tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55380533433025187772024-03-05T16:37:45.098-08:00Elaine's Trail of Thoughts — Travel MemoirsA record of my travels in South-East Asia, South America & Central America in 2008 & 2009Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-62693778141616889562009-09-30T08:42:00.000-07:002009-10-02T02:35:16.853-07:00Turn of EventsSince returning from my travels, I have begun a PhD at the <a href="http://www.ul.ie/">University of Limerick, Ireland</a>. This post involves a mixture of teaching (undergraduate psychology students) and conducting my own social-cognition research. Being back at university has certainly been a shock to the system and lying on the beaches of Costa Rica seems like a million miles from here. I am, however, enjoying the experience, albeit slightly overwhelming. The balance of my time is leaning heavily towards my work at the moment, which is understandable and expected. As a consequence, I have decided that blogging must play a very minor role in my life at the present time, and most likely for the coming three years. It has been one incredible and wonderful journey since leaving London in October 2008, almost one year ago. Thank you for reading and sharing my adventures! <div><br /></div><div>You never know, I might find a few moments here and there to blog about my PhD experiences and Limerick-life.......</div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-55933237509484284522009-08-11T05:33:00.000-07:002011-02-02T11:16:33.836-08:0050th Anniversary Yeats International Summer School, Sligo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs155.snc1/5769_117416018279_793563279_2189418_7335982_n.jpg"></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Firstly, I must begin with thanking </span><a href="http://www.sligovec.ie/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none">Sligo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none">VEC</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, in particular Leo J. Regan, from whom I received a scholarship to attend this year's </span><a href="http://www.yeats-sligo.com/html/summer.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none">50</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none">th</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> Anniversary Yeats International Summer School</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. I applied for a place in June, outlining why I would like to attend the course and what I might gain in the form of an essay. A few weeks of waiting and a phone call later, I learn that my application has been successful!</span></div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370909126840626722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qy8rb3fiNFfHYdia04yY1KnNKt7jVkNcNMvvnsoq6x2FWI5dZOEHsrLAfyAeD4CPLhwbTCT16k8wiXUKmIGrkqTahVgZumO8tfo92J0PzwCmPGlN9hMbk4KItJTWrDoI6Me9PdPgP2s/s400/5700_1182532733466_1532662490_30478016_3508722_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats sculpture, Sligo</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b> </div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Opening of the Yeats Summer School 2009</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The unofficial opening of the school takes place on Saturday 25th July, where there is a buffet dinner and ever-flowing glasses of wine. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">official </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">opening of the school begins with a welcoming chorus of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uilleann_pipes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">uilleann </span></a><em style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uilleann_pipes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pipes</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> outside </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><a href="http://www.hawkswell.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The </span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><a href="http://www.hawkswell.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">H</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><a href="http://www.hawkswell.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">awk's Well theatre</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. The school is officially opened by </span><a href="http://www.yeats-sligo.com/docs/HelenVendlerBio.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Helen Vendler</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, the current </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Professor of Poetry</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> at Harvard University, during a ceremony hosted by the Mayor of Sligo. </span></span></em></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370910773293320210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zXtp0lVq_3D-ZEsMln9rzWZkTPkvDcqPvd0EquD_RyAKYKha04LmOopR8Dq_rIWEyVNo20lU6pNSUotPMmAlr4EF-7DqWUEmz0hIGFpJpJhc2EglwwYAyfsq_EL3r6IBHw2DGfb3zy4/s400/5769_117415903279_793563279_2189400_6613712_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sligo, my hometown & a source of inspiration for Yeats</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><em style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Following the ceremony, there is a scenic tour of the Yeats Country concluding with Evensong at Drumcliffe Church, where W. B. Yeats is buried. </span></span></em></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Under bare Ben Bulben's head</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In Drumcliffe churchyard Yeats is laid.</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An ancestor was rector there</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Long years ago, a church stands near,</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By the road an ancient cross.</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">No marble, no conventional phrase;</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On limestone quarried near the spot</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By his command these words are cut:</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cast a cold eye</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On life, On death.</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Horseman, pass by!</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">- Under Ben Bulben, W.B.Yeats</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WhEpw6Wz7hFTKhtZ8Nu05R_itPI6rBkLfTJcs3iYqwoauw_gqkIHbM3SXc6Lt0P4HbMr0tf9CR0b_QfkaezGb86BLB7U9Ni5XbkUVMfAgcBKJNMjBPkilUsb8IRF7bvys8L6O9UpQmc/s1600-h/5700_1182531053424_1532662490_30478007_7958867_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370909120473048274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WhEpw6Wz7hFTKhtZ8Nu05R_itPI6rBkLfTJcs3iYqwoauw_gqkIHbM3SXc6Lt0P4HbMr0tf9CR0b_QfkaezGb86BLB7U9Ni5XbkUVMfAgcBKJNMjBPkilUsb8IRF7bvys8L6O9UpQmc/s400/5700_1182531053424_1532662490_30478007_7958867_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ben Bulben Mountain</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370986913185792082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8b-gi9V8Rf83NKJweXpfL1ZQeW2YubU-_7UxgSKZ-dZxS_2aamKnOa-9AjEsBuQVMdZ5XuEy6Il_TPTPa6uejz-fe3vaEFVwkNXtV9CIsYwxmV8aEgWY12fkHc-Btclkd6LvdAbud80/s400/IMG_0466+(1).jpg" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Knocknarea Mountain (as viewed from Rosses Point)</span></i></div></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370909123816644418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrUx7Xd2nEo5wCySsj-VLgQ8yw8I-vWREldm2xVvO4igOaEAk9ksPO5gogxf7yeNw8TkOJYZ6WRcFp4LXqsbS6dTGd-AgHNSfhyphenhyphenptPdlRFSZJYJ1IRiagEpzCscqhyphenhyphenkm5IYkg2f-40Og/s400/5700_1182531133426_1532662490_30478009_1991310_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Drumcliffe Church</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUsql0lsxkZunSHdisUphbJ6XJGElS89JP8wzVh6FrRLKalwwYlnU3VSzKhr0wYmBES4-6JuNTwCJoc9UWKNG1rpSH9u8evg4HF-eJqhzenq83nKiv0kh8AsChM25KY0zS3RMFi-dZXE/s1600-h/5700_1182535853544_1532662490_30478035_7613172_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370909143719472082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUsql0lsxkZunSHdisUphbJ6XJGElS89JP8wzVh6FrRLKalwwYlnU3VSzKhr0wYmBES4-6JuNTwCJoc9UWKNG1rpSH9u8evg4HF-eJqhzenq83nKiv0kh8AsChM25KY0zS3RMFi-dZXE/s400/5700_1182535853544_1532662490_30478035_7613172_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sligo 'trad' session underway</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Daily Programme </span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Yeats summer school and festival is spread across two weeks, running from Sunday 26th July until Friday 7th August. Each weekday morning there are lectures at 9.30 am and 11.15am in the Hawk's Well Theatre, with a 15 minute intermission in between for a well-deserved mug of coffee. Most students sign up for seminars which take place from 4.30pm-6pm daily, comprising up to 15 students. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I decide to sign up for the famous Drama Workshop, run by </span><a href="http://userpages.umbc.edu/~mccready/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sam and Joan McCready</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, founders and artistic directors of the </span><a href="http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lyric Theatre</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Belfast. Sam and Joan have acted in and directed plays all over the world, including casts with Kevin Spacey, Liam Neeson and Danny Boyle (director of Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire). The literature states that</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the workshop provides students with an experiential approach to Yeats's drama; in addition to rehearsing a play for public presentation, students receive training in verse speaking, choral speech, characterisation, masks and basic stage movement</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">". <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal">Maddie Tongue is a professional choreographer who will be taking classes in movement and dance. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sounds good to me, although given that the workshop will culminate in the production of a Yeats play in two short weeks time (and the fact that I have never done any drama or read a Yeats play in my life!)....I am feeling slightly apprehensive. The drama group will meet from 2.30pm-6.30pm every weekday - a total of forty hours of drama in two weeks!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At lunch-time and most evenings there are special presentations by distinguished writers, poets and musicians (not to mention quite a few pub-outings!).</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Given that I have received a scholarship to attend, I am feeling extremely grateful and have personally committed to attending every event that is on offer - an exhausting schedule!!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The lectures, seminars and other educational events total more than forty-five hours of work, the equivalent of most unit or three-credit courses at university. By the looks of my diary, it is looking more eighty-plus hours of work spread across the next couple of weeks. Here is my account of the lectures, workshops, poetry readings, theatre, music, dancing, art exhibitions and parties that I attend over the two weeks of summer school.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Week One</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day 1:</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Monday 27th July</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm sitting here in my local theatre, The Hawk's Well, which has been transformed into a lecture hall. I look across to see Seamus Heaney sitting a few seats along my row with his wife Marie. Dotted around the audience there is a blend of famous writers, poets, critics, and students of an assortment of ages (17-86 years) and nationalities (I later count at least eighteen nationalities). Today, the theatre is almost full to capacity and there is a great buzz of excitement. I'm feeling excited too, partly to do with lectures and partly to do with my new notebook and colourful pens - something about new stationary really makes me happy! Okay, no more distractions. Let the lectures commence.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day 1, Lecture 1: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Old Moon-Phaser: Yeats, Auden and MacNeice</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jonathan Allison (University of Kentucky)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Jonathan Allison is this year's Academic Director and he kicks off the school with an interesting account of the interplay and relationships between Yeats, Auden and MacNeice. This detailed and academic lecture is a pretty heavy start to the morning, emphasised by the speed at which Allison is speaking! Afterwards, I feel I need a strong coffee to get me back into scholarly mode.</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day 1, Lecture 2:</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Lily and Lolly Yeats: The American Dimension</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Maureen Murphy (Hofstra University)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Maureen Murphy is the Assistant Academic Director of the school this year. A more accessible lecture on this Monday morning I feel. She provides a lively account of Lily, Lolly and their father, John Butler Yeats, in the United States. She shares sections of the letters exchanged between the girls and their father, and their subsequent attempts to encourage their father to return to Ireland. The letters provide lovely character details about these talented ladies, making the factual and historical accounts richer and more meaningful.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Evening Entertainment:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Poetry Reading by </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seamus_Heaney"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Seamus Heaney</span></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This event has been completely sold-out for a few weeks - I heard one student remark '</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What on earth is going on? This is a poetry reading, not a U2 concert!</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'. Jonathan Allison amusingly informs when introducing the poet to the stage that a 'Seamus Heaney' is now rhyming-slang for a 'bikini' - both concealing and revealing hidden treasures!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Reading old and new poems, Seamus Heaney provides us with interesting nuggets of information and humour about his life and work. He closes the evening with two favourites, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Midterm Break</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">St. Kevin and the Blackbird</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. I studied this poetry for my Leaving Certificate, so it was fascinating to hear familiar poems read aloud by the creator himself. He certainly has a powerful presence in a room, but yet is friendly and approachable. So approachable, that for the next four days of school he is surrounded by people constantly. Since having a stroke two years ago, Seamus no longer signs books but he is available for a quick chat between lectures. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370909148688866898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYw1EBvCSv3Jd7ZBcA9CrcMSum9nZ2hKXSIcjz5e-MNM75Ud-5m52n6GZrvoDBDAGFKBT2oTVfIHKt5PXYuAdNEMHbcn7PIJxFElLLonA3jWz0OvBUx1Qrv4PDIeSkW24Qgd3Fmou0wM/s400/5769_116670348279_793563279_2179582_3486566_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leaving the podium after a poetry reading that was humorous & moving</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><b>Day 2</b></span><b>:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b> </b>Tuesday 28th July</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Three Presences: Yeats, Elliot and Pound</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Denis Donoghue (New York University)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Yeats Society is taping each of the morning lectures so that anyone can drop into the Yeats Memorial Building to watch a DVD on a particular topic. This lecture is one that I will be watching again - fascinating and infiltrated with wonderful quotes from Ezra Pound and T.S.Eliot about Yeats.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Vacillation: The Yeatsian Contraries</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Helen Vendler (Harvard University)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is great to get 'stuck into' a poem, have it dissected in minute detail and then put back together with grace by Harvard's Professor of Poetry. It is this lecture that makes me want to sign up for a BA/MA in English Literature immediately! Helen is the type of scholar that dances between topics, abstract and concrete, effortlessly and with elegance.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lunchtime Theatre:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a href="http://www.celticartscenter.com/Other/OShea_GreatIrishWriters.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Irish Writers Entertain</span></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Actor Neil O'Shea performs what is described as a 'warm and witty feast' of short scenes from the work of Yeats, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw, James Joyce and Christy Brown. Needless to say, the material is fantastic but the acting left a little to be desired today. Neil's performance may have been affected by his current state of unwellness, but the performance appeared over-rehearsed and the dialogue between scenes was somewhat patronising given the levels of scholarship within the audience. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Evening Entertainment: Poetry reading with Gerald Dawe and Bernard O'Donoghue</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This evening's poetry reading is located in the newly rennovated Methodist Church in Sligo.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It cannot be easy to read one's own poetry to an audience of this calibre, especially when Seamus Heaney, Helen Vendler and your teacher, Sam McCready are all sitting in the front row. This was the scene for Gerald Dawe and despite a few nervous twitches, he shares some interesting and plain-language poems. I particularly like the one about moving from Belfast city to the rugged landscape of Galway as a child and seeing a white bath sitting out in a field. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The highlight of the evening is the reading of the Cork poet, Bernard O'Donoghue's new poem, <i>Ascent of Ben Bulben</i>, which has been commissioned by the Yeats Society to commemorate the 50th anniversary. Bernard has got a lovely lilting Cork accent which seems to accentuate the beauty of his poetry and storytelling. He also seems like such a gentleman, incredibly humble and unassuming.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day 3</span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Wednesday 29th July</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats's Early Vision: Lost and Regained, 1903 - 1917</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ronald Schuchard (Emory University)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats, Edward Walsh and the Gathering of Folklore</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bernard O'Donoghue (Wadham College Oxford)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats and O'Casey in the Abbey Theatre</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Colbert Kearney (University College Cork)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This is another busy and stimulating morning. I find Colbert Kearney's dissection of the public rejection and hysteria between W.B.Yeats and Sean O'Casey particularly fascinating - all the drama!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Evening entertainment:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Poems from Eavan Boland and Music with Claire Roche</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm a fan of Eavan Boland's poetry and have been looking forward to her reading and indeed curious to meet her. She gives a beautiful and highly professional reading. I find her poems provoking, sensitive and sincere. It is refreshing to hear a female voice on topics such as Irishness, myth and history. Here is <i>The Pomegranate </i>which deals with a mother's anxieties and understanding of her teenage daughter.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2pxfont-family:Verdana;font-size:13;" ><table id="table21" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="WIDTH: 529px"><table style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="WIDTH: 524px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Pomegranate</span></span></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div></span></td><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="top" width="100" rowspan="2"><div align="left" bgcolor="#f1f2f2"></div><div align="left"></div></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;"><table id="table23" style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="TEXT-ALIGN: left" valign="top" width="30"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="WHITE-SPACE: pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></td><td style="WIDTH: 524px" valign="top"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-family:georgia;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The only legend I have ever loved is </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51);font-family:georgia;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the story of a daughter lost in hell.</span></span></div><span style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And found and rescued there.<br />Love and blackmail are the gist of it.<br />Ceres and Persephone the names.<br />And the best thing about the legend is<br />I can enter it anywhere. And have.<br />As a child in exile in<br />a city of fogs and strange consonants,<br />I read it first and at first I was<br />an exiled child in the crackling dusk of<br />the underworld, the stars blighted. Later<br />I walked out in a summer twilight<br />searching for my daughter at bed-time.<br />When she came running I was ready<br />to make any bargain to keep her.<br />I carried her back past whitebeams<br />and wasps and honey-scented buddleias.<br />But I was Ceres then</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and I knew<br />winter was in store </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">for every leaf<br />on every tree on that </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">road.<br />Was inescapable for each one we passed.<br />And for me.<br />It is winter<br />and the stars are hidden.<br />I climb the stairs and stand where I can see<br />my child asleep beside her teen magazines,<br />her can of Coke, her plate of uncut fruit.<br />The pomegranate!How did I forget it?<br />She could have come home and been safe<br />and ended the story and all<br />our heart-broken searching but she reached<br />out a hand and plucked a pomegranate.<br />She put out her hand and pulled down<br />the French sound for apple and<br />the noise of stone and the proof<br />that even in the place of death,<br />at the heart of legend, in the midst<br />of rocks full of unshed tears<br />ready to be diamonds by the time<br />the story was told, a child can be<br />hungry.I could warn her. There is still a chance.<br />The rain is cold. The road is flint-coloured.<br />The suburb has cars and cable television.<br />The veiled stars are above ground.<br />It is another world. But what else<br />can a mother give her daughter but such<br />beautiful rifts in time?<br />If I defer the grief I will diminish the gift.<br />The legend will be hers as well as mine.<br />She will enter it. As I have.<br />She will wake up. She will hold<br />the papery flushed skin in her hand.<br />And to her lips. I will say nothing. </span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The harpist and singer, Claire Roche shares the evening. She plays beautiful music of her own composition and sings some of Yeats's poetry. Her voice reminds me of Kate Bush. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Day 4:</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Thursday 20th July</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oisin Comes Home: The Young Yeats and Irish Literary tradition in the 19th Century</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Roy Foster (Hertford College, Oxford)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Roy Foster appears to be a God-like figure in the Yeats field and is best known for his heavy-weight biographies of Yeats, providing us with a thoroughly engaging account of Yeats in the early stages of his career.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Inheriting a philosophy of life: W.B.Yeats debt to his Father</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">John Kelly (St. John's College, Oxford)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture about John Butler Yeats and his influence on his son. The idea that they 'rediscovered' each other when they were apart, seeking each other's views and respecting those opinions more openly later on in life. John Butler Yeats sounds like an interesting character, with many (I think) profound insights into society. He states that "spite is to Ireland what selfishness is to England" and "Americans are the most promising in the world, if half their commissions come through"! His fascination with subtle nuances between words and their meaning - oratory/rhetoric, joy/pleasure, opinion/idea - later influences his son's writing greatly. By all accounts, John Butler Yeats had a distrust of any personal success, hating egoism ("egoism inspires commerce") with a passion and lived his life more aimlessly making very little money for his beautiful portrait paintings. This lecture makes me curious about the role of Yeats's mother in his life. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Great Yeats</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An excellent monologue play written and performed by Sam McCready (the same Sam who is directing our drama workshop) on the life of John B. Yeats. A highlight of the school for me - Sam is a wonderful actor and really 'brings to life' the complicated and interesting fellow that was John Butler Yeats (father of W.B.Yeats). The play is extremely informative and plays a huge tribute to the learned and gifted painter and writer. The play consolidated and complimented the information learned in the lecture given by John Kelly. </span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#595959;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Céilidh Dancing</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As if the day hasn't been busy enough already, students and lecturers are invited to Sligo City Hotel for some lessons in c</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">éilidh dancing. We have so much fun - another highlight of the school - but we nearly passed out from the heat and exhaustion! There is something amusing (even satisfying) about seeing Oxford (</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">etc.) professors inebriated, singing and dancing! C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">éilidh might not be the sexiest type of dancing (no Colombian hip-action) but it is certainly one of the most sociable and fun!</span></span></span></span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370911933264851826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrQHIO0g0a34RTfR6ashsNId0rAKNxDUVRcTbo2nlIUEyj7DbS2YagfTr7ulNJq0N7pqsKSEptJ1MhVOxj20ifkO4fFh1mmfSJfxr-OWpZgvZJhIzOcL3XGdTlXcoASOpo8Rp8G9h_O4/s400/IMG_0280.JPG" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Learning the moves</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370910793777106098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIMUrpyqbE7Wp2mr1LNCyAnS4H2CQ8va-cVjDiSSTp8mjNxRVRBUlYJuaW8NGVTOw9Eado9LSZMFJLmTiC9Lg3v-fo5I6Ev3NprZX6bU25JhfEqw42r6OJsVPNtKkW1piWt2GQ_57nSo/s400/IMG_0277.JPG" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The most experienced dancers show us how to dance in pairs</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371227109200271506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQw71jCe85JEkciNxNF7Rv9Vkfb7i4-h_PHS15A1NYWI-IcOiqgjLJI4IdoL6bKDEwcIg-MXhpA95jWsUBcTLxA_lHbcFuR8r2ZUvHHCk4g3bjw3XSDNkrHXv87ghrS8zXtRUiok9RlaQ/s400/IMG_0283.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Rosy cheeks after a night on the dance floor</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><b>Day 5:</b></span> Friday 20th July</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats and Symbolism</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Warwick Gould (University of London)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lots of history about symbolism during this lecture, some of which went </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">over my head</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. I would have enjoyed it more if he had focused more on specific symbols within Yeats poetry.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'Send out naked on the roads': Yeats's Phatasmagoria from 'The Cold Heaven' to 'Cuchulain comforted'. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Deirdre Toomey (University of London)</span></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unfortunately I seemed to have drifted off during this lecture (I blame last night's dancing)..nothing to report from me, other than a big doodle on my notebook. Feeling a little guilty afterwards, I drop by a nearby bookshop and consider buying one of Toomey's books until I find it priced at over one hundred Euro -well above my book-buying budget.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Evening entertainment: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Poetry reading from </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sinéad Morrissey and Moya Cannon</span></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is particularly great this evening to have two </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">female </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">poets who are entirely different in style, subject matter and approach. I really liked some of Moya's poetry although a few people complained that her poems were too short! </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Overview of the Drama Workshop, Week One</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">During the first week of drama we get to know each other as a group, playing lots of games and ice-breaker exercises. We learn a little about each other's backgrounds, interests and personalities. Sam and Joan explain their experimental approach to theatre and highlight important and unusual aspects of Yeats's drama. We are becoming a close-knit group who are sensitive to each other and are beginning to function as part of a team. The drama group consists of Mary (Arizona, US), Maureen (Houston, US), Beau (London, UK), Michael (Devon, UK), Maria (Bavaria, Germany), Suzanne (Bavaria, Germany), Gloria (Belfast, UK), Bridget (Belfast, UK), Arthur (Sligo, Ireland), Lucia (Italy), Yuka (Tokyo, Japan), Kyoko (Tokyo, Japan), Lorraine (Sligo, Ireland), Hilary (Sligo, Ireland) and myself (Sligo, Ireland).</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Joan orchestrates daily concentration and memory games, sometimes using props such as balls, keys and chewing gum packets. We read the play, 'The Words upon the Window-Pane' every day, discussing it and considering ideas for production. We practice reading poetry, vocal exercises, tongue-twisters, improvisation, dance, stage movement and experiment with wearing masks (Yeats incorporated various aspects of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Japanese Noh theatre into his drama)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Sam gives us a lesson in the ritualistic elements of Japanese Noh and we are given the opportunity to explore the use of masks. I am amazed at the transformational process that it involved in mask-wearing, '</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">let the mask lead you</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">' Sam encourages. I find myself acting in ways that I would ordinarily not, I am quite literally a different being and detachment from self, insecurities and social norms (this gets me thinking about the use of balaclava & masks in crime). Maddie, our choreographer, makes us aware of our bodies and how the smallest changes in posture and position can make a significant impact on the stage.</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We sing, play the piano and practice different types of walking (apparently David Suchet could not perfect his performance as Poirot until he mastered 'his' walk) - we practice walking like children (Lulu), flirtatious women (Miss McKenna) and boastful academics (John Corbet). We act-out various scenes from the play, experimenting with different people and different sets. Half-way through our four-hour sessions we enjoy a mug of tea (Barry's, of course) and numerous biscuits. All this hard work and fun takes place in the Friary Hall, Sligo. By Friday, we know our roles in the play and have got the weekend to practice and learn our lines. Unfortunately, Mary and Beau are leaving the drama group today as they have only signed up for one week of summer school - we are all very sorry to see them leave, both have been wonderful and creative influences on the group.</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJWuIfwEqdIir-PLj7tQ8Hl07Z5muluN0YZi7CAk5TKGucfWRGMySz8HIBRJBssKvBjcyxSjeYy4JOFLWocLsLHYvC8IO7eyuLtEai66CUKzdUqGQYI6dydqmAJxxgG4SrMb-KMfiuQI/s1600-h/IMGP1589.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370915009211153506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJWuIfwEqdIir-PLj7tQ8Hl07Z5muluN0YZi7CAk5TKGucfWRGMySz8HIBRJBssKvBjcyxSjeYy4JOFLWocLsLHYvC8IO7eyuLtEai66CUKzdUqGQYI6dydqmAJxxgG4SrMb-KMfiuQI/s400/IMGP1589.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Concentration games with balls, masks & numerous other distractions...</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiHECS3u3UbW-nVOlkujR1rzyI-0BUwq1SmsW-juzFpyY4a8hCKxfqXz489cphotdTXRrD7KW4iRf7MrkDcICa4ZTyZYnKUA96ijKwA01VrigMDnvc234Uu4u0DF2lcj_2GM_TMmQEIU/s1600-h/IMGP1582.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370914998113983634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiHECS3u3UbW-nVOlkujR1rzyI-0BUwq1SmsW-juzFpyY4a8hCKxfqXz489cphotdTXRrD7KW4iRf7MrkDcICa4ZTyZYnKUA96ijKwA01VrigMDnvc234Uu4u0DF2lcj_2GM_TMmQEIU/s400/IMGP1582.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The sober faces of concentration</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18A4NCkQvR1Xou1xzstgqvpgzu90dvTNqsEcSshQnJVqV4CwF9YzhEJM4FNMAB2ZI3BDvsZNrsIqzRMwYZs4sF0Vt-UzpK-R5vJZucH-vm9emLcC5G_1EBuwvrn0qGkGpEu3tXr2pOGs/s1600-h/IMGP1553.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370914274116338802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18A4NCkQvR1Xou1xzstgqvpgzu90dvTNqsEcSshQnJVqV4CwF9YzhEJM4FNMAB2ZI3BDvsZNrsIqzRMwYZs4sF0Vt-UzpK-R5vJZucH-vm9emLcC5G_1EBuwvrn0qGkGpEu3tXr2pOGs/s400/IMGP1553.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Free-style stage movement with Maddie</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370933885774187986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwMmJW2FQ6ARzPY8sQrKHGbG_OCDMO2uXAADtH3sle7sZktrydyqN2jsNieUgF0YyZ1uLIUISZkr9Dl1qPO7FuQxusweQjSviKw3mQJ2iF7sUKSUcRxS4YlOL0UEb-EWPot97ldECQFac/s400/IMGP1532.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This concentration game is called "Zip, Zap, Zop" !!</span></i></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00i33fIZPlxecPvBz8tbv_wJsXVklwq_ukBtX20gXC-pFqV2KF3F2GDK4b-oo9oLtWjqVZlbbQrmAwnrIIGguvdqxSxhbrjeMT-SDlMsSMRcFbBOFFj3DwpJOIcAB6Q8zF69jZP_o0TA/s1600-h/IMGP1537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913975100979858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00i33fIZPlxecPvBz8tbv_wJsXVklwq_ukBtX20gXC-pFqV2KF3F2GDK4b-oo9oLtWjqVZlbbQrmAwnrIIGguvdqxSxhbrjeMT-SDlMsSMRcFbBOFFj3DwpJOIcAB6Q8zF69jZP_o0TA/s400/IMGP1537.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We laugh....a lot!</span></i></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdlvVR81KbrwoV3ID8TFkodSqErSTkunTFigyLKHfeTkA-j618EqQiHcPWRd0KxWRq7K9C_T6gdntnHo76_OVEsfRwY6CRbkK4Xra0SOejvjLlvN6sxJSSPske-8zDrE_0RwZ7VptWxU/s1600-h/IMG_0285.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370911937404690514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdlvVR81KbrwoV3ID8TFkodSqErSTkunTFigyLKHfeTkA-j618EqQiHcPWRd0KxWRq7K9C_T6gdntnHo76_OVEsfRwY6CRbkK4Xra0SOejvjLlvN6sxJSSPske-8zDrE_0RwZ7VptWxU/s400/IMG_0285.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Getting the right note for the hymn"Sun of my Soul"</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370912497798597250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfYLTHWnmMUgqpehaos2HWTUJyOu7JdDYcGvA-Xhw3MEr78RVRMFN21Fr4JoHK_TJ-F8ZZI24mLK4MpUKfemFOgb_mcETPcLlwuJk8jRg_y0dEH6wNaVw3IjsGhLxhC8L9CtQTioxkOY/s400/IMG_0400.JPG" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hilary & Yuka</span></i></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5hanmRTrgpq3FKkjonfiw5AdZTlCxU4gjbCGEBcQLBO4c4Ry0Wz60YLAce7KmuFqO-cXqT4zr9JJ6MCiXRnu8_aGiAKKIQtOHqjh4drba0N8Aar5NmQXmlHQdpBt-A68_spnndkohyphenhyphenM/s1600-h/IMG_0369.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370911958876935730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5hanmRTrgpq3FKkjonfiw5AdZTlCxU4gjbCGEBcQLBO4c4Ry0Wz60YLAce7KmuFqO-cXqT4zr9JJ6MCiXRnu8_aGiAKKIQtOHqjh4drba0N8Aar5NmQXmlHQdpBt-A68_spnndkohyphenhyphenM/s400/IMG_0369.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Exploring the world of masks</span></i></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MyoQHwxKFoeJ4Dts9QuoadhPuiysFX-8xr7zsmFUALSiUPNwtlv3-AQB5Cpu4db3UJ3M8FilobqxaRuIRbTgtXq1pV-BO2tsjVM9eL3_fLql3g5CXcBp7Kf2uZjV2XGt91qo81jgZQM/s1600-h/IMGP1615.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370916698445134754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MyoQHwxKFoeJ4Dts9QuoadhPuiysFX-8xr7zsmFUALSiUPNwtlv3-AQB5Cpu4db3UJ3M8FilobqxaRuIRbTgtXq1pV-BO2tsjVM9eL3_fLql3g5CXcBp7Kf2uZjV2XGt91qo81jgZQM/s400/IMGP1615.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yuka & Suzanne</span></i></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumHwSnIraXvD95YyYGqsufElwxFSr2I-Fnf_9kUVZMec9Q7BbeFeN-slyDuaqYPIqKE4QuU0-UzS1c06ZyBUJVVOZ90orIed_hFJ0rPXwCteBqCJSS8CcW4JuiKeRR19NzZ9qDwcdKtE/s1600-h/IMGP1601.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370915243837171666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumHwSnIraXvD95YyYGqsufElwxFSr2I-Fnf_9kUVZMec9Q7BbeFeN-slyDuaqYPIqKE4QuU0-UzS1c06ZyBUJVVOZ90orIed_hFJ0rPXwCteBqCJSS8CcW4JuiKeRR19NzZ9qDwcdKtE/s400/IMGP1601.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Friary Hall - choreography with Maddie</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP5HQso7B37gCNIUsR5IvsojvBtVqXTci4-zBTgbHKVgGLDalKhtydjlyvRA1sbhibFkww8AHpvTYUc6hHzTD-x8gtMSrZjwCsvURO1Qvoiu0DoGBrdBDrXOhGK0oobu3boMdGsVyPBo/s1600-h/IMGP1598.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370915239142908930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP5HQso7B37gCNIUsR5IvsojvBtVqXTci4-zBTgbHKVgGLDalKhtydjlyvRA1sbhibFkww8AHpvTYUc6hHzTD-x8gtMSrZjwCsvURO1Qvoiu0DoGBrdBDrXOhGK0oobu3boMdGsVyPBo/s400/IMGP1598.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lucia</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370918294452886818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcps-DIpMtROy0pdN2vo6BrEFgFlDeXVVJaRUY0vUW9v1H5lpMIRaf9fywVN53V1Wa4teS8adgPfNcmoH2MBkhqIQLajFAAVSInYJm_Odr5-dJtjZJZVeMgesQhpLXmhMK3im_Da3RJ8Y/s400/WUWPane1.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdlvVR81KbrwoV3ID8TFkodSqErSTkunTFigyLKHfeTkA-j618EqQiHcPWRd0KxWRq7K9C_T6gdntnHo76_OVEsfRwY6CRbkK4Xra0SOejvjLlvN6sxJSSPske-8zDrE_0RwZ7VptWxU/s1600-h/IMG_0285.JPG"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">G</span></span></span></i></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">roup photo - last day of week one</span></i></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpzmHaHMW9i8FuasLMxvp5LZiX_Zcm0mHzg1rdt6nAM-gRKCm9wvtm4xoXDwtQcadBYO8fJq6HGBPhfBX9N4KMNNfHfPWQResb7KidTgh5NsPiAEussHf273_ilEwbM7R5UvO3EVuoRk/s1600-h/5769_116674808279_793563279_2179666_1265592_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370910768707811826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpzmHaHMW9i8FuasLMxvp5LZiX_Zcm0mHzg1rdt6nAM-gRKCm9wvtm4xoXDwtQcadBYO8fJq6HGBPhfBX9N4KMNNfHfPWQResb7KidTgh5NsPiAEussHf273_ilEwbM7R5UvO3EVuoRk/s400/5769_116674808279_793563279_2179666_1265592_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tea in the yard with Mary & Maria</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSp9jTa37ffHtuCDcTePGkMVqnciCgpddVMz_Sc2qm7d5Dlr73Kk8kcCH47Wi05py7OlyRIjXCk32E871xq0bkUBTQ_a4yRw2U5pdMzgGRGOgVFOGjiufv0_mpe58oty1KyoAlhIHNWA/s1600-h/DSCN0756.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370910783846792386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSp9jTa37ffHtuCDcTePGkMVqnciCgpddVMz_Sc2qm7d5Dlr73Kk8kcCH47Wi05py7OlyRIjXCk32E871xq0bkUBTQ_a4yRw2U5pdMzgGRGOgVFOGjiufv0_mpe58oty1KyoAlhIHNWA/s400/DSCN0756.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">T</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ea & Biscuits, hmmmm (Yuka, Bridget, Maureen & Mary)</span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371298969366087474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmp9Sy6zkYHwyGdWjv3fxVAfLLQsAmJqIxsHnqFh5YAQP75lxz3vGv6iDIeFvGy3_66IU-zpTTDpQeqBuiI3jHxVOHJFRg4uVwNyqc3zNFTjmMwpeCcVJdzlqeVKJFJcqwfgocTyNaD8/s400/5769_116674803279_793563279_2179665_5063314_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Oh the excitement at 4 o'clock teatime!</span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370911947139676738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBCSD9ZqV3iYGd_OTbMWcpggMhmMeMNjXJomv4-S5XwUcc-cXhIxAfWVj0vh3Pg3_81uJbpOo1VRWnSTh6jKDG4xbwqUPIv9guMPYNkUYzK2v1Bmx8Jvq7GOA6RZCORZQ2twANbQjJsU/s400/IMG_0293.JPG" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ending the week on a good note (L-R: Maria, Mary, Lorraine & Tom)</span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Exhibition of Jack B. Yeats: The Sligo Paintings</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“</span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sligo was my school, and the sky above it</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">”</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jack B. Yeats (the brother of W.B.Yeats) is widely considered one of Ireland’s most important twentieth century painters. Reared in Sligo by his maternal grandparents, the young Yeats spent much of his time travelling about the town and county with his grandfather who owned a shipping business. The landscape and the characters he encountered during this time made a deep and lasting impression on the young artist, and he returned to the memories of his Sligo days for inspiration for his work again and again throughout his life. In his later years Yeats acknowledged the deep influence of Sligo on his work in the words “Sligo was my school, and the sky above it” This exhibition celebrates the influence of Sligo on Yeats’ work and brings together many of his finest paintings from the Niland Collection.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We are eagerly awaiting the re-opening of the Model Niland Gallery in Sligo, where there will be a major retrospective exhibiton of the painter in June 2010.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Sunday 2nd August, there is a book launch - 'The Only Art of Jack B. Yeats', a beautiful collection of letters and essays, edited by Declan Foley.</span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 517px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="http://www.lilliputpress.ie/uploads/image_cover_image1249031739.jpg" border="0" /></span></i></div></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Week 2</span></b></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Feeling somewhat revived after the weekend, I am ready for week two. I am curious to see whether the general feelings of excitement and energy will continue during the second week. I know myself that I am still exhausted, and I am sleeping in my own bed and operating in my mother-language. The weather has been miserable and all those eager sight-seeing students have been almost washed away during attempts to climb Knocknarea. Although a few students (mainly from dry, arid regions) tell me they are enjoying the constant downpours immensely. Ah but we Irish like to grumble, in particular about the weather. There are fewer students at lectures this morning, perhaps a few too many Guinness last night?</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Day 1</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>:</b> Monday 3rd August</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Winding Stair and Other Poems</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">George Bornstein (University of Michigan)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">George Bornstein discussion this particular volume of Yeats's poetry, considering the thematic ordering (rather than chronological). He mentions how initial poems in each volume are often critiqued by subsequent poems. Yeats was known for his excessive revisions of ordering, continuing after publication. He continues to discuss themes throughout the volume, focusing on particular poems. He notes that Yeats was particularly interested in learning the reactions to his poems, in particular his females acquaintances. In a diary, Lady Gregory writes that she is not sure how to respond to the poem that mentions her 'yellow hair'. When Yeats reads the poem to her first, she is unsure what would be an acceptable reply so she encourages him to 'read it again'. Yeats seems pleased and reads the poem again. After the second reading, Lady Gregory gets up to leave stating 'now I must wash my hair'!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cuchulain's Only Son</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Elizabeth Butler Cullingford (University of Texas)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This lecture is fascinating, drawing together strands from literature, popular culture, high culture, art, mythology and feminism about only children -raising issues such as 'it is a disease in itself', loneliness, maladjustion, fear of loss, putting 'all eggs in one basket', triangular structure, gender structure (2:1), intensity of relationships and differences between representations in literature and the media. Elizabeth then cleverly linking the discussion back to Yeats and his obsession with the heroic figure, Cuchulain - discussing in particular themes of risk and fear of loss. She pays particular attention to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">when </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">poems and plays first appear and how revised editions change in later years. l look forward to Elizabeth's forthcoming book, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Representing the Only Child</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Evening entertainment:</b> </span><a href="http://www.brockmcguireband.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Brock McGuire Band</span></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Paul Brock and Manus McGuire, two of Ireland's most acclaimed musicians, lead the Irish folk band, Brock McGuire band. Enda Scahill plays banjo like I've never seen anyone play before! Denis Carey is a piano-player and composer, who has composed music for a number of films. My Mum's first cousin, Paul and his wife, Kay are visiting us from Australia at the moment, and they also really enjoy the show.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370911956962468226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_nQR4GZ14QThcISFaBPtjtPu86R3u2gpyAOWpPCgAhLz14xIoaQBghefTkSR3VKRZp12xotsZpZ1WyH65a1YkDIZ2k43HucIRZt1TNpBh_jvdHaF_KVwjTTHkyY1b-PUdKoP3EgSF7Q/s400/IMG_0361.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Great music - particularly enjoyed the banjo player!</span></i></div></div></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwJQ1gKlSHb5-RVNYKn-Ik-OXl6CjtZ16PIN01KgM01HO1QnEjSaVs_ANt3CBM5_zkcnu-GAkpWyUVcxPq9Xw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm not clapping - Video</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371260218359290034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk6j3p0vJ_fjOKoxqsPOwOz85NvCOoO7uAw018P1c-VnPyAU0-NJTzhDYzNXLnzpMBSHYwk7GdBcxpsfqH9M6vfoiQtFLeAmcEgIX4nSTHqywYhqz2j3j3MfzG1ip6E1h3E2ZRXEV4bk/s400/IMG_0360.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kay, Anne & Paul - notice the glorious summer's eve</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Day 2</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>:</b><b> </b>Tuesday 4th August </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats' Other Island</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Edna Longley (Queen's University, Belfast)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Edna Longley is generally thought of as one of the most influential critics writing on modern Irish and British poetry, and is one of the most powerful voices in contemporary Irish culture. This is a highly thought-provoking lecture, raising many questions about Irish and English influences on Yeats.</span></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats's Canons</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Peter McDonald (Christ Church Oxford)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am particularly interested in the idea of Yeats compulsively 'remaking' himself through his poetry, as raised by McDonald in this lecture. Yeats is quoted as saying "it is myself that I remake" and he became angry if anyone tampered with this remaking, such as changing the order of his canons - the idea that he who moves my poems will be cursed! Yeats believed there is always an opportunity for further revisions - believing this process of revisiting and revising as positive, 'a version of myself in certain moods'. He describes an excitement from re-reading his own poems that matches the delight of first composition ("my body a sudden blaze"). The transience of permanence and impermanence, in particular the difficulties of textual permanence. For Warwick Gould, the publication of Yeats's poetry was simply 'a moment of composition'.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Evening entertainment: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Poetry reading by Michael Longley</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Michael Longley is celebrating his 70th birthday this week and the RTÉ have broadcast an </span><a href="http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0727/theartsshow.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">interesting programme on The Arts Show</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> about his life and work to commemorate. Tonight is an eventful evening with one woman collapsing and then an issue with the lights inside the Church, Longley deals with each unexpected situation with sensitivity and appropriate humour. My Mother, who joins me at the reading, feels that he is 'the kind of man who makes me feel safer being in his presence'. What strikes me about his poetry is his delicacy with words and yet brutal honesty. His wife and muse, Edna, plays a tremendous role in his life - both individuals are famous and highly-acclaimed, he as a poet and she as a critic. I notice that they don't sit beside each other in lectures; I like to think that they grant each other professional space and lime-light while loving and supporting each other in private. Tonight, he reads poems about his grandchildren, flowers, lost friends, Shetland ponies and horrific war themes. Longley ends the reading by saying that we were a great audience, sitting in pure silence without coughing - a rare treat. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><br /></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Day 3</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>:</b> Wednesday 5th August</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats: The Colour of Poetry</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Terence Brown (Trinity College, Dublin)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Professor Brown traces the evolution of the use of colour throughout the history of the poet. Beginning with examples of early poetry that were rich in colours, and discussing the use of colour as symbols. Whereas later poetry is deliberately barren in colour terms. Yeats changes his view and approach to colour significantly, expressing his dissatisfaction with overcharged colour, and focusing more fully on the presence of a pervasive light. Brown continues to discuss the poet's fascination with female hair colour. His later poetry contains greater narrative descriptions, dependent of line and form with limited colouration. Fascinating also is the use of 'grey' as a means of symbolic expression.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats and the Idea of Tradition</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Edward Larrissy (Queen's University, Belfast)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The lecture discusses Yeats interactions with "tradition" - Classical literature, societal, philosophy, ethical and political conservatism.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Observing Jack Yeats</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(153,153,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Nicholas Allen (NUI Galway)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Focusing mainly on the manuscripts, life drawings, letters, maps and children's books/puppets of Jack B. Yeats, Allen provides us with some interesting insights into the life and personality of Jack. Allen reminds us that it is important to consider </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">from where the artist looks </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(artist's location) not just the subject matter. The slides shown are beautiful. The lecture reminds me that Jack was a wonderful writer as well as an exceptional artist. It also makes me think I could quite happily live a life similar to that of Jack - writing, painting, riding horses and fiddling around with boats......</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Day 4</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>: </b>Thursday 6th August </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats and Sligo </span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">David Fitzpatrick (Trinity College Dublin)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is interesting to get a historian's perspective on the Yeats's connection to Sligo, this is a work-in-progress, and David opens the floor to the audience for comment and correction. It is great to break down the formal boundaries and listen to others questions and comments. The debate opens up the idea of having a physical home and/or a spiritual home - a place where one returns to become grounded and source their creative power? Fitzpatrick says Yeats spent roughly a time-period of seven years in Sligo in total. One local woman says 'Yeats claimed Sligo as his home, so we return the gesture and claim Yeats as our poet'. </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cuchulain the American</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Meg Harper (Georgia State University)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Harper takes an interesting slant on the Irish mythical character of Cuchulain and draws similarities between the symbolism and cultural purpose of the cowboy mythology of the American (Wild) West - themes such as cultural identity, geographical representations, ideas of masculinity (Cuchulain - the ideal male citizen of Ireland) and autonomy interactions with native people and the escapism of story-telling (particularly during times of economic and political uncertainty).</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lunchtime theatre: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Cat and the Moon</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Perhaps the most famous of Yeats’ mask plays, The Cat and the Moon is a comedy about two symbiotically dependent beggars; one blind, the other lame - and their mutual torment of one another as they search out a holy well and resident supernatural saint whom it’s reputed can cure both their afflictions. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Cat and The Moon was first premiered at The Abbey Theatre on September 21st, 1931.</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.yeatsfest.com/images/pic_catmoon.jpg"></a></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(51,51,51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,51); BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span> </div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,51); BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This </span><i><a href="http://www.blueraincoat.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Blue Raincoat</span></a></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">’s production of “The Cat and the Moon” is directed by Ciaran McCauley, a member of Blue Raincoat who has focused exclusively on Yeats in his career as a Director. The play features the well-known actor and writer Michael Harding (Winner “Best Actor Award”, Dublin Fringe Festival, 2003) and Michael Roper in the roles of the Blind Man and the Lame Man. The chorus is made up of Sandra O’Malley, Barbara Ryan, and Kellie Hughes.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000033;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370912474434809090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDylvkr-DLKl3NNBsPg8Gm1L_cjnRbaQ1mkagb95pOTtKWy43wEAdxx0uQxnJ-rqzv0EcxtfrHshuTUxPNj5xpJPBYMOZl9ll4Q9lRTe2Z4kDTqCtRevQ-o4IQxIu6Mj0_oJBBbGnA3is/s400/IMG_0377.JPG" border="0" /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.yeatsfest.com/images/pic_catmoon.jpg"></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The play is outstanding - the set, the movement, the use of mask, music, timing, voice projection and interaction between the characters. Attending the drama workshop has fine-tuned my appreciation of the production, in particular the elements and themes that are common in Yeats's plays.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Evening entertainment:</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Dinner provided by "Sligo Tourist Development Association"</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgwqmX0Jjo-iH08PGjTfYTtvk-Ng6lyXcDMUirjYii25FlpMZySkJaPayLTKMyMHw7o7Dvay0VaLBEFLemhjk-AIEdmoxryl9wWrM22_UDW6Or_tFQWXaEQK4MxtfJo7s-HCgnkos9us/s1600-h/IMG_0396.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370912483006429474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgwqmX0Jjo-iH08PGjTfYTtvk-Ng6lyXcDMUirjYii25FlpMZySkJaPayLTKMyMHw7o7Dvay0VaLBEFLemhjk-AIEdmoxryl9wWrM22_UDW6Or_tFQWXaEQK4MxtfJo7s-HCgnkos9us/s400/IMG_0396.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The drama gang - being noisy and doing drama-things</span></i></div></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370912487080091666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMZqWSrjSrSvJcSZ6lyDJluuFmMGl_inmqD7lT_vOXFXH7WgRw8jbAY1_5Wnts0ceAY6aWoJ07wgSCkjS4DMiTOiR-42EgpXvx_v5qwbMaBQIT-8TEyApTP_m557nS4cVO3h3SNa13-c/s400/IMG_0397.JPG" border="0" /> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've just spotted the cake.....</span></span></i></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEinTArhicZGckKobrST064rV4KGQ38T-DRBoEb0vhQAF1v3fJsNwZ_6Cp_4VqgzUuoOYqDwS4EP9fnolJLHl54jIej9dSYwcqBwoVS6uM7uIpxdGSbDh_GT9zMrVs-BDaZ6xReoS29E/s1600-h/IMG_0395.JPG"></a></span></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEinTArhicZGckKobrST064rV4KGQ38T-DRBoEb0vhQAF1v3fJsNwZ_6Cp_4VqgzUuoOYqDwS4EP9fnolJLHl54jIej9dSYwcqBwoVS6uM7uIpxdGSbDh_GT9zMrVs-BDaZ6xReoS29E/s1600-h/IMG_0395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370912480485330946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEinTArhicZGckKobrST064rV4KGQ38T-DRBoEb0vhQAF1v3fJsNwZ_6Cp_4VqgzUuoOYqDwS4EP9fnolJLHl54jIej9dSYwcqBwoVS6uM7uIpxdGSbDh_GT9zMrVs-BDaZ6xReoS29E/s400/IMG_0395.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></b> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yum Yum</span></i></div></div></span></i></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Day 5</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>: </b>Friday 7th August</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats The Literary Hero</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anne Margaret Daniel (New School, New York)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I am particularly interested to hear that Anne Margaret Daniel is currently writing a book about </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Redheads</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">! This lecture is based on the first edition of the novel 'Evelyn Innes' (1898) by George Moore and the idea that central characters are based on W.B.Yeats, Olivia Shakespeare and Maud Gome. The speaker discusses the interactions between protagonists with humour and drama, a sort of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yeats</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> meets '</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sex and the City'</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> discussion!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A Family Affair: The Yeatses an</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">d the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuala_Press"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cuala Press</span></span></a></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#999900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Declan Kiely (Morgan Library, New York)</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is interesting to hear the history of the Cuala Press whose mission it was to 'make beautiful things by Irish hands'. Kiely shares images from the digital library of the handmade books with close ups of the woodcuts, binding, layout and design during the history of the Cuala Press.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://scholar.library.miami.edu/dunleavy/27_tpg.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 425px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 629px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="http://scholar.library.miami.edu/dunleavy/27_tpg.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of the famous woodcut prints of the Cuala Press</span></i></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"></span></div><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913062960987826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIqncI2twhBEK71Wr4FGNpVNR6NG1sAEXK_MRtT77Vs6l3a5OXHrLY6QXGbRBOILX-aecxP0hFoUbZsRsXbg3bYvQwaZprGrqwTsSu4YPP-6HVitaT9C0Tn59Yvp6rzVwBCVBjFzcyZY/s400/IMG_0411.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Time for a quick 'class photo' & then, it is off to rehearsal</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMZqWSrjSrSvJcSZ6lyDJluuFmMGl_inmqD7lT_vOXFXH7WgRw8jbAY1_5Wnts0ceAY6aWoJ07wgSCkjS4DMiTOiR-42EgpXvx_v5qwbMaBQIT-8TEyApTP_m557nS4cVO3h3SNa13-c/s1600-h/IMG_0397.JPG"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgwqmX0Jjo-iH08PGjTfYTtvk-Ng6lyXcDMUirjYii25FlpMZySkJaPayLTKMyMHw7o7Dvay0VaLBEFLemhjk-AIEdmoxryl9wWrM22_UDW6Or_tFQWXaEQK4MxtfJo7s-HCgnkos9us/s1600-h/IMG_0396.JPG"></a></span></span></b></div></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Overview of the Drama Workshop, Week Two</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The rain does not seem to stop for the first few days, we all get drenched on the way to drama and then steam up the windows of the Friary Hall. At least the hall is warmer this week with the addition of two electric heaters. Incidentally, since arriving back from Latin America I cannot seem to get warm (unless induced by exercise or electric blankets) - does anyone know how long it takes for ones internal body heating regulation system to catch up with one's physical location in the world? At this rate, I fear that if I remain in Ireland I may have perished before the end of September.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Returning to drama this week, there is a more serious atmosphere. There is a realisation by us students that we have five days until our performance in The Hawk's Well theatre. Sam is looking a little stressed and sleep-deprived, although manages to stay patient. Given that in addition to getting us lot into shape, he is also playing the leading role of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Purgatory, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he has got a lot on his plate. This is where the positive and calming influence of Joan shines even more brightly (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">behind every great man there is a great woman</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...etc.). </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This week the structure of our day is slightly different. We spend a few minutes warming up our bodies and voices and then launch straight into rehearsals. We practice our lines, as well as the hymn and poems contained within the play. There are fleeting moments where I think 'aargh I'm tired and want to go home' but then those frustrated feelings are replaced by wonder at the progress and evolution of our play. We work long hours. By Thursday the play is really beginning to come together, Sam shares his relief and his lack of sleep earlier in the week. It amazes me how much a performance can improve from one rehearsal to the next, within a couple of hours.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are two plays being performed tonight. Firstly, there is a production of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Purgatory</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, performed by Sam McCready, Maddie Tongue and Michael Fish. Secondly, the play that we have been rehearsing for the past two weeks, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Words upon the Window Pane.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Purgatory</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This tells of a family saga of decline and fall through its two remaining members: an Old Man (the father, Sam) and a Boy (his sixteen year old son, Michael). It was first presented in at the </span><a title="Abbey Theatre" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Theatre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Abbey Theatre</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span><a title="Dublin" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dublin</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, on </span><span class="mw-formatted-date" title="1938-08-19"><a title="August 19" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_19"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">19 August</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a title="1938" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1938</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, a few months before Yeats's death. It is set outside the former family home, which the Old Man's father had drunkenly burned down, leading him to kill his father as the building perished. The Boy is skeptical about tales of his family's former grandeur, and is repelled by the Old Man's story of losing his own mother as she gave birth to him, and the decline subsequent events wrought on the family. Tonight, the Old Man tells the Boy, is the anniversary of his mother's wedding night. This was the night on which he was conceived after a bout of drunken carousing by his father, and thus when his mother's fate was sealed. At this point a ghostly figure appears illuminated in a window of the wrecked house. In an attempt to wrest his mother's soul from </span><a title="Purgatory" style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatory"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">purgatory</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, he suddenly stabs and kills the Boy. However it appears to be in vain: approaching hoof beats of his ghostly father returning to the bridal bed signal that no spirits have left the place, and the grim cycle begins again.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This production is outstanding. As well as directing our play, Sam has been rehearsing this play. Michael, who plays the role of the Boy in this play also plays a leading role in The Words Upon the Window-Pane. Maddie's plays out the Mother's grief in a meaningful and beautiful way.</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); LINE-HEIGHT: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 604px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 453px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs155.snc1/5769_117416023279_793563279_2189419_2043389_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Old Man shares the grim story with the Boy</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs155.snc1/5769_117416018279_793563279_2189418_7335982_n.