ADIOS SAN SALVADOR (October 16,and 19 2014)EL SALVADOR TO HONDURAS TO NICARAGUA
Our teeth are now all glued in and the bike parts came from Guatemala last night and is being repaired, so we are ready to get going at 6 am tomorrow. Have been here for a week and feel like we have over stayed, we know we have but they are such a fantastic family and make you feel at home. We have been spoiled with the exquisite cooking of Fernanda's meals and Mario driving us around relentlessly to get parts. Mario's grandfather was a famous El Salvadorian painter, Valero Lecha and has the house decorated with his art and complemented with Fernanda's interior decorating . Have been out to a few restaurants with them and Nelson and they know how to have a good time with lots of laughs, hard to believe the place is so dangerous.
October 19, 2014
EL SALVADOR TO HONDURAS TO NICARAGUA
Mario Fernanda and Ismail rode us out of town at 6am, poor Tom didn't even have coffee. Left us near the border and off we went on our own, Honduras border a nightmare of paperwork and expensive $110 to get bike in. Roads are the worst yet , slow going due to potholes and dogs and donkey carts. Got to Nicaraguan border and another 2 hour, they were perplexed at a South African passport and a Montana drivers license. Took forever and got done at 6pm and pitch dark and 80 km to go . Then I discover we are at the wrong border , way south so that was a shocker to say the least. So headed south to Chinandega in the dark and raining yet again. Was a horrible potholed road with plenty of cows and police blocks, but had no choice. On arrival at the hotel , once again we were told that we must not drive at night and the road we had just ridden was a real dangerous one with false police blocks where they would rob you dry. So we have been very lucky I guess but they say Nicaragua is safer........ Headed for Managua this morning about 110 km away and met up with George who was waiting for us at the Uno Petrol station just before Managua. He took us through the city to an active volcano on the outskirts of Managua which was pretty impressive. He then escorted us to Grenada which was the old Capital and it is a beautiful old town on a huge lake, where we had some cold ones with George. he bid us farewell and then found a room and checked out town at night.
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.