Planning to Drive the Pan-American Highway

• Note: This blog will serve as Mango Steve's travel journal beginning with a drive from Seattle through C. America;


• Changes in Latitude's regular Latin America blog has moved to www.ChangesInLatitude.org/wordpress

Travelers investing the two weeks required to drive from the U.S./Mexico border through C. America tend to do their homework. When its your turn to drive the Pan-American Highway, check out Drive Me Loco, an online travel guide that is updated frequently. There is also an eBook with details on roadtripping through Mexico and C. America. I've driven all over Mexico and this guide is worthwhile.

Two weeks is the time required to drive (not enjoy) Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is a good idea to allow another two weeks so you can drive every other day, leaving time for exploring the countryside.

That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Our destination is Parque Amistad, an international park in the Talamanca Mountains and an UNESCO World Heritage Site... my family's new home in the rain-forested shadow of Volcan Baru. (From it's peak, you can see the Pacific and the Caribbean - check out the photos in the last link.)

Latin America via Edmonds

The side entrance to our office was lost in a dead sea of beige-painted bricks until Los Angeles-based muralist Carlie Monnier jazzed things up for us.

Here you see her rendition of our logo and a mural which invites visitors to stroll off the alley right into a Latin American pueblo scene. We're a proud sponsor of Edmond's monthly art walks but Carlie's stylings will delight visitors daily. To see more of this amazing artist's work, visit http://www.cmurals.com/

Come visit us any 3rd Thursday from 5-8pm to discuss your next change in latitude and visit 30 neighboring art venues all within walking distance of Main Street in downtown Edmonds.

Latin Jazz Festival

This report comes from a client who recently returned from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. She asked for something unique and, based on her interests, we recommended the 4th annual Jazz Fest on the Mayan Riviera. This trip was a last-minute suprise for extended family. Family members arrived in Port Townsend for Thanksgiving with plans to stay in Washington all week. The day after the dishes were cleaned, the entire family boarded a flight for Mamitas Beach Club on Playa del Carmen.

While this area is famed for it's beaches, jungles, and Mayan archealogical sites, the Jazz Festival has already grown to be one of the top annual jazz events worldwide. Performers this year included Grammy award winners from Brazil and the U.S. Young & old family members were equally impressed to find Tower of Power and George Benson at the beach, under the stars, with a sea breeze that carried the music with style.

Based on the reviews we received, we recommend booking accomodations for this event early in 2008. Suprise those you are most thankful for and give the gift of travel.

Peace & Prosperity,

Mango Steve

Welcome!

This is the dawn of my travel blog which will provide "digital postcards" from paradise beginning in August 2007.