Gary's gap year adventures travelling through Central and South America

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About this blog

Hello and welcome to my travel blog.After many years of corporate life and cramming my wanderlust into those precious few weeks holiday a year,I finally decided it was now or never to fulfill a long-held life ambition for an extended period of travel. So I took the plunge and organised a sabbatical year off from work.My plan is to start out in Northern Mexico in Jan 08,travel down through Mexico and Central America, followed by the classic loop around South America. Of course I'm looking forward to seeing how the beautiful game should be played when I'm in Brazil ... you never know,even a 30-something English Sunday league centre-half might still learn something!

• 1

  Chihuahua - the start of my trip   Chihuahua, Mexico on Jan 5, 2008 33 pictures 0 comments
• 2

  Crazy horses in Creel   Creel, Mexico on Jan 7, 2008 60 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Creel to El Fuerte on "El Chepe"   El Fuerte, Mexico, Mexico on Jan 10, 2008 68 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  A foreigner in El Fuerte   El Fuerte, Mexico, Mexico on Jan 11, 2008 34 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  Forgettable time in Mazatlan   Mazatlan, Mexico, Mexico on Jan 14, 2008 11 pictures 0 comments
• 6

  Durango - "Donde esta autobus a Chupaderos"   Durango, Mexico on Jan 15, 2008 33 pictures 0 comments
• 7

  Trip back on track in Zacatecas   Zacatecas, Mexico on Jan 17, 2008 95 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  A great weekend in Guadalajara   Guadalajara, Mexico on Jan 20, 2008 73 pictures 0 comments
• 9

  The splendid setting that is Guanajuato   Guanajuato, Mexico on Jan 22, 2008 60 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  Monstrously large metropolis Mexico City - Intro   Mexico City, Mexico on Jan 25, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  Monstrously large metropolis Mexico City - Part 1   Mexico City, Mexico on Jan 26, 2008 60 pictures 0 comments
• 12

  Monstrously large metropolis Mexico City - Part 2   Mexico City, Mexico on Jan 28, 2008 198 pictures 0 comments
• 13

  Oaxaca - I´ll skip the grasshoppers , gracias   Oaxaca, Mexico on Jan 31, 2008 42 pictures 0 comments
• 14

  Sunsets and mozzies in Zipolite   Zipolite, Mexico on Feb 4, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Crocs , turtles and at last a swim in Mazunte   Mazunte, Mexico on Feb 6, 2008 15 pictures 0 comments
• 16

  Super San Cristobal   San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico on Feb 10, 2008 25 pictures 0 comments
• 17

  Palenque - Ruinas y Cascadas   Palenque, Mexico on Feb 11, 2008 10 pictures 0 comments
• 18

  At the Border - Reflections on Mexico   Frontera Echeverria, Mexico on Feb 13, 2008 8 pictures 0 comments
• 19

  Flores and Tikal   Flores, Guatemala on Feb 16, 2008 20 pictures 0 comments
• 20

  Rio Dulce and El Estor   Rio Dulce, Guatemala on Feb 18, 2008 20 pictures 0 comments
• 21

  Laid-back Livingston   Livingston, Guatemala on Feb 19, 2008 15 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  Grimy Guatemala City   Guatemala City, Guatemala on Feb 22, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 23

  Antigua - great , but touristy   Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala on Feb 25, 2008 60 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Quetzaltenango, aka "Xela" - home for a few weeks   Quetzaltenango, Guatemala on Feb 28, 2008 25 pictures 0 comments
• 25

  Stunning and relaxing San Pedro   San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala on Mar 1, 2008 25 pictures 0 comments
• 26

  Un estudiante de espanol en Xela   Quetzaltenango, Guatemala on Mar 7, 2008 34 pictures 0 comments
• 27

  Another fantastic week in Xela   Quetzaltenango, Guatemala on Mar 17, 2008 62 pictures 0 comments
• 28

  Last week in Xela - alas its time to move on   Quetzaltenango, Guatemala on Mar 22, 2008 108 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  Momostenango - start of the Western Highlands tour   Momostenango, Guatemala on Mar 23, 2008 33 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Somewhat forgettable Huehue   Huehuetenango, Guatemala on Mar 25, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 31

  Really off the beaten track in Todos Santos   Todos Santos, Guatemala on Mar 25, 2008 33 pictures 0 comments
• 32

  The fascinating market at Chichicastenango   Chichicastenango, Guatemala on Mar 27, 2008 20 pictures 0 comments
• 33

  Sad to be saying goodbye to Guatemala   Chiquimula / El Florido, Guatemala on Mar 28, 2008 7 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Hola Honduras ! A Top Weekend in Copan   Copan, Honduras on Mar 30, 2008 44 pictures 0 comments
• 35

  Quiet colonial towns - Santa Rosa & Gracias   Santa Rosa de Copan / Gracias, Honduras on Apr 2, 2008 25 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  San Pedro Sula - Nothing Special   San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Apr 4, 2008 9 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  A great time underwater on Utila   Utila, Honduras on Apr 8, 2008 25 pictures 0 comments
• 38

