Volcanoes, Barricuda Sharks, and Beach Houses

So, today I write from an internet cafe in Utila, a town where we have rented a freakin BEACH HOUSE and are living in ultimate retreat style. Here, I am taking diving lessons, and spent the morning on the coral reef. Pretty inspiring stuff: barricuda sharks, sea horses, huge manta rays etc, enough to pretty well make you shit your pants under water. Metaphorically speaking.

Last week I sledded down the side of a volcano, after standing in the crater and breathing in a good lung full of sulpher. With this, I was able to conquer my early childhood fear of dying a horrible death of lava, which I am sure is one of the major causes of death worldwide.

Next week, I'm headed home. Hopefully, will have a major hike to Mantario on my hands, alongside the preparations to move to New Brunswick and selling my car.

So as they say in Spanish, Adios!

West coast in 3 weeks or more

Having finally made it through the mountains and all the way to the coast, it feels like time for a blog. We tackled engine problems, outwitted mechanics, dodged mudslides, and evaded wildfires just to get here, but we are now in a small hamlet called "Vancouver" I hear it's going to be a pretty big deal some day. We should be here for 4 days and leaving on Tuesday for Squamish and then the famous Texada Island, home of Ken.

Things are going really well. We spent a two nights in Naramata with my uncle, and two nights in Kelowna visiting old host families and friends. Can't really knock the Okanogan valley, it is hot, scenic, and downright beautiful. I think I most people live there just to avoid something we have in the rest of Canada, ya know - winter.

I'm off to explore Vancity, and to try not to shop at LuluLemon (very difficult here).

As my uncle says "Keep the shiny side up and the dirty side down, and you'll be just fine". Words to live by,

75 % Party, 100 % of the Time

Status Update

Location: Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Objective: Learn to Surf, and Nachos as Big as Your Ass
State of Mind: Light

Unfortunately, Michelle had her bag (and passport) stolen last night at the beach, after a night of particularly good times. So, Michael and her left for San Jose to get a new one, then meeting us later, perhaps in Honduras. We're off tomorrow to Nicaragua, to get a little bit of something I like to call Volcano Boarding!!! done.

Keep it real, kids!

Central America Bound

Hey guys, so I'm off to Central America tomorrow at 7AM! I'll be leaving with Michael and Jackie for San Jose, Costa Rica. The next day we're meeting Michelle, Krista and Ken, at which point the party bus officially begins rocking.

Later, we'll be sweeping through Nicaragua, Honduras, and finally Guatemala before leaving from Guatemala City. Stay tuned to this blog for posts!