Cuba, Central and South America

Hello All,

Well this is our last email update as we have decided to come home a couple of weeks early because we weren´t able to make it to Antarctica as we had hoped, (would have been continent #7 boohoo). This leg of the journey started with us flying down to Cancun so we could find a flight to Cuba. We made it to the forbidden land without a problem and had an amazing time. Havana was awesome, 1 in 3 cars on the street is a sweeet old American boat of a car (called Yank Tanks), The anti-American sentiment was pretty strong as was the anti-American propaganda, but everyone treated us pretty well overall. We bought lots of Cuban cigars (some were 25 for $1), Rum (1.5 liters for $1), and lobsters (20 big tails for $20) and just had some amazing times, especially with our awesome Cuban friend David. The highlight was a spur of the moment fiesta at his sisters house where we all partied and learned to Salsa until the wee hours of the morning. Definitely one for the memory books.

Then it was back to Mexico where we started busing our way down through all of Central America. The buses were all old retired American school buses with sweet new paintjobs and crazy ass drivers (nicknamed chicken buses because of all of the fun animals people bring on with them). Belize was great, with awesome people and Lisa was lucky enough to pick up the botfly there in the inner mountains (more on that later). Then it was Guatemala with Tikal, the biggest Mayan ruins and a great hot springs waterfall where you swam closer or further away from the falls in the river to control the temperature you wanted to be in. Then to El Salvador where we climbed the youngest volcano in the world (it was a hole in the ground 200 years ago), then one that had erupted 5 years ago that has a huge toxic sulfur lake in the crater. We passed through Honduras pretty quickly because of the government problems they are having. Then to Nicaragua where we spent some nice beach time, and stayed with a lovely family who helped with Lisas botflies. Basically long story short, Lisa was bit by a mosquito carrying botfly eggs. 3 weeks later she had big swollen bumps on her head with the larvae growing inside. The lady at our hotel said that she knew what it was and said she had a special sap that you use to suffocate/kill them, then all you have to do is pull them out. Well lucky Gregorio got to be the MD for the day and pulled 4 inch-long larvae out of Lisas head. If thats not true love, I dont know what is. Next up was Costa Rica which has some of the most amazing rainforest and wildlife of anywhere we have been. Got to zip line through the cloud forest in Monte Verde, waded through alligator infested rivers in Corcovado, and just had an all around good time. Next was Panama where we met a great crew on the Bocas Del Toro Islands, then checked out the Panama Canal Leopard style (Cezar you have been warned).

At this point we took our first plane to Columbia where we did the 6 day Lost city trek through the Columbian jungle, and got to stop in for a tour at a coca factory. Then we hung out in Cartegena for a few days and went swimming in a mud volcano where the mud is 2000 meters deep, and checked out a soccer game where we were the only non Columbians in the stadium. Then it was off to Peru for some of the worlds best Ceviche and some roasted Guinea Pig. We did a 5 day hike to Machu Picchu, then headed off to see Lake Titikaka, and the floating islands made of only reeds that they have there.

Next up was Bolivia which was definitely one of our favorites. We took a 19 hour bus ride out to the Amazon Jungle/Pampas. It was a really cool experience to see so much wildlife and learn about all of the medicinal properties of the plants there, not to mention getting into the leopard gear and wrestling with a big ol´ Anaconda we found one day. Then it was off to the mind bending Salt Flats where we took a 3 day jeep ride all over the flats and high desert.

Finally after a quick stop in Chile, it was off to Argentina to rent bikes and wine taste in Mendoza. Then to Puerto Madryn to hang out with 1 million Magellanic Penguins and see the place where the killer whales beach themselves to try to catch baby seals (unfortunately no whales that day). Then to Perito Moreno Glacier which is the most active in the world and drops huge chunks of ice into the lake all day long each with a boom like thunder echoing off the glacier walls. Then finally to the southern tip of South America to try to get to Antarctica, but unfortunately both of our sweet talking nor my huge beard were enough to sway them to give us a reasonable price, so instead we came home the day before Thanksgiving to give the fam a bit of a surprise.

Thats about it. It was an amazing 17 months, 42 countries, and 6 continents. The world is a crazy crazy place, thats for sure. Soooo so much to see. Well hope to see everyone soon. Next stop, find a house in San Diego.

Here is the link to the pictures:
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=147211258849916651/l=3804081017/g=7367679/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

The End

XOXO

Gregorio and Lisa