Gliding through valleys, around fields, up and down hills covered with wild flowers, I am engulfed in the scent of nature. When coffee trees bloom, their tangy smell overpowers me; when through strawberry fields I ride, the sweetness of the fruit penetrates to my very first memory of eating it. The salty sulfur of the Read More …
Author: tolchinsky
45. 7-1-13: Honduras – Love or Death
The little strip of Honduras that separates El Salvador from Nicaragua is only 132km. That’s no more than a couple of hours riding. I thought I would stop in Choluteca for a couple of days just to meet a fellow biker and get a little taste of Honduras, and then move on. Fate, it Read More …
44. 6-15-13: El Salvador
Travel Safety The rainy season in the tropics is no joke… even less so when on two wheels. There is so much of Guatemala and El Salvador that I did not see because the towering, and sometimes smoking, volcanoes were constantly covered in clouds. There were brief moments of clarity when I could gaze in Read More …
43. 5-30-13: War and Farming
Semilla Nueva Good things come to those who wait: as I was getting ready to leave, Curt from Semilla Nueva finally got in touch with me to give me the opportunity to meet the farmers his NGO works with. I was in Guatemala City battling with the pain of the inflammation in my hand, when Read More …
42. 5-15-13: Guatemala – Perspectives
The Beautiful Truth To those who have any thoughts at all of Guatemala, crime, poverty, corruption and malnutrition tend to stand at the forefront of their image of the country. These overpowering, and very real, elements are usually softened by experiences of great color of native dress, stunning volcanoes, the beauty and peace of Read More …
41. 5-5-13: The Crash
After a month of living in the “real” Guatemala, I finally hopped on the Gringo Trail – Quetzaltenango (Xela). I came to the center of NGO activity and volcano excursions to give myself the chance to work or volunteer again, and to see the famed, lava spewing, volcanoes. And though I got close to Read More …
40. 4-21-13: Love and Loss
It’s so true that a journey takes you, rather than the other way around. And though I am often tested, and harshly, it is weeks like the ones I spent in an orphanage in Huehuetenango which remind me why I let go of the reigns in the first place.The only person to respond from Couchsurfing Read More …
39. 4-10-13: 200km in 8 Hours
Greetings I have discovered one of the secrets to happiness… wave, smile, say hello to people you pass. I realized that one of the reasons I am so happy all the time is that I constantly greet, and am greeted by, people. And when kids do it the effect is trifold. I would say Read More …
37. 3-27-13: Belize – An Oversight
There is little I can say about Belize because I never gave it the chance to give me something to say. Belize is an expensive country and that scared me right away. I hadn’t found too many people on couch surfing, and was generally not interested in the beach or any water based activity. There Read More …
38.4-1-13:Guatemala-Sweat/Blood/Books
Maria A few years ago, while still teaching in New York, I helped a friend with a fundraiser for a Guatemala based NGO, which for some reason sparked a desire to come and see things for myself. If nothing else, this crazy journey of mine has made so many of my dreams come true – Read More …