El Salvador is very beautiful and green in the parts that I have been to. It's a mix of mountains or volcanos and a lot of flat arabIe land. But I suspect that the countries are poorer as I head south. I don't know for sure; I am speculating based upon what I see the people using for transportation.
In Mexico, automobiles and motorcycles were the prevalent types of private transportation, with big Greyhound type buses for inter-city travel; taxis, and vans for shorter distances.
In Guatemala, I see autos and motorcycles, sure, but now the Chicken buses had replaced the large luxury coaches for the most part. And also, the 3-wheeled tuk-tuk taxis were common.
Then, in El Salvador, the chicken buses seemed less elaborate; less chrome on them and not as flashy. Also, they prefer the cab over, flat front school buses here.
But Toyota appears to own Central America. I am only estimating, but I think maybe 70% of the cars or pickups are Toyota. The Toyota Hilux pickup seems to be a big seller. It is also diesel. I wish they sold them in the United States. The rest are Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Hyundai, and the occasional Volkswagen. Where are GM, Ford and Dodge? I am starting to see more vehicles from India as well.
Next country is Honduras and another border crossing. The "helpers" show up and one of them says he is "Lino". Jorge on the other side of El Salvador had actually mentioned him. So, I thought since my experience with Jorge had been alright, I would have Lino help me.
He had his "half-brother", who spoke better English, be his translator. They had me park the motorcycle in El Salvador, and they went running around getting stamps in documents, and photocopies, and my passport stamped, and all I had to to was watch my motorcycle. And give them money.
Then, they got in a tuk-tuk taxi and had me follow them down the road and across a bridge, into Honduras. And all that I had to do while they ran around getting my passport stamped, and temporary import permit for Honduras, was watch my motorcycle. And give them money.
Lino comes up and says the power went out on the Honduran side and that it might not come back on for hours. "But don't worry, we can get you out of here right away. We just have to tip the immigration guy, the customs guy, the fumigation guy, my grandmother", etc.
I saw the line of semis stretching back a half-mile or better. By then, they had me convinced. "Sucker!", they probably said to each other. All told, I think the legitimate fees, the bribes, and the tips for "helping" me came close to $200, because with the money changers as well, I don't think I got a good exchange rate either.
That left a really bad taste in my mouth concerning Honduras. All I wanted, was to get away from that border as fast as possible.
When you are riding a motorcycle, you better have all of your attention on riding. The events of the border crossing were weighing heavily on my mind instead of my riding. At a fork in the road, I stopped on the shoulder of the road to check the GPS and make sure that I went the right way. When I was sure, I rode forward along the shoulder, saw a vehicle behind me that I should have waited to go past, but figured I could accelerate in plenty of time to get ahead of it.
When I attempted to climb up on the pavement from the dirt shoulder, the tires slid out and I went down on the left side. The crash was minor; all that happened to the motorcycle was a few scratches on the left side, and a slight bent handlebar. My body was sore in the middle of my back above the tailbone, and I think I tensed my neck a little bit, but other than that, I was OK.
Passers-by helped me pick up the motorcycle. A police truck stopped and a guy in the back hopping around on a crutch spoke to me in English, wanting to know if I needed to go to the hospital. I thought that was funny; he was the one on the way to the hospital. He had been in a crash earlier himself. But because he spoke English, I guess, they dragged him out to talk to me. I assured them I didn't need to go, and they all left.
I was concerned about the front forks; the bent handlebar wasn't as big an issue. I found a Yamaha dealer in Choluteca, Honduras and explained the situation. I asked them to check the forks, which they did, and they determined that they were fine. Then they straightened the handlebar and lubed my drive chain and wouldn't accept any money. How cool is that?
After that, all I wanted to do was rest, so I got a hotel, and pretty much just slept for 12 hours or so. I have been to Honduras before, so I decided to stay south and skip San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. It made for a shorter trip through Honduras that way also. Which was just fine with me.
The next day, I left early in order to get to the Honduran-Nicaraguan border early. I was determined to cross that border without any "help." Sure enough, when I get there, several helpers run out trying to get me to stop, but I rode past all of the semis, and them, and rode right up to the Immigration building and parked outside.
One guy was very persistent, but I ignored him. I got in line just like everyone else (fortunately the line was short). I left my helmet and riding gear on so there was no doubt who was riding the motorcycle parked out front. I was sweltering, but didn't want to leave anything loose with the motorcycle. But nobody said anything about where I parked, or how many vehicles I may have cut in front of, and soon I was checked out of Honduras.
