Argentina Conclusion

Overall, Argentina blew me away with its delicious food, the lovely people, and the majestic scenery. I never had an unhappy moment here. This was my favorite country to visit so far. To be honest, I had high expectations for Argentina because of its size, population, and the stability of its government. These expectations were met and exceeded. My favorite part, however, was not made by Argentinians, but by nature. Patagonia and its wild scenery and colors was truly breathtaking and I have never seen, or ever will see anything like it. For the most part, south american countries are usually poor and not industrialized but Argentina is fairly progressive and stable. I had a blast in Argentina and would definitely go again.

Argentina Day Two

Today I got up very early around 4:00 to be able to watch the sunrise in Patagonia. After leaving my hotel, I went to the bus terminal and hopped on the 4:15 bus to Bariloche, a town in Patagonia that is surrounded by a glacial lake. Once I arrived I stopped at the many famous chocolate shops. I noticed the buildings were designed similar to those of the Swiss Alps. In fact, the surroundings of jagged mountains and gorgeous lakes is very similar to that of a small town, high in the Alps. I tried many different types of gourmet chocolate that tasted like regular chocolate. But soon after I was done exploring the town, I turned my attention to the calving glacier to the west of the town. This massive glacier is called Moreno Glacier and it covers over a hundred square miles. After watching this colossal glacier, I witnessed a chunk of ice the size of a truck crack off and fall into the water! Cuernos del Paine was my next destination. This spot is one of the shining jewels of Patagonia. Cuernos del Paine is in Paine National Park. Argentina has 33 national parks across the country. I then began a backpacking journey all over the jagged mountain. The hardest part of the backpacking was the lack of oxygen because Patagonia is already several thousand feet above sea level and is lacking in oxygen.After I had finished my route, I went and visited several small villages in the area. These extremely poor villages were full of weather tested people and shelters. Patagonia was like an alien world to me because of the uniqueness of its landforms and the scarceness of life. The extremely jagged mountains and the massive glaciers were unlike anything I had ever seen before. I got back to my hotel safe and sound and am incredibly sore from all the hiking. I really wish I had longer to explore Argentina.

Gourmet Chocolate

Cuernos del Paine

Villagers In Patagonia

Argentina Day One

Upon my arrival in Buenos Aires, I checked into my hotel, dropped my bags off, the returned to the streets. I walked through downtown and saw vendors selling Lionel Messi jerseys and posters I soon picked up the trend that many people were walking and looking in one direction more than the others. I looked over and saw a large mass of people carrying banners and marching peacefully in front of the Playa De Mexico.The Playa is a historical building from the early 18th century. I learned that these peaceful protests are an effective way to spread your message in Argentina. The calm protests are a kind of tradition and one takes place about every month or so. However, Argentina is fairly progressive with its policies. Democracy is beginning to take root in many areas and women have almost equal rights to men. I know that this doesn’t sound like a perfect government but it is pretty good compared to the harsh and unfair rule of some neighboring countries who are under the control of dictators. After watching the protest for a few more minutes I began looking for a nice place to eat. I ordered some beef burritos and a Dulce De Leche cake. The Dulce De Leche cake is an Argentinian cake and is made from milk which is turned into a thick caramel type spread. This is then spread over a cake. After this I walked to the beach and observed the La Brava beach. This means “The fierce.” The water is fairly cold and not really for swimming in. I just spent my time relaxing and reading. I stayed and watched the sunset till it was time for dinner. I went to a local restaurant and ate a large bowl of Chicken and cabbage stew. Tomorrow I will be hiking through Patagonia. This is one of the most exotic and fascinating places in the world.

Vendor selling Messi Souvenirs

Protests in front of the Playa

Dulce De Leche cake

Argentina Introduction

On my tour of a few Latin American countries, my last stop is Argentina. This country is the world’s eighth largest country. It is also one of the world’s most culturally and geographically interesting countries. Despite the vast areas of the Pampas and Patagonia, Argentina is a mostly urban country. Its capital, Buenos Aires, is an extremely large city and is my first stop. Argentina is made up of four major areas: The Andes, The North, The Pampas, and Patagonia. The majority of the county is of Italian or Spanish descent. The official religion is Roman Catholic and it is practiced by the vast majority of the population.The second most popular religion is protestant.  Spanish is the official language. Argentina has a very stable economy relying on cattle and grain production. International superstar, Lionel Messi, was born in Argentina and is extremely well loved there. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Patagonia because it is so exotic and beautiful. My plane is beginning its descent so I must update when I land. I am very excited.

Map of Argentina

Statue of Mary in Argentinian Church

Honduras Conclusion

Honduras really did surprise me with its fun and festive culture, its many interesting archaeological sites, and its mouth wateringly delicious food. I witnessed one of the biggest festivals of the year and experienced first hand, the joy of the locals. I also explored Honduras’ parks and famous monuments. The beaches were fantastic and were so fun with the snorkeling and the zip lining. But what really blew me away was the fact that a country with such a long history of harsh rule from dictators can still be exciting and interesting to a world traveler like me. Overall I loved my stay in Honduras and would definately visit again.

