Charlie Snooks

Gracias I mean Thanks!

So my last update we had just arrived in Puerto Escondido, Mexico, since then a lot has happened. Our 9 day stay in the small surf/fishing town was amazing, we filled our days with early mornings (Ben surfing, me taking pictures), swimming in the hotel pool, reading books and going for walks in the blistering heat. With a little regret at having to leave we got on a coach and travelled 8 hours up the road to Acapulco, we had found our hotel on Hostelbookers surprisingly and it turns out we chose the right place. Our room was overlooking the harbour and the beautiful sunsets were right in front of the building.

We took advantage of the airconditioning and enjoyed the numerous swimming pools and the waterslide, but the high light of our stay was definitely the cliff divers, it wasn’t the diving that impressed me the most it was the 30m climb up a cliff that was amazing these men just climbed up in a matter of minutes wearing only a pair of dodgy speedos! My final comment on Acapulco is that it reminds me of a British holiday resort like Blackpool, a place that was once glamorous and great is now, 20 years down the line, faded and forgotten by foreign tourists which is a shame because I can see the appeal it once had.

So we left Acapulco and headed to the airport, we decided to splash out and stayed in the Ramada by the airport. It was such a shock to the system all the space, the posh soap, soft towels and …a free sewing kit?! After the excitement we ordered room services and settled in for the night watching the ‘f’ word on tele’ and not looking forward to our 5:30am start.

We arrived in San Diego just after lunch and got a bus to our hostel dumped our stuff and headed straight to Ocean Beach, we had been told it was the ‘must see’ place in San Diego and it was nice but nothing to write home about ;)

Yesterday we had day 1 of the Ben birthday celebrations, we headed to Mission Beach by bus and spent an fantastic afternoon of taking pictures and filming Ben on his present to himself the ‘flowrider’. Its like a manmade wave and soon I will put up some pictures of him (he got some amazing bruises from falling off!). In the evening we headed to the cinema to watch ‘Up’ the new pixar movie, we went to a 3D screening which was brilliant I looked so funny wearing 3D glasses over my normal glasses (no picture evidence available).

Today we are heading to see the Body Worlds exhibition by Gunther von Hagens’ as Ben has wanted to see it for a while, after this we are doing what I have been looking forward to the whole trip we are going shopping (Victoria Secret mid season sale here I come!), and then picking up a car for a couple of days of exploring.

Less than 3 weeks to go now so I will be seeing you all very soon, expect texts as soon as I get my phone back and remember how to use it!

Love Charlie xxx

You want me to what?!?!?!

So in the last week since my update we have discovered Antigua (Guatemala), walked up a live, and I mean molten lava live, volcano and travelled a very long way to Puerto Escondido in Mexico!

So Antigua was really relaxing, a good chance to enjoy cooler (still about 30 degrees) weather and the ability to eat 3 meals a day which was lovely :)

On Monday afternoon we decided to do the must-see active volcano near Antigua, we arrived at the base to multiple men on horses shouting ‘taxi!’. It was definitely the first time I have ever heard a horse referred to as a taxi, but as we walked the few km up hill on dodgy paths I started to understand the reference.

Due to the altitude my ears popped and my fitness was put to the test, we were followed by one of the so called “taxis” and all I wanted to do was turn around and say ‘I don’t want your bloody taxi, now will you please piss off!’ but due to my lack of Spanish and the fact that I was too knackered to breath properly let alone speak I just plodded along wishing that we would get to the top.

When we finally got to the end of the path the guide pointed to a very very steep bank (hill/slide thing) made of volcanic sand stuff and proceeded to demonstrate to us how we were to get down it.

Now anyone who knows me well will understand my unexplainable fear of falling, its not nice and I don’t even like stairs and escalators, but it turns out that doesn’t matter and I was expected to slide step by step down. I started to cry and sob stating that there was no way I would be going down that thing but in the end with Ben on one side of me and the guide on the other I made my way down crying and squealing pretty much all the way.

When we got the bottom and I had stopped being a complete baby we made our way to the molten lava to take pictures and feel the heat, and I mean heat! the soles of cheap shoes were steaming it was so hot. (please see pictures :)

So we did that and then on Wednesday we made the journey from Guatemala over the border into Mexico and then got on a 12 hour over-night coach to Puerto Escondido were we are now sat in our little apartment overlooking the ocean, for how much we are paying the place is heaven with our own kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and lounge it makes the heat more bareable having somewhere to escape from it.

Anyway we are here now for a week before heading to Acapulco and from there to the last leg of the trip: the USA and Canada.

Hope everyone back at home is doing well.

Charlie xxx