  Surprisingly enjoyable day in Tegucigalpa   Tegucigalpa, Honduras on Apr 10, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 39

  Another new country - into Nicaragua   El Guasaule, Nicaragua on Apr 12, 2008 9 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  Leon - churches and the revolution   Leon, Nicaragua on Apr 12, 2008 30 pictures 0 comments
• 41

  Managua - eerily quiet   Managua, Nicaragua on Apr 14, 2008 20 pictures 0 comments
• 42

  Granada - justifies it´s billing   Granada, Nicaragua on Apr 21, 2008 119 pictures 0 comments
• 43

  Ometepe - another day , another volcano   Ometepe Island, Nicaragua on Apr 22, 2008 52 pictures 0 comments
• 44

  Crossed the border into Costa Rica   Penas Blancas, Costa Rica on Apr 26, 2008 8 pictures 0 comments
• 45

  Monteverde - In & over the Cloudforest   Santa Elena / Monteverde, Costa Rica on Apr 29, 2008 64 pictures 0 comments
• 46

  Arenal - Lago , Lava & Mucho Vino Tinto   Fortuna, Costa Rica on May 1, 2008 63 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  San Jose - Cows & Paranoia   San Jose, Costa Rica on May 3, 2008 40 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  Marvellous Manuel Antonio   Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica on May 5, 2008 15 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  Back in San Jose   San Jose, Costa Rica on May 6, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 50

  Another volcano,senor ... oh go on then,one more   Poas Volcano National Park, Costa Rica on May 7, 2008 12 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  Turrialba - rain and rafting   Turrialba, Costa Rica on May 8, 2008 40 pictures 0 comments
• 52

  Caribbean Coast   Puerto Limon, Costa Rica on May 10, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  Tortuguero - Monkeys,Bites&Rain ... But No Turtles   Tortuguero, Costa Rica on May 12, 2008 140 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  Cahuita - last stop in Costa Rica   Cahuita, Costa Rica on May 12, 2008 24 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  Goodbye to Costa Rica and onwards into Panama   Guabito, Panama on May 14, 2008 7 pictures 0 comments
• 56

  Wonderful & Wild Bocas del Toro   Bocas del Toro, Panama on May 15, 2008 41 pictures 2 comments
• 57

  Tranquil Boquete   Boquete, Panama on May 17, 2008 146 pictures 0 comments
• 58

  Panama City - sweaty , wet and great !   Panama City, Panama on May 21, 2008 149 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  Panama Canal   Panama City Colon, Panama on May 27, 2008 40 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Portobelo - anyone got a sailing boat round here ?   Portobelo, Panama on May 28, 2008 71 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Sailing from Panama to Colombia   Puerto Lindo to San Blas Islands to Cartagena, Panama on Jun 1, 2008 35 pictures 1 comment
• 62

  Goodbye to Central America   El Porvenir, Panama on Jun 2, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  Into South America ! First stop Cartagena   Cartagena, Colombia on Jun 3, 2008 135 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  Santa Marta / Taganga   Santa Marta, Colombia on Jun 5, 2008 36 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Medellin   Medellin, Colombia on Jun 10, 2008 122 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  Bogota - can´t seem to leave !   Bogota, Colombia on Jun 15, 2008 227 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Stunning Salento   Salento, Colombia on Jun 25, 2008 168 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Cali - very disappointing   Cali, Colombia on Jun 27, 2008 108 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Quick stop in Popoyan   Popoyan, Colombia on Jun 28, 2008 71 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  Ecuador !!   Tulcan, Ecuador on Jun 29, 2008 15 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  Quito - what a magnificent setting   Quito, Ecuador on Jul 2, 2008 194 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  Heading south for lakes & volcanoes   Latacunga, Ecuador on Jul 3, 2008 158 pictures 1 comment
• 73

  Sunny Banos - Bikes,Waterfalls,Trekking & Rummy   Banos, Ecuador on Jul 5, 2008 210 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Guayaquil - better than anticipated   Guayaquil, Ecuador on Jul 9, 2008 111 pictures 0 comments
• 75

  The Enchanted Islands   Galapagos Islands, Ecuador on Jul 17, 2008 782 pictures 0 comments
• 76

  Cuenca - following the Galapagos is a tall order   Cuenca, Ecuador on Jul 19, 2008 99 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  Short stop in Loja before crossing into Peru   Loja, Ecuador on Jul 21, 2008 82 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Leaving Ecuador - across the border to Peru   Macara, Ecuador on Jul 22, 2008 11 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Piura - nice enough but no WOWs   Piura, Peru on Jul 23, 2008 54 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  Trujillo - nice colonial city & Pre-Inca ruins   Trujillo, Peru on Jul 24, 2008 244 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  "Fiestas Patrias" in Lima   Lima, Peru on Jul 28, 2008 163 pictures 0 comments
• 82

