ACCA Results - August 2011

Well, that´s finally it. I´m a fully qualifed contador.

There´ll be no stopping me now, I´ll be counting things left, right and centre...

Costa Rica - August 2011

Decided to bypass Costa Rica - the most expensive and touristy country in Central America.

The Panama/Costa Rica (Guabito/Sixaola) border crossing was worth a photo though.

You wouldn´t want to drop your passport - it´d slip through a crack and be swept into the Caribbean Sea.

Spent a couple of nights in San Jose before catching the bus to Nicaragua. Not a particularly photogenic city but vibrant and friendly.

Decided to do a one week intensive Spanish course in Managua. Missing out on too much not speaking the lingo. Daily classes and evenings with a host family. Total immersion. Like lowering yourself into a bath full of salsa.

Nicaragua blog post will be in fluent Spanish...

Panama - August 2011

Alive and kicking in Panama and by the sound of it safer than in London. Although a tarantula did try to steal my raisins...

Sorry, poor taste. Always start with a joke though.

London to Miami to Panama City. Fairly uneventful journey. Panama City is the most commercial city in Central America:

Stayed in the old part of town, Casco Viejo...

Took a day trip to the Panama Canal which has to be seen, especially by a nerd like me. Pretty impressive stuff:

That was about it for Panama City, two days is enough, really. Took a bus to a mountain town called Bochete, via David. Lovely little place renowned for its coffee which is like rocket fuel. Did a tour of a plantation:

Did an overnight trek up the volcano, Volcan Baru. It's the highest point in Panama. Took about nine hours, round trip. You're supposed to be able see the Atlantic and the Pacific from the summit at dawn on a clear day. It was cloudy. Bugger.

Took a bus to a lodge called Lost and Found. Amazing place. The bus drops you in the middle of nowhere and you hike up the mountain to find it.

Did a solo trek on the first day, felt like the only person there.

Struggled with the timer function on my camera.



You get the idea.

Went for a trek with an Aussie guy and his sister on second day. Saw a troop of monkeys but couldn't get camera out in time. Amazing flora though.

Trod right next to a Fer-de-lance which is the worst thing I'm likely to encounter in Central America. The Aussie guy saw it and shouted as I put my foot down, too late. Fortunately it didn't take offence. Very lucky to see one, apparently. Very unlucky to get bitten by one. Oops. Its head is under the red flower to the right hand side, looking right.

Took a bus and ferry to Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast. Reminds me of Key West. Big party town so won't hang around long. Going to cross border into Costa Rica ASAP.

Plain sailing so far. Noteworthy points:

1. Shouldn't have brought sleeping bag.

2. Should have brought hiking boots.

3. It's incredibly difficult to get a photo of a hummingbird.

4. Alway save your blog before you try to post it.

Hasta luego!

London to Oxford Cycle - July 2011

Photos of Rich, Rob and me cycling the 70 miles from Richmond to Oxford last Saturday. Can't think of a better way to spend a day. Amazing fun.