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 604px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 453px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs155.snc1/5769_117416018279_793563279_2189418_7335982_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The mother, a soul locked in her own misery</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs155.snc1/5769_117416023279_793563279_2189419_2043389_n.jpg"></a></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Words upon the Window-Pane</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This W.B.Yeats play concerns another great figure from Irish literature, Jonathan Swift, whose spirit, with those of his two lovers, Stella and Vanessa, and the torment felt by by each. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Swift's torment and ultimately Stella's revenge are enacted by Mrs.Henderson when she and group of others gather together for a séance. What is particularly interesting is that each of the characters attending the séance have their own personal agenda for being there. Richard Allen Cave (1997) notes that "this play is not easily forgotten: it fulfils Yeats's desire that a play should 'engross the present and the dominate memory' in the most potent and challenging way". The play is powerful when read, but of course much more so when acted out at the theatre.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Before we go on stage, we have a group-hug in the dressing room and Sam says 'now the work is done, go out there and have fun!' That is exactly what we do. The energy between each of us performers on stage is electric - at various points during the play, particularly when the supernatural occurrences began to take place, I can feel the hairs on my neck stand up! We are all so engrossed in our characters and the séance that it actually feels real - I am experiencing the emotions of the ghost of Johnathan Swift!!</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQC_gBQ_jpJCd9feXaAI3Ej0nokFCDXS8zYA_NNvO6w_MzaPmP2lH4BWHktQYTIhdGTSlE4u9sprXh4UdiTTmRoN8NZ5b5Ki4915GZebwc1UnK5jAcNbtXiyOGgROyfwDFgADyLrkoSc/s1600-h/IMGP1757.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370918273920402146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQC_gBQ_jpJCd9feXaAI3Ej0nokFCDXS8zYA_NNvO6w_MzaPmP2lH4BWHktQYTIhdGTSlE4u9sprXh4UdiTTmRoN8NZ5b5Ki4915GZebwc1UnK5jAcNbtXiyOGgROyfwDFgADyLrkoSc/s400/IMGP1757.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was great to have the talented Sligo-woman, Lorraine Maloney, playing the challenging role of Mrs. Henderson (that's me in the background as a ghost of J.Swift!)</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWwZ0YjtYoOPiYbvU__hVz54PlH5Ulm1IDntu4kx2Xl-IByxkNuVTt75rAbNAPQLMbg8F9Q892eBRKTGrP8EpUUwoIwGo13nusJ5U_bFtQ8IeRKhLhNeVElL9mxCuTCVMZOHWqq2TTmk/s1600-h/IMGP1771.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370918275560776978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWwZ0YjtYoOPiYbvU__hVz54PlH5Ulm1IDntu4kx2Xl-IByxkNuVTt75rAbNAPQLMbg8F9Q892eBRKTGrP8EpUUwoIwGo13nusJ5U_bFtQ8IeRKhLhNeVElL9mxCuTCVMZOHWqq2TTmk/s400/IMGP1771.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mrs. Mallet (Brigid), Cornelius Patterson (Arthur) & Minister Abraham Johnson (Suzanne)</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ7OXtLNTqwS6Je2uBgRIZMp6On48fqm88aJo8T_SWyXBd3AF9dHKoTdQz__PD253XIzJo0XsPJFtB5ZQchoEWbW6x0y1hT4KQrqKHC3ZgeMUhXXNuabeaYTlJoxwzWSQqXqgKCIrqWs/s1600-h/IMGP1749.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370917893756625042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQ7OXtLNTqwS6Je2uBgRIZMp6On48fqm88aJo8T_SWyXBd3AF9dHKoTdQz__PD253XIzJo0XsPJFtB5ZQchoEWbW6x0y1hT4KQrqKHC3ZgeMUhXXNuabeaYTlJoxwzWSQqXqgKCIrqWs/s400/IMGP1749.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"Lulu is going to scream....."</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJywKZMTs7AgNSTIuX_5r9BHmNcyW2e8B8Bbhxk8sYcghMn_QZioh8p26BCidRMh8R8WZvBJl3rrzO0PxJwVWmxqDTN8r7XWHlnfHpm3fQjf4CSEKZt5bpyVojfWSCyvtMzW3RdJdfo0/s1600-h/IMGP1722.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370917415150248962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJywKZMTs7AgNSTIuX_5r9BHmNcyW2e8B8Bbhxk8sYcghMn_QZioh8p26BCidRMh8R8WZvBJl3rrzO0PxJwVWmxqDTN8r7XWHlnfHpm3fQjf4CSEKZt5bpyVojfWSCyvtMzW3RdJdfo0/s400/IMGP1722.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mr. Corbet (Michael) & Miss McKenna (Hilary): "I feel something is going to happen"</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nE5butK8awGJ8Ieh3GJyhOQwq8RnZutmtDvgbZSa3fzF_T5qefAvGvVKo6ISc-xBI6DAzh2mOnVKEtb8VfOVvzgEbXzwC7XJiGGg-uTwsFQZE2qN7SH4ex_nTKtrsMOJOOsmwuPkhio/s1600-h/IMGP1697.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370917404534835570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nE5butK8awGJ8Ieh3GJyhOQwq8RnZutmtDvgbZSa3fzF_T5qefAvGvVKo6ISc-xBI6DAzh2mOnVKEtb8VfOVvzgEbXzwC7XJiGGg-uTwsFQZE2qN7SH4ex_nTKtrsMOJOOsmwuPkhio/s400/IMGP1697.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"I am by profession a Minister of the Gospel......I shall be able to communicate with the great Evangelist Moody."</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqZo2lAx09BWETWsn9Dr_Zero0I4zZXsOgrgG1JQ1cmRIMFUw9hmwxfkSAs9SYS0Ay76zwzpI12HqDMPfEw8xs3KQAQwAuZmU6VnQFkABSv5C4Kjdi-eAXp1wQKfkaE1XBI4vvEZVh6A/s1600-h/IMGP1685.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370917060475796418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqZo2lAx09BWETWsn9Dr_Zero0I4zZXsOgrgG1JQ1cmRIMFUw9hmwxfkSAs9SYS0Ay76zwzpI12HqDMPfEw8xs3KQAQwAuZmU6VnQFkABSv5C4Kjdi-eAXp1wQKfkaE1XBI4vvEZVh6A/s400/IMGP1685.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">John Corbet (Michael) shows Dr.Trench (Kyoko) the words upon the window-pane</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa6DhniSaNhHvL2NfxdIa1VP_Lth59g663JbP9sVQozNKAGzjbWJZA7GbBk8yoBbEhNhdUCDdIjbuWtBCGNAAyu_uerzX47CXbDmyU7DLeX6aZVMs4UOV0KDB28mx1S-qb3ahFLzUBBU/s1600-h/IMGP1679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370917058245928418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa6DhniSaNhHvL2NfxdIa1VP_Lth59g663JbP9sVQozNKAGzjbWJZA7GbBk8yoBbEhNhdUCDdIjbuWtBCGNAAyu_uerzX47CXbDmyU7DLeX6aZVMs4UOV0KDB28mx1S-qb3ahFLzUBBU/s400/IMGP1679.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dr. Trench, who once was a sceptic....</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaZBs_7wdEF4mHrE9yurJBd2W2UDARPzgVNs6g47qYJozoVu7ZaT2cjoDul0FQKgaPhYuOis_3oPOebhyphenhyphen4o6GWBloPpn35OQ3IrRwBnzdtmiuoq6AnXePzv_2ayBmaA59bgAJq6W79Uw/s1600-h/IMGP1659.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370917038329543666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaZBs_7wdEF4mHrE9yurJBd2W2UDARPzgVNs6g47qYJozoVu7ZaT2cjoDul0FQKgaPhYuOis_3oPOebhyphenhyphen4o6GWBloPpn35OQ3IrRwBnzdtmiuoq6AnXePzv_2ayBmaA59bgAJq6W79Uw/s400/IMGP1659.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></b></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You taught how I might youth prolong</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">By knowing what is right and wrong,</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How from my heart to bring supplies </span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Of lustre to my fading eyes.</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Farewell parties: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Glasshouse, Sligo</span></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We are all giddy and delighted when we come off stage, dancing around and cheering spontaneously! We get out of our costumes and head over to The Glasshouse where the party is in full swing. Most of the people who were in the audience are here and they tell us how great we are and that they were truly mesmerised by the performance! We have a few glasses of wine, play a few last drama games, such as 'I'm a bunny rabbit' and then it is time to say goodbye with reluctance.</span></span></b></div></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUK2sYTlOOyReSy8GmBz0u3NSAjO0uz4tML75i2wOXL456vyOiv25RBOCcO9VGiqD5y0wwMTcH2VpBLAodJdJ7VTWoZYka9kxXnuFbqk21Ai5pB-vPd_4JUb7uNo1_AeTBGnBgvSIkdw/s1600-h/IMG_0430.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913085270331842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUK2sYTlOOyReSy8GmBz0u3NSAjO0uz4tML75i2wOXL456vyOiv25RBOCcO9VGiqD5y0wwMTcH2VpBLAodJdJ7VTWoZYka9kxXnuFbqk21Ai5pB-vPd_4JUb7uNo1_AeTBGnBgvSIkdw/s400/IMG_0430.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Gloria, Brigid, Sam & Stella Mew (CEO of the school)</span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNddSd5clAW1iiP0N23dqr2F9KrbeQpknn7oG0L980nHPEVSFfOmbUFX6jnDpIaFa2MRmOxOHGWuL7-7xKQaTXEtqlQRPnhqE-yHzti53gVKNBoillO61szfNEh0Z5vjBYcQPIB_OqnY/s1600-h/IMG_0428.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371296324587487154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNddSd5clAW1iiP0N23dqr2F9KrbeQpknn7oG0L980nHPEVSFfOmbUFX6jnDpIaFa2MRmOxOHGWuL7-7xKQaTXEtqlQRPnhqE-yHzti53gVKNBoillO61szfNEh0Z5vjBYcQPIB_OqnY/s400/IMG_0428.JPG" border="0" /></a><i> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Camellia, (a Romanian student with her husband, along with Margaret Raftery (my secondary-school English teacher who encouraged me to attend the school) & her husband, Noel</div></i></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); FONT-STYLE: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371297928260190258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzvVlaYh5rAksjaPr2TyywLtOeaQOXAt64SXZ4y4Df32Xjg5xhkTGh5L35EqSmYlD-jU-PK1NW8oVKZJY8QHQXhGcRzK3t7DZF2C6b8jtZsj30pZnU4q1C4BA7kF9_nJfXmmaPAyk1E8/s400/IMG_0426.JPG" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mum & friends - Anne, Sheila & Sandy</span></i></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913072361360482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ1A2XduZfS4hwfGDBzFFS-HiKcndMcR7SMxFf1RWUy7U3TsNA1Ak5iCn1V3sEvUDhb-7DGiWZ6bH4_gugcIcVX1Xi2hEpHv2SBlJNbVFHtNXqEThMjLwjGwav78au4MGvcalbwUVNi0/s400/IMG_0425.JPG" border="0" /><i> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">More cake....!!</span></div></i></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPGVvYjaOB7xoLl-fp_EKRaN4AZNrQcnOn6Y8tnvwnmJu3bSTFlTNZct4gSOkqubftEhprNdQZVL6aIxep-gB1ez42r5HF6SsMNy4YQhekWvJ36uT9ZbOkFn85gPmtfar6rWbVbLMV_4/s1600-h/IMG_0429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913075232565202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPGVvYjaOB7xoLl-fp_EKRaN4AZNrQcnOn6Y8tnvwnmJu3bSTFlTNZct4gSOkqubftEhprNdQZVL6aIxep-gB1ez42r5HF6SsMNy4YQhekWvJ36uT9ZbOkFn85gPmtfar6rWbVbLMV_4/s400/IMG_0429.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></span><i> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Suzanne & Maria</div></i></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCLD_iCMlwEXUbbYJ1szSdPqmdNpGD8roZ8FzFvtiokxxYiETMYEQTYyZjvpTRjG6XrTX2F6-mz_iOS8wM75biC41FN1Pej1yUoVd2eqGs7GIJL6eA0-jd4XuvdK1mgMFtbxAmO_z83I/s1600-h/IMG_0438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913958247786226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCLD_iCMlwEXUbbYJ1szSdPqmdNpGD8roZ8FzFvtiokxxYiETMYEQTYyZjvpTRjG6XrTX2F6-mz_iOS8wM75biC41FN1Pej1yUoVd2eqGs7GIJL6eA0-jd4XuvdK1mgMFtbxAmO_z83I/s400/IMG_0438.JPG" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Japanese expression of Irish music</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbN825f674EImZ5AZSKRk8bBQaaFxj7WxAK40p2QJ9tdoS8WgfbKxRdjO2qb8kDl7c0G4-nT_6DU7BJ8T_iwPHAvq5yPC28zxuA9usngRzGruRSI1i3azL7bOBVYQ6faODb6NQnR8yTI/s1600-h/IMG_0433.JPG"></a></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370913949258591106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbN825f674EImZ5AZSKRk8bBQaaFxj7WxAK40p2QJ9tdoS8WgfbKxRdjO2qb8kDl7c0G4-nT_6DU7BJ8T_iwPHAvq5yPC28zxuA9usngRzGruRSI1i3azL7bOBVYQ6faODb6NQnR8yTI/s400/IMG_0433.JPG" border="0" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Michael & Hilary</span></div></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAvDrfyU_jHUL5GwbvzRUYlsIsEElk5XJ2AbrSAMIcrXswqTXxPRjjPgxX5iPyUKl2bjqoQtDXn6RMQOTwT_xyWZxPCG3RbqsX_ZuW8tay4c_GEzLK7rDx47T9NjU57Vlulcs58ewdrE/s1600-h/IMG_0444.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371296317679258146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAvDrfyU_jHUL5GwbvzRUYlsIsEElk5XJ2AbrSAMIcrXswqTXxPRjjPgxX5iPyUKl2bjqoQtDXn6RMQOTwT_xyWZxPCG3RbqsX_ZuW8tay4c_GEzLK7rDx47T9NjU57Vlulcs58ewdrE/s400/IMG_0444.JPG" border="0" /></a><i> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Maddie (choreographer), Joan (actress & director) & Maddie's husband</div></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjvfMQFLC18_nvWX1r5ousmrWKOxRjWLZg2VP1AHWxcc6-UoNO_-nRnmWD3oDq3Znf68FhHvh0lOR1RJlrvVkNju8zU6j83bWYhWG_-KhdZ-Hz9jxtuEBL8-9n3N3RDINkCusDPrNCI8/s1600-h/IMG_0445.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371296305700048002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjvfMQFLC18_nvWX1r5ousmrWKOxRjWLZg2VP1AHWxcc6-UoNO_-nRnmWD3oDq3Znf68FhHvh0lOR1RJlrvVkNju8zU6j83bWYhWG_-KhdZ-Hz9jxtuEBL8-9n3N3RDINkCusDPrNCI8/s400/IMG_0445.JPG" border="0" /></a><i> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Playing 'Who's a bunny rabbit?'</div></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXoYcoeVgiMUohMBUbYe1TTCTIDV5dkIXhrO3EMlqA-vZDE15B7EOIPFTkqDrUaIqSZGJ_QFu2xYHiPt8Bs1mVcLcQe6I7nIa5bianeoJqz6_tTdP4m2VOSCEr4cJ-jSkkVDDO7I3MFw/s1600-h/IMG_0447.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371296293121982850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXoYcoeVgiMUohMBUbYe1TTCTIDV5dkIXhrO3EMlqA-vZDE15B7EOIPFTkqDrUaIqSZGJ_QFu2xYHiPt8Bs1mVcLcQe6I7nIa5bianeoJqz6_tTdP4m2VOSCEr4cJ-jSkkVDDO7I3MFw/s400/IMG_0447.JPG" border="0" /></a><i> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">Experimental theatre leads to many great things, including experimental dancing!</div></i></span></i></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Closing thoughts</span></b></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The two weeks have been a phenomenonal success for me personally and based on the feedback I have heard from fellow students, lecturers and organisers. I have learned a great deal about W.B.Yeats, the man, the poet and the dramatist - but also I have expanded by knowledge about the talented Yeats family, the Pollexfens and their connections to Sligo. It has been wonderful to make new friends and share the experience with people from all over the world. I would go so far as to say that the drama workshop has been life-changing, most certainly it has been a life-enriching experience. Who would have thought that twelve absolute strangers could develop such a close bond and produce such a fantastic performance? Certainly not without Sam and Joan McCready! I will always look back upon the Yeats Summer School 2009 as two weeks that were filled with learning, laughter, friendship and fun! I heard one lady in her forties on the phone telling her partner that 'this is the best thing I have ever done'. </span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For future years it would be great to see younger lecturers and more female lecturers - looking at the cast of lecturers, many of whom had grey beards, it did make me wonder who is going to carry on this tradition? Perhaps this year due to the 50th anniversary they called in the "heavy-weights" as I heard someone describe them! However, it was wonderful to see four young Sligo people attending the summer school and taking part in the drama workshop. The lectures were very formal and it would be nice to encourage more spontaneous discussions, opinions and feedback. There have been complaints that the two-week programme is too tiring and intensive, however, people can opt to attend for one-week if they chose. I would like to see the Yeats Summer School being marketed more effectively and represented in the National (and International) media. The fact that the only newspapers reporting the events were The Sligo Champion and a German broadsheet is disgraceful - why are the Irish Times or the Irish Independent not jumping on the story (they were invited by the Yeats Society)? This is one of the many great annual events in Ireland where we can raise awareness of Irish literary talent and take pride in Irish culture and achievement.</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-INDENT: 0px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370987426250565138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi114s_gjwyQjqg2kcFmK_D9xSU3XiUck82-KTuwoOOrV5rs_bvRdBlh7RCP_l_QXDHvwIVD2oNFISlTZEKTTfHgcbOenSlkln2gk1NPuhdxi1hOBEluF68NivfYvfT_IDYRwwN4lqbEy0/s400/IMG_0464+(4).jpg" border="0" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi114s_gjwyQjqg2kcFmK_D9xSU3XiUck82-KTuwoOOrV5rs_bvRdBlh7RCP_l_QXDHvwIVD2oNFISlTZEKTTfHgcbOenSlkln2gk1NPuhdxi1hOBEluF68NivfYvfT_IDYRwwN4lqbEy0/s1600-h/IMG_0464+(4).jpg"></a></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some students are staying in Sligo for a few more days so myself & Lorraine bring them along to the Tobergal Lane Cafe for jazz</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRrzKRZcWH2SKKFJ7zQgoNfdjY1Aaj8c_-D-Gf3If_eJLOYlPqEcHRyyNTxcaEF5Pm_tkteTwa3QTwr58BpVYT1wPu8g_gW2JAiePY_xMhUbEOWDD-hEvjkvdWWi6qjAqWN7cXyqm7HI/s1600-h/IMG_0465+(5).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370986920297452834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: justify" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRrzKRZcWH2SKKFJ7zQgoNfdjY1Aaj8c_-D-Gf3If_eJLOYlPqEcHRyyNTxcaEF5Pm_tkteTwa3QTwr58BpVYT1wPu8g_gW2JAiePY_xMhUbEOWDD-hEvjkvdWWi6qjAqWN7cXyqm7HI/s400/IMG_0465+(5).jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Eddie Lee (another Sligo talent) & his fellow jazz musicians</span></i></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-58097489658325131692009-07-25T08:48:00.000-07:002009-08-15T08:17:09.820-07:00Leonard Cohen, Dublin<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; ">We browse the shops and drink tea in Dublin's city centre before dropping off our overnight bags to the Clarion hotel. Later the concert is held just a stone's throw away, at <i>The O2</i> arena (where <i>The Point </i>concert hall originally stood). </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(85, 26, 139); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://www.dublin-inside.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/img/spire1.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 390px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Spire, O'Connell Street</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPVNY0NTg6vz7vUnWA8SGvdV-GmAZAYXkZQsgUQdXz2XsoN9NnIZnaQ6uankX273KZP5p4d_a4_0zVc0lhWd4Y81fsAlTUqR_SAuQEFQHVhb-ifc7-IZWhBDIlHrM9NeqQyJniiZzfcg/s400/IMG_0204.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375101727542946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOs7A4GntWWmndNORANntRlKWwbuG-GIx6mS9I7YBx4sOsgFUIFLcNU8Vr6Ov_dyOOtfejKNiE9qRAURGR5PqKdYC3AIDuUyvHY_wnP8pUkugDt_jf4LsqdR5wGNwHwg2guULOWXB_5o/s1600-h/IMG_0252.JPG"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOs7A4GntWWmndNORANntRlKWwbuG-GIx6mS9I7YBx4sOsgFUIFLcNU8Vr6Ov_dyOOtfejKNiE9qRAURGR5PqKdYC3AIDuUyvHY_wnP8pUkugDt_jf4LsqdR5wGNwHwg2guULOWXB_5o/s1600-h/IMG_0252.JPG"></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOs7A4GntWWmndNORANntRlKWwbuG-GIx6mS9I7YBx4sOsgFUIFLcNU8Vr6Ov_dyOOtfejKNiE9qRAURGR5PqKdYC3AIDuUyvHY_wnP8pUkugDt_jf4LsqdR5wGNwHwg2guULOWXB_5o/s1600-h/IMG_0252.JPG"></a></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">O2 Arena, Dublin</span></i></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZha8n5UnAGoAzNzDJUJNbCwMTHZNeAA2dImZnQD9N3FyzbpeQcwBg4N8xTFbQX7Zxtcb32EWCNMuJHFhN-S3ciaMT1ZJoFYncT6iW2Haa09NeRZb_i0Kdc4RJiORgznlbFjEQrZeOQ0w/s1600-h/IMG_0206.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZha8n5UnAGoAzNzDJUJNbCwMTHZNeAA2dImZnQD9N3FyzbpeQcwBg4N8xTFbQX7Zxtcb32EWCNMuJHFhN-S3ciaMT1ZJoFYncT6iW2Haa09NeRZb_i0Kdc4RJiORgznlbFjEQrZeOQ0w/s400/IMG_0206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375110086997650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Empty seats in front, one will soon filled by Bertie Ahern</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j282/nduncan_2006/leonardcohen.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 599px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There is a crack in everything</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; white-space: pre; "></span>That is how the light gets in (Leonard Cohen)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leonard Cohen begins the show on his knees, taking his hat off and bowing after every song.His voice sounds rich, deep and gravelly, the musicians & backing vocalists are outstanding. Leonard waltzes, twinkles and skips around the stage.</span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></span></span></div></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mum and I share a love of his growling poetry and pleasing face, we agree his "second rate physique" is not too unpleasing. "We love you Leonard!", one lady shrieks.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5rO4RCoWfE3zxYM72izkn4ZEO7NgY2DSh6AIMxLsmw_9EqIlDwPtRS6UxkCmGwejB3abo2lKPBg8w4x-izcS2P7rzbqIIv9rXsrdeNgjH87BoNn1e2qamze0JA5KDK7CiMrkm3bscuE/s400/IMG_0240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375342706944066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Famous Blue Raincoat</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Click here for The Future <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j4sUdRu9r4&eurl=http://1heckofaguy.com/2009/07/26/leonard-cohen-no-one-does-dublin-better/&feature=player_embedded#t=95">video</a> from July 23rd</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-8_biIpQ4lltybBTy0ATgpzWvV1Jyt2-x11tTSQzsAbwaMvKbMoXbJyd9QwgQl1dJoY4IRdDSSzPiGnKLcgOVkiE1sZkFfzHfu-WC0Vs3mozigpGeN87HHZQbrWxlC885Rj7Fm2IoXY/s1600-h/IMG_0234.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-8_biIpQ4lltybBTy0ATgpzWvV1Jyt2-x11tTSQzsAbwaMvKbMoXbJyd9QwgQl1dJoY4IRdDSSzPiGnKLcgOVkiE1sZkFfzHfu-WC0Vs3mozigpGeN87HHZQbrWxlC885Rj7Fm2IoXY/s400/IMG_0234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375136657340002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLMKGG1CeY75NbufYC5irmJ9B-KrJPv9pa_EM0d7KuOdYnx2gGcxoYVT-ACZVWsuwaw_7SzCeIBW4PKZtERq4VuZfLLD-Fhpw2y1ipU2kRWXrsuVI0LUY7w_mPaTYpFRk1ssQWsP8ClM/s1600-h/IMG_0267.JPG"></a></span></span></span></div></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He reads the poem, 'One thousand kisses deep' which is touching and powerful. He sings every song from the album, "The Essential Leonard Cohen". After three hours of entertainment at the highest standard, he bids us farewel - hoping we are surrounded by loved-ones and if not, wishing us peace in our solitude.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IVNuwB6P3IGK1UhD-z9H0QJ2RupWmxoWxzDTZs93ufKEdNixURM98ybr_40bKiT_GUFTz77EJ_w6BRVKPJM751RbFBvq35OBnc3rO-yrgHkfbOKKZxBpaCgylX2ZeCQghyphenhyphen6wbY5jAhs/s400/IMG_0243.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375356221877106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leonard says goodnight</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We return to the hotel bar for gin, tonic and post-concert analysis. Mum went to see Leonard perform at the Albert Hall in 1970, regarding it as the best concert she had ever attended - until tonight! She is delighted that he has exceeded her expectations once more. I agree, this has been a wonderful evening. Happy and satisfied we retire to bed.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Next morning, the sun is shining. We pass the </span><a href="http://www.jeaniejohnston.ie/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jeanie Johnson</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (replica of 19th century sailing ship) and the Famine memorial on the way into 'town'. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d13TGZQA29sVG3KgOcSmOfTI-vWNfUp9YI3im2QA7VglNu6rnCKuleWCnJcHuAGRoyrLENllXcnLGWAIRAt7HiBhG8PKjJWTJegsoA3_ITIv-UD_7ywxyLLuoWgwCQ1vC2V_VljukAc/s400/IMG_0257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375379225071778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jeanie Johnson</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7IJVSt4eTd0UiCtawIkPuOMJvDj-90Wst_Z0m0V4PkXcWtmqwel1kTuSu_A07CEbSlqAwBKjCiVDsLg9wQr-OKsMZyoKDSFUZfbvdnkeo7qCDydjPj6u2Fa2VQk4FLZnZcAueblt8ug/s400/IMG_0263.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375609865937794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The National Famine Memorial</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(35, 31, 32); line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These statues commemorate the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_(Ireland)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Great Famine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of the mid 19th century when one million Irish people died as a result of starvation and disease, and one million people emigrated overseas.</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLMKGG1CeY75NbufYC5irmJ9B-KrJPv9pa_EM0d7KuOdYnx2gGcxoYVT-ACZVWsuwaw_7SzCeIBW4PKZtERq4VuZfLLD-Fhpw2y1ipU2kRWXrsuVI0LUY7w_mPaTYpFRk1ssQWsP8ClM/s1600-h/IMG_0267.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLMKGG1CeY75NbufYC5irmJ9B-KrJPv9pa_EM0d7KuOdYnx2gGcxoYVT-ACZVWsuwaw_7SzCeIBW4PKZtERq4VuZfLLD-Fhpw2y1ipU2kRWXrsuVI0LUY7w_mPaTYpFRk1ssQWsP8ClM/s400/IMG_0267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375628327848786" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Haunting & harrowing sculptures</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87UjwOVL5tT5gVmXH3-K9taqdnsjyj-ji2VxRXuhIvTcV-wbdqkYV87usmI646aJWJJYGuhMIrZpNQoP8wT1-ypUYkHPe02DgoA317wYGohzqLwHQw11Z5F9McRotRD3SOnm8wvLLakU/s1600-h/IMG_0266.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87UjwOVL5tT5gVmXH3-K9taqdnsjyj-ji2VxRXuhIvTcV-wbdqkYV87usmI646aJWJJYGuhMIrZpNQoP8wT1-ypUYkHPe02DgoA317wYGohzqLwHQw11Z5F9McRotRD3SOnm8wvLLakU/s400/IMG_0266.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375619155783042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7IJVSt4eTd0UiCtawIkPuOMJvDj-90Wst_Z0m0V4PkXcWtmqwel1kTuSu_A07CEbSlqAwBKjCiVDsLg9wQr-OKsMZyoKDSFUZfbvdnkeo7qCDydjPj6u2Fa2VQk4FLZnZcAueblt8ug/s1600-h/IMG_0263.JPG"></a></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Located in the Docklands, alongside the River Liffey</span></i><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOjR06rLsRjS1pWRq5PbYmegarxXX17kdPxjVejT8ZT__bXPMiLniIRH395XHQ0WzKVdFzNDMFg_U_Plxmm-eyywl15VyE-4su0m-LspnzNlhylB1io158OtwuStilfeYjMahZMedpo8/s1600-h/IMG_0254.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOjR06rLsRjS1pWRq5PbYmegarxXX17kdPxjVejT8ZT__bXPMiLniIRH395XHQ0WzKVdFzNDMFg_U_Plxmm-eyywl15VyE-4su0m-LspnzNlhylB1io158OtwuStilfeYjMahZMedpo8/s400/IMG_0254.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369375372960484466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Samuel Beckett bridge (due for completion at the end of 2009)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For lunch we find nourishment at one of my favorites, </span><a href="http://www.winding-stair.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Winding Stair</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - a Michelin award winning restaurant based on Ormond Quay.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(85, 26, 139); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/c70bb77c-8595-4397-bfb4-267b5c831097.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Traditional Irish recipes with a modern & organic twist</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We board the bus, reading Leonard's poetry and humming 'Take this waltz' all the way home!</span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-87105921995128135862009-07-14T16:10:00.001-07:002009-07-14T17:43:30.240-07:00Happy Birthday, Mum!<div>The end of my travels intentionally corresponds with my Mum's 60th birthday (I'm sure she won't mind me telling her age, she certainly doesn't look it!). Delighted to be home in Sligo, I bring her up breakfast-in-bed at the break of dawn so that she is fuelled for another day of her financial accounting course. Thank goodness she is occupied for the day, it gives me time to ensure that all is in order for her surprise birthday party. This is something I have been planning for a while, in fact, ideas were beginning to crystallise when I was in Argentina six months ago. I am so excited, it is really hard to keep it a secret, especially during the final hours!</div><div><br /></div><div>Mum gets back from her course. I tell her that I am popping down to see my friend Róisín and wish her a nice evening. Of course, I've got my glad-rags in my handbag along with heels, confetti & party poppers. Mervian picks me up from around the corner, she is bursting with excitement like myself. She has been a fantastic support over the past few months (and always!), doing the run-around while I shout orders from another continent!</div><div><br /></div><div>Breda is working her magic by inviting Mum out for dinner at 8 o' clock. Upon pick-up she informs Mother that first it is necessary to collect Rod (her partner) out in Strandhill after his game of golf. Hmm, all sounds plausible. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the venue, I am thrilled to see familiar faces arriving. I have butterflies in my tummy, giddy at the thought that my Mum has no idea! Irina and I dash around filling glasses and sprinkling little drops of stardust on all the tables. Next we get the nod from Rod, 'she's close, less than 5 minutes'. 'AAargh!'We all shriek and giggle! Right Vinnie, you are on the lights. Kevin, are you ready with the music? Has everyone got their poppers ready? On the count of three...one..... two (there is a shadow under the door).... three..........SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>And her face? Priceless!!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Align Left" border="0" class="gl_align_left" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCiweF1u15ZGY6u1zK95DcubNuhYtvmROGG6g7KAnxh0VJHhRalAQUIXFF2RrR_yJEjg4xT3wm8s7TQGDEXprDXkKglr4iaKGY2u_vAWFO06b6J9Ehz181v3IM0MLAsu1vKfD9LgJqMU/s400/DSCN2470.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358459094767154738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;">Oh my GOD!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mum then proceeds to go through a series of emotions. Shock, wonder, excitement, delight and gratitude. She really had no idea that there would be a party. She had no idea that she would see (almost all of) her nearest and dearest in one room. Modest as ever, she couldn't believe the 'fuss' that everyone had gone to! She was in such shock when she walked through those doors that she actually (subconsciously) pinched my auntie Olivia's arm, leaving a bruise! It is as if to say 'a<i>re you real? Is this really happening?</i>'!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The party is fabulously fun! We chat, dance, eat and drink, and then dance some more. It is exactly how parties should be - a joyous event where everyone is having fun and laughter fills the room. We dance until our faces glow red and the music stops.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mum has been thanking me every day since, but really the party was my way of thanking her - for being the warm, consistent, loving, adventurous and inspirational Mum that she is. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've been doing lots of yoga over the past few months and one of the poses (asanas) is called 'extended mountain pose'. It is not difficult, and basically involved standing legs hip-width apart, arms stretched high and wide above one's head, eyes wide-open looking up at the sky. One day in Central America a teacher asked us to visualise the following:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Imagine the soles of your feet connected to the soils of the earth, keeping you grounded and connected to Mother Nature. Imagine your feet growing roots, keeping you stable and strong. Standing tall and proud, you are a tree extending upwards, heart open, reaching up to the skies. You are open to all possibilities, you believe all your dreams will come true and that there are no limitations. Inside your heart, there is a centre of light, from here you can beam your light and love out to the world.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought of my Mum when I heard this visualisation, and now every time I do this pose I think of my her - strong and rooted in practicality but yet always believing in the endless possibilities of life and always lighting my way with her wisdom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, happy birthday Mum! I wish you health, happiness and peace. Thank YOU for everything.</div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-50634282598141191172009-07-12T05:34:00.000-07:002009-07-12T07:14:43.547-07:00Chelsea Physic Garden, London<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgdrmBHQns_f0MoutsQq1uwHSCxVrPaDhyphenhyphenwZBJ7M_whs7GSiGp8CjRq7UTxgEW2SSnJ-Ch7b_hT0sKxKtsMNn580owWqKzBfzoYnNPv7iMUKilZ3OSH-YUDNTJzi8ndPNVkByaBZBLQk/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">During my two-week stopover in London, I visit the <a href="http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/">Chelsea Physic Garden</a>. Situated in the heart of London, this 'Secret Garden' is described on the information booklet as 'a centre of education, beauty and relaxation'. Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, it continues to research the properties, origins and conservation of over 5000 species. The garden has somewhat unusual opening hours which makes it more challenging to visit, especially if one is working.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9v2KyqoUd9U_WMf2CqFNz4OHXMtrLc9J6lxMkUXfT_rreFIfSn78-4TWhN-ZTdxGjbES3PYc9zoNTRSrO0QvUsDnLwsPfYKfBTnkmqX9oIASd4_3nT2uvUsg53Dq8TpojB0JBq7-GlU/s1600-h/IMG_9988.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9v2KyqoUd9U_WMf2CqFNz4OHXMtrLc9J6lxMkUXfT_rreFIfSn78-4TWhN-ZTdxGjbES3PYc9zoNTRSrO0QvUsDnLwsPfYKfBTnkmqX9oIASd4_3nT2uvUsg53Dq8TpojB0JBq7-GlU/s400/IMG_9988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357560606233637122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>The Blue Plaque (one of over 700 in London identifying places where famous & distinguished folks have lived or worked - see Nick Rennison's The London Blue Plaque Guide)</i></span></div></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Q00ovqeKVcqdTo8qziG1bQ0tJ6RCthe8jH2FcQhxgAbDSGp_qHG3UXeEO2rK67KomHUHCfooWq5x1TDMT7oRJ7UHfdGi2o5-oTWXNsV8KzA7VCGxAdELiJYL-qCgrTw9xLaz0ytYuk/s1600-h/IMG_9991.JPG"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Q00ovqeKVcqdTo8qziG1bQ0tJ6RCthe8jH2FcQhxgAbDSGp_qHG3UXeEO2rK67KomHUHCfooWq5x1TDMT7oRJ7UHfdGi2o5-oTWXNsV8KzA7VCGxAdELiJYL-qCgrTw9xLaz0ytYuk/s1600-h/IMG_9991.JPG"></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Q00ovqeKVcqdTo8qziG1bQ0tJ6RCthe8jH2FcQhxgAbDSGp_qHG3UXeEO2rK67KomHUHCfooWq5x1TDMT7oRJ7UHfdGi2o5-oTWXNsV8KzA7VCGxAdELiJYL-qCgrTw9xLaz0ytYuk/s1600-h/IMG_9991.JPG"></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/garden/images/sepiaetching.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/garden/images/sepiaetching.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 180px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">An impression made in Victorian times of the 'demonstration' of medicinal plants in the Chelsea Physic Garden</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673, as the Apothecaries' Garden, with the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants. The location was chosen as the proximity to the river created a warmer microclimate allowing the survival of many non-native plants - such as the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain - and more importantly, to allow plants to survive harsh British winters. The river was also important as a transport route that linked the garden to other open spaces such as Putney Heath, facilitating easy movements of both plants and botanists.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw2-H0hjyxK4bf8pSy8YjmICIgRUcnXIRWFfVKIrAyJ8xQbk4GkY0Z9DKUf63Xoy8gDRkFO29QsV-heu09P3tMBbL1W6BEeuf711Um5OwCg-lepsSC_qA58u_lKw23tVrdjUy_VyEnGA/s1600-h/IMG_0026.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw2-H0hjyxK4bf8pSy8YjmICIgRUcnXIRWFfVKIrAyJ8xQbk4GkY0Z9DKUf63Xoy8gDRkFO29QsV-heu09P3tMBbL1W6BEeuf711Um5OwCg-lepsSC_qA58u_lKw23tVrdjUy_VyEnGA/s400/IMG_0026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357561518706239954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgdrmBHQns_f0MoutsQq1uwHSCxVrPaDhyphenhyphenwZBJ7M_whs7GSiGp8CjRq7UTxgEW2SSnJ-Ch7b_hT0sKxKtsMNn580owWqKzBfzoYnNPv7iMUKilZ3OSH-YUDNTJzi8ndPNVkByaBZBLQk/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgdrmBHQns_f0MoutsQq1uwHSCxVrPaDhyphenhyphenwZBJ7M_whs7GSiGp8CjRq7UTxgEW2SSnJ-Ch7b_hT0sKxKtsMNn580owWqKzBfzoYnNPv7iMUKilZ3OSH-YUDNTJzi8ndPNVkByaBZBLQk/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357562767306475026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oxJJuPjsIKXsLo-8WFN1oS_MNoZhcLhvsX30ln4M1PidqRpOzkXg1EuYFuOdGamXDdF6DdQTv_haTqhxrtirl1TRKxaFsNjru4O3IjpHdQZ65bOhB2E58Alxlxwr8Ew6aA0YqvF6bBQ/s1600-h/IMG_0002.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oxJJuPjsIKXsLo-8WFN1oS_MNoZhcLhvsX30ln4M1PidqRpOzkXg1EuYFuOdGamXDdF6DdQTv_haTqhxrtirl1TRKxaFsNjru4O3IjpHdQZ65bOhB2E58Alxlxwr8Ew6aA0YqvF6bBQ/s400/IMG_0002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357562764925859090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I imagine one of these chopped up in my dinner..</span></i></div></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkozGaEb1Puej6R-TCp_uWVHV23macHo9n_LpywbGTPEA1FS7X6yE0ZP9qTvcFKhweZEIVnL1dxIKFpfcj-ZGomP-Yl56w-qQ_EcpDWkoMmPlw8JLn9b_XvHSDxzMrHAHDmUGlKcqT6g/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkozGaEb1Puej6R-TCp_uWVHV23macHo9n_LpywbGTPEA1FS7X6yE0ZP9qTvcFKhweZEIVnL1dxIKFpfcj-ZGomP-Yl56w-qQ_EcpDWkoMmPlw8JLn9b_XvHSDxzMrHAHDmUGlKcqT6g/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357562102118538050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPFOhA36PgGVdOIBt1ddwz-D-WTa3YxcQ-xyldtMZed6t3GYDKrevXUwvb9HmhkuFwJw6Mm33RkG9b_tP6eR9beMxaAszkn6lNMMx9QOv3OZBlK-MwgfywkZJiUmDQGSD-aZ-6dGX39g/s1600-h/IMG_0013.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPFOhA36PgGVdOIBt1ddwz-D-WTa3YxcQ-xyldtMZed6t3GYDKrevXUwvb9HmhkuFwJw6Mm33RkG9b_tP6eR9beMxaAszkn6lNMMx9QOv3OZBlK-MwgfywkZJiUmDQGSD-aZ-6dGX39g/s400/IMG_0013.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357561794276680194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In 1876 the Garden enlarged its educational aspirations by deciding to run a lecture course for young women who were training as botany teachers. At the end of the 19th century the trustees of the City Parochial Foundation agreed to take over the running of the Garden from the Society of Apothecaries. In 1983 The Garden became a registered charity and open to the general public for the first time.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Q00ovqeKVcqdTo8qziG1bQ0tJ6RCthe8jH2FcQhxgAbDSGp_qHG3UXeEO2rK67KomHUHCfooWq5x1TDMT7oRJ7UHfdGi2o5-oTWXNsV8KzA7VCGxAdELiJYL-qCgrTw9xLaz0ytYuk/s1600-h/IMG_9991.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9Q00ovqeKVcqdTo8qziG1bQ0tJ6RCthe8jH2FcQhxgAbDSGp_qHG3UXeEO2rK67KomHUHCfooWq5x1TDMT7oRJ7UHfdGi2o5-oTWXNsV8KzA7VCGxAdELiJYL-qCgrTw9xLaz0ytYuk/s400/IMG_9991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357560016014676482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Fj3Rh5GucT8UDcmCOCWuL-7yRxLfHjLXxv2yUif_BrtCppN17q5JTAVT_GZTRBBqzNtI_YIbN4MdH7LnvrFmk8QVVt5jI3oA014tpwTEAeUAmTNUcpZjl9l22of8FDJltXHK9QDe9c/s1600-h/IMG_9993.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Fj3Rh5GucT8UDcmCOCWuL-7yRxLfHjLXxv2yUif_BrtCppN17q5JTAVT_GZTRBBqzNtI_YIbN4MdH7LnvrFmk8QVVt5jI3oA014tpwTEAeUAmTNUcpZjl9l22of8FDJltXHK9QDe9c/s400/IMG_9993.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357560010225621650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Np9jVqNAvjChauT9skcmZi_ji5ApB-LTJzJNcI5_zUjw0wTgWEfBRI9og3vRhGN0b6RMmBu_Pwuonskn1MXNYzAnSshtXTds9jIjtbycGdRSpvgqoIedzr-zNivElTaX2viL3r-QeTU/s1600-h/IMG_9994.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Np9jVqNAvjChauT9skcmZi_ji5ApB-LTJzJNcI5_zUjw0wTgWEfBRI9og3vRhGN0b6RMmBu_Pwuonskn1MXNYzAnSshtXTds9jIjtbycGdRSpvgqoIedzr-zNivElTaX2viL3r-QeTU/s400/IMG_9994.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357560004854105906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Agapanthus</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Chelsea Physic Garden has developed a major role in public education focusing on the renewed interest in natural medicine. </span></span><a href="http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/garden/gowm.html" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Garden of World Medicine</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> which is Britain's first garden of ethnobotany (or the study of the botany of different ethnic groups and indigenous peoples) is laid out together with a new </span></span><a href="http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/garden/pharmaceutical.html" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pharmaceutical Garden</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCQWsWoRGFsQtFGzrOYoHEh2PZs_OkEVlhtcTPv6bqk60sQRB0CBzlPkO3O1faa9uQyV9jeZKHryPCGxZM-2cNudHuTJ_GrusekJzKvc3VrM77872tWb5tXTMHIhcR2Pzz0IK0S6AuEg/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCQWsWoRGFsQtFGzrOYoHEh2PZs_OkEVlhtcTPv6bqk60sQRB0CBzlPkO3O1faa9uQyV9jeZKHryPCGxZM-2cNudHuTJ_GrusekJzKvc3VrM77872tWb5tXTMHIhcR2Pzz0IK0S6AuEg/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357560617678553794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYxRcbcFTuokbCqt75I6eXLf0I1Rpa2eaFtV5CjHyqjrwqoAH75s2cHpNIuHE55hxY0b6_zc-2Gz_5a9ZqOQJOezTwC87gWEBqNKXO71eIYsJ9yvymhuP4r2KipOeE5e8cOdrQUsu8Ug/s1600-h/IMG_0033.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYxRcbcFTuokbCqt75I6eXLf0I1Rpa2eaFtV5CjHyqjrwqoAH75s2cHpNIuHE55hxY0b6_zc-2Gz_5a9ZqOQJOezTwC87gWEBqNKXO71eIYsJ9yvymhuP4r2KipOeE5e8cOdrQUsu8Ug/s400/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357560614364100146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Garden of World Medicine is an ethnobotanical display that demonstrates the uses of plants by a wide variety of peoples. Here you will find plants used medicinally by the North American Indians, the Maori from New Zealand, Australian Aboriginals, Chinese, in temperate parts of India (Ayurvedic medicine), by tribal peoples of Southern Africa as well as in our own folk traditions of Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. This is not a garden of proven medical remedies, rather one that looks at the uses of plants for medicinal purposes within each culture concerned and their own views about what constitutes healing. However, in each bed you will find a plant which has been taken up and proved effective by controlled medical trials. For me, this is the most fascinating section of the garden.</span></span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlA56UJ1otC_Lc9saNZaL1tfbRtXiEA2A9UXOsJHeuX0OKnCH-o-0rEy1xNvViBVL4P3p03EtFe0pyn3sJifEDs4yqhwxdqxS51oizEChWby6fDK80yxo5antpqLKq_VZlJPpOK08kRc/s1600-h/IMG_0006.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlA56UJ1otC_Lc9saNZaL1tfbRtXiEA2A9UXOsJHeuX0OKnCH-o-0rEy1xNvViBVL4P3p03EtFe0pyn3sJifEDs4yqhwxdqxS51oizEChWby6fDK80yxo5antpqLKq_VZlJPpOK08kRc/s400/IMG_0006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357562617256421730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Currently undergoing research as a possible treatment for cancer & HIV</i></span></div></b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBZ-ch5pjGUjf6zt6Pvdv3zANz6uriOiWtWwPL41Nb7d-5R15_YyygCG7Lu-lMVFiS8-4Y9LDqEKW1PeTjK6glN65NpTafawCnTuR1iYFFTAsbQjQPH03VhdEwtQ87l1LT_nzg1oWhD8/s1600-h/IMG_0007.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBZ-ch5pjGUjf6zt6Pvdv3zANz6uriOiWtWwPL41Nb7d-5R15_YyygCG7Lu-lMVFiS8-4Y9LDqEKW1PeTjK6glN65NpTafawCnTuR1iYFFTAsbQjQPH03VhdEwtQ87l1LT_nzg1oWhD8/s400/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357562108047258146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There is a beautiful cafe with wonderful-looking salads, fresh lemonade and other exciting delights. I am feeling a little naughty, deciding to sample the orange and polenta cake served with crème fraîche. Delicious! Looking around, I appear to be the youngest visitor by about fifty years! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOINaFgPqSc8tLBdR0HsMCloGd_a8e5SwNHYGHslnpa1xdcQwndGMkUL7jVMz4lqHywa-7o1wfsqEE22Kk3VnRWXGRNqQG_3yG_BiLY_HMLJzGdDjVISGgIsz2b1ASlRQjovabrvpp1FQ/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOINaFgPqSc8tLBdR0HsMCloGd_a8e5SwNHYGHslnpa1xdcQwndGMkUL7jVMz4lqHywa-7o1wfsqEE22Kk3VnRWXGRNqQG_3yG_BiLY_HMLJzGdDjVISGgIsz2b1ASlRQjovabrvpp1FQ/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357562759922502754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Guilty pleasures</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Afterwards, I sit on the lawn and read a book in the sunshine - all in all, a very pleasant afternoon!</span></span></b></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZubbIEbP7w8PL_eOL_FXTXQw8S4vNBjzQUvzd2MFHHc1DsUoZiA7N0SBCk5lOMfVhZISFHYdHNTbz_Zq7OICwwViZUwCvIXHtoZ8rvFcVbOHeOivPt0OD5xIsg0toe-qQfpIv-2B_fQg/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZubbIEbP7w8PL_eOL_FXTXQw8S4vNBjzQUvzd2MFHHc1DsUoZiA7N0SBCk5lOMfVhZISFHYdHNTbz_Zq7OICwwViZUwCvIXHtoZ8rvFcVbOHeOivPt0OD5xIsg0toe-qQfpIv-2B_fQg/s400/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357561780959556754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><p></p></span></span></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-8141371025913922652009-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:002009-07-06T08:04:51.216-07:00My Glastonbury 2009<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Safely back in London, it is time for me to prepare for the next big event in my social calendar - t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, commonly abbreviated to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Glastonbury</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">or </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Glasto</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. It is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theatre, circus, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabaret" title="Cabaret" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">cabaret</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and many other arts.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I bought the ticket towards the end of last year, not quite sure knowing what state of mind I might be in after 6 months of travelling in Latin America, but I figured it would be something fun to look forward to.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sam is chief organiser and has cleverly rented a camper van. Parked up in the family camper van section is a breath of (almost) fresh air compared to the other tent-only campsites. The rest of the happy campers include Sam's father, Martyn, his four brothers; Hedgie (good Jonathan), Alex and Lewis, cousin Pippi and her boyfriend (bad) Jonathan, and Sam's school-friend, Will (Herrington-boy). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I travel to Worthy Farm in Somerset aboard a National Express non-air conditioned coach along with Pippi and (bad) Jonathan (who discover along the way that they are not travel-compatible!). The journey from London Victoria to the farm takes about four hours and given that the sun is blazing, we are a little warm. The Italian chap beside me keeps offering his shoulder as a headrest, telling me that he would be <i>very grateful</i>! I force myself out of sleepiness to avoid the awkwardness and instead quiz him on his Glasto knowledge, this year is his 20th anniversary of attendance. We pass the heritage site of Stonehenge on route.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ01Y5QtM0c1KXDuMKdPZCktYucDQa_4-7Yhwebisv4fKqFuFOGs06hgu1KHtRvdPNLpxbzOa7pfBFUkU4Nl5q579pTkua4s-Kvo9K-mVzvHXQib5iTTSJ-gOdy2zF7R5uWEkk9FZNlWU/s400/IMG_9825.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353096150485787330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stonehenge</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The first hurdle we cross at Glastonbury, is the 5-mile trek from Entrance A (coach drop-off point) to Exit C (location of fellow happy campers and camper van). Navigation with the pathetic map we've been given is nearly impossible!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCqILBWgI4Z43IrwVgxttudzZLcE7ebyn-vSYbRDy696ZRw1wACUH9YliQybnNdAPbknYHVX8Dqmx9KYKUayOVDiE8WE0P0NuoYSliWBzgoouhIYWmFFhu2i5fNXqrc9sViFi-OtMKHk/s400/IMG_9828.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353096150172822866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jonathan takes his hat off to the Glasto-organisers</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Part of the grasslands has been cordoned off, preventing us from crossing to meet up with the others (bloomin' Maximo Park wrecking our plans!). I quickly realise that my phone will be about as much good dropped down a portaloo as it is in my handbag (no signal, and quite shortly afterwards, no battery). After a quick re-jig of plans, Sam and Will manage to rescue us and lead us up the 'hill of death'. What a view!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxdyc-2tOubxtNFsl1YfolRF-1XfvY6tSRtJqOG-0ppAQiNq0-thHrzKlXTo8TIYkA_2FK6dtFJpazhmDCqFDmoPuRQLeL8vo9NTABSKXpROPHkuCrmsMnJXVkw_plsJ69a8TEKCS0Wc/s400/IMG_9927.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091401277504114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Walking down the hill of death!</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloFCfAuK9govbR3ZgFiOeAep0dhQi0nRxynWvnpUbXJBBG1rbuP1tpJb9CjycNg3aMvbmgz8upRuf4JqzBFarmMDvfcntSasJlHQVZ7OJ_fdHMsXl7GgZTQ98xNHvNbefscIYG4M7u7w/s1600-h/IMG_9913.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloFCfAuK9govbR3ZgFiOeAep0dhQi0nRxynWvnpUbXJBBG1rbuP1tpJb9CjycNg3aMvbmgz8upRuf4JqzBFarmMDvfcntSasJlHQVZ7OJ_fdHMsXl7GgZTQ98xNHvNbefscIYG4M7u7w/s400/IMG_9913.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091985311003346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our very respectable camp, equipped with 5 tents & a camper van</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZltWo9X149USYxAgr5YCNtPEBOpxCgC3PUQVkwoWyQ3Lcl6iOR7Lw2Qo-0munRietAY-QKN9b-d87TDoSGp-2n7mIKeSnDEU3b-TJ1w47lbTtyXiLYWZwdHsiZWHWMUU55qK5sNr5S90/s1600-h/IMG_9914.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZltWo9X149USYxAgr5YCNtPEBOpxCgC3PUQVkwoWyQ3Lcl6iOR7Lw2Qo-0munRietAY-QKN9b-d87TDoSGp-2n7mIKeSnDEU3b-TJ1w47lbTtyXiLYWZwdHsiZWHWMUU55qK5sNr5S90/s400/IMG_9914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091982809551090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My temporary home laden with all Glasto-essentials</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The shocking thing about Glastonbury for me is the sheer size and volume of people and acts - sprawling across 900 acres, with 190,00 attendees, 50 stages and over 1000 acts..</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1YW0pNkjM1lvKmyr9RgIIyA61q6I_Z_IWhZSu7WVPuYMGr2wyYs24-oaJj3xaGg-VOlBGoVvz49rGzT6REGTaL20IGpk7Cf6Lx8saqmcOSrRsvUQ31B7kZ8tMyhn2atJVMWRJop6WeE/s1600-h/IMG_9848.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi1YW0pNkjM1lvKmyr9RgIIyA61q6I_Z_IWhZSu7WVPuYMGr2wyYs24-oaJj3xaGg-VOlBGoVvz49rGzT6REGTaL20IGpk7Cf6Lx8saqmcOSrRsvUQ31B7kZ8tMyhn2atJVMWRJop6WeE/s400/IMG_9848.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095765862118738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One of the main campsites, near the Pyramid stage</span></i></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShb_GC_lUE7dqXXANxHFBMPrL-qyLQ5fhKcabZAfd3x0ynEME3VcA_reAqSToSGZvfLWILDxR0XCe_-XJuXz3gxhtLtO1XgiJ4zMS0D1UG0j182RByGlVmLgovZjONmQejLLhyphenhyphenCchUU8/s400/IMG_9852.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095558820165346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There are many options for food & drinks - noodles, crepes, Indian, Chinese, tofu, goat curry, sushi, Caribbean, Mexican etc.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6L_ueAH8MpWGUipC8UDWgCp7jMhN8qOMO_P3woV47wswRGq5z-mmBrVf6h71IKqofLsTHPuC3akNg6JuOIH135nMqq97uSt4TFgmqmdxgzHv3ctu-6qz6mIrU74gDNx_BBLqbm9D4wc/s1600-h/IMG_9925.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6L_ueAH8MpWGUipC8UDWgCp7jMhN8qOMO_P3woV47wswRGq5z-mmBrVf6h71IKqofLsTHPuC3akNg6JuOIH135nMqq97uSt4TFgmqmdxgzHv3ctu-6qz6mIrU74gDNx_BBLqbm9D4wc/s400/IMG_9925.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091410218952514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With more bands & artists than one can imagine....</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This evening is about becoming oriented with the site and stages, especially relaxing around the <i>Queen's Head</i> listening to folk-type music such as Liz Green. It is becoming clear that with most phones not functioning that coordinating our group of nine (with different musical tastes) through crowds of people is quite a challenge.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDF8mBm6_nSBbKSmrhKPkPnD1Ub6-13HG9kCJ4yL-T_6gI_Uh_3YPES8U9vnyRE9nChNw-cHp9RwndBryHerGC2tWebmrkf_ALM9B_vn4P87vpKRo-Lt3Y2bSIcTMaP9YKIjl4V1r5Oc/s400/SI855206.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Myself, Will, Pippi & Bad Jonathan</i></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNViidgSzi2PUtL9bkjEqulkzdyIhSjVuAPPsK0SfQY_JnI5P59vhWrJ2M1QuV4Yo6gOEL38iJDZJ7orfd1DBHoj7WvUiKFA8DB8P2rrEqghQURaYzW3DGEsZ295TjPjVAVN2gHV2NGIs/s400/IMG_9830.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353096146970382466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 11px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Black clouds loom, soon the rain pours down</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This evening the rain begins, Pippi and I take shelter with hot chocolate in hand.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqG-4D4uKHjxh6jzSBFFz7hC60u9KGTLQj-4TMJC8Jr38grptneDPTOz456-aMoRFL-0rAJI-c22mNBX2-dtHluCX6bRTWJLa25WqZMJOqQ3hyphenhyphenS7KlYGIK2aC35CmdB3t_zkJitBiJPoI/s400/IMG_9831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095773958435394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Looking out at the downpour</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfdDVXEHWD-Savazn5AGnBl3f5ltV-bIYqWVeForKwqjpqjQl2ONX3_3HjEs8ZTA8M9stlpAYyeIXUfH9xZJDWByVPDEm5GdO0bmRfR0eKeUMsNwljPeA8eqRBZnWc2Oc6cert7BCWqw/s1600-h/IMG_9847.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfdDVXEHWD-Savazn5AGnBl3f5ltV-bIYqWVeForKwqjpqjQl2ONX3_3HjEs8ZTA8M9stlpAYyeIXUfH9xZJDWByVPDEm5GdO0bmRfR0eKeUMsNwljPeA8eqRBZnWc2Oc6cert7BCWqw/s400/IMG_9847.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095766645580706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-style: italic; ">And with rain, the mud follows....</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; font-style: italic; "></span>The highlight for me this evening is bopping along to East 17, my all-time favourite band during my late childhood years. I am amazed that I remember all the words, clearly a true fan! </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ_g7A9cPYNQenb1sgP6fXx8p2CFvH-u4AuICtXpVu7q4EZwWVemNGkZ-FTV_miA12P7c7qUtkJbkb_0Jw1azQtyaYwgzzUWx9xDxZY1HTcScg8LwHVd3tagYAIpI-9IHsAcNBq9ubxM/s400/IMG_9838.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095772695015442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">East 17, in the blurry distance</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The word around the site is that Michael Jackson is dead. It is quite common for wild rumours to spread through festivals so we are not quite sure whether to believe it. The late evening is spent in the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pussy Parlour</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> where Billy Nasty throws out a dubstep set.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Friday morning, we are woken by the baking sunshine. Hedgie (good ) Jonathan crawls out of his oven-like tent and collapses on the grass where it is mildly cooler!</span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGGU_SipkHacQczxtrBULVQLl1pUInCfP69skNUx1dUs-su7FTGiqWR5YuT-ebHUZ_d6-R4JgAh_mGO4ydJXJMmFnBxfgznCf2Ucv0b0dPJUBB0Bvmq0riqLjfJdo30YG5hZMXXsKEk8/s400/IMG_9912.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091985545093714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hedgie, fast asleep on the grass on Friday morning</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This morning is spent wildly chasing the elusive goose that is the health centre. There is something in the air here that has really triggered off my asthma - with all my wheezing and gasping I manage to sleep very little. Eventually a medical centre is located, I see a doctor, get a prescription and I'm given directions to an on-site pharmacy situated on top of a hill on the other side of the site (Grrr). I arrive a wheezy mess and almost hug the lady who gives me a new inhaler. Deep breaths, then time to reunite with the rest of the troops at Regina Spektor.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHRuVDse7-OfrKdwntfRRtMbWF7nBFOo-LDNR_oA6q9hxqzaOqRNcgMcZXl_c0L8WqiodMJMPwvTZnkU7kO-dWVXxLO7hqOBYP-9i4fKetTc-yoMUxia83TeJJV_c_Tsp03bo3Neg2Z8/s400/IMG_9844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095770000090738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The New Yorker, Regina Spektor, is an artist I had forgotten about since university and was pleasantly surprised by this re-discovery (especially the songs <i>Us </i>and <i>Samson</i>). Then, it is time for Icelandic singer, Emiliana Torrini in The Park. Her sweet voice is who I listened to at the most challenging times during my Master's degree. Sitting up on the hill in the sunshine is very pleasant.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; color: rgb(85, 26, 139); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2009/artists/emilianatorrini/photos/img/main.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 626px; height: 351px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Emiliana Torrini</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh9Or6g9T6LdNXBRRyUB2cxMuv9YGSS2hrRl4xBPf4XvcAoV4NHxOUpfB3T8DyLcA_CKg25wlU9v8qUm6TvoCk5MgdYYItIFju2EAfh3xkKbacviHhxwzmFwLP4VZqqshxHjwr7IcYY8/s400/IMG_9855.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095166651976818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stone wall at the entrance to The Park</i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6G5GOwjBj4BEq6Rt2Lv2KebqDmxpEI84qFiuOyodm-zPT8FMnBBt8b7jHk4Sklj8DdKJ1jSyeMu5tARNfrkgu9tVC0rOczI54lkNL6kW5XWiuO9tKNI7o2-oFRT66o1IBWMrJKON8csI/s400/IMG_9851.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095563737424450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sand sculptures in The Park</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg706QrnHAe_MheYd6sbYw_XyJrL6_d9ynY0RaUoSiYFiikqvkpn3QuqFponGwEFNOYrxB4slahGqhCn3S5NC6qubqjiQOTicOGakDAo50GAiAqdZomvCOTIimaT9t4u5-G_KusuPRCGnY/s1600-h/IMG_9865.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg706QrnHAe_MheYd6sbYw_XyJrL6_d9ynY0RaUoSiYFiikqvkpn3QuqFponGwEFNOYrxB4slahGqhCn3S5NC6qubqjiQOTicOGakDAo50GAiAqdZomvCOTIimaT9t4u5-G_KusuPRCGnY/s400/IMG_9865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353094714449638306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Park</span></i></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRyQSVXnXuKoU7ZzkZ6dUx9JXv5oB_aRwfflCXOXa5W9XtDVuLZqZkLpBW-Fnbj7M4TPCeEkapwUVLz6weN4uZSvNWvlLJBmWWf4acNBUvj2kE1mlqO52-O1CxYPg4YiynZJi2N24rb8/s400/SI855275.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></i></div><div><i>Chairs were a good idea afterall...</i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKckQKXcRqeLvpYKPAQ6Xld4wWkDTma4vMwMN90SAwnfax9V266wYGqXGf8YytYzh88MQOZ7X6EQT9sUG2erlc0APQ52GRPU_Yt9aGkswbslcl3vpW_pbojt9n4NCbmCKYAt34zivYYQ/s400/IMG_9857.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095162624536306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It all gets a bit too much for Will!</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErFXHsXY1-EOgc6xl1XK-HYYaGJlfhSu2bE8OPhyphenhypheny26rP5MWBkbJCqVRJaKTv8nl_RcX_HkfVaW9dZXhsx1D4m9OJjjo1-HKRy9F2jul3Uw42QfOYg2837e-9mo5VE-nr7hF0eQd74yY/s1600-h/IMG_9867.JPG"></a></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErFXHsXY1-EOgc6xl1XK-HYYaGJlfhSu2bE8OPhyphenhypheny26rP5MWBkbJCqVRJaKTv8nl_RcX_HkfVaW9dZXhsx1D4m9OJjjo1-HKRy9F2jul3Uw42QfOYg2837e-9mo5VE-nr7hF0eQd74yY/s1600-h/IMG_9867.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiErFXHsXY1-EOgc6xl1XK-HYYaGJlfhSu2bE8OPhyphenhypheny26rP5MWBkbJCqVRJaKTv8nl_RcX_HkfVaW9dZXhsx1D4m9OJjjo1-HKRy9F2jul3Uw42QfOYg2837e-9mo5VE-nr7hF0eQd74yY/s400/IMG_9867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353094702328151154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Emiliana Torrini plays on The Park stage</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV_iDYXYdZef1GcokxSj4HRjwPrZ7m5WgYR1G7e5nPsfW2GMFgv8xWPlg0DWT_0LCCjsV8mtDgpI7pUzaNb1CgIrkg1OaamSVwXGCZiyH07DfJoVtd3YixNX0kAzLbeXB9p31Rl-rWGw/s1600-h/IMG_9868.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV_iDYXYdZef1GcokxSj4HRjwPrZ7m5WgYR1G7e5nPsfW2GMFgv8xWPlg0DWT_0LCCjsV8mtDgpI7pUzaNb1CgIrkg1OaamSVwXGCZiyH07DfJoVtd3YixNX0kAzLbeXB9p31Rl-rWGw/s400/IMG_9868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353094704951141842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Before the rain!</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cannot rest too long, it's time for Lily Allen. Looking very purple and glittery, she wears a white glove in respect for Michael Jackson. She sings her 'F*£$ you', anti-establishment song, which sends most of the crowd crazy shoving two fingers in the air to the government. I find this very strange!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXjInN4DqpIovDvGw-NqIUvZsZU_YznLmqLJbnmX6NDomOpGZcC-Wa4vOUklzB-VL9EYamp6ws158WrCB_nqbxB3Kae8AWKKo9IozY8fzuqDU5jEWOCjaIeedRCUMMMUjZpxQbQnfauI/s400/IMG_9871.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353094694814572786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lily on Pyramid - the audience making rude gestures</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; ">Then, over to Jazz World for The Streets, picking up a grilled Hallumi wrap on the way (yum!). The performance is quite mundane, but we have seats at the District 66 bar which keeps any complaints at bay!</span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ6L_ueAH8MpWGUipC8UDWgCp7jMhN8qOMO_P3woV47wswRGq5z-mmBrVf6h71IKqofLsTHPuC3akNg6JuOIH135nMqq97uSt4TFgmqmdxgzHv3ctu-6qz6mIrU74gDNx_BBLqbm9D4wc/s1600-h/IMG_9925.JPG"></a></span></span></span></span></div></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aDjpRlF1IGYoljfmgMN-D6L4i4DSYGFlovtDRyKXGDpxLPy4l1ek5ETJA1bclVmEy9MrJ4zf1ui1unh_PNGa4GnaGoB7W9c_lf_w4ctR74QNY1IAxnCY21l-k4rld608kyQ31GV1tcA/s1600-h/IMG_9872.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aDjpRlF1IGYoljfmgMN-D6L4i4DSYGFlovtDRyKXGDpxLPy4l1ek5ETJA1bclVmEy9MrJ4zf1ui1unh_PNGa4GnaGoB7W9c_lf_w4ctR74QNY1IAxnCY21l-k4rld608kyQ31GV1tcA/s400/IMG_9872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353092217663404546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sunset over Jazz World</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">They play the classic, <i>Dry your Eyes</i>, which makes me a little more forgiving of their performance. We stop off in the comedy tent and a familiar comedian is on the stage. Last year Sam and I went to the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and went to see this guy's act, however, the fire alarm went off in the middle of a joke, we evacuated the building and the performance was abandoned. So, it is incredible that we walk into the comedy tent just in time to hear the punchline of the same joke and the rest of the act! Talk about perfect timing.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBZXBzby7yaHwiY39ZLbhuMnxNBE0WPhL_RvS_IPwiR3nkh7IDk2BrCht_wrFDI7K8M6FR-wQTBJxjMF1SiML_nUrp3FqgatrFLxV0CfwVQECAtZPthbwk8ORNdJa0AGj3kLaCqKBL2c/s400/IMG_9910.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091988631593714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Half the act viewed in Edinburgh, the other at Glastonbury!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then, we get our first taste of the wonders and strange occurences of Trash City. Hard to explain, but basically full of weird and wacky folk, fireballs, helicopters and pinball machines.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2DfT4rD6bBF981gqRcn1ZfZKaZWWRVKZnKmZcMD-cwUqfb1ivLtLjJp95pq_V4HsxW6GVlSRWgS7c5_JiIuzTSyzS6rlylcH-lIkE8RCqfO3p0VqPJqxDJyiMc4oPE6EdPqY9tqR7fI/s1600-h/IMG_9886.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2DfT4rD6bBF981gqRcn1ZfZKaZWWRVKZnKmZcMD-cwUqfb1ivLtLjJp95pq_V4HsxW6GVlSRWgS7c5_JiIuzTSyzS6rlylcH-lIkE8RCqfO3p0VqPJqxDJyiMc4oPE6EdPqY9tqR7fI/s400/IMG_9886.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353092210721826242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sam watches the antics of Trash City</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueEidfh9bFNrx2Ev1Mk6lhRyTHVWE9Jc5Ab6pP0dxsohCGZSjwz_5KVHZHglX-4mJF-mXjkwtAFI55CeUOmdHv_3vbbBtZKCXm82UhSEDi-BD3Ch-g9GOyBd3td5zbhjxD91-vsw8BPI/s400/IMG_9898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353113591577576466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9sO3ZQO3S0XH97IvGVmVVog3aOj97SapHv9A3wKEG1RKB3v-T_AlhZ8LWzkeE3bAn0NZqB9v50XiL6rNaw996AHXNkgb5Xb1FX-wdeBGh5Ig-GUnkh3Wzys1LDh6d-RTYG1rVT06TUI/s1600-h/IMG_9887.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9sO3ZQO3S0XH97IvGVmVVog3aOj97SapHv9A3wKEG1RKB3v-T_AlhZ8LWzkeE3bAn0NZqB9v50XiL6rNaw996AHXNkgb5Xb1FX-wdeBGh5Ig-GUnkh3Wzys1LDh6d-RTYG1rVT06TUI/s400/IMG_9887.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353092208299303714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The grand opening of Trash City </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGeBds3GK4iIwtbl15i-gQVLbfGjSg0AfEgpjUSUA6Bnkxsu7p0dc7ycMORA8vakQrtDmDC3G0sK5so8VWyKs9CLVSHhMaLWnGkaUX5tM7W4WGXVFuGXSXaHnYJNHtx3ZmA9h-CMxdiQ/s400/SI855328.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Brief stop at the Ladybird Circus on the way back to camp</i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is easy to get up on a Saturday morning when you know that Ralf Harris is singing songs in the sunshine. I feel a wave of emotion pass through me as he sings </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Two Little Boys</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-A31e0xdAeApjggXXGLJIwGvtD5oc5KAY6vd0WnWdip74-PP_ler02FmQnPBgMRVwjg9X0nC4aRWecYBBzLNNNaOCID_d-QhBZiJ9fhdpwUtBlKBFCSXWgcfexuVLOyYxVwLI30UdOU/s1600-h/IMG_9915.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-A31e0xdAeApjggXXGLJIwGvtD5oc5KAY6vd0WnWdip74-PP_ler02FmQnPBgMRVwjg9X0nC4aRWecYBBzLNNNaOCID_d-QhBZiJ9fhdpwUtBlKBFCSXWgcfexuVLOyYxVwLI30UdOU/s400/IMG_9915.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091609883523634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Pretty Flags around Jazz World</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSFpr7QxmQsKbYxbYjDmO0BKcOUD7dMp5NuZpO7LkhKqz22oZx8xF3bmpkdvJKnzoMksV4kSgakiCqKEY3BzR4WyVaYZOA8iyHUMCrLIirOmjy0uRNrC6eBB_yyG4qW_YIeqkpShI6-k/s400/SI855340.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Practical flags (Lewis is here)</i></div></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrfBYpWyQCV47UJ4-EHwKd-zw-Yj5Yghgygkr5mv86yhMR7tKjVzmoCNjpZWcQyQLSIlUe8cpeYoqY9WwQtRn5QrrqKCSQLqO4aU9NxsWtxau2C0QK_KtaonpohmyVdKIa-OtS5PgNEM/s1600-h/IMG_9923.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrfBYpWyQCV47UJ4-EHwKd-zw-Yj5Yghgygkr5mv86yhMR7tKjVzmoCNjpZWcQyQLSIlUe8cpeYoqY9WwQtRn5QrrqKCSQLqO4aU9NxsWtxau2C0QK_KtaonpohmyVdKIa-OtS5PgNEM/s400/IMG_9923.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091602497388434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Will religiously applies the Factor 50 & still manages to get burned!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Enough nostalgic childhood memories of </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tie me kangaroo down sport</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and we are off to the Lancashire Hotpots. Witty and entertaining, well worth going to see. It is ridiculously hot outside, so we seek shade inside the Avalon Cafe where more acoustic stuff plays.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUloZzpO2cd-_vBMb_Id3-1yPSPieumD_PKJjZd-Yk3wDqLkpz8ANAuA-P-EipZnVZVZKYt1hbwcH_43aW6k6ve-4ID-_FDLCYEB7ynVPQ_Du0GJ7TFffDVQW1TkW7Ooz78MLkq4CryTU/s400/IMG_9920.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091600643129570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Avalon Cafe, a haven of calm & cool</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcor0zSzk_PoHGy_1dRlpSWijV1H_Rn9U7E_ZKzoQ7Qj9PMJj5_jbDNJzv2UijOGH5263V_kSkgvlNON2cY0SLSU4MIaPJKzNywQ-6qFnFiKrvz-5g8wVRUga62r3Q0b36flJiskXp394/s400/IMG_9953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090970191118034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Capturing the crowd</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoJhTpTdOB0VkTkXAH8DAAYogHYtYZeat_paqE-bb1uGqcmVyU2VhIEh9eIih3iRIp-nEkAzmhMfdapZkTezrI4suOMUb6tLrXSF3aiA51RyI_yQncCGoQXlzioOejkThvcMda4ifzCM/s1600-h/IMG_9854.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoJhTpTdOB0VkTkXAH8DAAYogHYtYZeat_paqE-bb1uGqcmVyU2VhIEh9eIih3iRIp-nEkAzmhMfdapZkTezrI4suOMUb6tLrXSF3aiA51RyI_yQncCGoQXlzioOejkThvcMda4ifzCM/s400/IMG_9854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353095552214751618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Sam resting his feet between gigs</i></div></span></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">WHERE ARE YOU? </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The most frequently asked question of the festival for those with functional phones (mainly T-mobile it seems!). Answers range include</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">; I'm to the left of Pyramid. I'm under the England flag. I'm in the Pussy Parlour. