Central America

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Day 17
Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 1:03 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 1,311 m
Honduras Valle de Ángeles 14.15663, -87.0416814°9’24” N 87°2’30” W
Valle de Ángeles
March 30, 2019 in Honduras ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Small town outside Tegucigalpa. Originally built as a town to house mine workers, who worked the gold and silver mines. When the mines ran out, the US mining company simply closed up shop and left, leaving the miners and their families with nothing. Not even the land was arable. So gradually the former miners and families began to make things. Over time this little town became a prime place to purchase locally made handcrafts and seems now to be the number one place for people to go out of Tegucigalpa.
The first pic is the main square. The others are street scenes showing some of the local work.Read more
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Day 18
Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 1:56 PM
☀️ 35 °C
Altitude: 99 m
Nicaragua León 12.43972, -86.8763212°26’23” N 86°52’35” W
León, Nicaragua
March 31, 2019 in Nicaragua ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C
One time capital of Nicaragua. Also known as the capital of the revolution, as many events happened here, including assassination of the father of the Somosa dynasty. First is the cathedral looking across the main square. Next is a view from the roof of the cathedral. Yes, I was up there. Then another church with many symbols carved. Then a processional float, a 16th century black Jesus brought from Spain. Finally, the central market.Read more
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Day 19
Monday, April 1, 2019 at 9:00 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 439 m
Nicaragua Volcán Santiago 11.98464, -86.1675511°59’5” N 86°10’3” W
Volcán Masaya
April 1, 2019 in Nicaragua ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Active volcano in Nicaragua. First a look at the mountain. Then 2 pics in the crater. It's hard to see through the smoke, but there is magma moving in the bottom. Next is a fumerol. Not much steam as there is no nearby water source and we are in the dry season. Next is a look up along the fissure on the side of the volcano where the fumerols are located. Last is part of the lava field from the 1972 eruptionRead more
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Day 19
Monday, April 1, 2019 at 10:27 AM
☀️ 33 °C
Altitude: 86 m
Nicaragua León 12.43204, -86.8787812°25’55” N 86°52’44” W
La Veinteyuno, León
April 1, 2019 in Nicaragua ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Former prison, now a museum. Built in 1921, hence the name (veinteyuno is 21 in Spanish). This is the prison where the Somosa regime tortured suspected revolutionaries, ie, Sandinistas.
The first pic is the wall of the cell block, showing some of what went on. The second shows the basin that were filled with water so prisoners hung head down from the tree could be dunked. The remaining pictures are various cells. The have line drawings of the prisoners and culturally significant displays.Read more
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Day 20
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 10:14 AM
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 45 m
Nicaragua Granada 11.93055, -85.9509211°55’50” N 85°57’3” W
Granada, Nicaragua
April 2, 2019 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Oldest city in Latin America. The first picture overlooks the city from from atop the bell tower of one of the churches. Next is the city at night. This is along a night life street. Next is the main square followed by the cathedral. Then a look at some ceiling frescoes. Last is the cemetery, started in the 1600s, still in use and still the only cemetery in Granada. Nice townRead more
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Day 20
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 10:14 AM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 31 m
Nicaragua Terraza La Playa 11.91206, -85.9290811°54’43” N 85°55’45” W
Lago Nicaragua
April 2, 2019 in Nicaragua ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Largest lake in Central America. Granada is located here. Also said to be the only place to have fresh water sharks in the world, though I had never heard of fresh water sharks and didn't see any. This part of the lake has hundred of small islets, said to have originated from a massive eruption centuries ago. The pics are looks at the area, including some of the residences. The small island community has its own school, church, stores, restaurants, etc. One main occupation is traditional fishing. Also, someone released monkeys on one small island.Read more
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Day 21
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 2:50 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 1,599 m
Costa Rica San Gerardo 10.33646, -84.810110°20’11” N 84°48’36” W
Cloud forest, Costa Rica
April 3, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Near Monteverde, Costa Rica. most of these pics are of the view of the forest, in the forest and above the forest (from a gondola). The only animal I was able to get was a monkey climbing on one of the suspension bridges in the forest canopy.Read more
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Day 22
Thursday, April 4, 2019 at 10:45 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 1,193 m
Costa Rica Arenal Volcano 10.46773, -84.7068910°28’4” N 84°42’25” W
Volcán Arenal, Costa Rica
