for furniture and we will see if we can get it shipped to Mexico or the US.
Tonight we are in our first RV park in a lonnnnnng time. It is nice to have full hookups once again ant to not have to worry about water or dumping or electrical. Although Playa Del Coco was great being on the beach next to the water we had to conserve our fresh water for showers because we did not have easy access to a fresh water supply. But then there was the ocean right at our doorstep to go dip in when we were too warm.
The next few days will be getting things arranged if we can for buying furniture if it can be shipped back to Mexico or the US and if not we will then look in southern Mexico on the west coast. That and souvenir shopping and seeing Olinda the woman that we stayed with while taking language school so many years ago.

November 24, 2009
Rivas, Nicaragua to Playa del Coco, Costa Rica

Today’s journey was not a long one in terms of miles but it did feel good to cross the last border that we will do before the return journey when we will cross of them but Belize. I don’t think that we will take the RV to Panama because that will mean crossing that border and then returning and crossing the border again and you simply have no idea how much time it takes to exit one country and enter another with two vehicles (RV and motor scooter) and most of the time they have a real problem with the casa rodello..
But after two border it was only two police checks on the vehicle permit and we were on our way to Playa del Coco.
This is just west of Liberia on the Pacific ocean now and a really beautiful spot. Seems to be that the whole coast of this area is a hangout for expatriates and tourists. I think I see more foreigners here than locals. We are right on the beach with a view of the bay and harbor area. Lots of sailboats and motor cruisers here and lots of tourist restaurants and bars and gift shops. We are not in a campground or hotel tonight as I asked the locals and they said it was quite safe and we also asked permission of the local police whose station is only a hundred feet or so from the RV.
Today is a rest day again and we will try to walk into town and have laundry done and then do some shopping. The woodworking here and pottery is some of the best that we have seen.
Well time for some fun and sitting on the beach.

Rivas adn the La Mar Lake Resort
November 22, 2009
Sugar cane truck
Banana plantation
Volcano whil driving
Volcano from the pool at the resort
At least I think it is the 22 nd of Nov. Yoou quickly loose a sense of time and date when you are traveling as we are. Days of the week and the date of the month all seem to merge into one. This was especially true after I lost my watch while snorkeling in Cosumel and did not replace it until just a few days ago. In Mexico watches and other items as well as in Belize are very expensive. Guatemala is cheap or about the same as the US.
We have decided to stay at teh resort a day longer to rest and recharge ourselves. Driving all day and border crossings can be a real trial. Tomorrow is the last border crossing on the way down into Costa Rica. Fortunately we are only about 50 miles from teh border so we do not have a long ways to drive but crossing a border can sometimes take all day. I hope that this one goes easily.
Last night we had dinner in the resort restaurant and it was interesting. I had the local fish which they brought to me whole with a great sauce but I must admit I do not enjoy the fish looking at me while I am eating it. Bev had fish filets which was a good choice in a garlic butter. And the local beer Tonal which was really pretty good.
You have to get used to the prices though $423.00 for dinner. But remember that $1US is equal to about $20 Cuerdos(SP?).
It was great to just have a relaxing dinner we did not cook and look out over the lake and pool areas.
We seem to be the only ones in the resort and I was told that this is because people come here during the summer and they do not get many people here at this time of year. It is really beautiful though.
So today is relax by the pool, have lunch in the restaurant, and look at hte info needed to cross into Costa Rica in the morning.
We were able to telephone home in the last two days and it was good to here familiar voices in English. Bev I know is somewhat homesick and needing to talk to and see the grandkids. Ah well we are almost at the midway point of the journey.
Life is good

November 22, 2009
Esteli to Rivas, Nicaragua

What you see in the pictures are the view from teh resort out at the island volcanoes
Coffee being dried
The Pan American highway
Rice fields
Sugar Cane Fields