But not before the persistent "helper" kept trying to get me to hire him for VIP treatment. I totally ignored all of his questions and never responded to anything he said. Finally he said in English, "You don't speak Spanish or English" I looked him in the eye and said loudly and firmly, "NO. Entiende? Understand?" and that was the end of him. Everyone else in line had seen how he was badgering me and now he was the one getting all the attention.
So, legitimate fees were $0 leaving Honduras, and around $40 for fumigation, visa fee, and mandatory vehicle insurance in Nicaragua. I was concerned that Honduras would try to collect something, because I didn't have any receipts from entering when "the power was off." It was also the first time that my motorcycle was actually "fumigated" at a border crossing. I think it was supposed to happen each country since leaving Mexico. As far as I could tell, they squirted each tire; it could have been with water, as far as I know.
I have seen people spreading something on the sides of the roads, and I got curious to see what it was. It is maize, or corn. They spread it out on the roads to dry. Then they have to pick it up again before it gets dark. They said they might do it 2 or 3 times before it is as dry as they want it. The heat from the road and the sun dry it so they can make their corn flour, or masa. I wonder why those of you in Iowa aren't doing this? Not enough roads? You don't like corn tortillas?
As I said, based upon methods of transportation, I think Nicaragua may be the poorest yet. There are a lot of horse drawn carts, and now I am seeing a lot of pedicabs, and people in the countryside on bicycles. I haven't noticed that the price of commodities are much lower though. Gas is more than 50% higher than Mexico. Hotels vary, but the ones on Expedia seem high. I did buy a new Bic razor at Wal-Mart for about $.35 though. So, there is that...
Gasoline was sold by the liter in Mexico, then by the gallon in El Salvador and Honduras, and now again by the liter in Nicaragua. It is tough trying to figure fuel mileage without a lot of mental calisthenics. Do I want to know miles per gallon? Kilometers per liter? Kilometers per gallon? Good thing a light comes on when I am low on fuel!
And money! Pesos in Mexico went from 18.5 to the dollar to over 20 to the dollar when Donald Trump was elected. Benefit-Stephen. I switched what pesos I had remaining, for Guatemalan Quetzals, at the border. As I mentioned previously, I got a better rate than I expected. Again, benefit-Stephen.
El Salvador uses the US dollar as their official currency. Although, they also use a dollar coin that I have never seen used in the USA. I don't know what it is. It isn't a Susan B. Anthony, and it isn't a Sacagawea. It has writing on the edge of the coin. Have you seen these before?
I would probably get arrested for counterfeiting money if I tried to use it in the States.
Then, Honduras uses the Limpira, and Nicaragua uses the Cordoba and also the US dollar. There are currently about 29 cordobas to a dollar, so it is weaker than a Mexican peso, which isn't saying much.
I stayed in Leon, Nicaragua one night. At the hotel, which was part of someone's house, I saw a clothesline on my balcony. I asked if they had a lavanderia, or laundry service, but they said no. So I washed some underwear and socks in the bathroom sink and hung them out to dry. So I tried washing a couple of shirts. That's when the wife started yelling something in Spanish. I didn't know what that was about and went back to hanging out my shirt. So she sent her son to tell me in English to stop washing my clothes in the sink, because I might break it. So I apologized, continued washing some shorts in the sink, but made sure to hang them up in the shower instead of on the clothesline where she could see it.
I realize pictures have been sparse, but it is either because something is gone by the time I stop and get out the camera, or else there hasn't been much to catch my eye. But these were all over Leon, imagine that. And I will try to find more interesting photos to take. You know, when I was growing up, we might go days without taking a photo. Weeks even. Now people take photos of their meals. I guess I could do that...
Passed me on a solid yellow line.
After Leon, I headed to Managua. Really wasn't much to see. It sits on a nice lake, but there is so much pollution, I couldn't enjoy the view. Sad, really.
There are volcanos around, but that is pretty much what I have seen since Huerfano, Colorado. Sure, most have been extinct, but unless I can see activity, it isn't much different. Just another cone shaped mountain.
I rode to the top of an extinct one in New Mexico earlier this year, El Capuchin. I want to see hot magma. I have booked a nighttime tour of an active one here that supposedly glows red inside the caldera. I moved to Grenada, Nicaragua, to be closer for the tour. Grenada sits on the shore of the biggest lake in Central America.
But Hurricane Otto is headed my direction. I think it is the latest named hurricane to ever make landfall this late in the season. I have heard that, in combination with a 7.0 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, and the hurricane, the volcano may be off limits.