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Other common phrases or exclamations inlcude</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">; Eeeew, that was soooo disgusting. Oh my God, it smells so badly here. How can people be so disgusting? </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These comments are generally but not exclusively related to portaloo discussions.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmKsFdZCD7zQfqxR55hOOC7fwFIbj7lC8OIScXPyuRntXL89wuEiJxOvfbl2OvkotWfnFYCRCpzBPatOCt6p2nXwzNuWEWwR7rJaGcJ-MmV5hei5peu7K2t5CkFMFRJgj_uInniRaE3s/s400/IMG_9951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090977967963346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pippi shows us the effects of dry shampoo!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This afternoon gets a bit more lively with the much-hyped, much-anticipated La Roux playing over in the Dance Village. I enjoy the set, and the song </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fascination</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is certainly growing on me! <i>Bulletproof</i> is still my favourite..."this time baby...I'll be bulletproof", very catchy!</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2009/6/27/1246130994780/Elly-Jackson-of-La-Roux-p-002.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 180px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>La Roux</i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibY7Uljzq5Je_XddaH9aHVmETzl6mQJDLtTea8xMXRTAOBE8_xUy8TQ2HI3EIISIF9nosvvZFSIqX3xSC4rVFblDAcNvArBT6gK4erdXLWNPFMzpXER-3vTiTzL-VpyYGnuLd7UNelX8E/s400/IMG_9930.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091402596930994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the crowd I get separated from the others while The Qemists play. I listen to some of Deadmau5, and then make my way over to Kasabian. At which point I realise that I no longer have my ticket (needed for entering and exiting our campsite). After a flash of panic I decide to retrace my footsteps through the still-mucky grounds and miraculously about fifteen minutes later I see a small folded white paper - my ticket! </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiboOcqyqG5YKJEUCLQtNoRT8-YStpQu-fXTcdYosPP11mCAIME255KJ_sdh9FcHxN3qSYz9_wjWc3JAVh20GfBES_7CkrbVFGdOwhpZBIRPRU4IVtguj18t37Qzy5_EhILas_Em15QTMU/s400/IMG_9931.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091398487224738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 11px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I find my ticket right beside this posterboard (note rubbish levels on the ground!)</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 9px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wander back to the Pyramid stage for Kasabian, and then over to the Other stage for Pendulum - both bands give amazing performances and there is a great atmosphere in the audience.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeHGU5Eq_OMe2tngVAurTTpNh9afo8u48lMi5bAsnC1fgtNWpaaxUJs_db8I-_rfvk2GEIkn1cQsCZ6rmfl8XlY4_itGfGCcvh7FL2Bhn6z2E7wvC5JaKTxJkhejmxHqQVMiHTpdj_x4/s1600-h/IMG_9933.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeHGU5Eq_OMe2tngVAurTTpNh9afo8u48lMi5bAsnC1fgtNWpaaxUJs_db8I-_rfvk2GEIkn1cQsCZ6rmfl8XlY4_itGfGCcvh7FL2Bhn6z2E7wvC5JaKTxJkhejmxHqQVMiHTpdj_x4/s400/IMG_9933.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091218220216498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These young lovers passionately kiss before the crowds pile in for Pendulum</span></i></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEnvIXyeN5CoCiLQZK0rB4FFst5BcAYn8WyNl5teDEBjLS6f2gZs0BNNsD6Oj8zKTBOqyHPMVGfJEuHxr7fn4qdXLqAw56UTdIP3GqU6CnhQbnt9DteXR1Oil-5bo429_3tUNeMJRyPo/s1600-h/IMG_9937.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEnvIXyeN5CoCiLQZK0rB4FFst5BcAYn8WyNl5teDEBjLS6f2gZs0BNNsD6Oj8zKTBOqyHPMVGfJEuHxr7fn4qdXLqAw56UTdIP3GqU6CnhQbnt9DteXR1Oil-5bo429_3tUNeMJRyPo/s400/IMG_9937.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091215724015570" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Rocking out at Pendulum</span></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZezCDesEVKzKDy_CVLWUEMREHclGgS1hr4zsyzNJLE_fc6Y3b8JzsfGaGyz3YE129l3qHaosdJcmY_z6fn3_xJLJfNejOMNSoQn8b4B0m6Tv70J2qVSzqSnBkiBvKLOcNffefBPIDLM/s400/IMG_9932.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091222746718386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">The feeling of listening to wonderful music while watching the sunset is incredible</span></i></div></a></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fULcXUz2n6-1PvCe8ljw4-VZgF84Z0XO3Gdz5we9SS2VNw0LazDu763-pGgovqIU5FRotgQFiYBe0xNFYmYGasafMWIQHc64lobetX2g5aJMhIsIf6afzVSHQ8VdaE-J3smRXcKUoYg/s400/IMG_9945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353091210860025938" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Making my way back to the Dance Village</span></i></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/music/Pix/pictures/2009/6/30/1246359621870/Tents-at-Glastonbury-2009-001.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/music/Pix/pictures/2009/6/30/1246359621870/Tents-at-Glastonbury-2009-001.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 276px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">No rain this evening over the festival</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Back at the Dance Village I bump into Sam, Lewis and Will - just in time for Eric Prydz. Good fun, but not quite as much fun as 2 many DJs!! This is the best gig of the festival for me, I simply do not want the music to stop! With mixes of MGMT, Michael Jackson, Eurythmics, The Gossip.......it is just incredible.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1jz5l59Y8WpuCk5pELjcxRzLhWB5bS63qSMWZV99zH12ScJSnljH7S3hYocqLmee45jHx_s26Gk3ZFInDRLIwLJENYp5D2ygNDr7KPRLVIdF_ezRPezhWKNoYV70fzax7RC9qrIzgSU/s1600-h/IMG_9950.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1jz5l59Y8WpuCk5pELjcxRzLhWB5bS63qSMWZV99zH12ScJSnljH7S3hYocqLmee45jHx_s26Gk3ZFInDRLIwLJENYp5D2ygNDr7KPRLVIdF_ezRPezhWKNoYV70fzax7RC9qrIzgSU/s400/IMG_9950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090980678638946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The grand finale, 2 Many DJs</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sunday morning begins with 6 day riot, who I have never hear of but I enjoy a great deal. There is a rush to get over to Dance West for Goldfish, the South African duo whom Adam introduced me to a couple of years ago. I like the fact that they play instruments live during their DJ sets. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgims19Rkr9UK5BskAtNIb9VqjIqg-1yR5cOfGdP9UHu9AjFnJRoFedBLFi1XnP-e1Jgj2zzOWaYEqzab_50NdPHILViE-UWwUBIeDs6zq7WJM4iNiwce03kF_U6unkG41r_9mfaUlUZ3k/s400/IMG_9958.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090967239696658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Goldfish</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A little too early on a Sunday morning for more dance music, it is time to sit on the grass and listen to Emmy the Great and Amadou and Mariam. Later, Will and I head over to see the Cuban band, Orquesta Aragón. We eat some delicious Goan fish curry, drink some pear cider and giddily dash over to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (great costumes but not such an exciting show). </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Music/Pix/pictures/2009/6/28/1246218412096/Karen-O-of-the-Yeah-Yeah--002.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 460px; height: 276px; " /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then it's time for...Madness!! <i>Baggy Trousers</i>, <i>House of Love</i> and <i>Wings of a Dove</i> - what fun to sway and sing along to!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVWY7sCMYhcHkJ-uD0Yy6Tzf476qbM8fJ6dJmtcPum5BetQrivVib9yNT3PAfX91PZAh7-XPcTy93K4tC7w2aacCbpIY188Sn-Kf6UQSrZv56IjEvC_IIS8Mx9bCxE1HBzUuJMt9fENQ/s400/IMG_9963.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090739291155890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Madness</span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuTqF_d4PgzYoxuxP5neS3v01paWkt6lzFFMH0VZJT0Lv97GLKO42xnWTpDSt_fsoVUkUfgYjKqrcpwifmitainbLrdVYnxlJwLDhMvqRNVN8arYFMFfljMogEdbjEf7Eb3oGN_IG3zs/s1600-h/IMG_9968.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuTqF_d4PgzYoxuxP5neS3v01paWkt6lzFFMH0VZJT0Lv97GLKO42xnWTpDSt_fsoVUkUfgYjKqrcpwifmitainbLrdVYnxlJwLDhMvqRNVN8arYFMFfljMogEdbjEf7Eb3oGN_IG3zs/s400/IMG_9968.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090732209714706" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lewis (with Hedgie in stripes) during Madness</span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwiRH6kHSiwUP-UmzQbDq70KUn_FpOM52d9o2MBaDoJQNp4Oq7eFlH56dlZ5WsJwr2s5PG_RZoaEnDcheDa3vWx2JZPxtXkMAgMVqYWx2RNim2zWzVVGOzCEriyhror91MHIWEt5AyQM/s400/IMG_9967.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090731077020658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Will + Pear Cider = Bad idea</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Next, it is time for the Noisettes, London Electricity and Mr.Scruff. For me, the question of whether to see The Prodigy or Blur is curbed when somehow I end up passing out on my way to the toilet and land up on a stretcher bed in the Glasto emergency medical tent...the mystery remains as to what actually happened. After four hours of teeth grinding, seizures, hallucinations and paranoia under the supervision of the medical team and drinking pints of water, I begin to come around. About 2am I make my way back to camp, wrapped in a survival blanket, and try to explain to the others what happened. There is talk of drink spiking. Having looked into the symtoms, it appears that it was some kind of amphetamine. Those four hours were, without doubt, the most scary few hours of my life. I remember crying and crying, beggin the medics to make it go away. Without a phone, there is no way to contact anyone. The rain is torrential tonight, leaving the grounds looking like a mud-bath once more.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Monday, we are all up by 6am. I am still feeling quite weak and wobbly after the terrible occurences of the night before. The boys and the van speed off to join the 15-mile tailback of vehicles leaving the festival. I later learn that on route to Exeter the rear window literally pops out of the van, smashing into smithereens. How on earth did that happen? Myself, Pippi and Jonathan are hoping that we can hop onto one of the earlier coaches back to London (we currently have tickets for the midday). No such luck, we have no choice but to laze about in the sunshine, reading our Glastonbury 'Review' and wallowing in our festival odours. Considering the constant reminders of 'Love the farm, leave no trace' I cannot believe the rubbish. There are fields filled with abandoned tents, wellys, cans, cups, food, cigarette butts, clothes, shoes and torches. It is unimaginable how this farm will return to luscious pastures anytime soon.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbHEys9d7Jvzv3-UJrXwYpdwN2va9vNHK_K_ap96p9iDs48jPkrgx-dotCMV5fK_9po2t2Rw-Mpa2HjQ7NYt8jyl8klUi8JPPXkMd7NPQbXqCbMKjM7IpglJUSI27kxxtXE3ckcu5tJA/s400/IMG_9971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353090727435876946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Glastonbury abandoned once more</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After a slight detour on the coach to avoid traffic, we eventually return to Victoria. Back to London and the heatwave of 2009 (last one 2003 apparently!).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So, in review here is my list of yays and boos of my first Glastonbury.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Yays.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sunshine. Seeing Sam & co. Drinking hot chocolate with cream and flake under a shelter while the rains pours down. 2 Many DJs. Crepe with butter, sugar and lemon. The choice of amazing music. Standing at the top of the Hill of Death. Sitting on top of the camper van with an even better view. Nice people. Goan fish curry. Emiliana Torrini. Mr. Scruff. Babywipes. Pear cider. Free stuff. Welly boots (as comfy as slippers!). East 17's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alright. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dry shampoo. Pretty flags (all colours of the rainbow) and practical flags (e.g. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lewis is here</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">). Fancy dress - makes it much easier to spot friends in the crowds. Tiger (the adorable 18-month baby next door) waving at us, giggling and singing 'ee-eye ee-eye oh'!</span></span></i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Boos.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ending up with Glasto medics, twice. Rain. Mud. Poo and portaloos. Phones without signal or battery. Climbing the Hill of Death at least twice a day. Clashes between great bands. The smell of other people's pear cider vomit. Walking miles to see bands. Sore feet. Not meeting up with friends due to lack of phone. Catching a glimpse of onself in one of the rare portaloos with a mirror. 02 phone network (system flooded). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was fun though! Back next year? ....ah sure, who knows where I'll be?</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbHEys9d7Jvzv3-UJrXwYpdwN2va9vNHK_K_ap96p9iDs48jPkrgx-dotCMV5fK_9po2t2Rw-Mpa2HjQ7NYt8jyl8klUi8JPPXkMd7NPQbXqCbMKjM7IpglJUSI27kxxtXE3ckcu5tJA/s1600-h/IMG_9971.JPG"></a></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-41492745468139800992009-06-21T15:08:00.000-07:002009-06-22T03:49:33.497-07:00The Yellow House<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">La Antigua Guatemala (Old Guatemala) is the place where I spend the last few days<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of this trip to Latin America. It i</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s a city in the central highlands of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala" title="Guatemala" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Guatemala</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> famous for its well-preserved </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain" title="Spain" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Spanish</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud%C3%A9jar" title="Mudéjar" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Mudéjar</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">-influenced </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque" title="Baroque" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">Baroque</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> architecture as well as a number of ruins of colonial churches. It has been designated a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">UNESCO</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">World Heritage Site</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusXoNmVPAfMNwlGc9Z_gxDbFAS_brUJu90B9h2sfrN-hMtNRD0Jd8gQeGAKhLnFo-mAR7w04w52PZ5ojuAoN6JQzyBKr-ai0rqkcHfO3HzGm2zYROnxDqx7pSwHc0P0X2YOv3FgWZ7fM/s1600-h/DSCN2348.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusXoNmVPAfMNwlGc9Z_gxDbFAS_brUJu90B9h2sfrN-hMtNRD0Jd8gQeGAKhLnFo-mAR7w04w52PZ5ojuAoN6JQzyBKr-ai0rqkcHfO3HzGm2zYROnxDqx7pSwHc0P0X2YOv3FgWZ7fM/s400/DSCN2348.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914268656079970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">La </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Merced</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, featuring Maya lotus flower designs</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjmQiQrW9io6oYKty0Ek2HhukA1VFEiIKtCjzcmyMdzk7yq1YsrEUDQGvIzCm1cKCxP7q6ZC4KAvb6mVR5G8qZ6SerHGCRNqU9JvgrzuDyUdvzppY239scnrZX9-ZKT9Lu2YDP1Z-AjY/s1600-h/DSCN2350.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjmQiQrW9io6oYKty0Ek2HhukA1VFEiIKtCjzcmyMdzk7yq1YsrEUDQGvIzCm1cKCxP7q6ZC4KAvb6mVR5G8qZ6SerHGCRNqU9JvgrzuDyUdvzppY239scnrZX9-ZKT9Lu2YDP1Z-AjY/s400/DSCN2350.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914263090342882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3etAPMWx0VkVZmaR1_n7n82Pg_Bo5N13Wvw63qUOVSFGLk-MX0-qv4RENxyVsHe_IZSORZqM16KIt3anTa20L0aUP7JD_xCdb4ZqBZV3ArwKPRV6MP0MT8z_ZQ6CkNwnDG_FauyubVPU/s400/IMG_9804.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350099834865470914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Central Park, Antigua</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ6ZLG_BBFiOSH8Tiny40kFSOvhJu9SD5jv2xpfFysplYn1rL00R4uSS5HZFRtKkYS87-K8HjBlX4wmr-KQown3OV3Vgf5y6TLY9JN51LjoDqKiEg3qmzCA46DQPWNpgf0wS8EQuHFMc/s1600-h/IMG_9773.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ6ZLG_BBFiOSH8Tiny40kFSOvhJu9SD5jv2xpfFysplYn1rL00R4uSS5HZFRtKkYS87-K8HjBlX4wmr-KQown3OV3Vgf5y6TLY9JN51LjoDqKiEg3qmzCA46DQPWNpgf0wS8EQuHFMc/s400/IMG_9773.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913028314628578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The city is full of cafe courtyards</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA471OtRs2PrT10jdYl4O0nucm2wWUCDSkn9ao0jUNoyhxmHHjUNDd8QJwDHajh-l3dedAz7wm55TBWmmn03ODWTl2h82oJ_ZGIlV-m8KKqX1oyVqa2FJo8QjyY4oRReZY28W8bShMUM/s1600-h/IMG_9786.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYA471OtRs2PrT10jdYl4O0nucm2wWUCDSkn9ao0jUNoyhxmHHjUNDd8QJwDHajh-l3dedAz7wm55TBWmmn03ODWTl2h82oJ_ZGIlV-m8KKqX1oyVqa2FJo8QjyY4oRReZY28W8bShMUM/s400/IMG_9786.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349912728640553810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Antigua, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Volcan</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">de</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Agua</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in the background</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwF1vjZLKZ5Ze5e9V1YzQxKFJUKnf9kvaSb5_b_6clH5EWF5srvNLGO3kEY2akCq6gNVMxuVeBQPgyPLneVfKcgLMYTF044EqXsqaiEnAaeWl-6EiDO6OBEfkkPwULLs9XVZIW9DXqnU/s1600-h/IMG_9795.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwF1vjZLKZ5Ze5e9V1YzQxKFJUKnf9kvaSb5_b_6clH5EWF5srvNLGO3kEY2akCq6gNVMxuVeBQPgyPLneVfKcgLMYTF044EqXsqaiEnAaeWl-6EiDO6OBEfkkPwULLs9XVZIW9DXqnU/s400/IMG_9795.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349912719697006402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Guatemalan Metropolitan Cathedral </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Coincidentally Adam arrives on the same day, so Irina and I meet him for a last supper before he heads on to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Semuc</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Champay</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwMTOaaDH3ktuBEu-00iyl1fV9uwxt4PdIyRvz9sFnWc2JfidxOqCMI0wkKq03ErsD1kRpEtDOs79uskIyhI2eJfIRSHADZ3rMgNUMSiHBUKMdsEGWzXEFdTI2qQmNG9owV7qJV7HD5I/s400/IMG_9732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913959454605282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Just like old times in Argentina</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have a tasty meal and walk over to a great bohemian bar, Cafe No Se. On route, I am deeply engaged in conversation with one of our new friends, admiring the colonial buildings across the road when I smack my forehead off one of the protruding stone windowsills. The lump grows and blood pours. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Yes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Adam confirms, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he windowsill is hard</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. I ask for an ice-pack inside the bar, I am certainly not the first it seems! I stay for one drink, the rest of the evening is fuzzy.</span></span><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKx9WTdW3vB0VYJWmvpxj9_2-n9RQTeq7hnvUiuaZI7XtqfcKPPAzO1Pslmk65ju1Xfffapm7hH0U0-aA8QWK-6ts4HM6hwrKiuz83oZV8sjmiA9y48T7f5FIVlkU54RhsDffV6yNT4I/s400/IMG_9796.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349912716155332802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Days later I revisit the windowsill</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pacaya</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is one of the world's most active volcanoes. The exciting feature for tourists is the visibility of flowing lava (which some bright sparks have decided to sell marshmallows for toasting upon). </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbjK3cXwMbrpfIz_eXv02IjL3fJ8FeSfSZN_xDWDBn7bthO6U8h0DwMmZf641kaAFmAagkGILFwjY6iirW_fdTyhwg8UxJMQ9mWUm5406ptRoYpVUZMKouqfkHjLPBeJtvH1o3sYUkYg/s400/DSCN2314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914837850384450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pacaya</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Volcano</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We are dropped off into the midst of chaos. Boys with horses, children selling sticks and fellow tourists have been offloaded into a small parking lot. Guides run around calling out names, and rounding up groups. We begin the 1.5 hr hike upwards. We pass a white bull and numerous guys offering us a 'taxi' on top of their horse. </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNg7eD7KYzhoUCBrY1KhpG4VrxUCweo_YtS6HE_Dg30BUxlVdOSzF3MGzAv5ITITYNERQr2eN4fKJXYvUy-Poe3xkUoHj3OCRF61AoKZEt0RheyZmfkIHbc439HDKvRHp7zhul9KgaeU/s1600-h/IMG_9733.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNg7eD7KYzhoUCBrY1KhpG4VrxUCweo_YtS6HE_Dg30BUxlVdOSzF3MGzAv5ITITYNERQr2eN4fKJXYvUy-Poe3xkUoHj3OCRF61AoKZEt0RheyZmfkIHbc439HDKvRHp7zhul9KgaeU/s400/IMG_9733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913953268603506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The starting point..</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDtR8hz2SRJY0UkEMC5ZTYfKQHdEMLNTZpea6AyQOGeUfiAZYjoS0T4sTNhikHWsqHsby1VG0_MezC13k4GHIrzRq92naR-7JpslyTeqzUKBP084XjIUM8121YGcKZKy-k07A4sBS_K8/s1600-h/IMG_9734.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDtR8hz2SRJY0UkEMC5ZTYfKQHdEMLNTZpea6AyQOGeUfiAZYjoS0T4sTNhikHWsqHsby1VG0_MezC13k4GHIrzRq92naR-7JpslyTeqzUKBP084XjIUM8121YGcKZKy-k07A4sBS_K8/s400/IMG_9734.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913950201846322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Initial blue skies and view of countryside</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG4UkwBSeIpDwKNNLOK5c8bmjFqHGZQ8mOS5oH_FBS12p-p0v4fHLP9leyKtvpbD6QmKoizhJBg4GoIJERPZOkuNcMywBHd8m8zT_8Cs_iA1PXHUFfJm8zbFW3ioZFoWWH_occGJhtcs/s1600-h/IMG_9736.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG4UkwBSeIpDwKNNLOK5c8bmjFqHGZQ8mOS5oH_FBS12p-p0v4fHLP9leyKtvpbD6QmKoizhJBg4GoIJERPZOkuNcMywBHd8m8zT_8Cs_iA1PXHUFfJm8zbFW3ioZFoWWH_occGJhtcs/s400/IMG_9736.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913949767949506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The ghostly bull</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cMjIDGS7DMBALUGyOo-c9RqxuNCL5WwxQxFkecNzsVKc_Ig59gwwzqfFcaM96hYEgtWxMsq_o1GlwyxsAX_Y4PxTLP7EOh-bFCqThFyIA80zeadayaL4H9obnchaUrhW7EQsvZPELw8/s1600-h/IMG_9737.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cMjIDGS7DMBALUGyOo-c9RqxuNCL5WwxQxFkecNzsVKc_Ig59gwwzqfFcaM96hYEgtWxMsq_o1GlwyxsAX_Y4PxTLP7EOh-bFCqThFyIA80zeadayaL4H9obnchaUrhW7EQsvZPELw8/s400/IMG_9737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913943940270226" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The view for most the hike</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_dKVM2ZnR4fZsfhvSvENTW3WKTzge5o3rKYpv3K3vWC3dJCiVaucUjefTQPI4wDQK5QI0-mKImWDkDxhmYrawdsTnvxWXX3MH9W0vFeU9PxRO17SIkgNZ-LxtJkAL6C6vW3XMWilN0/s1600-h/IMG_9739.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl_dKVM2ZnR4fZsfhvSvENTW3WKTzge5o3rKYpv3K3vWC3dJCiVaucUjefTQPI4wDQK5QI0-mKImWDkDxhmYrawdsTnvxWXX3MH9W0vFeU9PxRO17SIkgNZ-LxtJkAL6C6vW3XMWilN0/s400/IMG_9739.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913712579850258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Booo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> to crowds</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcDgOUI8FRUFsYbvF1fuAwAh4J8eeSxCobkpyY-m9LUTaNtzrrEfUZV5o89-GW1tYtzfSHVdfRuJ0mVNKW8LrooSQIkd6VMfMv9cSqYjmY6G9QTXglMVk5A13kqbFaDEAnvz2mxBh5vo/s1600-h/IMG_9741.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcDgOUI8FRUFsYbvF1fuAwAh4J8eeSxCobkpyY-m9LUTaNtzrrEfUZV5o89-GW1tYtzfSHVdfRuJ0mVNKW8LrooSQIkd6VMfMv9cSqYjmY6G9QTXglMVk5A13kqbFaDEAnvz2mxBh5vo/s400/IMG_9741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913710875666386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The texture & shapes of this volcanic rock is incredible</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvI734_GNJvVVzjOCUl3WguSEsmjyUjMBr3TZ5PAtTTZ3IPqjGfgmyhehU-qvfpyF7zdfTo8nJ8WWzpq6H1BZvhvH-e8slbHh6GsHvWmoZkTxGJRTS7VgOWUQwpfg-SENlW35wTcmxj8/s1600-h/IMG_9744.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvI734_GNJvVVzjOCUl3WguSEsmjyUjMBr3TZ5PAtTTZ3IPqjGfgmyhehU-qvfpyF7zdfTo8nJ8WWzpq6H1BZvhvH-e8slbHh6GsHvWmoZkTxGJRTS7VgOWUQwpfg-SENlW35wTcmxj8/s400/IMG_9744.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913703175306258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Flowing lava</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzF_RaRduJSBspFTjD3GpkXdqX6fo8btHe1gaJZBjmi7P7UQb5gun5JDqvkpU1wjXsXloCjESZX7DI5bHmsIoXyYorfUIk_FQf7bM_6lF4LQhw7reCZ-lXPCx6gPcsFVtocisISA4YIg/s1600-h/IMG_9746.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnzF_RaRduJSBspFTjD3GpkXdqX6fo8btHe1gaJZBjmi7P7UQb5gun5JDqvkpU1wjXsXloCjESZX7DI5bHmsIoXyYorfUIk_FQf7bM_6lF4LQhw7reCZ-lXPCx6gPcsFVtocisISA4YIg/s400/IMG_9746.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913707328122578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Giant hot coals!</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6cRd2gAckqYJEdx3RZZqMucGL8fS8tI6cIN4fK4P3fDPoKR5Jmx4YOt9Sts1fifxqazuhmyMOxvccmLk_KSh7BTQ9otTMZj1NyyzUk1ce9WUbd5kMmLfrUu1fgwsfIl1CdiHbJsbhaA/s1600-h/IMG_9754.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6cRd2gAckqYJEdx3RZZqMucGL8fS8tI6cIN4fK4P3fDPoKR5Jmx4YOt9Sts1fifxqazuhmyMOxvccmLk_KSh7BTQ9otTMZj1NyyzUk1ce9WUbd5kMmLfrUu1fgwsfIl1CdiHbJsbhaA/s400/IMG_9754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913702874286802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marshmallow toasters</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We are halfway up when a thick mist drops, creating an eerie feel. Along the way, we realise that we have made a rather silly decision to climb the volcano on Saturday, given the crowds. Later I learn that 400 people climb the volcano this afternoon. There is a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">mixture</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> of locals and foreigners who are enjoying a weekend free from working or </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">voluntering</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in Guatemala. For me personally, the crowds really cloud the experience, fighting for a spot near the lava is not what I had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">imagined</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. At the top, we wave to Adam across the crowds. Seeing the lava makes it worthwhile, it is pretty </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">cool</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (can't think of a better word). We return down, the temperature has really dropped, along with the sun. The rain pours, and we slip and slide in the mud all the way back to the bus.</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG1dnedcIJpRmPu07P4eDz8OfBeWvL7TwhKN_bapYsA-dY1B17qOmSozJGWvXUxUEHr_yHiZi30QwL7bY9DEBe1WHvsJrjOGZWKzTj0ShwzNRNAi0NvXZ9PJ0d4Tyss2hcV80niM7FUM/s1600-h/DSCN2321.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG1dnedcIJpRmPu07P4eDz8OfBeWvL7TwhKN_bapYsA-dY1B17qOmSozJGWvXUxUEHr_yHiZi30QwL7bY9DEBe1WHvsJrjOGZWKzTj0ShwzNRNAi0NvXZ9PJ0d4Tyss2hcV80niM7FUM/s400/DSCN2321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914836691798546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNBy-kFvVw33y394SqYe313gwpWXThCZCyfxBJET_coypPwTMxMTaIKG2yaOl9QDplaCvpCWEMH9sMezRqgdGgngFFeyBAurTRcYYcyNcdKKGpj8FSA1zah4iTKFIo_TXc05TF4xE0cQ/s1600-h/DSCN2325.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNBy-kFvVw33y394SqYe313gwpWXThCZCyfxBJET_coypPwTMxMTaIKG2yaOl9QDplaCvpCWEMH9sMezRqgdGgngFFeyBAurTRcYYcyNcdKKGpj8FSA1zah4iTKFIo_TXc05TF4xE0cQ/s400/DSCN2325.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914830796286994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On Sunday, Irina accurately notes that "to chicken bus" is now </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">officially</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> a verb - as in "we chicken bused it to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Chichicastenango</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> market today". I like chicken buses - the bright colours, the personalised interior, the party atmosphere created by the pumping </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bachata </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">music</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. However, our journey to Chichi shakes my confidence a tad. On the positive, the speeds clocked ensure that we arrive at the market before most of the other tourists..</span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></h3><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.world66.com/ch/ic/ke/chicken_bus_galleryfull"><img src="http://images.world66.com/ch/ic/ke/chicken_bus_galleryfull" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 583px; height: 389px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">No two chicken buses are ever the same...</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Chichi market occurs every Sunday and filled with all kinds of wonderful tapestries, weaving, fruit and lots of tat. The market is well-laid out and friendly - it is easy to spend hours wandering around. </span></h3></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kqxxKQRsyYc3Yh8M1cbupbj87XDJbU7aBaVsVZ93eSVlJuNS4Es99gfGg7maUSSO7F8nsNluw7ltyEmDWu0hlwhu61m2DO0d08Z3iQHILFKlPAgOcbT9foQ_t7X0N1UgKr85TsLw444/s1600-h/IMG_9763.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kqxxKQRsyYc3Yh8M1cbupbj87XDJbU7aBaVsVZ93eSVlJuNS4Es99gfGg7maUSSO7F8nsNluw7ltyEmDWu0hlwhu61m2DO0d08Z3iQHILFKlPAgOcbT9foQ_t7X0N1UgKr85TsLw444/s400/IMG_9763.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913487002118770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OOG-6zlbEquR9ueJAtQM13p67m3-nA8qvv0hyphenhyphenAoDyZ14uLPRrCjXtRf_Mbnl75hX7A9_CMeqeJkzQavqzsI3h3wYqd6AT05HUSocwsUIQFZcrdANjiJMFwXkA1ZV-bQ8J4RQEObAiMk/s1600-h/IMG_9768.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OOG-6zlbEquR9ueJAtQM13p67m3-nA8qvv0hyphenhyphenAoDyZ14uLPRrCjXtRf_Mbnl75hX7A9_CMeqeJkzQavqzsI3h3wYqd6AT05HUSocwsUIQFZcrdANjiJMFwXkA1ZV-bQ8J4RQEObAiMk/s400/IMG_9768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913483968710114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyBdllzbKUtme7bbuWyxaTtjxcFv0S22UEisB5CwUz62gQpNf2yLbmrZVqH4fWK_JRxyHSE5ruczVjY62DVRFvNHdt1uJKja9Dc0nTiC4jwfYAXiV1T5K3TQ3wIvDj4ksRSBKYl9MDSw/s1600-h/IMG_9769.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyBdllzbKUtme7bbuWyxaTtjxcFv0S22UEisB5CwUz62gQpNf2yLbmrZVqH4fWK_JRxyHSE5ruczVjY62DVRFvNHdt1uJKja9Dc0nTiC4jwfYAXiV1T5K3TQ3wIvDj4ksRSBKYl9MDSw/s400/IMG_9769.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913483959938402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shopping for Jesus, Mary & Joseph</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JeeDXDoGWesWTE1gs-3OsiRlIjZJuzVp7Ra0Cyk77Kfsk6cbfs4ut0GT-ncMSDQyQB90CuczSwDD6Tsy9LP31B7uHtUGkjKOusteT1Rz60Qw0K7Nuu9OQ5UT_DW1Qr84N5ZuZgpvHNk/s1600-h/IMG_9772.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JeeDXDoGWesWTE1gs-3OsiRlIjZJuzVp7Ra0Cyk77Kfsk6cbfs4ut0GT-ncMSDQyQB90CuczSwDD6Tsy9LP31B7uHtUGkjKOusteT1Rz60Qw0K7Nuu9OQ5UT_DW1Qr84N5ZuZgpvHNk/s400/IMG_9772.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913479254484306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Beautiful jewlery</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNp6FLhLry0FEfdFgCZsDp3oY2uMTg8vICcjkr2ttY-SB39JRoKYDDzFDTL9XgeJOY75Qnjz1tmgyGjbZh5wceFLGum7npPfHM8O6baVDgu-8BFNqZXCuzm93LtzVxj6okF_7xlVPWeo/s1600-h/IMG_9771.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNp6FLhLry0FEfdFgCZsDp3oY2uMTg8vICcjkr2ttY-SB39JRoKYDDzFDTL9XgeJOY75Qnjz1tmgyGjbZh5wceFLGum7npPfHM8O6baVDgu-8BFNqZXCuzm93LtzVxj6okF_7xlVPWeo/s400/IMG_9771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349913031351786914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Chichi market</span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-2kLCiJxwfT2smltuD9PqWRmBsalTyoL-4UOm0utI87EszzUwNCIU0D_CcV9otAP6sK4wYKMtGK2KolagYsEJDuUnal0eykNY9CilkEUdlJt-t_qtg1qVHtZHlGpN_XwnrtT7D3zMG0/s1600-h/DSCN2338.JPG"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMvu6YxIGatCgWwdeOxcGBLDQQuztetDNYfpEScQ2k4kZoPH8_-LSYFHptyckfV20vXMaVX377X85mNqPNLXBci4icwH4L3hGWxPyxjCXgRqYaxALHiQPhD1BsaokYfytwruyuIksrx4/s1600-h/DSCN2340.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMvu6YxIGatCgWwdeOxcGBLDQQuztetDNYfpEScQ2k4kZoPH8_-LSYFHptyckfV20vXMaVX377X85mNqPNLXBci4icwH4L3hGWxPyxjCXgRqYaxALHiQPhD1BsaokYfytwruyuIksrx4/s400/DSCN2340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914558654606562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooJn-GpJDg2TDoo-NujRmE0QqHpXhdF2ji2DoWU6-13n8poNohoGJ01vA3RnwRf2I085ISJoeS7ZgzcsPQMUbbC0k76slcLmOpthV3Cvq4-_U35e1TbOHsjynWGx7RVg49aJiVTX6Q4M/s1600-h/DSCN2341.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooJn-GpJDg2TDoo-NujRmE0QqHpXhdF2ji2DoWU6-13n8poNohoGJ01vA3RnwRf2I085ISJoeS7ZgzcsPQMUbbC0k76slcLmOpthV3Cvq4-_U35e1TbOHsjynWGx7RVg49aJiVTX6Q4M/s400/DSCN2341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914555232199666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Best food in town from a street stall</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoROGIsqLAVVnQLuG1pVB16qY0V0FA4JYrSrz1ts6IFjYNQ4elBHVWF8Uu9hliODAFvD5tUW8ihHdEeeYkxIQ5zbGoNkIqyPhjV04CaN06SFNDuEP7zn2zNMU3Rcn5c6hPsztZHvGpQ8/s1600-h/DSCN2343.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoROGIsqLAVVnQLuG1pVB16qY0V0FA4JYrSrz1ts6IFjYNQ4elBHVWF8Uu9hliODAFvD5tUW8ihHdEeeYkxIQ5zbGoNkIqyPhjV04CaN06SFNDuEP7zn2zNMU3Rcn5c6hPsztZHvGpQ8/s400/DSCN2343.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914557177217842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></span></i></div></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Happy me</span></i></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For the next couple of days, I fill my hours doing yoga, reading, drinking fresh lemonade and wandering around the occassional church.</span></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpJTF50wISWeJYJkpVLDQ5z4VynrjiOxoQSJiZRa7ewnUoahNL4BN3WgPEz1UQvnB5x3NDPtAurx8XF9mG8q0XskY7bU_VNenKoMujU1txCuAeB714OgAigrU4VoAA0rdIrtirdBhjdg/s1600-h/IMG_9807.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpJTF50wISWeJYJkpVLDQ5z4VynrjiOxoQSJiZRa7ewnUoahNL4BN3WgPEz1UQvnB5x3NDPtAurx8XF9mG8q0XskY7bU_VNenKoMujU1txCuAeB714OgAigrU4VoAA0rdIrtirdBhjdg/s400/IMG_9807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349912112605926386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lemonade with fresh mint</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Yellow House provides a wonderful breakfast every morning, best enjoyed on the rooftop terrace in the sunshine overlooking the city.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRNB0VY5n8gWxLOJMmwHbATZzh4f8e2kweaU8l4E7M6QzY53Qe-E5VtGTjMGlsw-sb8JM-pUAdLi3e9EVsXkMmKK9o6UXuY_PMxiSLJRs0a1jICpkGRLaHhBkfy_tDYq51R-6gaYz1Vw/s400/IMG_9806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350098313159334674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Breakfast at The Yellow House</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On my final morning, I am feeling relaxed and well-rested, ready to begin the slow journey back to Europe.</span></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-50336826889115302192009-06-16T10:09:00.000-07:002009-06-18T16:37:53.691-07:00Tikal: Featuring the ventures of Lord Chocolate<div style="text-align: left;">The first wonderful part of visiting the ruins of Tikal is that they are situated deep inside the Guatemalan jungle. The towering structures, peering out from above the canopy are incredible - the tallest of which is over 80 metres (not to be climbed by those with vertigo...unless you are as determined/stubborn as my friend Irina!). The Maya settled here around 700 BC; most likely because of the situation on top of a low hill above swamp ground and an abundance of flint for tools and weapons. Within 200 years, the Maya of Tikal had begun to build stone ceremonial structures, and by 200 BC a complex of buildings stood on the site of the North Acropolis.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguT_Rbkw4y_bCYejWirL91kKg7VyNp2bmihmk8l4Rho3s0J2XEW9pcxVUoEGiFkCgSEc8DsWiccQIc5cZvMF66Jl9psAqyBMl-vvnD_DXZYvW4B9y9qIY40GVy-2AKqFJ2gPYMYbfa8jw/s1600-h/DSCN2283.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguT_Rbkw4y_bCYejWirL91kKg7VyNp2bmihmk8l4Rho3s0J2XEW9pcxVUoEGiFkCgSEc8DsWiccQIc5cZvMF66Jl9psAqyBMl-vvnD_DXZYvW4B9y9qIY40GVy-2AKqFJ2gPYMYbfa8jw/s400/DSCN2283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347981933197318370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">La Ceiba</span><br /></div><br />This time we spend more time choosing a guide who is knowledgeable and whom we can understand. It is well worth the effort. I learn many snippets of interesting facts about this ancient civilisation from Chino, our guide: The Maya people celebrate with human and animal sacrifice upon altars. They often held ball games, where the losers would be killed. The importance of numbers to the Maya people is evident throughout their structures and sculptures. Zero was an important number, representing the beginning, the end and the cyclical nature of our lives. They were strong believers in astronomy, using both moon and sun calenders. The moon calender represents nine months, the length of a pregnancy cycle; often there are nine stellae and 9 altars on the site. All the sites are connected by underground catacombs, which they may have used for processions and carnivals. Compared with Copan, Tikal shows very little sculptural work.<br /><br />My favourite story is of Lord Chocolate (Ah Cacau) who was responsible for initiating a Maya <span style="font-style: italic;">renaissance</span> - restoring the city's military strength and its primacy in the Maya world as the most resplendent city. It was he who is responsible for most of surviving temples around the Great Plaza.<br /><br /></div><div>Despite Lord Choc's best efforts Tikal's greatness waned in 900AD, part of the mysterious collapse of lowland Maya civilisation. It wasn't until 1848 that it was rediscovered by a Guatemala expedition.<br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ1XwYZuun65Z313G-opZM8bqKAKZXhxNbvNCZJfgPI14EfwfeHvypAKvAqXi6JZbUAdviSw52aYO8dm5JS3dTfa29th9dcDj4PalO-0nSLx7oGKburn0bgduyW-ISbBPOJmlYOMRlbU/s1600-h/DSCN2285.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ1XwYZuun65Z313G-opZM8bqKAKZXhxNbvNCZJfgPI14EfwfeHvypAKvAqXi6JZbUAdviSw52aYO8dm5JS3dTfa29th9dcDj4PalO-0nSLx7oGKburn0bgduyW-ISbBPOJmlYOMRlbU/s400/DSCN2285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347981926366884978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the 'twin' pyramids - with 9 stellae & 9 altars used for ceremonial sacrifice</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PdaDFkc66sdPnB1Ntgl8hG9jOs_cR5Zp1kOS6jGCydJda-HkhnwMQk5Fu9o1wDj4NCJhyphenhyphen2_6th5NnFQQ3F4B3NwSYTTiDQQRvp6_fkvFv1rTJ5N5YIYsCL5L8VaH82Ojtnquw-rxPXM/s1600-h/DSCN2293.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PdaDFkc66sdPnB1Ntgl8hG9jOs_cR5Zp1kOS6jGCydJda-HkhnwMQk5Fu9o1wDj4NCJhyphenhyphen2_6th5NnFQQ3F4B3NwSYTTiDQQRvp6_fkvFv1rTJ5N5YIYsCL5L8VaH82Ojtnquw-rxPXM/s400/DSCN2293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347981764081311282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Bird's eye view of Tikal & the jungle</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01SgB5JVd_jMT70BSTTYqYVQsxKlyVfD0Cqg_gX5swcRbe9K7YCVflKOZD8bTLLxpJs9FH7aIpunOb0eiQ3g0R0ciN0LM8JknCPhSqCRiCbFLqgWAzI1LCDrQ84R5Sen5GIgFDA-c3kY/s1600-h/DSCN2299.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01SgB5JVd_jMT70BSTTYqYVQsxKlyVfD0Cqg_gX5swcRbe9K7YCVflKOZD8bTLLxpJs9FH7aIpunOb0eiQ3g0R0ciN0LM8JknCPhSqCRiCbFLqgWAzI1LCDrQ84R5Sen5GIgFDA-c3kY/s400/DSCN2299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347981758804907122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The tallest temple - a very, very steep climb</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz-eEzUDR-WNuUF8hxgrU-hj05ufM9TQlqmiofH7uG9fz_rP1gCBAHz1eBIFMaYvAX_dGcgPUwsYJPT2f-W5f9L24Y2AmlbZ4DVHtcPjXVnI1IIGSuwE_uTSLWI_fAdS4KDv3C4Ve-do/s1600-h/DSCN2303.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYz-eEzUDR-WNuUF8hxgrU-hj05ufM9TQlqmiofH7uG9fz_rP1gCBAHz1eBIFMaYvAX_dGcgPUwsYJPT2f-W5f9L24Y2AmlbZ4DVHtcPjXVnI1IIGSuwE_uTSLWI_fAdS4KDv3C4Ve-do/s400/DSCN2303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347981746949738034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cA4Xxx4Ko9hEQa7JZLheMs9Y8lwleuRzTd_bO-5A7C0F4QezTRvpFBmfDOFbBJCTDfXeShYfN8P9vDDMPdzUgsKXiJ07TPNePL19-E6uR3aeYtmv2MCS1IHi4OLYF6WWfZ7V3u3imfg/s1600-h/DSCN2305.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cA4Xxx4Ko9hEQa7JZLheMs9Y8lwleuRzTd_bO-5A7C0F4QezTRvpFBmfDOFbBJCTDfXeShYfN8P9vDDMPdzUgsKXiJ07TPNePL19-E6uR3aeYtmv2MCS1IHi4OLYF6WWfZ7V3u3imfg/s400/DSCN2305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979898839424882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Main Plaza - thanks to Lord Chocolate</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpUq1u4dtmA511sMYJBIPcVtxvvP3swGNtih8wbefkUdYfU40BdlBa3lpxtjNrN88KGfrXp-d-sHkL97uXwQIv0IoK_LIfEtQwxl_uiF0UTjuLcCLOInGHk3Xxved6rmSB6fRkFkbckk/s1600-h/DSCN2306.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpUq1u4dtmA511sMYJBIPcVtxvvP3swGNtih8wbefkUdYfU40BdlBa3lpxtjNrN88KGfrXp-d-sHkL97uXwQIv0IoK_LIfEtQwxl_uiF0UTjuLcCLOInGHk3Xxved6rmSB6fRkFkbckk/s400/DSCN2306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979896394279666" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZsmod6hu18nk2TI3JFzz5Y49UofI5c6h8K8FvU3XTTiWt4MHn_sH4NmObNv54MeeTkchAghwr_7EeJrNuO4Hfm2Kyitd32w0XWf8TG4qiEjesLKR9LUnALaml7uMaEWQd_2E2VPV4J8/s1600-h/DSCN2309.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZsmod6hu18nk2TI3JFzz5Y49UofI5c6h8K8FvU3XTTiWt4MHn_sH4NmObNv54MeeTkchAghwr_7EeJrNuO4Hfm2Kyitd32w0XWf8TG4qiEjesLKR9LUnALaml7uMaEWQd_2E2VPV4J8/s400/DSCN2309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979893016238770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Panama hat lives on</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0rS3UaP_febCZsXWESS4Pwb2hupak61vLiuglMoaSJMF3FHtJOyFXj-z6fXf_3jACUFxR8kDyHQplHJevNN8UpTQJnbJKN0AU8Ef-LWXS_ZpRllB5t4ulQ8iGOY8goJ7Nj7FcRras4E/s1600-h/IMG_9669.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0rS3UaP_febCZsXWESS4Pwb2hupak61vLiuglMoaSJMF3FHtJOyFXj-z6fXf_3jACUFxR8kDyHQplHJevNN8UpTQJnbJKN0AU8Ef-LWXS_ZpRllB5t4ulQ8iGOY8goJ7Nj7FcRras4E/s400/IMG_9669.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979663037658530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The view from these temples are pretty impressive<br /><br /></span></div>Chultones, these were essentially holes in the ground used for storing maize, beans and other food. There are 9 of these large 'fridges' around the site.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8ow3igbNEYlw6sMg7V1VuVDgckpZcqhSQZXnmbwirt7FxztLG7Q8xFI5SNHYGoYTlMU7PpBdUrFidibJhL2kFiMpYgyFAehkOUfU36wnGuQ7CdqSuY_LoyPdusr0Fql9PnuxhSY3gd8/s1600-h/IMG_9673.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8ow3igbNEYlw6sMg7V1VuVDgckpZcqhSQZXnmbwirt7FxztLG7Q8xFI5SNHYGoYTlMU7PpBdUrFidibJhL2kFiMpYgyFAehkOUfU36wnGuQ7CdqSuY_LoyPdusr0Fql9PnuxhSY3gd8/s400/IMG_9673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979319472552978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Chino, our guide showing us one of the Chultones<br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiUneIGUp3caHT-FMQKAgzQ3SmAAEVnfYxHcMGjoedjWmbSzIgtvng0yxayuyCMVrLDzIZyZj9oa6SkoRQgSvuUwHTs2yvhLw6GbzTETaGa37Dh3DWBfwapSdSSaiZcFeI84WWYDwhrs/s1600-h/IMG_9676.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiUneIGUp3caHT-FMQKAgzQ3SmAAEVnfYxHcMGjoedjWmbSzIgtvng0yxayuyCMVrLDzIZyZj9oa6SkoRQgSvuUwHTs2yvhLw6GbzTETaGa37Dh3DWBfwapSdSSaiZcFeI84WWYDwhrs/s400/IMG_9676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979317178230050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tricky steps</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUD_BhwYIEKn8GiwteRGRI1EwU65SihQJLmvURTDAM2YEQcCXKLkSYCavLT3Qfmp8yY_tiREhZtaJ3IMbSk-KEmjLXKqQ1Kd-L3K3eb99wlO4HG-EZQIj5vw7DFfdQwq2hbKrr2bJd2E/s1600-h/IMG_9687.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUD_BhwYIEKn8GiwteRGRI1EwU65SihQJLmvURTDAM2YEQcCXKLkSYCavLT3Qfmp8yY_tiREhZtaJ3IMbSk-KEmjLXKqQ1Kd-L3K3eb99wlO4HG-EZQIj5vw7DFfdQwq2hbKrr2bJd2E/s400/IMG_9687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347978853398959426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">There are many different styles - depending on the century when built</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTTn_CFRzPszvZAod1AqRHp4L289UvtuZCX_aST72nat3iVwd4Q7vuFUjOJXsv-VRs3kqt2Eb_TjG0lp-nJO5hDW3gVQBKS-Tk9eyg-Ytgd_LfdlJgFdUHMG4ttDrD9dFl8hwAe4T0Ec/s1600-h/IMG_9697.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTTn_CFRzPszvZAod1AqRHp4L289UvtuZCX_aST72nat3iVwd4Q7vuFUjOJXsv-VRs3kqt2Eb_TjG0lp-nJO5hDW3gVQBKS-Tk9eyg-Ytgd_LfdlJgFdUHMG4ttDrD9dFl8hwAe4T0Ec/s400/IMG_9697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347978846655426882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Posing under the vast shadow of this monster!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BwC9IZdT1eQlplB4CD-EvHQNiYfalEjjrEVXjUbxA5sojAa8e3knhnI9anX5tX3y52Fj9r0k06G-K0mIzJuqmFn090rBa3K5RT4_E82D-SVJhr3Fht6DULZDftVE46xGO4gW84jxfCs/s1600-h/IMG_9709.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BwC9IZdT1eQlplB4CD-EvHQNiYfalEjjrEVXjUbxA5sojAa8e3knhnI9anX5tX3y52Fj9r0k06G-K0mIzJuqmFn090rBa3K5RT4_E82D-SVJhr3Fht6DULZDftVE46xGO4gW84jxfCs/s400/IMG_9709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347978544976319042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Stucco - a form of white cement used for building</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0s9spUkLCP5k8i5XZFo33LB5gxZ1TbzQE7idYX4h53uBxpi0TeVRsx7cfe6-fUhKF4L1hb36mztNVdClwh8huz7ul66aI86sZA7Srpi41tZKeXs-lHsxqfooGT9gxxZCF4pAFGMEKN8/s1600-h/IMG_9712.JPG"><br /></a></div><div>I was surprised to learn that of Guatemala's 13+ million population today, over 60% are indigenous - nearly all of whom are Maya, with a splattering of European and Caribbean influences in the remainder of the population. The Maya are spread throughout the country, but most densely populated around the Highlands. </div><br />So far, only 20% of Tikal has been excavated and is open to the public, all of which has been funded by international donations.</div><div><br /></div><div>The jungle around Tikal is alive with creatures great and small. During our five-hour walk, we see woodpeckers, macaw, a toucan, pizote, shiny green bugs, red and black howler monkeys and a tarantula. We do not see any pumas, jaguars or rattlesnakes unfortunately.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuMKFcni2cOT2q7urZKxbrBKz_waghNmANtsnB51w8-WyWRLRJhhQyUB7VPq-ap4vRu5LQMeVnKoDwH6kdyodgM_LavtwZVHaXXz9o75w1lj1Gq3x0jrNPLWnB98sHpDIZXUBBFs1KFY/s1600-h/IMG_9653.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuMKFcni2cOT2q7urZKxbrBKz_waghNmANtsnB51w8-WyWRLRJhhQyUB7VPq-ap4vRu5LQMeVnKoDwH6kdyodgM_LavtwZVHaXXz9o75w1lj1Gq3x0jrNPLWnB98sHpDIZXUBBFs1KFY/s400/IMG_9653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979672408859586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Irina & her eight-legged friend</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjPMKsaLHlgV87Q8YhgtEoKUwBvzcIO9VyIlpncxZn55C-DvJOZQrYXeFWivysdY7txboCHCH6yq_oz8PPSL5EDj_r5yVI_ns3PuC0mgT6P7hZ5Iu5FFZjvRQ2fnuNxbGJfLP3fO0f0M/s1600-h/IMG_9654.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjPMKsaLHlgV87Q8YhgtEoKUwBvzcIO9VyIlpncxZn55C-DvJOZQrYXeFWivysdY7txboCHCH6yq_oz8PPSL5EDj_r5yVI_ns3PuC0mgT6P7hZ5Iu5FFZjvRQ2fnuNxbGJfLP3fO0f0M/s400/IMG_9654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979669210487746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Tarantula</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrXABSSpAn7_vNJvXJjbKg3xkLTKZG667VBX3JZpNHCPjFj-_GNJGtU7YrIRF4LqK906QwX0iKNkM87wgFwV2Gl2NPexWbynjGdkic8-vyrKNh5eq_YbG7NbL3PgLXnT_J9RvkBt6KSk/s1600-h/IMG_9643.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrXABSSpAn7_vNJvXJjbKg3xkLTKZG667VBX3JZpNHCPjFj-_GNJGtU7YrIRF4LqK906QwX0iKNkM87wgFwV2Gl2NPexWbynjGdkic8-vyrKNh5eq_YbG7NbL3PgLXnT_J9RvkBt6KSk/s400/IMG_9643.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979675308790162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pizote</span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOMWyPLg8tcxHeKal3E2SgWEbJJjxNkLqGO4NsIaU7bQcmMPiiGvJMVL5SBwpp7yUrvcDfUMMTWAgqeTRDojDeJx2EvaubdAsT-xVZPMuvq9g-spTxbvA_SJ-dBVCzE2GkFF8kVMoENs/s1600-h/IMG_9648.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOMWyPLg8tcxHeKal3E2SgWEbJJjxNkLqGO4NsIaU7bQcmMPiiGvJMVL5SBwpp7yUrvcDfUMMTWAgqeTRDojDeJx2EvaubdAsT-xVZPMuvq9g-spTxbvA_SJ-dBVCzE2GkFF8kVMoENs/s400/IMG_9648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347979678360443090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div>Our time spent around Tikal, is not quite so majestic. <span style="font-style: italic;">Taca Airlines</span> steal all my toiletries, without prior warning and with a rudeness that taunts my temper. The 38 degree heat, and 60% humidity is unbearable - especially when trying to sleep in 6-bed dorm room and only one measly fan. Irina gets attacked my mosquitos, I get annihilated by bed bugs (to such an extent that I visit the local medic to ask if I have chicken pox). <span style="font-style: italic;">Los Amigos</span>, where the infestation has taken place, has a wonderful communal area and great vegetarian food - so we are upset that we are forced to change to another hostel.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZyXlZVa4arhj_BNN-NC43VfTz0B8_CsI1nZiWEiI0DWDEY9WSxfQs5CAS5jIsH9TED1n8-fFN8Ef6-a3vQ1Xvhlgau8Qtt70g8zKz7gRpFT8stMwAYJOoxGnO7Q3wJWyu8XN63rNpao/s1600-h/IMG_9719.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZyXlZVa4arhj_BNN-NC43VfTz0B8_CsI1nZiWEiI0DWDEY9WSxfQs5CAS5jIsH9TED1n8-fFN8Ef6-a3vQ1Xvhlgau8Qtt70g8zKz7gRpFT8stMwAYJOoxGnO7Q3wJWyu8XN63rNpao/s400/IMG_9719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347978532849159890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a>We do make one worthy discover however; Hibiscus iced tea! Basically one makes hibiscus tea in the usual way, lets it cool & then blends with ice. It is delicious during these extreme temperatures, and the longer-term benefits include cleansing the kidneys and purifying blood.<br />We feel the liquid flushing out all those toxins injected into to us from all those disgusting bugs....<br /></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-14554725259560264482009-06-11T18:24:00.000-07:002009-06-15T18:10:21.019-07:00Copán Ruinas<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Something must have gone wrong for you to be stuck in La Entrada'</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> says the Lonely Planet. Naturally, Irina and I end up in this grim town in Western Honduras. One of the centres of narco-trafficking in the country apparently. We blame a tourism officer in</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> León </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">for giving us bad information, based on his estimates we had no chance of making it to Copán Ruinas by nightfall. As we board our (last resort) bus to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">La Entrada</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, a man tells me that the bus is packed with military men. 'Is that a good thing?' I ask cautiously. Yes, yes he assures me - they will protect us in case anything goes wrong..</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Bus drivers and conductors in Central America are exceptionally and consistently helpful, but when they are hungry they stop & eat...no matter the time, the place or the hurry! We passengers look on longingly as a lady magically produces a fine-looking meal at a bus shelter on the side of the road.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhVFuTizjxddKe1MgoWnsRAs9Lnfdel5cicmY3dtNFD0AvBeCQl8Owq3CFMOOQZutHeWvH-uv8bj94UUEMavdBHcrQAy2zmfwQVFy7wcw7S_NxL0kMYoK6huPrrzOgcbZiTIvUzvH0kA/s400/IMG_9526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347665069611983746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Note flowery tablecloth upon which the bus drivers dine!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We "treat" ourselves by staying at </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">El San Carlos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> - a miserable, overpriced motel. There is one blessing, the restaurant serves noodles (food which I have not eaten for months and which I was craving earlier this afternoon). There's only one thing on our mind over dinner - </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">what time does the first bus leave in the morning?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVfoKYydLZAcY5LOHRijqcIfdjUIm4Y6CZSmFhfzqqI-ggSKQaK1vs5ML8gFNH5SlV9BUkChWWlf-etUle14gKMh66Jqay5CNF1O9I8T4n8uZh3fWYtO6RQCNQUI9Md5LnfcKJb-ByTk/s400/IMG_9529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347683791099331506" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My first & lasting impression of Honduras? All men wear hats!</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We arrive to the beautiful, tranquil town of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Copán Ruinas </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and dance with delight! Cobblestones, white-washed buildings, ample restaurants, art</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">esanal shops, friendly people. At the hostel <span style="font-style: italic;">(En la Manzana Verde</span>) we have been placed in the 'world-famous' dormitory - Irina's got Madonna and I've got Al Bundy!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJvXIauRI5GDLUQ3c4LADBeAIAVHAcg9W6rmnrKm69swRiwYL2B2Z-buch0Errq6smeYig7vzO7HM9RgbyMVDa7n2otkIa2upTj5E7O71R6hs_jPnodG9uDVq5rw60Malr5in1umZcJg/s1600-h/IMG_9642.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJvXIauRI5GDLUQ3c4LADBeAIAVHAcg9W6rmnrKm69swRiwYL2B2Z-buch0Errq6smeYig7vzO7HM9RgbyMVDa7n2otkIa2upTj5E7O71R6hs_jPnodG9uDVq5rw60Malr5in1umZcJg/s400/IMG_9642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657310259477474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Copán Ruinas</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguzW94RZu-Jq9T9sTbl3UvbNp_a7q2Xi2hifw3KGeaVa9dQKYQEosehxCWNtS-MSzzvpHgMQdzUl2-5-bV7Aeu4xIKT9vw5kxBADMPYcYvCKRpiMl3r5DNvBCc0pR9ERtTIcr6dbh9mlw/s400/IMG_9641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347684218264868034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We ride horses for the afternoon (only $15 for three hours), along the river, over the hills and towards San Lucas' farm. This is good riding country and I am relieved to see that the horses in the area appear to be well-fed. Our guide, Carolina, is great fun (she is self-reportedly mad!) and never fails to stop laughing! She is thrilled that we speak Spanish and are of similar age. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy6EjboUbiKgqlz2x88rwj-wGAf2J2p1WQ6-7mOyyg1wTLeJE7ZLLvRP6u4XjOFohEKq69Rol9cIMnTYCO2zff5Jl5dDy7Q2x_g6Wl4-8WIEb1WZgcSPKzBEtf9LRHgJyRqeR7zKmlSU/s1600-h/IMG_9529.jpg"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0GsIG8DA8IFZ3cOBKauxZS-69wN8aRrE5xATehLmisLkNKZIv0uIkOchew2-YpsuXSUPOW27sPhiDvmq3yxEpjoc2Ldu2Lg6OLmj2hMjoY_3BrIkJeX6sj0EziYZlP2O83iepM8hZS4/s1600-h/IMG_9530.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0GsIG8DA8IFZ3cOBKauxZS-69wN8aRrE5xATehLmisLkNKZIv0uIkOchew2-YpsuXSUPOW27sPhiDvmq3yxEpjoc2Ldu2Lg6OLmj2hMjoY_3BrIkJeX6sj0EziYZlP2O83iepM8hZS4/s400/IMG_9530.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347662034111836370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Carolina, our guide around the local countryside</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZ12S8MFogoyR4m38-Y8sK0e-thvVYUjNjmE93TPLJGai8ZGhaMZb-Qbar3KMLvvrcfDZyFTWBzNvy4EtVDYRND3Cpcm4eWh_UCWNFbTR5rFtuBCfT8vcCpth9TsNXK9kSBnG4C-IwBk/s1600-h/IMG_9531.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZ12S8MFogoyR4m38-Y8sK0e-thvVYUjNjmE93TPLJGai8ZGhaMZb-Qbar3KMLvvrcfDZyFTWBzNvy4EtVDYRND3Cpcm4eWh_UCWNFbTR5rFtuBCfT8vcCpth9TsNXK9kSBnG4C-IwBk/s400/IMG_9531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347662029613076466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Irina & I letting the horses cool down in the Copan river</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN3Dte3WWK0gkNMTNdeEFXlm16LQhzKcocqhmovzLVHp8Il3ki4grbdc8P4cOMhobq4hg7lcNs2wpHQF-C9YMffomAXP6Hh-BXi835qvrPWYO7sRKDMnHTbgu4g8Hz0V9JUgHfEc4dCM/s1600-h/IMG_9533.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbN3Dte3WWK0gkNMTNdeEFXlm16LQhzKcocqhmovzLVHp8Il3ki4grbdc8P4cOMhobq4hg7lcNs2wpHQF-C9YMffomAXP6Hh-BXi835qvrPWYO7sRKDMnHTbgu4g8Hz0V9JUgHfEc4dCM/s400/IMG_9533.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347662026018872162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pretty scenery all around</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcKh6lsVl3g7udhhyphenhyphenA0i9G6RMqDV6JPW6I4EVSGsInOgZH8iFADKLBS-Fb8UUV9D3_GFDuwWCqlmS2hPB4BRc8-ARkw-Nlz-nrKUH1Ue6XpYgRPJbhpUhPeZZtBn74l2gzifOT5hJEfE/s1600-h/IMG_9534.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcKh6lsVl3g7udhhyphenhyphenA0i9G6RMqDV6JPW6I4EVSGsInOgZH8iFADKLBS-Fb8UUV9D3_GFDuwWCqlmS2hPB4BRc8-ARkw-Nlz-nrKUH1Ue6XpYgRPJbhpUhPeZZtBn74l2gzifOT5hJEfE/s400/IMG_9534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347662020193613266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The three of us chat for three hours solidly!</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNFWZALaMOTvbbRf2U62HR4bFGEniDRPOcBDxHjEDluzan3aXL2ORHzEf0ROWcUraAN-mAr4PedIHLPNvQy-u81CWl6TFqc6DRgaWUH1t9Bie1pVnpu7qUiJgnD8G-OgBvghWvjoN7xA/s1600-h/IMG_9535.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNFWZALaMOTvbbRf2U62HR4bFGEniDRPOcBDxHjEDluzan3aXL2ORHzEf0ROWcUraAN-mAr4PedIHLPNvQy-u81CWl6TFqc6DRgaWUH1t9Bie1pVnpu7qUiJgnD8G-OgBvghWvjoN7xA/s400/IMG_9535.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347661598992926290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Ceiba tree, the national tree of Guatemala</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzu9056Y2o6rEOS0bvVCGz1Jho1EFzUAWVQsq9p6-O_DeTVJO4l-I2fYtDNIcFbB8PLBKRtA7b57kcNuW8Kc89W_o2ts95JJR_ccFgJCZmP5Qy2wdnXC-dBvKoEbWaho-rs5zDLZOdsQ/s1600-h/IMG_9540.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzu9056Y2o6rEOS0bvVCGz1Jho1EFzUAWVQsq9p6-O_DeTVJO4l-I2fYtDNIcFbB8PLBKRtA7b57kcNuW8Kc89W_o2ts95JJR_ccFgJCZmP5Qy2wdnXC-dBvKoEbWaho-rs5zDLZOdsQ/s400/IMG_9540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347661592373236466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Giant Lemons</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qh6IBmpe_p3Zfwr3L2UEszZGeNFA1HnTac_a09OCc0prCrwOOwKXYVXTUTMebH5xFGQn39J5sb0GDfTgPOfUhgEuzGyZY3Ez0VbaIwX5dqNjcM148poM_IxO1fLIMdADOvIIfVacpnA/s1600-h/IMG_9541.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qh6IBmpe_p3Zfwr3L2UEszZGeNFA1HnTac_a09OCc0prCrwOOwKXYVXTUTMebH5xFGQn39J5sb0GDfTgPOfUhgEuzGyZY3Ez0VbaIwX5dqNjcM148poM_IxO1fLIMdADOvIIfVacpnA/s400/IMG_9541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347661591274560034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pineapples grow on low bushes...in case you were wondering?!</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxYHkG0YIgM2ALOo2ZqP29rn6GEHlJLnHRb6Oy_OGp9TzsM9RnnXgB0L-c_vPqLAzRNetfOPKd1CwlIKj9vf281Yg_dDFNWY2ervLBqkMD_09-4aO8WtKLYLAPCXlhntL0EAl9vpz4aw/s1600-h/IMG_9543.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxYHkG0YIgM2ALOo2ZqP29rn6GEHlJLnHRb6Oy_OGp9TzsM9RnnXgB0L-c_vPqLAzRNetfOPKd1CwlIKj9vf281Yg_dDFNWY2ervLBqkMD_09-4aO8WtKLYLAPCXlhntL0EAl9vpz4aw/s400/IMG_9543.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347661588726279586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">From up here, we can look down upon the ruins of Copan</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have a great afternoon, and stop off at the Jardin de Mujeres Tejiendo, Maya Chortia workshop - a small-business run entirely by women working to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of their children. We take a look at the looms used for weaving and buy one of the beautiful scarves (the money is used to buy school supplies for the children). </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QTXyg0-yF-yQHN5fjgEuZCNJoKbjYeK69EBXvk_7WZxsRdjmYQRUSKobkxfqZWHKKzsZ8uNlk6I-au29ASClM4fYGfkFrlQv08aFHbP-t86E5OsEtrXK-ja5Gx58S3uVfu9_3WK-LaM/s1600-h/IMG_9544.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QTXyg0-yF-yQHN5fjgEuZCNJoKbjYeK69EBXvk_7WZxsRdjmYQRUSKobkxfqZWHKKzsZ8uNlk6I-au29ASClM4fYGfkFrlQv08aFHbP-t86E5OsEtrXK-ja5Gx58S3uVfu9_3WK-LaM/s400/IMG_9544.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660820511289122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Loom used for weaving</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibi3YyFWxhol38fPocOUX6S_JQLVuA6yCPVHSrdHI53MCCshSYwIkYYq4wVFAZsQ8sUpo2sRt7JTcByZWuBeB7RWaedQ6B8A-NsSFQVof3wtQfFUQQiB3L9I1CsgNIXbdSOZ-x-vNKKU/s1600-h/IMG_9545.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibi3YyFWxhol38fPocOUX6S_JQLVuA6yCPVHSrdHI53MCCshSYwIkYYq4wVFAZsQ8sUpo2sRt7JTcByZWuBeB7RWaedQ6B8A-NsSFQVof3wtQfFUQQiB3L9I1CsgNIXbdSOZ-x-vNKKU/s400/IMG_9545.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660814705548674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lots of feminine scarves handmade in the workshop - a celebration of women's creativity</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPV5AR6sN5v9PUItcO34a9Bl0GearZfKVDRVlmWfVsSpKgVtLrFrLRuYoU9jhQcbnmrKBvEGLPM16el8oV4tBLRWzlGIJzgHYApOdMeQ1ZmXSie3gFuUs_xgqf8nc4swYl7ZHoinMoek/s1600-h/IMG_9546+%282%29.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPV5AR6sN5v9PUItcO34a9Bl0GearZfKVDRVlmWfVsSpKgVtLrFrLRuYoU9jhQcbnmrKBvEGLPM16el8oV4tBLRWzlGIJzgHYApOdMeQ1ZmXSie3gFuUs_xgqf8nc4swYl7ZHoinMoek/s400/IMG_9546+%282%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660808908927618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hondureña </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">weaver & her daughter</span></span></span></i></div></span></span></span></div></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Back at the hostel we make friends with a sweet Canadian, Jay, who also got stuck at La Entrada last night - phew, maybe we are not so ridiculous after all! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Next morning, it is time to visit the Copán archaeological site, situated one kilometre out of town. Many people overlook visiting Copán ruins, believing that the Tikal ruins are more spectacular - in actual fact, Copán are intriguing in a very different way and were one of the most important of all sites where Maya civilizations lived, prospered and mysteriously crumbled. During the Classic period (AD250-900) this city culturally dominated the region for centuries, now often labelled the 'Paris of the Maya world'. Tikal is celebrated for its very tall temple-pyramids. Palenque is renowned for it's limestone relied panels. But, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Copán</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is unique in the Maya realm for its emphasis on sculpture.<br /><br />The unique features of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Copán;</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. The most numerously carved commemorative stelae and altars.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Many complex stone sculptures decorating the buildings.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Elaborate stucco facades (for example, the four decorated sides of the Rosalia)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. The monumental Hieroglyphic Stairway that has the longest inscribed text at any Maya site.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. All of the above are sculpted in a flamboyant style, and frequently in deep, nearly full-round relief.</span></div></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiP6y5MySOEVQKNfHWk1CVwYTzFgWXkFFLNVPgNN_T8kIF0eWqdFChz4e1bRu_DWXaYLoejB7Tu0A8ztVaaSZmGCcGnb2gKw2Ai-Xi26yrhnpSsYdTW-RqXfEYE1Tr-cD0gqfUBCRKd0/s1600-h/IMG_9568.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiP6y5MySOEVQKNfHWk1CVwYTzFgWXkFFLNVPgNN_T8kIF0eWqdFChz4e1bRu_DWXaYLoejB7Tu0A8ztVaaSZmGCcGnb2gKw2Ai-Xi26yrhnpSsYdTW-RqXfEYE1Tr-cD0gqfUBCRKd0/s400/IMG_9568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660393438588514" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Beautiful grounds around the ruins </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6kDoYa9HCkdk1t_WhRbVGMhddaBIJ9tqb_RytY56K7qwP_6GvPqU1IyRcasQvIzKT-Rk30OVG3u27TqIDbE4_WYKJdZFwfQRUUDTT-W5vWJU7txS-jBQOqey3SAwLyJRHkrzJvGHXi0/s400/DSCN2235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666741888017906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Macaw (noisy creatures)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We hire a guide from the main office at the ruins for $25. She turns out to be terrible with very poor English and minimal historical information. In hindsight we wondered why we didn't ask her to speak in her native tongue, perhaps she would have been more informative? Nevertheless, the site is beautiful - filled with well-maintained lawns (this is very exciting for me, I have not see proper grass since Ireland!), huge Ceiba trees and brighly-coloured macaws. I was quite surprised to learn that a fair amount of the site has been reconstructed, many of the originals are kept inside the museum.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ePJUXiedTo73VXQxPWeLmdFRVmCKwFrIYTJ-6rcRBQobJzVRIhN1cWO0lskfd2nOX7bB-GDiaYHzlr9Peyz1VtJha6isa5paHT2irJN7lwXzvfEjh3LHYpLFJ30cfcIS4ZH7_TwHk2o/s1600-h/DSCN2241.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ePJUXiedTo73VXQxPWeLmdFRVmCKwFrIYTJ-6rcRBQobJzVRIhN1cWO0lskfd2nOX7bB-GDiaYHzlr9Peyz1VtJha6isa5paHT2irJN7lwXzvfEjh3LHYpLFJ30cfcIS4ZH7_TwHk2o/s400/DSCN2241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666738471219426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykj8rSVZQAkRq12z4VjJ3-IJ8kICEAq3k_xtlvaciNjtfoPU4ZzUxSKulnIFz8kEvV8rVK-snjEm5eh4YY9e8o3dGy6tmNk55coZkGA34ZwZJgSNxNGjSCkst1d7V_1twkUIYH0Q5cfg/s1600-h/DSCN2244.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjykj8rSVZQAkRq12z4VjJ3-IJ8kICEAq3k_xtlvaciNjtfoPU4ZzUxSKulnIFz8kEvV8rVK-snjEm5eh4YY9e8o3dGy6tmNk55coZkGA34ZwZJgSNxNGjSCkst1d7V_1twkUIYH0Q5cfg/s400/DSCN2244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666730942184562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The ball court - the loser of the game was sacrificed on one of the ornate altars</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifLPCLU9WA-jSTJs4vIdsslVZa_zYxlBwPxlQgvy1DYkuDrNpgSkYJLn2Dmw5KoBSA4HB-hsB4pw1YK4Nv7b399syJtXp6J39o3ufMUWmZoXhWEq1fzpEvOCKGZV9Eu94uobolINwU9Q/s1600-h/DSCN2243.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifLPCLU9WA-jSTJs4vIdsslVZa_zYxlBwPxlQgvy1DYkuDrNpgSkYJLn2Dmw5KoBSA4HB-hsB4pw1YK4Nv7b399syJtXp6J39o3ufMUWmZoXhWEq1fzpEvOCKGZV9Eu94uobolINwU9Q/s400/DSCN2243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666733145030898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWP5TxjBx5ep5LH06zFha6J4qCVnMId1_bMo-GNQ7GOVsHTgv6AQ-fC8uM_J6pd9o4CumpmUFN9CEnsXc3MP3YTI5-GNW7y5mqmNoqK4W9DWQjVWUUWFQes7beJ0kZ8B5epVwLJZ6rLU/s1600-h/DSCN2253.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWP5TxjBx5ep5LH06zFha6J4qCVnMId1_bMo-GNQ7GOVsHTgv6AQ-fC8uM_J6pd9o4CumpmUFN9CEnsXc3MP3YTI5-GNW7y5mqmNoqK4W9DWQjVWUUWFQes7beJ0kZ8B5epVwLJZ6rLU/s400/DSCN2253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666428866800834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Lovely lawn - the sweet smell of freshly cut grass</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9khGKjnyt5aujTGKqBxCH7uNQqy4cPeoIcvItXot2qPmoY2TwlezsntoimZoDHN89x3oKvCE_3cn22QJtc8UhOxRL7ufzL1fuC8jnEBMGm-X3SyBdeA_O-UuSvu7xboOvF2d1tg4C83U/s1600-h/DSCN2251.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9khGKjnyt5aujTGKqBxCH7uNQqy4cPeoIcvItXot2qPmoY2TwlezsntoimZoDHN89x3oKvCE_3cn22QJtc8UhOxRL7ufzL1fuC8jnEBMGm-X3SyBdeA_O-UuSvu7xboOvF2d1tg4C83U/s400/DSCN2251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666422197318706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLYZzdpgGVpckaP6X6t_36Yeowv0a5oOD6gjqSYXeyWShgiUXqrc6kC42LYA24KqChwFF2DATJQpW2nLkSwJo1NXdSxx4cabR9APuKRow3Qqa-TyMLR32KBQddJ3WTiv5QfA89d_1qC4/s1600-h/DSCN2257.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLYZzdpgGVpckaP6X6t_36Yeowv0a5oOD6gjqSYXeyWShgiUXqrc6kC42LYA24KqChwFF2DATJQpW2nLkSwJo1NXdSxx4cabR9APuKRow3Qqa-TyMLR32KBQddJ3WTiv5QfA89d_1qC4/s400/DSCN2257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666419546990754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF7rWgWVqSJfVD6Q2K1CbE_Wf4x721NwjuoPO3KpTG2fAX6Ahtj9i9IDKiUDdqNC_w6IJS8WeYBFpt1MBekIdgqGJdRdO8oUVJzsmOBGzHitJHot4HM3704aJeIuAhCFLf1BNVq23DYU/s1600-h/DSCN2258.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmF7rWgWVqSJfVD6Q2K1CbE_Wf4x721NwjuoPO3KpTG2fAX6Ahtj9i9IDKiUDdqNC_w6IJS8WeYBFpt1MBekIdgqGJdRdO8oUVJzsmOBGzHitJHot4HM3704aJeIuAhCFLf1BNVq23DYU/s400/DSCN2258.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666418087757522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To help us imagine what the ball game may have looked like</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnnHv7E-E-CY7r44-I73NsKRbd4TswqWjVhuZAfzD2av-sGbAOz02auH9AMzOoxWxPnhqSy3SBqLsMeuV7Otsmi1ACkHndSReMJlGujczdn_2CLG6p7LFTk88MMF750CDy0z5quqn2Hg/s1600-h/DSCN2261.