Sophie’s Adventures: Mexico to Brazil

Sophie’s Adventures: Mexico to Brazil

Sophie’s Adventures: Mexico to Brazil

PART 1 NORTH AMERICA AND CENTRAL AMERICA

MEXICO

In November 2009 I left my job and my home in London to go on an adventure: Mexico to Brazil. I travelled by bus from Mexico to Panama. Even though travelling by bus for many hours was very uncomfortable it was worth it because I was able to see how the landscape changed from place to place.

I flew from London to Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. I was a bit scared when I first arrived because I realised I was a long way from home and all by myself!  One of the highlights  of Mexico city was visiting Frida Kahlo’s  home, ‘the blue house’,  as she is one of my favourite artists. She was born in 1907 and died in 1954. She often paints self-portraits with spider monkeys and she was married to the famous muralist Diego Rivera.

 

From Mexico City I went north to Querétaro to visit an old housemate. Querétaro also has the third largest rock in the world.

After staying with my friend for a few days and eating lots of spicy authentic Mexican food  I went back down south to Oxaca where I went to an incredibly colourful food market.

The next stop was San Cristobal which is famous for its amber. San Cristobal was freezing! As it was so cold I went looking for the sun and arrived in Zipolete, a beautiful beach on the pacific coast. Zipolete is well-known for its killer waves because they are so strong and have caused many deaths. Even though the water is extremely dangerous, Zipolete is like paradise.

I stayed in a cabin by the sea and ate fresh fish and drank chocolate cocktails with my feet in the sand and an ocean view.

When I was in Zipolete I went on a day trip to a beach called Playa Ventanilla where I came across a plane crash. People say the plane was flown by criminals and crashed on purpose. I don’t know how true that is! At dusk on the same beach, I helped release baby turtles back into the ocean. There is a small organisation that is responsible for protecting the turtles from poachers. When the turtle eggs are laid on the beach, the people from this organisation collect them and look after them. After 3 months they put them back into the ocean.

 

GUATEMALA

One of my favourite experiences in Guatemala was staying in the village of San Pedro which is one of the many villages around lake Atilan. Each village around the lake has its own indigenous language. Spanish is their second language. I enjoyed being in San Pedro because it was very peaceful and the landscape was beautiful.  I took a painting class to learn about the techniques of local painters as well as a few Spanish classes.

One of the most dangerous things I did when I was in Guatemala was climb a volcano in Antigua. My mum didn’t know till after!! Antigua is a city about 4 hours away by bus from the village of San Pedro.

After Guatemala, I travelled across Honduras by bus to Granada, a city in the west of Nicaragua.

NICARAGUA

I spent Christmas in Granada, in Nicaragua. I celebrated with other backpackers in the hostel I was staying in. After Christmas dinner we went salsa dancing. My next destination was Costa Rica. That was where I was going to spend New Year’s eve.

COSTA RICA

It was nearly New Year’s Eve and because I hadn’t booked anything in advance all the hostels were fully booked. Fortunately, Rockin’ J’s Hammock hotel had room and I was able to rent a hammock for a few nights although it was very uncomfortable! I celebrated New Year’s Eve on the beach with fireworks and music.

PANAMA

When I arrived in Panama I stayed on the island ‘Bocas del Toro’. I didn’t stay for very long as there wasn’t much to do.

 

After Panama I had no choice but to get a plane or a boat to the South American continent. It was not possible to continue my journey by bus because the land that connects Central America to South America is a strip of dangerous jungle called the Darien Gap. It is dangerous because of the Columbian rebels who are active in this area. I wasn’t brave enough to sail to Columbia so I decided to fly to a country in South America.

Find out where my journey continues in Part 2…

GLOSSARY

To be worth it	To have value
Highlights	The best part(s)
Old housemate	A person I previously lived with
Spicy	Taste hot
Waves	The movement of the sea
To come across something	To see or find something by accident
Dusk	When day changes to night
Poachers	Someone who catches and kills animals illegally
To look after something/someone	To be responsible for
Peaceful	Tranquil
Backpackers	People who travel with a bag on their back and usually try to stay in cheap hostels.
New Year’s Eve	The night before 1 January
To book	To reserve
Full booked	No places left, eg. In a hotel
Fireworks	Loud colourful fire in the sky
Sail	To travel in a boat or ship