Today’s drive was actually very easy. The mountains that we encountered yesterday soon were gone and we were in large flat valleys with a two lane road with a good surface. The constant curves and turns in the mountains were gone and the straight a ways were a pleasant reprieve.
In El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua you also do not have the constant topes or speed bumps or tumules as they are called in each and every hamlet. So you can kind of relax a little more when driving.
The only unpleasant episode was being stopped and having to pay a bribe to the local police for allegedly speeding. If there is one thing I really hate it is corrupt law enforcement which is everywhere here it seems. There was no other way I could see to get my drivers license back so I paid it. When I get to Costa Rica I will have laminated color copies on my license made and just let them keep it.
We drove down the valleys past the city of Granada (the oldest one in Nicaragua and the area seems quite prosperous. Large farms with tobacco (cigar making factories everywhere), sugar cane, rice, bananas, and huge papayas which I had never seen of the trees before. They even had crop dusters at the airports which shows you just how large the farms and ranches are. Even on Sunday large sugar cane trucks passed us.
We have taken a rout off of CA 1 and gone onto CA4 which is called the ruta de volcanos and colonias which is to say the route of the volcanoes and colonial cities or towns. It is quite peaceful driving thru a road with trees arching over the road and all of the grass and trees. You must drive slower as it is not as well maintained as the Pan American Hwy. But certainly, a pretty drive and very colorful. Even people selling furniture and birds beside the hwy.
Today we settled early just south of Rivas which was an important stop for the California gold rush miners heading across the Central American isthmus on their way to the gold fields. This is on the Largo de Nicaragua or Lake Nicaragua which is the largest lake in Central America. We are staying at the La Mar Lake Resort and have electrical hookup which they arranged for us and use of the pool and other facilities. It really is a great view from the restaurant and pool looking out over the lake and the Isla de Ometepi with its volcanoes Madera and Concepcion. The volcanoes have clouds over them from the steam that they are spewing into the air. Tonight we knows we may be able to see some volcanic fire which you do not see during the day. We are planning to go to the restaurant and if it happens it happens.
It is windy here and I did notice wind machines on one of the hillsides. Other than that a dip in the pool was a really refreshing sojourn from the day’s journey.
Well that is all for today but downloading the pictures and taking sweet Beverley to dinner

Pictures of Honduras

These are some of the photos of Honduras.

One of the many cattle drives we saw on the road.
Ox cart and a way of getting your things to market.
Some of the mountains in Honduras and there were many.
A typical small town

Picture updates

Pictures from El Salvador.
One is of corn in sacks by the road being readied to be dried on the side of the road and the others ore of the Comfort Inn and Bev's lobster dinner.

In Memoriam of Those No Longer With Us!

When you leave on an extended adventure such as ours you hope that all will be well with those you left behind and that you love. You want to return home to find it just as you left it. This is not always the case, and I guess that I can now relate how those who are in uniform or whose occupations take them long distances feel when they have sad news from home and know that when you return it will not be the same as when you left.
We had two persons very close to us depart this world recently.
The first Kim Stempler lived with her husband Jeff in the San Diego area. We had known them since they were married and even before that. Kim was a fighter and loved flowers and food and life. She fought a battle that included a kidney transplant and I shall never forget her laughter and good cheer. Fortunately, before we left home we were able to spend some time with she and Jeff in their home. Even with all of her pain she was still able to laugh with us and we shall always remember that.
There is also Mary Fletcher whom I just heard about today. Married to my sister’s husband’s brother John she lived in Windsor, Canada. Last summer we were able to spend a week with Mary and John and visit extensively with them on our trip to see the fall colors. Mary was the kind of person you always felt a kind of comfortableness with and one who had that poise that comes with a person of great dignity. I know that I may not be saying this correctly but Mary was a great lady of great dignity. Also a fighter whose battle with cancer was not an easy one.
To those left behind I will leave you with a poem sent to me by my good friend Bill Locklin who also is no longer with us:


When I am dead, cry for me a little.
Think of me sometimes, but not too much;
It is not good for you, or your wife or your children,
to allow your thoughts to dwell too long on the dead.
Think of me now and again as I was in life.
But not for long.
Leave me in peace, as I shall leave you to in peace.
While you live, let your thoughts be with the living.