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnnHv7E-E-CY7r44-I73NsKRbd4TswqWjVhuZAfzD2av-sGbAOz02auH9AMzOoxWxPnhqSy3SBqLsMeuV7Otsmi1ACkHndSReMJlGujczdn_2CLG6p7LFTk88MMF750CDy0z5quqn2Hg/s400/DSCN2261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347666416963197746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">T</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">o give a sense of perspective</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_faPo3UZOt3Dd8YgZ-yKz-U8jlaMRI8idaCYJYUbRaZQf3x_r4JAWaNqs_Q_eQdz83qXDUqYLuSTOThEEGSdyKTx1H68O4THPytHrWxhqjhAY46z2plyKA2mhMfYBP1BuNDzUsZEdr8/s1600-h/DSCN2270.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_faPo3UZOt3Dd8YgZ-yKz-U8jlaMRI8idaCYJYUbRaZQf3x_r4JAWaNqs_Q_eQdz83qXDUqYLuSTOThEEGSdyKTx1H68O4THPytHrWxhqjhAY46z2plyKA2mhMfYBP1BuNDzUsZEdr8/s400/DSCN2270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347665077575340610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh873hxvD6x1BvbJpLOns8fVJWPVB8DjxK3xItm5yck7LRe6bMbQ7JmVBU46cB9phupw7SU9MJYWwBlBjkbxZOcb-PKehokz65yWvEzo_P6y9qrh3C-u5HgbLTvkly0kDnngq32KJYl4Ao/s1600-h/DSCN2271.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh873hxvD6x1BvbJpLOns8fVJWPVB8DjxK3xItm5yck7LRe6bMbQ7JmVBU46cB9phupw7SU9MJYWwBlBjkbxZOcb-PKehokz65yWvEzo_P6y9qrh3C-u5HgbLTvkly0kDnngq32KJYl4Ao/s400/DSCN2271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347665075205424354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpy6EjboUbiKgqlz2x88rwj-wGAf2J2p1WQ6-7mOyyg1wTLeJE7ZLLvRP6u4XjOFohEKq69Rol9cIMnTYCO2zff5Jl5dDy7Q2x_g6Wl4-8WIEb1WZgcSPKzBEtf9LRHgJyRqeR7zKmlSU/s1600-h/IMG_9529.jpg"></a></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXllLMdLMGMPCQVkiitpSgkLXZLwBh-8IlYmmWokan2pw0AsV392T3rXCcsbSGb3tFnHSgQ6nPbC_wDPBcTMUTO43R0Le9gShDNLbY0iVjAbhKeBgJJGISrYGcWWc4cQ2F1OdQ3wbrzjE/s1600-h/IMG_9576.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXllLMdLMGMPCQVkiitpSgkLXZLwBh-8IlYmmWokan2pw0AsV392T3rXCcsbSGb3tFnHSgQ6nPbC_wDPBcTMUTO43R0Le9gShDNLbY0iVjAbhKeBgJJGISrYGcWWc4cQ2F1OdQ3wbrzjE/s400/IMG_9576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660390867668194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifjyTyD158eDMOtAzugQfhu9hZBafsXQkf2nJ0Kw-NQjpsE_JVzOvrt-IW4dg9zljHdhzwNx08fsQn_7qqunjoCzpqSBsaHIY9WpFolv1XydSQlxwxxCBb_PBVOK40PNsdyIHX-m6fB8/s1600-h/IMG_9583.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifjyTyD158eDMOtAzugQfhu9hZBafsXQkf2nJ0Kw-NQjpsE_JVzOvrt-IW4dg9zljHdhzwNx08fsQn_7qqunjoCzpqSBsaHIY9WpFolv1XydSQlxwxxCBb_PBVOK40PNsdyIHX-m6fB8/s400/IMG_9583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660389682305698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDY_14M0X9yclvh0i9aPuNH306SiGnWI1W69WvEiCTe7mYIxF2msyShrXl5tsMaA7KOIvJV55FsUSAuERSilahneAnPZUZ1vj-oPkvMIsqo0d5kuGVHkccXG9SYl7CM59PAh6HH5GUoc/s1600-h/IMG_9594.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDY_14M0X9yclvh0i9aPuNH306SiGnWI1W69WvEiCTe7mYIxF2msyShrXl5tsMaA7KOIvJV55FsUSAuERSilahneAnPZUZ1vj-oPkvMIsqo0d5kuGVHkccXG9SYl7CM59PAh6HH5GUoc/s400/IMG_9594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347660379617520978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCCNlwLJHVnRI97gAQbzonxD-EYFBQXbbZmCVbM67K7AG_4dapOw12wmgP0OXT34u5uiUGgcDfNkPVwHDAzWjacTbCBvk8-o2p7GhZg4cCI7s1WX3aXGBt5xvSfNdyUjvDQLrim8tGlQ/s1600-h/IMG_9598.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCCNlwLJHVnRI97gAQbzonxD-EYFBQXbbZmCVbM67K7AG_4dapOw12wmgP0OXT34u5uiUGgcDfNkPVwHDAzWjacTbCBvk8-o2p7GhZg4cCI7s1WX3aXGBt5xvSfNdyUjvDQLrim8tGlQ/s400/IMG_9598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657556726363410" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mmZ44cSrd_uWu4ZOsy8m8I3cOdI_v-PyTJnfuvYKXOL3KNa8gX897E3JE-O4q0UqmCbstdjCyYhAqsNCXGWSp59J_QbLGIM3LCo3p76no10xvHwIYeTuVZ372VmOkKLJMvgAYmIHjcQ/s1600-h/IMG_9601.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mmZ44cSrd_uWu4ZOsy8m8I3cOdI_v-PyTJnfuvYKXOL3KNa8gX897E3JE-O4q0UqmCbstdjCyYhAqsNCXGWSp59J_QbLGIM3LCo3p76no10xvHwIYeTuVZ372VmOkKLJMvgAYmIHjcQ/s400/IMG_9601.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657550970027186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVJbmBF-bYFkb1yhHjC1HG9pBzmQEqUnLmJ_vo7_eaA1s0IxLzCL2kEjqUJA3qovuqTWNQwsQnOXFtXWDO0njhyphenhyphenC6ku7nlTASjNmzTaBy4OBKb42MJAfUAzcfZL3fgDFGSDe0ojzhd1s/s1600-h/IMG_9603.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVJbmBF-bYFkb1yhHjC1HG9pBzmQEqUnLmJ_vo7_eaA1s0IxLzCL2kEjqUJA3qovuqTWNQwsQnOXFtXWDO0njhyphenhyphenC6ku7nlTASjNmzTaBy4OBKb42MJAfUAzcfZL3fgDFGSDe0ojzhd1s/s400/IMG_9603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657545755591426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Symbolising "The underworld"</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5v1OottsVR0a6RZ5u4cRsLWLRkWrPt0_nxCocBsCeul_CEkFcIkU_veiVAfP7TZTt83Hsn660QtVetCq-iBTP43QRiN_UftNN1cO6ozO6Bmn8uG1ZML6VRFC34sYV7ACufW4ALktZgk/s1600-h/IMG_9606.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5v1OottsVR0a6RZ5u4cRsLWLRkWrPt0_nxCocBsCeul_CEkFcIkU_veiVAfP7TZTt83Hsn660QtVetCq-iBTP43QRiN_UftNN1cO6ozO6Bmn8uG1ZML6VRFC34sYV7ACufW4ALktZgk/s400/IMG_9606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657547292114722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Jay & Irina try to listen enthusiastically to our "guide"</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7RT4oVsv2e4VfWE01TyIUD6h8djBf-a1fhYxeewjkoGNQ2R9CL_j8ZLkFBnuZ_vsKenbFUfT_5opWAwg0Q6pWD2-y0rcIZLH9RKZSOQxh0B_nDmH8SJegJHH5xx1TB6Sph6JC1Q1HpI/s1600-h/IMG_9610.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7RT4oVsv2e4VfWE01TyIUD6h8djBf-a1fhYxeewjkoGNQ2R9CL_j8ZLkFBnuZ_vsKenbFUfT_5opWAwg0Q6pWD2-y0rcIZLH9RKZSOQxh0B_nDmH8SJegJHH5xx1TB6Sph6JC1Q1HpI/s400/IMG_9610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657538728719474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa1yGChk1H4WxPwfcOHO96HRoEU5HXK0QELwcl3S2QQ5PCX7frqJMGz9Cde5HMImE6rxsuLwFIt65KlhOwakVZReO47yLpE9KDoCoRaGg7_27FG2FG7ZGWP4NeFmuSrCwEIL9JCWWqQ0/s1600-h/IMG_9614.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa1yGChk1H4WxPwfcOHO96HRoEU5HXK0QELwcl3S2QQ5PCX7frqJMGz9Cde5HMImE6rxsuLwFIt65KlhOwakVZReO47yLpE9KDoCoRaGg7_27FG2FG7ZGWP4NeFmuSrCwEIL9JCWWqQ0/s400/IMG_9614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657326074307090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Eventually we ditch the guide. Our desire to learn more about the Maya people not yet satisfied, we visit the on-site museum which displays a large selection of original sculptures from the central ruins, as well as from outlying household areas.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAomGRb-ezwbPxDv_HwbprAR0vpT2uIflHAV3pcjKebao_zIBltA8c0mc4ul4F-Bwhu2we-ZxtozcUhCmp8JODesQt9iM9RPaDpoizSzUsvJyKAryIlHiHLeIf5saBYT0MC8Q0XKanLQ/s1600-h/IMG_9631.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAomGRb-ezwbPxDv_HwbprAR0vpT2uIflHAV3pcjKebao_zIBltA8c0mc4ul4F-Bwhu2we-ZxtozcUhCmp8JODesQt9iM9RPaDpoizSzUsvJyKAryIlHiHLeIf5saBYT0MC8Q0XKanLQ/s400/IMG_9631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657322288877554" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Inside the museum of Copán</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6LhbRqSpwNDrxKkZpoWNHV26OE-kRsmBL0hl2SuRVXTcT69ZNlRk2ibvmSWXHw03FUT0TCQd8s-7QCWMuK3WIHYodWgf8LTS6C7L7UuCUwLkwP_3amkw6mmQzBmXTfcBBKR1toRvo1o/s1600-h/IMG_9639.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6LhbRqSpwNDrxKkZpoWNHV26OE-kRsmBL0hl2SuRVXTcT69ZNlRk2ibvmSWXHw03FUT0TCQd8s-7QCWMuK3WIHYodWgf8LTS6C7L7UuCUwLkwP_3amkw6mmQzBmXTfcBBKR1toRvo1o/s400/IMG_9639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347657320137003266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Conservation of the stone sculpture and stucco decoration is a primar concern for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Copán</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, a World Heritage site since 1980. Inside the museum the themes include: underworld symbolism, scuptural art masterpieces, warfare and ritual, fertility and cosmology, scribes and sculptors, community and council, nobles and residences. The quality and preservation of the original scuptures is incredible.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Later, we walk another 2km to La Sepulturas to see the ruins of the residential housing of the middle class. With the surrounding scenery, this must have been a wonderful place to live.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOq2984rpwVvzPzScqaEC3jTgXiIaxfqTkH_cg3RFROCGvOml0d-AgBBOMg0IAp2vUltY5VJb1HSgdp1jlnT8wSfcZKfc8GlFJ09yDKokeM93YvbIW-pBZReHyOvhQ5yDfKLIjwDlYmU/s1600-h/DSCN2278.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOq2984rpwVvzPzScqaEC3jTgXiIaxfqTkH_cg3RFROCGvOml0d-AgBBOMg0IAp2vUltY5VJb1HSgdp1jlnT8wSfcZKfc8GlFJ09yDKokeM93YvbIW-pBZReHyOvhQ5yDfKLIjwDlYmU/s400/DSCN2278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347665074043693426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tuk-tuk back to town (the heat is unbearable!)</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I could stay longer here in </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Copán</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, it is such a charming place. I would love to stay at the El Cisne farm in the highlands, do more horse-riding and sample all of the various restaurants in town. I would like to get to know more Hondure</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ñ</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">os, who by all appearances are friendly and jolly folk. The alarm clocks sounds early the following morning, we must catch a bus and cross the border into Guatemala.</span></div></div></span></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-89968557157630226462009-06-09T19:17:00.000-07:002009-06-15T14:23:56.545-07:00León<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQCShu2kRZdj6ve2VWgiJi-CRkfTQi8BKYizws6sLKVFVh-gw4LOwdZapTRjT-A-PSNO3_oKUEe5nKN7hJINWDKsf4_zpClmTgAICLg3I1ZVc7DnwGBkWuUTPjqlrLmkI5PqNf_70cgo/s1600-h/DSCN2219.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This 'new' time pressure is a strange concept. My backpacking days are numbered, with only two weeks until I fly to London from Guatemala City. I have one foot firmly rooted to the Central American earth, while the other foot dips into thoughts of Ireland, career, accommodation & friends. I feel restricted with a schedule, my wings clipped.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leon is another colonial city, pretty to stroll through, but our main reasons for visiting are to use it as a base, firstly, for visiting Las Peñitas, a coastal town about an hour's drive from the city, and secondly, to climb the volcano, Cerro Negro.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgi81Mz6oi-f_wFd8sZdFkS4kdhv516d58Z-svqjo2yPfTvXUeHpsojiVDfMTqS33AXZpTUUqhyphenhyphenS3j8ZSM-jScEm4vH4IheRSl_D8JiE_UUyDe3UudU2evskuxJWRyjdSo9t5BOFvLBo/s400/DSCN2109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935396124390114" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cathedral, Leon</span></i></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn7Q0hCERiz-c0CD-sSNGJTwoERPV_lqPKVnwmpA-8bU-iywBv0NyAXlEEsCcr7Yd_up6MLHNoOcPvnD_Gp4V4xmcBTkHIkDVCCPY9Nx79DFSxdEYpYc9751mBXT_y4-2Lbx-lgi1HCE/s1600-h/IMG_9402.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFn7Q0hCERiz-c0CD-sSNGJTwoERPV_lqPKVnwmpA-8bU-iywBv0NyAXlEEsCcr7Yd_up6MLHNoOcPvnD_Gp4V4xmcBTkHIkDVCCPY9Nx79DFSxdEYpYc9751mBXT_y4-2Lbx-lgi1HCE/s400/IMG_9402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345933446854788098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Iglesia de la Recolección</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyIcW-nvVbBXc_2oUjnQvCaiNuD9rwEERhXSLtf3O6mIEtdMYX_jest8BuCyASED73M7KFurPDeZ7HrVN3GzypS3gJ_NV_tVj4sSTScdJRc9P30cSjEGHZNREVHhxreSSgwu1NY9RGzc/s1600-h/IMG_9408.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyIcW-nvVbBXc_2oUjnQvCaiNuD9rwEERhXSLtf3O6mIEtdMYX_jest8BuCyASED73M7KFurPDeZ7HrVN3GzypS3gJ_NV_tVj4sSTScdJRc9P30cSjEGHZNREVHhxreSSgwu1NY9RGzc/s400/IMG_9408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345933443093484034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Irina the Ballerina</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, and has the feel of a university town. It is less touristy, calmer and (dare I say?) more civilised. We spend a few hours meandering the city and observing city-life. Irina is out of contact lens fluid, and whilst interacting with a local optician she muddles her words slightly asking for 'fluid to clear her lentils'....almost as bad as me asking for my fish in Colombia to be 'sin caballo' (without horse - rather than 'sin cabeza', without head!). Oh dear, the locals must have a good chuckle at us! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Other than buildings and cathedrals, Leon is famous for being the birthplace of Ruben Dario, perhaps the most famous Spanish-writing poet.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b2/Ruben_Dario.JPG/180px-Ruben_Dario.JPG" alt="" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 123px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub%C3%A9n_Dar%C3%ADo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Rubén Darío</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (1867 –1916) was a Nicaraguan poet who initiated Spanish-American literary movement known as </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernismo" title="Modernismo" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Modernismo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (modernism), flourishing at the end of the 19th century. Dario has had the greatest and most lasting influence into twentieth century Spanish literature, and journalism. He has been praised as The Prince of Castilian Letters, and undisputed father of the modernismo literary movement. Dario is revered as Nicaragua's greatest diplomat and a leading voice of Central and South America (Wikipedia, 2009).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.fundacionortizgurdian.org/artista.es/leonidascorrea"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">Fundacion</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"> Ortiz</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Electricity is a huge problem in Nicaragua, and as we stroll through this pleasant art gallery the security guard switches on and off the lights at the appropriate moments. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">L</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">Peñitas</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our original hope was to surf here. Once glimpse at the waves is enough to convince us that this is no longer a possibility - the sea is wild. A freak wave washes over us whilst sunbathing and another sweeps away our belongings, and again later while eating lunch in a restaurant. It has the feeling of a once popular place, now deserted and a bit miserable. A number of places in Central America have that feel, most likely because it is low season. We burn the calories from our tasty lunch racing the white monsters.</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3C6ZG2frmUwnjoaky92hA3f_G0PVXG80jF0S_OgxgbF5tSo71nhPiY-3wkX6vm7HYQP-DY3md0hPv-DLmty_S7RHBuZBJPD5pRgRV5lkoPCbFHUMqYrh_FjChEmuqyACvTu-O3atRHs/s1600-h/DSCN2120.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3C6ZG2frmUwnjoaky92hA3f_G0PVXG80jF0S_OgxgbF5tSo71nhPiY-3wkX6vm7HYQP-DY3md0hPv-DLmty_S7RHBuZBJPD5pRgRV5lkoPCbFHUMqYrh_FjChEmuqyACvTu-O3atRHs/s400/DSCN2120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935394212524898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">L</span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">as Peñitas</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbG2Og7BttQD7NDcirAmNEMLPO62qFCxPpzeE7mkZoseonQDH9A7OA-yDPJHyYrbKGqr6J1mxahcYAFr1e6U7rQC_YIXmLhWM8xhy1ApN7aV1oTot2IYnz1bfZOP7Z9joD8h6G5lpSUw/s1600-h/DSCN2124.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbG2Og7BttQD7NDcirAmNEMLPO62qFCxPpzeE7mkZoseonQDH9A7OA-yDPJHyYrbKGqr6J1mxahcYAFr1e6U7rQC_YIXmLhWM8xhy1ApN7aV1oTot2IYnz1bfZOP7Z9joD8h6G5lpSUw/s400/DSCN2124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935391055174866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFJSH8NDTtoST5nbo9p47vMmJfRLVv3NbvchPHtoXuzk-vCiQKVDE5RmxrDXQ6JbNvaY-6apfqTr2n4SV0A1r4hiWlQYTia1LV8vl9tGbQyiROa8iZFg6oDzRlQULKOcDUt7sTZGOsYs/s1600-h/DSCN2126.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFJSH8NDTtoST5nbo9p47vMmJfRLVv3NbvchPHtoXuzk-vCiQKVDE5RmxrDXQ6JbNvaY-6apfqTr2n4SV0A1r4hiWlQYTia1LV8vl9tGbQyiROa8iZFg6oDzRlQULKOcDUt7sTZGOsYs/s400/DSCN2126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935206696152242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPunfIbMQZTFL_yud9h6wzl7qk8zY8zhRcEJEAil9O0w-e4rXV_UI3XBN3JupHU9RKpXi1Eti0ZQaGpVes0mfStVM0W3r8BVbrwpCabfQCCOwPWu5VJWcqEdKsi4PiAg1BK56Qj2Gjoyo/s1600-h/DSCN2131.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPunfIbMQZTFL_yud9h6wzl7qk8zY8zhRcEJEAil9O0w-e4rXV_UI3XBN3JupHU9RKpXi1Eti0ZQaGpVes0mfStVM0W3r8BVbrwpCabfQCCOwPWu5VJWcqEdKsi4PiAg1BK56Qj2Gjoyo/s400/DSCN2131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935203077971442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Soggy restaurant</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAOTuGYRAPyZ7aR0GPlgO7mxs4e-0zswdMTfv5PyYcqf19Gq0zKRlNFZN30rgqoXtQPHPbdtdewxeI2xffjU-N97gxngGArUIwwfwKHKOM5kIzgVewwZ3PtHVRbYvRAkjmnfnG01MSU8/s1600-h/DSCN2138.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAOTuGYRAPyZ7aR0GPlgO7mxs4e-0zswdMTfv5PyYcqf19Gq0zKRlNFZN30rgqoXtQPHPbdtdewxeI2xffjU-N97gxngGArUIwwfwKHKOM5kIzgVewwZ3PtHVRbYvRAkjmnfnG01MSU8/s400/DSCN2138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935202417505714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">M</span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sazerac/collections/72157600218830085/" class="l" onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','res','2','')" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">é f</span></span></a></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sazerac/collections/72157600218830085/" class="l" onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','res','2','')" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">éin</span></span></a></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Twj9QacjIbGp256fl95C8FgQClE3W2L7OR2h1Heuqp8rk-z4GEWCV0NmB2MOmhDww5TTEzGoa8E_EQpCjrk3RGInxEnESBxFInalhpK9qXqo2w7XlLbsN4oXOLT46AO-ESiV_S44HDE/s1600-h/IMG_9414.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Twj9QacjIbGp256fl95C8FgQClE3W2L7OR2h1Heuqp8rk-z4GEWCV0NmB2MOmhDww5TTEzGoa8E_EQpCjrk3RGInxEnESBxFInalhpK9qXqo2w7XlLbsN4oXOLT46AO-ESiV_S44HDE/s400/IMG_9414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345933440645568098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Irina risks getting her toes wet</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafL7gEVJAVIGachXs_LK-V-tCmNSCBzkNvGlMtPmZ4I1kCHyvVRNNwP9i_GwWGPJHigqdM1gc3EYI6XK8xDYAqGmKfVdr1az4RvguUc4jiKVLd8amnecqcSnip6FzcRRYWqA1We3RRQY/s1600-h/IMG_9424.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafL7gEVJAVIGachXs_LK-V-tCmNSCBzkNvGlMtPmZ4I1kCHyvVRNNwP9i_GwWGPJHigqdM1gc3EYI6XK8xDYAqGmKfVdr1az4RvguUc4jiKVLd8amnecqcSnip6FzcRRYWqA1We3RRQY/s400/IMG_9424.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345933434658012242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We catch another chicken bus (old American school bus) back to Leon, we are the last people left on the bus and the rain is lashing down upon us, the city flooded. The bus driver is a lovely fellow who drops us all the way into town. We walk through the floods back to the Lazybones hostel, laden with sand, dust and muddy water...to discover that there is no water for a shower (despite all the rain!)....</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4AyaEFbRdmp0gNhBQfOOTcWHE2mjTu4CqZ1MepA4G0Z0xvqdRcAvOBCTINIE3M3CTVAacKUSY9XhhvoDs2fnMnacHfdp8GVniEQvxJ_5pDwxSF0rNVJHeAuQU9FaFlZ4UbewTT23UT8/s1600-h/IMG_9426.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4AyaEFbRdmp0gNhBQfOOTcWHE2mjTu4CqZ1MepA4G0Z0xvqdRcAvOBCTINIE3M3CTVAacKUSY9XhhvoDs2fnMnacHfdp8GVniEQvxJ_5pDwxSF0rNVJHeAuQU9FaFlZ4UbewTT23UT8/s400/IMG_9426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345933431637655362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">León, flooded</span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYV6ZRyh84m2mK1P9VlYMOZwJYJusuEhB3kiGIrogTuJJHiTEq97vmKjPg5MW-ZtvVrsr14MJsOcF1OhFWZWIVonfSGQU-EaJ7tkiBG9RoSY6QqQQr57V2g8AGPHDWpcSyp9gaAojrOs/s400/DSCN2153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935201782362978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dodging hidden holes in the road</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Cerro</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Negro</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 1.5em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A very new volcano, the youngest in Central America, having first appeared in April 1850. It consists of a gravelly </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt" title="Basalt" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">basaltic</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinder_cone" title="Cinder cone" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">cinder cone</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, which contrasts greatly with the surrounding verdant hillsides, and gives rise to its name, which means Black Hill. It has erupted frequently (and apparently is due any day now..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">last</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> eruption was in 1999). One unusual aspect of several eruptions has been the emission of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_ash" title="Volcanic ash" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ash</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> from the top of the cone, while </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava" title="Lava" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lava</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> erupts from fractures at the base. We are very keen to climb it!</span></p></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Saturday morning at 4am, we meet at the </span><a href="http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Quetzal Trekkers</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> office. It is strange walking through the city at this time, quite eerie, and on almost every street there is a security guard with weapon. Quetzal Trekkers is a non-profit volunteering organisation, offering tourists adventurous hikes in Nicaragua and Guatemala to raise money to help an organisation called </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Las Tias</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (The Aunts) who work with street children and children at risk. 100% of the profits goes to Las Tias who have been in existence for over 15 years. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We meet our fellow trekkers from France, Cecile and Matthieu, our guides, Justin and Mike. Also, joining us are two boys who attend the school, Alex and Santiago, originally street kids, but now well fed and receiving a decent education. Later, as I begin chatting to the boys I am shocked to hear the boys ages, 13 and 14 - judging by their appearance, maturity and topics of conversation I would have guessed about 9/10 years. I enjoy having them around, they are full of beans and mischief! After breakfast, we walk a few blocks to catch one of the local school buses to bring us closer to base for beginning the five-hour trek. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span>We begin with country lanes, local traffic jams and small paths on the edge of a forest. </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE_ZJhL2FR06vgj39TrN_tBbvWz6g381OF7TbEwoDzNdJo7_d6mnKknR8F3YiD_YmCeym8EF0rj26RSBeTjwNPKDxj-T999ohAU16V9gE95a4klwJ84GYn5Eq_GLKQRq6UWlyMPWYDv4/s1600-h/IMG_9429.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcE_ZJhL2FR06vgj39TrN_tBbvWz6g381OF7TbEwoDzNdJo7_d6mnKknR8F3YiD_YmCeym8EF0rj26RSBeTjwNPKDxj-T999ohAU16V9gE95a4klwJ84GYn5Eq_GLKQRq6UWlyMPWYDv4/s400/IMG_9429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932467785986546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The group</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoObAPlApSnA_WR5rS9kVnlEc4BRAz2yeUR1lbobkYsARJ2B_Gnx8ysvT0AWBHOsbUKkz0uiiYeD6q1bDASWWoSS8KJ28LPFrH8_jXlAu3B4SHP9y2fPoyzEDFSrwJkvn4KCt32xLAr8/s1600-h/IMG_9431.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoObAPlApSnA_WR5rS9kVnlEc4BRAz2yeUR1lbobkYsARJ2B_Gnx8ysvT0AWBHOsbUKkz0uiiYeD6q1bDASWWoSS8KJ28LPFrH8_jXlAu3B4SHP9y2fPoyzEDFSrwJkvn4KCt32xLAr8/s400/IMG_9431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932462363926882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Jam</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After an hour, we come a cross an incredible black landscape - a dark desert of sand, stretching for miles head of us with rolling hills - a deep contrast with the vibrant green trees nearby. It could perhaps be described as the antithesis of the white salt flats in Bolivia! </span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo__U8wp3hvSfWtFEwIUDDfwBliHPfDUai0X7_0_s173KGJFLvSYitRa2XV5J7OwiFfTm_8XhKDGR0q9GjjQZrY2chBie0BaKzWu5-pkVOIdJmLxCBjYZuR0j-mZ1s76-SvDMetUPfYLY/s1600-h/IMG_9440.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo__U8wp3hvSfWtFEwIUDDfwBliHPfDUai0X7_0_s173KGJFLvSYitRa2XV5J7OwiFfTm_8XhKDGR0q9GjjQZrY2chBie0BaKzWu5-pkVOIdJmLxCBjYZuR0j-mZ1s76-SvDMetUPfYLY/s400/IMG_9440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932458329771698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjP6F5mwICfwN8nMKgYktyu-sL1vCdrjBhZZoVwoFVSU_cABdKzenM4hwOC1YCOSz5RZb1nRXhAvsstQ72AfOcxwN4dr_uejuJxWbGHELn2OKEcQiZXI42R8qJ6kNf92rcMs5Il8CJ_U/s1600-h/IMG_9443.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjP6F5mwICfwN8nMKgYktyu-sL1vCdrjBhZZoVwoFVSU_cABdKzenM4hwOC1YCOSz5RZb1nRXhAvsstQ72AfOcxwN4dr_uejuJxWbGHELn2OKEcQiZXI42R8qJ6kNf92rcMs5Il8CJ_U/s400/IMG_9443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932453719276274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcjCK5pZ4naWXH7Hrx_nhhgSJAP7-_1AChb1DK2N6Cc0OHAVlq7eVJcaH7537gkQeCt3IvSMkj5-CSn5BdcAaHn0tbfjI8-b0xiF1fB41CgnXAnhLX8csrD5W4jJR82sjxh6NpDeZgbg/s1600-h/IMG_9445.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcjCK5pZ4naWXH7Hrx_nhhgSJAP7-_1AChb1DK2N6Cc0OHAVlq7eVJcaH7537gkQeCt3IvSMkj5-CSn5BdcAaHn0tbfjI8-b0xiF1fB41CgnXAnhLX8csrD5W4jJR82sjxh6NpDeZgbg/s400/IMG_9445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932096402934194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtrzjo8IdEY3v_4Oc7p8gx6nIwVg6o0IW2YjxXh5KgF75Pc53wxDrJsXo_9obL6_hyphenhyphenwK4cndSoSGpwzMGGnwBjqNY0y54TZa5Fx1GJqN4vB5g8_44k3HCQQbk_uuK5VBwNEEW1meD7Zo/s1600-h/IMG_9447.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtrzjo8IdEY3v_4Oc7p8gx6nIwVg6o0IW2YjxXh5KgF75Pc53wxDrJsXo_9obL6_hyphenhyphenwK4cndSoSGpwzMGGnwBjqNY0y54TZa5Fx1GJqN4vB5g8_44k3HCQQbk_uuK5VBwNEEW1meD7Zo/s400/IMG_9447.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932088398505858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuPtfdupnv4NiEDLRtOxqwwx0D-FujQWYzSysZj2sVeCWExW7Mon0L5NNtUXnYllPdpmU2GNthfTWC2B9ZUyL-0_uNEbFnGuVBQ39K-Aif3DOqm5zSHvB4XtiudGH1AKJz9kxe6HFfZg/s1600-h/IMG_9450.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuPtfdupnv4NiEDLRtOxqwwx0D-FujQWYzSysZj2sVeCWExW7Mon0L5NNtUXnYllPdpmU2GNthfTWC2B9ZUyL-0_uNEbFnGuVBQ39K-Aif3DOqm5zSHvB4XtiudGH1AKJz9kxe6HFfZg/s400/IMG_9450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932089268596706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-E3reZLfNGEd9KAvArIu3ELfkxgCpe5y2F4JQ0efRH-laX6soxy-oiKCro54J31BSphRyfp2iw626rgkLNDbgoZnj_Z8Qm0-GDJXa0devYEaRSJwk2SzIJhfAJ51Ff2bHVS_jgi7g-A/s1600-h/IMG_9453.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-E3reZLfNGEd9KAvArIu3ELfkxgCpe5y2F4JQ0efRH-laX6soxy-oiKCro54J31BSphRyfp2iw626rgkLNDbgoZnj_Z8Qm0-GDJXa0devYEaRSJwk2SzIJhfAJ51Ff2bHVS_jgi7g-A/s400/IMG_9453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932084707717394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQGH6Thc_KanlQvkg0_bue6xdN8YnGeczIuwrnu4dMTY1nmCEybv_HPa9_iU4uu6mc9Sh4VcWb5p0FU9f734kspl5ZQKKtMhOEBI96ZTtN36P9iO7huyZY5i8HMiNQpkb0LM769rJwuE/s1600-h/DSCN2155.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQGH6Thc_KanlQvkg0_bue6xdN8YnGeczIuwrnu4dMTY1nmCEybv_HPa9_iU4uu6mc9Sh4VcWb5p0FU9f734kspl5ZQKKtMhOEBI96ZTtN36P9iO7huyZY5i8HMiNQpkb0LM769rJwuE/s400/DSCN2155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345935195632693538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After another hour we reach the park-rangers station, nibble a few biccies and take a look at their collection of iguanas and snakes. They are breeding these creatures here, two-thirds of which will be released ino the local wilderness and the remainder will be sold to the international markets. </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qBG3vyASNGV6MVBafXm3ATCgk-82x7nR41-OAxnDNs5KbShOoIriMv2kGc0hUfCIwsTF8LrXCD4GErxp9erQuu3nlEimfKjX9aI5hxtKWb0iDmN6mH76AHZ9JC78FMPWiWnb3U6eY5U/s1600-h/IMG_9459.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8qBG3vyASNGV6MVBafXm3ATCgk-82x7nR41-OAxnDNs5KbShOoIriMv2kGc0hUfCIwsTF8LrXCD4GErxp9erQuu3nlEimfKjX9aI5hxtKWb0iDmN6mH76AHZ9JC78FMPWiWnb3U6eY5U/s400/IMG_9459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931891773040162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The snake (& lady) charmer at the Parkranger's office</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYHkB99s6geLPtGgupb4i4WFF02fhHT_niWDt8IHd8w_wJX_QcR8Bvse6JW9RTwa2fW5u9FW5hum-ltgCQISnws-1ht2Z-VdsWSXb8UR5V96zE1SFP6MjwPWwlrjwCvpQte-LvNbuWW8/s1600-h/IMG_9467.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYHkB99s6geLPtGgupb4i4WFF02fhHT_niWDt8IHd8w_wJX_QcR8Bvse6JW9RTwa2fW5u9FW5hum-ltgCQISnws-1ht2Z-VdsWSXb8UR5V96zE1SFP6MjwPWwlrjwCvpQte-LvNbuWW8/s400/IMG_9467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931889204682866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Little green iguana</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAITf0-06Dhk9fZ7X1eTQAHESOXXTF1Zxtd43B0V2oIgYKPIhRaA0d_GgtmNofPtK6F2WlAsMO7VL8ExVpkuNntqF-i7MKJ1vRMCiwY1QBEXSQkrb6KQgBpTuU8EgEc07xvfQZvRUTlA/s1600-h/IMG_9468.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAITf0-06Dhk9fZ7X1eTQAHESOXXTF1Zxtd43B0V2oIgYKPIhRaA0d_GgtmNofPtK6F2WlAsMO7VL8ExVpkuNntqF-i7MKJ1vRMCiwY1QBEXSQkrb6KQgBpTuU8EgEc07xvfQZvRUTlA/s400/IMG_9468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931882486082738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAIzfiVx2kVkleA2Pa6RojQSyZqW9K8HtKGjBhlw1ZGP5g_84WaIg22XRZRoRbaiFNC8BvPW3PmCPvyXO04rchoSn4F5bvOkcpNK6Zl7t4I1uHxfAOKDMZssGQzulgGJAhe_PvT8rZGo/s1600-h/IMG_9469.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAIzfiVx2kVkleA2Pa6RojQSyZqW9K8HtKGjBhlw1ZGP5g_84WaIg22XRZRoRbaiFNC8BvPW3PmCPvyXO04rchoSn4F5bvOkcpNK6Zl7t4I1uHxfAOKDMZssGQzulgGJAhe_PvT8rZGo/s400/IMG_9469.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931885973716162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Full-grown Iguanas</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbh4Bibn0eCrvN0Lvqszp3lnlclfq0jLl6Ka8KkeQAozYHt7_N09AMwOGtP8mePprQgA2w4f9EPqQKz5i5PY5RqlXoAg0yM_P2qH9df1Q2ZsB50t6SFPKp0jU3Qj0m2t2AmO4Ej2uoJ4/s1600-h/IMG_9471.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbh4Bibn0eCrvN0Lvqszp3lnlclfq0jLl6Ka8KkeQAozYHt7_N09AMwOGtP8mePprQgA2w4f9EPqQKz5i5PY5RqlXoAg0yM_P2qH9df1Q2ZsB50t6SFPKp0jU3Qj0m2t2AmO4Ej2uoJ4/s400/IMG_9471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931170785465634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alex holding his first snake</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUoNmaywR1LiebQpECTh5O5kJoywjnI_bKQABUQIfzepcxjg1fI6K1eWVm_Uvo1cn5x6oYf72v2lyKX33xm6GrhuNq1pJBaLFFx3cBVT6tbvpgtE2hg0AXNjbMByXgF_-drNKy1ohYeU/s1600-h/IMG_9477.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUoNmaywR1LiebQpECTh5O5kJoywjnI_bKQABUQIfzepcxjg1fI6K1eWVm_Uvo1cn5x6oYf72v2lyKX33xm6GrhuNq1pJBaLFFx3cBVT6tbvpgtE2hg0AXNjbMByXgF_-drNKy1ohYeU/s400/IMG_9477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931167187555346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnpwMjRkim_4RbElM3-kmewIfUMlAVAAo6ux1PWFb0wsNnqy4t2Lu-yf1EBSEVg6UqI8mc5iydJyNuTYcgOIgX4abQwG1J2JlYm62a8624ow3anURKJs1TgayP2QwuJGPdB_lUNOQOW0/s1600-h/DSCN2169.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnpwMjRkim_4RbElM3-kmewIfUMlAVAAo6ux1PWFb0wsNnqy4t2Lu-yf1EBSEVg6UqI8mc5iydJyNuTYcgOIgX4abQwG1J2JlYm62a8624ow3anURKJs1TgayP2QwuJGPdB_lUNOQOW0/s400/DSCN2169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934956140232866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We continue walking up the side of the Cerro Negro. We are so lucky that the clouds are blanketing the sun today, keeping us slightly cooler! Reaching the summit, we wander around the craters and watch the smoke rising from the cracks in the surface. </span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp1YFL8dUtykWxKfevWORCAkanT5eu81eT3vyRiFD_sq0nxg2w03u_MmhwHvYc07sCC72E90YdtZ4j3FQKuUK65gprQSEZE1E0jWcpI0uQqdLiVekNDpqh1gEytf70HoupIjFiURXUzQ/s1600-h/DSCN2171.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp1YFL8dUtykWxKfevWORCAkanT5eu81eT3vyRiFD_sq0nxg2w03u_MmhwHvYc07sCC72E90YdtZ4j3FQKuUK65gprQSEZE1E0jWcpI0uQqdLiVekNDpqh1gEytf70HoupIjFiURXUzQ/s400/DSCN2171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934952570205762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRf5LV3MdbRHF6tcLj8402HCW0jcThUchEs9DqQIfH2lVhwl0t58U7V44w6e5Xc8Ce5VXlyPoG2vX6gWUJxVStFbyNCChFXiOO84NCdvdS7grwxAQYvQ4aBZbUjm4RwcmXt0FrDUHt7Dw/s400/DSCN2186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934492893704018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeilMmlMVWWDZEh4aLFc6XLsIokAFnB1BHYUBEOENt2gsht3v6Q-Z1FtqhqkhJjDqVhBJpF_dnE2qi4LsQ1NXExfiDP3P4Eqfp0LFtG-OPo1KXLbrIYF3r9Z5aYykRPOMKCVCKHbaPPU/s1600-h/DSCN2175.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeilMmlMVWWDZEh4aLFc6XLsIokAFnB1BHYUBEOENt2gsht3v6Q-Z1FtqhqkhJjDqVhBJpF_dnE2qi4LsQ1NXExfiDP3P4Eqfp0LFtG-OPo1KXLbrIYF3r9Z5aYykRPOMKCVCKHbaPPU/s400/DSCN2175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934948310571794" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr750l-AW0vqpuB5TdSj712prs2_oQT6dgrkzrT4I4_3Aj-IjGhRSGz4Fpzk9nIfhA4XYSi7YY-R2eV12AQzW2mEsFqqeMX4QLBkFSU971DQTfXLmwPo8KeK44-jaL1R7LQ0VMZDprKI/s1600-h/IMG_9456.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr750l-AW0vqpuB5TdSj712prs2_oQT6dgrkzrT4I4_3Aj-IjGhRSGz4Fpzk9nIfhA4XYSi7YY-R2eV12AQzW2mEsFqqeMX4QLBkFSU971DQTfXLmwPo8KeK44-jaL1R7LQ0VMZDprKI/s400/IMG_9456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345932081587530466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left; display: block; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It seems so strange that trees can grow here</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH7Ix-HEzH6GGKug7FEwarnYiAcfvpYLA0fxJ5RtFQgU4wRkbAoZKIGHxWkTJ5p17rQN96UEm7T7aymkJ1WqTctcaanvMXkpd3fh7KOh-2gZZzF_qvq8Cmk5gkip838ktPLDROGGEPyI/s1600-h/IMG_9458.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH7Ix-HEzH6GGKug7FEwarnYiAcfvpYLA0fxJ5RtFQgU4wRkbAoZKIGHxWkTJ5p17rQN96UEm7T7aymkJ1WqTctcaanvMXkpd3fh7KOh-2gZZzF_qvq8Cmk5gkip838ktPLDROGGEPyI/s400/IMG_9458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931898825009778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Santiago & Alex</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-zB4sM3pIJv9atPsOSOVKht2AJV32wFCCvVNjiUYi45bF-idcH0hD90BXpuC_MfhKQF_3j6cNMD5G2Rl1gSjFLnjj9upJkXW-g1tmcXDyMd3AKiAwFMR0kqXPmTUD-KKyZTuCzNrVco/s1600-h/IMG_9483.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-zB4sM3pIJv9atPsOSOVKht2AJV32wFCCvVNjiUYi45bF-idcH0hD90BXpuC_MfhKQF_3j6cNMD5G2Rl1gSjFLnjj9upJkXW-g1tmcXDyMd3AKiAwFMR0kqXPmTUD-KKyZTuCzNrVco/s400/IMG_9483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931161764166306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZZ00UzT9whgFCkiNXucxEO5nDuqS_2EGy3cp1vQYtfH623kyT2XuUewfjD_s3ciXWh7wVuMA-blcfhdjDGtO7dtE9QXfo1arwp5el4qalHQ9-LU0TvM1Vkf0HLQuaJWXMHETRZ6WE0o/s1600-h/IMG_9487.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZZ00UzT9whgFCkiNXucxEO5nDuqS_2EGy3cp1vQYtfH623kyT2XuUewfjD_s3ciXWh7wVuMA-blcfhdjDGtO7dtE9QXfo1arwp5el4qalHQ9-LU0TvM1Vkf0HLQuaJWXMHETRZ6WE0o/s400/IMG_9487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345931156093066306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORrj0zlZAtJ_IvOzAhze1acB_xG2rLTRPEb326noITWesvm_yRC0ucV-0EKqxW_ignaDeUDLfsD6nGD4t4eHMDhNiIiDmABacuUCH3O4Qq3PWZUy90SbtKisvFBjbCdh8aV6Da03WCi8/s1600-h/IMG_9496.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORrj0zlZAtJ_IvOzAhze1acB_xG2rLTRPEb326noITWesvm_yRC0ucV-0EKqxW_ignaDeUDLfsD6nGD4t4eHMDhNiIiDmABacuUCH3O4Qq3PWZUy90SbtKisvFBjbCdh8aV6Da03WCi8/s400/IMG_9496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930914982267986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14oAAESMUqddDoZ_hs-g_zQ5g9Kc3f5PUWwt2ZfPK-JpdqMeF9ZoAYWyhj7xUGDzdObOuId-hy16Jg_czUuuV8mSokCt2QLtH_MiUqPuwBj6ssiQIHb8Ough9LXNb01OTm7IJWudmtSk/s1600-h/IMG_9502.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14oAAESMUqddDoZ_hs-g_zQ5g9Kc3f5PUWwt2ZfPK-JpdqMeF9ZoAYWyhj7xUGDzdObOuId-hy16Jg_czUuuV8mSokCt2QLtH_MiUqPuwBj6ssiQIHb8Ough9LXNb01OTm7IJWudmtSk/s400/IMG_9502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930913330613314" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHKHHVUBwwiaDKXMsxJwQ7gz81ps6eMTO9QzUkt5M03xnH8uz8J-mHuv2F37VJ6CGPTmmbY_2-1eNFOw_XdveL315_Qxdb3Ko0J_JEo921R9fYhkg2hQDNESCknkEWYTrB-emvuOnPXE/s1600-h/IMG_9503.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHKHHVUBwwiaDKXMsxJwQ7gz81ps6eMTO9QzUkt5M03xnH8uz8J-mHuv2F37VJ6CGPTmmbY_2-1eNFOw_XdveL315_Qxdb3Ko0J_JEo921R9fYhkg2hQDNESCknkEWYTrB-emvuOnPXE/s400/IMG_9503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930909500633042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexh9sxpbrCOI3FMXaea-p8QpK1NPMkRh27WpZ3oWRdss2LaGLt3TiykPSQSX9TO2ZQ10wVGfAVKwx-lc4phjdDC2oQ_IkytadxvhP0rn3Mel5gh-HRE6WGEy3H8Ws0e5GuHPIbkc5QDA/s1600-h/IMG_9506.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexh9sxpbrCOI3FMXaea-p8QpK1NPMkRh27WpZ3oWRdss2LaGLt3TiykPSQSX9TO2ZQ10wVGfAVKwx-lc4phjdDC2oQ_IkytadxvhP0rn3Mel5gh-HRE6WGEy3H8Ws0e5GuHPIbkc5QDA/s400/IMG_9506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930656869621746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9o-ecTnKJKr4GxyTgVpHyorh8HK-n2Clw9tLBXeBuYZX5GOW7e0T5Crmj1AK89w__MZSs5qcEMbNmruoone77g3dcLppI5aUPOXAb0luBly-8_U7KxLhcjEJu44DYWYzF3I_P3pX0qM/s1600-h/IMG_9508.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9o-ecTnKJKr4GxyTgVpHyorh8HK-n2Clw9tLBXeBuYZX5GOW7e0T5Crmj1AK89w__MZSs5qcEMbNmruoone77g3dcLppI5aUPOXAb0luBly-8_U7KxLhcjEJu44DYWYzF3I_P3pX0qM/s400/IMG_9508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930652056920146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8ODsmbCycAhWnFsLy43y_i_SO3LeuNGu3TjgcdHXllExqEQ0y-IARfzmLNCaTOe5iUeYpm0S_bi7ENsAjk-fyAzagAh5uGPyydGinJwoTNQ2k7mrWJWySOp7pesdQ25sA3njjdf5RfA/s1600-h/DSCN2183.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8ODsmbCycAhWnFsLy43y_i_SO3LeuNGu3TjgcdHXllExqEQ0y-IARfzmLNCaTOe5iUeYpm0S_bi7ENsAjk-fyAzagAh5uGPyydGinJwoTNQ2k7mrWJWySOp7pesdQ25sA3njjdf5RfA/s1600-h/DSCN2183.JPG"></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdfNYg8sa5hGUSIMXPWC96pKDSqHCk8kKcrZulIOTrbFk08xHt12ermaiorHZnxjZp9AQen6I4DjlV18mqavLb64j_PTU2Irp7pJPtT99txlzcJD5feHJpnbcQdo5lj6pGubD-JTP7gk/s1600-h/DSCN2190.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdfNYg8sa5hGUSIMXPWC96pKDSqHCk8kKcrZulIOTrbFk08xHt12ermaiorHZnxjZp9AQen6I4DjlV18mqavLb64j_PTU2Irp7pJPtT99txlzcJD5feHJpnbcQdo5lj6pGubD-JTP7gk/s400/DSCN2190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934487220136882" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wherever I am in the world, the ladybirds follow....</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eWBqrjwYi0hETGAnV57JUWeDaZE2Wt8uLIGUmj5Y9V-c4W9TWMsbUBmv6i8av-W_mV1TuIe2-16XPmZqFIedy48DbEa41Xv7PVf6iSMK7VCTxYKGbtR6UqVpE9zx5xNSUswR4v-Sejg/s1600-h/DSCN2191.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eWBqrjwYi0hETGAnV57JUWeDaZE2Wt8uLIGUmj5Y9V-c4W9TWMsbUBmv6i8av-W_mV1TuIe2-16XPmZqFIedy48DbEa41Xv7PVf6iSMK7VCTxYKGbtR6UqVpE9zx5xNSUswR4v-Sejg/s400/DSCN2191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934208347507474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then we run back down the other side, which is an almost-vertical slope! A very strange experience. The gravel makes it possible to bound and leap, making us feel we are floating and gliding! I think I scream the entire way down, kicking up black gravel in my midst, boots choked with ash and grit.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsGc_BqfEz5MsGSPgZzJskzylAWYl_fhOhwOaxyNF-sSDpDpGp9SakbBMQyA_-vC5wsedoQvVuzbJB8O2fy-QCDkMt3Hk1WZdseITXSYJsrfKSCev_B-HqQ_KeA4yVuD3M2dc7Bh2E8s/s1600-h/DSCN2201.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsGc_BqfEz5MsGSPgZzJskzylAWYl_fhOhwOaxyNF-sSDpDpGp9SakbBMQyA_-vC5wsedoQvVuzbJB8O2fy-QCDkMt3Hk1WZdseITXSYJsrfKSCev_B-HqQ_KeA4yVuD3M2dc7Bh2E8s/s400/DSCN2201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934201815536434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is pretty steep!</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w5vZ4CEm_VtYpmidLJXwcRWShotf7Rvhvt8HAarbmiSVqbLVCGJJyNu12bvXQ2yAmdQhhkA-8vdhzF5UWde3B3uLrrPsJmd2j-yF8OaBqyvIHZ2oZPcuZdXW1UosdmQef96BdsIXVhQ/s1600-h/DSCN2212.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6w5vZ4CEm_VtYpmidLJXwcRWShotf7Rvhvt8HAarbmiSVqbLVCGJJyNu12bvXQ2yAmdQhhkA-8vdhzF5UWde3B3uLrrPsJmd2j-yF8OaBqyvIHZ2oZPcuZdXW1UosdmQef96BdsIXVhQ/s400/DSCN2212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934196539489298" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Alex & Santiago manage to catch a little green lizzard shooting across the desert - very amusing scene!</span></i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sAjYTOOQweFUiSFkGbd5jRjiCYqen8hA1bvEmCvOIjkkOrrTddllhk8WC-Ub1PCvOhfqPQVkGsa41j35YHxtxzPqbaXlueT7g0T75bot4HJPe3TBEzH6zdrBlVIQSZRFupFeJ4Ky7Ew/s1600-h/IMG_9511.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sAjYTOOQweFUiSFkGbd5jRjiCYqen8hA1bvEmCvOIjkkOrrTddllhk8WC-Ub1PCvOhfqPQVkGsa41j35YHxtxzPqbaXlueT7g0T75bot4HJPe3TBEzH6zdrBlVIQSZRFupFeJ4Ky7Ew/s400/IMG_9511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930645336325938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At the base we enjoy lunch, and set off through a forest towards another local-bus pick-up point. We stop briefly for a <i>fresca</i>, and then journey on back to the city. I would unequivocally recommend hiking with this company, everything was extremely well organised, fun and socially responsible.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj5lRy1zKqln4c0ULqkmRxhtJBJ7ECTzKdqgATcMIqqqtgCfFRV370ID3ARQZGugenVc5pI1mtrRqrECtu1-Kul5vvuASC_Os7BOEVKsAqIOjMSDl25Wqg5cr9qfMBZWzdlyC406y1a4/s1600-h/IMG_9516.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLj5lRy1zKqln4c0ULqkmRxhtJBJ7ECTzKdqgATcMIqqqtgCfFRV370ID3ARQZGugenVc5pI1mtrRqrECtu1-Kul5vvuASC_Os7BOEVKsAqIOjMSDl25Wqg5cr9qfMBZWzdlyC406y1a4/s400/IMG_9516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930640810282626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Time to prepare lunch (circa 10am)</span></i></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUgP7r46jbpqGf3TV6mp3I3Z8pVheuioq5T2qMd6KpXSLLGXgrAfBr3FFXtviifgSU0LA7O0TBRFM1or7TT6KxoyOvV8-4fSYyJ0soHgBR0OoGKQZv7wKuzXrLncFfRU1eArKv9cHGBQ/s1600-h/DSCN2204.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUgP7r46jbpqGf3TV6mp3I3Z8pVheuioq5T2qMd6KpXSLLGXgrAfBr3FFXtviifgSU0LA7O0TBRFM1or7TT6KxoyOvV8-4fSYyJ0soHgBR0OoGKQZv7wKuzXrLncFfRU1eArKv9cHGBQ/s400/DSCN2204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934201037837986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lunch time - I cannot even remember how many various ingredients went into this pot of deliciousness</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFqRG544A3aSwETkTEZXgBt1dHuSfon8mFhM58TsI8dUDr2kyYoy___N0m0vIQOURiUii1QJKq6IeIMPAaITeyQaIJY6KTyaXTM1IlG6R2HZ42DiH_g3oE775I8DUAHhsXlhjs8_jsP8/s1600-h/DSCN2208.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFqRG544A3aSwETkTEZXgBt1dHuSfon8mFhM58TsI8dUDr2kyYoy___N0m0vIQOURiUii1QJKq6IeIMPAaITeyQaIJY6KTyaXTM1IlG6R2HZ42DiH_g3oE775I8DUAHhsXlhjs8_jsP8/s400/DSCN2208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345934192942193394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After lunch, we notice this amazing ring around the sun</span></i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58-7hIyBff3MYFp33h7BwDqTwFPeQuYvDLIwPdbOpap4HC4G28k9TDweWn-TqLvikAHQ303j3nUOYIQNRb6pqAvAa6WP0vUcCgWynUF1JFSq1jxaUzQ9_ToHgw08Ke0i0WI2OG5Mmp-0/s1600-h/IMG_9518.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58-7hIyBff3MYFp33h7BwDqTwFPeQuYvDLIwPdbOpap4HC4G28k9TDweWn-TqLvikAHQ303j3nUOYIQNRb6pqAvAa6WP0vUcCgWynUF1JFSq1jxaUzQ9_ToHgw08Ke0i0WI2OG5Mmp-0/s400/IMG_9518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930429252781282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hooray!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtksHy6QQI5uuzhFb-pon5x4i2-HX2yU9AXXbgbgvn_UNnXXLnMPwyMbXtU346lmvJ3svQ8Lo-g1u_toyE6alVphPdw14Ntjr_vZQmrcsuaJlstiGDtXQQAq89wbq4_feoQmK_-YKwf0A/s1600-h/IMG_9521.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtksHy6QQI5uuzhFb-pon5x4i2-HX2yU9AXXbgbgvn_UNnXXLnMPwyMbXtU346lmvJ3svQ8Lo-g1u_toyE6alVphPdw14Ntjr_vZQmrcsuaJlstiGDtXQQAq89wbq4_feoQmK_-YKwf0A/s400/IMG_9521.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930425376089938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwvTXom4oBhs4EK1qH3psAacpP60An4PaDDtjKtGEBRnpEujZRdir5t6PesjJbpTg2c5K8m6GgT51aLy94O61plFlEYhSw1VJsczIUHSXw2S8FWTzs_MtlMcbIyH72OMwHEB3hCrM6mg/s1600-h/IMG_9523.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwvTXom4oBhs4EK1qH3psAacpP60An4PaDDtjKtGEBRnpEujZRdir5t6PesjJbpTg2c5K8m6GgT51aLy94O61plFlEYhSw1VJsczIUHSXw2S8FWTzs_MtlMcbIyH72OMwHEB3hCrM6mg/s400/IMG_9523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345930415029532050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQCShu2kRZdj6ve2VWgiJi-CRkfTQi8BKYizws6sLKVFVh-gw4LOwdZapTRjT-A-PSNO3_oKUEe5nKN7hJINWDKsf4_zpClmTgAICLg3I1ZVc7DnwGBkWuUTPjqlrLmkI5PqNf_70cgo/s1600-h/DSCN2219.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQCShu2kRZdj6ve2VWgiJi-CRkfTQi8BKYizws6sLKVFVh-gw4LOwdZapTRjT-A-PSNO3_oKUEe5nKN7hJINWDKsf4_zpClmTgAICLg3I1ZVc7DnwGBkWuUTPjqlrLmkI5PqNf_70cgo/s400/DSCN2219.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347667421282372050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Fresca (simply coke & ice in a bag with a straw)</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOHIENPlt_CaLSEXwvxpV0OiW8yUJw6axvFo1QZ7o_ZJb2xeFZeU8NJJEY8DFcpH7k8Z7tirp1rmiC0mE5Ol59gGaDwSv-uTkyUNwxQiIrXSBnowNMsDLMJGMsN58IA-zC289Q1zAF2U/s1600-h/DSCN2220.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOHIENPlt_CaLSEXwvxpV0OiW8yUJw6axvFo1QZ7o_ZJb2xeFZeU8NJJEY8DFcpH7k8Z7tirp1rmiC0mE5Ol59gGaDwSv-uTkyUNwxQiIrXSBnowNMsDLMJGMsN58IA-zC289Q1zAF2U/s400/DSCN2220.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347667417817182722" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hot & sweaty, we trekkers look on in jealousy at this wallowing piggy!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Nicaragua has been full of highs and lows, always provoking a strong reaction and certainly never a dull moment. The following morning we catch the 6am bus, quite pleased to be leaving in many ways, I am looking forward to Honduras. </span></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-34813149126655610562009-06-06T19:04:00.000-07:002009-06-09T18:42:22.371-07:00Velago, Nicaragua<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyDRLMp5dLS6_jBvXMeEjyTH4ETlVSVW9uU6UV8Qe2gvctDWSexFHcxkwtexdF02NaPtoJQVzYUfMcf7eoLV2xxnqjCoPEDIWYMaLsGfT0fePwm0aZlcDvBd1mspMpZTUjWPWtLdpDzw/s1600-h/Sailing_Certificate_Elaine+Kopie.jpg"></a><div style="text-align: left;">It is Monday, the first day of June 2009, a perfect day to begin our beginner's sailing course in Nicaragua. At 7am, we meet Ferdinand at <a href="http://www.velagogranada.com/">Velago Nicaragua</a> - Irina and I are feeling very excited! Before getting in the boat we must learn some theory. We learn about wind directions, points of sail and sail positions. All seems to make sense, on paper at least. Then, it is time to learn the correct names of all the parts of a boat, many are familiar to me but poor Irina has to learn all these words for the first time in English, her second language! Theory over, we learn how to rig our training boat, Helga (another Gruben jolly boat); attaching the rudder, hoisting the sail, hooking up all the various lines/sheets and lowering/raising the centreboard. The next task is learning how to put the theory and rigging in motion!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPxkqMOm2I3mWN4Wull0CyX9CsYx5gGwPusK2L-hQi0hMrk9U1clzs8JCKDTyqaPuN8yagAc1BWVfB8OFw1xLFrEogl5Lp997dJ_8rrO2vFZXj6FAWy_KzHtMJiJ30a5-6E30HqJfo88/s1600-h/DSCN2075.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPxkqMOm2I3mWN4Wull0CyX9CsYx5gGwPusK2L-hQi0hMrk9U1clzs8JCKDTyqaPuN8yagAc1BWVfB8OFw1xLFrEogl5Lp997dJ_8rrO2vFZXj6FAWy_KzHtMJiJ30a5-6E30HqJfo88/s400/DSCN2075.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344402151379441522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Helga</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvapC37M4xLRo-BCyAjAglEJlKwHPuGDIgWSHkQlfLckFYyienou5aCXkszsRcpV7MT2tMuJAhEXws6yEvD_L8IQcmGBhIPzx9tUeQN6FwO28mukafvv8OJ2UdiqRls_TZXN3-scq-gUM/s400/DSCN2077.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344409097642539762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Trying to figure out what attaches to what!</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxzhe-Z8PSPOtDeoCzp4zYTNl6mASIT34l9l3644zKlxqr8HiLYEXhx-BwqbY7KW9-npO4MyRl8mMhQpjkjVMWodbJhVqB2L3BEpVeGu1P3YdK-0oAqe_ZL46kotkgGEamTKL12yGxxU/s1600-h/DSCN2079.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxzhe-Z8PSPOtDeoCzp4zYTNl6mASIT34l9l3644zKlxqr8HiLYEXhx-BwqbY7KW9-npO4MyRl8mMhQpjkjVMWodbJhVqB2L3BEpVeGu1P3YdK-0oAqe_ZL46kotkgGEamTKL12yGxxU/s400/DSCN2079.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344407111920202146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><i>Hoisting the sail</i></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">The course is intensive - we are cramming a 20-hour course into three days. We borrow bicycles and cycle to and from the sailing school. Our daily routine consists of breakfast at 6am, cycle fifteen minutes to the sailing centre, three hours of sailing, cycle 15 minutes back to town for lunch, cycle back to sailing school, three more hours of sailing, then finally cycle back to town in time for either yoga or salsa depending on the evening. We sleep soundly every night, dreaming about planing over waves.</span></i></span></i></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithWS35Hc3qStjIF3BXQUIa5RGx79FxVTAE10xKxd5JBcrdzQwHWx30cObKR6zYJnl_4UA_TVYxyWtZqaXciPomGogVMNJW8UiWwgIYhNV6DUlqnQBt9FGWkRVs4PSxioNtkkIA-e_kAs/s1600-h/DSCN2101.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithWS35Hc3qStjIF3BXQUIa5RGx79FxVTAE10xKxd5JBcrdzQwHWx30cObKR6zYJnl_4UA_TVYxyWtZqaXciPomGogVMNJW8UiWwgIYhNV6DUlqnQBt9FGWkRVs4PSxioNtkkIA-e_kAs/s400/DSCN2101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344406621960038802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ferdinand & I cycling back to town after a morning's sailing lesson</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-HGAeMHbrrbuFvvo2JdFACF3PoOtld1Fg4fezBeFTGxkK1OemObZPAbrU6JDG35uAvilbBrhoyeof41az3ffFA1iLTQRIBbHX-8YfxNm-Wpa-wPyjgfWLEseC5_9qACJMQivXPTIAsg/s1600-h/DSCN2102.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-HGAeMHbrrbuFvvo2JdFACF3PoOtld1Fg4fezBeFTGxkK1OemObZPAbrU6JDG35uAvilbBrhoyeof41az3ffFA1iLTQRIBbHX-8YfxNm-Wpa-wPyjgfWLEseC5_9qACJMQivXPTIAsg/s400/DSCN2102.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344406616104224322" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Views of Mombacho volcano behind</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Sailing is physically and mentally challenging - it works every muscle, demands concentration and requires quick-thinking and good coordination. I liked being on Dad's boat as a child, but now that I am at the helm and understanding how to control the boats movements, I absolutely love it! It is one of the most exhilarating sports I have tried - anyone who disagrees should certainly give it a try. I realise that I am a speed-demon, enjoying finding the fastest point of sail and "hiking out" to reduce the heeling effects of the wind. There is no doubt I am hooked, as is Irina. We both discuss how we can incorporate sailing into our already long list of hobbies...</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQUJ_ZPhC3vXpWm3moA6LIyo7mF-TWW7S1WuXGtBA58coL1MuVXP3wrcauTRcyO28CCxZEHCrDY-zqI2rDeud117RgLwclW4AJJ500Gb0cwOWweMbGv9HYwCHzuN7Co6cdZbqB6biBZk/s400/DSCN2089.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344407104440849842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Helga in the foreground, with a pretty catamaran behind</i></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSCTFiC_qAlAKtF79cZPba_4V6kjmw3xLeR_idBIDeT-SFwN5deuM0xwvSos7chyphenhyphen1-TdntSEsyRFYCUTFF993rlTiYJtd7szd90V36sWnuRWVmH_RM5e5BzXG5J98f0STt_0jS3FwQA4/s1600-h/IMG_9373.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSCTFiC_qAlAKtF79cZPba_4V6kjmw3xLeR_idBIDeT-SFwN5deuM0xwvSos7chyphenhyphen1-TdntSEsyRFYCUTFF993rlTiYJtd7szd90V36sWnuRWVmH_RM5e5BzXG5J98f0STt_0jS3FwQA4/s400/IMG_9373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344406618520629602" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Irina looking comfortable at the helm</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvwePHf6L18XWdvhs5T9WoG9z2yROQ1ps5nMvTVFMbVJBuQPpl9MgOGaIgoHBN0K2tl8FMX99bxqkFqRbLKaYb4UpbUFquUYWYI64GWM4pOUo1PqMKvw42pT2MenfI8d2jYbFEtaBG04/s1600-h/IMG_9374.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvwePHf6L18XWdvhs5T9WoG9z2yROQ1ps5nMvTVFMbVJBuQPpl9MgOGaIgoHBN0K2tl8FMX99bxqkFqRbLKaYb4UpbUFquUYWYI64GWM4pOUo1PqMKvw42pT2MenfI8d2jYbFEtaBG04/s400/IMG_9374.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344406611940509426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ready to go about....?</i></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvqGBiCTgUV3h974p5yXbceN7vboLhyOFAfBl22D-8h_6LdMSSExuBFmHCnuGPZTFsdy5K9YPI4HcWpn9vWkpoka2Chljasg8CAZzLY9CSRFpvrYJ9x3pU37Aj2G1VISwumZD6gHQ42I/s1600-h/DSCN2093.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvqGBiCTgUV3h974p5yXbceN7vboLhyOFAfBl22D-8h_6LdMSSExuBFmHCnuGPZTFsdy5K9YPI4HcWpn9vWkpoka2Chljasg8CAZzLY9CSRFpvrYJ9x3pU37Aj2G1VISwumZD6gHQ42I/s400/DSCN2093.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344407104302620930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Dodging rocks & fishing boats ahead</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZJUKR30226QTez-ebAKnrX6_ZPy_lrIxXD40wb0LyPAUyOFVm6avp7VzvbZUSgYYliorOT6-REM4WYH82qQxOQSgGnAN8AIxoNL1IBNurFSbjkMdyb6Zhwn2X70Pi4D82h6iOpKmiJY/s1600-h/DSCN2096.jpg"></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZJUKR30226QTez-ebAKnrX6_ZPy_lrIxXD40wb0LyPAUyOFVm6avp7VzvbZUSgYYliorOT6-REM4WYH82qQxOQSgGnAN8AIxoNL1IBNurFSbjkMdyb6Zhwn2X70Pi4D82h6iOpKmiJY/s400/DSCN2096.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344406623925600818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div>On day two, we spend another 6 hours on the water - learning the art of sailing with the main sail and the Genoa (tricky business!). The winds are much stronger today (although the sun is still shining), and at one point I physically cannot pull in the main sheet - this is a game of tug o' war I cannot win. We tack back to shore and take a crash-course in knots - learning eight of the most useful knots for sailing. The locals watch us sailing across the lake, criss-crossing regularly and surely must think we are mad! There are no other sailboats here, small engine boats are used either to transport people or for fishing. Boating for pleasure is unheard of. With 90% of the local residents of Granada unable to swim, Ferdinand relies mainly on tourists or expats for business.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD-dHdW5dqN95BGiBsz-gUesPOBP5JVfJvljKLD2nq3GrfthT8tnLJFAIGhyRYdp2754nqdqrgRNrqDpJHaj4vnt4uRkJ0qo5KdoZzPNt6vv1izBgEinXp7VtOkm7sx8UE-E1EqvDMlQ/s1600-h/IMG_9376.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlD-dHdW5dqN95BGiBsz-gUesPOBP5JVfJvljKLD2nq3GrfthT8tnLJFAIGhyRYdp2754nqdqrgRNrqDpJHaj4vnt4uRkJ0qo5KdoZzPNt6vv1izBgEinXp7VtOkm7sx8UE-E1EqvDMlQ/s400/IMG_9376.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344401408346801282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Ferdinand teaches us some basic knots</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_WKBGNH70TMdhAbBEdXjVFZn7XsPandQoQEgrh5z41A9JKFlbBF-6_l4dzLlFn_BmmZ2oScVRmMAFq7hikhDTj3XDuPOT4VVk42caM9sx0n6fNRJjw26thNDAaobiEXNVAmqCrSUQ2g/s1600-h/IMG_9377.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_WKBGNH70TMdhAbBEdXjVFZn7XsPandQoQEgrh5z41A9JKFlbBF-6_l4dzLlFn_BmmZ2oScVRmMAFq7hikhDTj3XDuPOT4VVk42caM9sx0n6fNRJjw26thNDAaobiEXNVAmqCrSUQ2g/s400/IMG_9377.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344401402471215538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Time to practice</i></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CnfVWRd-7kYTQ6vF4QrMXQO561mlObkusJm73qB7UetE0F0XjA9IFrCHfK5lTl6BIoBIYyltUEpBCblsaXy-adQg_SafO1CeCGBhswzsB7auV_0vdgy2wSmSLRQCAsPkXFDseybS5Go/s1600-h/IMG_9390.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CnfVWRd-7kYTQ6vF4QrMXQO561mlObkusJm73qB7UetE0F0XjA9IFrCHfK5lTl6BIoBIYyltUEpBCblsaXy-adQg_SafO1CeCGBhswzsB7auV_0vdgy2wSmSLRQCAsPkXFDseybS5Go/s400/IMG_9390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344401404426105314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><i>Doing some self-study back at the Oasis hostel</i></div><div style="text-align: center; "><i><br /></i></div></div><div>On our final day, the winds have picked up even further and Ferdinand recommends that we postpone the course until tomorrow. We are now on a fairly tight schedule to get to Guatemala City to take a flight to Tikal (location of Mayan ruins, northern Guatemala) so after some discussion we decide to rig the boat and give it a go today (postponing only if absolutely necessary). Sailing is good for the first hour and we manage to get some practice tacking and jibing. When we consider practicing man-over-board rescue the wind takes over (we later find out that the winds rank at Force 6 on the Beaufort scale and the waves are close to 2 metres) - these are advanced sailing conditions! Naturally there were no photographs taken during these exciting times (main goal: not to capsize). We persist another while, until completely exhausted we return to shore for a much needed rest. We have learned a lot over the past few days and feel that we have a good understanding of the basics of sailing. We celebrate our completion of the course with a <i>quesillo</i> (tortilla with cheese and sour cream) and a smoothie. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyDRLMp5dLS6_jBvXMeEjyTH4ETlVSVW9uU6UV8Qe2gvctDWSexFHcxkwtexdF02NaPtoJQVzYUfMcf7eoLV2xxnqjCoPEDIWYMaLsGfT0fePwm0aZlcDvBd1mspMpZTUjWPWtLdpDzw/s1600-h/Sailing_Certificate_Elaine+Kopie.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqyDRLMp5dLS6_jBvXMeEjyTH4ETlVSVW9uU6UV8Qe2gvctDWSexFHcxkwtexdF02NaPtoJQVzYUfMcf7eoLV2xxnqjCoPEDIWYMaLsGfT0fePwm0aZlcDvBd1mspMpZTUjWPWtLdpDzw/s400/Sailing_Certificate_Elaine+Kopie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345507299051184194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Certified to sail - note my capability dealing with 'heavy' wind conditions! ;-)</i></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately this course is not accredited by the <i>Royal Yachting Association</i> (RYA) in the UK, although much of the content runs parallel with the RYA's Competent Crew course (which as far as I know, is necessary in order to gain crewing opportunities in the UK or Ireland). Needless to say, we enjoyed this course immensely, learned a lot and feel we made the right decision to stay in Granada for a few extra days. Both Irina and myself feel sure that will be back in a boat quite soon upon our return to Europe.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhYxik8lwmTzbDZx9opi6Mr3lVFI3tLnWdB-mIbZlvdFos-BXbyM6cmAVDtQvnyYjWfuNkZS9_xpvvZXxzrFyM2akTUv4a-Ymm5UAOGL-kxPXLoWObKNkByjVHEyzPXjUwAs6D_ozpEE/s1600-h/DSCN2100.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhYxik8lwmTzbDZx9opi6Mr3lVFI3tLnWdB-mIbZlvdFos-BXbyM6cmAVDtQvnyYjWfuNkZS9_xpvvZXxzrFyM2akTUv4a-Ymm5UAOGL-kxPXLoWObKNkByjVHEyzPXjUwAs6D_ozpEE/s400/DSCN2100.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344407097770681906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset over Lago Nicaragua</i></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-72751397080040498252009-05-31T13:17:00.000-07:002009-06-06T15:38:35.438-07:00SybaritismSybaritism is a love of luxury and delight. This is the word that best sums up my first week in Granada. The week can be divided into sections by pleasures, infiltrated with snapshots of daily life in the city.<br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Exploring the City</b></div><div>There is a rich colonial heritage, seen in the architecture and layout. Granada is commonly nicknamed the "Gran Sultana del Gran Lago" - the Great Sultan of the Great Lake.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYGKobd1jeuvVdOUwxmBmdry2q_pFQf3eBIKklfqnV5PXXq46LrOesE_vjRz5quiZZilUkl2BGRYe06tkZ0_eCXehqVOko3muZwaO7yhalcTP06-iqiwDxvwTtsAfnZqzxFhOYKonTyA/s1600-h/IMG_9400.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYGKobd1jeuvVdOUwxmBmdry2q_pFQf3eBIKklfqnV5PXXq46LrOesE_vjRz5quiZZilUkl2BGRYe06tkZ0_eCXehqVOko3muZwaO7yhalcTP06-iqiwDxvwTtsAfnZqzxFhOYKonTyA/s400/IMG_9400.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344071756348500754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Guadalupe, the most desired place to be wedd in Granada</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7R0iT_NQaMtlSVeeOaf2vnGcicuZfkvbfneOgl6t-I6ihrAu4_d0nU0joAxSzn_LVHc6FmEGI3lOzzZLFFt_ZM6adaHh-IHveIes3d7gxiFDoPVI5K2DEtcEju7qCrMpzux7O04WYCA/s1600-h/IMG_9256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7R0iT_NQaMtlSVeeOaf2vnGcicuZfkvbfneOgl6t-I6ihrAu4_d0nU0joAxSzn_LVHc6FmEGI3lOzzZLFFt_ZM6adaHh-IHveIes3d7gxiFDoPVI5K2DEtcEju7qCrMpzux7O04WYCA/s400/IMG_9256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344071754378659890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Calle Calzado, the hub of touristy Granada</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVnmk9fHy8TP6amhlQCWZeH_B34z-Hgf1nwd2NA-A3KZe0gkkO2xtr-U0AU4zJrbAcYTavPDSahHSlFC-eVESS02zD9yNtHXkJM37f4TnKY4Amf1rGOkD7mOPsAgFzNjZ9ycStcwVTbM/s1600-h/IMG_9255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVnmk9fHy8TP6amhlQCWZeH_B34z-Hgf1nwd2NA-A3KZe0gkkO2xtr-U0AU4zJrbAcYTavPDSahHSlFC-eVESS02zD9yNtHXkJM37f4TnKY4Amf1rGOkD7mOPsAgFzNjZ9ycStcwVTbM/s400/IMG_9255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344071751481230290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Main Cathedral</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHhZ0gL9udmsympL1AmyL3Pu9ZNFBXj8E3lo1xa4ebkX6BCACJs-2xFYikcAVybUwDzTGMcb4pof8LPjUkLNsV_J2T7jDcctmo9Ia7CXwe8Wu740iDsCAcTRNxvMbWsstaxQS6ZCr0bo/s1600-h/DSCN2027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiHhZ0gL9udmsympL1AmyL3Pu9ZNFBXj8E3lo1xa4ebkX6BCACJs-2xFYikcAVybUwDzTGMcb4pof8LPjUkLNsV_J2T7jDcctmo9Ia7CXwe8Wu740iDsCAcTRNxvMbWsstaxQS6ZCr0bo/s400/DSCN2027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344071749773506050" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Oasis Hostel, my home during stay in Granada (blue building)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BcvM0FQSVWgNMNMxk8spvvD5KRsQ8WtJM64cyaGUg9ccannKsTAbMlssZjqVMWxHNEMAQlFBqiui_XAa8m90xvvsXsb08G_GwkPVQFW5FwSTlpt_7bQ8E-TTftuxh5ZcU4o_1ZKUMOU/s1600-h/DSCN2021.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BcvM0FQSVWgNMNMxk8spvvD5KRsQ8WtJM64cyaGUg9ccannKsTAbMlssZjqVMWxHNEMAQlFBqiui_XAa8m90xvvsXsb08G_GwkPVQFW5FwSTlpt_7bQ8E-TTftuxh5ZcU4o_1ZKUMOU/s400/DSCN2021.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344071745306091170" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V6mUQ6NC-lRetut6WQSCkDrMlK36ltpDzn07GMg_riQuUY0JcGRlgvihhrRDRk-fhBYI26jRGF5HCZqtBouSXF2fIolMzeio_Tf4Gb9kc0zzvHyI-PhbB4qWVbnRae-ZxdUOipGZJPo/s1600-h/IMG_9297.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V6mUQ6NC-lRetut6WQSCkDrMlK36ltpDzn07GMg_riQuUY0JcGRlgvihhrRDRk-fhBYI26jRGF5HCZqtBouSXF2fIolMzeio_Tf4Gb9kc0zzvHyI-PhbB4qWVbnRae-ZxdUOipGZJPo/s400/IMG_9297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418662930163250" border="0" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEDYAnr43Aq8brGz5giwB-8r6hOQcMECvgyn9YWo5KAvu3Bnlmx87PPlnEMQ-q4gHsuZhG5rkpNdkuk-Z4QPfCAkqqHy1llRReYWVZdFmqFi-vnphxrzkDHucECfslt3dow1ClCU_qOQ/s1600-h/IMG_9388.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEDYAnr43Aq8brGz5giwB-8r6hOQcMECvgyn9YWo5KAvu3Bnlmx87PPlnEMQ-q4gHsuZhG5rkpNdkuk-Z4QPfCAkqqHy1llRReYWVZdFmqFi-vnphxrzkDHucECfslt3dow1ClCU_qOQ/s400/IMG_9388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344074765554145330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Irina gets to know the city centre</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tr8CPeAKjS7Nkup5puizka0SoheAtFeWG0-gVWcNeCWEitTcGlJ2qV6X3CfsiQ1D_0X6XOraZn2TcM8g6MUb5_RsALANPNyxbD2nVfHOFIXeEQZWWDEVzpiGMMxWyMWVgvkY_6ZTVx0/s1600-h/IMG_9293.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tr8CPeAKjS7Nkup5puizka0SoheAtFeWG0-gVWcNeCWEitTcGlJ2qV6X3CfsiQ1D_0X6XOraZn2TcM8g6MUb5_RsALANPNyxbD2nVfHOFIXeEQZWWDEVzpiGMMxWyMWVgvkY_6ZTVx0/s400/IMG_9293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344074765319805778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Favourite building near our hostal</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg457EPfnjclrWASseo3V_FLu4jPXwpADKbHYzqteJidY7YxGdHF3NWhKFfNZRr63cyKIYfq-yKhBfkXZKDGWQzTdeMsYdS3svyHJkn7_43yxCeNhhyphenhyphen1qdo8yNad4Dhnv2KpcI4Jcpq1ro/s1600-h/IMG_9270.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg457EPfnjclrWASseo3V_FLu4jPXwpADKbHYzqteJidY7YxGdHF3NWhKFfNZRr63cyKIYfq-yKhBfkXZKDGWQzTdeMsYdS3svyHJkn7_43yxCeNhhyphenhyphen1qdo8yNad4Dhnv2KpcI4Jcpq1ro/s400/IMG_9270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344074759633499842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Calle Atravesada, where all the Disney takes place</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkqC15VLSuAdD52B9_TpGomvmXjlsR_nIhv-jwQ-q8zJWb-8vcPDEgSC15nDp2eey0KhuBbRWoCJeVMtHZV1z3856zhAN7iDcdx18QMDEbKTGUpQIm1zxfuumLTAxGrREzEDd5OiCepQ/s1600-h/IMG_9267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkqC15VLSuAdD52B9_TpGomvmXjlsR_nIhv-jwQ-q8zJWb-8vcPDEgSC15nDp2eey0KhuBbRWoCJeVMtHZV1z3856zhAN7iDcdx18QMDEbKTGUpQIm1zxfuumLTAxGrREzEDd5OiCepQ/s400/IMG_9267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344074757053710034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Central Market with Mombacho volcano behind</span><br /></div><b><br /></b>The streets of Granada are a chaotic hive of activity. People rise at 4/5am (sensible given the heat from 8am onwards). There are skinny, overworked and sickly horses everywhere, and an equal number of people and dogs in a similar state. There are children and elderly sleeping rough. The dogs are uneducated and many snap or snarl. The men are equally uneducated and many appear to have no respect for women, especially not us of the paler, taller variety. Their comments and actions put me into a state of rage most days - I find these Nica men to be the most intolerable I have come across in the continent of Latin America. From children to wrinkled specimens (minus some more polite exceptions), they shout, grab, leer and sleaze all over us. When Irina and I later come into possession of bikes, they throw eggs and bottles at us in an attempt to get us off our bikes (God only knows what their purpose would be - a girl in our dorm room is attacked one morning at 8am while jogging along the lakefront). It is the men of Granada and the cruelty to humans and animals alike that make me want to leave this city as soon as possible...and if it was not for this sailing course I would have left already! People are extremely poor (the average wage being less that 4 dollars per day), and I entirely sympathise with their misfortunes and will support any cause that aims to pull these people our of poverty. However, cruelty and bad manners are things that I cannot tolerate. On our bikes, dogs snap at our heels and we learn that the only way to prevent getting bitten (and the last thing one wants is to get bitten by one of these diseased dogs) is to pick up a large rock and pretend to throw it at the dog in "the only language they understand".<b><br /><br />Health</b></div><div>We find <a href="http://www.purenica.com/">Pure</a>, a natural health and fitness centre who offer a variety of classes including yoga and pilates. Getting good value for money, we attend a minimum of one class per day! The staff are lovely and our yoga teacher is fantastic. I particularly like the morning that she asked us to move our body as if we were a spoon scooping out the dregs of the peanut butter jar. I'll let you use your imagination!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZmBhIaxaHPHk84a7O1J_GyYLbzCj6VYZkXMBBRsqOzhPXdSYh3nyPvrP6PRE1PtKJyriWQcRwnCuyfdLlBqBO_NkcpFHCEmSR3Ec95cKw10e3wpQQspaPhhrDP9i3WYExwGqzc2H1QE/s1600-h/DSCN2003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZmBhIaxaHPHk84a7O1J_GyYLbzCj6VYZkXMBBRsqOzhPXdSYh3nyPvrP6PRE1PtKJyriWQcRwnCuyfdLlBqBO_NkcpFHCEmSR3Ec95cKw10e3wpQQspaPhhrDP9i3WYExwGqzc2H1QE/s400/DSCN2003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344075918818536130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pure Health Centre</span><br /><br /></div>There is an African Desert Tortoise living at the centre, named Snoopy (he knows his name!). In the morning at dawn, the ducks in the garden shout good-morning to us while we practice our Downward Dog! At the end of the week I indulge in two hours of absolute indulgence consisting of reflexology, acupuncture and a full body massage. At about a quarter of the price I might pay at home I cannot resist. I feel I am walking on air for the remainder of the day.</div><div><br /><div><div><b>Dancing Salsa<br /></b></div><div> On a tiled terrace overlooking the central plaza and cathedral, we have a private salsa in the evenings. We are slowly getting better and now know the basics! Adam has managed to injure Irina by stamping on her toes, kicking her shin and yanking her arm out of socket. Given that Irina is accident-prone and Adam is accident-provoking, the result is not too unexpected. In <span style="font-style: italic;">Cafe Nuit</span> there is a live band every night, here we practice our new steps along side locals and gringos alike. I bump into a boy from Sligo, the only other Irish backpacker I have met in Central America. He gives me a big friendly Irish hug!