I am going to stay here for a few days until I know what the hurricane is going to do, and whether I can take the volcano tour. It gives me time to have my laundry done. Maybe on a rock in the lake, I don't know. I am having it done professionally.
In Mexico, automobiles and motorcycles were the prevalent types of private transportation, with big Greyhound type buses for inter-city travel; taxis, and vans for shorter distances.
In Guatemala, I see autos and motorcycles, sure, but now the Chicken buses had replaced the large luxury coaches for the most part. And also, the 3-wheeled tuk-tuk taxis were common.
Then, in El Salvador, the chicken buses seemed less elaborate; less chrome on them and not as flashy. Also, they prefer the cab over, flat front school buses here.
But Toyota appears to own Central America. I am only estimating, but I think maybe 70% of the cars or pickups are Toyota. The Toyota Hilux pickup seems to be a big seller. It is also diesel. I wish they sold them in the United States. The rest are Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Hyundai, and the occasional Volkswagen. Where are GM, Ford and Dodge? I am starting to see more vehicles from India as well.
Next country is Honduras and another border crossing. The "helpers" show up and one of them says he is "Lino". Jorge on the other side of El Salvador had actually mentioned him. So, I thought since my experience with Jorge had been alright, I would have Lino help me.
He had his "half-brother", who spoke better English, be his translator. They had me park the motorcycle in El Salvador, and they went running around getting stamps in documents, and photocopies, and my passport stamped, and all I had to to was watch my motorcycle. And give them money.
Then, they got in a tuk-tuk taxi and had me follow them down the road and across a bridge, into Honduras. And all that I had to do while they ran around getting my passport stamped, and temporary import permit for Honduras, was watch my motorcycle. And give them money.
Lino comes up and says the power went out on the Honduran side and that it might not come back on for hours. "But don't worry, we can get you out of here right away. We just have to tip the immigration guy, the customs guy, the fumigation guy, my grandmother", etc.
I saw the line of semis stretching back a half-mile or better. By then, they had me convinced. "Sucker!", they probably said to each other. All told, I think the legitimate fees, the bribes, and the tips for "helping" me came close to $200, because with the money changers as well, I don't think I got a good exchange rate either.
That left a really bad taste in my mouth concerning Honduras. All I wanted, was to get away from that border as fast as possible.
When you are riding a motorcycle, you better have all of your attention on riding. The events of the border crossing were weighing heavily on my mind instead of my riding. At a fork in the road, I stopped on the shoulder of the road to check the GPS and make sure that I went the right way. When I was sure, I rode forward along the shoulder, saw a vehicle behind me that I should have waited to go past, but figured I could accelerate in plenty of time to get ahead of it.
When I attempted to climb up on the pavement from the dirt shoulder, the tires slid out and I went down on the left side. The crash was minor; all that happened to the motorcycle was a few scratches on the left side, and a slight bent handlebar. My body was sore in the middle of my back above the tailbone, and I think I tensed my neck a little bit, but other than that, I was OK.
Passers-by helped me pick up the motorcycle. A police truck stopped and a guy in the back hopping around on a crutch spoke to me in English, wanting to know if I needed to go to the hospital. I thought that was funny; he was the one on the way to the hospital. He had been in a crash earlier himself. But because he spoke English, I guess, they dragged him out to talk to me. I assured them I didn't need to go, and they all left.
I was concerned about the front forks; the bent handlebar wasn't as big an issue. I found a Yamaha dealer in Choluteca, Honduras and explained the situation. I asked them to check the forks, which they did, and they determined that they were fine. Then they straightened the handlebar and lubed my drive chain and wouldn't accept any money. How cool is that?
After that, all I wanted to do was rest, so I got a hotel, and pretty much just slept for 12 hours or so. I have been to Honduras before, so I decided to stay south and skip San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. It made for a shorter trip through Honduras that way also. Which was just fine with me.
The next day, I left early in order to get to the Honduran-Nicaraguan border early. I was determined to cross that border without any "help." Sure enough, when I get there, several helpers run out trying to get me to stop, but I rode past all of the semis, and them, and rode right up to the Immigration building and parked outside.
One guy was very persistent, but I ignored him. I got in line just like everyone else (fortunately the line was short). I left my helmet and riding gear on so there was no doubt who was riding the motorcycle parked out front. I was sweltering, but didn't want to leave anything loose with the motorcycle. But nobody said anything about where I parked, or how many vehicles I may have cut in front of, and soon I was checked out of Honduras.