Honduras Day Two

After waking up to the Honduran sunrise, I went downstairs and exited the hotel. I then bought a fast food breakfast. I ate my eggs and fried sausages in the lobby of the hotel. Today I was going to travel to the beaches of Honduras. I took a taxi to the Roatan beach. This beach offered snorkeling, scuba diving, coral reefs tours, and zip lining. I began by renting some snorkel gear for a good price. I swam out to the coral reef and began to look around. I saw many exotic fish and species of coral that I had never seen before. After I got out of the water, I dried off and went to buy tickets for the huge zip line. Once at the top, I got a little nervous but eventually jumped from the platform and began to fly through the air. I got a great view of the beach and all my surroundings. Next, I took a cab to the ancient Mayan city of Copan. These ruins were very well preserved and showed the fascinating and unique culture of the Mayans. This city was occupied for over 2000 years and was the capital of the Mayan empire from around 500 AD to 900 AD. Once I arrived I signed up for a tour. We saw many ancients statues and monuments to gods that were worshipped by the Mayans. The hieroglyphic stairway and the ballcourt were my personal favorites because of how well preserved they were. This fascinated me because it showed how innovative, intelligent, and precise the Mayans must have been to create a stone temple that could last over 1000 years. The tour guide gave us a great tour and he often described what a Mayan citizen’s daily life would’ve been like depending on their job. It was, however, unpleasantly hot and humid. In fact, for the summer, Honduras’ average summer temperature high is 85 degrees and very humid. Once the tour was over and we had returned back to the hotel, I was extremely tired and ordered pork barritas with beans and rice to my hotel room. Finally, after writing this entry, I think I’ll go to bed.

Copan's Ballcourt

Huge Zip line over the Beach

Ancient Statue 

Roaton Beach

Honduras Day On

Knowing about Honduras’ extensive history of dictators, I was expecting a hardcore and straightforward regime from the people and the government. I soon learned that Honduras shows its culture, not through art, but through lively celebrations and holidays. I arrived in the middle of La Ceiba season which is the annual week long carnival. This celebration starts a week before the main event and is a series of music and partying. I was greeted by parades and loud music as a got closer to downtown of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Once in the city, I went to the La Leona park which gave me spectacular view of the city and and all the festivities going on. Soon I stopped at a restaurant to have some local food. I learned that almost every meal in Honduras includes beans, rice, and some form of a white tortilla. I had a delicious “pastelito” for lunch. Pastelitos consist of a flour or corn tortilla filled with either beef or chicken, as well as potatoes and various spices. They are folded in half and then deep fried. I had about three pastelitos, refried beans, and yellow rice. This meal was so delicious and filling because of the rich flavor and spices used to create it. Once I was finished eating my meal and I had payed the surprisingly low bill, I walked out and went up the same mountain as La Leona park and saw the famous Christ statue. This statue overlooks the city and is located in El Picacho park. The statues open arms and smile represent Christ’s welcoming and accepting personality. Finally I had a light dinner at the La Cacerola restaurant downtown. This place had very friendly waitresses and staff. I had a couple grilled beef enchiladas with melted cheddar cheese and tomato sauce. After this I traveled back to my room at the Tegucigalpa Marriott hotel. I am going to explore the countryside more tomorrow.

La Leona's Amazing View

La Cieba Festival

Beef Pastalitos

Christ Statue

Honduras Introduction

I am currently traveling on an American Airlines plane to Honduras, a Central American country formed in 1821. More than three-fourths of the land area of Honduras is mountainous. Lowlands are found only along the coasts and in the several river valleys that penetrate toward the interior. This makes the geography of the country slightly rough and jagged. Honduras has been inhabited since well before the 1st century ad. The official language of Honduras is Spanish, and the predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, with more than four-fifths of the population being adherents. The largest of the remaining groups are Protestant, with notable congregations in the east and on the Bay Islands. Like most Latin American countries, Honduras is impoverished and fairly poor with its per capita GDP being $4,270. Most of Honduras’ working populations work under very harsh conditions. Farming and mining are the country's most successful industries right now. However, Honduras doesn’t have a very built up industry. I am expecting a fairly poor and underdeveloped country with a rich culture.

Honduran Miners

Map of Honduras

Jamaica Conclusion

Overall, Jamaica was one of the most lively places I have ever been. Its rich culture and history really made an impression on me. The food was delicious, authentic, and unlike any I have ever had before. The jerk chicken was my personal favorite because of its spice and tenderness. Also, the island’s natural beauty is unbelievable. The beaches were very clean and fun to swim and snorkel in because of the amazing preservation of the coral reefs. More inland, the islands freshwater attractions were stunning. With hundreds of beautiful waterfalls and streams, you could spend a year exploring all of them. Jamaica is not just a land of wood and water, but of culture and beauty.