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3m1TwybctkhoL63SrLGZpaPGScAorjCZoA6aAYjXk4JS0qniHg5sxsVh18M25-4s_40O8zhR4sCt1y-7j9fQ2vQ6mNekn-Q5qlFLKBq42koOzQdSz0wpOfRTIVhNNyjSZv4qeu21UjI/s1600-h/IMG_9263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3m1TwybctkhoL63SrLGZpaPGScAorjCZoA6aAYjXk4JS0qniHg5sxsVh18M25-4s_40O8zhR4sCt1y-7j9fQ2vQ6mNekn-Q5qlFLKBq42koOzQdSz0wpOfRTIVhNNyjSZv4qeu21UjI/s400/IMG_9263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344081172897704802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Irina & our fantastic teacher show us the moves</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iTJP7pRPTYtjMrXr_cRNP_IUsdyF7rAMsVtC1OHaDx0NNKkeZD1Idh9lP7vYcvwWWSPbrdTmKhG7KoRFeLL_UFZTpwqSXW1CidZeVtWWFCU4zV3mZy_P8RgnfwvYERKLVEWqZuKQ00U/s1600-h/IMG_9298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iTJP7pRPTYtjMrXr_cRNP_IUsdyF7rAMsVtC1OHaDx0NNKkeZD1Idh9lP7vYcvwWWSPbrdTmKhG7KoRFeLL_UFZTpwqSXW1CidZeVtWWFCU4zV3mZy_P8RgnfwvYERKLVEWqZuKQ00U/s400/IMG_9298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418657958154946" border="0" /></a>Practising El Tercer Paso!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGkMumK0YfQOvqc8xTe15BPZrN16Vu6KAf83AyUve6emzuOdCnkUBGYKSyPTh27gsyox1rp4TCMNbNKqURZ_AMT_2I6Ns3Ajcl1uQYkcaD5UmSboLywvK6s0DGpA2Mxi3hQ5dDl5rTcA/s1600-h/IMG_9300.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGkMumK0YfQOvqc8xTe15BPZrN16Vu6KAf83AyUve6emzuOdCnkUBGYKSyPTh27gsyox1rp4TCMNbNKqURZ_AMT_2I6Ns3Ajcl1uQYkcaD5UmSboLywvK6s0DGpA2Mxi3hQ5dDl5rTcA/s400/IMG_9300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418655514121810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">What a location to learn salsa!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQrDhAXaCqQSTsXIqEU6-toaaFQvMtlpekMiwwlxJiQRvSZj79g5o8ny0pO96Zl-fVxrKqaAZNzC81J_Rj3KW36sQFI7cYMqoBn1uzdd-J-oFJ8Ivy_QF5w9TEAV9-Ge75vouzq10kWw/s1600-h/IMG_9309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQrDhAXaCqQSTsXIqEU6-toaaFQvMtlpekMiwwlxJiQRvSZj79g5o8ny0pO96Zl-fVxrKqaAZNzC81J_Rj3KW36sQFI7cYMqoBn1uzdd-J-oFJ8Ivy_QF5w9TEAV9-Ge75vouzq10kWw/s400/IMG_9309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418329974940114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">My dance partner for the evening & myself cannot stop laughing (mainly about how long my arms are compared to his!)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nxMwjuOiOurdA1joZdPm1OH05jpIDTA4ATcB6cdn4PREMYZedKgKGoaJTJeJfSVsC6irwIIx6LxSdtuN5RuXlxK8f5qgX168YXo5POhLA6TXqD2fUrrZomDCEZSBNHLzfGUWq3dvT08/s1600-h/IMG_9306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nxMwjuOiOurdA1joZdPm1OH05jpIDTA4ATcB6cdn4PREMYZedKgKGoaJTJeJfSVsC6irwIIx6LxSdtuN5RuXlxK8f5qgX168YXo5POhLA6TXqD2fUrrZomDCEZSBNHLzfGUWq3dvT08/s400/IMG_9306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418648626896834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Irina + Adam = Accident</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c6djlTsG40-Vi1RjS4YUjTVvwsXHR3NFo_4oY7_GuFKsAXLbiIfbWrmMnwZtVb4o8pcfUYk-Itp0E3YsJv-kJWUpubKC02WJaqmVjHI37kmvxsrPY1La2Eda2BRW4XzU9u1pDbpauEQ/s1600-h/IMG_9308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7c6djlTsG40-Vi1RjS4YUjTVvwsXHR3NFo_4oY7_GuFKsAXLbiIfbWrmMnwZtVb4o8pcfUYk-Itp0E3YsJv-kJWUpubKC02WJaqmVjHI37kmvxsrPY1La2Eda2BRW4XzU9u1pDbpauEQ/s400/IMG_9308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418329938016146" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Aah that´s how it goes....</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ3spP5ShseIC76sYy2hKgHz5K76_0TsrgHvpskrBtBG127YsjGqcRBntNKfYXdcbYQwGEHY5S9fXspyOFfSZosXMvsAn25S8Yx7RH25kKK2Wa7XHzn5kEJlFgrNJMzNLPT6K7VQDalU/s1600-h/IMG_9315.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ3spP5ShseIC76sYy2hKgHz5K76_0TsrgHvpskrBtBG127YsjGqcRBntNKfYXdcbYQwGEHY5S9fXspyOFfSZosXMvsAn25S8Yx7RH25kKK2Wa7XHzn5kEJlFgrNJMzNLPT6K7VQDalU/s400/IMG_9315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418319860200962" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Happy ladies after a night of dancing at Cafe Nuit<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWzhKR7LpZ2AeFtVoTxeWVGkLbmO0cwF1-BbbAseftoak0VoJDXfIKSqzPk3GqplrJy22DPm2xz_7Yy7QPQFEAnfO4jIXxMlclXCmPB6avldtpEts7SPoc5ysXJa5guuD2IxS1bss7yA/s1600-h/IMG_9385.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWzhKR7LpZ2AeFtVoTxeWVGkLbmO0cwF1-BbbAseftoak0VoJDXfIKSqzPk3GqplrJy22DPm2xz_7Yy7QPQFEAnfO4jIXxMlclXCmPB6avldtpEts7SPoc5ysXJa5guuD2IxS1bss7yA/s400/IMG_9385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344081177758358242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Irina taking part in salsa lesson at the beautiful Hotel Con Corazon</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vf7l8h7G87VqhTtDljvD7ItTio9xWGVyTvDMxWFp44hpwGhhyxHJbVm_a9MrSb2-j0i3mh_gOmv_voKErP1HE32rJk_EtOdyDfRpEhf2TJK0-oSckh1WVjxmoHqZoQMB1KiqzkCeYBQ/s1600-h/IMG_9382.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9vf7l8h7G87VqhTtDljvD7ItTio9xWGVyTvDMxWFp44hpwGhhyxHJbVm_a9MrSb2-j0i3mh_gOmv_voKErP1HE32rJk_EtOdyDfRpEhf2TJK0-oSckh1WVjxmoHqZoQMB1KiqzkCeYBQ/s400/IMG_9382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344081173003462242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Elaine needs to find a taller dance partner.....(no chance in Nicaragua)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNztDZr3_kI5hT-n0AGKvfHG1wk1BX3mm1r9WAw4ISpILashxO5LF6-ui7U5MKuyQIplAP9q6EDzWDZSj8zA28etO-3Bs5ioeDkRvg0xySRBeDd-lZOT70_8lZW232rkBCWApwMfBD0A/s1600-h/IMG_9381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNztDZr3_kI5hT-n0AGKvfHG1wk1BX3mm1r9WAw4ISpILashxO5LF6-ui7U5MKuyQIplAP9q6EDzWDZSj8zA28etO-3Bs5ioeDkRvg0xySRBeDd-lZOT70_8lZW232rkBCWApwMfBD0A/s400/IMG_9381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344081171018771810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our fan club, Hotel Con Corazon</span><br /></div><div><b>Watersports</b></div><div>Laguna de Apoyo is 48-square kilometer laguna set in the crater of the Apoyo volcano (situated between Granada and Masaya) and boasts <i>the cleanest water in Nicaragua.</i> The water is incredibly clean and turquoise in colour. We set off on a daytrip to a resort called the Crater's Edge where there are hammocks & chairs dotted around a terrace looking over the beautiful laguna. We have a peaceful day of swimming, reading and kayaking. Something happens each time Irina and I get into a canoe or a kayak, we just cannot stop giggling!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR7Hz1HNdrKEWOJwxSn-Ex8w3ZzYtyPBDUyKrcvfGpM07ygaQ_Z8jw88dwR6wNuyeBlU0069OGe8qJDS7XsefaZ6p8HFzUyRg2lcpT5_Jxio5pB_RaeMyTr8_nfa26Lg5nYMlhKok3AE/s1600-h/DSCN2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinR7Hz1HNdrKEWOJwxSn-Ex8w3ZzYtyPBDUyKrcvfGpM07ygaQ_Z8jw88dwR6wNuyeBlU0069OGe8qJDS7XsefaZ6p8HFzUyRg2lcpT5_Jxio5pB_RaeMyTr8_nfa26Lg5nYMlhKok3AE/s400/DSCN2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344075920102716850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kayaking on Laguna de Apoyo</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6SXv_FdSc_FOekOtYVv2RKupIv8iExkJHerZNsgat8Gh3GAy3-4m_KFWWYgKbXNZW84KouMeDzuonpEcd_mAr4ejVLxJ7kbgxf0Qxv6tNeoxnT19sx09cGQkQys90Uc8LtKwardXxhs/s1600-h/DSCN2005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6SXv_FdSc_FOekOtYVv2RKupIv8iExkJHerZNsgat8Gh3GAy3-4m_KFWWYgKbXNZW84KouMeDzuonpEcd_mAr4ejVLxJ7kbgxf0Qxv6tNeoxnT19sx09cGQkQys90Uc8LtKwardXxhs/s400/DSCN2005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344075919059375714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Snoozing beside the Laguna</span><br /><br /></div></div><div>After the others leave, Irina and I decide spend Sunday morning sailing around Las Isletas at the <a href="http://www.velagogranada.com/contact/index.html">Velago Nicaragua</a>. Ferdinand Hoffer is our host and the owner of the sailing school. We meet in the morning at eight am and set out on <i>Elizabeth</i>, a Gruben jolly boat (17 ft). Ferdinand, an Austrian chap who has been wandering back and forth to Nicaragua for the past 10 years. following his dream of creating the first sailing school in Central America. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://www.velagogranada.com/images/mapacomollegarranchon_480.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 320px;" border="0" /></span></div></div><div style="font-family:georgia;">Las Isletas is an archipelago of 365 volcanic islands situated 3 kilometers from the centre of Granada on the Cocibolga lake (Lago Nicaragua). We are amazed by how many of the islands are inhabited (most of which are owned by rich Nicaraguans or foreigners who visit a few days per year). We have a lovely morning, learning a little about tacking, jibing and putting up the head sail. Ferdinand is good company, and is full of information about the local history and culture. After some lunch in town, we return to the centre and head off on a three-hour kayaking trip around the islands with Oscar (who was born and reared on one of the islands). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We kayak through the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">narrow canals that divide islands and admire a fortification of XIX century, which is on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">San Pablo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Island, and briefly stop at an island hosting a monkey-colony. At one point we consider turning back when the wind picks up and the torrential rain begins, but we push onwards and the bad weather passes quickly. We both decide that this has been one of our favourite days in Granada (and having read the above paragraphs you can see the level of enjoyment has been high). At the end of the day we chat further and discuss the possibility of extending our stay to do some more sailing and perhaps take part in a course....?<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMndcVpXTdLsi4zM-VAceO00yWvkvK4sRC7EF9uo_UCQx7BCG6pl4j4NMiQAuAqF34YKc6HxgwLE2mDA1fWQB9a21POGZIGsAF_ZoA9orzplSYMPFrcoZ5dH-x09oTlUYy6zeywqu5Tkk/s1600-h/IMG_9327.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMndcVpXTdLsi4zM-VAceO00yWvkvK4sRC7EF9uo_UCQx7BCG6pl4j4NMiQAuAqF34YKc6HxgwLE2mDA1fWQB9a21POGZIGsAF_ZoA9orzplSYMPFrcoZ5dH-x09oTlUYy6zeywqu5Tkk/s400/IMG_9327.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417611138813298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Elizabeth</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5VLLF6-xP8iVIEutrhLFiWYDUZBpDvls7IK8N-Rxm5JeWcZxC40f34rhI0dvxhevQB8lbaSRGpnubYZIwLWR3u0MqAOHToT16tQiLC-gs8GhyBTD3hwvFiJSX5BAExwmfJEJqsFda5I/s1600-h/IMG_9328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5VLLF6-xP8iVIEutrhLFiWYDUZBpDvls7IK8N-Rxm5JeWcZxC40f34rhI0dvxhevQB8lbaSRGpnubYZIwLWR3u0MqAOHToT16tQiLC-gs8GhyBTD3hwvFiJSX5BAExwmfJEJqsFda5I/s400/IMG_9328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417608537897442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The walkway</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ36WgPsxGosU-jcXEWCQME1N9zCB5seG8d5GXQTOhsGEEFkMT2g098dzD6P_TbWIVjNoDWZ4OLtjwqrurucqrJ3jMMm_6CJPGSxKJh9B4FVjJ8yg0F8XnUmc1XMsHn_TE5zpO4T7Xic/s1600-h/IMG_9329.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ36WgPsxGosU-jcXEWCQME1N9zCB5seG8d5GXQTOhsGEEFkMT2g098dzD6P_TbWIVjNoDWZ4OLtjwqrurucqrJ3jMMm_6CJPGSxKJh9B4FVjJ8yg0F8XnUmc1XMsHn_TE5zpO4T7Xic/s400/IMG_9329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417609887411842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbbmaqmftiar3ndmsR6CVbKx_clVoBVT2NECkgotJQ3g2wDmQVv6yO1g9oc_zpxXihHAaBM5dDDw3l4dyarqPhS8a2oMXd_xGmgv-LqYaEn3tj8PlbfGM7oVFqeIYDxwl-wZ-8lhOaK4/s1600-h/IMG_9330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbbmaqmftiar3ndmsR6CVbKx_clVoBVT2NECkgotJQ3g2wDmQVv6yO1g9oc_zpxXihHAaBM5dDDw3l4dyarqPhS8a2oMXd_xGmgv-LqYaEn3tj8PlbfGM7oVFqeIYDxwl-wZ-8lhOaK4/s400/IMG_9330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417598135153586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hQt0o8ZECc3OzSDonV66a37cDL60BEFPEQx2B-3eC4lJ8OdCCjGlova1TobjB3mCDIRGj4lIKndhvDUeBKTgEXH78lpXC6zorCfzmJSdKgG-cQJ71xx3Ubv5HEAFd2_wiu48uIL1P0M/s1600-h/IMG_9332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hQt0o8ZECc3OzSDonV66a37cDL60BEFPEQx2B-3eC4lJ8OdCCjGlova1TobjB3mCDIRGj4lIKndhvDUeBKTgEXH78lpXC6zorCfzmJSdKgG-cQJ71xx3Ubv5HEAFd2_wiu48uIL1P0M/s400/IMG_9332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417597767255810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Ferdinand</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5tIhSe120lOEeJd4AOxFfvNlS4f9V6AjU12GzPlAC6l8wbtWb5Hajh6pVDANkbY6VmXfxV868NK4xjOovR9at_n3WNLMZHd66ASVFuFUlH0MseDt99XK6dqmieuOQ8wlz44nAqr5Dko/s1600-h/IMG_9333.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5tIhSe120lOEeJd4AOxFfvNlS4f9V6AjU12GzPlAC6l8wbtWb5Hajh6pVDANkbY6VmXfxV868NK4xjOovR9at_n3WNLMZHd66ASVFuFUlH0MseDt99XK6dqmieuOQ8wlz44nAqr5Dko/s400/IMG_9333.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417143170577650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBvx4Qm7KO_OJbmY_QsA2ww60k1l8pN2nSc6zl_kh1ZsOyxKWbs4BZWu36kCv2bfM8XUP30z-1AyoBSX7ZzAuZTwumeZ2AmeM0aAFGJdYh_CdFfhEVx1QmKMADeHVd35GP1xu0uLDhvk/s1600-h/IMG_9334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBvx4Qm7KO_OJbmY_QsA2ww60k1l8pN2nSc6zl_kh1ZsOyxKWbs4BZWu36kCv2bfM8XUP30z-1AyoBSX7ZzAuZTwumeZ2AmeM0aAFGJdYh_CdFfhEVx1QmKMADeHVd35GP1xu0uLDhvk/s400/IMG_9334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417141696743298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Looking back over Granada</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURh4LhS2HcU3Lb8rN4imp5S3tts3YwdzQWH_XZMzHAxGZEuuXDmnheRdQ54ZGbllkrpFGx7O3VPLF_12VoHsj-xkG0zqv5Oo6TQVqTzTN31Yx7msBDSKON3v_8SG_aIlzlxIK5q6qi5U/s1600-h/IMG_9338.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURh4LhS2HcU3Lb8rN4imp5S3tts3YwdzQWH_XZMzHAxGZEuuXDmnheRdQ54ZGbllkrpFGx7O3VPLF_12VoHsj-xkG0zqv5Oo6TQVqTzTN31Yx7msBDSKON3v_8SG_aIlzlxIK5q6qi5U/s400/IMG_9338.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417133191255378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">San Pablo island</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18xvQwfdwFCYwrZKGHs2LDhe5nHdhJaRUETlDbYPazrMhSrOHTMysPCX8XW9cXDKPfXrlWxoI1chyphenhyphenBubsdtPP4aYBwKzot32GL3DAjDe2jsAEXRY9tWcNmeEd9FRoC8GhDTnqdIbEFEw/s1600-h/IMG_9342.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18xvQwfdwFCYwrZKGHs2LDhe5nHdhJaRUETlDbYPazrMhSrOHTMysPCX8XW9cXDKPfXrlWxoI1chyphenhyphenBubsdtPP4aYBwKzot32GL3DAjDe2jsAEXRY9tWcNmeEd9FRoC8GhDTnqdIbEFEw/s400/IMG_9342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342416807972204226" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEpgy2Bf5jVorfoWfoFe6bVVkOpFL5ZTuFhUIfKah9lCAOvy03eutuRCC4RYHfgI4LrGQhTe7l9lUAJ-MIwg_lyREdmMbKkrzNkecUKQ1STa71GBSjkkRC332g4XFibb6w1SzU3X0tjE/s1600-h/IMG_9343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEpgy2Bf5jVorfoWfoFe6bVVkOpFL5ZTuFhUIfKah9lCAOvy03eutuRCC4RYHfgI4LrGQhTe7l9lUAJ-MIwg_lyREdmMbKkrzNkecUKQ1STa71GBSjkkRC332g4XFibb6w1SzU3X0tjE/s400/IMG_9343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342416806431237874" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKGGKrEVG17RXvMgu556xsdQ33oKcmiDBwlCF7prp47W1uoIEKUA_o1qryEjePxMzHQYSLVJMjOU5WKigIpQKjssj2Uow4krc4sLNaSTQo974BaHUAC1-OcVyxWh50lTKzlIpPlf7roQ/s1600-h/IMG_9345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKGGKrEVG17RXvMgu556xsdQ33oKcmiDBwlCF7prp47W1uoIEKUA_o1qryEjePxMzHQYSLVJMjOU5WKigIpQKjssj2Uow4krc4sLNaSTQo974BaHUAC1-OcVyxWh50lTKzlIpPlf7roQ/s400/IMG_9345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342416799653025746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Oscar, so sweet and shy!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pp028qd4JNC1ZFc_TOvVSbnM88n6X1Tsh2rXhukId2lpp4lpFcLjeQmcEkGMeBoMUQogUa1TMS61ATI08-0z1g3YrFt0v1yEnz3yu-7o6lxEKluMp9FrBlFS1TFq4yFdTPM7oCEc3qU/s1600-h/IMG_9346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Pp028qd4JNC1ZFc_TOvVSbnM88n6X1Tsh2rXhukId2lpp4lpFcLjeQmcEkGMeBoMUQogUa1TMS61ATI08-0z1g3YrFt0v1yEnz3yu-7o6lxEKluMp9FrBlFS1TFq4yFdTPM7oCEc3qU/s400/IMG_9346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415811659278194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Defense fort on San Pablo</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y4v_2i-OXRolT7TPf-CHYE4dwLJa7C4hdAoPwtSjuT0uKxgpZ0HxjIcPRLye-E4cb7_C_9hVCnzRooNV3kftCymVNi7Z-Blth5PblNIypdkK0SdZylLbjUGUkleg8BQdp2Bghyphenhyphen4i3tk/s1600-h/IMG_9348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y4v_2i-OXRolT7TPf-CHYE4dwLJa7C4hdAoPwtSjuT0uKxgpZ0HxjIcPRLye-E4cb7_C_9hVCnzRooNV3kftCymVNi7Z-Blth5PblNIypdkK0SdZylLbjUGUkleg8BQdp2Bghyphenhyphen4i3tk/s400/IMG_9348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415811106208834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Black clouds begin to appear, the winds pick up & the rain appears</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuNLToBmBAiQ2tC7VDkM4Pd0Gg3hjot0srB8gKcbn7F-UAJXvsQikn0rJ7AUuwZ3Sjex4GPJwKBjC7QnEPWsu-KmXu63wjErQ5lkCQy_qkjxJAJ-EZGnyb1zhTDhqOq0hAGVkXbjgguo/s1600-h/IMG_9350.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuNLToBmBAiQ2tC7VDkM4Pd0Gg3hjot0srB8gKcbn7F-UAJXvsQikn0rJ7AUuwZ3Sjex4GPJwKBjC7QnEPWsu-KmXu63wjErQ5lkCQy_qkjxJAJ-EZGnyb1zhTDhqOq0hAGVkXbjgguo/s400/IMG_9350.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415810777130178" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0F1ewiFqeXmyn_ZE90QyDjF51SL_nj_k7lIxeFA4-ZuiUzNYY-eO_PSvg3eiaoSpqXOMw_6WyIkAL53qjkkDFERIS5tDYX2mD1zvR3yTx8LMCOmVwOIwLPEI9Ti0WAhqwn3A0GmpK67I/s1600-h/IMG_9351.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0F1ewiFqeXmyn_ZE90QyDjF51SL_nj_k7lIxeFA4-ZuiUzNYY-eO_PSvg3eiaoSpqXOMw_6WyIkAL53qjkkDFERIS5tDYX2mD1zvR3yTx8LMCOmVwOIwLPEI9Ti0WAhqwn3A0GmpK67I/s400/IMG_9351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415804632309234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Monkey on Monkey Island</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuIznARnS40VqllRGIJ06sfAm2s8zgK0sAHhyphenhyphenGdz_sozYNF527BtyMEx-DDyZlsC2gPblv4Yhhg1v1U6OIe0TMKwbMS2AJeclczkDIJ9vVc9vG-PnIkjvIEXFp7t2OKGhvCZJ-X9CkNU/s1600-h/IMG_9356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuIznARnS40VqllRGIJ06sfAm2s8zgK0sAHhyphenhyphenGdz_sozYNF527BtyMEx-DDyZlsC2gPblv4Yhhg1v1U6OIe0TMKwbMS2AJeclczkDIJ9vVc9vG-PnIkjvIEXFp7t2OKGhvCZJ-X9CkNU/s400/IMG_9356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415802250088018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sit-on-top canoe</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqac4D7DpdSS6vYVDGE7EwCFBSORd4uce6FDFNnljHHfgbIlOp8ZDlDJyD3UyDkiDfjB1_-PEgJGuCsqfhhdzirCiM7K8FJERTL333EOUokyOVxzp0cYwGkYhB8tpFv30Eh_Ju3TQFBPM/s1600-h/IMG_9357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqac4D7DpdSS6vYVDGE7EwCFBSORd4uce6FDFNnljHHfgbIlOp8ZDlDJyD3UyDkiDfjB1_-PEgJGuCsqfhhdzirCiM7K8FJERTL333EOUokyOVxzp0cYwGkYhB8tpFv30Eh_Ju3TQFBPM/s400/IMG_9357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415547132866178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Guard-dog on one of the islands</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuTeIa4NPSSX2G6FoaR6_3B8a3lv6L2WSEzhYeTY1C_BiaHsYMbm_LWoJsNEXq1NZhVZGthM0ZlN05Fwh2Dmr5Xkl8ffctF0Sh8597aU9SgTd-T312quzD6EAlDmPRWIrum-K7UhscCE/s1600-h/IMG_9359.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuTeIa4NPSSX2G6FoaR6_3B8a3lv6L2WSEzhYeTY1C_BiaHsYMbm_LWoJsNEXq1NZhVZGthM0ZlN05Fwh2Dmr5Xkl8ffctF0Sh8597aU9SgTd-T312quzD6EAlDmPRWIrum-K7UhscCE/s400/IMG_9359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415543515454466" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Surely not.....</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtBF6M_VrnB_sWKIowv8_XJCHLhTlEkWVRkUQTEjHCbSlfO08OyBnPSWGWFr8S6tIlDfRWY-b1qkDAB2LCFLnBNOZSFyii_J0Hp0NsPQsAKY0t_hbXi20w2SjFuYMD68iK2TJ5aPbMI8/s1600-h/IMG_9360.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtBF6M_VrnB_sWKIowv8_XJCHLhTlEkWVRkUQTEjHCbSlfO08OyBnPSWGWFr8S6tIlDfRWY-b1qkDAB2LCFLnBNOZSFyii_J0Hp0NsPQsAKY0t_hbXi20w2SjFuYMD68iK2TJ5aPbMI8/s400/IMG_9360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415535034691618" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQFPsCAVyFMfN5KP6_ZEELqB2aBpvlDLowLjXn38YUh9CkE4PXjUAaVnEn6-nL9fEecAYuzTVa4G1euxhNIr81LGxrZLEeiNTwVUKnHe5OW6uLKsw6ufZyNvYi8ucFpAlCFBCN-d0vIg/s1600-h/IMG_9365.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQFPsCAVyFMfN5KP6_ZEELqB2aBpvlDLowLjXn38YUh9CkE4PXjUAaVnEn6-nL9fEecAYuzTVa4G1euxhNIr81LGxrZLEeiNTwVUKnHe5OW6uLKsw6ufZyNvYi8ucFpAlCFBCN-d0vIg/s400/IMG_9365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415139951310226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi-yDxIinY1qkMvmdN-UkLN1g8hxzTeiTbA56KYT7F54Xp4oeARsnZ1yLLau29PUcq4EhMMj0pCxRM5i7RGszgVYGQ6E79VDFJWNRozpxJ06eJsU-3NHvAGXfEAUX1Am1EMr_rx_Clwo/s1600-h/IMG_9368.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi-yDxIinY1qkMvmdN-UkLN1g8hxzTeiTbA56KYT7F54Xp4oeARsnZ1yLLau29PUcq4EhMMj0pCxRM5i7RGszgVYGQ6E79VDFJWNRozpxJ06eJsU-3NHvAGXfEAUX1Am1EMr_rx_Clwo/s400/IMG_9368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415140316061570" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Oscar sports a t-shirt that says "Mr.Miniblind"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYJhJcxbjLBvQAPvNTSfGGH2BjZKWEI5l-xfQLoMfIz2tC-ZRI-Eg8jNrZu2L2RGAcjzxu0mVyv3MJ0Uk303VTF_z9pZASmi0zym4OQMxBJoizNZ1G2AEz_M9RIj3_9pN_2LIh7bc_cA/s1600-h/IMG_9369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYJhJcxbjLBvQAPvNTSfGGH2BjZKWEI5l-xfQLoMfIz2tC-ZRI-Eg8jNrZu2L2RGAcjzxu0mVyv3MJ0Uk303VTF_z9pZASmi0zym4OQMxBJoizNZ1G2AEz_M9RIj3_9pN_2LIh7bc_cA/s400/IMG_9369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415133562796594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Does this gap in the clouds lead to heaven?</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTiW94VaX6t1MnalHpyHnA9FHByr8bvNvn70QRO8Cw7ktbbNDV5YDLQNy-RUz3SafX87lSWOquDmMFWh2XtoZs91meqyom-OycWafNbD4rInE30k1QSuFm5wu_EUPqZPaWi1RvngUW2A/s1600-h/IMG_9371.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTiW94VaX6t1MnalHpyHnA9FHByr8bvNvn70QRO8Cw7ktbbNDV5YDLQNy-RUz3SafX87lSWOquDmMFWh2XtoZs91meqyom-OycWafNbD4rInE30k1QSuFm5wu_EUPqZPaWi1RvngUW2A/s400/IMG_9371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342415128506198946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunset</span></div><div><b>Shopping</b></div><div>Irina and I take a local bus to the neighbouring city of Masaya. We arrive a peak time for the local market. The stench of rotting and shit is wretch-provoking. It certainly is an experience to walk through. Rubbish and mud stick to our flip-flops. People with warts all over their body walk by. Men with huge wooden carts laden with goods strain to pass. Everywhere there are filthy, maimed or skinless dogs and boney children. We continue on to the the Old Market which is calmer, cleaner and geared towards tourists. I buy a hammock for the garden I imagine having in the future. On the return to Granada, we pass a horse with a broken leg limping across the main highway. I feel sick at the sight.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O3cYsuURh5U9jFfTzMPeXRWQBOCIqm6ghGMnnUbtUrexDaMBWXel1o1mnDLR3TdXEvoTzsq9XYEkXsnmqphFEpOkUnDKQnAyGaVYN2RBgeKyilrIDtwjC4qqKJQf5LJ_a_cRM8OqCoo/s1600-h/IMG_9317.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6O3cYsuURh5U9jFfTzMPeXRWQBOCIqm6ghGMnnUbtUrexDaMBWXel1o1mnDLR3TdXEvoTzsq9XYEkXsnmqphFEpOkUnDKQnAyGaVYN2RBgeKyilrIDtwjC4qqKJQf5LJ_a_cRM8OqCoo/s400/IMG_9317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418320568500818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">It is sooooo hot!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWTNivou6QGW5VPtqUDyu0IjqQ3WVZRgNJsPaiOBFft13_2np0eBxAqZ_5u-8Z5pRlD8BgqsHvPl0hVzqRYsMws5Ci80rhFQcbv8d6nv9mCZ8-45AMhGsn89dWbfUEEwuh9wSBbhGIec/s1600-h/IMG_9322.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWTNivou6QGW5VPtqUDyu0IjqQ3WVZRgNJsPaiOBFft13_2np0eBxAqZ_5u-8Z5pRlD8BgqsHvPl0hVzqRYsMws5Ci80rhFQcbv8d6nv9mCZ8-45AMhGsn89dWbfUEEwuh9wSBbhGIec/s400/IMG_9322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418102819341426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Local "school buses"</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqgxI_0ZLuuoJ4X9d1xZot4BDaRprnt7I_MepRO6h8M3-5bUWhVtuqmqi9je0C4h9ZN-xHbcM-RrFR-bgclSNWD70t9rE64nzuw8yc_waoiiYmxJs0bpuXbO1TPy2mvRbJ8eUpvW56g4/s1600-h/IMG_9323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqgxI_0ZLuuoJ4X9d1xZot4BDaRprnt7I_MepRO6h8M3-5bUWhVtuqmqi9je0C4h9ZN-xHbcM-RrFR-bgclSNWD70t9rE64nzuw8yc_waoiiYmxJs0bpuXbO1TPy2mvRbJ8eUpvW56g4/s400/IMG_9323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418097520313954" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1ORoTljO6nH8Y2sGxz6e-td51FRNVEGb_rdq72hvfKfcZLvio46hSCpSXKeNo4LxIyI-wSnXtn5BXDoqVm4U2AWo7NXt0XszS_-F2PXTdGIshH7XPTWw7x-VUYgK9VB5tqhdw97SNHg/s1600-h/DSCN2038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC1ORoTljO6nH8Y2sGxz6e-td51FRNVEGb_rdq72hvfKfcZLvio46hSCpSXKeNo4LxIyI-wSnXtn5BXDoqVm4U2AWo7NXt0XszS_-F2PXTdGIshH7XPTWw7x-VUYgK9VB5tqhdw97SNHg/s400/DSCN2038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344078316755742114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Note how much taller I am than the average Nica!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXADjFDUGJNjAFM9fNWo8n0L84vwWkOqivrNN-P0ClP6c1rQuDamlgdbOKXoK3tp_dWQH8X20BIqhyh87l6Y3qoHurhf2wlGhMfOZlF6Izw1Yzg9JBTq_uMVi5xyWf01AojuIOqoCoGk/s1600-h/IMG_9324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXADjFDUGJNjAFM9fNWo8n0L84vwWkOqivrNN-P0ClP6c1rQuDamlgdbOKXoK3tp_dWQH8X20BIqhyh87l6Y3qoHurhf2wlGhMfOZlF6Izw1Yzg9JBTq_uMVi5xyWf01AojuIOqoCoGk/s400/IMG_9324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418099123494914" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEAxHv8ZTEr5ye62OMViHfTr-2o8xQU5VKo5JC5ftNU2xf_H7xBgrxwE9B9zlUxj4KJHxWkElB-pvydMt5rA1ZpN4bCyAh8xPg0tSpak-uYF5nWbaY0jd3pWaTVJ12YF5Ud_nirCVS88/s1600-h/IMG_9325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEAxHv8ZTEr5ye62OMViHfTr-2o8xQU5VKo5JC5ftNU2xf_H7xBgrxwE9B9zlUxj4KJHxWkElB-pvydMt5rA1ZpN4bCyAh8xPg0tSpak-uYF5nWbaY0jd3pWaTVJ12YF5Ud_nirCVS88/s400/IMG_9325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342418095379361346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Guess how many hammocks we purchased?!</span><br /></div></div><div><b>Eating </b></div><div>The Garden Cafe is my favourite place to have lunch. On the menu there is a love story about an American and a Nicaraguan who fell in love and dreamt about opening a coffee shop inside a restored Colonial building, with a beautiful garden and terrace. This cafe is their reality and the garden inspires me to dream about having my own beautiful garden one day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD2sGFHxklJM4BqQGTNXjj5Wum_HrFTnygHtwKGpVTMe4KcW3m7ZS4TbSbCCSH6Y3TPvrpsaQzNmPMpQVtbCqBrB2kupfPJiEo0mJgGQYWhpJWitUhEYrf3QAN0lhAPrYP-Fnizr0mII/s1600-h/IMG_9253.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD2sGFHxklJM4BqQGTNXjj5Wum_HrFTnygHtwKGpVTMe4KcW3m7ZS4TbSbCCSH6Y3TPvrpsaQzNmPMpQVtbCqBrB2kupfPJiEo0mJgGQYWhpJWitUhEYrf3QAN0lhAPrYP-Fnizr0mII/s400/IMG_9253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344078320402274882" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Garden Cafe</span><br /></div><br />El Tercer Ojo (the third eye) is a wonderful place to have dinner. They serve a white fish called dorado with a beautiful garlic and white wine sauce.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2FCFL8ju2dDZous7mh20qk1Cvf0RfNjg0GrXLYUfPna57JGV28p37SUN9b84PLLf4pmThX_KEHz2x-buwvprVJCwUC_sDQ_KnWygje6yecQC5wqQIgYsadS6RbhR4Lbz-6d1arxodVU/s1600-h/IMG_9261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2FCFL8ju2dDZous7mh20qk1Cvf0RfNjg0GrXLYUfPna57JGV28p37SUN9b84PLLf4pmThX_KEHz2x-buwvprVJCwUC_sDQ_KnWygje6yecQC5wqQIgYsadS6RbhR4Lbz-6d1arxodVU/s400/IMG_9261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344078327297526482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">El Tercer Ojo (well my blog would not be my blog without eating pictures!)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsan2ieuwQ9nnxjDCRhV8Dbw8GZQ02HAwKds_eeVzkO8aWpP3U6_6gsmWU0dkMBRNh-f7OP41hhczmtPwPwoGPpt05p-Rp0BzYubRuagWD2QwIXIbSD3sVtudayxI8dGCXg14AucKeg14/s1600-h/IMG_9339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsan2ieuwQ9nnxjDCRhV8Dbw8GZQ02HAwKds_eeVzkO8aWpP3U6_6gsmWU0dkMBRNh-f7OP41hhczmtPwPwoGPpt05p-Rp0BzYubRuagWD2QwIXIbSD3sVtudayxI8dGCXg14AucKeg14/s400/IMG_9339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342417130159532242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"El Tercer Ojo" - The third eye</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5uz8OPpx0nlZ53-ZwIGHnWNRSoBQ7Er-Ni_qjneIgKc7xGGx7l8e6lOulr77Hdhy3WIzv2OTaykqsd3791-IMiVhGJyQVGVBrNg3ybjtBJJZAkc8l8TnVJwHgX2GNC2HEDLPiQ-u_hU/s1600-h/DSCN2012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5uz8OPpx0nlZ53-ZwIGHnWNRSoBQ7Er-Ni_qjneIgKc7xGGx7l8e6lOulr77Hdhy3WIzv2OTaykqsd3791-IMiVhGJyQVGVBrNg3ybjtBJJZAkc8l8TnVJwHgX2GNC2HEDLPiQ-u_hU/s400/DSCN2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344075921598321666" border="0" /></a>The typical breakfast in Costa Rica and Guatemala is Gallo Pinto; rice, beans, eggs and plantain. It is enormous and will fill you up until dinner time!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLudr6l92abaD3Z432bogjcVIEUjhMqmuDY0CgIg8cMFdT53EO6pgwrlCtCVp3hyphenhyphen-G6YqmevP4zFk8lBFzi-XevXdCwrrHsDjOSUIsbGDDewd9YB17gDRPgJI94KREz5Cyv8L-viWiPI/s1600-h/IMG_9326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLudr6l92abaD3Z432bogjcVIEUjhMqmuDY0CgIg8cMFdT53EO6pgwrlCtCVp3hyphenhyphen-G6YqmevP4zFk8lBFzi-XevXdCwrrHsDjOSUIsbGDDewd9YB17gDRPgJI94KREz5Cyv8L-viWiPI/s400/IMG_9326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344078331601637762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gallo Pinto or "Plato Tipico"<br /><br /></span></div>There are fantastic smoothies all over the city for little more than a dollar. We visit a place called Nectar and order a goat´s cheese salad what we are given is a plate of cucumber and green peppers with one teeny-weeny (penny-sized) lump of cheese. Naturally we complain and the waitress shrugs her shoulders, that is how we serve it. Adam finds a hair in his curry. After much discussion with the manager, we manage to get a discount. I have had a number of instances with Nicas where I have not been happy with a service provided (mainly food related, but also when shopping and at the beauty salon). However, I have found complaining or sharing constructive crticism a fruitless exercise here resulting in verbal aggression, accusations or other kinds of emotional outbursts. So now I don´t bother, and my fingers are crossed for quality every time I pay for something.<br /><br />Eskimo is the Nica brand of ice-cream and it is rather delicious. I cannot decide whether coffee-flavour is my favourite so I buy another the following day, just to be sure..<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSTLKzVZ68lPF71wsYlQ89m8WPoj4eXwQP55hj68JXDHPbGQ4g0vORtwYRojxCAMo3XjF45ZakhXtKl1c5064cd34NBJGmbJWeveiPs6guoJW3GyBw2mVFXh9v-Y2Whxl4mg2ugCij50/s1600-h/DSCN2025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSTLKzVZ68lPF71wsYlQ89m8WPoj4eXwQP55hj68JXDHPbGQ4g0vORtwYRojxCAMo3XjF45ZakhXtKl1c5064cd34NBJGmbJWeveiPs6guoJW3GyBw2mVFXh9v-Y2Whxl4mg2ugCij50/s400/DSCN2025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344075927397255378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Caught in the act with an Eskimo ice-cream<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">It has been a very busy week, but hungry to learn how to sail, Irina and I decide to stay in Granada for three more days.<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-83096872184317517522009-05-28T06:11:00.000-07:002009-05-31T22:10:32.520-07:00Ometepe, the place of two mountains<div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">We climb out of the taxi at San Jorge an<span style="font-family:georgia;">d into a swarm of sandfly-type bugs. The swarm continues along the pier and aboard the small fishing boat. </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFS7rVPPoLG2CcYR-EAQ7kmrO-gbRmuRCV8KefVufjnYeitdOurd-id90PLygd_LysRI_FENtfpiF3c4oLJ4y0z1ggYSp32nIuJnI-xBGpfeu8A7cJFcPn9obemPAgOcjnWFBODRk5L0/s400/IMG_9138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852602167400786" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Imagine thousands of insects, in a constant confetti, in your hair, crawling along your eyelids, glued to your clothing and blocking your vision of a few feet in front of you. This is what we experience for the next hour as we cross the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lago Nicaragua</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">. The only relief is to stick one's head as far off the side of the boat as one's neck will allow. Our backpacks are heaving with hundreds and hundreds of the vile creatures. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPV_8q26ENQ4KMRwQ41SSl56g2jQor8FekX7h8ekZw9uEZcvfW0ErwU1IQdIyI9tqH4y2oEwMPzQi2JUcqj3r0bxSxUz6GzYEGmk1oG9gspsHabk1wWeiZxtKUX4iRKj38eoHbeyl2z4/s400/DSCN1949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341854906632676690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span>I count down the minutes and seconds until we can scramble off the boat and big good riddance. We take our first few steps on the Island of Ometepe. Deep breath<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">s. </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Concepción</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span>volcano greets us, standing handsome and tall.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;">Ometepe is a 276-square-kilometer island on the Lake of Nicaragua (</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;">the second largest lake in Latin America)</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;">. It is considered the largest island in the world found within a freshwater lake. Population circa 42,000.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;">The island is shaped like an irregular figure of eight, with both circles each holding a volcano:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Concepción (1,6</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;">10 masl) and its twin brother Maderas (1,395 masl)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><br /></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeb58mEOjf78bMm0cPFvOQ36C124AfsxT-gnhjxBWtdawJYBABMKJD47UTHazW3uZXBNP8rMvA9mb6WnQRy0sQDVuWPQwGNu0vrq0y8OV5WRPNlLdDkEwppW5yzRgSKlWYtfEsAEMRyI/s400/DSCN1954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341854736988189714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Concepción</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br />We hop in the back of a pick-up truck and bounce along the dirt tracks to our destination, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Little Morgan's. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Never a dull moment in Nicaragua, we watch a spot of ridiculous road-rage between our driver and another mini-van driver. Dangerously speeding along bumpy roads trying to catch each other and cut-each other off (Greased Lightning style) ending in a broken wing-mirror and the bumper knocked off. We all look at each other. </span>What was that about?</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacUvtA44DL6edJ4FWKnMALDSyLDpzpLEnvW7Iti4oK6Y60XKVQs4pMpp6OQ26M0zMNwWoz7jTdAvL36wUP6nmqfdRzL7-mDdBF4nVHt8UT46Eo89MwlyTG6xNqmk9PJj1KCyd1IdPCRw/s1600-h/DSCN1955.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacUvtA44DL6edJ4FWKnMALDSyLDpzpLEnvW7Iti4oK6Y60XKVQs4pMpp6OQ26M0zMNwWoz7jTdAvL36wUP6nmqfdRzL7-mDdBF4nVHt8UT46Eo89MwlyTG6xNqmk9PJj1KCyd1IdPCRw/s400/DSCN1955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341854736549897362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Riding along in our automobile</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9LaNYNSyYaZ0fe9odPt7aW5UdunAifSvYZLk-PkqB3df_yfMfOzce-hY5yklr-LeZL6Yi5RYWz_AEvPMJU2CVz1gODfgjq_ozMCUhin0QtDQW9loBVY7i9dK8RqkqlFHhWmpefgTRC4/s1600-h/DSCN1958.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM9LaNYNSyYaZ0fe9odPt7aW5UdunAifSvYZLk-PkqB3df_yfMfOzce-hY5yklr-LeZL6Yi5RYWz_AEvPMJU2CVz1gODfgjq_ozMCUhin0QtDQW9loBVY7i9dK8RqkqlFHhWmpefgTRC4/s400/DSCN1958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341854730113829282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Road</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHMB2fVNkgS_qOfGV4iLrGt3YXMStMUQ6KHi6CUYSq39El6Q7wfMoK83J3_kT5yJYT2_fJWpNplRaD973moG6FFGTBp8EkQYn26tijXkMAosd-k7tH_2GRThnAHQw9zdculqWwkBuy_U/s1600-h/IMG_9145.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHMB2fVNkgS_qOfGV4iLrGt3YXMStMUQ6KHi6CUYSq39El6Q7wfMoK83J3_kT5yJYT2_fJWpNplRaD973moG6FFGTBp8EkQYn26tijXkMAosd-k7tH_2GRThnAHQw9zdculqWwkBuy_U/s400/IMG_9145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852323886794290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Driver´s helper with bumper</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFzbw6N24FurpqEfp5jAt5CMV8KujzRkIQiS2zIqtx87A50G7Ncyh2q_DjJ4yBUI83Mry-lYnnHcoREslTC2_e9dQ3Jpem0YiQePfZyf5M2NoEJVjNEwnhTuYkok7VU-2eq3SdZFZA-o/s1600-h/IMG_9216.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFzbw6N24FurpqEfp5jAt5CMV8KujzRkIQiS2zIqtx87A50G7Ncyh2q_DjJ4yBUI83Mry-lYnnHcoREslTC2_e9dQ3Jpem0YiQePfZyf5M2NoEJVjNEwnhTuYkok7VU-2eq3SdZFZA-o/s400/IMG_9216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849028866781650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a>Little Morgan´s<br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6pLzxmxe6Kl4cMJ3wKvDkR_CvIPi_jtkHK_Bk2I3CEpgKQ00iDIAHWKNzoXAuv95itG16QIFBOFQgqQXawtOfgqXXEU6cCPsmWyqosssHu4lVFWknNamaNuMHBlUxoaarSf_Ep-sFSU/s400/IMG_9147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852317282993570" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">The driveway (energy zapping & sweat-inducing)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Morgan is the owner, little Morgan is his son. This place has been open for about 6 months. We (Irina, Helene and myself) rent our own private wooden <i>cabina</i>, clad with Sky TV (never watched!), terrace with hammock and rocking chairs. Nicaragua is full of rocking chairs. We swim in the lake, and again at sunset, watching in awe at the orange, red and pink hues over the volcano peak. Nice people are staying here. Tito is the kitten.</span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmQTbuKIZR0gE-xjJfhHevGjO0nyhMJMqBeOcE1NgyEz5eMSwTK1hvYAGI-kFbeC1u6Ne5YebKwfu60ueIL4Mc0KbWC7BnHGxnyFjJI_5OafihXUQMxB-SX7tk1S_q_SXSmKmZpb5Ao4/s1600-h/IMG_9213.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmQTbuKIZR0gE-xjJfhHevGjO0nyhMJMqBeOcE1NgyEz5eMSwTK1hvYAGI-kFbeC1u6Ne5YebKwfu60ueIL4Mc0KbWC7BnHGxnyFjJI_5OafihXUQMxB-SX7tk1S_q_SXSmKmZpb5Ao4/s400/IMG_9213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849035560973442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Our private terrace</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24nXW-fNzMmAo2bZfNVx99G2EeawIcbnWaxsjJ40C9nPT8j6IP9YcGXzGSOjNg3ZUqyv-kwOjKQ3-axDNZb2qFTMsx4Cly6o1ScgCjcIR_3NM36UmlWBxUKf4zHl-_p94UN3vrp44cec/s1600-h/IMG_9214.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24nXW-fNzMmAo2bZfNVx99G2EeawIcbnWaxsjJ40C9nPT8j6IP9YcGXzGSOjNg3ZUqyv-kwOjKQ3-axDNZb2qFTMsx4Cly6o1ScgCjcIR_3NM36UmlWBxUKf4zHl-_p94UN3vrp44cec/s400/IMG_9214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849030538170338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Casita<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtr8YUs8Jivd-uLocmH-LeJwhyDmAj5Ac-vzZ8QMDCE1DTqbxTMVRYVp6YVC1toc0XioxgG0HCpp497U6c001N4_DBhHWZDz56cp9gVxzUjOlY1_m-gWOhXc7p14_XVZH5MuUcqt-a_Xg/s400/DSCN1964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341853168382813122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3lnc8nQqyvwa8zauNL_oNauCLeigePEYQUgGnXA-VcGXsW3GmfblyH3BLH7wKvHmqk9NymdIKBXm3r337Jw3Uzswd3jxFxunWdu1YZve6cFkKH5y2zoxc00uPzPr-_AOUR__BR4FntI/s1600-h/DSCN1959.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3lnc8nQqyvwa8zauNL_oNauCLeigePEYQUgGnXA-VcGXsW3GmfblyH3BLH7wKvHmqk9NymdIKBXm3r337Jw3Uzswd3jxFxunWdu1YZve6cFkKH5y2zoxc00uPzPr-_AOUR__BR4FntI/s400/DSCN1959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341854728920913026" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Perfect swimming</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXT0CYEnkvQqrjRpGViv0okTH2cFqV2fn8o3rDOrZ796pvGvZDTR2I7A67LBDMR8dnGzv3C7BMDHWkqw7p9rwa_936GeM_3N5rWEs8yOHtCCN-po6YY_ia16X9CJMojmQ3eZD4Ahodv0/s1600-h/IMG_9153.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXT0CYEnkvQqrjRpGViv0okTH2cFqV2fn8o3rDOrZ796pvGvZDTR2I7A67LBDMR8dnGzv3C7BMDHWkqw7p9rwa_936GeM_3N5rWEs8yOHtCCN-po6YY_ia16X9CJMojmQ3eZD4Ahodv0/s400/IMG_9153.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852315312413586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Caught in pensive-mode</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJPrtASDp9Ii2SJTsI4BEXbzAN69yyqkBZGPlqjAKjiuq7gBhYak1h_PzzrZRld_GfrwTCRQPBQBMX1ff_EOl5Ch8kI5jllcX1olCS7E3DpR7maYsaxLuc604ZnZlQg2N7gSl4xWmiNA/s1600-h/IMG_9154.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJPrtASDp9Ii2SJTsI4BEXbzAN69yyqkBZGPlqjAKjiuq7gBhYak1h_PzzrZRld_GfrwTCRQPBQBMX1ff_EOl5Ch8kI5jllcX1olCS7E3DpR7maYsaxLuc604ZnZlQg2N7gSl4xWmiNA/s400/IMG_9154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852308858764194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Irina & Helene relaxing after a swim</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSo0ntZB_ObGMiYthPaq3BC4wPPrfscG7zr2ovww6myrjeXNbhpzu9xMcFPF4lgyFUcHE8lFTSa1S4-Ugr2sppo2WPQHAqKF4NR4l2Sh_C9JFOduNmi4AeSPD9ij6VfhBXCXSU0riObc/s1600-h/IMG_9157.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSo0ntZB_ObGMiYthPaq3BC4wPPrfscG7zr2ovww6myrjeXNbhpzu9xMcFPF4lgyFUcHE8lFTSa1S4-Ugr2sppo2WPQHAqKF4NR4l2Sh_C9JFOduNmi4AeSPD9ij6VfhBXCXSU0riObc/s400/IMG_9157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852113774860770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Concepción, the active volcano</span><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;">Our cabina is not sealed and this is Bug World. Our mosquito nets have holes. Along with the beetles, ants, flying monsters, toads and geckos, we sleep very little. Crunch, crunch on the way to the bathroom as many hard-backed insects are flattened. We guesstimate how many bugs we have inhaled during the night. We decide we may not stay as long as previously thought.<br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">The following morning we hike up the Maderas volcano to get a view of </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Concepción</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">. After a night of heavy rainfall, the path is quite soggy and we sink into the squish. Irina, who is accident prone when travelling, slides in the mud and thumps to the ground. The trees and bushes are rich and green, filled with birds, white-face monkeys and (roaring) howler monkeys. Upon our descent, we stop to watch the monkeys, who in return stop what they are doing and stare back at us. There are lots of horses and cows roaming, even a few bulls (but they have a tether from head to mouth presumably to stop them running to fast). The animals grazing here are a great deal healthier than on the rest of the island. We meet nobody on the path. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI4LcrQZxhrt90GcV1LHVUTQ7PzgCQovwqNBPhXWzOwQ6Jc-_N9rcsRb_hA6dZ0pQAE8PKlQGx7uzOcjarW9YycNKvheBPb0Gpb4ttKOLtAZAKYZvC413mya9QYsUPySQUWs4zVMjUFw/s1600-h/IMG_9159.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfI4LcrQZxhrt90GcV1LHVUTQ7PzgCQovwqNBPhXWzOwQ6Jc-_N9rcsRb_hA6dZ0pQAE8PKlQGx7uzOcjarW9YycNKvheBPb0Gpb4ttKOLtAZAKYZvC413mya9QYsUPySQUWs4zVMjUFw/s400/IMG_9159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852109231176034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInqvwsh6h3ouYmzi_RtIVV8FgbP1Q-UYSK4Bo3JGMzt4zW2i5zydOOrCfOt_8Aer-eG8qzr90wlFGsIl9zYHXOrVXRKbGKmlUgJqVZ840-idJZVgJpnIJQSw-rOHtEOR3-nxVZ_sIkp0/s1600-h/DSCN1968.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInqvwsh6h3ouYmzi_RtIVV8FgbP1Q-UYSK4Bo3JGMzt4zW2i5zydOOrCfOt_8Aer-eG8qzr90wlFGsIl9zYHXOrVXRKbGKmlUgJqVZ840-idJZVgJpnIJQSw-rOHtEOR3-nxVZ_sIkp0/s400/DSCN1968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341853161760607138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Making our way up to the Maderas volcano</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7fagMFft0FMxXjQtKF_xScvlRmTIFDwPXR76CZaD9NNrLTxhjtZ1vL-l6EQOVePiS-pOay8kYAeVKGJ00_WXSYMlurYW3tuXmu0g64Zr-QRUWVBWp_GMVATFxqZI9A3tuv6eDn8g2vo/s1600-h/IMG_9160.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7fagMFft0FMxXjQtKF_xScvlRmTIFDwPXR76CZaD9NNrLTxhjtZ1vL-l6EQOVePiS-pOay8kYAeVKGJ00_WXSYMlurYW3tuXmu0g64Zr-QRUWVBWp_GMVATFxqZI9A3tuv6eDn8g2vo/s400/IMG_9160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852102235940706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">With a cluck-cluck here<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpI7JHxh7VTfU7KoPufaN2NuZDy6Z9uaBX0xw_MDIlWHx2AFsOihWQhFUJUsSrN_XWE1VCEe986fOsf2OfV1LQm6f7GwLAqy3O5hReoohNqCQIjgIudfY8L96pZ6nkmSsx_pHClDGV6M/s1600-h/IMG_9161.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpI7JHxh7VTfU7KoPufaN2NuZDy6Z9uaBX0xw_MDIlWHx2AFsOihWQhFUJUsSrN_XWE1VCEe986fOsf2OfV1LQm6f7GwLAqy3O5hReoohNqCQIjgIudfY8L96pZ6nkmSsx_pHClDGV6M/s400/IMG_9161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852101108558578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">and an Oink-Oink here</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xX_I2K-UZekb56gs0Gawq159CQRGAVO4-v71K5zJOo3I-agWmJfBMWlDS-7OZ8e4GIg8CLuzzcomMhgG_uL-2af0iXLzRfTZxTqzDeRiPWtWUGGN1GHDMgPjTmXq59w5CgIks18eo7c/s1600-h/IMG_9162.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xX_I2K-UZekb56gs0Gawq159CQRGAVO4-v71K5zJOo3I-agWmJfBMWlDS-7OZ8e4GIg8CLuzzcomMhgG_uL-2af0iXLzRfTZxTqzDeRiPWtWUGGN1GHDMgPjTmXq59w5CgIks18eo7c/s400/IMG_9162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852099538209410" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Here a squawk, there a squawk, everywhere a squawk-squawk</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUZZlDr5FfzJnfAAy96FuuXOwKgCk9ezFb6J9HVRNeWwqQ9sOxdlfUJWij-hBj2FVmwxlAqdof2D_bKJTWjqMXMbvcZuW3YXdmfIs8wt7iyaq8fpWemkDsbJwQa2bu467m3f_mAcKL48/s1600-h/IMG_9165.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUZZlDr5FfzJnfAAy96FuuXOwKgCk9ezFb6J9HVRNeWwqQ9sOxdlfUJWij-hBj2FVmwxlAqdof2D_bKJTWjqMXMbvcZuW3YXdmfIs8wt7iyaq8fpWemkDsbJwQa2bu467m3f_mAcKL48/s400/IMG_9165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850341730662482" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uxh9l9LTgpbb5OzXZO5Txigc37w3uhByEIJckYxp81Bh1FanmjbKZsw9VjyhD8roeEM_GJxKn2UzO_Dbgld4O8eya4JqZgjVchGeHc25e7iJKHQsJHUqD-pv41SFoD66TfKNS-uV8o4/s1600-h/IMG_9166.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uxh9l9LTgpbb5OzXZO5Txigc37w3uhByEIJckYxp81Bh1FanmjbKZsw9VjyhD8roeEM_GJxKn2UzO_Dbgld4O8eya4JqZgjVchGeHc25e7iJKHQsJHUqD-pv41SFoD66TfKNS-uV8o4/s400/IMG_9166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850337587849634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-size:100%;">Concepción</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" class="Apple-style-span"><span> </span>vol<span class="Apple-style-span">cano, with peace halo<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wVQYu7q0qYFkfN3pLV6VBINeumQZ5AcksrAANjgyFx-L7uELuhOwPqxQrxB5ABDi3SQMUUaXGGf7KCBgP7Bo07rtGNysDKTsOUSHKaans3zqnmtkcJqr4Y7dlYIjFBUb4Wt3ktaA5nY/s1600-h/IMG_9173.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wVQYu7q0qYFkfN3pLV6VBINeumQZ5AcksrAANjgyFx-L7uELuhOwPqxQrxB5ABDi3SQMUUaXGGf7KCBgP7Bo07rtGNysDKTsOUSHKaans3zqnmtkcJqr4Y7dlYIjFBUb4Wt3ktaA5nY/s400/IMG_9173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850332690419314" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Typical Central American cow, ears growing from cheekbones</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9vvnuCcrGHR8Smj39w-rhXlYUXWFWIyEDihEZjwYWC4YHFtJRcnZxyiNgyW8qQUKzegD5Y_cEfayiAhias_iTWjjALYwAYgIBDsYRB9Xqx5FBlWteEbRHqzFtmj9MwN6bTkG7V-cn98/s1600-h/IMG_9180.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9vvnuCcrGHR8Smj39w-rhXlYUXWFWIyEDihEZjwYWC4YHFtJRcnZxyiNgyW8qQUKzegD5Y_cEfayiAhias_iTWjjALYwAYgIBDsYRB9Xqx5FBlWteEbRHqzFtmj9MwN6bTkG7V-cn98/s400/IMG_9180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850091897774274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">The official bird of Ometepe is the blue-tailed magpie (urraca)</span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGN9-jiWmYHX4vdoe7Pv7TN3W9eVFI_VzN1Os5pC76MDQ_qLFz4hzfYW_W23KEszoIKV8Xit8yr4zuUeQfLBAFxBpW0Lt-gvo3mpx7Ys-PNphz7llPC0GxrbfkkeMCHUJskU_KH41TYw/s1600-h/DSCN1993.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGN9-jiWmYHX4vdoe7Pv7TN3W9eVFI_VzN1Os5pC76MDQ_qLFz4hzfYW_W23KEszoIKV8Xit8yr4zuUeQfLBAFxBpW0Lt-gvo3mpx7Ys-PNphz7llPC0GxrbfkkeMCHUJskU_KH41TYw/s400/DSCN1993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852604694558898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Petroglyphs are dotted around the island</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFb5FwttxaXr6MP0Y2QoisZSzcFJCIf0-px55dy27bqollhaZF8rJtCtclYrCpaZvglvlqMkUUIxFxrvVtD1igLu1y3haerDjMyDiIdQbb-xImHVatkp9gU85E6KKJtjhCvENwgSifAQ/s400/IMG_9182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850089089288658" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">It is uncomfortably humid, sweating buckets and guzzling litres of water we run back to Little Morgans - deperate to cool down in the lake. There is a circular cement pool which has been filled with about 4 inches of water and all the guests and firmly plonked themselves down with a glass of Flor de Caña (Nicaraguan rum) and fresca (Sprite-like). It is a fun afternoon, and the cherry on the cake is another 'Chico dinner'!</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRIu3z8lAlpTQidtS2i6yLW5_C6rdty0LfQORUlmzqprayGslQVX00KJS7IEYLfJqIRFb7YC14S1MFlyQIUla40WZCzDcgJXywetDmfzxNeoFEbV1WGfChO4v-CJ-Tx11wxq8ZG5_H_Q/s400/IMG_9183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850086126642322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>This has the makings of a pool-party (Morgan the Irish on left)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvajVSyOOdy3S0xww6wJJMWGCorW1-slCv5QFLimabiP-MifFJT4FZKeolujRxS7wl5U6hB0RjPPDomAcbHljRQ4B7YXvZYHHUnUFbQY-YWiEXuNe4UDrEleuq4fug8nKxqKODWhmhLo/s1600-h/IMG_9186.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvajVSyOOdy3S0xww6wJJMWGCorW1-slCv5QFLimabiP-MifFJT4FZKeolujRxS7wl5U6hB0RjPPDomAcbHljRQ4B7YXvZYHHUnUFbQY-YWiEXuNe4UDrEleuq4fug8nKxqKODWhmhLo/s400/IMG_9186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341850084972488514" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0ZyKVDYhUjEnPUVfKk3H_RSkOCuCTNnts0e_lg-qAP1TAyB6AtitmX63vG-8Y7xcJPGs0Cs1nr4NhoWxxkAl8cR7LqdXYLnxkBwv4MAvcWVSW7fZNBTlcLMtBwFrNHII25Q5xoeD8fI/s1600-h/IMG_9190.JPG"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Irina getting ready for another sunset swim</span><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0ZyKVDYhUjEnPUVfKk3H_RSkOCuCTNnts0e_lg-qAP1TAyB6AtitmX63vG-8Y7xcJPGs0Cs1nr4NhoWxxkAl8cR7LqdXYLnxkBwv4MAvcWVSW7fZNBTlcLMtBwFrNHII25Q5xoeD8fI/s400/IMG_9190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849861430633010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Can you spot three heads in the water?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwicEy9DB0R_k1ARPkiaYeWXxSyi6xQ6TPbez2T8y2UuUwVYMFM7S7FWJKYWE6sxJoy5aC3lYOwbmqmezJOPgSJ6ZotaKAq6eU0gtMqCamzFi1vtptiXCuuBgpAxotf8tqmW4fHa_XMjk/s1600-h/IMG_9192.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwicEy9DB0R_k1ARPkiaYeWXxSyi6xQ6TPbez2T8y2UuUwVYMFM7S7FWJKYWE6sxJoy5aC3lYOwbmqmezJOPgSJ6ZotaKAq6eU0gtMqCamzFi1vtptiXCuuBgpAxotf8tqmW4fHa_XMjk/s400/IMG_9192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849861554623410" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Helene</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiunLZhKs-tRFsBb4WbrKfS_UKAyQGQW7OaWbFA6Js_doIcsVl8ZNLSqtPUnumk7CDEMDqqF2XeXwhAelU_LUWn0NL65sPnfNmz4r5yKC4DvYpMoHbc4_06lLuJQjn6dVJxSysVrnGVIc/s1600-h/IMG_9195.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiunLZhKs-tRFsBb4WbrKfS_UKAyQGQW7OaWbFA6Js_doIcsVl8ZNLSqtPUnumk7CDEMDqqF2XeXwhAelU_LUWn0NL65sPnfNmz4r5yKC4DvYpMoHbc4_06lLuJQjn6dVJxSysVrnGVIc/s400/IMG_9195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849850944509090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Alan, Ty, Tito & Irina</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><i><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Diachachimba</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> is Chico's favourite word. He has lived in Canada for twenty something years and this word is the closest thing to 'fuckin' eh' - a common Canadian expression of exclamation (apparently). Chico is effeminate, expressive, spontaneous and a truely wonderful chef. His food could easily entice me to extend my stay here (but bugs make me reconsider). Hehas been the resident chief for approximately 10 days, and since my arrival he has created amazing omeletes, salads, chicken with mango, steak with jalapenos and the best potato-salad I have ever tasted! He has a real joie de vivre, and seems to live his life on the end of a shoestring. When asked how long he plans to stay, he shrugs and with a beaming smile replies ' I got nowhere I need to be, I can go wherever I want, you know? Now I like it here'. A lesson we could all learn from Chico is how to enjoy the present now, rather than constantly thinking about what we are going to do next.</span></span><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p></i></div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></div></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6SMT-n4Ndp6055b8HIUr89gQz_Rak8LDCCQ517Q9GfyHGV86XL-dl6NHaScaNTlYtvTN_ASw6wXpqtui8RejOcob24TRdGjDB1JCmfw1DoCsYWhE8v0noKJDQ6QTx7nX3fO5i6D-0E4/s400/IMG_9193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849856438408258" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Chico</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Chico feels that Helena does not carry enough names (just two is apparently not sufficient). He waves his magic wand and calls her </span>Helene Maria del La Concepcion Martinez. </i></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">We visit El Zopilote an Italian-owned eco-friendly hostel, organic shop, pizzeria, garden and viewpoint. A pleasant half an hour, especially on top of the viewing tower where there is a gentle breeze. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-size:100%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt-27ldkzOmR8G9Htu-X9Gr1w9gPeydK0eOGmwyGlQAByhaiVpo6AqFxtsacLh1pTCe4-6ArrbxeL7JSkLdaYEMMHhYqU1n8NOdKlm0DY5S6ToKvrDAonghtpPMyv2rxOWDi0JtKaBgE/s400/IMG_9221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341848250437550290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>Gecko</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">At night, the secret is to walk up a small hill and sit and watch in amazement at the thousands of fireflies that sprinkle their magic all over the island. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is a girl with more tatoos than I have freckles or daydreams. Across her back, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><b>D I S T U R B E D </b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> is stamped. A local tatoo man comes to fill a vacant space on her left forearm. She gives him full permission to use his creativity to draw whatever he feels best symbolises and encapsulates Nicaragua to him. I tell her she is brave, I really think she is mad. I try to talk to her sometimes but find it difficult, all she wants to do is tell me about the fireflies. She tells me how they swoosh past her like ghosts, <i>totally freaking her out</i>. She tells me the fireflies used to be in California but they left and now they live here.<br /></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx_CQ8mZWsf0x59d2d2ABZVw_VwSz-5teM05nHSPoAT_DffiOGfOR14Uea9l78X2xylkqqmlq2xF-Uu7B-uH4E2OICV4yBRdvOQ7P1yic-EmMuCvTLPd0EsowzEpZJ7f9l3VqNlnrpyA/s1600-h/IMG_9226.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNx_CQ8mZWsf0x59d2d2ABZVw_VwSz-5teM05nHSPoAT_DffiOGfOR14Uea9l78X2xylkqqmlq2xF-Uu7B-uH4E2OICV4yBRdvOQ7P1yic-EmMuCvTLPd0EsowzEpZJ7f9l3VqNlnrpyA/s400/IMG_9226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341848244657688978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d2OueYce6wb2ZfJ6PO-dZA59P5gJW0i8APsksUWCn3JDtvSVkue-nNir6SNXWjbWTEvkgWF87nHwpH_xbdxw2WT-VyWtDBBoNAgz4g6yaPweIySgouq2sa3boNWPQ1lwV_A2FGQ1pfU/s1600-h/IMG_9227.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-d2OueYce6wb2ZfJ6PO-dZA59P5gJW0i8APsksUWCn3JDtvSVkue-nNir6SNXWjbWTEvkgWF87nHwpH_xbdxw2WT-VyWtDBBoNAgz4g6yaPweIySgouq2sa3boNWPQ1lwV_A2FGQ1pfU/s400/IMG_9227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341848248184169538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Bird of Prey</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb7vzEso01QmDQrRXoPJenZeaAU9znLF0OSjOINol7iRZMaqU8syLicD7Hc8gzRmgy2Zzw1_yrDy88WeaT6vZsFOzVr7a9aK0EVaVV2ojUgaCcltnhf6hVA_iIPYCkLnwB2rUs8d95c0/s1600-h/IMG_9238.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb7vzEso01QmDQrRXoPJenZeaAU9znLF0OSjOINol7iRZMaqU8syLicD7Hc8gzRmgy2Zzw1_yrDy88WeaT6vZsFOzVr7a9aK0EVaVV2ojUgaCcltnhf6hVA_iIPYCkLnwB2rUs8d95c0/s400/IMG_9238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341848242612503426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Old & new friends</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CL8gmFZckRnGHGX4ZvnZPb6a-srHWM0Jkjr1-GkynjpXE_tN_oorqKovB8fxjAusjbwjW0xGsOUIr-uDQpSWPpkFnBG2UMymZ7iVb_mHalsvFontt_i6XhuKW8FzA5y9MSalW3awJCs/s1600-h/IMG_9239.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CL8gmFZckRnGHGX4ZvnZPb6a-srHWM0Jkjr1-GkynjpXE_tN_oorqKovB8fxjAusjbwjW0xGsOUIr-uDQpSWPpkFnBG2UMymZ7iVb_mHalsvFontt_i6XhuKW8FzA5y9MSalW3awJCs/s400/IMG_9239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341848238234462994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Alan takes really bad pictures</span><span style="font-size:100%;">....<br /></span></div></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Qr27P8dAfWU9rKcWkWmtglGtzhtrTMxOJ5iiYaUZexsyfH5JXv8ocXX_aA2K2aDgUOs6hoHhbN1mv4Za4TvFPtKcs8wBikClbbzpPWlLi5v9WZkifV_gJEfgPipWfhlIwaxjgFrkPmw/s1600-h/IMG_9198.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Qr27P8dAfWU9rKcWkWmtglGtzhtrTMxOJ5iiYaUZexsyfH5JXv8ocXX_aA2K2aDgUOs6hoHhbN1mv4Za4TvFPtKcs8wBikClbbzpPWlLi5v9WZkifV_gJEfgPipWfhlIwaxjgFrkPmw/s400/IMG_9198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341849040073499650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Hammocking</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD7wUjQgrO6u81yFhG-vHgVEgb_pjvKr2UzuNL2j9u3yWPdqY4NPh1FQmkokgZLsILNTBmOo9w4WtWMH4UnkXi2lEZ0-fi8Bfn53k4Q-UmRGXs2TDNN9NbqoPx007dwIXtrfpLl_IbO8/s1600-h/IMG_9240.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD7wUjQgrO6u81yFhG-vHgVEgb_pjvKr2UzuNL2j9u3yWPdqY4NPh1FQmkokgZLsILNTBmOo9w4WtWMH4UnkXi2lEZ0-fi8Bfn53k4Q-UmRGXs2TDNN9NbqoPx007dwIXtrfpLl_IbO8/s400/IMG_9240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341847975095570530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;">Tito, the cutest kitten on the island<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5ppLcQstEV80Grh4WDPrlnVgh4hnAdTX33hz_kxaRzHEmzJkAhQVmYDdUJdCoSVDNU-81IxJcvPtMlmjUMoHV5hZ0FbAbkcxbQIheFHdneOGlMBe8QT2gLup-lzic-o661g6q0Us4Fc/s1600-h/IMG_9242.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5ppLcQstEV80Grh4WDPrlnVgh4hnAdTX33hz_kxaRzHEmzJkAhQVmYDdUJdCoSVDNU-81IxJcvPtMlmjUMoHV5hZ0FbAbkcxbQIheFHdneOGlMBe8QT2gLup-lzic-o661g6q0Us4Fc/s400/IMG_9242.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341847972310820242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">After three nights, nine Chico meals and seven lakes-swims we leave on a 5am bus - the time that the heavens open and rush-hour time for locals.<br /></span></div><div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmFyWC9GOHzMwO8SHDdGF-IlilTaqaiaPINMaC9KUynZNagcWeNw3MwxXuR7zYrMQ3QlretgrmYfAE7SGKvzxyLY7VFb7huMzWXd73UBktuE3WQzqkFUiknBoNAf0ykc9ibL4E_xCS-g/s1600-h/IMG_9248.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmFyWC9GOHzMwO8SHDdGF-IlilTaqaiaPINMaC9KUynZNagcWeNw3MwxXuR7zYrMQ3QlretgrmYfAE7SGKvzxyLY7VFb7huMzWXd73UBktuE3WQzqkFUiknBoNAf0ykc9ibL4E_xCS-g/s400/IMG_9248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341847968218093554" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;font-size:100%;"><i>Early morning departure from Ometepe on a Dutch cruise ship<br /></i></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6SrJCKwanwMTdR85ahUkrL872G__qO06h4FOIWTjpvmE34jExowpGN8-4bHN2L_lcZA2sATioTqsCV3ISEgunGNgosW7L7wwhzzFr3dz4XWrdUD9A6TrrIHsNBsEmO1u5s1xGpS2MWU/s1600-h/IMG_9249.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6SrJCKwanwMTdR85ahUkrL872G__qO06h4FOIWTjpvmE34jExowpGN8-4bHN2L_lcZA2sATioTqsCV3ISEgunGNgosW7L7wwhzzFr3dz4XWrdUD9A6TrrIHsNBsEmO1u5s1xGpS2MWU/s400/IMG_9249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341847962159839138" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>The Tilanic is moored at</i></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;"> San Jorge...</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp-ZZNg34KD4MmakQN6VLeIykqWemgwT1frtgHW6iyBNWsRgrAyyEQ0is4xC3AxW7FS_SpC9R5__o0-gAUShenMYrQ0BiyoKOJOfFGmVjj0CGdTjFun4rbADzO0XSxSaXynXJ6JY7Fis/s1600-h/IMG_9250.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp-ZZNg34KD4MmakQN6VLeIykqWemgwT1frtgHW6iyBNWsRgrAyyEQ0is4xC3AxW7FS_SpC9R5__o0-gAUShenMYrQ0BiyoKOJOfFGmVjj0CGdTjFun4rbADzO0XSxSaXynXJ6JY7Fis/s400/IMG_9250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341847963162724754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i>along with the Mozorola</i></span></div></div></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-49989402094903381562009-05-27T10:29:00.000-07:002009-05-30T22:22:49.114-07:00Saint John of the Surf<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK_tLa1cpcdvDCWwNCQ1FM88s43i3TrxYB_3QGhznDh9RCIQFpbSbd5xrYYEw1lTv2hNN6YyoAegA-AvqHGohvUXYw5FNpqioFncZWu12m6xsnYZncfiJpyj_f8VQwY1zivU2qverwDQ/s1600-h/IMG_9135.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S7r5qrKoIlaP6HWfFvi0i2SLFbshotvAH8oQcRTlVNJ6URZn6n5E-A77rJn2QTBM6jtPFoC4-fDoYWoC75khnPYol_luXrsn2QsvYNujst2pquxGzhnnHd8QdBg7kGbTk_sk6M5RTSg/s1600-h/DSCN1914.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4S7r5qrKoIlaP6HWfFvi0i2SLFbshotvAH8oQcRTlVNJ6URZn6n5E-A77rJn2QTBM6jtPFoC4-fDoYWoC75khnPYol_luXrsn2QsvYNujst2pquxGzhnnHd8QdBg7kGbTk_sk6M5RTSg/s400/DSCN1914.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849141673395154" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Martha likes to gossip in her pink satin nightgown, exchanging stories about the neighbours or giving her friends the low-down about each of the people staying at her guesthouse. She is obsessed with cleaning, frequently re-cleaning in the footsteps of her hired-help. She mentions the weather in every conversation. It is nice to have her around, she has the qualities of a big-hearted aunt. We rent a room from her for five nights.<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />San Juan del Sur is a coastal town on the Pacific side of Nicaragua. The town has been gringofied, this is not a place to seek culture. It is not unpleasant, with bright-coloured buildings and a number of good cafes and restaurants. </span><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvJZbHK-eiQ5M3cz-Dsd1_a-rci8r3d7VTJQ6SkCJkdUSG_HqaHgRF5YPQQkGcOIDg-uqQ0_MGIrE11VaJuIR9G9a9EuoIYS0XbaICZRmxgG6uUAbBQeWotDHlJB91wd5-YKPGp7cCxU/s1600-h/DSCN1946.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvJZbHK-eiQ5M3cz-Dsd1_a-rci8r3d7VTJQ6SkCJkdUSG_HqaHgRF5YPQQkGcOIDg-uqQ0_MGIrE11VaJuIR9G9a9EuoIYS0XbaICZRmxgG6uUAbBQeWotDHlJB91wd5-YKPGp7cCxU/s400/DSCN1946.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849740173982466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Main street, San Juan del Sur</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq8f5m8MCdLZtRasIzvDatj9mfiUgszViQNaSBS3tF22VfXp86hYZm-q-WdTUhmv6rQLoBrXrJhuO91fwHKxZvN_mQkbw-Z6NS8n-46TwgQigsJU4mNplf2XHZhMSVh7uVmjZtWb_Pf4/s1600-h/DSCN1945.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq8f5m8MCdLZtRasIzvDatj9mfiUgszViQNaSBS3tF22VfXp86hYZm-q-WdTUhmv6rQLoBrXrJhuO91fwHKxZvN_mQkbw-Z6NS8n-46TwgQigsJU4mNplf2XHZhMSVh7uVmjZtWb_Pf4/s400/DSCN1945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849735369384290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">El Gato Negro - a place of hummus, books & world-weary owners</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpkdxRQWzITVxbXclYXONRLvyWmbzdeaE-ooFZCU5UL4U0LzerdJBAcdEjR85ODkB95j7MilXtcfSMpiD62e-89Ymil6l_SuZIWzWadh7KU8jhbKhUq7FmllzTbiM_QGCdZZ5vjq7-VA/s400/DSCN1943.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340850486128243218" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Saturday market, San Juan del Sur</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The most important thing to mention about our stay here is that Irina and I discover our love of surfing! I have found previous surfing expeditions in the Atlantic ocean to be less than enthralling, but here in the Pacific ocean is another ballgame! Once in the water, we stay for up to 5 hours at a time - feeling so all-consumed with the waves that we forget hunger-rumbles and jellyfish stings! A Peruvian chap with atrocious English and straw-like blond hair gives us some coaching. Together we stay in the water (laughing and laughing) until the final moments of daylight. Back to town and Martha is always waiting to give us a warm welcome and beaming smile. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">All pictures of me surfing have been stolen along with Helene's camera. I do have a picture of a wave.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfxVt6q_RS69beGVa936wS2x0chzFUf0UPXHJaUOyvBz3-Ge-tzBsMU68U1wW_au36vmPSoOczFOlxDYEvUTENBp1U8VBE_8ajsWbbqlc9YcKeJfdTlP5MGVGOIv33tcvpYN6wNfrezI/s400/DSCN1925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849459830917282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wave at Playa Remanso</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When not surfing we spend time at the beach, reading and avoiding crabs/hawkers/men/ thieves.</span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4rCEEOsRWcvJA8Eqz4JUj1V8Xuo8cx6bcKrVLZeaqb7A08ghQthI5rCLSKcPIwSmQQeiGSRzln9v2sDv-8nDnjb80znlRx6O9p7bGzJueoGSNBL7IqK8K5PbKdC442pvkf1n4KIi1oo/s1600-h/DSCN1922.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4rCEEOsRWcvJA8Eqz4JUj1V8Xuo8cx6bcKrVLZeaqb7A08ghQthI5rCLSKcPIwSmQQeiGSRzln9v2sDv-8nDnjb80znlRx6O9p7bGzJueoGSNBL7IqK8K5PbKdC442pvkf1n4KIi1oo/s400/DSCN1922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849154644385938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Irina, Irina's guardian angel, Elaine & Helene</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXshEGxForDRi2wL8DfIs5jqexG-HeKIPMQ5ko1XqJdTNiHvpD5wuC2Q0Qbn26tQGSZuj8ecX1q0g7ttQdEH_WRqIS89NoPYGxKyOGMxwwD9maLxjsqSvkfKFauO8X8WRE6b1onC2h3JQ/s400/IMG_9127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852863157172338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zXNdn6ruSmjUgW_sWbLtGrArkL69CZLyV1z_BHs0uEw8ybZgZCmtU5g-xBdf4S_W1wL2T3V_KFZdjnAPHAH-XYl6tsNFALRCGPBxK_ZyNn_LkXzAcK5qc-p4J-W1txaJcqZ1BQt7s_4/s1600-h/DSCN1917.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zXNdn6ruSmjUgW_sWbLtGrArkL69CZLyV1z_BHs0uEw8ybZgZCmtU5g-xBdf4S_W1wL2T3V_KFZdjnAPHAH-XYl6tsNFALRCGPBxK_ZyNn_LkXzAcK5qc-p4J-W1txaJcqZ1BQt7s_4/s400/DSCN1917.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849152535849698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Local beach at San Juan del Sur (not for surfing)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MknsljPWhszQdnObGSvfcWVRxxcK79je7K4B16ZPCaiWf1BLg_lPoiQsYGICLrt8yi3nncfVY8RpWbgZBng__J0Zpk80oaLQWiLnyTdp4BoPrYcnZIlNF418-dDs1TIYHpXGbw6IkVg/s1600-h/DSCN1915.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MknsljPWhszQdnObGSvfcWVRxxcK79je7K4B16ZPCaiWf1BLg_lPoiQsYGICLrt8yi3nncfVY8RpWbgZBng__J0Zpk80oaLQWiLnyTdp4BoPrYcnZIlNF418-dDs1TIYHpXGbw6IkVg/s400/DSCN1915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849151184041426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Same beach as above</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I practice yoga every day at the local health centre and read a book called </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRQQOn-397sXGmGtzolC49gbNnSMWZ5aE1NRg5LDiODYWU4ly6zIhUSh0zFif_ux7nX2dURHHhqhjitltaIzeJe8zMp7V5-z03ORtKwPHkRGKvdCVxhnZ3DyFR-8UT_kts8f_2BbnjSI/s400/IMG_9122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341853292051344674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span>In The Jungle Room we dance salsa. Marie dances with a gangster boy who says ´24 years I half´ when asked.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQyBeCFWJsA0R_-pjlMnFiACA4mVIwpeRTli6Y0l93aNXZr0-j2gcj9QkI-M8N2e8NC2D69eSMu6Pz4rd6xbKdIzHRvSpJVS6024ZFCqs2e7v9SeRmLg8hMvdSB-z2n12ML4oVFHwh4c/s400/IMG_9125.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852863148543522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Watching an electrical storm on the seafront</i></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK_tLa1cpcdvDCWwNCQ1FM88s43i3TrxYB_3QGhznDh9RCIQFpbSbd5xrYYEw1lTv2hNN6YyoAegA-AvqHGohvUXYw5FNpqioFncZWu12m6xsnYZncfiJpyj_f8VQwY1zivU2qverwDQ/s1600-h/IMG_9135.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK_tLa1cpcdvDCWwNCQ1FM88s43i3TrxYB_3QGhznDh9RCIQFpbSbd5xrYYEw1lTv2hNN6YyoAegA-AvqHGohvUXYw5FNpqioFncZWu12m6xsnYZncfiJpyj_f8VQwY1zivU2qverwDQ/s400/IMG_9135.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852852188494914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Iguana, where the gangstas hang out</i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8Yx0yU_kxEmBtYo5aHjq3oD2_JPvs7EjI74zm6_T5lKIhkr9IihuMI5q2UdaotZi6yrH_bHv3L91WwQstZJDvg1SK7dlfeRKDPvUFJ22BySEHh8wxtzP_gHi5OBpprPKtFF7JICAXOw/s400/DSCN1920.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340849154832044226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We watch some sunsets and incredible thunderstorms that last for hours. Then, we leave.