Daily Diary 2003


September 2003: Mexico

01 Oslo - Mexico City. Hotel Zamora. Checked out the Zocalo Plaza by night.

02 Mexico City: Palacio Nacionale, Museo de la Caricatura, Almenda Central (Park), Museo Mural Diego Riviera, Monumente a La Revolucion, Bosque de Chapultepec (Park). Cinema: Pirates of the Caribbean.

03 Mexico City: Markets, Templo Mayor (Aztec site / museum), Instrumentos de Tortura y Pena Capital (Torture museum). Cinema: Tomb Raider 2: Cradle of Life.

04 Mexico City: Plaza de las Tres Culturas, Teotihuacan - "Place of the Gods" (Aztec site), Basilica de Guadalupe (Church).

05 Mexico City - Oaxaca: Hostel Paulina.

06 Oaxaca: Jardin Ethno-botanical Garden, Palacio de Gobierno, lots of churches, view point.

07 Oaxaca: Monte Alban (Zapotec site), El Tule (the world's largest three).

08 Puerto Escondido: Bungalow Acuario. Relaxing by the pool. Party!

09 Puerto Escondido: Relaxing by the pool.

10 Puerto Escondido: Relaxing by the pool. Movie: Y tu Mama Tambien.

11 Puerto Escondido: Pool / party.

12 Puerto Escondido: Siesta / Fiesta.

13 Puerto Escondido: Lagunas de Manialtepec (boat trip in mangrove lagoons). Party.

14 Puerto Escondido: Siesta.

15 Puerto Escondido: Independence day! Siesta / Fiesta!

16 Puerto Escondido: Beach. Last day.

17 San Cristobal: Magic Hostel. Horseback riding in the rain.

18 San Cristobal: San Juan Chamula / Templo de San Juan (Indigenous village / Beautiful church), Na Bolom.

19 San Cristobal: Canon del Sumidero (beautiful canyon). Cinema: Assesino en Serio.

20 San Cristobal - Palenque: Margarita & Ed Cabanas.

21 Palenque: Misol-Ha (waterfall).

22 Palenque: Palenque ruins (Maya site), Misol-Ha (waterfall), Agua Azul (waterfalls).

23 Playa del Carmen: Hotel Casa Tucan. Beach.

24 Playa del Carmen: Beach.

25 Playa del Carmen: Beach.

26 Playa del Carmen: Snorkeling Xpu-Ha, Snorkeling Cenote Azul, Tulum ruins (Maya site)

27 Playa del Carmen: Cenote diving: Dos Ojos (freshwater caves).

28 Cozumel: Hotel Saolima.

29 Cozumel: Diving: San Francisco Wall / Paradise Reef, Open Water: Lydia - Theory. Cinema: Freddy vs. Jason.

30 Cozumel: Open Water: Lydia - Confined water, Dive 1 + 2: Villa Blanca.

 

October 2003: Mexico / Belize / Guatemala / Honduras

01 Cozumel - Playa del Carmen: Open Water: Lydia - Dive 3+4 (La Franscesa / Yucab Reef). Cinema: League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Urban Hostel.

02 Playa del Carmen - Chetumal: Cristal Hotel.

 

BELIZE

03 Caye Caulker: The Tropics Hotel.

04 Caye Caulker: Beach.

05 Caye Caulker: Just realized that we have to turn our clock back one hour in Belize.

06 Caye Caulker: Manatee Tour: Swallow Caye (manatees), Goff’s Caye (snorkeling/lunch), Shark and Ray Alley (snorkeling with sharks/rays).

07 Caye Caulker: Busy doing nothing.

08 Caye Caulker: Diving Lighthouse Reef Atoll: Blue Hole / Half Moon Wall / Silver Cave + Half Moon Caye Red-Footed Booby Sanctuary.

 

GUATEMALA

09 Flores: Travel. Hotel Mirador del Lago.

10 Flores: Tikal (Maya site).

11 Livingstone: Rio Dulce trip. Hotal Garifuna

 

HONDURAS

12 La Ceiba: 11 hrs traveling: Boat - Taxi - Minibus - Pickup truck - Bus - Bus - Bus - Taxi. Hotel Mar Azul.

13 Utila: Cooper's In. Choosing dive shop; Paradise Diver.

14 Utila: Diving: Rock Harbour / Moon Hole / Halliburton Wreck / Airport Caves. Cinema: Spun.

15 Utila: Diving: Rock Harbour / Ron's Wreck.

16 Utila: Diving: Sack Neil Cove / Labyrinth.

17 Utila - La Entrada: Hotel San Carlos.

18 Copan: Copan Ruinas (Maya site). Hospedaje Los Gemelos.

 