Jamaica Day Two

After waking up, I walked downstairs to the lobby of the Terra Nova and sat down at the breakfast parlor. I went through my planner looking at the itinerary for the day. Next, I ordered a full plate of ackee, saltfish, and fried dumplings. Ackee is a local fruit that only grows in one season and saltfish is usually salted mackerel with other seasonings and spices. After I had devoured my delicious breakfast, I headed out of the hotel to hail a cab. I had a friendly conversation with the sprightly taxi driver who agreed to take me to the local bus station. Once I had arrived and gave the driver his fare, I climbed on a mini-bus headed for Dunns river falls, a popular tourist spot with one of the most beautiful waterfall systems in the world. I then headed off to the Blue mountains, the major chain that runs through the eastern one thirds of Jamaica. This chain is one of the longest in the Caribbean and contains Jamaica’s tallest peak, Blue Mountain Peak (2,256 ft above sea level.) I was planning on spending the majority of my day climbing to the summit. It was easily accessible by 7 miles of walking and hiking trails. The summit was cool and clear as I could look north and see Cuba in the distance. I ate my packed lunch of cool jerk chicken, and bean soup in a thermos.

Soon I hiked down and returned to the mini-bus. After we arrived back in Kingston, I was exhausted and physically drained. Once I hopped off the bus and was back at my hotel, I walked around the downtown of Kingston and observed the life of the city. I saw out of place American tourists, hundreds of little shops selling items of all sorts, and thousands of people hurrying through the streets. I ate a small dinner and returned back to my hotel room to go to bed.

Dunn's Falls

Blue Mountain Peak

Jamaica Day One

After arriving safely in the capital city of Kingston, I was immediately greeted by the friendly locals who worked at the terminals and the customs office. After picking up my luggage from the baggage claim, I walked outside the airport to meet this fascinating country. Quickly I was bombarded by souvenir sellers who had set up shop outside the airport to entice naive tourists. After getting past the salesmen, I realized that I was fairly hungry. Thankfully, I arrived on a Sunday because it is custom for Jamaicans to have a large and hearty lunch on this day. Soon I sat down at a local restaurant that was bustling with people. This fine establishment was world renowned for its jerk chicken.  This style of chicken heavily spiced and grilled to perfection, making it very delicious. I also had a side of kidney beans, rice, and fried plantains.

After being sufficiently stuffed, I went looking for one of Jamaica’s most famous beaches, Doctors Cave. With its crystal clear turquoise water, white sand beaches, and it’s friendly atmosphere, Doctor’s Cave has been one of Jamaica’s most popular beaches for over a century. I walked along its beaches and eventually hopped in and began to snorkel around the beautiful coral reefs. After getting out and drying off, I began to watch the sunset and relaxed.

Soon I meandered towards the soothing sounds of Bob Marley, the most infamous icon in Jamaican history. With his release of the album “Exodus,” he became one of the top five best - selling artists of all time. Bob Marley made the religion “Rastafarianism” extremely famous even though only a small percent of Jamaica’s population is Rastafarian. This religion’s policies follow Haile Selassie I who was the Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930.The music was being played at the Bob Marley museum, a must see for Kingston. After going in, and looking around, I gained some insight on Jamaica’s pride for their history and culture. I then retired to my hotel room in the Terra Nova, an extremely famous hotel in the heart of Kingston.

Some of the delicious Jerk Chicken

Street Vendor in Kingston

Sunset from Doctors Cave Beach

Bob Marley

Jamaica Introducion

I am currently flying on a United Airways plane to Jamaica, “The Land of Wood and Water.” This name was given to the island during the exploration age, but Jamaica has evolved into a globally recognizable country famous for the rich culture and heritage. However Jamaica had to have earned this name for a reason, right? Well, in 1494, when the native Arawaks were still the only inhabitants on the island, Columbus stumbled upon the island on his second journey to the New World. Within a few years the Arawaks were almost completely eradicated either from disease or enslavement. The Spaniards held the island and heavily depleted its natural resources like timber and bananas. In 1655, the English took over the island and ousted the Spaniards. The British imported many thousands of African Slaves and business was booming until in 1803, slavery was abolished and the market and economy collapsed. Jamaica is a tropical and pleasant island located south of Cuba. It has a mountain range called the “Blue Mountains” that runs through the entire island. The highest peak is “Blue Mountain Peak” and it’s located in the eastern part of the island. English is the official language but the locals have a very famous Jamaican accent. Bob Marley, one of the best selling artists of all time, is from Jamaica and is a large part of their culture because of his global and local presence. He is a symbol for Jamaican life and is endlessly merchandised. Another global superstar from Jamaica is Usain Bolt, “the world’s fastest man.” He is renowned for his mind boggling speed,his larger than life personality,and his proud Jamaican Heritage. Today, tourism and agriculture are the island’s most profitable industries. I am very excited for my visit here.

Physical Map Of Jamaica