  Volunteering in Arequipa   Arequipa, Peru on Jul 30, 2008 89 pictures 0 comments
• 83

  A very happy time in Arequipa   Arequipa, Peru on Aug 10, 2008 49 pictures 1 comment
• 84

  Another enjoyable week teaching   Arequipa, Peru on Aug 15, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  The lowest point of my trip   Arequipa, Peru on Aug 24, 2008 117 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  Sad to leave Arequipa but Machu Picchu beckons   Cuzco, Peru on Aug 29, 2008 146 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Magnificent Inca Trail to Machu Picchu   Cuzco, Peru on Sep 4, 2008 530 pictures 0 comments
• 88

  Cuzco and the Valley of the Tourists   Cuzco, Peru on Sep 5, 2008 283 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  Lake Titicaca ... different world   Puno, Peru on Sep 9, 2008 275 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  Leaving Peru for my next country Bolivia   Copacabana, Bolivia on Sep 9, 2008 60 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  La Paz ... simply manic   La Paz, Bolivia on Sep 9, 2008 196 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  Biking The World´s Most Dangerous Road   La Paz, Bolivia on Sep 12, 2008 102 pictures 0 comments
• 93

  Sucre - "La Ciudad Blanca   Sucre, Bolivia on Sep 15, 2008 170 pictures 0 comments
• 94

  Potosi and the notorious "Cerro Rico"   Potosi, Bolivia on Sep 18, 2008 95 pictures 0 comments
• 95

  The Salt Flats ("Salar de Uyuni")   Uyuni, Bolivia on Sep 20, 2008 488 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  Horrible journey from Bolivia to Argentina   Villazon, Bolivia on Sep 25, 2008 21 pictures 1 comment
• 97

  Salta ... love Argentina already !   Salta, Argentina on Sep 25, 2008 231 pictures 0 comments
• 98

  Wine-tasting and the "Quebrada del Cafayate"   Cafayate, Argentina on Sep 28, 2008 294 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  Argentina´s second city   Cordoba, Argentina on Sep 30, 2008 103 pictures 0 comments
• 100

  Marvellous Mendoza   Mendoza, Argentina on Oct 5, 2008 631 pictures 0 comments
• 101

  Another day , another country :)   Valparaiso, Chile on Oct 6, 2008 319 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  Long weekend in Santiago   Santiago, Chile on Oct 9, 2008 497 pictures 0 comments
• 103

  The Chilean Lake District ... and a dodgy back.   Pucon, Chile on Oct 14, 2008 200 pictures 1 comment
• 104

  Back to Argentina ... to a wet and windy Bariloche   Bariloche, Argentina on Oct 18, 2008 213 pictures 0 comments
• 105

  San Martin de los Andes - a little disappointing   San Martin de los Andes, Argentina on Oct 22, 2008 176 pictures 0 comments
• 106

  Gearing up for the long haul south   Puerto Montt, Chile on Oct 23, 2008 40 pictures 0 comments
• 107

  Tranquil Chiloe   Castro, Chile on Oct 26, 2008 250 pictures 0 comments
• 108

  Briefly back in grim Puerto Montt   Puerto Montt, Chile on Oct 27, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 109

  Way way south in Chilean Patagonia   Puerto Natales, Chile on Oct 29, 2008 67 pictures 0 comments
• 110

  Toughest Challenge Of My Trip - Torres Del Paine   Torres Del Paine, Chile on Nov 3, 2008 411 pictures 0 comments
• 111

  Reflections on leaving Chile   Puerto Natales, Chile on Nov 5, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 112

  Glacier Watching ... Magnificent Moreno   El Calafate, Argentina on Nov 6, 2008 204 pictures 0 comments
• 113

  Patagonian Weather ... Not Funny Any More   El Chalten, Argentina on Nov 8, 2008 95 pictures 0 comments
• 114

  End Of The World ... Or At Least My Journey South   Ushuaia, Argentina on Nov 9, 2008 291 pictures 0 comments
• 115

  Addictive Buenos Aires   Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov 24, 2008 394 pictures 0 comments
• 116

  Country Number 13 ... Uruguay and to Cute Colonia   Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay on Nov 24, 2008 196 pictures 0 comments
• 117

  Montevideo ... OK but nothing special   Montevideo, Uruguay on Nov 26, 2008 112 pictures 0 comments
• 118

  Back in Buenos Aires !   Buenos Aires, Argentina on Nov 29, 2008 151 pictures 0 comments
• 119

  Awesome Iguacu Falls   Puerto Iguazu, Argentina on Dec 2, 2008 283 pictures 0 comments
• 120

  Really sad to say goodbye to Argentina   Puerto Iguazu, Argentina on Dec 5, 2008 10 pictures 0 comments
• 121

  The Final Destination ! ... Fabulous Rio   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Dec 16, 2008 685 pictures 1 comment
• 122

  Time For Home ! ... And For Some Final Thoughts   Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Dec 17, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment