La Paz, Bolivia

Bolivia is South America's poorest country - western hemisphere's highest, most isolated and most rugged nation - yet warm, freindly people and amazing landscapes.

The buildings of La Paz cling to the canyon walls behind the city's core. At an altitude of 3660 meters [12,000 feet] acclimatization takes time.

Cholitas women in pleated skirts and bowler hats maintain their heritage throughout the country.

Local vendors sell goods of all descriptions and then some at kiosks throughout the sprawling city.

Bolivian woman carrying her baby in a traditional manner over her shoulder.

Che Guevara - hero of an earlier Bolivia.

Panama

Panama - a beautiful country with pristine beaches, incredible wildlife and rain forests - a third of its land set aside as protected areas - struggling through history from the Spanish invasion of the 1500s to a US invasion as recently as 1989.

Skyline from the Bay of Panama of the glass + steel metropolis of Panama City.

Highrises exceeding 70 stories - from rectalinear .....

..... to curalinear .....

..... to helical floor plates.

Construction of more highrises abounds across Panama City .....

..... as does the requisite ongoing maintenance of these mega structures.

Miraflores Locks at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal - an engineering marvel - at the interface between Central America and South America.

Looking east toward Gatun Lake that retains rainwater used to operate the locks entirely by gravity. A parallel set of locks currently under construction at a cost of $USD 5 billion is scheduled to open in 2014 to accomodate the world's largest vessels.

Historical photograph of the diversity of workers that built the exting locks. 22,000 workers died from malaria and yellow fever in less than a decade.

The old Colonial city of Casco Viejo.

Colorful character buildings remain.

While others have been painstakinly restored.

The next generation .....

Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano - from a safe distance - until 2010 it erupted nearly every day.

Sulphur plumes eminating from Poas Volcano.

Enormous vegetation surrounding Laguna Botos - an extinct volcanic crater.

Pink and red ginger.

Orchids and other air plants situate on a host tree but receive all their moisture and nutrients from the air.

Birds of Paradise - in a multitude of varieties.

We manouvered along a shallow canal near the Caribbean Sea in a small boat for hours observing dozens of species of reptiles, frogs, snakes, birds and monkeys.

A view from the Continental Divide of Central America - looking west to the Pacific Coast - only 4 hours away by mini van.

Monteverde Cloud Forest where we hiked in the Central Highlands.

Hanging bridges allow us to walk in the canopy of the tropical rain forest.

Playa Manuel Antonio on the Pacific Coast - almost to ourselves for 2 days.

Wildlife - Costa Rica

Red Eyed Gaudi Leaf Frog - the cutest species ever created.

Green Iguana - measuring 2 meters long - and fast.

Baby Green Iguana.

Caiman - only the eyes are visible above the water line in the tributary of a canal.

Black River Turtle - catching the sun on log.

Snake Birds - have no oil and must dry their feathers before they can fly.

Bare Neck Tiger Heron - one of many heron species observed.

Central American White Faced Capuchin Monkey .....

..... caught monkeying around.

Jesus Christ Iguana - can literally run on water.

Boa Constrictor - a 3 meter one on the grass outside our lodge.

Green Vine Snake - difficult to spot as it blends in with it's host vine.

Howler Monkey - scarily noisy

One of many species of large spiders - often seen overhead.

Mexico City

Palacio de Bellas Artes and a sculptured detail at the cornice.

Vaulted ceiling in Cathedaral y Sagrorio Metropolitano.

A morning spent wandering through several art galleries and museums in Mexico City.

Aztec healer performing a ritual to smoke out evil spirits.

Local artisan wall murals adorn a plaza wall.

La Casa de los Azulejos - the Blue Palace constructed in 1596 - follows from the tileworks of Seville.

One of dozens of sumptuous pastry shops within walking distance of our small hotel.

Cycling on to Costa Rica - Jane lost a few kilograms.....