Thank you both Kim and Mary for all the memories that you have given to us.

November 21, 2009
La Union to the Honduras Border and into Esteli, Nicaragua

Well up early in the morning and headed for the Honduras border. Remember that I said that we wanted to cross Honduras in one day. Well the drive was only about 40 Km or 25 miles but then the fun started. We exited El Salvador with no problems just pay the exit fee of $3 each and show the customs papers for the RV and motorcycle.
Next Honduras and we had somehow managed to get a border helper even though I did not want one. These are at every border crossing and want a fee to stand in line and get your paperwork done for you. Well after saying no several times I still had a border assistant.
Well over the bridge and onto the Honduras side for immigration.
Honduras customs wanted not just the vehicle registration which has been fine everywhere else but also pink slips for both. Well guess what the pink slip from the DMV for the motorcycle never arrived before we left from CA, so we do not have it only the bill of sale and the temporary DMV slip.
Big problem but the border assistant said his brother is the mayor of the town and he would take care of this and just be quiet. Also asked about animals and we said no animals and the immigration officer saw Scruffy and we said no animals so he just walked out of the RV.
So we had to go back around and let the customs people look at the RV and the motorcycle again and then we could proceed until they filled out the paper work.
This has now been about 2 hours to this point and we are not thru but hopefully from what the border assistant has told me it is now just a matter of time until they get the forms filled out and the custom fees paid. So we wait patienttttttttttlllllly.
After this it is about 90 miles to drive to the Nicaragua border and I am told that this one is much easier. We shall see.
Well we made it thru that border crossing and into Honduras but not until my great helpers had helped themselves to about $200.00 more of my US dollars than was necessary. Well you live and you learn and at the Honduras-Nicaragua border I was much more observant and in the future I will be even more diligent and not let the scammers get to me again.
The roads in Honduras were better than expected and by that I mean the road surfaces were good. The first 60 miles were even somewhat flat (meaning no real large hills or mountains. Then came the last 25 miles in Honduras where you might say we had the “Rocky Mountain Highs “ because believe me these were reallllly big high mountains that the road seemed to go up forever. And, remember what goes up must come downnnnn the other side.
The border crossing into Nicaragua was really simple compared to the 2 1/2 hours we spent at the Honduran border. In just about 30 minutes we were passed out of Honduras and had our customs documents and passports stamped and we were passed into Nicaragua.
Now we just had to find a place to spend the night.
This is not as easy as it seems to find a secure place to stay as you do not have RV parks here but you need to find a hotel with a secure parking area. Meaning locked and with an armed guard. No towns to speak of but we finally found the town of Esteli. After two or three tries we are now in an enclosed parking area, safe for the night.

November 20, 2009
La Union at the Comfort Inn, El Salvador

Well this is just a few notes. We finished a wonderful dinner overlooking the ocean which was too dark to see. But the meal was great. Bev had the lobster and I had the buffet. Luis our waiter had spent 9 years serving on cruise ships out of San Pedro before coming back here. Seems like everyone here has someone who lived or worked in the US.
Well the battery is almost all down in the computer so it is time to say Buenos Noches.

November 20, 2009
La Union at the Comfort Inn, El Salvador

Well this is just a few notes. We finished a wonderful dinner overlooking the ocean which was too dark to see. But the meal was great. Bev had the lobster and I had the buffet. Luis our waiter had spent 9 years serving on cruise ships out of San Pedro before coming back here. Seems like everyone here has someone who lived or worked in the US.
Well the battery is almost all down in the computer so it is time to say Buenos Noches.