But not before the persistent "helper" kept trying to get me to hire him for VIP treatment. I totally ignored all of his questions and never responded to anything he said. Finally he said in English, "You don't speak Spanish or English" I looked him in the eye and said loudly and firmly, "NO. Entiende? Understand?" and that was the end of him. Everyone else in line had seen how he was badgering me and now he was the one getting all the attention.
So, legitimate fees were $0 leaving Honduras, and around $40 for fumigation, visa fee, and mandatory vehicle insurance in Nicaragua. I was concerned that Honduras would try to collect something, because I didn't have any receipts from entering when "the power was off." It was also the first time that my motorcycle was actually "fumigated" at a border crossing. I think it was supposed to happen each country since leaving Mexico. As far as I could tell, they squirted each tire; it could have been with water, as far as I know.
I have seen people spreading something on the sides of the roads, and I got curious to see what it was. It is maize, or corn. They spread it out on the roads to dry. Then they have to pick it up again before it gets dark. They said they might do it 2 or 3 times before it is as dry as they want it. The heat from the road and the sun dry it so they can make their corn flour, or masa. I wonder why those of you in Iowa aren't doing this? Not enough roads? You don't like corn tortillas?
As I said, based upon methods of transportation, I think Nicaragua may be the poorest yet. There are a lot of horse drawn carts, and now I am seeing a lot of pedicabs, and people in the countryside on bicycles. I haven't noticed that the price of commodities are much lower though. Gas is more than 50% higher than Mexico. Hotels vary, but the ones on Expedia seem high. I did buy a new Bic razor at Wal-Mart for about $.35 though. So, there is that...
Gasoline was sold by the liter in Mexico, then by the gallon in El Salvador and Honduras, and now again by the liter in Nicaragua. It is tough trying to figure fuel mileage without a lot of mental calisthenics. Do I want to know miles per gallon? Kilometers per liter? Kilometers per gallon? Good thing a light comes on when I am low on fuel!
And money! Pesos in Mexico went from 18.5 to the dollar to over 20 to the dollar when Donald Trump was elected. Benefit-Stephen. I switched what pesos I had remaining, for Guatemalan Quetzals, at the border. As I mentioned previously, I got a better rate than I expected. Again, benefit-Stephen.
El Salvador uses the US dollar as their official currency. Although, they also use a dollar coin that I have never seen used in the USA. I don't know what it is. It isn't a Susan B. Anthony, and it isn't a Sacagawea. It has writing on the edge of the coin. Have you seen these before?
Then, Honduras uses the Limpira, and Nicaragua uses the Cordoba and also the US dollar. There are currently about 29 cordobas to a dollar, so it is weaker than a Mexican peso, which isn't saying much.
I stayed in Leon, Nicaragua one night. At the hotel, which was part of someone's house, I saw a clothesline on my balcony. I asked if they had a lavanderia, or laundry service, but they said no. So I washed some underwear and socks in the bathroom sink and hung them out to dry. So I tried washing a couple of shirts. That's when the wife started yelling something in Spanish. I didn't know what that was about and went back to hanging out my shirt. So she sent her son to tell me in English to stop washing my clothes in the sink, because I might break it. So I apologized, continued washing some shorts in the sink, but made sure to hang them up in the shower instead of on the clothesline where she could see it.
I realize pictures have been sparse, but it is either because something is gone by the time I stop and get out the camera, or else there hasn't been much to catch my eye. But these were all over Leon, imagine that. And I will try to find more interesting photos to take. You know, when I was growing up, we might go days without taking a photo. Weeks even. Now people take photos of their meals. I guess I could do that...
After Leon, I headed to Managua. Really wasn't much to see. It sits on a nice lake, but there is so much pollution, I couldn't enjoy the view. Sad, really.
There are volcanos around, but that is pretty much what I have seen since Huerfano, Colorado. Sure, most have been extinct, but unless I can see activity, it isn't much different. Just another cone shaped mountain.
I rode to the top of an extinct one in New Mexico earlier this year, El Capuchin. I want to see hot magma. I have booked a nighttime tour of an active one here that supposedly glows red inside the caldera. I moved to Grenada, Nicaragua, to be closer for the tour. Grenada sits on the shore of the biggest lake in Central America.
But Hurricane Otto is headed my direction. I think it is the latest named hurricane to ever make landfall this late in the season. I have heard that, in combination with a 7.0 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, and the hurricane, the volcano may be off limits.
I am going to stay here for a few days until I know what the hurricane is going to do, and whether I can take the volcano tour. It gives me time to have my laundry done. Maybe on a rock in the lake, I don't know. I am having it done professionally.
It was really good to know that you visited north America, as I had no such clue about their life styles this post became a bit too informative for me. Thanks!
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