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No Hay Conexion! From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1273 days old)
That just about sums up the Cuban internet, and why I wasn't able to publish my blogs on my travels in Cuba until I left the country! It also describes just how much this country is isolated from… more
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Motorcycle diaries From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1274 days old)
(Cuban beach paradise - Cayo Jutias) Hungover, after far too many mojitos the night before, I collected my rental scooter! After having been on the back of Ivan's in Medellin, I fancied driving o… more
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Lobster feast From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1274 days old)
Public transport in Cuba is bad, so I thought it best to stay close to Havana. The book suggests a triangle including a country village called Vinales, and a spanish colonial town called Trinidad. I h… more
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"I've bought my Cuban cigars, now I have got to get out of here" From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1276 days old)
"I came to Cuba to backpack and meet people. It's driving me crazy! I went to Varadero thinking that's where people will be. I was two nights in a low budget hotel all on my own. I've read nearly all … more
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Our man in Havana... From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1279 days old)
If I thought I had overdosed on Spanish Colonial cities, then I was wrong. Havana is absolutely stunning, if crumbling. But then Havana has several centuries of grand building styles, so it isn´t … more
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Wear outs Hotel From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1285 days old)
That's a new term from the US. It means people who sap your energy dry, perhaps because they may be too loud, have nothing worth saying, or just plain self centred. This hotel (Westin Spa and Resort) … more
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Pyramids and Parisien style cafes From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1286 days old)
We laid low on Monday as it was May 1st, the day of huge demonstration in the US by illegal immigrants against potential new laws there to make them criminals. Shaun was worried that we might be caugh… more
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Mexico City, a cultural wonderland From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1289 days old)
I like Mexico City. Even Shaunie has given it the accolade of "I haven't seen anything really scary here, like Sao Paolo". We haven't been out of the city yet past the shanty towns though. The centre … more
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Meeting Shaunie From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1289 days old)
I checked into the W Hotel in Mexico City, a hip, cool and trendy hangout for Mexico City's media set, courtesy of my dear Shaun. One night here is an entire week's budget for me! The first suite I wa… more
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Mexico's colonial heartland at sunrise From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1289 days old)
Thursday was my last day in Cuidad Victoria, so I busied myself with things like laundry. Carlos is the sort of person who can sleep 12 hours a day, but after 6 or 7 hours I am rested enough and want … more
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Hob nobbing with Mexico's wealthy and beautiful From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1289 days old)
(Museo Ciencia, Cuidad Victoria) Carlos had to "work" on Tuesday. This meant driving to the state capital, Cuidad Victoria for a day's conference on a forthcoming theatre festival. I small-talked… more
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Getting well off the beaten track in Mexico From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1290 days old)
(The lush and tropical Sierra Gorda, Mexico) Well, I wanted to get off the beaten track, and I certainly succeeded! The luxy Primera Clase bus from Palaneque got into Mexico City's Terminal del N… more
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Another ancient Mayan city... From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1297 days old)
(The Palace, Palenque, Mexico) The drive to the Guatemala-Mexican border was largely uneventful, and the scenery not terribly exciting; much slash and burn farming going on. The journey was on di… more
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A Star Wars set - Tikal From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1298 days old)
The good thing about taking the overnight bus from Guatemala City to Flores is that you arrive early enough to beat the crowd - 5am! Still feeling sleepy, I transferred from the bus to a collectiv… more
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The most beautiful lake in the world: hippy hangout Lago Atitlan From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1302 days old)
That is according to Aldous Huxley. Lago Atitlan is indeed stunning, with mountains steeply rising out of an aquamarine blue lake. Formed by very large colapsing volcano. It now has it's very own … more
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Antigua - you can overdose on colonial towns! From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1302 days old)
The border crossing from Honduras to Guatemala could not have been easier. No long queues and the two countries immigation offices were right next to each other. Now, that is a good idea! The bus jou… more
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Ancient sacrificial altars and modern day religious fundamentalists... From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1305 days old)
(Mayan ruins at Copan, Honduras) So, I decided to escape the Semana Santa madness and escape to the mountains and the Mayan ruins of Capan. Before I left Omoa, I finally fished out my travel insu… more
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In search of Garifuna dancing... From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1306 days old)
The guide book says that 12th Aril is the date of a festival along the Caribbean coast of Honduras, commemorating the day these African peoples arrived. Sounds fun and interesting, and the "real" Cent… more
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In search of the real Central America... From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1310 days old)
(Cathedral, Granada, Nicaragua) Panama looked like a lush country as I peeked through the curtains from the bus. Not not I could do much peeking, as I had an aisle seat, and the Nicaraguan girl n… more
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I'm not a gringo! Get me out of here! From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1313 days old)
Leaving Columbia after six wonderful weeks was an emotional wrench, not made any easier by Iván giving me a single rose with a very sweet little note inside. I had to read it several times to make sur… more
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Columbia is like an additcion - no, Columbia is an addiction! From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1315 days old)
(The national flower of Columbia) These are my last few hours in Columbia. I am back in Medellin visiting Ivan, and have some time to reflect on the last 6 weeks. Indeed, I have been thinking abo… more
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Tierradentro From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1321 days old)
I had lost a day by having to rest up in Popayan. When having to choose between visiting Tierradentro and San Agustin in south Columbia, everyone I have met said Tierradentro is the most spectacul… more
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Sick in Popayan From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1321 days old)
Perhaps it was several days of little sleep, getting up early to catch jeeps or buses, or the day spent up a mountain in hail, but I felt achey, snivelly and tired. Perhaps it was malaria?! I have bee… more
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Gluttony for punishment - Los Nevados From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1321 days old)
An addendum to the story of "Close encounter with a guerilla"...back at the Plantation house that night a German guy, who had just returned from a 5 day trek, told of how he was "invited" to spend… more
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In search of a good coffee From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1323 days old)
So, after leaving Medellin and Iván, my search for good coffee took me 6 hours by bus south, to Periera and the Coffee Zone. I was met at Pereira bus station by two off Iván's aunts and a nun! The swe… more
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A rock and a Columbian dinner party From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1330 days old)
No rest for the wicked! By 8am, I was up, showered, breakfasted and riding on the back of Ivan's scooter to the market to buy stuff for dinner the next evening. Friends of mine will know that I love f… more
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Botero From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1330 days old)
Medellin is the home town of Columbia's most famous artist, Botero, although he now mostly lives in Italy. Whilst Ivan was teaching ballet, I wandered a few blocks to the Museo de Antioquia, which has… more
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Medellin - the city of eternal Springtime From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1330 days old)
So called, because of the mountain climate...not as high as Bogota, but still 1,700m above sea level. It is lush and green and very modern. It has thrown off it's drugs cartel image, after the shootin… more
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Chill out at the beach - Parque Tayrona From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1334 days old)
The planned big celebration after La Cuidad Perdida trek didn't work out. Everyone was up for it, but it was a dry weekend in Columbia! Shops couldn't sell booze and bars and clubs were shut. So much … more
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A jungle trek to test anyone! From
chrishurling
in Chris Hurling's travels in The Americas
(1334 days old)
At La Cuidad Perdida, the group slpit into 2, with 8 of us taking an alternative route back. This was promised to be slightly longer, but more scenic. Going back down those 1240 steps was not easy. My… more