Honduras

Tintin on the Honuras/El Salvador border!

xoxox

Nicaragua

 Introducing Nicaragua's see through currency - the Cordoba!

First stop: Rivas. Home to lots of Jesus buses and constant fireworks. Sometimes set off by toddlers.

 Many brightly coloured churches.

 And a few cheesy photo ops.

 2nd stop: The Island of Ometepe, made up of two volcanoes in the middle of the worlds largest freshwater lake. We stayed on the inactive side (!)

 The local 'healing lake' where the water has minerals and good volcano stuff in there.

 A view whilst cycling (illogically) towards the active volcano - note the smoke clouds billowing....

 We made it back without needing to evacuate via extremely choppy boat, unfotunately missing out on the Che ferry.

 Next stop, Granada. A beautiful colonial town with amazing architecture. But scrap those pics meet Roja and Leo (we think). They impressed us with their traditional dancing to club tunes and then their 'sexy air guitar' routine.

Gillian scores!

 We hit up the lovely Leon, it's Cathedral and friendly locals (Maurice!)

 After one too many beers/mojitos in Leon we signed ourselves up for some volcano boarding. So the next day, niave to what was in store, we hopped on the bus and arrived at Cerro Negro. An active volcano in the middle of Nicaraguan volcano crest. We did the (apparently moderately) difficult hike and made it to the top where the lads explored the crater and saw lots of smoke.

 Sweet view.

 Before we knew it we were wearing some rather attractive orange boiler suits and it was time to board the volcano. Katie volunteered (by force) to go first along with Gillian. It was over in about 30 seconds with the girls scoring 57 and 54 kmph and gaining quite a few grazes. This was nothing compared to the next girl who broke the record (87 kmph!) and cut her head open in the process. Luckily she was consoled by breaking the record but her first response was 'I didn't mean to go that fast'.

 The girls in action! all the girls beat the boys by far and somebody we know got lapped...

Obligatory beach sunset shot.....Aww!

xoxox

Costa Rica

 Keeping to the Caribbean coast we stayed in the rasta town Cahuita. Amazing locals, caribbean food and wildlife made this place rad.

 Walking through the national park you get to meet monkies, sloths, snakes, lizzards and plenty of bugs.

 Spotting sloths is difficult by day, but by night they move their 5-100 metres pretty quickly. This cheeky hairy one was just crossing the road. We caught another one hanging from the phone lines.

 A quick trip to Liberia a.k.a the cowboy town of Costa Rica. We hung out in the local plaza with Diego watching kids breakdance and set off fireworks.

 We hit up the Pacific side via Playa del Coco. A real haven for Rich Americans with fishing boats. But it did mean we got to hang out with the beautiful Freeman sisters (more tanned in 5 days than we have been in 4 months).

 Sweet pool!

Apologies for lack of photos, we breezed through Costa Rica mainly as it is very expensive compared to other Central American countires. Next stop: Nicaragua

xxx

Panama

 After airport palava we made it to Panama City, relaxed with some local beer, sat in hammocks and tried to avoid falling coconuts. The local buses are subsidised but also part-privately owned. The result is pimped out graffitied American school buses:

 After being led to the wrong part of town (Stefans doing) we met our favourite Panama City local - meet Carlos Santa Maria! From our limited Spanish, drawing pictures, and his limited English (he knew Lionel Ritchie´s "hello") we gather he works for the military as a truck driver, mechanic, parachuter and gun handler.

 We took time out and headed to the San Blas Islands.

 Meet our home for 3 nights. Yes it was as small as it looks:

 

Home sweet home

 On our last night one of the Kuna Islands opposite caught on fire. Cue chaos, buckets of water and some dodgy boats.

 Chinese whispers meant we offered our mattresses to the locals - aiming to help. We were met with blank stares and questions over why we were bringing them mattresses. Were they wet?

 Back to Panama City and a visit to the Panama Canal. We watched a cruise ship squeeze through and waved to the old folks on board. Not long until we spotted this half naked dude dancing around.

 After a short stop in David City we headed to Bocas Del Toro via boat.

 The starfish beach

 Paul of the jungle

 More starfish.

Panama was lovely, full of friendly locals, cheap beer and half constructed skyscrapers.

xxxx

Road Trip, L.A. and beyond....

We arrived in L.A. and were met with our dream vehicle:

First stop: Las Vegas, Nevada! Everything is completely ridiculous there. Our hotel had 70+ bowling lanes, cinemas, restaurants, 4 24hr take-aways, bars, casinos, spa, pools...etc. The shower window overlooked the las vegas strip and there was a telephone next to the loo!

One dollar in, 44 out.

Our hotel's casino.

Cesar's palace, us and a giant water bottle to the left.

When Katie met Jerry.

The New York Hotel, complete with it's own roller coaster.

We watched a stupidly crap show about pirates being seduced by sirens outside of the treasure island hotel. It included fireworks, dancing, miming and a sinking ship.

Viva Las Vegas!

Back on the road on our way through Arizona to Flagstaff.

We ventured to the Grand Canyon. Epic.

Ooh, Red effect!

Quiet nights in. Lots of eating canned foodstuffs. (e.g. Beans and Weins)

Camp Fire, it was certainly needed.

We camped near some real life wildlife.

We drove through the lovely Sedona, Arizona.

a.k.a Cactus Country

We took a trip to Palm Springs, California. And took a trek along the mountains.

He didn't see the boulder coming.

We stopped a night in San Diego ans saw typical California skies.

 Last stop, Venice Beach, California.

So long North America. Thanks for having us.

Hola Central America. Panama City see you in 36 hours.

xxx