November 20, 2009
San Vincente to La Union, El Salvador


These photos are out of order because I do not have the camera upload from today. Hope you enjoy the bumps
We did not drive far today as I did not wish to get caught in Honduras overnight and we were approaching the border to Honduras in 40 Km more and it was 11:00 AM. Although Honduras is less than 100 miles for us to cross I think what with border crossings etc I did not feel comfortable with the time frame. So we will leave early in the morning and try to get across in one day.
Last night we spent in a water park and the drive here was unremarkable. The roads here in El Salvador seem to be the best that we have encountered here in Central America. The countries of El Salvador and Guatemala are however one big mountain with El Salvador having the biggest mountains.
You can not in this RV ever get over 50 mph and 40 mph is what seems to be the most common speed when not in a pueblo area. With that said the ideas of distance and time have an entirely different meaning. Sort of like LA where every distance is measured in time to get there with the traffic and not the actual distance.
Today we are staying in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn in La Union which is at one of the southernmost parts of El Salvador and I think we are actually in Puerto Culuco with a great view out the front of the hotel. We try in these countries to stay in secure parking areas and do not park on the road or in remote fields as we might in the US. This is primarily for security reasons and if you notice all of the stores and even gas stations many times here have armed guards.
Well we will soon go to the pool area in the hotel and sit there overlooking the Pacific ocean now. Just think we have been to the Atlantic side and are now on the Pacific side of the countries.
We have really enjoyed the pool and other amenities at the Comfort Inn hotel here and Bev says it's almost like being on a vacation. What have we been doing until now???? Ah well, probably some pictures of this great place for you tomorrow. Wonderful view of the ocean and harbor.

November 19, 2009
Chiquimulte Guatemala to San Vincente El Salvador

This was another driving and very stressful day. First we left Chiquimulte and drove a pleasant hour or so on a road that seem to deteriorate with each mile and the going was slow up and down those small mountains and then to the border at Anguiatu. At the last 2 miles before the border they pave the road much better.
Now park the RV over by the trucks and first have the immigration persons check your customs papers to see that you have the right vehicle papers and that you are exiting the country. Next over to customs to have them fill out about 4 forms (but first make copies of your drivers license and passport and vehicle registration, 2 copies please). Then wait in line till they fill out their paperwork. Now take these back to the customs people outside and have them stamp them and sign them. Now you must have your passport stamped at immigration.
You may now leave Guatemala.
Twenty yards up the road you may enter El Salvador. First go to customs and have them give you a vehicle permit. Now they want you to first fill out a form in Spanish with the number of cyl of the vehicle, number of cc of the engine, the engine number, number of occupants, vin number and license number along with other stuff that I had no clue as to.
Well after about an two hours we were finally thru with all of that an could then go to immigration and have our passports stamped. Well he just records it in the computer and off you go. Finally we are on our way.
Please make a copy of this as 1Km down the road they will ask you for a copy of what we have just filled out. The road is packed with large semi trucks on both sides of a very narrow road making it possible for traffic to go only one way. There must have been a hundred trucks waiting to cross the border.
I will say that the roads improved dramatically in El Salvador. Still two lane but now it was concrete with a large shoulder. The problem is that El Salvador has really big mountains so that you may only go about 45 mph at the maximum and most of the time it is much less than that. Up and down and around corners and all the time worried about trucks passing you or cows or horses on the road.
Other pluses of El Salvador is the gas is cheaper (Guatemala was about $4.50 per gallon and here it is just over $3.00 per gallon. And the currency is US dollars. So you are not always having to convert 8 to one and having to change money.
We finally came to Santa Ana where the road became 4 lane divided roadway to San Salvador. This is not saying much as even though the road is quite nice people park on the right side of the road taking up some of the right lane and then others just stop in the right lane and then there are vendors all along the right side of the road every few hundred feet. This on what we would consider a freeway. Again 44-50 mph max.
Then the excitement of passing thru San Salvador a major city where we had to navigate city street traffic. I think we got lost because the map shows a major road. I finally paid a cab driver to show us the way. Even then after we left him we asked about 4 times for directions and it was always just go straight, and a lot of other words I did not comprehend.
Finally out of town we tried to stop at a motel but could not fit thru the gate (we are too tall. So we are staying the night at an aquapark near San Vincente that is gated and they tell us it has a guard at night. There is a hotel jus across the street that owns this so I think that the guard may be for both. There is a church next door where they are singing and clapping and a horse grazing on the side of the road so all is now well with the world.
Tomorrow we must reprovision our RV with some of the fresh things that we need to buy so if we see a large supermarket that will be a stop we must try to make. Then on to the border with Honduras and I hope that it goes smoother.
Well that’s all from the land of C.A. Ozz for today and maybe if the stars shine tonight and the moon comes over the barn we will be able to post thes last few days worth of blogs sometime soon.