April 4, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Another active volcano. The first pic is of Arenal, or most of it. The top is concealed within the famous cloud that gives cloud first the name. The others are taken from atop the lava flow from the 1998 eruption. There are views of the lava field and of Lago Arenal, a man-made lake next to the volcano, built primarily for hydropower.Read more
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Day 23
Friday, April 5, 2019 at 8:44 AM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 517 m
Costa Rica La Fortuna 10.44209, -84.667310°26’32” N 84°40’2” W
Catarata Rio Fortuna
April 5, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
A lovely waterfall and canyon just outside La Fortuna, Costa Rica. First is the waterfall from above and across the gorge. Next is from the platform at the bottom, followed by a section of the wall around the lagoon at the bottom. Then there is a pic of the lagoon with people swimming. Next is a look down the river in the canyon through the rainforest. And finally, it's time too take the 563 steps back to the top.Read more
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Day 24
Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11:21 AM
🌧 17 °C
Altitude: 3,139 m
Costa Rica San Pablo 9.97319, -83.8289°58’23” N 83°49’41” W
Volcán Irazú
April 6, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Another volcano on Costa Rica, this one near San José. The story has it that the last eruption was in 1963 on the day JFK arrived for a visit. These pics are all of the crater and the terrace above the crater, except the last. That is the view from the side of the volcano. The crater is more than 3,400 meters above sea level and was in the clouds.Read more
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Day 24
Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 12:13 PM
🌧 24 °C
Altitude: 1,423 m
Costa Rica Plaza del Santuario Nacional 9.86446, -83.91279°51’52” N 83°54’46” W
Basilica Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles
April 6, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
Surprising church (to me) located in Cartago, CR, the former capital. I say surprising as most churches here are Spanish colonial architecture or some variant thereof. This is not. It might be called Byzantine, but I'm not sure enough of architectural styles to say for sure. It is so different for any others I've seen in Latin America that it needs to be here.
After the view of the front comes 4 pics of the nave. The 5th is a transept.
The last requires a special note. The statue is a black Madonna reportedly found in this very location by a native girl. Every time it was moved, it returned to the same spot over night. Once this became known, the miracles began, and the site became a pilgrimage destination.Read more
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Day 24
Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 5:47 PM
🌧 23 °C
Altitude: 1,092 m
Costa Rica Uruca 9.94813, -84.109669°56’53” N 84°6’35” W
San José, Costa Rica
April 6, 2019 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
The capital city. First is the main square, followed by 2 pics of the cathedral nave. 4&5 are of the National Theater. Last is a pedestrian street near the main square.
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Day 26
Monday, April 8, 2019 at 9:49 AM
⛅ 35 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Panama Panama Canal 8.99727, -79.59118°59’50” N 79°35’28” W
Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal
April 8, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C
The engineer in me has been looking forward to seeing the canal. First is the building at the locks, followed a ship entering the lower lock. The pics trace it's movement into the upper lock and out into Miraflores Lake, the smaller of the two lakes along the route of the canal. In the background is the new canal just opened a few years ago. A large container vessel is transiting there.Read more
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Day 26
Monday, April 8, 2019 at 1:29 PM
⛅ 35 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Panama San Felipe 8.95337, -79.536238°57’12” N 79°32’10” W
Casco Antiguo, Panamá City
April 8, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C
The old part of town and original location of the Spanish colonial port. First is the main square with the cathedral. Then inside the nave of the cathedral. Followed by the colonial governor's palace and the powder stores/prison. Last are 2 street scenes.Read more
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Day 27
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 10:14 AM
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 99 m
Panama Victoriano Lorenzo 9.23007, -79.536919°13’48” N 79°32’13” W
Rio Chagras, Panamá
April 9, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Major water source for the Panama Canal and for a large part of the population of Panama. The river is very low right now. So the ride upstream in the narrow native canoe required occasional pushing. The guy at the front has a pole used both for monitoring water depth and for poling the canoe. The first 2 pics are of the lower river. Then a native village (see the next post). The 4th pic is along a hike into the rainforest. The last is a small waterfall with a swimming home.Read more
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Day 27
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 12:36 PM
⛅ 33 °C
Altitude: 88 m
Panama Victoriano Lorenzo 9.22644, -79.53799°13’35” N 79°32’16” W
Tusípono
April 9, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
A native Embera village along the Rio Chagras. The Embera are one of the indigenous tribes off southern Panamá. The village is within the national park since 1984. So the villagers no longer farm for an incone. Since then they developed fishing and, in the 90s, started a tourism operation.
