Photos · 19 from the road
Central America
Panama
The Darien gap
After crossing the Darien gap by sailing boat, I wanted to try how far I could enter it on Pam. I followed the Pan-American Highway until a few Km before Yavisa. The famous 'Pan Americana' was now not more than a trail in the jungle. Bridges were made out of tree-logs and there was no traffic but me. When the sky turned black and big buckets of water started to fall down on top of me I decided it was enough. There were better things to waste my time on.
Panama canal
These days ships are build with only one limitation. The Panama canal. It is 30 meters wide and the locks are 300 meter long. Ships fit in with only a few centimeters to spare. Six large locomotives pull and push the ship through the locks.
Coffee
Coffee is the most grown crop in Panama and plucking the beans is still done by hand. Mostly because any machine would be far more expensive than the cost of local labor.
Guatemala
Cave exploring
Mostly since I was bored waiting for some stolen credit cards to be replaced, I explored a cave-system nearby.
Thee time
Always make the best of a bad situation. When I arrived at Tikal I was told that I had to wait several hours before I could enter unless I was willing to pay double price. So, I set up my stove in a shady spot next to the 'entry-station', made a noodle soup for lunch and enjoyed myself while the 'bad guys' were looking with hungry eyes.
Tikal
Amazing Tikal. Pyramids and temples-remains are scattered around in the jungle. A labyrinth of trails connect it all together and you can wander around for days. To see the site in a more mystical ambiance you simply outsmart the guards and sneak in at night. Hundreds of eyes stare at you from the jungle while you try to find your way. What looked obvious in the day turns into a mystery at night.
Tikal
Some of the temples are huge. Most of them tower over the jungle-canopy and you can climb the steep stairs to enjoy the views
Bath for a smelly biker
I tried to keep up with the morning ritual of washing and shaving. I saw too many backpackers that looked and smelled like the homeless bums we even try to avoid looking at in our home-country. Why expect a different treatment when elsewhere? Although sometimes it was cold. Very cold.
Colorful Antigua
I always enjoy the smashing colors of local dress. Unfortunately the local people do not enjoy my camera in the same way, so it's always a 'hunt' to get a nice photograph..
Climbing 'Pacaya'
Pacaya, an active volcano near Antigua Guatemala. The same volcano that destroyed the city three times before man decided to rebuild it elsewhere for the fourth time. Now the city itself is a tourist-attraction and Pacaya is attraction number one. As usual I decided for a more exclusive approach.
Climbing 'Pacaya' at night
During the day I explored the trails and the path to the top of this active volcano and then prepared for a night next to the mouth of hell. While a cold blizzard tried to blow me of the mountain I reached the edge of the crater and actually stepped in for a few meters. The wind was gone and the lava made a nice and cozy warm glow. All I had to do was avoid being hit by the half molten rocks that the mountain spat out.
Aloe Vera giganticus
Giant Aloe Vera plants take over the scenery in northern Guatemala. Some are as big as a small house.
Gang or fashion?
In the small mountain town of 'Todos Santos' it is the men that dress in local folklore. Not just a few, but each and every one of them. You need to be a bit modest with the camera since a few years ago they lynched a Japanese tourist that kept on sticking his camera in their noses.
Mexico
Palenque
One of the largest Mexican Maya-sites is Palenque. Although it has the same architecture as Tikal, it's atmosphere is completely different due to the surroundings. It is open and gives a good impression of the size of the pyramids.
Cheap hotel
Mexico is rather expensive when it comes to hotels unless you go for the really really cheap ones. But for 5U$ a night you probably get more than a room. You get several infectious diseases as well. So, the tent came too good use again.
Delicious taco
Did you ever wonder what was inside the taco?.
Tiahuanaco
By far the largest pyramids are found here in Tiahuanaco, near Mexico-city.
Durango
Most (north) Americans that like old movies know that every single John Wayne movie was shot in Durango. What they don't realize is that this is Durango, Mexico and not Durango, Colorado. The entire movie-set is still intact. In fact part of it was used for the blockbuster "The mask of Zorro". I enjoyed being the sheriff for a few hours.
Copper canyon
The second largest canyon in the world (No, the grand canyon is third, the Colca-canyon in Peru is the largest). The small road down takes you up to 5 hours and the temperature rises from 0 to 30 in that time. Naturally I had a broken voltage-regulator at the bottom, had to hitchhike out and take the train and bus to return with a replacement after two days.