Ometepe

From Boquete Panama, Mike, Brandon and I headed to Playa Las Lajas, Panama, for several relaxing days on the beach. We then spent 14 hours on buses to San Jose, Costa Rica, so that Mike could catch his flight home. The next day, Brandon and I had another long day of travel, heading to Ometepe, Nicaragua.

Volcano Concepcion, Ometepe. Brandon and I climbed to the rim of the volcano on our last full day on Ometepe.

On the ferry to Ometepe. My first Nicaraguan sunset in about a month. Steve, Kris, and Skyler - naturally, I thought of you guys.

Alexis Bonoff is currently working for the Islas Hermanas organization on Ometepe, and acted as our gracious host and guide during our stay. We dragged her out to some of the more touristy locales - ojo de agua and Charco Verde - and had a great time. It was great to see such a familiar face in a far away land.

Alexis took us to a project that houses and rehabilitates street kids from Nicaragua. She worked at this project during a previous stay on Ometepe, and will be spending considerable time there during her current three month stay. Below, Brandon impresses the boys with his harlem globetrotter skills.

Brandon and I climbed volcano concepcion. Basically, a 6-mile climb up a rock ladder. To the left is a picture of me just 45 minutes into the hike, already soaked in sweat. It was a long, sweaty hike.Brandon taking a break. Brandon took more and more of these the closer we got to the top. His legs were cramping up and his body giving out. But, he made it just fine and deservedly felt all the more accomplished for it.At the summit, sitting on the rim of the crater. It was cloudy and windy...but every several minutes there would be a break in the clouds in one direction, and you would all of a sudden be faced with a spectacular view of volcano Madera just to the south, or the lake and the mainland off in the distance, then you would see a giant cloud racing up the side of the volcano and within seconds it would take you over. Beautiful. During the climb down the clouds cleared and we were greeted with some great vistas. Here you see the isthmus of Ometepe and Volcano Madera.

THE PLAN - My plan has been to head to the Bay Islands of Honduras for a week of scuba diving, despite the detiorating political situation there. All of the travelers I have spoken with say that the border and the capital city is where all the problems are, and that it is not much trouble traveling the rest of the country. I will take an international bus so that I do not have to walk the border, nor will I have to exit the bus as we pass through the capital, on my way to San Pedro Sula. On Saturday, the US soccer team plays Honduras in an important World Cup Qualifier game in San Pedro Sula. I am now planning to push back my departure to the Bay Islands, so that I can attend the game. This will either be with one of the most fun, or stupidest things I ever do.