After the river trip, we were welcomed to the village with dance and song, given a bit of history and an introduction to life in the village, offered crafts hand made there, and fed a traditional lunch of fresh caught, wild tilapia from the river with fried plantains. It was one of the best meals of the trip.
First is the village, followed by the women dancing and the men playing traditional instruments. Next is the traditional kitchen where lunch was prepared by the women, still in traditional garb. The last pick is of the meal. It is served in cones made of plantain leaves, held together with a flower. They are arranged on a wooden platter. No utensils. We ate with fingers. Simply delicious.Read more
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Day 28
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 9:35 AM
☀️ 35 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Panama Isla Santa Cruz 9.11244, -79.695849°6’45” N 79°41’45” W
Gatún Lake, Panamá
April 10, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 35 °C
Gatún is the largest lake along the Panama Canal. The town of Gamboa is located where the Rio Chagras (see another post) enters the lake. The first pic shows one of the ships with the canal maintenance facility at Gamboa in the background. Then a couple more views of the canal portion of the lake. The last 3 pics are taken along parts of the lake away from where ships transit. First is some dense aquatic vegetation. Then a narrow channel behind an island. Last is a water flower.Read more
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Day 28
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 11:07 AM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 35 m
Panama Isla Akee 9.12712, -79.77989°7’38” N 79°46’47” W
Gatún Lake and the jungle
April 10, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Part of the visit to Gatún included some ecotouring. First is a capuchin monkey. Then a howler monkey eating upside down. Next is a tamarin monkey, the smallest in Panamá. In the 4th, partly hidden by the branch is an agouti and young. The young is nursing. Then some river turtles sunning. Finally, the view from a hammock at the jungle lodge after lunch. The hammock works just fine.Read more
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Day 29
Thursday, April 11, 2019 at 10:14 AM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 22 m
Panama Río Cascajal 9.55352, -79.655599°33’13” N 79°39’20” W
Portobelo, Panamá
April 11, 2019 in Panama ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
An interesting historical site, UNESCO listed. Back in colonial times, the Spanish shipped treasures from South America back to Spain, first by ship to Panama; then across the isthmus; and then loaded on the treasure galleons for the ride across the Atlantic. One of the transshipment points on the Caribbean side was Portobello. The town was built up and fortified with all defenses facing the water as that's where they expected to pirates to come from. You may recall hearing that Captain Henry Morgan led 500 pirates overland to attack a Spanish fort from the rear. This is the place where that happened.
The first pic is the customs house and primary target for the pirates. Next is one of the forts. Third is the black Jesus: a major pilgrimage site located here. Next are typical and original ovens from the colonial period. There is a museum of African culture as seen here during the period. The 5th picture is of a mask and costumes held there. Last is the remains of a castle that was built but was no more effective than the forts in protecting the king's treasures.Read more
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Day 59
Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 4:56 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 161 m
Russia National Historic Museum 55.755, 37.6183355°45’18” N 37°37’6” E
Moscow
May 11, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
I'm back on the road, having returned to Moscow to take the Trans-Siberian RR to Beijing. That starts Monday afternoon. First is Red Square, with the Kremlin to the right and GUM Department Store to the left. The second pic is the Bolshoi Theater. The last is a street near Red Square that is decorated for a major Russian holiday. 9 May is the celebration of the end of WW II. In fact, if you look closely, you might see the viewing stands along the Kremlin wall.Read more
TravelerAlways wanted to make that trip!
5/11/19Reply
skip's retirement travelStill can, you know
5/12/19Reply
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Day 60
Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 2:18 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 150 m
Russia Central 55.76402, 37.6195855°45’50” N 37°37’10” E
Moscow off the beaten path
May 12, 2019 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Here are a few pics from a walking tour in Central Moscow that aren't on most itineraries. First is Pushkin in the square of the same name. Then Patriarch's Pond, the only remaining one of many where fish were farmed to feed orthodox clergy who could eat meat for most of the year. Then the interior of one of the churches at St. Peters monastery, followed by the 1516 church there. Next is the home of Peter the Great's in-laws. Last is the oldest delicatessen in Moscow.Read more
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Trip end
April 12, 2019