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFRfFVn9AE7r8DziVCY0k80M77inWWok1J6Zg2KjI1Vfx_82KUZxvHvxEhsBO6Lj1XFObTgxScDcrPaVESZPAmKlTnLPmeOc_MXYIWxtFGDXVCL3KbIjKLDXglwAkDMT3OgxuW21BHkg/s400/IMG_9131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341852854733405170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There are lots of frogs and toads</i></div></div></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-76258502819986844382009-05-26T15:15:00.000-07:002009-05-27T21:13:45.330-07:00Pura Vida! Costa Rica<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pmns_xtz30OwnRHzSZAuSBPezd2ih7scGjEv7dRkbiyV979tk0TLnyxemhcSLTOeG9TSOpvjd_hjLkbU-RcBxMkTEt-_C17V6izbPWU9TgY_lkTRjmQ98m4e_wKQbdI2KCNPerUSG7U/s1600-h/DSCN1919.JPG"></a><div>Do not travel with Tica bus! This is my revenge for 16 hours of torture. I have travelled for long enough in Latin America to know that long trousers, a warm cardigan and pashmina are essential to keep warm when the enevitable air-conditioning blasts. Tica bus take this bus-chilliness syndrome to another, painful level. On our overnight bus to Costa Rica, Helene and I spend the night rapping on the door asking the bus driver to please turn down or off the air-con (as we are turning blue). At first, he turns it down for 5 minutes or so, and then resumes with his mission to freeze us all. After banging on the door three or maybe four times, he no longer pays us any attention. Other passengers all agree yes it is freezing but not a single other person complains. At 3am, I am so cold that my body aches and I am close to tears, I try one last time to rationalise with the bus driver - telling him 'it's like the bloody Antarctic back here - why don't you come back and see for yourself.....(etc)?'. He laughs in my face. What a callous beast! Not even an inch of customer service or common decency. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you must travel with this miserable company, wear thermals and pop a Valium for your nerves. Hmph.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The border crossing from Panama to Costa Rica has been the most unpleasant of the trip, in fact I cannot recall a border crossing worse in my travelling history. The whole escapade takes two and a half hours, and is a most illogical affair. I am so weary from a sleepless night on the ice-box that I fear I may strangle one of these incompetent border police and shout about my grievances. Instead I glare and sigh as I watch a stiletto-heeled, gum-chewing women with (Lycra?) jeans feel her way through every single item of my rucksack and the luggage belonging to two coach-loads of fellow nomads. The bus driver who has obviously been through this process many times is not capable of explaining to us what is going on, and in fact confuses matters further resulting in some suitcases being checked by hand twice! </div><div><br /></div><div><div>We arrive to San Jose at 3pm. We have now been travelling for 24 hours but feeling fairly happy to be in new surroundings (now that our body temperature has returned to normal). We have a four hour wait until our next bus departs. We find a Chinese restaurant and have the best Asian food of the trip so far - however, it is far from cheap. San Jose is another grimy, unsafe city but at least three locals have dashed to our assistance. Stepping over trails of fresh human excrement, we make our way back to the bus station. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bus to Sanmara (on the Pacific coast) is a pleasant temperature and we sleep until the bus driver shakes us frantically at our destination (imagine this in London?!), I wake confused and disoriented after 30 hours on the road. A guy called Max is at the bus station with a big comfortable SUV, non-stop chitter-chatter and the promise of cheap accommodation. Max has clearly kissed the Blarney stone and in my tired (grumpy) state I ask him to 'tranquilo', take it easy - my head is aching and his over-the-top sales approach is draining my already depleted resources. It's midnight, and we haven't got any other ideas so we agree and he sets us up with our own apartment on the beachfront for $15 per person.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following morning we take a proper look around and are delighted to find a deserted beach with clear, clean sea water.</div></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaxnsp37ePWpbSfIrqKb-nMqT_yt9ixkXqFAiTIQ9QVtwaBrAAN4lWnF_kmo3E2tMwuigK3pzRPWzTrASdILr823CgIOQ4JLSMORsotmVQQAocEoqXZZHM-iFxTNBb7Ad8iL-CxvEhBE/s400/IMG_0152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340264187257409538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Ticos confidently promise 'sun & beach'</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-p2uVXrU0_hDkr9h84cpANFI6l9Nzj5BHq7qDn6DEQXPtJ1CTpD6VuVkbnlMNugJPJhYbOLHSMTXE98Z4n7NJJJGLBfkSicRPzxCcWV-cJA1OHu4F1rGYJWfxDGhye_-LhrOpA6uw2Y/s1600-h/IMG_8966.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-p2uVXrU0_hDkr9h84cpANFI6l9Nzj5BHq7qDn6DEQXPtJ1CTpD6VuVkbnlMNugJPJhYbOLHSMTXE98Z4n7NJJJGLBfkSicRPzxCcWV-cJA1OHu4F1rGYJWfxDGhye_-LhrOpA6uw2Y/s400/IMG_8966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265511513316642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Leafy entrance to our cutest apartment</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkpVl0onNYDSW-QTHtqZ05snPsNXt-rVawROFunxdJWSmf02yi6b_kutoPJSkBr-pI-er2IJoagQ-DbnTNfTCaRnoMg0U_NpAU_XFSBz_uZuEvBF1FXZePbreJmRQcUwHZnGSW6YoTwE/s1600-h/IMG_8965.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkpVl0onNYDSW-QTHtqZ05snPsNXt-rVawROFunxdJWSmf02yi6b_kutoPJSkBr-pI-er2IJoagQ-DbnTNfTCaRnoMg0U_NpAU_XFSBz_uZuEvBF1FXZePbreJmRQcUwHZnGSW6YoTwE/s400/IMG_8965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265508248478770" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Our driveway</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2VZMFH_OcusrZ15zu2XpPGInGn2YWChqOKI8oVnXgzN4P137UovSy2gQOqL7OL8t4Mwy4QcQyyquditNQ4_xdl0vgArA8lC3H_5qCzamepkvsrJXGPnUceY28ouLuDzMnwKNvOR-aFQ/s1600-h/IMG_8964.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2VZMFH_OcusrZ15zu2XpPGInGn2YWChqOKI8oVnXgzN4P137UovSy2gQOqL7OL8t4Mwy4QcQyyquditNQ4_xdl0vgArA8lC3H_5qCzamepkvsrJXGPnUceY28ouLuDzMnwKNvOR-aFQ/s400/IMG_8964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265502976886098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The sun is incredibly strong here, emergency hydration needed!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtiNbw0zMgCbf_RUVYdmptzj5CFN_esviCMhLLVtPtAkOcmDUhXHE2Jf35veAIAwFBKr02yYz94H3QPURycdx6dBCCs87Cm-dEMcSzZWKJC2js9GyUWJqcUhbYEftfGr28DxWwCt3lxU/s1600-h/IMG_8963.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtiNbw0zMgCbf_RUVYdmptzj5CFN_esviCMhLLVtPtAkOcmDUhXHE2Jf35veAIAwFBKr02yYz94H3QPURycdx6dBCCs87Cm-dEMcSzZWKJC2js9GyUWJqcUhbYEftfGr28DxWwCt3lxU/s400/IMG_8963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340265500062968642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sanmara beach - where are all the holidaymakers?</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNhV9oizkxdiET0-f_4F37QmxT-qbpWYuTDQQwuiQkTOrB51I4PKcJ6jemhVYEba1U-iBVNf1Yfw8NaShfN-36RgWGCkKMMe6ZS3xQHMUfgEUMdyNmhiTpVUwQL21uKGiFjm3FpQgZw8/s1600-h/IMG_0158.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNhV9oizkxdiET0-f_4F37QmxT-qbpWYuTDQQwuiQkTOrB51I4PKcJ6jemhVYEba1U-iBVNf1Yfw8NaShfN-36RgWGCkKMMe6ZS3xQHMUfgEUMdyNmhiTpVUwQL21uKGiFjm3FpQgZw8/s400/IMG_0158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340264192114441442" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Me</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>There are not so many birds here to wake us (compared with the 400+ in El Valle) and we sleep well. We spend time at the beach, sample local fish and read. It has the feel of an semi-abandoned tourist town. There are a few American (middle-aged) tourists around, but because it is the beginning of rainy season it is judged to be low season. The Internet cafe is filled with 20-something year old Costa Rican men, speaking English to their latest American (?) sweetheart with Skype and webcams. All the locals speak English, even when spoken to Spanish - a fact which we find to be consistent throughout Costa Rica - a fact I find boring and frustrating in equal measures. We enjoy having our own apartment, despite sharing with a family of cockroaches and a colony of ants.</div><div><br /></div><div>After three (rain-free) nights, we set off to another coastal town further south, the hippy town of Montezuma. The bus is ridiculously expensive ($45) but unless we take FIVE different public buses, we have little choice. The roads in Costa Rica are worse than Bolivia. </div><div><br /></div><div>Montezuma is a place I like instantly. It has a hippy, laid-back feel. We stay at the Greek-owned<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> Los Mangos</span> hotel alongside the monkeys, lizards & other creatures that wander among the trees. We have 'splashed out' on this hotel because there is a yoga centre on-site. Our daily routine consists of waking at 7am, having breakfast beside the sea, 1-2 hours of yoga, swimming in the pool, wandering the lovely shops in town, chatting at the organic cafe and enjoying dinner at a local restaurant that shows movies in the evening. The yoga is fantastic with excellent teachers - a good mix of intense exercise, stretching and spiritual enlightenment. We continue with our 'health camp' - no alcohol, no meat, no naughty food, lots of exercise - and feel fantastic!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DtaR34c2HMD1xNn5xSjgAJ4Vad-CdmbcaHQrIKBkfigI5hmym1749Ks75vb0jOY4fkK1Mb291c-rQxLP7rX3WptLC2xL6OfA87Fd3fS3fopB4fwMxyIFB7-E1xiytRcv8Z-UY0ZL1t0/s1600-h/IMG_8973.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DtaR34c2HMD1xNn5xSjgAJ4Vad-CdmbcaHQrIKBkfigI5hmym1749Ks75vb0jOY4fkK1Mb291c-rQxLP7rX3WptLC2xL6OfA87Fd3fS3fopB4fwMxyIFB7-E1xiytRcv8Z-UY0ZL1t0/s400/IMG_8973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266095285627810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Yoga Centre, with ocean views & soundtrack</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfK3qggabgAVCEPi3FW1FMMkZeK-bbolBcy2PdgcJeO6mBFCnmozz5pgVfQOHDGeiX6kL2k59fQT4tS6SqI6m3Wfe8ATE56IBi5Cjud3KfoP2yof6scbIAQ7IkW3Npv5aYQHpecF2wn8/s1600-h/IMG_8972.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfK3qggabgAVCEPi3FW1FMMkZeK-bbolBcy2PdgcJeO6mBFCnmozz5pgVfQOHDGeiX6kL2k59fQT4tS6SqI6m3Wfe8ATE56IBi5Cjud3KfoP2yof6scbIAQ7IkW3Npv5aYQHpecF2wn8/s400/IMG_8972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266091442701394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Los Mangos</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_i6CVIHi90R1PPxQ8hyphenhyphenGdqexyTsKvY1N52BSfM5KnB4V487Tr0V79puvhQsdKfU9sduybljszkl4a2ey6UG8KGkc3UcjFZum96-AE0GYHyThC_AOQzKr-w_nDhBHfk-NQ2QLcNKdxc4/s1600-h/IMG_8971.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_i6CVIHi90R1PPxQ8hyphenhyphenGdqexyTsKvY1N52BSfM5KnB4V487Tr0V79puvhQsdKfU9sduybljszkl4a2ey6UG8KGkc3UcjFZum96-AE0GYHyThC_AOQzKr-w_nDhBHfk-NQ2QLcNKdxc4/s400/IMG_8971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266093776715122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Cafe Organico, Montezuma</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdXutwjBpZd9XJZTOrmp9qBiksHHtoCUiB2lceA-XAtUjP6424t8-UGNtGvCVhXQK-bl0_KJ55UE41W6Pk2rcJ1sRvI-WzEAchWcKOU7k1DYbKcVGdvjTUf78L1jMVNw9XMS9H55eryA/s1600-h/IMG_8968.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdXutwjBpZd9XJZTOrmp9qBiksHHtoCUiB2lceA-XAtUjP6424t8-UGNtGvCVhXQK-bl0_KJ55UE41W6Pk2rcJ1sRvI-WzEAchWcKOU7k1DYbKcVGdvjTUf78L1jMVNw9XMS9H55eryA/s400/IMG_8968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266085740845778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Montezuma beach</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyGha6VW-esS1hUFUblj8T8ZJcwMPN2qK3Xmdr7s2E0hLMBvcIjjtfrZKl8W9Uee0rYt17R44Bl4Mhxkj7b1MhWr8OKWuIfe3iv85n9YGtejjntIlLmBY8Sb_ZltoD50FGP41g1HLMSg/s1600-h/IMG_0165.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyGha6VW-esS1hUFUblj8T8ZJcwMPN2qK3Xmdr7s2E0hLMBvcIjjtfrZKl8W9Uee0rYt17R44Bl4Mhxkj7b1MhWr8OKWuIfe3iv85n9YGtejjntIlLmBY8Sb_ZltoD50FGP41g1HLMSg/s400/IMG_0165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340264195461320530" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Breakfast</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Life in Montezuma is idyllic, a wonderful place to recharge and replenish. We chose not to take part in the night-time activities, resting instead. Both our minds are working on overload, lots of creative ideas buzzing around. Helene has designed and decorated the apartment she soon hopes to buy. I have imagined what I will do upon my return to the UK and Ireland this summer, and also have begun to consider ideas for the next couple of years. We both keep talking about the things we would like to change (and keep) in our lives back home.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is one less-than-idyllic thing about this place - now it is the beginning of the rainy season it is plagued with crabs. I have my Father (RIP) to thank for my reflexive fear of these creatures. I grew up believing his toes had been chewed by crabs - in actual fact they were chopped off in an accident with a lawnmower blade and some wet grass which in hindsight is probably a more horrendous story. Anway. my fear remains and here in Montezuma these orange and purple creatures are trying desperately hard to move from the local hills to the sea before the rains. Hundreds are being squashed on the road by cars, bicycles and underfoot. I have never seen anything like it. Walking back to the hotel after dark, listening to the crunching underfoot or the rustling in the grass, sends shivers up my spine. Why do they scuttle sideways in such a crab-like fashion? Eeugh.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pmns_xtz30OwnRHzSZAuSBPezd2ih7scGjEv7dRkbiyV979tk0TLnyxemhcSLTOeG9TSOpvjd_hjLkbU-RcBxMkTEt-_C17V6izbPWU9TgY_lkTRjmQ98m4e_wKQbdI2KCNPerUSG7U/s400/DSCN1919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340375900511919106" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">My foe</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We have committed to meeting friends in the north of the country, so despite our longing to stay a few more days we set off on a long and complicated journey to Monteverde.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr5b_7IUfsytU0-cBEIEB0IHMUMSzo1QKMoObpgYB3HHjzD5NF7qRT9bMbnHOg0spkv2IPU9NQ15Frgy1jp0MmYzGKWOzh3Syw0oDWHTKStRANsneF2R1AfU4BGwozaqcG-Na6GpFf1A/s1600-h/IMG_8977.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidr5b_7IUfsytU0-cBEIEB0IHMUMSzo1QKMoObpgYB3HHjzD5NF7qRT9bMbnHOg0spkv2IPU9NQ15Frgy1jp0MmYzGKWOzh3Syw0oDWHTKStRANsneF2R1AfU4BGwozaqcG-Na6GpFf1A/s400/IMG_8977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340266100076756098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ferry to Puntarenas</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Five buses and one boat later, we wander down the driveway to our hostel to find our friends sipping on sangria. A happy reunion, we spend a couple of hours exchanging stories and the others laugh at our 'peace and love vibe'! Tonight we visit a tastefully decorated restaurant for cheese and wine. It has been nice to detox for the last few weeks and now I happily savour this glass of red wine! </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4649/206/109/513568187/n513568187_1750246_3372792.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Red wine!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBI125SFo4oNxY0J9iroQtaN8a1qoATbOTybrOwDDkoanjvJ5qlkwIt8AMXkfWZcMDcqIOb8N1WS-WL4SC5_90ZD8jXSOm1FhsPWXdeU6RqIxGqLZArRaEeJNtX7nTgPKUcVWqAgePhFo/s400/DSCN1906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340263493318916690" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Monteverde, town located beside a Cloud Forest</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Monteverde is famous for the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> cloud forest located there. I have now learned that a cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical" title="Tropical" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tropical</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> or </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical" title="Subtropical" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">subtropical</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> evergreen</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_and_subtropical_moist_broadleaf_forests" title="Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">moist forest</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> characterised by a high incidence of low-level </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud" title="Cloud" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">cloud</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> cover, usually at the canopy level. Our plan is to discover the forest at the canopy level by taking a 'canopy tour' and at ground level with some hiking in one of the national parks.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;font-family:-webkit-sans-serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;font-family:Georgia;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55O2HB70ddwbPEWwmw1fkJifjd0C5MHlzalOnhvqThdK7lbv3w4nlep674pX2hiVEMi06HvukMykYbzSefu5tZOU6I2tJRR0Yccnmvt87wCCNJIsTnolosBomCgytgO3cs8MNXPlMgaU/s1600-h/DSCN1805.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55O2HB70ddwbPEWwmw1fkJifjd0C5MHlzalOnhvqThdK7lbv3w4nlep674pX2hiVEMi06HvukMykYbzSefu5tZOU6I2tJRR0Yccnmvt87wCCNJIsTnolosBomCgytgO3cs8MNXPlMgaU/s400/DSCN1805.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340261550121611266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Somewhat reminiscent of Ireland?</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIv_E9RjFvREL95YaxLPgt1Dq4U6gty_EdBrQytUvHsmmVWOMP8w32Kkw8xzKqVYBbBnQ0-wCCPZaYrUwb-CQdG_x-1VTXc7u4xxy9kMk59IG3MYfe1RVlTvpJ4xWUdRPY7yu0ybjge8/s1600-h/DSCN1804.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIv_E9RjFvREL95YaxLPgt1Dq4U6gty_EdBrQytUvHsmmVWOMP8w32Kkw8xzKqVYBbBnQ0-wCCPZaYrUwb-CQdG_x-1VTXc7u4xxy9kMk59IG3MYfe1RVlTvpJ4xWUdRPY7yu0ybjge8/s400/DSCN1804.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340261226188257426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0X_xX3ROUgq1FmSoWIGckYa476TUN5x6p70-JwbOt5ZYPqJSyGBQL6cHzpA6PixV9DbsDXkNobqK3dCs5EnH7TPkGXqDJmSd7nol6nuo24iQTzDqSl4M4TlGFcGwpSB5VNeKB5uNqgw/s1600-h/DSC08902.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">Collibri (type o</span>f hu<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: none;">mmingbird)</span></span></span></span></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A canopy tour (I have recently learned) consists of a series of ziplines, tarzan swings and rappeling (down a vertical rope) at canopy level through the cloud forest. With the company we chose, <a href="http://www.monteverdeextremo.com/welcome.html">Extremo</a>, there are 14 platforms reaching 2550 feet long and 450 feet in height. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div>I am a little nervous beforehand but if Irina can do with her fear of heights then I can do it! Plus I cannot stand the idea of Adam gloating about his adrenaline rushes (my competitive streak appears)! It is a very fun day. The Tarzan Swing includes a free fall from a high platform (which is really scary!) and then a big swing which is great - watching others faces during the free-fall is priceless!! I scream all kinds of obcenities as my body plunges downwards. Afterwards I can't stop giggling!</div><div><br /></div><div>In the afternoon, Helene and I learn all about bats at the Bat Santuary. <a href="http://www.bats.org.uk/">Bats</a> are fascinating!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L8At4SfRmu3GSJmTimAca_xBy4R4zj4_E16XjcBhrnfrfGSK6Phsme1PlXn8KPB41zgrrWtTN8JZgnv4UksqeNwDBkafWgfsTVHtnWtobogLt2_CvgA0M-559YwgDRJ3PBrb1qLVf3g/s1600-h/DSC08835.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L8At4SfRmu3GSJmTimAca_xBy4R4zj4_E16XjcBhrnfrfGSK6Phsme1PlXn8KPB41zgrrWtTN8JZgnv4UksqeNwDBkafWgfsTVHtnWtobogLt2_CvgA0M-559YwgDRJ3PBrb1qLVf3g/s400/DSC08835.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340260947465060354" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Marie, myself & Adam geared up & ready to zip some lines</span></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0X_xX3ROUgq1FmSoWIGckYa476TUN5x6p70-JwbOt5ZYPqJSyGBQL6cHzpA6PixV9DbsDXkNobqK3dCs5EnH7TPkGXqDJmSd7nol6nuo24iQTzDqSl4M4TlGFcGwpSB5VNeKB5uNqgw/s1600-h/DSC08902.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0X_xX3ROUgq1FmSoWIGckYa476TUN5x6p70-JwbOt5ZYPqJSyGBQL6cHzpA6PixV9DbsDXkNobqK3dCs5EnH7TPkGXqDJmSd7nol6nuo24iQTzDqSl4M4TlGFcGwpSB5VNeKB5uNqgw/s400/DSC08902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340261222146010402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Adam during Tarzan Swing</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yQIOoL45Y7ulKnVkYepVhffHhAYVeydZwLCwUUiLeGnwqqsm4h9KHRYYzcGuqTf5W2MnjzS92nGo3AU_mbcyhGR_Wy07M8b17-NUxxWUM9UftezyQa6xqwQK0Wgb6CkhtADaFsyWKL0/s1600-h/DSC08853.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yQIOoL45Y7ulKnVkYepVhffHhAYVeydZwLCwUUiLeGnwqqsm4h9KHRYYzcGuqTf5W2MnjzS92nGo3AU_mbcyhGR_Wy07M8b17-NUxxWUM9UftezyQa6xqwQK0Wgb6CkhtADaFsyWKL0/s400/DSC08853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340261211893075234" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Reaching speeds of 45miles</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdLeJHECKSyYV5opVIMj8qGf6IyLI8fahsYGBb2Nj0_DyOujy134BDrfQ-dYsQZQ-Bnz5Xvl3FkXgaCc79Dtp7WEQTg3Ym-MHPxX_hotjezZ9kFheZe82P05kjfo4IiFBXTSvD8wtOJ0/s400/DSC08852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340260957736339010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Irina is conquering her fears!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2L8At4SfRmu3GSJmTimAca_xBy4R4zj4_E16XjcBhrnfrfGSK6Phsme1PlXn8KPB41zgrrWtTN8JZgnv4UksqeNwDBkafWgfsTVHtnWtobogLt2_CvgA0M-559YwgDRJ3PBrb1qLVf3g/s1600-h/DSC08835.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Later, we hire a guide and take a night walk through the 'Ecologica Finca' and see three tarantulas, walking sticks, and lots of others creepy crawlies.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFo9T3pYqIGqFJeMkk7WE1pudlGnI2T6iTV-CAvIagh5lJQkZ1p7Bx4x1ItGVG9OJJ3pw-xmMStbwPR61X_ph07T01182H5xb1rlcdrm6Y1nQRApOAUWHxpc00ZiL-t9zm-jHF80ma3c/s1600-h/IMG_9003.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFo9T3pYqIGqFJeMkk7WE1pudlGnI2T6iTV-CAvIagh5lJQkZ1p7Bx4x1ItGVG9OJJ3pw-xmMStbwPR61X_ph07T01182H5xb1rlcdrm6Y1nQRApOAUWHxpc00ZiL-t9zm-jHF80ma3c/s400/IMG_9003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267040762608066" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Teeny-weeny froggie!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WtvirSNTfgUiUN6vWz9WR4ZhdrFZEHPc8nBGzpbLpsQCL9ORkwImspdjYdO8wEWxZljr_dLeaj6XP0CBijSGb6DJDKoBBLfDEwPnlAK99D-zXUhwBSbz_sXfmqw631oLso-8cjo5dh4/s1600-h/IMG_9002.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WtvirSNTfgUiUN6vWz9WR4ZhdrFZEHPc8nBGzpbLpsQCL9ORkwImspdjYdO8wEWxZljr_dLeaj6XP0CBijSGb6DJDKoBBLfDEwPnlAK99D-zXUhwBSbz_sXfmqw631oLso-8cjo5dh4/s400/IMG_9002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267037786658082" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Orange-kneed tarantula</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mjG3wOCcKTk1FGdJ78RTCrJ7kbhsfmidF7t35rjOKjo3pHtsZxug6I0aF3OU5IhlQcnaMOsElkhge1bVnblwb27awKMwpudQ182xWO-NMM2XZYhUoocltXqtqheazUOZ7NqpPLlIa78/s1600-h/IMG_8998.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mjG3wOCcKTk1FGdJ78RTCrJ7kbhsfmidF7t35rjOKjo3pHtsZxug6I0aF3OU5IhlQcnaMOsElkhge1bVnblwb27awKMwpudQ182xWO-NMM2XZYhUoocltXqtqheazUOZ7NqpPLlIa78/s400/IMG_8998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267038939309282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">A web of deceit</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp3ofQTjL-QV3LazIHoAv-hKL8Qlj7jgCSodT-E73WRwZYwFtSxrCo7xoSElSXJ_o01b3c6-Tnq-2v9FVXgPPcwXD6lIAdUiJOvpzLyphl7lRCIhQNCUj47S61EGc2jVXLZv1LN37vKU/s1600-h/IMG_8988.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp3ofQTjL-QV3LazIHoAv-hKL8Qlj7jgCSodT-E73WRwZYwFtSxrCo7xoSElSXJ_o01b3c6-Tnq-2v9FVXgPPcwXD6lIAdUiJOvpzLyphl7lRCIhQNCUj47S61EGc2jVXLZv1LN37vKU/s400/IMG_8988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267034770203762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ants, ants & more ants</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div></div><div>The following day is Sunday and the perfect time to hike at Santa Elena national park. The trees, plants and birdlife are incredible. In the afternoon we visit the local frond pond to learn more about these frogs we keep bumping into. </div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g19cMKd7RFyHB3JhTOo0wKf7Uwl8geM_OIctpGhGDunE3pZd7PlnVfPqD2ekqkNFWoaUw-s5sdh7mSB_GajrOrazqw3LNPu3QFPM0C3qAF8gJ548RUAYqw-eu7FC1qKL51CA5z_1lds/s1600-h/IMG_9007.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g19cMKd7RFyHB3JhTOo0wKf7Uwl8geM_OIctpGhGDunE3pZd7PlnVfPqD2ekqkNFWoaUw-s5sdh7mSB_GajrOrazqw3LNPu3QFPM0C3qAF8gJ548RUAYqw-eu7FC1qKL51CA5z_1lds/s400/IMG_9007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267047326659410" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Renuions! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6scVuxXxhh7WKvA5WPud-mWf0drtFr_6xpnXOtk9dclE7r2TcxK4XlMo0-BmfMgB8jvOrcUnTmyx_IqN51bNuUg5XaDUUKC9taUPTqBuYTTuC4_GTnnekWBqhjBAFE5IvYWYNb0PGpsg/s1600-h/IMG_9008.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6scVuxXxhh7WKvA5WPud-mWf0drtFr_6xpnXOtk9dclE7r2TcxK4XlMo0-BmfMgB8jvOrcUnTmyx_IqN51bNuUg5XaDUUKC9taUPTqBuYTTuC4_GTnnekWBqhjBAFE5IvYWYNb0PGpsg/s400/IMG_9008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267541376867826" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Shelter from the morning sun</span></div></span></span></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5Sm70Q-DTzhnoJdNUWMV1W-8JDnZc-Zf4NjIpzOL-TNwYVV8ct26azC8QMwf62GtRxtsc-M1uB2q9RvQ9udUB3JOPOCO2wRrhIW0Q94e_lYQO0cHt1J9JWlHkjl9LpxPfQESRUYmImg/s1600-h/DSCN1890.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5Sm70Q-DTzhnoJdNUWMV1W-8JDnZc-Zf4NjIpzOL-TNwYVV8ct26azC8QMwf62GtRxtsc-M1uB2q9RvQ9udUB3JOPOCO2wRrhIW0Q94e_lYQO0cHt1J9JWlHkjl9LpxPfQESRUYmImg/s400/DSCN1890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340263489373897074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Colibri sipping on sweet-water at park entrance</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStDFF63zrOD81v5t7gGw03M53Ue2X45Ajlfqc4c2-5RYIOliBsqhFS5lYxUXhTduf8uJ0EIo2L5I_3l_0AQfd3UHZmPM2ifQIWFGnTApHGi500YN-14-ETiP8sZcXFnLdL19LaoBCLEM/s1600-h/DSCN1885.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjStDFF63zrOD81v5t7gGw03M53Ue2X45Ajlfqc4c2-5RYIOliBsqhFS5lYxUXhTduf8uJ0EIo2L5I_3l_0AQfd3UHZmPM2ifQIWFGnTApHGi500YN-14-ETiP8sZcXFnLdL19LaoBCLEM/s400/DSCN1885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340263486103503634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjIlBrT30_C_Pioi5qv_7Gdq6kCu_2WDAQw__6DWUl9dXFvGHFM3vRWevlC3dTeTyu-ersz62koK7mOsLdH1aqEc_7h3feaXyfNWCggPUX_wFwh_fqDLI7166m-WKVdg6UiP6ss7Aj1A/s1600-h/DSCN1865.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjIlBrT30_C_Pioi5qv_7Gdq6kCu_2WDAQw__6DWUl9dXFvGHFM3vRWevlC3dTeTyu-ersz62koK7mOsLdH1aqEc_7h3feaXyfNWCggPUX_wFwh_fqDLI7166m-WKVdg6UiP6ss7Aj1A/s400/DSCN1865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340263479614575330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">These boots were made for walking...</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUVTZ2TMNoGovAYntXcS5tVQ83UBN2oLn3PC8ImItWzotRipuXjQz8wIj5q2pOVJt1JKogrH5owfwgmFiSdc3-tq7RBW1bi7_yIz99qMZpUN2db5tuPUr94OOnxFO27rluFj4mAXQWYY/s1600-h/DSCN1850.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUVTZ2TMNoGovAYntXcS5tVQ83UBN2oLn3PC8ImItWzotRipuXjQz8wIj5q2pOVJt1JKogrH5owfwgmFiSdc3-tq7RBW1bi7_yIz99qMZpUN2db5tuPUr94OOnxFO27rluFj4mAXQWYY/s400/DSCN1850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340263202498371986" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVCR9PvEszg1FYwIy4bmpd4CsNj6alJZctiIrUcGQQK3s0XbR56ScfRewITwM4VjfGHtKnyDpeCjFnd6cDzZNSY5M2lblMvvNxFJADck7B9pO5oe_JOSJ8vUiZ06LvyWkkQuUsN2Sn4c/s1600-h/DSCN1834.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVCR9PvEszg1FYwIy4bmpd4CsNj6alJZctiIrUcGQQK3s0XbR56ScfRewITwM4VjfGHtKnyDpeCjFnd6cDzZNSY5M2lblMvvNxFJADck7B9pO5oe_JOSJ8vUiZ06LvyWkkQuUsN2Sn4c/s400/DSCN1834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340263194807389362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Helene the hiker<br /></span></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJBZK8afVsgFFa4Qo-Cs9GgONcw-szz55vkQX9eJKb1SoYsJ9C27A70PVWg16oKIDaQYwnEEdLE7ooV1KDHCOH8eUp7OxNbbA-C3USlmOgxStLQ5rFo1CwgGvDViVAKlnuqsji9Ur9jE/s1600-h/IMG_9115.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJBZK8afVsgFFa4Qo-Cs9GgONcw-szz55vkQX9eJKb1SoYsJ9C27A70PVWg16oKIDaQYwnEEdLE7ooV1KDHCOH8eUp7OxNbbA-C3USlmOgxStLQ5rFo1CwgGvDViVAKlnuqsji9Ur9jE/s400/IMG_9115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268663827595250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-decoration: underline; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Irina, who has recently arrived from London</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPmCNxHIyT6XEAGY2UOVyDr0ezUR2xs3DruqqgtqlpZHBS0imdlk9rNW405XsfNtAoVMEvMOi6NJqWNVuwrfnYO9prpOi9NBvQhAh7-DITlnBnLxN8kYVu-jsORVJOk3kc8fo3obqB_c/s1600-h/IMG_9098.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPmCNxHIyT6XEAGY2UOVyDr0ezUR2xs3DruqqgtqlpZHBS0imdlk9rNW405XsfNtAoVMEvMOi6NJqWNVuwrfnYO9prpOi9NBvQhAh7-DITlnBnLxN8kYVu-jsORVJOk3kc8fo3obqB_c/s400/IMG_9098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268655254053426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Making shapes from leaves & clouds</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NCfDNE9mis_9MwqkC1bmqBtE3319F1f6CqM2ZAAgirMMn_2vBW4UXehdO4cqj-FpLeAhXxtouzzWeuJfi6nG7iqVpGoW0PkmsDQ1D4s3a1hL4TU7Y5URfBFpiWWVO7fG_gPJ-YnCdp0/s1600-h/IMG_9086.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NCfDNE9mis_9MwqkC1bmqBtE3319F1f6CqM2ZAAgirMMn_2vBW4UXehdO4cqj-FpLeAhXxtouzzWeuJfi6nG7iqVpGoW0PkmsDQ1D4s3a1hL4TU7Y5URfBFpiWWVO7fG_gPJ-YnCdp0/s400/IMG_9086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268655046763714" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The backside of a pizote!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsMOb6VCKXpeeOZGIinKD6rTpALXiAEEJY7pz0KwDMxA-TrwToVs7t6mDlUSXQ7DzSO-KWRaLZirTbfpEvyqKDwQHRnWn_64dv5E6FL3Y1pArXFJ2YmzIWl-JVDAzD8gOTrVbuqcknlM/s1600-h/IMG_9080.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbsMOb6VCKXpeeOZGIinKD6rTpALXiAEEJY7pz0KwDMxA-TrwToVs7t6mDlUSXQ7DzSO-KWRaLZirTbfpEvyqKDwQHRnWn_64dv5E6FL3Y1pArXFJ2YmzIWl-JVDAzD8gOTrVbuqcknlM/s400/IMG_9080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268652084246994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">PDI/"underwater" buddies united once more!</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJdtlApgk6Ti9xDnHQmEuGbAyn2tBrjvr19xSI8yA3Bq0Fd_SHMsjw7EbEUyLoZ2hBYTEopW4O6Pr85Bg-DbARuku9vmzkiKc2xPQ8lbSfMTR8rkAog3nGBv9MTfn8yrfrngKhW_5zKM/s1600-h/IMG_9060.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJdtlApgk6Ti9xDnHQmEuGbAyn2tBrjvr19xSI8yA3Bq0Fd_SHMsjw7EbEUyLoZ2hBYTEopW4O6Pr85Bg-DbARuku9vmzkiKc2xPQ8lbSfMTR8rkAog3nGBv9MTfn8yrfrngKhW_5zKM/s400/IMG_9060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268288037028962" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1n5PiuKNlsgk_TagZCrov_DCvuFAwomNjjsyolOdUBkybdWcfhFnfoxXaq_l-s40CWVeTrnhDVGm99XH7qKqNTVNhoTD4thMqqiYr3hjDAqxCNN5_npB3tPrd1miV6cRL0ITL9v4ugc/s1600-h/IMG_9059.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1n5PiuKNlsgk_TagZCrov_DCvuFAwomNjjsyolOdUBkybdWcfhFnfoxXaq_l-s40CWVeTrnhDVGm99XH7qKqNTVNhoTD4thMqqiYr3hjDAqxCNN5_npB3tPrd1miV6cRL0ITL9v4ugc/s400/IMG_9059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268283572252306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLysMUOUN28GgGnktPYhLtTgHJmwIzaORrUPitlRiPjJG28dsSZqYD_pxkw0S0TFhBrnO2rNyX1EfS6jYGcDEGgRYMf64xLYXOjSRd2hoequamyvKxITw41GrfdZAqRTp2SUSnaaG-jdE/s1600-h/IMG_9058.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLysMUOUN28GgGnktPYhLtTgHJmwIzaORrUPitlRiPjJG28dsSZqYD_pxkw0S0TFhBrnO2rNyX1EfS6jYGcDEGgRYMf64xLYXOjSRd2hoequamyvKxITw41GrfdZAqRTp2SUSnaaG-jdE/s400/IMG_9058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268277845653522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xt1b-H32GrkiVrFpIAnIVe4cdoOm6renOnZRvUPfzWlAZTRfFgQIgkMkdQxgNyUmZamHLorHoaWidi7tGVeQAU09cECF_gIpdQBTkHOWxdTRXXhDCrj8C_vMaNsWC-ResLtIsWRRbDQ/s1600-h/IMG_9057.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xt1b-H32GrkiVrFpIAnIVe4cdoOm6renOnZRvUPfzWlAZTRfFgQIgkMkdQxgNyUmZamHLorHoaWidi7tGVeQAU09cECF_gIpdQBTkHOWxdTRXXhDCrj8C_vMaNsWC-ResLtIsWRRbDQ/s400/IMG_9057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268273922213042" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lkLYnb2gTEgBmLJN20xUGLcqmY-kywyXeAa3GbWJZX-NIIgcosbyqkl53bYZzT5QlNu0j3GZiNCCkvuFO7UGqhVN93AfANzr2Olg4Ew8-ULTXuJRzM4gs1w855QJjsi74RbOWHoR4iU/s1600-h/IMG_9045.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lkLYnb2gTEgBmLJN20xUGLcqmY-kywyXeAa3GbWJZX-NIIgcosbyqkl53bYZzT5QlNu0j3GZiNCCkvuFO7UGqhVN93AfANzr2Olg4Ew8-ULTXuJRzM4gs1w855QJjsi74RbOWHoR4iU/s400/IMG_9045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340268268029860178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tree hug</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ma57QGvM1sDZpF8KOP6nDTJDAQmczFwHZGtvJuJZzeUxLdNpErNAwEgpcn7t1cX-C5nrl4YDa_A6zXM7Bpfp1440QYVqvdNsQRBChOVuGfgDbpQ5VBLqXUeIPZ8fyP-KrLD1wSr3IQo/s1600-h/IMG_9028.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ma57QGvM1sDZpF8KOP6nDTJDAQmczFwHZGtvJuJZzeUxLdNpErNAwEgpcn7t1cX-C5nrl4YDa_A6zXM7Bpfp1440QYVqvdNsQRBChOVuGfgDbpQ5VBLqXUeIPZ8fyP-KrLD1wSr3IQo/s400/IMG_9028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340267547732547890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g19cMKd7RFyHB3JhTOo0wKf7Uwl8geM_OIctpGhGDunE3pZd7PlnVfPqD2ekqkNFWoaUw-s5sdh7mSB_GajrOrazqw3LNPu3QFPM0C3qAF8gJ548RUAYqw-eu7FC1qKL51CA5z_1lds/s1600-h/IMG_9007.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Today is "Norway Day" s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">o </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">we wear Norwegian ribbons while hiking and drink a souvenir-sized bottle of Aquacate each after lunch!</span><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4649/206/109/513568187/n513568187_1750435_8335136.jpg"><img src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4649/206/109/513568187/n513568187_1750435_8335136.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Pur</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">e poison!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4649/206/109/513568187/n513568187_1750437_4554123.jpg"><img src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v4649/206/109/513568187/n513568187_1750437_4554123.jpg" alt="" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" border="0" /></a></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Marie, Aguacate & Norwegian chocolate</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Costa Rica is a great place to see natural wildlife and there has been a huge effort over the past few years to conserve the rainforest and it's inhabitants. Despite thinking it is a beautiful place, I do have a series of complaints (I share these with my Mum and she tells me I've clearly been travelling too long - finding faults with paradise!). Perhaps. Costa Rica is undeniably filled with beautiful beaches, rainforests and incredible biodiversity (unmatched anywhere in the world), however I feel like in an attempt to cater for tourists the country has lost part of it's charm. The people are generally ok, some are sweet, other more pompous. The men are as smooth a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">s B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">erlusconi</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">,</span> confidently strutting towards us, cracking a corny one-liner and apparently expecting us to fall at their feet or perhaps more accurately into their bed! The public transport system, buses and roads are horrendous - why is the governement not investing here? Prices are frustratingly high, catering only for the average American holidaymaker on their 2-week annual vacation budget (rather different to us long-term backpackers living on a shoe-string!). And why, oh why, when someone makes the effort to speak in your native tongue would you reply in English? Ok, no more ranting. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpLW65Z02eFU-d3MgU9Jz5uGjPZdmC_iRoZzMDpo7hUzC11XEHrULX9pVJtxheLogzrmNuuSaFhUZmTOXvl4ctnijBotZdNtq7_bC5cv6BRgNvVAwqCeauHV8VXPNy27k8gvroA6oOmw/s1600-h/DSCN1909.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpLW65Z02eFU-d3MgU9Jz5uGjPZdmC_iRoZzMDpo7hUzC11XEHrULX9pVJtxheLogzrmNuuSaFhUZmTOXvl4ctnijBotZdNtq7_bC5cv6BRgNvVAwqCeauHV8VXPNy27k8gvroA6oOmw/s400/DSCN1909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340264181685529586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Visit to the frog pond</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBm3A9P9di01pK7cTWWOr33qI2bzgmERusY8bUjiCsxMq3w8NbR915vLQbp4qhJrpuo58hKituFCCnd7gaT7SFomYGLd3vdOVOOCJ2uv4-rxmQ04wB_KJp5hVePaS7nTL2z6vVNnongz4/s400/DSCN1911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340264186981023010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The most common frog in Costa Rica, with bulging red eyes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On Monday we leave on a 4am (jampacked) bus for Nicaragua. We are told that it is Mother's day there "soon" (actually in 2 weeks time) so all buses are booked out (if anyone can explain this, please email). Many Nicaraguans (Nicas) are employed by Costa Ricans (Ticos) to do 'dirty work' (such as working on the coffee plantations). We prepare ourselves for an anticipated nightmare journey involving another 5 (magic number?) buses....to our intended destination of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">San Juan del Sur</span> where our mission is to surf and practice yoga everyday. Adam and Marie have headed across to Tamarindo, Costa Rica for a few days and will join later.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgGnX-BfVJrvBfpMfmPT8Vs9FDqovPHu8V0QeKMa6o5T8pCZHUqTM1-e2vKGUApTrLM8kbKW1C_D0Vd6Az37zTUGyhMCnSnnp1PrKPJBva92RVaRjcmsLMZBBC7ENYg2TZnu-7EmMsLo/s400/Blog.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340260768060364466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Resting place between Costa Rica & Nicaragua</span></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-37726276298805406752009-05-14T16:13:00.000-07:002011-02-02T11:11:51.376-08:00El Valle de Anton, Panama<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MussC60qVqtPsfUQbkTDqaXRUO4TsOW2w3EVtt7-dX0oDrx5cr_1lR90PIko2sfiLpXWJ6FFLms28uPWIQvLrsDBttME4axYweOOOw9gI2IJJy5puFYy9m8sqBHTE1SmWmt9ymNuaS0/s1600-h/IMG_0149.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapsefont-family:arial;" ><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">By chance, Helene and I come across an advertisement for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Swami Yoga Camping</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> in El Valle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">de</span> Anton, three hours north of Panama City. El Valle, as it is known, is set in the crater of an extinct volcano. At the time there is no website so we are rather curious about what we might find. I speak to Swami, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">creator</span> of the camp, and get directions to the centre. We are both delighted to get out of the city and are keen to begin our 'health camp'. Unfortunately, Marie's grandfather has passed away so she is flying back to Norway for the funeral (we will reunite in Costa Rica next week). Adam has met up with a friend and is heading north to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bocas</span>, a seaside party place - no, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">gracias</span>! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We arrive at El Valle at 8pm, and are greeted by Swami (a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rastafarian</span> dressed in all white) at the local shop. He leads the way through the darkness to the main house so it is hard to see the camping area but it all seems legitimate. There are about 10 other campers this evening, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">including</span> a group of French travellers who have sailed across the Atlantic to Panama. This evening they make a delicious meal of lentils, vegetables and rice. Later we read and retire to our tent, sleeping soundly and waking up to an incredible chorus of singing birds. There are over 400 different species of birds in El Valle, and I would guess an equal number of insects. I have never seen so many insects of all shapes and sizes (including a disgusting giant black, flying-beetle that gets stuck in our hair, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">eeeew</span>!).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826165569950290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy-KrYdaacIVp3iFytph46flRT2YjsRbEFIEf5K3vgl3vMimgd70t1qPDwDbKZ7I4dhd1K1vbbrBovseSAKhzhxBmUkBieN2mp_LOzXPi6TjGD6oKFSR10QYVzRG5tkvxOcpe5Wa3cls/s400/IMG_8901.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Swami Yoga Camping</span></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljKsdgqpqf-o3dmeP7SJPLIE8g99x-_668mecbx0E7qufcJy6EX02sAyHzjhTMSGx-wf2nOjZACLb-_uavCMghmZXKN7SxOqhwI2OEmY4v70kf2dGNKkfk3fChBVRrzQ3vXSU29VJ7z4/s1600-h/IMG_8905.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825695174220130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljKsdgqpqf-o3dmeP7SJPLIE8g99x-_668mecbx0E7qufcJy6EX02sAyHzjhTMSGx-wf2nOjZACLb-_uavCMghmZXKN7SxOqhwI2OEmY4v70kf2dGNKkfk3fChBVRrzQ3vXSU29VJ7z4/s400/IMG_8905.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div></div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Sitting on the terrace (Helene & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Sunita</span>)</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hWIhGWdqy6G3W_CBiD80bskdZCS0aUWy9ks0639iTqSa0aG8lhXkCXFWYJx90ihfdXl4Y5VoVVgB8wwmfyI_aAtJK767Oq-h5FJ1NoeltItlRkctn30qZJv1SWyP_FfHBKzIrtAiWG4/s1600-h/IMG_8903.jpg"></a></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaov5d75-RUelJVqDAU1hXWj7epEtc_-7ah-GBE_HvoaFhlJpwjBTecPMJB4i-1Ju99W7FRWCxVKMNYWzcWZot4LrK0VAaybA50lhx5uro-9mi3OkQOYSYYD_ecHmuMBCf98LEmryQFjM/s1600-h/IMG_8904.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825695326484818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaov5d75-RUelJVqDAU1hXWj7epEtc_-7ah-GBE_HvoaFhlJpwjBTecPMJB4i-1Ju99W7FRWCxVKMNYWzcWZot4LrK0VAaybA50lhx5uro-9mi3OkQOYSYYD_ecHmuMBCf98LEmryQFjM/s400/IMG_8904.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Alex is busy making jewelery</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljKsdgqpqf-o3dmeP7SJPLIE8g99x-_668mecbx0E7qufcJy6EX02sAyHzjhTMSGx-wf2nOjZACLb-_uavCMghmZXKN7SxOqhwI2OEmY4v70kf2dGNKkfk3fChBVRrzQ3vXSU29VJ7z4/s1600-h/IMG_8905.jpg"></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">With the morning light we can see that the camp is set in a beautiful valley - surrounded by mountains, exotic flowers and luscious jungle. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825174804670866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmpeBlh9snHLkRNYADs2O6JEeoeWRxVpI5xnag2oLlH_mfw12czjc770BKJZpCcJ71awBMT1i84uPJT5ctwBpNkfUyQQd9_URdS2s8bFbFhzlFY8TWDbpoa3dQK8kkT3jwj5f3ma9zgo/s400/IMG_8921.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">El Valle by daylight</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYMP7_dllciwm70YOHWUDwu0Q2WGrhxTbeOK2aaXp9Q7MLJcqTs36jxeNAtI0ISBRNzVUKJ_vIqsGXnsTE0NZ8_K4pO_B5nNsk6Z8ChvrWtD3jZ4Giy_C8B19kZQOcmqXikomJ7Gy1EU/s1600-h/IMG_8879.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826694701660162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheYMP7_dllciwm70YOHWUDwu0Q2WGrhxTbeOK2aaXp9Q7MLJcqTs36jxeNAtI0ISBRNzVUKJ_vIqsGXnsTE0NZ8_K4pO_B5nNsk6Z8ChvrWtD3jZ4Giy_C8B19kZQOcmqXikomJ7Gy1EU/s400/IMG_8879.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Entrance to Swami Yoga Camping (known as 'The Camping')</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibEG4H3olPoitXmNSvXezXNg71EKoHYO2Hll8BNX-AGsi5dfAQiYGBM_fD4VIr1jwksj2qsL3H0kXohSACkjkVSVJmu_IMIEHSYRTvj1dAQyNNdAAZ0Hy59O7yMDbwxyXXpg3eWCrJlE/s1600-h/IMG_8880.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826694208936034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibEG4H3olPoitXmNSvXezXNg71EKoHYO2Hll8BNX-AGsi5dfAQiYGBM_fD4VIr1jwksj2qsL3H0kXohSACkjkVSVJmu_IMIEHSYRTvj1dAQyNNdAAZ0Hy59O7yMDbwxyXXpg3eWCrJlE/s400/IMG_8880.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The shady part of the garden, perfect for reading in the hammock!</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qEhA99egIAwEVqtiLn91sP1ooOh77PyOOZHuP5xM2M1YjrLYAX-d8O08gDdKSlTWxdy-QUi-0MYuP6PC58bA_XIH53petyCC1mVuP8SQc_UDG35DJx-qr0gikXcVwioLvPG9fJgMtR4/s1600-h/IMG_8881.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826692001220210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_qEhA99egIAwEVqtiLn91sP1ooOh77PyOOZHuP5xM2M1YjrLYAX-d8O08gDdKSlTWxdy-QUi-0MYuP6PC58bA_XIH53petyCC1mVuP8SQc_UDG35DJx-qr0gikXcVwioLvPG9fJgMtR4/s400/IMG_8881.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Main house </span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOSd5nGTpNlNJSMc_7kEGaNy1u1A74PgF_jcrNGsS3QfZOMCEGJZeqsrR1V1alEMBIPtyi3BvpP5EwgQI-EJS9moIA2YiBOleTkD7lnd1-WG0L8ma3K7qMmtLI0gE_EMokPgTvnsEl1w/s1600-h/IMG_8883.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826685773546450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOSd5nGTpNlNJSMc_7kEGaNy1u1A74PgF_jcrNGsS3QfZOMCEGJZeqsrR1V1alEMBIPtyi3BvpP5EwgQI-EJS9moIA2YiBOleTkD7lnd1-WG0L8ma3K7qMmtLI0gE_EMokPgTvnsEl1w/s400/IMG_8883.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The walls are filled with inspirational figures and quotes</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpy-KrYdaacIVp3iFytph46flRT2YjsRbEFIEf5K3vgl3vMimgd70t1qPDwDbKZ7I4dhd1K1vbbrBovseSAKhzhxBmUkBieN2mp_LOzXPi6TjGD6oKFSR10QYVzRG5tkvxOcpe5Wa3cls/s1600-h/IMG_8901.jpg"></a><br /></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We spend the morning reading in hammocks, enjoying the peace, sunshine and quiet tremendously.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826426135165026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N0nI76LbnFcUPn10yhDhSgRyPfBgvS8hOXYmtpCr_Vv2b1W-AzihVdks_stbuU_RF_0xEbKjiNPv90Cb7O3BUpzHFBdW1U7-aqDUl7tTHfKaHbvAsh4IvvlBTsSAKCEJAZzAzYkmbzQ/s400/IMG_8884.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">My fellow Capricorn friend doing some very early morning reading</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:georgia;" >In the afternoon, we take a stroll into town, pick up some locally-grown vegetables and eat some delicious shrimp for lunch. </span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826168304257426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cKAn7jxxEssjb2ZCIS_UPf3_aCReEKzi2S6BGJnN-WbqPEGcNtbSApYyjiBkws8BLLNAz8tUxkd0dB9zE9lU1EaEqUEaYDZmduyiHmj7y0ukzV4mij5qWecclkh9bIS2vmxwgxJMxdE/s400/IMG_8899.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Main street, El Valle</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We return to the camp and make a large pot of soup (made with a rather generous hand of ginger!) which is enjoyed by all. A new guest has arrived - it's Canada, whom we just cannot rid of....actually it is really nice to have a friendly and familiar face around!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825695407703474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hWIhGWdqy6G3W_CBiD80bskdZCS0aUWy9ks0639iTqSa0aG8lhXkCXFWYJx90ihfdXl4Y5VoVVgB8wwmfyI_aAtJK767Oq-h5FJ1NoeltItlRkctn30qZJv1SWyP_FfHBKzIrtAiWG4/s400/IMG_8903.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The very lovely Canada</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The camp is strictly vegan - no animal products or coffee are permitted. There is a good atmosphere, and most people cook a large pot of food and share it. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:georgia;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">After dinner I spend a couple of hours talking to Swami, an interesting and inspirational person. He is a mix of Moroccan, Spanish, Panamanian and Chilean and was educated in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mississippi</span>. He has owned a vegetarian restaurant on Florida beach, lived in New York, spend 8 years in India training to be a monk, has given talks and conferences around the world on various matters of spirituality, has two children in Panama and now has created this relaxing retreat in El Valle. He practices yoga, meditation, massage, R<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">eiki</span> and reflexology. He tells me I have good energy and that I am independent, I do not need to draw greatly upon others (of course I like to hear this!). We talk a little about astrology and he tells me that as a Capricorn I set extremely high goals and work my way steadily towards achieving these goals. We talk a lot and he gives me a wonderful massage (perhaps the best massage of my life?!).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335847169025875234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGh9ITCuhWE1QFFBiLeTzOXjv2jXREt2Mgy2LhkdMxE6TeF0fHvGGngKuYaskr6dX1eFzSNJetT4zHn0lE4VHNKyf4F-huLxaxVFFPL6KSuyI_uFYnS7RJ4QJRBSu45LcAURn8a-f-4A/s400/IMG_8956.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Swami's Cabin - fully equipped with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Wi</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Fi</span>, Indian spices & a spiritual library!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italic; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Next day, Helene and I rise early and have a delicious fruit breakfast. Alex, Helene and I set off on a morning hike to the top of a nearby mountain, known as 'The Sleeping Indian' due to the shape (a women lying on her back ) and also apparently because a local Indian women fell in love with a Spanish invader who promised to meet her on the top of the mountain, she waited and waited and he never came......</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335827781280675426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5IU_T5gXpzu1nQ9z_8HMvDWzY1xGfDzcdeP3Nskffxn7X0R-URduvRVTa2xen-pSI0u68v84L4k5Kqb49Fvph1slKrcu2LLKmjAqpF4hPTWp-Ajg2nXVJTfU-cTszTEte1CnCHplazI/s400/IMG_8909.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Alex leads the way..pointing out various trees & animals</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italic; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 67px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Flag_of_Ethiopia_%281897%29.svg/100px-Flag_of_Ethiopia_%281897%29.svg.png" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Rasta flag - Alex teaches us about the movement o</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">n route up the mountain!</span></span></span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAk_pNcyS9RgnuZ9BeTe-Wuwfq5I1TgTl2oZtOhY8xgoG2Uus7PxqfYavZVSQqk8CWMh_c7JoepB8bhls19xc02ODc5oYgc6lQ0oR_dkUfeNbsLKTFUgE0597CqhgxVkASS346jOOfgd0/s1600-h/IMG_8907.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825694849259138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAk_pNcyS9RgnuZ9BeTe-Wuwfq5I1TgTl2oZtOhY8xgoG2Uus7PxqfYavZVSQqk8CWMh_c7JoepB8bhls19xc02ODc5oYgc6lQ0oR_dkUfeNbsLKTFUgE0597CqhgxVkASS346jOOfgd0/s400/IMG_8907.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"Ancient' art (??)</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzi4U3QPdyv5rDnDuCty-GOWjQfsnV_dyBheR0D1Mvetf0y8TqXOLDxyuYh3Z8M5ROVAs80mxNmgZnp9ry9m1I5OY3zEUZ2PmnMds8o5L-_ehyphenhyphenyvuPPM4i_usBD6259Jo4gP_sBlIsBI/s1600-h/IMG_8912.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825355723599474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzi4U3QPdyv5rDnDuCty-GOWjQfsnV_dyBheR0D1Mvetf0y8TqXOLDxyuYh3Z8M5ROVAs80mxNmgZnp9ry9m1I5OY3zEUZ2PmnMds8o5L-_ehyphenhyphenyvuPPM4i_usBD6259Jo4gP_sBlIsBI/s400/IMG_8912.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Path to the summit</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFdqDOtGgNF1Ud6rOw_nKyq3rIU_OflUPkJua3jZp6-zl9tynrT3Kx8a2McRdD6NCkroWcC4WVBStwyrBfM3qvqMAZYjtkU2-N3HzWlnPGXl34gru0od5HdyNyX2gTjXePQYYUdV572g/s1600-h/IMG_8913.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825351809325138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFdqDOtGgNF1Ud6rOw_nKyq3rIU_OflUPkJua3jZp6-zl9tynrT3Kx8a2McRdD6NCkroWcC4WVBStwyrBfM3qvqMAZYjtkU2-N3HzWlnPGXl34gru0od5HdyNyX2gTjXePQYYUdV572g/s400/IMG_8913.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This place is beautiful</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825352827521010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtZWhbsmsXSIiEkFAiOp50sMebAV0_DSacNPSY9GNyJA3uk-vnEHjaSFo2QZ3r6bQe1atLHKoQVD4Jm1XPRL9wQZASrvMTSina4pFEJUU2L_l9cJFKSFb-Q3pRwfjlvfrlduMihZA_XU/s400/IMG_8911.jpg" border="0" /> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">El Valle, viewed from above</span></span></span></span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNWD0WzXoYd5yeN7DYQGERnM0ZJU-ugL8EXcqbWxYrR95zxb_oW-YQ71eIykyw4HXjHPsu4AZegtZAeUpazdMlaoM9Mg_m8ZXZoXI63OploNtjg4sw_mwWl7UzcMO4slYgO6WLkZW67g/s1600-h/IMG_8914.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825349609474018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNWD0WzXoYd5yeN7DYQGERnM0ZJU-ugL8EXcqbWxYrR95zxb_oW-YQ71eIykyw4HXjHPsu4AZegtZAeUpazdMlaoM9Mg_m8ZXZoXI63OploNtjg4sw_mwWl7UzcMO4slYgO6WLkZW67g/s400/IMG_8914.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Melting & enjoying the view!</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ig2Se9UCg3noJ1kA7IG1RFGLquq7RQ3jy0hcha81dwvBIDVVjdPaQ8uO4tKDsMLgFjGHeY9E2YHXdR8XDpTqsQ_zXsF-pP7wQ8Zw1jQ2ieuS40WY4SkI6al3StB62J5hnyAhhv35buM/s1600-h/IMG_8916.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825350590629138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ig2Se9UCg3noJ1kA7IG1RFGLquq7RQ3jy0hcha81dwvBIDVVjdPaQ8uO4tKDsMLgFjGHeY9E2YHXdR8XDpTqsQ_zXsF-pP7wQ8Zw1jQ2ieuS40WY4SkI6al3StB62J5hnyAhhv35buM/s400/IMG_8916.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Path along the top of the edge of the extinct volcano</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ObgjcMPkrVmXM2-g_FGckHbpkqHIgfHJAf_ay1C27fSsGBipHzrjdf-Q5tbIPWGkBkkDFqhSaHdAv3jOygZJzGVNchY0VUMQL8CwcOIDoehRSU6-E32U14rMUnhMkU8QCqsHY7USD4I/s1600-h/IMG_8918.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825178635354994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ObgjcMPkrVmXM2-g_FGckHbpkqHIgfHJAf_ay1C27fSsGBipHzrjdf-Q5tbIPWGkBkkDFqhSaHdAv3jOygZJzGVNchY0VUMQL8CwcOIDoehRSU6-E32U14rMUnhMkU8QCqsHY7USD4I/s400/IMG_8918.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Helene & Alex having a well earned rest </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl6QvrQsByC-XwpwfUlLgR0JW4aeIgIzGb6qdL7VXTng9MHgscpB6Fxg_SjnOvQq1tK6LNhqM-wtOlRfs7_Jv9NiDBlDbTHb7uD9oFiQ6uapdJM0vfkQ2b6cgZDc2BNSuRdBybfxXlLs/s1600-h/IMG_8920.jpg"></a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italic; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It is a longer hike than we expect and in the heat we are close to collapsing! On route a giant frog hops out in front of me (no joke the size of football!) - I get such a fright that I forget to take a photo. I had no idea that frogs could be so huge. Alex, a Panamanian, teaches us a little about various trees, plants and animals. Two of the most dangerous species of frog are living here in the jungle - however it is very unusal to spot them in the wild as they are so tiny (the poison rests on their skin). The view from the top is wonderful and we get a clear view of volcano crater. The weather is fantastic again (considering it is now rainy season we are very lucky!). On the way down we swim in a waterfall and feel our skin sizzle as we cool down!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl6QvrQsByC-XwpwfUlLgR0JW4aeIgIzGb6qdL7VXTng9MHgscpB6Fxg_SjnOvQq1tK6LNhqM-wtOlRfs7_Jv9NiDBlDbTHb7uD9oFiQ6uapdJM0vfkQ2b6cgZDc2BNSuRdBybfxXlLs/s1600-h/IMG_8920.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825176583002130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl6QvrQsByC-XwpwfUlLgR0JW4aeIgIzGb6qdL7VXTng9MHgscpB6Fxg_SjnOvQq1tK6LNhqM-wtOlRfs7_Jv9NiDBlDbTHb7uD9oFiQ6uapdJM0vfkQ2b6cgZDc2BNSuRdBybfxXlLs/s400/IMG_8920.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Cooling down at the waterfall</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div></span></span></div></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Afterwards we walk into town, buy more vegetables and find a hidden forest.....</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD5_lq2lXwUwnt0U0rp7TjIFmvOgqY-n5z5-Cata3JGwywiBovnFAmM-walj888Ik6SkWVscG_YGUmCj-KDZcbiTYFFnA6eNQs_TzjOj_iq8uj4wts3b3P4moFsDBHSgvDawE65ITV4M/s1600-h/IMG_8886.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826428086331794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKD5_lq2lXwUwnt0U0rp7TjIFmvOgqY-n5z5-Cata3JGwywiBovnFAmM-walj888Ik6SkWVscG_YGUmCj-KDZcbiTYFFnA6eNQs_TzjOj_iq8uj4wts3b3P4moFsDBHSgvDawE65ITV4M/s400/IMG_8886.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The "hidden" forest!</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNgmhAfL6PnGHTgmogmBJb22mL68swCy_i8KcWYHq9CRwzpJL885WKOWc8X_HoJoRl3KFg1yE1eVJLvVuA0V6-EgXy-Tfo1JBPrD4aCNKz-z6pfWitowrm5btbu6TdYdgIYHsrTv7JZQ/s1600-h/IMG_8891.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826422989687570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNgmhAfL6PnGHTgmogmBJb22mL68swCy_i8KcWYHq9CRwzpJL885WKOWc8X_HoJoRl3KFg1yE1eVJLvVuA0V6-EgXy-Tfo1JBPrD4aCNKz-z6pfWitowrm5btbu6TdYdgIYHsrTv7JZQ/s400/IMG_8891.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This town is full of pretty flowers & hedges</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujutI5OUJH2h-m1sz3RH20k3eNsuhyet5k9PZyIK88CHhfRbbtzM3Jlp58vtCtweNLg5Q3md9lvKeRpmamm8LLFz8SonclU-0Anx7NmxoqRCixVTWQAxMKZvuEaQkNIyi0ggGclOgqkE/s1600-h/IMG_8895.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826175767211266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujutI5OUJH2h-m1sz3RH20k3eNsuhyet5k9PZyIK88CHhfRbbtzM3Jlp58vtCtweNLg5Q3md9lvKeRpmamm8LLFz8SonclU-0Anx7NmxoqRCixVTWQAxMKZvuEaQkNIyi0ggGclOgqkE/s400/IMG_8895.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Giant leaf-cutting ants</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWghW-jbiMxrQi-oaBu4AM1DjSPizBC96D0MsKR5q9wMDxLitLPrn2EwTxNg-3fEhSq6gUygZMGLnjsOXkFWpaLPYwYx_Cjq_eR1phiyQ0R3t3uFpnPSaWNcU57FVmp8NzyziBk8lti0/s1600-h/IMG_8898.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335826175846583938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWghW-jbiMxrQi-oaBu4AM1DjSPizBC96D0MsKR5q9wMDxLitLPrn2EwTxNg-3fEhSq6gUygZMGLnjsOXkFWpaLPYwYx_Cjq_eR1phiyQ0R3t3uFpnPSaWNcU57FVmp8NzyziBk8lti0/s400/IMG_8898.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Following the very, very long ant trail!</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335827775115265202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CZNlfVa7j-iZeDNW14Rmj0hMOn79MYAXqGS_0nOXV5F91uEqznRtepYVHUAXsqFY62Cu2BlxFR-nBBLR-VGm59hnL0Jpw6AkFkPyG9rpVcbFXuYeefaCuKK9IyIcXSh9XE2x7qJfVAk/s400/IMG_8890.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Mangos!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">El Valle is the wealthy Panamanian's weekend retreat and the houses are magnificent. A million miles away from the slums of Panama City. The air is so clean and fresh here, I feel I need to fill my lungs to full capacity in every breath to ensure I make full use of it's purity! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">This afternoon we chat to fellow campers and continue with our books which we are enjoying so greatly. I am reading Paulo Coehlo, 'Veronika decides to Die', a good book for a retreat such as this! We are eating only vegetables and fruit, drinking only water and exercising every day. I feel my mind becoming clearer, and I am gaining more clarity about what I want to do with my life! It is nice to have so much time and space to think. There is a power-cut in El Valle this evening, so we make an onion and leek soup in the darkness on a gas stove and the sit around the fire (hippy TV!) in the garden. There is a new guy at the camp, a Panamanian who is living in Switzerland, we nickname him 'Uncle Bob' as he plays reggae music loudly every night, getting drunk and stoned. Helene and I both take an instant dislike to him, intuitively feeling that he has a bad 'vibe' (later we discover that he is aggressive and has fathered no less than seven children to different women). Later, myself and Helene meditate with Swami for three hours (from midnight until 3am!). He gives a special mantra which will help us to channel our energy into helping others in the future. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The following morning, Swami, Canada, Helene and myself hike to the top of Las Nubes, the highest point in the valley where (on a clear day) it is possible to see both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Another steep hike in the intense humidity. My new Panama hat shades me from the sun! On the way to the top, Helene and myself spot a white eagle - the national bird of Panama which is currently in extinction. Swami tells us we are very lucky and that this is a good sign for our lives. At the top we have a nap in the sunshine. </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLssESiOPb6ofIanvVY0ti7UqoQMP1S1Hj1Q5EcQr3v5sutbFlHKyaVFXLHI_zY4jM1hDyrkzDVLkdqUXC6tXRGw7gcTYnZgl16L6cRIt07Rp6-wI2hoae6UZ7-GO6NTbXDfF9APw1V9w/s1600-h/IMG_8926.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335825173541941682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLssESiOPb6ofIanvVY0ti7UqoQMP1S1Hj1Q5EcQr3v5sutbFlHKyaVFXLHI_zY4jM1hDyrkzDVLkdqUXC6tXRGw7gcTYnZgl16L6cRIt07Rp6-wI2hoae6UZ7-GO6NTbXDfF9APw1V9w/s400/IMG_8926.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Beautiful white eagle</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMc0O6ApkF0fLBHV60lLhxBQqV_IRMgxEL9HeQB0As0TVeQux3JpJHTmdFiT4l6PbX6cTbh4EXEkwbfyOFPw6noHzhfPA0-4r1stKYYs0Pl49xeMY5m3A9RBoOgJmWG-rRgRf7v7O7Ac/s1600-h/IMG_8930.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824839464802130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMc0O6ApkF0fLBHV60lLhxBQqV_IRMgxEL9HeQB0As0TVeQux3JpJHTmdFiT4l6PbX6cTbh4EXEkwbfyOFPw6noHzhfPA0-4r1stKYYs0Pl49xeMY5m3A9RBoOgJmWG-rRgRf7v7O7Ac/s400/IMG_8930.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Looking out towards the Atlantic on one side, the Pacific on the other</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURNwmOX3jP_HUADs0AYxJtdlofm1asHISBy1dCTQqJJMFgRUq4gxkQlZtqSu4vldf_D6LyExgdsFfgi2AV1A5sqO9enmGUtSiSMIWiYamGhzSJy7biSzIVhdIM_U7JoTRtwiOUyWm5Ik/s1600-h/IMG_8933.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824832993957138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURNwmOX3jP_HUADs0AYxJtdlofm1asHISBy1dCTQqJJMFgRUq4gxkQlZtqSu4vldf_D6LyExgdsFfgi2AV1A5sqO9enmGUtSiSMIWiYamGhzSJy7biSzIVhdIM_U7JoTRtwiOUyWm5Ik/s400/IMG_8933.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Helene, Swami & Canada relaxing at the top of the mountain</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF83JKxmRhGU2A8ZLQDuSWJMX_E7LtbFhIoRAgJLcXrZ5JZuEee4V1E2xeDwszjaXKFHK6PWwdmzafeGf6G96Zso0gL-MqtjElrzWF78LdRJPoC0Gf_OLoTwSwmhg8rV64kV52xrxI2Pg/s1600-h/IMG_8936.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824829647790834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF83JKxmRhGU2A8ZLQDuSWJMX_E7LtbFhIoRAgJLcXrZ5JZuEee4V1E2xeDwszjaXKFHK6PWwdmzafeGf6G96Zso0gL-MqtjElrzWF78LdRJPoC0Gf_OLoTwSwmhg8rV64kV52xrxI2Pg/s400/IMG_8936.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It is so green!</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEuQiccxppBoEaZzSr9mkohbEcF-eoZClfXvPGQX8BHexpK9PmlMdJvpaV9z7L1FbVzbgPjToprMOVHjLePXHeiIfXxt6t9Hota3ROiw9phfweBuP_g__nHIfgpFSTwrRcvVaoMg9eec/s1600-h/IMG_8938.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824628903718162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEuQiccxppBoEaZzSr9mkohbEcF-eoZClfXvPGQX8BHexpK9PmlMdJvpaV9z7L1FbVzbgPjToprMOVHjLePXHeiIfXxt6t9Hota3ROiw9phfweBuP_g__nHIfgpFSTwrRcvVaoMg9eec/s400/IMG_8938.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Look at the length of those dreads!</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWTpCT37qEZPPI7pR59L02c4gFIvQPCFro4t0BYbDNAdgeOAvnSqB0Ck0LNFyqAfoWVxu62Wb1QrFC7NZxvSkFp0Nl5tbJ2z2zOgGE3va6w2__D00zVWYFkxZSsDC6BFHs-zrxxjV07U/s1600-h/IMG_8940.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824627344989810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWTpCT37qEZPPI7pR59L02c4gFIvQPCFro4t0BYbDNAdgeOAvnSqB0Ck0LNFyqAfoWVxu62Wb1QrFC7NZxvSkFp0Nl5tbJ2z2zOgGE3va6w2__D00zVWYFkxZSsDC6BFHs-zrxxjV07U/s400/IMG_8940.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Banana trees</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY-fHhjSYpKll-IJhE8vftanBQpg8wIqOmLrNk-i2mbL-hkjhDkoUmC_-TsjEgCh5HMQXMTU6ULODsi62gloqyveSfkIwo6Ek7kirVheFIluNvjgEHgDWSW1TIOX01x3J-aem5jk97SY/s1600-h/IMG_8941.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824621766855938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY-fHhjSYpKll-IJhE8vftanBQpg8wIqOmLrNk-i2mbL-hkjhDkoUmC_-TsjEgCh5HMQXMTU6ULODsi62gloqyveSfkIwo6Ek7kirVheFIluNvjgEHgDWSW1TIOX01x3J-aem5jk97SY/s400/IMG_8941.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Walking back to town</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bCUl3vims9clbZo6AFR3AJcTKBVCudgs2utqgJriToFF2dOQC2OSzL0lFAdA-qAM78jA7j5SEJgMuBQe-F9UmHiafP-oT0pZYXD7bgWR-Sz8kaSB5RzgCzC8k6E0QPNTwP7sh-QztyM/s1600-h/IMG_8942.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824622249310018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bCUl3vims9clbZo6AFR3AJcTKBVCudgs2utqgJriToFF2dOQC2OSzL0lFAdA-qAM78jA7j5SEJgMuBQe-F9UmHiafP-oT0pZYXD7bgWR-Sz8kaSB5RzgCzC8k6E0QPNTwP7sh-QztyM/s400/IMG_8942.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We walk back to the town, have a typical Panamanian lunch - lentils, plantain and rice. When we feel sufficiently nourished we wander along to the hot springs. First we plaster a mud mask on our faces, let it dry and rinse. Then we hop into the thermal, mineral bath for 45 minutes (a great deal warmer than the one we tried in Chile!). </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal;font-family:georgia;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate;font-family:Georgia;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MussC60qVqtPsfUQbkTDqaXRUO4TsOW2w3EVtt7-dX0oDrx5cr_1lR90PIko2sfiLpXWJ6FFLms28uPWIQvLrsDBttME4axYweOOOw9gI2IJJy5puFYy9m8sqBHTE1SmWmt9ymNuaS0/s1600-h/IMG_0149.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335849263191530082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MussC60qVqtPsfUQbkTDqaXRUO4TsOW2w3EVtt7-dX0oDrx5cr_1lR90PIko2sfiLpXWJ6FFLms28uPWIQvLrsDBttME4axYweOOOw9gI2IJJy5puFYy9m8sqBHTE1SmWmt9ymNuaS0/s400/IMG_0149.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Helene with mud mask</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-aAvmCEnYB0OPb4k_ie4Fb5zroRCG6JCZ7t_MHUKKyl-Pc0Gko0oMiLu26QFi00b9ce13exFiUnrfi-NCzJxg59rJu7P3WSXJSznulEs3y5qyTOyfbyHdt52fgPVCOXE9jAgffr8sZU/s1600-h/IMG_0148.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335849257635919842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-aAvmCEnYB0OPb4k_ie4Fb5zroRCG6JCZ7t_MHUKKyl-Pc0Gko0oMiLu26QFi00b9ce13exFiUnrfi-NCzJxg59rJu7P3WSXJSznulEs3y5qyTOyfbyHdt52fgPVCOXE9jAgffr8sZU/s400/IMG_0148.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Swami looking....spiritual?!</span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><em></em></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-STYLE: italicfont-family:georgia;" ><br /> </div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Lots more people have arrived at the Camping now - more than 20 people. Inlcuding some Argentines who are driving from Ushuaia to Alaska! Swami has promised to teach Helene, Canada and myself one of his favourite Indian recipes. So, we four are a cooking team, and over the next two hours we create a meal for everyone - kofta, daal & rice.</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJaUF65Vzi59Y0GXhlxdW5zejdM9JNhpWxoG9qZtu7kzDbw-RegQUi7vZYMctB-repFmmd1ils_eqsqkFLhdi8L29QX5qQ-WbDX7bpISmKy8C5_rV8FA7NWtU6cnMZIf_ZqqhCMP-I6w/s1600-h/IMG_8944.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824619842230562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAJaUF65Vzi59Y0GXhlxdW5zejdM9JNhpWxoG9qZtu7kzDbw-RegQUi7vZYMctB-repFmmd1ils_eqsqkFLhdi8L29QX5qQ-WbDX7bpISmKy8C5_rV8FA7NWtU6cnMZIf_ZqqhCMP-I6w/s400/IMG_8944.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7Oi9SNyXmWMsQ0KqJPBfA-afQsLbvxkrUVIjcLTSDL_uwd8RPFzqCOBLbpWoGEITn5zcm1pCjB9iii7S2MmkrXTfTzFBchy14_a6oYMoeCcV_s0CuKNXFutcbxa4R5iNNlXygoa9wEM/s1600-h/IMG_8945.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824212464771698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7Oi9SNyXmWMsQ0KqJPBfA-afQsLbvxkrUVIjcLTSDL_uwd8RPFzqCOBLbpWoGEITn5zcm1pCjB9iii7S2MmkrXTfTzFBchy14_a6oYMoeCcV_s0CuKNXFutcbxa4R5iNNlXygoa9wEM/s400/IMG_8945.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfDGN0IMCpipkmX2PJqIgnRSuA9x2HtMZ4nJJbp7-2pyngds-mJi2FozzYvW64Omt5ZnMET6wq9fWdy5gKe4WQxaumltogByYqQTC4g05BTi3cHjeAAomNecVx7YaZq7hTvl3GOrA26E/s1600-h/IMG_8946.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824210540284834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfDGN0IMCpipkmX2PJqIgnRSuA9x2HtMZ4nJJbp7-2pyngds-mJi2FozzYvW64Omt5ZnMET6wq9fWdy5gKe4WQxaumltogByYqQTC4g05BTi3cHjeAAomNecVx7YaZq7hTvl3GOrA26E/s400/IMG_8946.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDb1gGm_y5U4ZZYHjbUz0wCfLXy9bhzWVjjqeWeku4hP2sncObi_Qjmfc3uimdktoMnJLfwxf1x_oc-N3a6BtY4CWRVSLGD4XPvQ_F542UPz9Ddvg_-rlb-reTCG3-urSrUcGlBnFmrYg/s1600-h/IMG_8950.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824208426547794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDb1gGm_y5U4ZZYHjbUz0wCfLXy9bhzWVjjqeWeku4hP2sncObi_Qjmfc3uimdktoMnJLfwxf1x_oc-N3a6BtY4CWRVSLGD4XPvQ_F542UPz9Ddvg_-rlb-reTCG3-urSrUcGlBnFmrYg/s400/IMG_8950.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Preparing Kofta (using Plantain)</span></div></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsIVSWCKGXsKekIsCaepVq9AjpBQFYl-9oPqrqgPTZjOqtdfAzZjFjFewgKBqNv5oKulBJKIHbaHDL-FrN8MbRDbuxBaihZlyiCLm8GfEtQ-CuUH9vazBAba_2Vy_JWeWTmKm0RxWuSc/s1600-h/IMG_8951.