GUATEMALA

19 Lanquin: 10 hours traveling: Bus x5. El Retiro.

20 Lanquin: Semuc Champey. Grutas de Lanquin. Tubing in Rio Lanquin.

21 Antigua: 9 hours traveling: Bus x3. Casa de Santa Lucia No 4.

22 Antigua: Walking around at the market and the city.

23 Antigua: Casa Santo Domingo (old church). Volcan Pacaya (active volcano).

24 Antigua: Nothing much happened...

25 San Pedro la Laguna: 3.5 hours traveling: Bus - Rickshaw - Boat. Hospedaje Casa Elena.

26 San Pedro la Laguna: Kayaking on Lake Atitlan to Santiago Atitlan and back.

27 San Pedro la Laguna: Relax!

28 Quetzaltenango: 3 hrs traveling. Hotel Occidental. Museo de Historia Natural (freaky museum!). Cinema: Extreme Op.

29 Quetzaltenango: Cemetery. Sick!

30 Quetzaltenango: Slow day after stomach problems last night.

31 Todos Santos: 5 hrs traveling w/ Quetzaltrekkers. Hospedaje Viajero.

 

November 2003: Guatemala / Mexico

01 Todos Santos: Todos Santos Festival (drunken horse race). Party local disco.

02 Todos Santos: Dias de los Muertes (Day of the Dead) ......the party continues on the graveyard.

03 San Pedro la Laguna: San Pedro Spanish School. Stayed with a crazy, but friendly American.

04 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course. Hospedaje Casa Elena.

05 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

06 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

07 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

08 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

09 San Pedro la Laguna: President election day: Berger and Colom goes to the second round.

10 San Pedro la Laguna: Market Santiago / Panajachel.

11 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

12 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

13 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course. Movie: El Norte.

14 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

15 San Pedro la Laguna: Spanish course.

16 San Pedro la Laguna: Sunday market: Chichicastenango.

17 San Pedro la Laguna: Lydia's last day.

18 Antigua: 4hrs traveling. Hotel Latino America. Movie: La Hija del Puma.

19 Antigua: Cerro de la Cruz (view point), Inglesia la Merced, Cemetery. Football: NOR-ESP. Movie: Men with Guns.

20 Antigua: Nothing much happened. Started writing my next travel e-mail.

21 Antigua - Mexico City: Traveling: 8hrs (Antigua - Tapachula) + 18hrs (Tapachula-Mexico City).

 

MEXICO

22 Mexico City: Cinema: Matrix Revolution. Traveling: 12hrs.

23 Manzanillo: New job: Neptunes Diving / Offshore Watersports.

24 Manzanillo: Diving: Jupan / San Luciano Wreck. Snorkeling: Aquarium / San Luciano Wreck.

25 Manzanillo: Diving: Big Rock / Carrasalis + Carrasalis / Big Rock.

26 Manzanillo: Open Water: Brian - Theory and Confined Water.

27 Manzanillo: Diving: San Luciano Wreck (found seahorses!)

28 Manzanillo: Open Water: Brian - Dive 2+3: Carrasalis*2. Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

29 Manzanillo: Open Water: Brian - Dive 4: Elephant Rock.

30 Manzanillo: Diving: White Rock *2 + Elephant Rock.

 

December 2003: Mexico

01 Manzanillo: Advance: Chad: Karmina Bay (Nav).

02 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

03 Manzanillo: Advance: Chad: Los Frailes*2 (Deep/Multilevel). Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

04 Manzanillo: Carrasalis*2. Night dive.

05 Manzanillo: Quite day at work. Cinema:

06 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck + Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

07 Manzanillo: Day off! Mexican election day.

08 Manzanillo: Slow day at work; no trips going out.

09 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck. Snorkeling. Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

10 Manzanillo: Advance: Chad: Carrasalis Deep (Photo).

11 Manzanillo: Did not go out on the trip, did a DSD class.

12 Manzanillo: Diving: Karmina Bay. Party: Colima Bay (foam party).

13 Manzanillo: Nothing much happened.

14 Manzanillo: Diving: Jupan / Elephant Rock (2 eagle rays/octopus). Rescue: Chad.

15 Manzanillo: Rescue: Chad.

16 Manzanillo: Diving: San Luciano Wreck / Elephant Rock. Cinema: Jeepers Creepers 2.

17 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

18 Manzanillo: Diving: San Luciano Wreck / Elephant Rock.

19 Manzanillo: Open Water: Alex/Thomas - Theory. Cinema Colima: LOTR: Return of the King.

20 Manzanillo: Open Water: Alex/Thomas - Confined Water + Dive 2&3: Carrasalis Coral + Deep (eagle ray).

21 Manzanillo: Open Water: Alex/Thomas - Dive 4: Carrasalis Deep / Horses Ear.

22 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

23 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock (turtle) / San Luciano Wreck (octopus). Advance: Alex/Thomas: Karmina Bay (Night).

24 Manzanillo: Merry X-mas! Advance: Alex/Thomas: Carrasalis Big Rock (eagleray/octopus) / Carrasalis Coral / Karmina Bay (Deep/Nav).

25 Manzanillo: Photo Fun dive: San Luciano Wreck.

26 Manzanillo: Advance: Alex/Thomas: Horses Ear (school of eaglerays) / San Luciano Wreck (Multilevel / Photo).

27 Manzanillo: Diving: Horses Ear / Jupan.

28 Manzanillo: No diving. Lucy passed her DM exam.

29 Manzanillo: Diving: Elephant Rock / San Luciano Wreck.

30 Manzanillo: Pantheon / Horses Ear (turtle / lots of eaglerays)

31 Manzanillo: Carrasalis (eagleray) / Horses Ear. New Year's Eve: Sunset Lounge / Nautilus.