November 19, 2009
Tikal to Chiquimula Guatemala
Well this is one day late because we got in so late and were so tired yesterday. We spent a long day driving and did not go very far but it was very slow going and arrived after dark because we were not able to stay in the town that I had wanted to. But that is for later.
First off the driving was on narrow two lane roads but better than in Belize at first. The countryside however is like driving thru Appalachia and the roads and mountainsides remind you of this. Every 3 miles or so is another hamlet of 10-20 homes (reallllly smalllll homes) with their mueules (speed bumps) that are not always marked so you must be really careful. Top speed was about 40 mph and most of the time much less than that.
It was however beautiful scenery when I could see it and there was a lot of cattle grazing on the hillsides. The truck traffic got worse as we left Hwy 13 and got onto Hwy 3 at Castillo Del San Felipe de Lara. This is where we had planned to spend the night and to go see an old Spanish Fort during the day while there. However, the town of Rio Dulce where you turn off the main road and go 3 Km to get there is jammed with cars and trucks. Trucks park on each side of the street and vendors stalls spill out into the street and then people stop their cars in the street so that traffic going both ways must then navigate a single lane of traffic and you think at any moment I am going to run over a shoe shine boy or knock over a bakery stand. In the center of all of this is a single lane like that that I must turn to the right on all the while avoiding pedestrians. No way that this is going to happen.
So across the bridge we went and onto Rio Hondo along the river. When we got there there was no place to stop so it was on to Chiquimula we had to turn onto Hwy CA 12 where we had a Lonely Planet Guide that told us of a hotel in town. Well forget that we went there on again very narrow streets and there was no place to park an RV. Next stop a shopping center with lots of guards and I do mean lots of armed guards with a total security fence around it. Well after asking they said no we could not spend the night there.
On down the road there was a Texaco station that we stopped at and they pointed us to a motel across the street that had an armed guard and a fenced and walled parking area. So off we went and got a room and locked the RV and by that time we were too tired and bitching at one another to even make dinner, so naturally it was time then for bed.
Things always look better in the morning, right.

November 17, 2009
Tikal
These ruins more than lived up to their expectation. So far the best we have seen anywhere (well we have only seen three other ones).
They are in a jungle canopy so that between the sites you are in the shade of trees which are gigantic in size. You come to clearings where they have cleared the jungle and the ruins.
The most impressive site is the Grand Center where there are two gigantic Mayan pyramids facing one another across an open grassed area that would have been a plaza covered with stone and tile. They sore at least 250 feet high and are just awesome. Remember that in their day these would have been covered with plaster and painted bright red in color. On one side of this plaza was then a set of six pyramids and on the other side was also a building of enormity. Then they had alters and sitting areas for the nobles in the plaza area.
Other Mayan ruins we saw had a population of about 20,000 to 30,000 people but this site had over 100,000 living here so it was much larger in size. Next we went to visit some of the other temple site areas. There are at least 7 in the visitor areas as well as multiple and numerous sites not listed as temples.
On one we climbed up to the top (yes you can climb the ruins at this site) and I have my picture some of the other temple sites popping up out of the jungle. This was the highest Mayan ruin in C.A. at 65 meters high or about 225 feet.
We also liked this site for its wildlife. Monkeys (spider and Howler), wild turkeys (like a turkey but much more colorful plumage), red headed woodpeckers, a crocodile, we did not see a panther or jaguar but they are here and something that looks like a small anteater.
Well too much to tell you all for one day and tomorrow is just another adventure all into itself. So good night for now. They wanted me to go on a sunrise tour of the ruins but 4:00 AM just is not for me.