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824202370951410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsIVSWCKGXsKekIsCaepVq9AjpBQFYl-9oPqrqgPTZjOqtdfAzZjFjFewgKBqNv5oKulBJKIHbaHDL-FrN8MbRDbuxBaihZlyiCLm8GfEtQ-CuUH9vazBAba_2Vy_JWeWTmKm0RxWuSc/s400/IMG_8951.jpg" border="0" /></a></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> It's all going really well....until I unscrew the food-blender at the wrong end and our freshly made tomato sauce spills EVERYWHERE and I mean everywhere - from ceiling to floor, and in every crevice of the white kitchen tiles. Aaarggh! Luckily the meal does not suffer (it is so good to cook and eat with some many spices!), and everyone grins in satisfaction with their full tummies!</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335824201474743186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: left" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb5Q6kuUN2WsvIg51N-7qcL1krHL7xDCLh-XcPlLMkR173yYz0znFqtM3Hf9R4gONe5OuPKc3wB63raaGy7d8vBa0piHVFSdKVmvAOF_WpqL18H7ttqHOngc1qizU4Lq1DBkJZ51IHLs/s400/IMG_8953.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">There are a number of people (Indian, French) who has spent time in Ireland, even visiting my home town of Sligo! The Indian girl, Sunita, has worked on a WOOF (World wide opportunities on organic farms) farm in County Clare for two months. Helene and I notice that Swami does not talk very much to other guests, and we hear others asking him to meditate with them (to which he replies 'later, later'). However, in reality he invites only the two of us for meditation, saying that we have positive energy and do not drain him. Although we feel uncomfortable with this attention, we genuinely enjoy his company and listening to his advice. We meditate once more, and get a good night's sleep.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Next morning we are due to visit an organic farm and attend a class in organic farming but unfortunately Swami has got held up doing admin with his daughter in a nearby city so I go into town, do some laundry, spend an hour in the local library and then meet Helene for lunch. we spend the next hour talking about our future travel plans and decide that we are now ready to leave El Valle. We decide it is better to leave on a nightbus so that we arrive in San Jose, Costa Rica in the morning and can catch a bus to the coast. We ask about bus times and the last bus leaves in one hour! Quick dash back to the camping, pack our bags, say our goodbyes to fellow campers and the wonderful place that is El Valle. And we are gone, as quickly and spontaeously as we arrived.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We are hoping to catch a bus to the Pan-American highway, and from there flag down a Tica bus to San Jose, Costa Rica. Bad news, the bus drivers tells us that this will not be possible - we have to drive south to Panama City and then get a bus from there. A little dissapointed but what is 2 more hours extra when one is geared up for travelling for the next two days?! Just outside of Panama City a terrible incident occurs - one of those terrible situations that will stand out in my memory forever. A group of five guys who have been travelling on the bus for half an hour want to get off the bus beside one of the slum-areas and are refusing to pay the full amount owed. The bus conductor, a sweet young fellow, no more that 20 years old, is blocking their way off the bus and sternly telling them they need to pay. They barge past the conductor, one by one, pushing and shoving, until he is off the bus. The shouting and abuse begins - verbal and physical. The yobs begin to pick up rocks and aim for the conductors head, then drag him to the front of the bus where I cannot see what exactly happens. The faces of these guys I will never forget - angry, wide eyed, nose curled like snarling pittbulls The bus driver does nothing until one woman behind us begins shouting frantically 'Call the police, call the police!'. A tiny little child stands beside me watching the fracca. Eventually the bus driver gets to his feet and hovers around the door with phone in hand. The gang begin to run off and the conductor stumbles back on the bus, he has obviously been hit in the face. He is shaking violently and he desperately holds back the tears. It is such a terrible sight. I reach out to him, asking if there is anything I can do. Helene and I are really upset, it is the most awful feeling to watch something to terrible only a metre away and be so helpless. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">We drive the last few miles to the bus station. The city seems dirtier and more shabby that I remember; the slums more desperate. The conductor approaches me at the station and thanks me for my concern, giving me directions on how to get our next bus. The poor fellow, what a terrible job - he must get these kind of thugs on the bus all the times. We wish him luck and wander around the shopping centre to pass the next four hours until our bus departs, thankful for how lucky we are. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335847164635722866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXuGXGv6eR9cqqbwWIBGW3NqIHYkSmOocN3Q8vAWJHXuG9Zn8j6u6-7o78qhtSLuS-7_vnIY3nf1_BGBOGI9oGTmiqTrjQ7V6rwgAhYebSHUDcJmqtYKBue7qH9stVkdMB64B6XE-TME/s400/IMG_8957.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Chinese for dinner, for the first time in a very long time!</span></span></span></div></span>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-23880265941957068762009-05-12T14:38:00.000-07:002009-05-13T17:01:31.984-07:00A Panana hat & a stroll by the Canal<div>Our journey in an old American school bus (painted with psychedelic) takes us to Colón, the most terrible place I have ever visited. Dangerous, dirty, busy and displaying scenes of abject poverty on every street. People stare through the windows of the bus with hollow, angry faces. <br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjhcM3q0iO0gLJufnog8MUeWNh_eJio32eDE8pgeAWP66sY79PtZuxWqH_gHg5PFgTJQfEqEGYwq3XuI6lSexQEt19ADK2nyWG0aHtkezcVib_YAsRM0zxbYvEnWaFWx3kgCsb2F-QPg/s1600-h/IMG_8813.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335060776095878306" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjhcM3q0iO0gLJufnog8MUeWNh_eJio32eDE8pgeAWP66sY79PtZuxWqH_gHg5PFgTJQfEqEGYwq3XuI6lSexQEt19ADK2nyWG0aHtkezcVib_YAsRM0zxbYvEnWaFWx3kgCsb2F-QPg/s400/IMG_8813.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">All other passengers sensibly disembark before Colon</span></div><br /><div align="left">We walk no more than 20 metres in the city, from one bus to the next and yet feel entirely unsafe. There is 40% unemployment here, and a high percentage of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">crack</span> addicts who have no qualms about attacking for money. We have heard so many bad stories, including 9am attacks on female travelers two days previously - leaving her with a black eye and zero possessions.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335056424998807890" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUU262X0NUyK5g6K8aIIfKYgXUpisc30VMaDQVRuxQ5LYTowlDfz_Tb7YKwOOtPrjH_5gG6F61ncJn4RHVCwDvFJ-aZRoTEmYhJuhNTmD7HJUrlJ3lttz1Txk4jO9PCE0FKDhjcS5uoiA/s400/IMG_8814.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></span><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Colón</span><br /></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;">Safely aboard another bus, Marie, Helene, Ad<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">am, Pierre, Gregory and I are relieved to leave. I have met many wonderful people doing interesting things on my travels - Pierre and Greg come high on this list. Read about their mission to understand and reduce poverty on their website </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px; "><a href="http://www.latitude-responsable.com/" onmousedown="return wait_for_load(this, event, function() { UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "909b9534cc5862838a5024f1dac9913e", event) });" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://www.latitude-responsable.com </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">or join their Facebook group '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Latitude Responsable - Tour du monde de Pilou, Greg et Ludo'.</span></span></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left">We arrive to Panama City and stay at a great hostel called Luna's Castle situated in Casco Viejo. Given that it is voting time, most restaurants and all bars/clubs are closed (it is illegal to sell alcohol). We are in the perfect hostel for relaxing- there is the best book exchange I have seen in Latin America, a movie theatre, pancakes and bananas for breakfast and lots of balconies and armchairs for lounging. We have met up fellow boat-trip survivors - it is nice to know so many people in one place! </div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335058656967896322" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEr5wEU2bP-F74PocUBfUI7zGf0LIS3vDsJcUjrek6J94yRIoDoygaH2Ob-N654CDBwC42b3GiFraIPW3MfrXDf58EvnzDTx7GBnGSXZmgrKhYcJypPxEG3yh7oYO54A_kRZYChFIDE3k/s400/IMG_8863.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "></span><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">D</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">inner at Luna's Castle with the Auzzie Blondes</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left">I am now well and truly dosed with a bad cold and feel like doing nothing more than lying on my bed with a packet of vitamin C and my new book, The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (I am so excited and lucky to get my hands on this!). Ir is hard to buy English books anywhere in Latin America, and if you are lucky enough to find a bookshop selling English books you will pay a minimum of $30 for any old junk novel. That is why the best hostels have created book exchanges where you can trade your valuable English book. A nice idea, but it has amazed me how many terrible books are being ready by backpackers (admittedly I am a book-snob) hence when I find a good one I get very excited! </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335056430152451218" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lPX9kIOEFa7Aj3Fnp-j_RHqhqeSyjlw1NMPwy5T7DFxheF9VwKsXxlKTZr1FeVotyHwOicP-2Y0JgcokSB0tsHFM-jo-qIbNqOofu81iNR45xG1wiV92k5purKx3Cl35T96gYw9xcSE/s400/IMG_8817.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; " /></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Scott and his silly friend getting ready for a trip to the canal</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left">The following afternoon I have a little more energy and join Helene, Marie and Scott in a trip to the Panama Canal. The weather is miserable - with heavy and constant rain. The taxi driver winks at me telling me that it won't stop for 6 months. The Panama Canal - one of the world's greatest engineering feats.</div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrbZuOkF5tsqe13OgO9LRzGLonabtCRm5pupV6H6pyhCDG0JqA6rmDAlvxNARKCCcyCsWmVIrfZ6CnV0J1cfGWDL8cDTiAeUtw_qINvCmW0yrctmSYKdUgQw7Q6jzRoW3qonS8zIsrfQ/s1600-h/IMG_8839.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335057336061233970" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjrbZuOkF5tsqe13OgO9LRzGLonabtCRm5pupV6H6pyhCDG0JqA6rmDAlvxNARKCCcyCsWmVIrfZ6CnV0J1cfGWDL8cDTiAeUtw_qINvCmW0yrctmSYKdUgQw7Q6jzRoW3qonS8zIsrfQ/s400/IMG_8839.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335057331541801330" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jiqEIHSyR92vy8l56wb9Og_kSKlxZPvwhC4rmtXRDzLyFu1fJOSn1plyXQkZV-wudYtA8EuahrJPmJYXPtyEApe_noG8kxUlja8pQVVFgYwUq0JO7keeNtWVl56YbuT4AmiktXMmX08/s400/IMG_8833.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Big ship passing through Panama Canal</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2AASdibJDzSYgXMceS8JNw8Muf7pCTlQb2k-5j49SV_8h0EVjcQnvzdv_ncIvrW7Rbl-PjhNmoKRIRhbfEi4Up7zcUHsko4pKXai9kjmf4jN0JAPxlMGpYIXE6NYfKEg-PAK5mQHJZ4/s1600-h/IMG_8828.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335057326512005938" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2AASdibJDzSYgXMceS8JNw8Muf7pCTlQb2k-5j49SV_8h0EVjcQnvzdv_ncIvrW7Rbl-PjhNmoKRIRhbfEi4Up7zcUHsko4pKXai9kjmf4jN0JAPxlMGpYIXE6NYfKEg-PAK5mQHJZ4/s400/IMG_8828.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Moi et Marie</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic32l6DTO0dcrC9kbqvOjk-F_CWXx-Gw3mzxjSyJIDOgKxfCnrEKK6tgsqtXqzb0JwOSBaCfhLpa3giymygT3zjQAmiHWjzKoMlDVdcy63SPVgohp_7MZeWz6KuKBI1pTICjSldUaf3M8/s1600-h/IMG_8825.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335057322171249474" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic32l6DTO0dcrC9kbqvOjk-F_CWXx-Gw3mzxjSyJIDOgKxfCnrEKK6tgsqtXqzb0JwOSBaCfhLpa3giymygT3zjQAmiHWjzKoMlDVdcy63SPVgohp_7MZeWz6KuKBI1pTICjSldUaf3M8/s400/IMG_8825.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div align="left">The canal stretches 80km from Panama City on the Pacific side to Colon on the Atlantic side, cutting through the Continental Divide. The easiest and best way to visit the Canal is at the Miraflores visitor centre, located just outside of Panama City. Over 14,000 vessels pass through the canal every year, paying a thousands of dollars depending on the weight of the ship and amount of cargo being carried. There is also a short film about the history of the canal and a museum. The US relinquished power of the canal on the 31st December 1999, and despite early doubts the Panamanians have successful reduced the time taken by each vessel to pass through the canal. There is currently an expansion program in place which will speed up the process further and enable larger, heavier vessels to pass. Later I learn that the indigenous people feel that the Canal disrupts the flow of energy from Central America through to South America and therefore, have an annual ceremony to re-balance and unleash energy blockages.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">The restaurant at Miraflores is fabulous - for $25 dollars there is an all-you-can-eat buffet plus drinks and coffee. There is a large queue of boats waiting to pass through the locks, stretching as far as we can see and over lunch we watch two gigantic ships pass through the locks. Upstairs in the museum there is also a section about wildlife and fish around the canal. The name Panama literally means "Abundance" - referring to the amount of butterflies, insects, birds and wildlife in the country. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">I find the canal interesting - it is something I remember reading about in primary school. However, I hope that the Panamanian government invest the money generated by the canal wisely - there is so much potential here for economic growth here. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Little else happens during our stay in Panama City, partly by choice but mainly due to the fact that everything is closed. We do however go shopping.... This is the place to buy electronics - it is a great deal cheaper than home. We buy Panama hats, which are 'super cool' (as they say here) and supposedly travel well (a lie, I discover later). The shops are great, equally as good as in Colombia. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahYNIG5RY2KIF5iceCD28L-KKcuULzKtVJmpCSenAWipvQF6Ekgbk7UUYF6S669_ecNmewsN50rwkIGCXKGa6KokSBtFl4TtnX99UcZ-0EQAxJDEPPqsG7sSdtNXvdnAWCXygSZlaqOY/s1600-h/IMG_8875.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335058860252365090" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahYNIG5RY2KIF5iceCD28L-KKcuULzKtVJmpCSenAWipvQF6Ekgbk7UUYF6S669_ecNmewsN50rwkIGCXKGa6KokSBtFl4TtnX99UcZ-0EQAxJDEPPqsG7sSdtNXvdnAWCXygSZlaqOY/s400/IMG_8875.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a><div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: -webkit-left; "><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">My beloved Panama hat, prior to squashing</span></div></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Panama City is nothing like I imagined. The 'Miami of the south' is a filthy place, full of slums, ghettos and collapsing buildings. There are high-rise buildings and wealthy areas but the poverty is everywhere. There is a charm to the place, despite the feeling it may crumble into the sea at any moment. Even around where our hostel is situated, near the President's home, the buildings appear to be on the verge of collapse.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdp04DogDqBswKGo5QpzEj0Ox6nxkZcdFqr61TAZP5QBy_2F4OopewvHWAEwYIh1TMQjqhOD_w2o5awAilKkmhS9WaNg1mL5Tk-9wtBdXiqpIAoQhBkCmsKl-kBuWXu4hNzfri4LTzC4/s1600-h/IMG_8870.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335058662718759522" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdp04DogDqBswKGo5QpzEj0Ox6nxkZcdFqr61TAZP5QBy_2F4OopewvHWAEwYIh1TMQjqhOD_w2o5awAilKkmhS9WaNg1mL5Tk-9wtBdXiqpIAoQhBkCmsKl-kBuWXu4hNzfri4LTzC4/s400/IMG_8870.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a><br /><div align="left">Panama is probably the first place on this trip that I have felt unsafe - this city is not the place to walk at night, even in groups. Although around Casca Vieja there is a heavy police presence so it is probably ok. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzDLKwnXOc8TVr-u0R9lre8OxCQHmy9JjAJ0AURnek-SaWlgW2TdIXc1Ss4UAJGwehPaWAamoqnoCL1wzHHzrtbAB3HUAb_Iu7ModaPRdW_eUFgoRlxGydrImxRm417uImO_UYzQ0yTY/s1600-h/IMG_8816.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335056429546291122" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzDLKwnXOc8TVr-u0R9lre8OxCQHmy9JjAJ0AURnek-SaWlgW2TdIXc1Ss4UAJGwehPaWAamoqnoCL1wzHHzrtbAB3HUAb_Iu7ModaPRdW_eUFgoRlxGydrImxRm417uImO_UYzQ0yTY/s400/IMG_8816.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center; " /></a><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Next door to our hostel, Casco Viejo</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; "><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335058657626662706" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMHmxZcNYmrmv8HbsUyxjyhFBRRqjgUELC9qJPkt-dPOrrH1rR7Ia_wfTu5IScjkA0TiuwALRLRgaPn_Pb7sylC5kLOq1500Oj87mmcs8hY5iKzWtWb7iZc3OLmTlVFrXyrSxD30Z3Xg/s400/IMG_8861.jpg" border="0" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center; " /></span></span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Torrential rain viewed from Luna's Castle</span></div><div align="left" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div align="left">Taxi drivers lock doors as they drive through various neighbourhoods. Casco Viejo, the colonial district, is a dilapidated area with cobblestone streets, old churches and plazas - with a Havana-esque feel. This area is currently part of an urban renewal program. I do not have any unpleasant feelings about Panama city (aside from humidity and torrential rain - but that is my fault for visiting during rainy season!). I could happily spend a few more days here but I feel fatigued with city life and really keen to get out into the countryside and getting closer to the abundant wildlife and jungle that I have read about. </div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-88391816460247019652009-05-02T20:00:00.000-07:002009-05-19T14:09:15.096-07:00Paradiso?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6N9gkFbPuZ9ohmspE1Ly6yRy9vmW-pjsbT6ywnlv_D8KUpp9G1VdasxdQ1QJPh5fN1YM-VBnJbjjjy98CDMyC5YyAmHovfJznPeKgotkUFr0GSvwjOJIz7rEdgjogYwrdBQ5S-pxF1k/s1600-h/IMG_0094.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The boat is a charming 60-year old, 40-feet fishing boat, oozing character but lacking the grace or beauty of a sailing boat. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The French captain is a scruffy chap of 49 years who generally has a fat tube of marijuana poking out of his chapped lips. He has the weathered look of a man who has spent his life at sea. Californian, and bulging muscles from her tiny frame is the Captain's wife, Dag. She is never still, at times suspended high in the air hanging from the mast, hauling the sail or gutting fish on the deck. She expels hyperactive energy and demands attention. My first impression of her is one of dislike, but over the course of the next few days my feelings become at little more sympathetic. Together they have produced a six-year old son, an unforgettable character who has inherited the energy of his mother, the charm of his father and a lack of patience from both. Luis, a tiger whisperer who has left the Colombian circus to join the Panamanian circus is our deck hand. Fifteen unsuspecting backpackers and two motorbikes wait at Club Nautico in Cartagena, Colombia ready to set sail for Panama across the Caribbean ocean.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV1yZawn686TL3wz9m8Sjxqrvz-OBhMjGoYaslnu25JNowAyVXULKM6FVp65I2HZkaZ_pA5F4JPwe5RSfmkn39EqgjoMkMTj_izfE_ctSliP6bZK80rpE7ZLQ2ydRwED4C0plONyca0Q/s1600-h/2805_87633530247_643145247_2301161_5219040_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334619152730760226" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV1yZawn686TL3wz9m8Sjxqrvz-OBhMjGoYaslnu25JNowAyVXULKM6FVp65I2HZkaZ_pA5F4JPwe5RSfmkn39EqgjoMkMTj_izfE_ctSliP6bZK80rpE7ZLQ2ydRwED4C0plONyca0Q/s400/2805_87633530247_643145247_2301161_5219040_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The not-so-beautiful boat</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At 5pm, we board our vessel. Our main backpacks are dropped in the hold for the next four days. We carry a small day pack with basic necessities: suncream, bikini, towel, snacks, rum etc. All food and water is included in the price - $330 after bargaining.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzsD_DTda04LCoRyYRe9fHs7uLNGm1o73DXRZK2CXCwWhTDgLdCmJen7QcjpUt0EefqW0jxf-37e84yGgiHdkcMbFesdIRkCONu0q5XiJu-J5XePe1tfPZ-rsHUrfcnBheghWaL3vEeg/s1600-h/CIMG3619.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625467932672818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTzsD_DTda04LCoRyYRe9fHs7uLNGm1o73DXRZK2CXCwWhTDgLdCmJen7QcjpUt0EefqW0jxf-37e84yGgiHdkcMbFesdIRkCONu0q5XiJu-J5XePe1tfPZ-rsHUrfcnBheghWaL3vEeg/s400/CIMG3619.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dinghy from shore to ship</span><br /><br /></div>We wait patiently until the Captain of the Port arrives, a fat Colombian kitted in misfitting navy dungarees. He calls out our names and ticks off his list. He begins asking which of us are couples. One pair. Then he asks Helena whether she would sleep with him? No. Then, how do we feel about sleeping with strangers off the street? At this point we are looking at each other, confused, not quite catching his drift. He continues to say that this group of people are little-more than strangers off the street, yet in such close, over-crowded quarters we are being forced to sleep side-by-side like chickens in a coop. We nod in agreement. This is not what we signed up for. The Captain promised no more than 8 people and now here we are 15 tourists, 1 deck hand, a family of three and two motorbikes. Greed has taken over and there are not enough beds for everyone. In one small dorm room, 9 people will attempt to sleep - two in a bed or zig-zagged across the floor.<br /><br />We discuss the situation and decide that it is too much hassle to leave now and start the process of finding a new boat once again (we have been waiting to leave Cartagena for almost one week). Adam, Helene, Marie and myself sleep on the boat while moored in the harbour. The other backpackers return to shore. With four people, the dorm room it is HOT but we manage to get some rest until 5.30am......<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2m0oD-YDqi_rgrkTNDN2qxwUksbK_yqicNJtJtvS-EK5oDx6wJZjX5LRMTUXcjjXzBFmxYIX7XwvqK-7U8uvirc7WSm4hJG3SGFEmUZ5I3y0xCsYxikC5PfR9X2ocxb_THCsaal2__4/s1600-h/IMG_8767.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334611939951176370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2m0oD-YDqi_rgrkTNDN2qxwUksbK_yqicNJtJtvS-EK5oDx6wJZjX5LRMTUXcjjXzBFmxYIX7XwvqK-7U8uvirc7WSm4hJG3SGFEmUZ5I3y0xCsYxikC5PfR9X2ocxb_THCsaal2__4/s400/IMG_8767.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We enjoy our last views of the sunset in Cartagena</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXKsCu6mh9gkPnBfdDwojHry4ZY6kgpkn1BLZeRq7K80jscGd4LS0_1N2noGcPHzgdQw16DTJO2OD81lVD4AFqA5leaaGTDhsJbnPPfa4U3sK0IYfFodyB3jlgEARqXkiLU2ZseEDNnE/s400/IMG_0063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335788436382871074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We wake to the sounds of the child yelling and the mother screaming back in a similar fashion, using all kinds of obscenities. Fellow travelers arrive at 7am in time for an Argentine-style breakfast of pastries and coffee. The first major hitch occurs with the anchor and 5 men's inability to move it. It is well and truly stuck in the seabed and takes almost two hours to dislodge. The rest of us wait patiently, trying our hardest not to get in the way.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgov-Rz3C7svJKnuz-gbaJS0T4RgPnvVLFvJIyJSGuWloFBbmk7u8suj6-aU9rR75eyoKfofLh2wdMzTk9gRZsbW2uzujvwZd9WGOLzlGBSUnaW1IkIpqe1aIkHEA0psZIKVAZrt9kldQI/s1600-h/IMG_8780.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334611953814692162" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgov-Rz3C7svJKnuz-gbaJS0T4RgPnvVLFvJIyJSGuWloFBbmk7u8suj6-aU9rR75eyoKfofLh2wdMzTk9gRZsbW2uzujvwZd9WGOLzlGBSUnaW1IkIpqe1aIkHEA0psZIKVAZrt9kldQI/s400/IMG_8780.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Attempts to haul the anchor </span><br /><br /></div>The screaming, obscenities and expressed frustration continue during this period (and during the remainder of the trip!). Eventually the boat is set free, and we spend the following hour at the 'gas station' filling up with fuel and water (we feel this should have been taken care of ahead of time).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-Ecn6Mx540ENlgCPuIg2-ZjfAqpiYzIHB4p0a74CMMai7TwSmN2U9UHMpzInZ0YUw-qU8qXZRuCP5HNEbR6MjBzFcDaOMrod72REV6KPNeHfklTOSRVwoQWBKB9ZSta_wa7a2_YUkLc/s1600-h/IMG_8781.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334611953934312562" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-Ecn6Mx540ENlgCPuIg2-ZjfAqpiYzIHB4p0a74CMMai7TwSmN2U9UHMpzInZ0YUw-qU8qXZRuCP5HNEbR6MjBzFcDaOMrod72REV6KPNeHfklTOSRVwoQWBKB9ZSta_wa7a2_YUkLc/s400/IMG_8781.jpg" border="0" /></a>Our estimated time of departure of 8am, quickly becomes 11am. Never mind, the group has gelled well in this time and the view over the city of Cartagena is never dull. Coincidentally almost everyone in the group is 25/26 years old and have many things in common.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVvcJG_UQTfTUDeuH_bD7P5Ane6RLmcDfMSAD7AVRJe9q4LNKHEhvHdk6KJyv44z4CAYWory_abBpkB4P1kGd1elSXyveNnnoxV6Gwv3JtTo1cSvbjJRG546CTmb4_iwpaeIqWEvftzY/s1600-h/2805_87633270247_643145247_2301123_1746649_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618785197952018" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVvcJG_UQTfTUDeuH_bD7P5Ane6RLmcDfMSAD7AVRJe9q4LNKHEhvHdk6KJyv44z4CAYWory_abBpkB4P1kGd1elSXyveNnnoxV6Gwv3JtTo1cSvbjJRG546CTmb4_iwpaeIqWEvftzY/s400/2805_87633270247_643145247_2301123_1746649_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting to know one another!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=""></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnqT3QDFapS6wUQj4_H2A_OfzRXtbohhzyht0wO4ko-60fOeNg2-EukFfYZ5bI9KBzL1fJv9yJWOPfAttmw3Bsb799ltgDNY5Z-fi-x_8pvdTzkx6wwDQ2zDm9QOt91uXTtlipwVxyBQ/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335788443982262754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoRP8XkEl-iJ3eN5fozQhIFzARFmY7i1sOnhyphenhyphen3uMrVhHo8UfoV8noj5eofuiC2UeZJWHuLwIoW1iJOdrxf4CsqV-wvD9emeR6otT4x5hhTKAnQES6lbeGqxnTNeW1PV-ds8lXBzl2FTw/s400/IMG_0064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335788439877506642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">This may look like tea....</span><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsYMQNjDdJlOVdz5c7tad54QcSnO2tTSxZZKYq0zUckMU0QZFlCrF6XjwQ8cft1UG9ecgoZhzOiCSHVGlqt4ss8xUPW2bCmpsDos7TCi7ChxT6j0K6lKigTUCCCtx9FVhrf033I3gobU/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335788625145418978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2mDS5e0Uto9EX4GPqDDEAsNyuKSViFcZ4qzvA6JhvC5UkLF6vrSrFe7D6ldoOqBFjlOWsffHytmk6cWYcxjGGo55EFWLr0zS6MAdiYpJsz_wC8gKLdoyDGJeRCljwjPJtWO41M8p1NU/s1600-h/2805_87633310247_643145247_2301130_1221746_n.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Captain & Luis</span></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618792293385058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-decoration: underline; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2mDS5e0Uto9EX4GPqDDEAsNyuKSViFcZ4qzvA6JhvC5UkLF6vrSrFe7D6ldoOqBFjlOWsffHytmk6cWYcxjGGo55EFWLr0zS6MAdiYpJsz_wC8gKLdoyDGJeRCljwjPJtWO41M8p1NU/s400/2805_87633310247_643145247_2301130_1221746_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dag, the navigator</span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cGg-1nLZ-W0T1J3V0KehhYwEEyd-owre27zw2DjvBXCI_X6mub80WQpArKihVnxzQPa2XhM2hXT6FSOhyphenhyphenMrAPn7R_HhFISxWGFdj_lYdFSHOeLTFZqo-zP6JHjUEFR4m_NYlFP2hw9o/s1600-h/2805_87633300247_643145247_2301128_7984500_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618788230628962" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cGg-1nLZ-W0T1J3V0KehhYwEEyd-owre27zw2DjvBXCI_X6mub80WQpArKihVnxzQPa2XhM2hXT6FSOhyphenhyphenMrAPn7R_HhFISxWGFdj_lYdFSHOeLTFZqo-zP6JHjUEFR4m_NYlFP2hw9o/s400/2805_87633300247_643145247_2301128_7984500_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Helene, myself & Marie, enjoying the calm before the storm</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The group consists of....Gemma, Peggy, Alice and Jess from Melbourne; Frank and Masha from New York City; Isaac from Alaska; Rob from Canada; Scott from England; Pierre and Gregory from Lille, France; and finally the most excited of the lot, Helene, Marie, Adam and myself!!<br /></div></div></div><div><br />The first couple of hours at sea are pleasant. The girls are tanning on the front deck, the boys are sitting in the shade with beers. The child runs around knocking people on the head with his plastic sword and unties the girls bikinis. Marie and I discover that he loves drawing - aha, a secret weapon of distraction! We get an hour of peace, and a few more hours of sunshine.<br /><br />Until rather suddenly the winds pick up. Sunbathers begin to slither around the deck and walking becomes almost impossible. The waves begin to crash over the bow, and people begin to feel unwell. <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Dag prepares a rice and tuna lunch, easy on the stomach she says. Poor Masha is vomiting over the side of the boat when a wave smacks her in the face, landing her back on deck with a thump. Most of us feel at least a little queasy. The next few hours consist of laying on our backs to avoid excessive movement or concentrating profusely on any given task such as going to the bathroom (of which there the is only one, Dag cannot afford a new pump for the 2nd toilet she says). The waves continue, killing sociability on deck. The child continues to be demanding and wild. Dag's true personality is revealed over the course of the day, treating us the same way she speaks to her son with little patience or rationality. At times she is friendly and pleasant, but she can snap at any moment. In the evening, hot dogs are served which surprisingly make us feel better. That night I sleep in the dorm and my body temperature rises to all-time high, so much so that my (cheap) nail polish actually melts from my nails! This is one of the most unpleasant nights of my life. I snatch a few naps, but spend most of the night feeling claustrophobic, sea-sick and angry.<br /><br /></div><div>The following day the waves continue. Adam has gathered up all the flying-fish that landed on deck and is preparing to use them as bait later on. The child throws my flip flops in the sea when I am resting. Isaac from Alaska falls down the stairs. Then the child throws one of Isaac´s flip flops in the sea. He is sent to his room for 30 minutes and returns even more full of energy and mischief. The sun comes out in the late afternoon and the waves are calmer. Everyone is feeling happier, San Blas islands are in the not-too-distant future. As we approach the archipelago some dolphins race the boat! They playfully leap and dive around the boat in twos and threes.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU5xKUANydHGl2kCIKU-9DruK3LFu_w1hmca4v03ckxUyFaDDaBdRUF4_grZmIxAitWwGGQZbfzJyAGMaQ_qY6uiqSOqLe1CWmPvllalPwvD8WyWDcuWId9HATZ6wVbVeSlp_6si-SFU/s1600-h/CIMG3645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625627340988674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaU5xKUANydHGl2kCIKU-9DruK3LFu_w1hmca4v03ckxUyFaDDaBdRUF4_grZmIxAitWwGGQZbfzJyAGMaQ_qY6uiqSOqLe1CWmPvllalPwvD8WyWDcuWId9HATZ6wVbVeSlp_6si-SFU/s400/CIMG3645.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Credit to Adam for this great shot!</span><br /><br /></div>We arrive at San Blas, dive into the water and swim to the nearest island. We snorkel and relax on the beach - what freedom to be off the boat.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOm70o3LFvaRraDcjHAfZSlPHA2z2fcRN38O3xPFB6XS5XrOQb_C67d61MoUpzIb-LgD4o2M9KQpSBtvZXsXUtd6L-CZ5xd0GcBzbN7u-fa9sUf6jW7oIUtArRVKYZTHq2DldLxTlvMU/s1600-h/2805_87633395247_643145247_2301141_6479937_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618991723104210" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOm70o3LFvaRraDcjHAfZSlPHA2z2fcRN38O3xPFB6XS5XrOQb_C67d61MoUpzIb-LgD4o2M9KQpSBtvZXsXUtd6L-CZ5xd0GcBzbN7u-fa9sUf6jW7oIUtArRVKYZTHq2DldLxTlvMU/s400/2805_87633395247_643145247_2301141_6479937_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">San Blas islands</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhk5LT4XkpOkH_lxhe4uTkmNX7UuRLsmC-b4Sc1D9shxSBdR7NigZ9ALe3twWjT83tVodQnw4fDsdawhpVwKRJd5IKQOW7LL3BhFiEpFFaXRdZoHk69nUA_xrl516X5KnJiYpIKhBlEE/s1600-h/2805_87633355247_643145247_2301136_2691985_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618986424701970" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhk5LT4XkpOkH_lxhe4uTkmNX7UuRLsmC-b4Sc1D9shxSBdR7NigZ9ALe3twWjT83tVodQnw4fDsdawhpVwKRJd5IKQOW7LL3BhFiEpFFaXRdZoHk69nUA_xrl516X5KnJiYpIKhBlEE/s400/2805_87633355247_643145247_2301136_2691985_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Swimming ashore</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06oL3fbIr57ys2gVWP1H8BIIJibiwOAdpDhyphenhyphenkW6rlUVvw9IYhO5GiuvKh3lhzAp7zl_rvQ9C7GyeZIqZJH0NCZa4lNLI47-XRcfO01oNlEGgf_fSY1GO3Qy-6QfEnOzN-qBPEviU68v8/s1600-h/CIMG3718.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334626225960076930" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06oL3fbIr57ys2gVWP1H8BIIJibiwOAdpDhyphenhyphenkW6rlUVvw9IYhO5GiuvKh3lhzAp7zl_rvQ9C7GyeZIqZJH0NCZa4lNLI47-XRcfO01oNlEGgf_fSY1GO3Qy-6QfEnOzN-qBPEviU68v8/s400/CIMG3718.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pierre is quick it dive in</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ32c9MnbTVTAd7mU5gU638L7-4QfAWOIrIPCo9mtFfADB-nQGw0LGrx9suBPM6vs5gXleTqi9mHZ8F0HRIp8NHQAVlaPVx2p5nSMmFzvUZsH1gF1o8XnbiLaEWgXT3bJpnX7aN_CwEe4/s1600-h/CIMG3657.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625745408109586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ32c9MnbTVTAd7mU5gU638L7-4QfAWOIrIPCo9mtFfADB-nQGw0LGrx9suBPM6vs5gXleTqi9mHZ8F0HRIp8NHQAVlaPVx2p5nSMmFzvUZsH1gF1o8XnbiLaEWgXT3bJpnX7aN_CwEe4/s400/CIMG3657.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We are delighted to be back on land! </span></div><br /></div><div>San Blas islands are famous as the local Kuna Indian tribe were the only people to reist the Spanish invasion. The islands themselves are not under Panamanian law but rather the rule of the Kuna king who dictates what goes on.<br /><br />Tonight I sleep on deck with a sheet, the rain pounds down and an electric storm lights up the sky. I decide to brave the elements, I cannot face that dorm-room downstairs again. I am achy the next morning, and have acquired a cold (unsurprisingly!).<br /><br />Next day the weather is cloudy and we find out that we are out of oil and the dinghy´s outboard engine is broken. We are stranded here beside these three islands until further notice. Dag attempts to blame us for the fact that the outboard is broken, and inappropriately tells us that we can find out own way to the shore by waving down passing boats! I feel my blood boil at this statement - we certainly did not pay this much money to be treated like this! She calms down, and herself and the Captain come up with some kind of plan. The rest of us backpackers are used to travel delays and waste no time in spending the day reading, swimming and snorkeling around the nearby reefs (and avoiding Dag and her mood swings wherever possible!). We have plenty of food onboard and it looks like the sun may appear from behind the clouds so there is not cause for concern. Marie, Greg and myself row 40 minutes across to the tiniest island (which looks exactly how I might have drawn a desert island as a child!). We snorkel around admiring the beautiful fish, coral and a small reef shark!! Wow!<br /><br />We row back to the boat and hear the good news - the engine is fixed and we have received oil from ashore! We are moving on to another location, closer to Puerto Lindo (our final destination). Along the way we get into a party mood, blasting music and drinking rum!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq_8N6GVHa4S1y_MO9mtWYJPODxEiwgjYhoRQ0g7-xeZ7_1DulYomAP0vTOgNgC6DOHICHqzWYTAHmixSt61yXfS43X681n3caTvLKxxfNTkONRVXFWxq-l2K9UJPE1Is0FFk67McQ9Y/s1600-h/2805_87633480247_643145247_2301153_7778954_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618994886633634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq_8N6GVHa4S1y_MO9mtWYJPODxEiwgjYhoRQ0g7-xeZ7_1DulYomAP0vTOgNgC6DOHICHqzWYTAHmixSt61yXfS43X681n3caTvLKxxfNTkONRVXFWxq-l2K9UJPE1Is0FFk67McQ9Y/s400/2805_87633480247_643145247_2301153_7778954_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Captain & DJ Adam</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIOu9YDT2l6wYbdZSKSHtfcuui3owpbopA7QqXJ6XdlPRG50NZk3qOOv0Q8A4o5KNWNaKMsNZUBSdzP2dVUfuwnRv_g8k5yKIictukeV9FT7zAKzkTA6FlfKejTokryhZwE86WUiD7u0/s1600-h/2805_87633470247_643145247_2301151_7929218_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618990691885250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIOu9YDT2l6wYbdZSKSHtfcuui3owpbopA7QqXJ6XdlPRG50NZk3qOOv0Q8A4o5KNWNaKMsNZUBSdzP2dVUfuwnRv_g8k5yKIictukeV9FT7zAKzkTA6FlfKejTokryhZwE86WUiD7u0/s400/2805_87633470247_643145247_2301151_7929218_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wohooo...we have survived!!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSSy5XnvYqxNHBPSo_NNGCVddkSTJL_x8LRnlaITWNYMSHhUdikpQlhTeSdLxv883BTvniZbkfphWOrQOhxAOHSAurwn7KmyDZ9YhyW8M5y7aGAIAYR8-0Xk4W1WwcgCFIK2VQSgZtU4/s1600-h/IMG_8786.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334612459200416434" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSSy5XnvYqxNHBPSo_NNGCVddkSTJL_x8LRnlaITWNYMSHhUdikpQlhTeSdLxv883BTvniZbkfphWOrQOhxAOHSAurwn7KmyDZ9YhyW8M5y7aGAIAYR8-0Xk4W1WwcgCFIK2VQSgZtU4/s400/IMG_8786.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Back on the boat Adam gets fishing</span> (later I catch two!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOns-WXhKQpswqaGnMpJIlIPGgRuNOIxcXq7XxsJrVkE6QlUwIRxYgFqM3SlyJWSEX3Bu4wzRBzzitCzTFPafLy-usR9CMq7v6rxIwSqYbZkarnU2YPBslLbRyxyc0j4o_ZRx984BQSsk/s1600-h/IMG_8792.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334612841983455746" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; cursor: pointer; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOns-WXhKQpswqaGnMpJIlIPGgRuNOIxcXq7XxsJrVkE6QlUwIRxYgFqM3SlyJWSEX3Bu4wzRBzzitCzTFPafLy-usR9CMq7v6rxIwSqYbZkarnU2YPBslLbRyxyc0j4o_ZRx984BQSsk/s400/IMG_8792.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Dag gets gutting (I do not offer to help)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAy-Rg4l3fdLB6ySQUB0onFiMu9b3u39wdHBL6SXXkeJ1qNxabWC1YO-F70u4iSOI5abg9bx_w78LfwYymKVAWy8LSDx9gRDyIkd9_Tm5qjTaaj4yzyroBXAMB70B66G6ZmhupaOVGsk/s1600-h/IMG_8795.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334612846843063170" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAy-Rg4l3fdLB6ySQUB0onFiMu9b3u39wdHBL6SXXkeJ1qNxabWC1YO-F70u4iSOI5abg9bx_w78LfwYymKVAWy8LSDx9gRDyIkd9_Tm5qjTaaj4yzyroBXAMB70B66G6ZmhupaOVGsk/s400/IMG_8795.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">And the result...fresh fish for dinner, followed by freshly baked brownies!! hmmm</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhPaig98xudKgoG_7gxsw2-jfS8UygIrF3AU3-ZO7WefqXzbzZj_tCC1esfO4UofTGExxEx3QjiQ8XeHRNSKpT3SxWAjtNaSyiCXg1bOVSG_7Xi69ElaelaVoykM9-GxgOOhDtab8CdU/s1600-h/2805_87633520247_643145247_2301159_4177483_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334619152164868098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhPaig98xudKgoG_7gxsw2-jfS8UygIrF3AU3-ZO7WefqXzbzZj_tCC1esfO4UofTGExxEx3QjiQ8XeHRNSKpT3SxWAjtNaSyiCXg1bOVSG_7Xi69ElaelaVoykM9-GxgOOhDtab8CdU/s400/2805_87633520247_643145247_2301159_4177483_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The party continues.....and we pump music and dance for hours (Luis, tiger whisperer, bottom-right)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEddPAKGo-hP20EmugPXvZGThjLadbA_QX-rRjSExOSZTHmNsP3KP2AtE6CdaUzxHqcARAyVwi3KgDw5Y3jIILxe57xXuFfbQv_pzh2uNlsUGb6aIRBFaceOcr3TVqo0_kZI0wgp32AI/s1600-h/IMG_0079.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEddPAKGo-hP20EmugPXvZGThjLadbA_QX-rRjSExOSZTHmNsP3KP2AtE6CdaUzxHqcARAyVwi3KgDw5Y3jIILxe57xXuFfbQv_pzh2uNlsUGb6aIRBFaceOcr3TVqo0_kZI0wgp32AI/s400/IMG_0079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335790596728418178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Marie eating fresh coconut</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFlucBM_XxmCIVNwrX6JiQjzJJ7FC61wjhtARFAmHeVCk0JYweTVBWBjvbehRVud6BJbS24VXFJ0sibDe7u_CXEiFLwQjKoT0GRKzicEIKJ5pWhd7IlKDZ5Z98014ShTbq1ZFBWBOrpc/s1600-h/IMG_0071.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFlucBM_XxmCIVNwrX6JiQjzJJ7FC61wjhtARFAmHeVCk0JYweTVBWBjvbehRVud6BJbS24VXFJ0sibDe7u_CXEiFLwQjKoT0GRKzicEIKJ5pWhd7IlKDZ5Z98014ShTbq1ZFBWBOrpc/s400/IMG_0071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335788621516992610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sVO2rBqlMIF2sz2-wOcuBigmWuOaM_uEJHA2Ox_05mpVuX4dks6sOlUbh24voL4z5irptUaQhkgEtxx6Qao3fG3LiiwUEN0Os_5QFILoIb1n_IZawJf_GD5CLXJdhfM5W_4nxnO4Ix4/s1600-h/IMG_0076.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Adam</span></span></a><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L01OTAZIv1J2E2IdzsCgiJ1Mqk6qrcvCSu5VnwOfonEmVWRcWDFjPNvIbS0qR27IK1WG4X7fxF4bHXwIgkgYUdkPuGBavN6eiWxxSXKOv1ITwDJ1i16EGgfoO0VQhGOKaFD8DLxWPy4/s1600-h/2805_87633505247_643145247_2301156_7384457_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334619150486688290" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7L01OTAZIv1J2E2IdzsCgiJ1Mqk6qrcvCSu5VnwOfonEmVWRcWDFjPNvIbS0qR27IK1WG4X7fxF4bHXwIgkgYUdkPuGBavN6eiWxxSXKOv1ITwDJ1i16EGgfoO0VQhGOKaFD8DLxWPy4/s400/2805_87633505247_643145247_2301156_7384457_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Group shot, with myself featuring a rather cool headlamp bracelet<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Again I sleep on deck along with a couple of others. More lightening and rain! Next morning, some people are leaving the boat here to catch a flight to Panama City from one of the local island airports. The motorbikes need to be brought ashore to clear customs. What a mission!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-pEA3G5L-TBbaIP6EgtciB_1YeBz8qET0PVsvP-7hCXl_HZoUKvEZqP2koE3WxKMmK9auKi4O149HskqdPdUCcQ2uxMmh5PGr1-fwAJizxYGcNYYW8ymStvbvkPRcOxHwrLyuPaCAxc/s1600-h/CIMG3735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334626413886818466" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-pEA3G5L-TBbaIP6EgtciB_1YeBz8qET0PVsvP-7hCXl_HZoUKvEZqP2koE3WxKMmK9auKi4O149HskqdPdUCcQ2uxMmh5PGr1-fwAJizxYGcNYYW8ymStvbvkPRcOxHwrLyuPaCAxc/s400/CIMG3735.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting two motorbikes from boat, to dinghy, to shore is not easy</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Customs cleared for those leaving the boat now, our group is smaller and we are ready to complete the final leg of our journey to Puerto Lindo. It is a pleasant ride. We swim for the last time once we arrive and pack our bags ready to be brought ashore in one very overcrowded dinghy with ALL our belongings and valuables. My heart thumps as the boat sways and poor Luis lands in the water! I clutch my laptop and passport with a tight grip, praying that the boat does not topple. At last we are ashore!<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW7jIOnoZcI4tfZ7AGd39qnkr8VhYHPspQBXMXGXnu8kKlk_3H-dgynnjGrkBzo9nJ5rIEb1b7gZFO2OeEMgbTnzuMTzkzhArxQoIDJmxFDswR9ftgIRm72eL3HCG8UoPSysi7J-8D5E/s1600-h/IMG_8803.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613290147081314" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW7jIOnoZcI4tfZ7AGd39qnkr8VhYHPspQBXMXGXnu8kKlk_3H-dgynnjGrkBzo9nJ5rIEb1b7gZFO2OeEMgbTnzuMTzkzhArxQoIDJmxFDswR9ftgIRm72eL3HCG8UoPSysi7J-8D5E/s400/IMG_8803.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Puerto Lindo</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6N9gkFbPuZ9ohmspE1Ly6yRy9vmW-pjsbT6ywnlv_D8KUpp9G1VdasxdQ1QJPh5fN1YM-VBnJbjjjy98CDMyC5YyAmHovfJznPeKgotkUFr0GSvwjOJIz7rEdgjogYwrdBQ5S-pxF1k/s400/IMG_0094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335790819410044866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The scariest part of the journey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWv3yjlygqROU5-_ldxNHfW4yq2DVHW45bPNGHg6bY9YjTdhwziTgj_H9JzMwTi9j9dzRNQ77QmEyaqhhJS2QLkK2npG0g2T01k1VRIEt9_WgvSV9WuLbVxhGWLbtXbeUBhP8GXlcsfk/s1600-h/IMG_8804.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613290835745890" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWv3yjlygqROU5-_ldxNHfW4yq2DVHW45bPNGHg6bY9YjTdhwziTgj_H9JzMwTi9j9dzRNQ77QmEyaqhhJS2QLkK2npG0g2T01k1VRIEt9_WgvSV9WuLbVxhGWLbtXbeUBhP8GXlcsfk/s400/IMG_8804.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The happy family return to shore</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Once at Puerto Lindo, we head to Wunderbar hostal where apparently we can clear emigration. For the next few days regular emigration is closed because it is voting season, so our fingers are crossed that we will be able to make it through (otherwise we will have to wait for 4 days!). Four hours later, the guy from emigration arrives and we get our passports stamped.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqKTrOloSclVbHHe3UelogAAAtTvkH_KkMpZ8lEEOgXqZZcnBMTCD12fb-Z6AFvUI0GNcgYY5buqbQRY7YGKuxK3pQdO4DryZ-xr5wAuZfvVdIlq19ABIfgWkIQ7zfk1aHfT_VshsEvU/s1600-h/IMG_8809.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613297682321522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqKTrOloSclVbHHe3UelogAAAtTvkH_KkMpZ8lEEOgXqZZcnBMTCD12fb-Z6AFvUI0GNcgYY5buqbQRY7YGKuxK3pQdO4DryZ-xr5wAuZfvVdIlq19ABIfgWkIQ7zfk1aHfT_VshsEvU/s400/IMG_8809.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Boredom sets in & Helene begins catching peanuts </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_RZ86n_-CfE1VEGAuIoyXPu0VFC43JnoAr6eBmSJim2vZoN5XrGcFk49AkdRy7flL0mZJw4-6BxrvkJ8oxAjrkZqyo0AwLtI-bqNzD9SsFImWbPsaFwx4AAWrvCIYcXzGMfNZNVAqmA/s1600-h/IMG_8810.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613295712217010" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_RZ86n_-CfE1VEGAuIoyXPu0VFC43JnoAr6eBmSJim2vZoN5XrGcFk49AkdRy7flL0mZJw4-6BxrvkJ8oxAjrkZqyo0AwLtI-bqNzD9SsFImWbPsaFwx4AAWrvCIYcXzGMfNZNVAqmA/s400/IMG_8810.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We have a nice octopus dinner by the sea</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We sleep at the Wunderbar hostal on orthopedic mattresses and have the best night´s sleep in weeks! We rise early and catch the bus to Colon, and then on to Panama City. We have heard terrible things about how dangerous both places are so we are all a little apprehensive.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71XhNKJRb3OTF1Hj5yHQFBJsJg2OXx2WMPWHFTZWTD6rzv7VUhpzxjwEuECub6wsD2SdEx3S1b8xPiQEyODwLuuvG5zvy2oWTLIFcANK0qxdSzNZQBq-SfgUFXuJCG8Ylo-3DSLltW3s/s1600-h/IMG_8812.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613461970491474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71XhNKJRb3OTF1Hj5yHQFBJsJg2OXx2WMPWHFTZWTD6rzv7VUhpzxjwEuECub6wsD2SdEx3S1b8xPiQEyODwLuuvG5zvy2oWTLIFcANK0qxdSzNZQBq-SfgUFXuJCG8Ylo-3DSLltW3s/s400/IMG_8812.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Waiting for the bus to Colon</span><br /><br /></div>The boat trip has certainly been an adventure, a roller-coaster of highs and lows. We are lucky we had such a great bunch of people aboard - we all got on well and were able to laugh at every disaster that occurred. When I imagined sailing the Caribbean from Colombia to Panama this is not at all what I expected....although it certainly was has been one unforgettable journey! We wave goodbye to Luis, the sweetest and most patient Colombian I have met, and wish him luck as he leaves one circus for another. </div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-52492274299626116462009-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:002009-05-14T13:40:54.141-07:00Bienvenidos a Cartagena de Indias (pt 2)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL0o3vbx-h6m7NEBqARG4lTAJ-XQLUxO3cbvkDdQ1f7qFWtI38kJ4y6c_xsUSqHHn4-i2aJsKGuYP8CJ3zsek14NxR5JmQlGWesdRHKnUzyTNeF5L8MAXgZ0fetPsTK_VyVGhihiH8Rw/s1600-h/IMG_8764.jpg"></a><div>We are warmly welcomed back to the North Star hostel in Bocagrande, Cartagena. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBlyjG9URZsOb4gUcMdyLxUL2QhlwX0-9zamKlYjpCQ4ED_s-HnWzyXGDyiiOqUhzSg2L_ETqaGpwPF3WS8_vlTXal9_hAd0Z3Pk5WvZTKEQTEd0YHtnRavEQQwd__nFCszY5Jo9jjung/s400/IMG_0055.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335781196174395826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bocagrande, Cartagena</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Adam is waiting and eager to tell us all his recent escapades! We spend the evening having a good chin-wag and eating chicken at the famous Kokorico, hmmm! Adam orders a WHOLE chicken! </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045741106128610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWccunnQuOteXE-pVnyiDb5Aoo4gmD95SwRPaPtEkJWFUnmJ5fyD0twwunrI7x4XH6ijcMFImH-R0Vd30GHS0O3fOW9WAfX0_l-DzFwul5NxyyXQ3OlYV_vlfI_Ho0bnSaeeBHKIQ-i_Q/s400/IMG_8707+(15).jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Greasy chops, gloves & a whole chicken!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div>There are lots of chains selling broasted, fried or barbecued chicken everywhere in Colombia (very tasty!). The following day my bank card does not arrive (it is floating around in Miami apparently). The flight from Miama to Cartagena is surprisingly cheap because it is such a popular route (here they call it "the silicon run"). The others have gone to La Isla Rosario so I head to the Surf club with Pedro on a mission to sell a surfboard. I try 'limonada de coco' and spend the next few hours relaxing near the beach, watching the surfers (talking to crazy beach-bums) and watching the waves crash against the Tierra Bomba. In the afternoon, we wander the Old City, a World Heritage site. It is like wandering around a film set! The buildings are so well preserved. There is a fantastic atmosphere here - people selling fruit, donkeys and carts, horses and carriages, vendors and people rushing around doing their errands. It is nice to have a local guide - spending time in bookshops, coffee-shops and wandering the various stalls and shops. Later I visit the modern art gallery in the Old Town which is well worth a browse.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTEomSAdOy7PbuEJKjAeFYJ8G4vRNjmU3CJSVy62acik2pL4H8H7IByB9bZwdKyHuyTD4Lcm9s1WYe-bU6pWSvl8fjcpluec3x178rupcOc722rQviiDN62PP1Oa5JnKEV4gE9CyXTK8/s400/IMG_0054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335781197562441410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Approach to the old town</span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio0NIFvq7ZHq_xoc7MwPDP3yk1nvawL2k5KZoQjnE5MwPMoSB_yYT1X23u3enhzC4p6pJ8JpuoK6f1TkK4jY4AUk3cj3asRG3WwE8PVfeuFY6dGLh_g082IMhMTRZC_yNV8m_QXlWGTM/s1600-h/IMG_8706.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045737020252786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhio0NIFvq7ZHq_xoc7MwPDP3yk1nvawL2k5KZoQjnE5MwPMoSB_yYT1X23u3enhzC4p6pJ8JpuoK6f1TkK4jY4AUk3cj3asRG3WwE8PVfeuFY6dGLh_g082IMhMTRZC_yNV8m_QXlWGTM/s400/IMG_8706.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Donde Fidel & La Candela</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMdJi13To0nWkjrShelXsTp7m-W2DWZOR7B5mBVtgA_PFIoCTvXcOEGyhUSTXCtr9qgBME4XXX5SHH7IdPRwDSfBkJhPQkC_GiSVMnjAho9XbfjioBbYCcAOIxLE5oALq0ZTMKAHnQlU/s1600-h/IMG_8705.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045737643391826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMdJi13To0nWkjrShelXsTp7m-W2DWZOR7B5mBVtgA_PFIoCTvXcOEGyhUSTXCtr9qgBME4XXX5SHH7IdPRwDSfBkJhPQkC_GiSVMnjAho9XbfjioBbYCcAOIxLE5oALq0ZTMKAHnQlU/s400/IMG_8705.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Wandering the Old City</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238);font-size:11;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329053901402862994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikU0O5tH47F1bMX6P0QhcBWETS4ETVv21nFYtaVp7xD0MrKuDYG2j0RQp5CzzV9CXK6bMb9cjEmxI3C8VMOQav4b-NhCDCDDuJI4QyJYpBPZgxcm6Vb4a5CE5mWbCVolkcFcHLJS3Xt1Q/s400/3312_508423436583_338200012_7983_3530973_n.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Lemon Pie building</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t3eQ1CAcBxr6ezpcjskESrhO7Y_7jMtMvie5QRTCs2Z4ZXBH_c9N-RMir3QHXQCua7-S8JJVPzJyPppLpZ_LU3Lvg35qUjAPkQvzHMKXKz96Ozlol96fHqM4QydZhaSqEqWNaTs4Fi8/s1600-h/IMG_8701.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045366779253666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t3eQ1CAcBxr6ezpcjskESrhO7Y_7jMtMvie5QRTCs2Z4ZXBH_c9N-RMir3QHXQCua7-S8JJVPzJyPppLpZ_LU3Lvg35qUjAPkQvzHMKXKz96Ozlol96fHqM4QydZhaSqEqWNaTs4Fi8/s400/IMG_8701.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Rustic balconies</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSL0o3vbx-h6m7NEBqARG4lTAJ-XQLUxO3cbvkDdQ1f7qFWtI38kJ4y6c_xsUSqHHn4-i2aJsKGuYP8CJ3zsek14NxR5JmQlGWesdRHKnUzyTNeF5L8MAXgZ0fetPsTK_VyVGhihiH8Rw/s400/IMG_8764.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335781201567504786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Colourful Mamas</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal;font-size:11;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn656CflDABnLKG1JD6UqOw2U114nRJGr0Kzr0vXrmNuTq9dnbFanaFp3zjKibiRtI5SYiY9Z1Qh0vJADfNVNCl6W81XsuRGujyAbBz1tOcwRt7wV-WGyXctUoxJhDB_9OhMTh4w08otw/s1600-h/3312_508423441573_338200012_7984_312388_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329053903232794434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn656CflDABnLKG1JD6UqOw2U114nRJGr0Kzr0vXrmNuTq9dnbFanaFp3zjKibiRtI5SYiY9Z1Qh0vJADfNVNCl6W81XsuRGujyAbBz1tOcwRt7wV-WGyXctUoxJhDB_9OhMTh4w08otw/s400/3312_508423441573_338200012_7984_312388_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR6yfxsgnp5t-KGgeYgjm8Wg9jBa1v9_9B8BlG-OdgFW9u9lIQxf5HNat98fcj9oTs_P-o3lbTiYA5TBuyhh2298a8IpaR09IK-h_NnfZT4XiABDGV_G5mji3WLG8SmKlMvx4wihSNYU/s1600-h/IMG_8699.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045351021854514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR6yfxsgnp5t-KGgeYgjm8Wg9jBa1v9_9B8BlG-OdgFW9u9lIQxf5HNat98fcj9oTs_P-o3lbTiYA5TBuyhh2298a8IpaR09IK-h_NnfZT4XiABDGV_G5mji3WLG8SmKlMvx4wihSNYU/s400/IMG_8699.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL4CK9jw8exvcu5K-k9lbJf_JD7Xk72phYKE4O2vE-4RO4pcotVywYJh5gFOmC2vYOc0GQEENoiPjOLGZbMtce0cVcqsg7-sKj5IUR7xtDVNacooLx1bU8VTIR4ovLXloq3Wq8US1_8g/s1600-h/IMG_8697.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045349750370002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQL4CK9jw8exvcu5K-k9lbJf_JD7Xk72phYKE4O2vE-4RO4pcotVywYJh5gFOmC2vYOc0GQEENoiPjOLGZbMtce0cVcqsg7-sKj5IUR7xtDVNacooLx1bU8VTIR4ovLXloq3Wq8US1_8g/s400/IMG_8697.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><div>Cartagena is just about the hottest place I remember being in my life! The humidity smothers me, all day, every day. This is not balmy, it is bloomin' boiling!!!! We all whinge about how sweaty and shiny we are, even late at night. It is time to say goodbye to Mauri as he travels back to Medellin, and then to Norway. Next day, myself and the Norwegian ladies have a day of shopping. The shops in the old city are wonderful - lots of boutiques with beautiful dresses, shoes, jewelery and bikinis. We are a bad influence on each other, and end up buying more that we should! And now that we have new dresses....we will have to go and dance some more to show them off! </div><div><br /></div><div>Adam's Birthday celebrations begin this evening. We make a dash to the supermarket and prepare a spread.. lots of nibbles, wine and topped off with strawberries and champagne! The other guys in the hostel look on in envy as we three lovely ladies run around creating the feast!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238);font-size:11;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329054625597214866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o4bklUxCFXuHoMddov5JuHNZdNUVYJ5zqpuTSiz67BBp-41IH06rsnt87fl28g7mrholonX1UpPe65Mg0WNusIK2gBKAhbf6ZuAvadRniG1GQidZhCcjcqcQ5mO-j5FxF3v-ONYqpWc/s400/IMG_8715.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0)">Party nibbles!</span></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329046131908833298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 254px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE3yM95NjHVeUS0DCWiuXFQYhWue7vD9hvTXobys5Gl8wP-jNtRVUs6A2m2NVwm84YjhJRKKpRdRIen6bXX9kIo_1srVUJcfk1m1lWEQyWLzS73x97mhkfpQJ5-ZjfnQiFcR0fIpJ0vI/s400/IMG_8717.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div>We play '13' for the first time since Chile. Once again there is a really nice group of people at this hostel, and we have a good laugh. We go back to Tu Candela for more dancing! </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF83Hy_TqjOVjvqoGXDcsnkDOKIinSXSWL463N94JAaKz86AF7tyRZYp4qGI1RchGaoEBC1xsnQvcX08RcPGGWFZxJDBS1Xi2fyhCBn3z8EIoduGWL2TamqY0gzcP2wZ_fPtclc6xT_7s/s1600-h/IMG_8728.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329046140309328354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF83Hy_TqjOVjvqoGXDcsnkDOKIinSXSWL463N94JAaKz86AF7tyRZYp4qGI1RchGaoEBC1xsnQvcX08RcPGGWFZxJDBS1Xi2fyhCBn3z8EIoduGWL2TamqY0gzcP2wZ_fPtclc6xT_7s/s400/IMG_8728.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Plaza de San Domingo</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6MVIX0Sy_s6-viM7w_uLbLCpMlaIPbRObNa6pX-Fjsgk9-Z7yTfF89v7F49ericyImkohmIpw1l6tHYLmTLdh0-LZUSEVGQwfa6T3AAofChWruM2eO-hllDDjssIeEPSkmjkJgjPxY4/s1600-h/IMG_8723.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329046134830760178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6MVIX0Sy_s6-viM7w_uLbLCpMlaIPbRObNa6pX-Fjsgk9-Z7yTfF89v7F49ericyImkohmIpw1l6tHYLmTLdh0-LZUSEVGQwfa6T3AAofChWruM2eO-hllDDjssIeEPSkmjkJgjPxY4/s400/IMG_8723.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Birthday Boy & his fan-club, Tu Candela</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPy559wVPs0zRnAexIYWjbcWgN8PmqfDIQxsDAR81JaQiN4nP5EEH_vfq-bwTLanIVrm5xDb4NODEfm04IXIrfCUl0UCbD44XYMmm6PnoRiM3fR0z7yc4xZgKvOUoiHXDFON-sMPwm6-Y/s1600-h/IMG_8716.jpg"></a></div><div>The following day my bank card arrives, wohoo! Today is Adam's actual birthday (26 years today!). We spend most of the day at Club Nautico talking to various captains about sailing to Panama in the coming week - this turns out to be a huge effort on our part, far more complicated that we could have imagined and we end up spending a great deal of time at the Club over the next few days (more about this in my next entry). </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238);font-size:11;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329055848366327202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiVnEH5T4GKWF4uR8uQHCjpdQMHOsCGE1YxnEFEg7fBj0r2Qyqh_nDCTpXMXxKaGm2ZcGsX8V6AT5dobh7OulEdE4-N0wW-K1fx4yP_kWV4Drk85cmDx9l0JnrqG5O091Mi6b3TgM0Wk/s400/IMG_8709.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Club Nautico, where we spend many hours trying to organise a boat-trip to Panama</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div>There are not really so many things to do in Cartagena once the beach and Old City have been explored, so aside from hanging out at the yacht club, we relax. In the evening, we gather the troops and go to a very nice bar/restaurant called Cafe del Mar. There is great view of Old City, the 'new city' (high rise) and the ocean - and for the first time in days we finally cool down with the sea breeze! </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329053902755585394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSy38P0RrhUB6de_gAaBiLTNAmSlj-xRqiBF2ikD2VlZon0grlTYGadoxjOpm916xluHBMNzrS3t59VIZRGcdoMF0XF9GVdn30-TWGWR3qy1WqTNDPXCZO485DnZ-zTSG6IdlqO433aJo/s400/3312_508423456543_338200012_7987_7438632_n.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Cafe del Mar</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div>I eat Ceviche de Corvina for dinner, which is delicious. Suddenly there is a heavy rain shower, and we all have to squeeze inside. Once the shower passes, we move further into the Old City and get recommended a 'great bar' which actually turns out to be a strip-club where it costs $10.00 USD for a drink! Colombia is not cheap but that is ridiculous! With general consensus, we move swiftly along to another place. We spend the night dancing once more, the music really is too good to sit down! A good night is had by all. Some of us (less sensible folk) continue to another place later which turns out to be a mafia club, it gets a bit seedy. I am relieved to leave. There are some dodgy characters in this city, to say the least...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXOHom2AFVfI0miFNKKxUk3Z1cpoYQRe_0EuVT1WSJ9jBRRHuTAI32gAI7WVPZvXljTpwLlhHMR9LVFE7GxK4MwqWfa71UJiRlEUxF5LUquH6wkCAgpo8BHHEClaWw8s7sCZ8phmBAsg/s1600-h/IMG_8738.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329048272813191474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXOHom2AFVfI0miFNKKxUk3Z1cpoYQRe_0EuVT1WSJ9jBRRHuTAI32gAI7WVPZvXljTpwLlhHMR9LVFE7GxK4MwqWfa71UJiRlEUxF5LUquH6wkCAgpo8BHHEClaWw8s7sCZ8phmBAsg/s400/IMG_8738.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">On every street, every Plaza there is music</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwnn6hiXdVQsS6zlWWeSp0C98IgW7ULXGmhe6Yoa_Ek4vkh7Ugd_MQwzqePxTHKtXQ710AOtK-WD-urApisGVUUpJ_NaYCKT0uGl9y3qKmm6wL0qDr9mooHa_w4P9NW4aqTVNVs9lmus/s1600-h/IMG_8736.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329048267518528018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwnn6hiXdVQsS6zlWWeSp0C98IgW7ULXGmhe6Yoa_Ek4vkh7Ugd_MQwzqePxTHKtXQ710AOtK-WD-urApisGVUUpJ_NaYCKT0uGl9y3qKmm6wL0qDr9mooHa_w4P9NW4aqTVNVs9lmus/s400/IMG_8736.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">and dance!</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: normal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuz_Ca0vLY2NiYG0_J1iUQF7RPiZJ2rpexTcaS_tXDvyePUnt1qNpp_twszMP9C8YiseWM63VZz8SlsXWkz8zir2IJownPJNAQZCs9kgFDBxK688KkZOmr7Nqf4ddD60phFX2dTZka54/s1600-h/IMG_8727.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329046133924437298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuz_Ca0vLY2NiYG0_J1iUQF7RPiZJ2rpexTcaS_tXDvyePUnt1qNpp_twszMP9C8YiseWM63VZz8SlsXWkz8zir2IJownPJNAQZCs9kgFDBxK688KkZOmr7Nqf4ddD60phFX2dTZka54/s400/IMG_8727.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The most narrow street in the Old City</span></div></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgVZvkhEWj0-VybKUeg-wr1PU16mQKFG5jx2Jc_KI79es3FuTsA_lEqCM6qEZKDgEJRcJS3vpybsjWZ1JR92b2By0m_LNq2vkEkkokBvMjuIRAO-Mobakm1M7_tBbMq8TRhQsHHML5g0/s1600-h/IMG_8734.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329048268401812530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgVZvkhEWj0-VybKUeg-wr1PU16mQKFG5jx2Jc_KI79es3FuTsA_lEqCM6qEZKDgEJRcJS3vpybsjWZ1JR92b2By0m_LNq2vkEkkokBvMjuIRAO-Mobakm1M7_tBbMq8TRhQsHHML5g0/s400/IMG_8734.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Adam and Angelica show us their moves! </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sTpx488-YqJ3TmJ-2S7BOBHyTXn0I0qjXACL7WRl3Y-ljh3zbARSlLJ4FfDWStfeeeHCLIr_1pb8rQ9Zo5edygScgN-YQJvfIBeggmMKAgkHG4JJFSLj3dvyUmdHNvFAipdQI22csYA/s1600-h/IMG_8733.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329048262876958034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sTpx488-YqJ3TmJ-2S7BOBHyTXn0I0qjXACL7WRl3Y-ljh3zbARSlLJ4FfDWStfeeeHCLIr_1pb8rQ9Zo5edygScgN-YQJvfIBeggmMKAgkHG4JJFSLj3dvyUmdHNvFAipdQI22csYA/s400/IMG_8733.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">We travelling-buddies pose for a picture</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdNkLHy9Y7A0OTn6_I4Cj9h6QxPJZFpTtWz0XBZpitmt7sR5T-Jo9_y3dLOrE5EE3d_sZWuyHWVEY0FfIZ1SjuLPnj-Fq39JUcyugkBELx5Qg_6_Ygx-eqHPB-olZXjwziDFUU-kONS8/s1600-h/IMG_8729.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329048263187538274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdNkLHy9Y7A0OTn6_I4Cj9h6QxPJZFpTtWz0XBZpitmt7sR5T-Jo9_y3dLOrE5EE3d_sZWuyHWVEY0FfIZ1SjuLPnj-Fq39JUcyugkBELx5Qg_6_Ygx-eqHPB-olZXjwziDFUU-kONS8/s400/IMG_8729.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">The Chicas</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div>The next day, I decide that I need a change of scenery from North Star and move to another hostel in the centre of town - Media Luna Art Hostel. This hostel is brand-new (work not yet completed) and luxurious (Olwyn you would adore it!). </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329051886491680194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLDvHIJ4DM2W_K8isfZRAlEm6wT3gtyCTA-I_qdDIFozLRzFeClRlgbi2UafEvD3-XEmdQEM-Vcbh26MSUZYozTWd38Pq5ye8z9BhS0ah0-JXQqFa-9_4BONU3oix_Y13t8Y2R_VHAjk/s400/IMG_8751.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Media Luna Art Hostel</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Adam goes to Taganga and the Norwegians go to Playa Blanca, I decide to stay in the City. Not on my own for more that a couple of hours before I find out that "Canada" (aka Alan from Toronto) is in town and staying across the road. We have fruit smoothies, and wander the Old City (again!). I am starting to become oblivious to the comments from people on the street, and also, to the amount of people offering drugs. It is probably hard to imagine but I feel completely safe here walking around, despite being approached constantly. Colombians like to laugh, so as long as you smile, make a joke or keep walking there is never any hassle. There are more tourists here than anywhere else in the country, but we are still a novelty it seems! In the evening, a group of us head to Havana Club, Media Luna where there is a fantastic live band - salsa, cha-cha, rumba!<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329045348265273714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQNqu5WhaqSJysywzD_u9B7v0WIzOFVNlqIiHmhwu9lfQ8eglCgDM4piDBWJIbLw6YKNWXEBwu08Ek9PbJz8D6y0MJf5BwDJzox-eowj3WaTWW5POppSVo1NFBqR-yFV3uBqTplElSGA/s400/Blog.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Havana Club</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Canada sails off to Panama the following morning (he has chosen a smaller boat which we posh ladies are not willing to squeeze into!). The Norwegians return in the evening. I relax by the pool. </div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div>The food in Colombia has been a mixed adventure! The traditional dishes in the centre of the country, such as bandeja paisa and arrepa, are tasty but stodgy. They serve bananas with everything. The food is different according to each region as a result of climatic and cultural influences. Here in the north the fish and shellfish are fresh and delicious, whereas in the south the stews and soups are delicious. There are also many more Carribean and Indian influences in the cooking (and people) in the north. The differences between northern and southern Colombia are great. In the north people are darker, more laid-back and more gregarious, perhaps people are more sophisticated and westernised in Bogota and more genuine/down-to-earth around Medellin. These are big generalisations of course! The landscape, the food, the weather, the music, the architecture, the colours, the clothes - everything changes throughout the country which makes Colombia an interesting place to spend time. My favourite restaurant in Cartagena is <em>El Bistro</em>, in the Old City. For best value and delicious, my favourite is <em>Crepes and Waffles</em>, Bocagrande. I have also eaten in some dodgy-looking cafeterias in the backstreets around Media Luna which have been pretty tasty (and cheap). In one particular place the waitress told me what I was having without further discussion (it was a good choice though!). Some meals have been less than average. The fruit is outstanding, there many fruits which I had never tasted before.</div><div><br /></div><div>After many days of talking and negotiating we have organised a trip on converted fishing boat with a French captain. We are very excited, but still have three days until we sail......anyone for a walk around the Old City?!?</div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-72695558685774011332009-04-25T11:27:00.000-07:002009-04-26T08:36:42.286-07:00Taranga..Tanjanja...Tanganga?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423411633_338200012_7978_380051_n.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We drive from Cartagena, through Barranquilla, to Santa Marta and finally to our destination, the small fishing village of Taganga. <br /></span><img src="http://www.colombiaenpittsburgh.org/colombia/map.gif" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 507px; height: 686px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Taganga, situated a couple of kilometres outside of Santa Marta</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I sleep through the bus journey, and after a quick scoot around we find some beds at the Bayview hostel, Taganga. Thank goodness for the sea breeze, it is so great to be out of the city. For such a tiny town, there are so many tourists. It has got a laid-back hippy-feel, an easy place to relax and more than likely stay longer than originally intended!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQXj2M0s838ZCS1RL_yaIzczT6vaK_w4tS_0HxShi-k5nFtTbFAG8iDsJ1gzycxci25zrjckBJUKlxsovd9gyqOYpf-8n_-_7guW-gOUSqd81EQ1_zWCDUCbRTSEVnvI3FVoH6KkfDyc/s400/IMG_8683.