Our Great Adventure

Over the last 12 months we've travelled over 60,000 miles by land, water and air visiting 24 countries around the world (this is roughly the route we took  https://secure.travellerspoint.com/member_map.cfm?user=dewinnard). It's been an amazing adventure and we've shared some very special experiences, visited spectacular places and met some wonderful people. Often the journey has been as exciting as the actual destination. The world truly is a diverse and fascinating place. We've been helped and supported by family and friends at home, helping look after things back in the UK, providing tips on where to go and what to do and sharing news from home which has really helped to lift our spirits when we've been travel weary. We've met up with family and friends around the world who have provided us with somewhere to stay, fed and entertained us. And we've met so many new friends along the way who we have been lucky enough to share some of our experiences with. Thank you to all of you.

It's not always been easy. Some of the places we've travelled to haven't quite lived up to expectations and a few have been disappointing. We've had some very long, uncomfortable journeys, got lost more than once, stayed in a few rather shabby places, fallen for the odd scam, been sick and injured but it's all been part of the adventure.

Would we do it again..........YES!

Diane & Simon

Highlights - Part Four

We had expected our list of highlights from the last leg of our trip to be short, not least because we have only been in Central America for 6 weeks and visited 3 of the 8 countries that make up the area. The mix of culture, from Mayans to Spaniards to Africans, historical ruins and natural wonders make it a wonderfully diverse destination. Here's our list of highlights:

1. Exploring the Panama Canal, one of the world's engineering marvels
   
2. Travelling across the waters at Bocas del Toro by wind power
   
3. Getting a glimpse of Costa Rica's diverse wildlife
   
4. Whizzing round Isla Mujeres in a golf cart
   
5. Taking in the enormity of El Castilla pyramid at Chichen Itza, on of the new seven wonders of the world
   
6. Cycling around the jungle clad Maya ruins at Coba
   
7. Snorkelling amongst stalagmites and stalactites in the crystal clear waters of Cenote Ojas
   
8. Soaking in the view at the spectacular oceanfront setting of the Maya ruins at Tulum
   
9. Diving amongst the beautiful coral reefs at Isla Cozumel
   
10. Enjoying a little bit of paradise by the Caribbean Sea
    

Reflections of Mexico

Like many other countries we've only seen a small part of Mexico. What we have seen we've really enjoyed and it's made a great destination for the last few weeks of our travels. The mix of ancient Mayan culture, colonial influence and natural wonders is a real treat:

• As with most places we've visited the people are extremely friendly and very smiley
• It's very easy and cheap to get around and very safe 
• The landscape on the Yucatan Peninsular is flat, dense jungle (which unfortunately makes for rather dull bus journeys with nothing to see out of the window!)
• The Caribbean Coast along the peninsular is lovely, white sandy beaches and crystal clear seas. Together with the cenotes it provides ample opportunities for water sports or just cooling off
• It was the rainy season when we visited, although we didn't see much rain, the temperature and humidity were both high
• The food, beer and wine are very good and reasonably priced once you are outside the main tourist destinations
• The Mayan history is fascinating and, along with the colonial towns and cities, it makes for a very culturally rich destination
• Whilst the rest of Mexico might have a reputation for being less safe to travel it's certainly somewhere we'd like to go

UK Day 364 17/09/2015

Our flight was uneventful. Despite best efforts neither of us slept. We touched down at Gatwick just before 1100, finally back on UK soil after 12 months away. We passed through immigration, collected our bags and headed off for the train to London like many other travellers wondering how many, if any, had just travelled around the world.

Playa Maroma / Cancun Day 363 16/09/2015

Our last breakfast at Kin Sol Soleil was another very leisurely and tasty affair. We didn't need to leave the hotel until early afternoon so spent the morning on the beach and cooling off in the sea and pool. The sea was calmer today with less seaweed which made it very nice for swimming. Just after midday we had our final bag pack and got a taxi to Cancun airport. Our flight had been delayed for 2 hours and with no BA lounge we sat around whiling away the time. The only restaurants were western chains so our last meal on foreign soil was at TGI Fridays, and it was pretty grim. We eventually boarded just before 2000 with Diane being stopped and bags searched. Clearly she looks a dubious character after 12 months away. By now the sky was black so no opportunity for one last look at the country we were leaving as we took off. Even if it had been light we wouldn't have been able to see anything as we didn't have any windows nearby our seats. We took off with very mixed emotions.

The beach on our final day in Mexico 

Our last dip in the pool 

Waiting for our flight home with mixed emotions 

Playa Maroma Day 362 15/09/015

Another very similar day although we spent most of it in the shade as we've just about run out of sun tan lotion and the sun is far too strong here to sit out without any protection. It's Independence Day in Mexico tomorrow and they celebrate on the eve of the 15th. Chef made a special Mexican dinner for us to recognise the date. For us it was an extra special event given it was our last night in Mexico before our flight back to the UK tomorrow. After a glass of champagne to celebrate we shared 4 Mexican dishes, tacos, empanadas, tortillas and fajitas followed by Mexican rice pudding and choux pastry deserts all washed down with a very fine bottle of Mexican red wine. The temperature was very nice for sitting out and it was lovely to hear the sound of the sea. It's very hard to believe that our travels are nearly over.

Enjoying a late afternoon cocktail

Chilling out 

A good read 

The view from the hotel 

The view from the sea 

The hotel dining room 

About to enjoy our last dinner in Mexico 

Main course 

Desert 

Playa Maroma Day 361 14/09/2015

Today followed a very similar pattern to yesterday, a leisurely breakfast, reading and snoozing on the beach and cooling off in the sea and pool, reflecting on our year away and contemplating what the next 12 months might hold. We had dinner on our terrace. Perfect! No storm tonight although it did rain heavily in the early hours.

Our room and terrace 

Inside our room 

The lounge area 

The swimming pool with the dining room behind