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328757081688197586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">First glimpse of Taganga at sunset</span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_-AdZ2DCL-7_w6ihjA1R_q6ktL62di7VDWKHdE68_To_FlRTyWOEHtpfBViwjwwthBMKzAc5YF-Wer6oC2s3FAXGrpuM9dO3DhBUhvRz4ECz3EYXUxp58nNGx_BY41aboybCHuNDGpI/s400/IMG_8676.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328757078695711170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The fishermen, forever busy with their boats</span></div></div><br /><div>Helene and I are on 'mission-detox' so everyday we swim in the pool at 8am, followed by a 25- minutes mountain-walk to Playa Grande (the next beach along). Joe, our new English friend comes along and does semi-detox, washed down by 5 or so beers in the evening! ;-)</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8K8RqmJpML5eIv5pX0Gp3SwbKPFQAFoG_ExprLRZWax1YdX-GSGlV0k8u3QG1si5D3xvjJ6Q0kq0uunR7N8uLzoNXiTZ7_gEySKSDvlW2WuORR19JXR2vYSKaV5ruW9DuDqTXvQwBtA/s1600-h/IMG_8692.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8K8RqmJpML5eIv5pX0Gp3SwbKPFQAFoG_ExprLRZWax1YdX-GSGlV0k8u3QG1si5D3xvjJ6Q0kq0uunR7N8uLzoNXiTZ7_gEySKSDvlW2WuORR19JXR2vYSKaV5ruW9DuDqTXvQwBtA/s400/IMG_8692.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328758129304484034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Main street, Taganga</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedRGDCgO1x1Shoa9JEl8RAg8H3j16gps7xBMYxuwk-BmN9maccOnR4X3Bvhy92ar1YSyce4kwuFKqPkLxXfEke6JfNUEWkaXF647sWcO3NHyInoxkZ42KC3bQJqJibr8vbvxVg_TQ7aw/s400/IMG_8680.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328757078267549506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Taganga beach, not so nice as Playa Grande</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>On the beach, we drink fresh fruit smoothies and eat fresh shrimp (with a dash of lime, Tabasco & red onions). </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4vwb25265rPj_hH87t93rljZPN2EO_-GsIcQmXNB77NWHT6G2g4Aqm_TUIIMFZLoOfjhPndfugV5mCS2jJJ5ovlw0ani66SSNbuuvWJahQy7-GTRZPJDGke28PKUzFPNtmgXpJKfQho/s1600-h/IMG_8690.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK4vwb25265rPj_hH87t93rljZPN2EO_-GsIcQmXNB77NWHT6G2g4Aqm_TUIIMFZLoOfjhPndfugV5mCS2jJJ5ovlw0ani66SSNbuuvWJahQy7-GTRZPJDGke28PKUzFPNtmgXpJKfQho/s400/IMG_8690.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328758133004285506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Joe and Helene waiting for a very 'special' fruit salad!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The sea is fantastic to swim as there are few waves at Playa Grande (there are a few more at Taganga).</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuyXi9UGqSl7QhgG2UHbFgYgDe-zBDU_nNEBWOKZtLJm8OzhNRpamSQjksdoe9fFV1ZiyTZWU1Snlk6ShK3KNER2aIJmKgccDBGgNBYpIEtXQZS-FZQuOfhtmCTXrUz8xS8xFzSaC4a8/s1600-h/IMG_8686.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuyXi9UGqSl7QhgG2UHbFgYgDe-zBDU_nNEBWOKZtLJm8OzhNRpamSQjksdoe9fFV1ZiyTZWU1Snlk6ShK3KNER2aIJmKgccDBGgNBYpIEtXQZS-FZQuOfhtmCTXrUz8xS8xFzSaC4a8/s400/IMG_8686.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328757087591938978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Helene & Joe (new friend, UK) reading on Playa Grande </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eYpsyV0zErOk6eB96hCuS9_QAs8WlN_oghO-QVZMtF50T8nxAi2gzWU_d8YkPpNAOYwOfPXc-pcIo5NUmXriFxcY6LICsP89fgc3JBd9g4_WE3zt_Gbo7FMSToYdN4v1odwcG428heM/s1600-h/IMG_8689.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0eYpsyV0zErOk6eB96hCuS9_QAs8WlN_oghO-QVZMtF50T8nxAi2gzWU_d8YkPpNAOYwOfPXc-pcIo5NUmXriFxcY6LICsP89fgc3JBd9g4_WE3zt_Gbo7FMSToYdN4v1odwcG428heM/s400/IMG_8689.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328758126790487730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Three men in a boat</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Marie and Mauri have decided to learn how to scuba-dive and are doing their PADI Open Water course. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423411633_338200012_7978_380051_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Marie getting reading for her first dive </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I really like Bayview hostal, maybe one of my favourites. I like the bright colours, breezy rooms and it seems to attract a really nice bunch of people (like ourselves!). </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4afBn3-cJkzxzdovu0Cv29en9RKwbK00SfAaUZePa6okL2awicTddedxYOkw_Z3jNG0WhUWYe99YHeFrHGM0rpgDwh3zeWzQObmmjnh0HQ-6hcRkxqoKZXtrdzG-nU-3jj7rP1yveRk/s400/IMG_8693.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328758135433515010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bayview hostel, Taganga</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Over-looking our balcony is a type of farm - basically a yard filled with goats, donkeys and cock-a-doodle-doos. What a menagerie - the noise is incredible at various parts of the day and the cocks begin crowing earlier than 6am most mornings. On my first morning, I look out to see the farmer-man has just killed a goat - which is now hanging from a tree while he skins it right in the middle of the yard with all the other goats! How horrible. Inside the hostel there are big beanbags everywhere, so in the evenings we stretch out and read our books, or practice yoga on the balcony. We also try some of the restaurants along the beach. Marie and Mauri are very good students - even bringing their books along to the restaurants! </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423346763_338200012_7965_7786849_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Mauri reading about decompression sickness etc.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gmPtngz6eOpHeIuw-yB1E3NKos1-kT_Z31hrJbQVUEUMIZHZOCzqKD8bBmW6ZTcPq7urhjWL8GvFWtjT-X6aI3m7akQaciwOkLqbq8FurSj6y_wBdgaehuoo3nC88BGhnW6mkZQCjYo/s400/IMG_8695.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328758133786083682" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Our favourite restaurant, with a group of people from the hostel</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I feel so relaxed! On Friday, Helene and I go diving at Tayrona National Park. It is so good to be in the water again, and we see lots of cool things on both dives. Including a big, grumpy barracuda. He circles us twice, annoyed that we have (accidentally) interrupted his nap and then leaves us. The colours are not so vibrant here as in Thailand or the Red Sea - but it is a nice (and cheap - £30 for 2 dives) place to dive. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs036.snc1/3283_1139964252407_1026428797_427189_6860036_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ack in the gear, happily under water</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>We debate about doing The Lost City trek near Santa Marta (which takes 6 days) and also about spending a few days in Tayrona park, but we have agreed to meet Adam on his birthday in Cartagena and to be honest we are quite content relaxing on a beach for a few days. On our last evening we go to 'El Garaje' and dance lots of salsa! </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFo1FGQzLImoWNjLONR2yz6q1sqlJqt2afgVBpt5lp46zmKl-aYjzOHNYhlpG3pfBK_hiItkaZT2vZQ2dq2PcXzl1i7e829cztO-cp0wxVqgv75BukwBHVKY2FJGUKoB7kktq3wHZnO0/s1600-h/IMG_8696.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFo1FGQzLImoWNjLONR2yz6q1sqlJqt2afgVBpt5lp46zmKl-aYjzOHNYhlpG3pfBK_hiItkaZT2vZQ2dq2PcXzl1i7e829cztO-cp0wxVqgv75BukwBHVKY2FJGUKoB7kktq3wHZnO0/s400/IMG_8696.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328758376805317330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Drinks overlooking the ocean </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Feeling healthy and fitter than when I arrived, we get the bus back to Cartagena, passing through Santa Marta once more. There are more horses/mules/donkeys and carts on the roads in Colombia than I have seen anywhere else in the world, we pass literally hundreds on the road back to Cartagena. Colombians don't seem to care so much for feeding their animals - here I have seen some of the skinniest creatures. We spoke to some guys who tried to feed the skin-and-bone dogs after dinner in Taganga, but the hounds didn't even give the meat a sniff, walking away with their tails between their legs. Someone suggested that all the dogs here are appetite-less cocaine addicts. Maybe. In this country, nothing is how one might expect. </div></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-69997067737634133592009-04-25T10:11:00.000-07:002009-04-26T16:07:20.353-07:00Bienvenidos a Cartagena de Indias (pt.1)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423286883_338200012_7953_3622642_n.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is a fairly hefty bus ride from Medellin up to Cartagena, 13 hours or so. On route we have the worst meal consumed in South America - fish soup with eyes and bones followed by a chicken-wing with the consistency of concrete. We [Helene, Marie, Mauricio, James & I] arrive late and Luis, the night receptionist isn't sure whether they have beds for us. We sleepily grab a sandwich across the road, return and after some rearranging we have somewhere to rest our weary heads. We have a rather goose-pimpled night of sleep as the fierce AC blasts around the room. We are staying at North Star Backpackers hostel in Bocagrande</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 343px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.hosteltrail.com/northstarbackpackershostel/images/seven.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; FONT-STYLE: italic">North Star backpackers hostel</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bocagrande<span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">(meaning 'big mouth')<span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> is the most modern and one of the wealthiest areas of the city, a good place to be based. The next morning we take a stroll around - the streets are attractive and the area is laden with restaurants, bars, shops and coffee-shops. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); LINE-HEIGHT: 19px">We are also right beside a beach (but it is not the nicest beach around).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 453px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 604px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423501453_338200012_7996_7029296_n.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bocagrande</span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have given North Star's address to Fed-Ex with the hope that they will manage to transport my new bank cards from my Mum's kitchen table in Ireland to Cartagena. One of my debit cards has been 'accidentally' cancelled by HSBC, and by 'back-up' card does not work in Columbia! Luckily my trusty friends are ensuring that I don't starve or go without a bed ;-) </span></span></span> <div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After a quick stroll around we get a boat to Playa Blanca (a much nicer beach, 40 minutes by boat). It takes a long time to organise the boat. At one point we have about 10 guys each trying to drag us on their boat! We walk away many times, visit both harbours and eventually find a decent looking boat at the price we want...it is a bumpy ride across to Playa Blanca but we seem to be in capable hands.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 453px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 604px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423336783_338200012_7963_5888369_n.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Our chosen driver</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have not seen the sea since Ushuaia, the southern tip of Argentina - I have travelled from toe to tip of the continent! </span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423326803_338200012_7961_3053435_n.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 453px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 604px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423326803_338200012_7961_3053435_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Marie enjoys the boat trip between bumps!</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It really is a beautiful beach. The water is clear, turquoise and the sand is white. The (only) bad element is the hawkers, who harass at every opportunity - selling all kinds of junk. We get an amazing massage, and have a lovely few hours relaxing. </span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423306843_338200012_7957_4799609_n.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 453px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 604px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423306843_338200012_7957_4799609_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I have arrived in paradise, at last!</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423311833_338200012_7958_679690_n.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 604px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 453px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423311833_338200012_7958_679690_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Playa Blanca</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423321813_338200012_7960_7596773_n.jpg"></a><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We relax until James gets talking to a group of Colombians who invite us over for a chat and entertainment. After a beer and a few shots of rum, James and I are singing Irish songs (from Christy Moore to Van Morrison) and organising a céilidh (Irish dance session). Within minutes there are about 20 Colombians dancing the '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Walls of Limerick</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">' under the blistering sun! Time to swap around, it's time for us to practice our </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">salsa</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">reggaeton</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. Those of you familiar with reggaeton dancing can imagine how hilarious (ridiculous) we look! We keep dancing until our boat captain calls us aboard. It is an even bumpier ride back to Bocagrande now that the wind has picked up (and we have the bruises to show later!). </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 604px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 453px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423321813_338200012_7960_7596773_n.jpg" border="0" /></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">C</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">olombia meets Ireland in a dance-off!!</span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have an delicious dinner in an Argentine steakhouse - bringing back many happy memories from January. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Back to the hostel, we relax on the terrace at the hostel until Pedro, the owner, invites us to a place called </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Donde Fidel</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, a salsa bar in the Old City. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238)"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 604px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 453px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs038.snc1/3312_508423286883_338200012_7953_3622642_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Mauricio & Helene relaxing at North Star</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sitting outside amidst the beautiful buildings is fantastic - I instantly fall in love with the place - charming, beautiful and embedded in history. Continuing with the dancing theme, I get some lessons in salsa and rumba from Pedro. At first, I feel self-conscious in front of all the locals but after a few words of encouragement I let go! Later our ever-increasing group wander to Tu Candela, a nearby club. Here in Columbia the club-culture is very different; people go our in couples and dance with their partners - salsa, merengue, rumba or what ever takes their fancy. Despite this couple structure, eyes wander and comments are whispered. From what I gather neither the men or the women are faithful. Girls rarely go out alone (unless they are prostitutes - whom are equally abundant as the drug dealers in this city). It is a fun place, the music is good. The after-party continues back at the hostel until the wee-small hours. Which is all well and good until I realise I have an hour until my bus leaves for Taganga - a fishing town further along the Caribbean coast. Sensibly the Norwegians went to bed before midnight, and are looking fresh as daisies! Never mind, the bus has air-conditioning and my seat is comfortable so I put on my sunglasses and prepare for a four-hour snooze. </span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-80543484465894639142009-04-17T21:10:00.000-07:002009-04-25T11:40:02.799-07:00Semana Santa, Medellín<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrekffvUPiOuvzplBbKtrOi631RNyDwwCk7nfz_CKvEHoIFFtOaOB0-pfiJPaXIGQU5YvmUHU1J6NHg_WfWW6dNycs3HRwPci8Tik_sZRNVSYnHoEiStJv5Lz4Sw9K6mceEAI6x22Rxpw/s1600-h/n500032238_1725739_1037305.jpg"></a>Nothing too eventful happens. The city is quiet, most people have escaped to the countryside for the Easter holiday. Medellín is a big city. I stay at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Tiger Paw hostel, b</span>eside restaurants, bars, the Metro station and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Blue</span> - a great rock club. I meet an Irish guy there, James from Kilarney, and we discover that we share mutual close-friends in Sligo. We (Helene, Marie, Mauri, Canada & James) sit in the park and drink Aquardiente (Raki-esque) in chupas - like the locals. We visit the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Botero</span> exhibition and sculptures in the park. We go to a dodgy looking Salsa bar downtown where people are searched for weapons, the men look like gangsters and the women look like (are?) prostitutes. They love music here and dance well. It seems the women are big fans of the colour pink (from candyfloss to raspberry) and tight (spray-on) clothing. The taxis are yellow, driving skills are minimal. I feel very safe here. On Easter Sunday I get a haircut and buy a new dress. I want to go and see a religious parade but it rains so I watch movies on a big plasma. I finish a book. We go to the famous club called <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Mangos</span> where everyone wears cowboy-dress, there is sawdust on the floor and dwarfs dancing on the stage. In the bathrooms, stuffed horses' heads spray water for hand-washing. A girl tells me I need colour in my cheeks and covers me in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">rouge</span>. The Macarena and Tweety-bird songs are played at 2am. We dance and leave, never to return or recommend. In most bars it is custom to buy a bottle of rum or whisky for the table, where everyone shares rather than buy individual drinks. People are friendly and attractive - voluptuous, sexy, charming. It rains every day and some nights. We discover the gem of a food-chain that is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Crepes and Waffles </span>- why has this not been snapped up in Europe? We try to take a cable car but it is broken. There are slum-areas and posh areas. I don't feel like taking photos. I read about Pablo Escobar, the famous criminal from Medellín. On the last night we meet up with Adam. It is really great to see him after a few weeks. <div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrekffvUPiOuvzplBbKtrOi631RNyDwwCk7nfz_CKvEHoIFFtOaOB0-pfiJPaXIGQU5YvmUHU1J6NHg_WfWW6dNycs3HRwPci8Tik_sZRNVSYnHoEiStJv5Lz4Sw9K6mceEAI6x22Rxpw/s400/n500032238_1725739_1037305.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328699924185387490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">From L-R: James, Adam, me & Canada</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>Next morning, myself & the Norwegians leave and take a 14-hour bus to Cartagena. My mind is preoccupied with excitement about being beside the sea. I'm sick of rain and inland places. Colombian chocolate tastes nice. </div></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-33440126087986229122009-04-10T15:54:00.000-07:002009-04-10T17:15:39.509-07:00Coffee<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We follow the instructions and take three buses from Manizales in the search of coffee. We make our way to Chinchina and ask to be dropped off at the church, where we hope to find another bus.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxaSAHLg5sFZ2PvpzvDepOky7oaIlld7bJiL8OoJVjNP-bGhnaWF5axTy_4iWmwgruB7qYL3uIv7nyKDqfG2qwmpZCbUcxT5q3aYGyhXhIM1VfjBy0WuPefgToMcgBCTMKRtBR-2utLs/s400/IMG_8574.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323206111999434578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The church, the bus </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPBo-UoVqppmTyWNrjWETYAXR_MyGhjBCCbJd6gHV0vkzPQUvZHMvFkSgLZDfwQIv5HPAhDQ4-w1FqJYJ_Evf7RuHSlZwUfmvpyEHnRGdGAdJ1eZaRGJFCjNNaQL01SHmWbdhXFOOse4/s1600-h/IMG_8576.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPBo-UoVqppmTyWNrjWETYAXR_MyGhjBCCbJd6gHV0vkzPQUvZHMvFkSgLZDfwQIv5HPAhDQ4-w1FqJYJ_Evf7RuHSlZwUfmvpyEHnRGdGAdJ1eZaRGJFCjNNaQL01SHmWbdhXFOOse4/s400/IMG_8576.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323206497793134834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Chinchina</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Then, onwards to Guayabal where </span><a href="http://www.haciendaguayabal.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"La Hacienda Guayabal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">" is situated. It is quite amusing to be dropped off in the middle of seemingly 'nowhere', without any signposts. There is only one path so we follow it.</span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-18nrgyCnSp575yExrdRdViCbcrvuKEjP0iVVEGobL_pHaQ2ANq_r6ipiC-_efOVEWiHFULERdSI4tzJDgts5e20MbOmHxhvU7H7Qu_DoEpwujsD26vBrLlGoavNQ6MU7KOzltxthFRM/s1600-h/IMG_8578.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-18nrgyCnSp575yExrdRdViCbcrvuKEjP0iVVEGobL_pHaQ2ANq_r6ipiC-_efOVEWiHFULERdSI4tzJDgts5e20MbOmHxhvU7H7Qu_DoEpwujsD26vBrLlGoavNQ6MU7KOzltxthFRM/s400/IMG_8578.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323206097202722994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The path</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmkoUkcB_uYhLhTxmV1NmkJ5UUg8tKG9UJXAEnr-80NG71kEwBIu59-l0imCSIvsY7B5XDKvnIFbV24Cjnm4zMgIdntfWqfFXT8zoL_1q12aGulJ_JT4DHgeXKfJ5JK5OpFeI3qqM2sw/s1600-h/IMG_8580.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmkoUkcB_uYhLhTxmV1NmkJ5UUg8tKG9UJXAEnr-80NG71kEwBIu59-l0imCSIvsY7B5XDKvnIFbV24Cjnm4zMgIdntfWqfFXT8zoL_1q12aGulJ_JT4DHgeXKfJ5JK5OpFeI3qqM2sw/s400/IMG_8580.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323206093218597298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The church, which I initially think is a cattle corral</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5W1_EYkRhSEvncv4MTfZ0JRG-bp9xzeNhlbWjBW9dYjtVY-oMevLj9Vzq9EA1Z5mXh1eNy2KgPiNWjHsWzRcwEKf8BFu3qNK669JNUWsZ9VyFD0nsJ43eo8fGUwIywXm9WOj1G61vls/s1600-h/IMG_8582.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5W1_EYkRhSEvncv4MTfZ0JRG-bp9xzeNhlbWjBW9dYjtVY-oMevLj9Vzq9EA1Z5mXh1eNy2KgPiNWjHsWzRcwEKf8BFu3qNK669JNUWsZ9VyFD0nsJ43eo8fGUwIywXm9WOj1G61vls/s400/IMG_8582.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205605090545362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A local man & his birds</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We following the path through a small community of houses and birds, climbing a hill and eventually arriving at the main building of the plantation site. All buildings are made from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">guadua</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Colombian bamboo.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKQndQ7hRcRW3KenESL12TMYPSOJBpQxUhzvwWeL7EIRby-TiR00Ot1EOvQHpTwYgBWhDxdLIYvE7Eneg2jhMKiQBPmYt3v_T6e0J-5zZefVjYj4VppqjNJHxlNr0LFsaRkoJTSzfJSY/s400/IMG_8641.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203285283548626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Perhaps it's that building up there?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-style: normal; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCkpJLJ6qnhat-BMJ3B93r3xbY4YhEk-gucIZONfmIzfy2uwGerE1DZ1aDs3gFiJsO1Ccx7PlKm0Pu6y-ELOP9i5DELq1yhAG0vo8WlXZ7EM06tUNjf7FwLRJ5JD6p4ACVDAC2d-pJzk/s400/IMG_8584.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205582231945298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Coffee fields </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXxN9JqfflV17UVv2S2uMkClZGM2I6tN7tBAW4nmrKWFw1gvyKFAKeFqaugL1bwfjCPlwx3nrAZyw_4EOf1d-hphJlISwBjCtzKe1DXERafBssPmMlepOLOHzGqgfUbRQ-KXTceNNWgU/s1600-h/IMG_8626.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXxN9JqfflV17UVv2S2uMkClZGM2I6tN7tBAW4nmrKWFw1gvyKFAKeFqaugL1bwfjCPlwx3nrAZyw_4EOf1d-hphJlISwBjCtzKe1DXERafBssPmMlepOLOHzGqgfUbRQ-KXTceNNWgU/s400/IMG_8626.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203985097643698" style="text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Steep hills</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have a delicious meal, chat to the other people visiting and Diana, our guide, begins the tour. The location is beautiful, so green and hilly. Lots of fresh air, trees and pretty flowers.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsYki-CmzTB0z7XmgBRQLJMznfd7UJUqxiHzvzvkXTkGrM62ZAfXxS5XD6kjJBr6Lq6z1zyRzOc_Ww-ktBIqmjdH3j6vUJuxzASR6KFsyKz2bjqeO-5CMIfY0E9hIXHTKOTJclY5P0Zc/s1600-h/IMG_8589.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsYki-CmzTB0z7XmgBRQLJMznfd7UJUqxiHzvzvkXTkGrM62ZAfXxS5XD6kjJBr6Lq6z1zyRzOc_Ww-ktBIqmjdH3j6vUJuxzASR6KFsyKz2bjqeO-5CMIfY0E9hIXHTKOTJclY5P0Zc/s400/IMG_8589.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205582125817394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Diana, our guide who speaks perfect English</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We learn that Chinchina generally provides excellent weather conditions for growing coffee due to the micro-climate in the valley. The average temperature here is 21 degrees, which is ideal for coffee-growing. However in the past couple of years there has been heavier rainfall meaning less coffee production (in fact the last few weeks have been the worst for a decade and there is much evidence of damage from storms). Many farms have had to diversify their o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">fferings in order to stay in business. At Guayabal, they have opted to open their plantation for tourists. On the day we visit, there are four other guests. The hacienda is well kitted out - with excellent lunch and tours in English or Spanish. So I imagine as tourism grows in Columbia, so too will the number of visitors to the plantation.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here the farm employ workers to engage in manual-selective picking, rather than use machinery (as in Brazil). They say Colombian coffee is the smoothest in the world - with Germany, USA and Japan purchasing the bulk of the exported coffee. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fruits: guava, soursop, orange, lemon, tangerine, pineapple, macadamia, chontaduro, raspberry, mango & banana. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Flowers: tropical flowers mainly heliconia like bird of paradise, ginger orchids, roses.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyY2G-BHpcum3eBZbNT0CJmHTG1AB2gJAu84lso82ldNfNNxuhrzm2zArfwSu0VlTzNeb3135hi2jOB7zcEhofveIve1p8v4JNFbVbB39xpVoGnYQ3Kh_V5GSjPkbCQB5asEHIWKhuQ8/s400/IMG_8590.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205578423665298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bird of Paradise grow all over the farm</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFASy84O0W8zAMRMI-vlsykxk3qMIFqKO3a2B7-iZZGaSBfuazH2P6C-O0NRa77HjkLdDgxcqs4Z2vVblpW1wkFe9AU1gl2D12-Pdm3MSOvps1G3EBA8-4YzxnbvRNKg5o6PR6y_HihG0/s1600-h/IMG_8614.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFASy84O0W8zAMRMI-vlsykxk3qMIFqKO3a2B7-iZZGaSBfuazH2P6C-O0NRa77HjkLdDgxcqs4Z2vVblpW1wkFe9AU1gl2D12-Pdm3MSOvps1G3EBA8-4YzxnbvRNKg5o6PR6y_HihG0/s400/IMG_8614.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323204238176893730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Red bananas, have hallucinogenic properties when eaten apparently</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stages in the Process of Coffee Production</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJseFNBP3D2SDCSGnJWNcnZvf7_wEFBmxmqK0lYDap3LWYYoDATo9U8_eL1CR7WHAn79GEjg8Znc7SwRDBnsOi2kHj_KZUDP9RJCRVbCvlD9-Zds8KP8kOjqmEfaofzlrQV0GJOIbN5s/s400/IMG_8601.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205291301129810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Seedbed and seedling</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOVTsf09pbNvPLRGOO1oSw6PI7DX9F5dC259J7Ljtz5mnPqSsvj3cutcxkHt5BMucPTk9f1grR339rMVUH2YWqLHPWBEPBFOcHIpp9OeQdxMZwNvDJchcN10aOp8rMp_AbAF3-BaDooE/s1600-h/IMG_8595.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOVTsf09pbNvPLRGOO1oSw6PI7DX9F5dC259J7Ljtz5mnPqSsvj3cutcxkHt5BMucPTk9f1grR339rMVUH2YWqLHPWBEPBFOcHIpp9OeQdxMZwNvDJchcN10aOp8rMp_AbAF3-BaDooE/s400/IMG_8595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205297452277346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsCLs7dKUMP_bxWojZ4JomZe-jvwQBwJQULed5hfvgRcOGR2quhJcJIopfh5zAS8PDjwl1muA8Orp0FZooOVtcji5Kk98G6U5f9KKOpjcRF1zVE-ZBKLX3nTc3UW-9zJzUiU7XOHIdIY/s400/IMG_8596.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205573929613378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">2. Pruning and pest management (mainly the Coffee Berry Borer "drill"), wasp, fungus and re-re</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib8wGLLlVK2JguoN4JV-JZ_-zjXQIwn_YzalJlw7UFE_TAXpFIiPmxqv7nmO4QxxvBoU2qwTyb20Ow3HKn4KTIBUOEFieEyzWFaDYcAwrdf50DBoZ-F5otBVeXWEjTDhg-bXKk01EVJ4/s1600-h/IMG_8604.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib8wGLLlVK2JguoN4JV-JZ_-zjXQIwn_YzalJlw7UFE_TAXpFIiPmxqv7nmO4QxxvBoU2qwTyb20Ow3HKn4KTIBUOEFieEyzWFaDYcAwrdf50DBoZ-F5otBVeXWEjTDhg-bXKk01EVJ4/s400/IMG_8604.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323205287330913426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTA-n6p-FNvTbAI_DTfifDET-Vj3WTAuuUvISGAKXx28urkK6EyfhF-LZr6jt6Ga2ghdp4QDnuftn4BKeS-ThADiRp1CcKk25_h5MzjX_BtsHN7dRBJWKCjrSXig1g0ycVwT-NwsvhBE/s1600-h/IMG_8636.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTA-n6p-FNvTbAI_DTfifDET-Vj3WTAuuUvISGAKXx28urkK6EyfhF-LZr6jt6Ga2ghdp4QDnuftn4BKeS-ThADiRp1CcKk25_h5MzjX_BtsHN7dRBJWKCjrSXig1g0ycVwT-NwsvhBE/s400/IMG_8636.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203623733661250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Juan Jose, who has worked at the plantation all his life</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; "><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsOJG2mGwzVuoi-Gt_K4kHAx074xR9bkj5bEj3W3QiLZp2P6y6HjU6OoGISC_ePXtzLjjdCuAvLmyUkMUTD3py0zBgWqNLquDNpld8ViPlD3w-N7xuYCCPJKu5SvZdeq1KuBlhmoACOA/s1600-h/IMG_8625.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAsOJG2mGwzVuoi-Gt_K4kHAx074xR9bkj5bEj3W3QiLZp2P6y6HjU6OoGISC_ePXtzLjjdCuAvLmyUkMUTD3py0zBgWqNLquDNpld8ViPlD3w-N7xuYCCPJKu5SvZdeq1KuBlhmoACOA/s400/IMG_8625.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323204229993846114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Where the workers stay and eat</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">3. Coffee in production: 2 years for its first harvest (5 years in production, 3 cycles of 7 years)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KxmFdX33Ydn97r9fl_ZzzOkaq6x4ePejxp3ytcLhRSR_c1Bb0AXFdIMJGSwt6LGm-McGFjrOd1o1O1RBin0QcHCCpnlSxXJrhMIctlaC6GlRpLlduMcm_XWh8FfGFDiCX4-OdsaAQhM/s1600-h/IMG_8631.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KxmFdX33Ydn97r9fl_ZzzOkaq6x4ePejxp3ytcLhRSR_c1Bb0AXFdIMJGSwt6LGm-McGFjrOd1o1O1RBin0QcHCCpnlSxXJrhMIctlaC6GlRpLlduMcm_XWh8FfGFDiCX4-OdsaAQhM/s400/IMG_8631.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203980060176978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The hills are so steep, this is difficult labour</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bj_jpa4vwzadSPLioy-_qZ6QxXkXSpxn8DR_0OcHZ4ait5uDiMxcnd-73ThmmKLA_yaQwx7URlDVvLG2gYzyrRZA24kydgeMimsEmDXFeWkP-ZwXeYKiiF0XrY8fjozlJ2_g8PPw41c/s1600-h/IMG_8605.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bj_jpa4vwzadSPLioy-_qZ6QxXkXSpxn8DR_0OcHZ4ait5uDiMxcnd-73ThmmKLA_yaQwx7URlDVvLG2gYzyrRZA24kydgeMimsEmDXFeWkP-ZwXeYKiiF0XrY8fjozlJ2_g8PPw41c/s400/IMG_8605.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323204908070939730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'Cherries'</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIUQK0pqpBFk66mjW8XBdYj-CjUdJ7PvZP0HxeY1gD90PNK9hsqp-KIwWdNmU-at77sYolNAadnH39mfX6luSvKBYXsHOHEzfotT16PamwbAHJYqkFTicSI-Au-fQEB3woExRkSEm974/s1600-h/IMG_8606.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuIUQK0pqpBFk66mjW8XBdYj-CjUdJ7PvZP0HxeY1gD90PNK9hsqp-KIwWdNmU-at77sYolNAadnH39mfX6luSvKBYXsHOHEzfotT16PamwbAHJYqkFTicSI-Au-fQEB3woExRkSEm974/s400/IMG_8606.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323204908452112578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Path through the coffee fields</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q2rh0C14mCFKNMuYzcP830a0gv3URYRvgikKpAR-87NL3_gz1UsaH8HL7MTAUWIxGR4H2Ai1yTT8Ipa13ZPMDEygypQD0zYqwLZBYVB5QKJd28xfo6ZmC-CuRQlDEid8GNSLvvmaR4E/s1600-h/IMG_8634.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q2rh0C14mCFKNMuYzcP830a0gv3URYRvgikKpAR-87NL3_gz1UsaH8HL7MTAUWIxGR4H2Ai1yTT8Ipa13ZPMDEygypQD0zYqwLZBYVB5QKJd28xfo6ZmC-CuRQlDEid8GNSLvvmaR4E/s400/IMG_8634.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203624376037762" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Helene, listening intently to Diana</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. Washing process (benedicio): coffee is gathered together, weighed and send to the de-pulper machine and then the mucilage is removed. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWIREBtEXof4TgG3AXlza2G57jXhdKr_XdHgI4OkU7ozo5_VSYOkEpCyNHQI5mCP_q3e11PX2qX1DLCy6R0VT79YggcDc3JSUeBnpegZ-RgeRjfHtqMwfTcdp0bk0pskfYK1ZFd1ImRQ/s1600-h/IMG_8628.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWIREBtEXof4TgG3AXlza2G57jXhdKr_XdHgI4OkU7ozo5_VSYOkEpCyNHQI5mCP_q3e11PX2qX1DLCy6R0VT79YggcDc3JSUeBnpegZ-RgeRjfHtqMwfTcdp0bk0pskfYK1ZFd1ImRQ/s400/IMG_8628.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203981210447874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It is washed and classified in the water. Pasilla (low quality coffee) floats - this is what is used to make instant coffee. Coffee is sent to the dried process in the silo.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecMRh9zTUItq9kMlOOmPTpe1ehuzpfcTlFaTqjQ4WEZC5U4qzTxDhGrHkSn8RIwd2BmJuqIZRLK4k9-9QPrdfa4BolQm1GNhnOsMQfgJH7GjA6qeAy2gRm-91B8oEhlmo1GvQ8hchuDE/s1600-h/IMG_8647.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecMRh9zTUItq9kMlOOmPTpe1ehuzpfcTlFaTqjQ4WEZC5U4qzTxDhGrHkSn8RIwd2BmJuqIZRLK4k9-9QPrdfa4BolQm1GNhnOsMQfgJH7GjA6qeAy2gRm-91B8oEhlmo1GvQ8hchuDE/s400/IMG_8647.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203095258908962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pasila (used for instant coffee)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT7BNqlq7yjphE4sbR0pPgYVoiwoRYUAwqBYrixjC4fH32g3tSdjFGPfV8UIk6uVFCbJ2-svehpjNvdqExrMkV5y7RuVjZM0ezP_Kdmgy2pdp9HKesoWDxjkQc4tJJL5ikl4wlHAYlMM/s1600-h/IMG_8639.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT7BNqlq7yjphE4sbR0pPgYVoiwoRYUAwqBYrixjC4fH32g3tSdjFGPfV8UIk6uVFCbJ2-svehpjNvdqExrMkV5y7RuVjZM0ezP_Kdmgy2pdp9HKesoWDxjkQc4tJJL5ikl4wlHAYlMM/s400/IMG_8639.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203289436067138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Where all the beans are put to begin the washing process</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN1CfBtHMqAQwl8Mel9Q_I8c8lB9BdUMYGZhcHgT0S9nLbgM_wYpBrsddKbmuhIAshZwy1ZmetPNXGF3hhPrfQ-1Qrh8x85lNO44dLVGhdFpb_ShaU4mAqrys9Lh_AqkoC2SwPsFW5NQ/s1600-h/IMG_8643.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN1CfBtHMqAQwl8Mel9Q_I8c8lB9BdUMYGZhcHgT0S9nLbgM_wYpBrsddKbmuhIAshZwy1ZmetPNXGF3hhPrfQ-1Qrh8x85lNO44dLVGhdFpb_ShaU4mAqrys9Lh_AqkoC2SwPsFW5NQ/s400/IMG_8643.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203285834144866" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The beans are put through these tubes</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxedZv_0BImMVd37iEvjBd6mPMpCvxO18y5tNuH2RduBaMyXBcfG9myK7YRHNli9M8YCVn41yTWV7UH6Azet0dg_VHwNr-o70McqfkqxQ2u5mWQZOeBaMHbbt7wtUu172YmO4ivL3zFM/s1600-h/IMG_8644.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxedZv_0BImMVd37iEvjBd6mPMpCvxO18y5tNuH2RduBaMyXBcfG9myK7YRHNli9M8YCVn41yTWV7UH6Azet0dg_VHwNr-o70McqfkqxQ2u5mWQZOeBaMHbbt7wtUu172YmO4ivL3zFM/s400/IMG_8644.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203283503161154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and these tubes</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OzX_vwSRvTHqbsokB5cd71o7W3dZVLHW3d8UJ-IhTGngkqhcFPUvh-xSoUpxp2GgkEnSa5j9EwpP8v1dDCs3k8BA0Jct3pLN_sxndpc9JxwJlTUFSjII_omFS0VKH10koxswHr0H7ZU/s1600-h/IMG_8646.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OzX_vwSRvTHqbsokB5cd71o7W3dZVLHW3d8UJ-IhTGngkqhcFPUvh-xSoUpxp2GgkEnSa5j9EwpP8v1dDCs3k8BA0Jct3pLN_sxndpc9JxwJlTUFSjII_omFS0VKH10koxswHr0H7ZU/s400/IMG_8646.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323203096770821970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The bad ones float</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">5. Drying proces: coffee is dried, first in a pre-drying process and then the drying process itself. Maximum temperature 60 degrees. Final humidity between 9% and 12%. Coffee is sold out of the farm by kg.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxGN5VxGwAWrwNLdRPlPxb3c2BKlMbSF7066sKO9GwVDDf1uygG2nYjD9OlmGTOmv0F-yc2ZjvB6sdQKd2CjbRH08wiTVyno3NVhKxC6xVq2fL3im8DvHcneIV4UmYaurYLZPzxl3Gvk/s1600-h/IMG_8653.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxGN5VxGwAWrwNLdRPlPxb3c2BKlMbSF7066sKO9GwVDDf1uygG2nYjD9OlmGTOmv0F-yc2ZjvB6sdQKd2CjbRH08wiTVyno3NVhKxC6xVq2fL3im8DvHcneIV4UmYaurYLZPzxl3Gvk/s400/IMG_8653.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200422764133858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These bags are made from natural fibres found in a local plant (like hemp)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">6. Threshing: husk is removed from the coffee bean. To export coffee is classified by size with meshes. Big beans belong to higher meshes or supreme coffee. Colour and weight</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">of beans are also selected. Then coffee is exported.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7. In every country coffee is blended and roasted. Roasting average temperature is 19-200 degrees during 15-20 minutes.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">8. Finally, we can grind and brew our coffee to taste a very fresh cup of coffee, the best from Columbia! The coffee is delicious, very strong but the smell is amazing! The tour is informative, and Diana teaches us about selecting good coffee at home which is useful.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKiCo4JwFYjx3A_-kQHhyPBFXPl6UW-1v_Ex_A7MjRFZjlx1NkaHTz909wDqHlg8bVd6csYF1D_1_QNi3p0ZmxgqN7oyYoRKZpYycq_TkuPvbMOAHHmUTLXAdDseq39qgvq59qQJ_-S0/s1600-h/IMG_8652.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKiCo4JwFYjx3A_-kQHhyPBFXPl6UW-1v_Ex_A7MjRFZjlx1NkaHTz909wDqHlg8bVd6csYF1D_1_QNi3p0ZmxgqN7oyYoRKZpYycq_TkuPvbMOAHHmUTLXAdDseq39qgvq59qQJ_-S0/s400/IMG_8652.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200425352278018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The main building at the plantation, with bounding dog & elbow</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYzy3rF7CM-ed-iWG0l0d6qqFLvWZBOxnWUp9WST54MRRVMWaDV2rhYYjQMp-nYBYFD0aE6sIx_L-HjCbAKEaXhEQJOaA5HrLPfteWxWw0ysLCktM3KTE6d3p0FGZNlQ6nzWQ8QD9smU/s1600-h/IMG_8655.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYzy3rF7CM-ed-iWG0l0d6qqFLvWZBOxnWUp9WST54MRRVMWaDV2rhYYjQMp-nYBYFD0aE6sIx_L-HjCbAKEaXhEQJOaA5HrLPfteWxWw0ysLCktM3KTE6d3p0FGZNlQ6nzWQ8QD9smU/s400/IMG_8655.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200419188868802" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Clucks</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFNw8DBliLkkFQ13wxHIqdHN2s1tF0YboJHa_SE913HobnnV5eaeCfeO5BnRvSoGBOmYnJLB5HOHyU4CA2bXZFBc9VqWcJc9ZqZV5mE8CI2wjtgzP-3IDc-3EvaCjdlT1-V5kfGMr7rM/s1600-h/IMG_8658.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFNw8DBliLkkFQ13wxHIqdHN2s1tF0YboJHa_SE913HobnnV5eaeCfeO5BnRvSoGBOmYnJLB5HOHyU4CA2bXZFBc9VqWcJc9ZqZV5mE8CI2wjtgzP-3IDc-3EvaCjdlT1-V5kfGMr7rM/s400/IMG_8658.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200419504620578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Roasting the dried beans</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOB1fW3RpTpCSMW-jlcP17V0KtrzxGJIxMJtp6C9Xd4wnzk5wIRJUFALuTYCaxv99FJ9B38acwou9iWdm562YeW-Vh452UxHHlz7LgD-V3fMjPaTUV85JLB76v42Ude7gxIKSUHpipZ0/s1600-h/IMG_8660.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOB1fW3RpTpCSMW-jlcP17V0KtrzxGJIxMJtp6C9Xd4wnzk5wIRJUFALuTYCaxv99FJ9B38acwou9iWdm562YeW-Vh452UxHHlz7LgD-V3fMjPaTUV85JLB76v42Ude7gxIKSUHpipZ0/s400/IMG_8660.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200242622598290" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Freshly roasted coffee beans</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkOt-fsl0R_rimNHDsM393EJfgO6Am2XUy8w9pgvUAvu0YjxFhZSgaRFjrXNaU1oNS9Yrb6NNTp8T5HTkTlbmJYYVy4a89Ck8antg_hZS_YdIWn9aCu7ow8NHLxX59nDY3ayuQIOiyGY/s1600-h/IMG_8663.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkOt-fsl0R_rimNHDsM393EJfgO6Am2XUy8w9pgvUAvu0YjxFhZSgaRFjrXNaU1oNS9Yrb6NNTp8T5HTkTlbmJYYVy4a89Ck8antg_hZS_YdIWn9aCu7ow8NHLxX59nDY3ayuQIOiyGY/s400/IMG_8663.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200235645351250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At last it's time to taste</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwBpAB9Le8RgkRsmBlU25QafiYq7iiJQJ_rIRrfQ3k3SUHTeSDwcGGWA3WMNGsL8xFaux5unmF-ECgcHpjGUgcYuEOCBEUaRa7TvhTWoIstCcX2ojU-2rEVspuG-SKgOJSk35KBKKSKQ/s1600-h/IMG_8664.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkwBpAB9Le8RgkRsmBlU25QafiYq7iiJQJ_rIRrfQ3k3SUHTeSDwcGGWA3WMNGsL8xFaux5unmF-ECgcHpjGUgcYuEOCBEUaRa7TvhTWoIstCcX2ojU-2rEVspuG-SKgOJSk35KBKKSKQ/s400/IMG_8664.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200232288517394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The family pet, Polly</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSzvcczbafb2wv2JWR0aUgBaauDJkc2GW93v49GNDQrKlj1Dy_Ycgsw48MWKLvqn3bJWtx9ZV3buWNzdFo7RUzkn3zO58bJziiRLXAhD-UJPtsdd6jgnFsi5R7INoKFeQ3V3jnBylP8M/s1600-h/IMG_8665.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSzvcczbafb2wv2JWR0aUgBaauDJkc2GW93v49GNDQrKlj1Dy_Ycgsw48MWKLvqn3bJWtx9ZV3buWNzdFo7RUzkn3zO58bJziiRLXAhD-UJPtsdd6jgnFsi5R7INoKFeQ3V3jnBylP8M/s400/IMG_8665.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323200231636915442" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Certified!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; font-size:11px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The owner of the plantation gives us a lift to Chinchina, and we bus back to the city. In the morning, we take the bus to Medellin. The trip is well worth the three buses worth of travel.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXxN9JqfflV17UVv2S2uMkClZGM2I6tN7tBAW4nmrKWFw1gvyKFAKeFqaugL1bwfjCPlwx3nrAZyw_4EOf1d-hphJlISwBjCtzKe1DXERafBssPmMlepOLOHzGqgfUbRQ-KXTceNNWgU/s1600-h/IMG_8626.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "></a></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXxN9JqfflV17UVv2S2uMkClZGM2I6tN7tBAW4nmrKWFw1gvyKFAKeFqaugL1bwfjCPlwx3nrAZyw_4EOf1d-hphJlISwBjCtzKe1DXERafBssPmMlepOLOHzGqgfUbRQ-KXTceNNWgU/s1600-h/IMG_8626.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "></a></span></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-17619588442693184002009-04-10T15:46:00.001-07:002009-04-10T15:54:17.018-07:00Tennis<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Norwegians arrive to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="gcpaddrlink"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Bog</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ot</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">á</span></span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span>and bring the sunshine with them. We visit the National Museum (no English translations) and try some local maize cakes with banana and cheese for brunch. In the evening we visit the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Zona Rosa</span> for sushi, something I haven't had for a while. This southern neighbourhood is another world compared to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">La Candelaria </span>- full of wealth and glamour. There are fabulous restaurants, bars and shopping centres. Walking around here you could be in any European or American capital city. Like Buenos Aires, the women are glamorous and extremely well-groomed. Here they say 'There is no such thing as an ugly woman, only a poor husband' - if something is not right, they fix it with surgery. All the women seem to wear high heels at all times, even for breakfast. The following morning Marie sets off to Medellín to meet her friend. Helene and I return to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Zona Rosa</span> for some pampering and retail-therapy. The shops are incredible, with every brand you find on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Oxford Street</span> in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">London.</span> Most of the shops are too expensive for our budget. However, we find a brand called </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tennis</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> which suits all our requirements and we update our backpack wardrobe, which was becoming rather tired! Afterwards we treat ourselves to a manicure and pedicure, followed by a glass of red-wine on a terrace, the perfect place to people-watch. Adam has changed his plans and so is staying with a friend outside of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="gcpaddrlink"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bog</span></span></a><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ot</span></span></a><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">á</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, we will reunite at some stage further north. In the morning, we take a 9-hour bus to Manizales, capital city of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Zona Cafetera</span>. Helene accurately notes that the drivers 'doesn't know clutch'. We feel sick for the entire journey as we jerk and swerve around the constantly winding roads. For some reason we imagine Manizales as a 2-road town in the country. Not quite the 500 million populated, busy city that we are greeted with! The bus station is crazy. One man shouts at us 'be careful with your bags'. It takes us a while to find a taxi. When we do he is also crazy. Surely he is high on something? He pumps hardcore techno music at full volume and drives at ridiculous speed through the city. I turn to Helene and say; 'we will be lucky if we survive this journey'. After a bit of a palava trying to find '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Mountain House</span>' (we attempt to pronounce with our best Colombian accent). I cannot understand anything the taxi driver says. In fact, I cannot understand a word any Colombian says - do they swallow words or simply invent new ones? The hostel is lovely, we chat to the staff and make a plan to visit a coffee farm in the morning. Three buses we will need to take....aargh so much for a 2-street town, this sounds like a mega-mission!</span></span></span>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5538053343302518777.post-11801275036651174852009-04-03T15:16:00.000-07:002009-04-10T15:45:58.800-07:00Arrival to 'Boggers', Columbia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiY7RTq4708A871hSua1lwmTaujNK-swIG4TdPPMIA98ETePRnyCesaLKkI4TJVA5w5LZZzlWHKzLAs-kCdaWXrfdI5Agqsxul3xyGYR02J9WrB4KJySN8Nci0oN17AWYeRqEVeSgn7k/s1600-h/IMG_8535.JPG"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I fly to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="gcpaddrlink" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bog</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ot</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">á</span></span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, Columbia with a two-hour interchange at Lima, Peru. We fly directly through the lightening storm that has grasped the city</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="gcpaddrlink"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, </span></span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lighting up the dark aisles inside the plane. The storm continues while I collect my luggage, change some money and look for a legitimate taxi. Admittedly, as a lone female, is it not ideal arriving to Columbia at 3.30am. I hate arriving to new places at night. Even the most beautiful places look ugly and unappealing under the shadows. I am aware of this, and try to be optimistic as my taxi driver speeds through the dodgy-looking and mostly deserted streets. Many of the roads are flooded. I do not know a great deal about Colombian weather, but this certainly is not what I had imagined! Twenty minutes into the journey and the taxi driver informs me that he does not know where the Platypus hostel is. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hmph</span>, I am tired, grumpy and want to go to bed. I grab the map and scribbled-down address from my backpack, and bark directions towards what I hope is the correct street. Luckily it is. We drive the length of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Calle</span> 16 and do a U-turn back to the hostel, he informs me that he wants to ensure there are no dangerous folk lurking nearby. He asks me to stay in the car until he rings the bell and ensures that the door is open. Rather a sweet gesture, but I am a little alarmed. I trundle inside, and someone leads me to my private room. I have splashed out, I cannot face a dorm-room tonight. I do not sleep well. The rain thumps on the roof above and the staff and fellow guests begin to clatter outside my door at 7am. </span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I enjoy the luxury of having my own room. This sounds absurd until I tell you that I have not stayed in my own room since the 27<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> December, the day I left <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sligo</span>! In delight, I scatter my belongings all over the floor and double bed (extra bonus!). Oh yes, what luxury it is to be a messy pup for a few days! I decide to stay in my pajamas until lunchtime, surfing the net (WI-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">FI</span>!) and reading a (trashy) novel. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When I cannot muffle the sounds of my grumbling stomach any longer I get ready and go out. The hostel is described as 'maybe the best hostel in South America' on the Internet. I am not convinced, it is cold (no heating) and my room does not have any natural light, but I shall refrain from complaining - there is free coffee! The hostel is located in La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Candelaria</span> which is an area filled with old streets and colonial buildings, a good place to be but not safe at night apparently.</span></div><div><div style="text-decoration: underline; text-align: center; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvX7Dy4rijspzwUOZa5INNoMLVNCHrNFhnNw8G-GwSle88NhRIkYaESOxgP8cl635h6JovDdh5zpoB5cf3m0yafdcYdCnabYZ0xG8N99nmCBJ6a4W9mVbEf0JMr2Pjg7HX4sddRrgNZY/s1600-h/IMG_8569.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvX7Dy4rijspzwUOZa5INNoMLVNCHrNFhnNw8G-GwSle88NhRIkYaESOxgP8cl635h6JovDdh5zpoB5cf3m0yafdcYdCnabYZ0xG8N99nmCBJ6a4W9mVbEf0JMr2Pjg7HX4sddRrgNZY/s400/IMG_8569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977350712963218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The street <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">wh</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ere I live</span></span></div><div style="text-decoration: underline; text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WTuiOIBCVFFGXLcNZ0arQQsnl-xOg7hwlUGOmoUBhWQnlkIkSN6POVhx9mRGmZE7RRNvMapQRmql2RNGv6Hj8FACsFPKU7YANzaGbXX3IrKlymEnh-zqCwlXpvSLLSxuZznAdabIE_4/s1600-h/IMG_8570.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WTuiOIBCVFFGXLcNZ0arQQsnl-xOg7hwlUGOmoUBhWQnlkIkSN6POVhx9mRGmZE7RRNvMapQRmql2RNGv6Hj8FACsFPKU7YANzaGbXX3IrKlymEnh-zqCwlXpvSLLSxuZznAdabIE_4/s400/IMG_8570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977352679892962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My front door</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wander down <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Avenida</span> Jimenez, find a coffee shop and start to get acquainted with the guidebook. I decide to visit the Gold Museum (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Museo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Oro</span>) nearby. I feel pretty safe walking around during the day, most people seem to be busily rushing around their daily lives. There are lots of homeless people, including one entire family sitting on the street with what seems to be their pet rabbit. There are many street performances with jugglers, musicians and acrobats, and one man with 10 guinea pigs who tries to align them into some kind of order for a race! There is a square nearby where hundreds of men stand around chatting. I don't understand what they are doing. Most people have dark hair and seem to wear black, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">illuminate</span> the streets with my golden locks and red jacket. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Museo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">de</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Oro</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I cannot rave enough about how great this museum is. It is clearly laid-out, in a spacious building. The galleries and descriptions are informative without being laborious, in both Spanish and English. The collection of gold artefacts and jewelery are beautiful, and there is a superb video of the various metal-working techniques used in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">pre</span>-Hispanic Columbia. There are some rooms which discuss cosmology, symbolism and what is know as 'The Offering' (religious art). Throw a decent dollop of social and cultural (my favourite!) history to the measure, and what you have is a very user-friendly and interesting museum.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/expo/permanen/gente01.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 558px; height: 353px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Gallery of gold <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">artefacts</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><img src="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/objetos/quimbaya/O32852D.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 250px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Symbolic creature used for ceremonies</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/info/ofrenda.jpg"><img src="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/info/ofrenda.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 112px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/info/O2844302.jpg"><img src="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/info/O2844302.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 112px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/info/O16146As.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><img src="http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/images/info/O16146As.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="text-decoration: underline;text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 112px; height: 112px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For the next couple of days, I keep myself to myself. I am feeling a little reclusive, enjoying some time by myself. The bad weather continues so I spend my time visiting galleries, sitting in coffee shops and browsing bookshops. The nights are cold and I am glad of my llama jumper and alpaca scarf! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Donación</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Botero</span> Museum</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Here I view a collection of the Colombian figurative artist, Fernando <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Botero</span>. Some of his painters are familiar to me, from somewhere or other (his work is fairly unforgettable). He focuses mainly on portraiture of obese characters with disproportionate body parts. His paintings make me smile. When asked about why he uses obese figures in his sculpture and paintings. He replies: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">"An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why. You adopt a position intuitively; only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/museobotero/images/g-fami.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 500px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Una <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Familia</span> (1989)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><img src="http://www.gonvel.com.sv/docs1/botero.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bath</span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://vivirencolombia.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/fernando_botero1.jpg"><img src="http://vivirencolombia.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/fernando_botero1.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 364px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Mona Lisa (1977)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Also, inside this gallery there is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Botero's</span> own donated sculptures and paintings, including Picasso, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Miró</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Dalí</span>, Monet. As the guidebook says, 'well worth a visit'. And it's free!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Biblioteca</span> Luis Angel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Arango</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I take a quick snoop around this fine library, which also contains three reading rooms, art galleries and a concert hall. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Casa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">de</span> la <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Moneda</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The building and courtyard are really charming (dates back to 1620 when Felipe III of Spain ordered it's construction). This was the first mint in the country to produce gold coins. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kCoYDfh_vqJuXS12ExpVYYo6V92QbI-E9o12FwDThIO3Pcm7VnQzgpkm_BC8AYt48JCLdKhSfLrEzWX6FhngZ4pLmyXc5zrk17Trb4WWwckKRNRWItT5Z9q52DRKfuQcPEIpvydXLuY/s1600-h/IMG_8538.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kCoYDfh_vqJuXS12ExpVYYo6V92QbI-E9o12FwDThIO3Pcm7VnQzgpkm_BC8AYt48JCLdKhSfLrEzWX6FhngZ4pLmyXc5zrk17Trb4WWwckKRNRWItT5Z9q52DRKfuQcPEIpvydXLuY/s400/IMG_8538.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977876466257922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There is also a collection of Colombian and European art (including quite a few colonial pieces). I get a little annoyed when one of the female security guards yells at me to stand back from the painting, and thus proceeds to follow me around for the next 10 minutes. Many of the rooms are empty, just each security guard and myself. Some of the male guards want to chat. First question tends to be around what my impression of their country is, second question - am I married?....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On the subject of talking to strangers. There appears to be disproportionately more men in this city than women. Some of the women I have had interactions with have been rather cold and unfriendly (e.g. at the airport, security at the gallery, women at the hostel). Perhaps it is just those women in 'positions of power'?! Anyway, the men have been friendly - in coffee shops giving me free tea and biscuits, in the gallery offering to give me a personal guided tour, and on the plane offering to show me around the city. I decline all offers but the tea and biscuits. The men here tell me it is not in their culture for women to wander around alone. I ignore them, and enjoy my solitude. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anyway, back to the gallery. The nugget of excitement for me is held within the temporary collection where there is a fantastic collection of photographs and newspaper articles by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">René</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Burri</span>, the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 7px; "><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss" title="Swiss" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Swiss</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographer" title="Photographer" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">photographer -</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">entitled '</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Un</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Mundo</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">'. He is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">known for his photos of major political, historical and cultural events and key figures of the second half of the 20<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">th</span> century. The exhibition displays </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 9px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">photographs of political, military and artistic figures and scenes since the beginning of his career in 1946. The most famous of which are portraits of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara" title="Che Guevara" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Che Guevara</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso" title="Pablo Picasso" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pablo Picasso</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> as well as pictures of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Paulo" title="São Paulo" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">São Paulo</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bras%C3%ADlia" title="Brasília" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Brasília</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 4px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/5/1/Rene-Burri-Che-Guevara--1963-51468.jpg"><img src="http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/5/1/Rene-Burri-Che-Guevara--1963-51468.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 321px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 7px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Che Guevara (looking incredibly handsome)</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 4px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.picassomio.com/images/art/pm-35386-large.jpg"><img src="http://static.picassomio.com/images/art/pm-35386-large.jpg" border="0" alt="" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 490px; height: 322px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pablo Picasso</span></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 5px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Plaza Bolivar</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Packed with pigeons so naturally I don't like it (birds are my foe). Also, there seems to be a bundle of people camping out there - what are they doing? There are some beautiful old buildings here. </span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOz5ZjgWZPM8tQ3lR7xbNuKdHVmb5e31CAiQXZkXFLP6GDws5zOD9QC2Jw7O_F4pDPxHSHGzapaFeA8mEYX42K0p5cHp2jx1-YbK99LL2ddEsyNE22nr-RQ4NYV5y_DaUoUDgxFuuLyo/s1600-h/IMG_8548.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOz5ZjgWZPM8tQ3lR7xbNuKdHVmb5e31CAiQXZkXFLP6GDws5zOD9QC2Jw7O_F4pDPxHSHGzapaFeA8mEYX42K0p5cHp2jx1-YbK99LL2ddEsyNE22nr-RQ4NYV5y_DaUoUDgxFuuLyo/s400/IMG_8548.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977748653533778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxgi0vIhZFO4YcjcX_4CxDx2z3AAtgnv-IQzVuvKzMqZkRkdI05o6d0iRcQB7EC2cGWL94VgtXw8XPFQW4Ull2ekXJDw8AUkEENwMsgEPhmoYDXvcrBpedmKDLXHU26RlRAWlxX65YlA/s1600-h/IMG_8541.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxgi0vIhZFO4YcjcX_4CxDx2z3AAtgnv-IQzVuvKzMqZkRkdI05o6d0iRcQB7EC2cGWL94VgtXw8XPFQW4Ull2ekXJDw8AUkEENwMsgEPhmoYDXvcrBpedmKDLXHU26RlRAWlxX65YlA/s400/IMG_8541.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977755653722818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2hDcSXVFfu8JnT59iL6wtQyqcsMEaLfNE0dbCzZ3UYN_hCMCxN_ntB69hsfO0JtJnJCdmtL90tNZX6J99ZXpI7fi6GxWPl2gPBAGKY6siEsrQ5X6q2xIGSz8BqS3q14apEb4pRRWeoA/s1600-h/IMG_8543.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2hDcSXVFfu8JnT59iL6wtQyqcsMEaLfNE0dbCzZ3UYN_hCMCxN_ntB69hsfO0JtJnJCdmtL90tNZX6J99ZXpI7fi6GxWPl2gPBAGKY6siEsrQ5X6q2xIGSz8BqS3q14apEb4pRRWeoA/s400/IMG_8543.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977748781069842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQnw8RzIoqZayVgb0Q3Xi5jl_5w-aSzuhw4uzKjhzRq1nJcGzhTwoJCuy5gSH00TTBtG4K19ZE-0XWOqgcmfpMtnLJrjZR4ItKjWwdc227cwW_yph0ZW3PaZUecjwyvrwSFJ2Ci5v-Pc/s1600-h/IMG_8550.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQnw8RzIoqZayVgb0Q3Xi5jl_5w-aSzuhw4uzKjhzRq1nJcGzhTwoJCuy5gSH00TTBtG4K19ZE-0XWOqgcmfpMtnLJrjZR4ItKjWwdc227cwW_yph0ZW3PaZUecjwyvrwSFJ2Ci5v-Pc/s400/IMG_8550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977747324796162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Old & new buildings stand side by side</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Museo de Arte Moderno (MAMBO)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A bit of a trek in the opposite direction, in an area know as Downtown </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="gcpaddrlink"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bog</span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ot</span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=chrome&q=&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=co&ei=dJXWSbLaIcmEtwfMxYzhDw&hl=en&geocode=FYbpRgAddGGV-w" log="miw" onclick="this.blur();openInfoWindow('A');return false;" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">á</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, there is the modern art gallery. Here you have to pay, and there are two exhibitons. One which I have forgotten already, the other named "300% Spanish Design" which is a fairly interesting collection of chairs, posters (for me, the most interesting section) and lamps from Spanish designers. Picasso, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Miró, Dalí feature here too. Spanish guitar music is played downstairs. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1zO2PIysJBT2b3IXOpm2bzmIiic4xNIDU4dkbfJgxzp7Ipd7fO4tAJjgqk3MZb_L-xjaWxGHkLqfbn9IxGrB8DpA9U9JRm_ip-RTZ8R3kQR0T5xx6nzcReZ2b99WqO49wW6zIwc_uZ0/s1600-h/IMG_8565.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1zO2PIysJBT2b3IXOpm2bzmIiic4xNIDU4dkbfJgxzp7Ipd7fO4tAJjgqk3MZb_L-xjaWxGHkLqfbn9IxGrB8DpA9U9JRm_ip-RTZ8R3kQR0T5xx6nzcReZ2b99WqO49wW6zIwc_uZ0/s400/IMG_8565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977360764550818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXgnsylq55hZn0bo_ousiOWBG4G8jX-uMv7MdVw6VvpS0_bjVDIMBhM1gjxYw0xjl4rQRVFY-HZmk2xlhrY2L43_iVw4w6EkWxwzoAuLUDulPVLpx6flXhW6auOouOvGC8qSTmpD4iQw/s1600-h/IMG_8557.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXgnsylq55hZn0bo_ousiOWBG4G8jX-uMv7MdVw6VvpS0_bjVDIMBhM1gjxYw0xjl4rQRVFY-HZmk2xlhrY2L43_iVw4w6EkWxwzoAuLUDulPVLpx6flXhW6auOouOvGC8qSTmpD4iQw/s400/IMG_8557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977552228489858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Posters are worth a gander</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Afterwards, I visit the Parque de la Independencia, and have a coffee in the cafe attached to the Planetarium. I consider popping into the Planetarium...until I see the hoards of noisy children queueing to get inside.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Back at the hostal, it is time to change rooms - the Norwegians are arriving late tonight. Our three-bed room is vastly nicer that my private one. There is lots of natural light, a nice view and a private bathroom. I am feeling more sociable today, relaxing in the communal areas and chatting to other travellers. Tomorrow, Adam will arrive - no more peace and quiet for me! ;-)</span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6nf7rNIYQUoMX-U0aZpWyzb3-hUVQPSc-_Q1erJRzHToR0XS_FDa0dqa1BSz5E8xeV8U6F8CWcwG5J_efbiB-3VI2VcvQqwe7k52JR6-Z7fd8gyoYGkWuKRWcWPxXEZBuyHyuroK-jI/s400/IMG_8572.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320977344926070434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">V</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">iew from my new room</span></span></div></div>Elainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01806087451201944351noreply@blogger.com1