Awards. Yep, we’ve become ‘awards’. ‘wards of the court’ you may assume, but, no, what we have done is make some nominations for the Best Bits of Latin America. And chosen the winners. We’re not just the award, but also the judge and jury.
Hmmm, sounding a little megalomaniacal.
Shhh!!! No criticism is allowed in Jimiland. Keep quiet or forfeit your place in this community!
Welcome to the jimily.
Ahem.
Now, imagine red carpets, gold envelopes and lengthy victory speeches … here we go:
Best Conversation
Panama, 18th January: Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro.
Jill E Bean and the intricacies of “Professional Tickling”
Best Meal
There are LOTS of runners up here (tortillas in Mexico, humus in Guatemala, noodles in El Salvador, fresh lobster and crab in San Blas, ceviche in Lima), but the winners are:
Emily: Peru, 18th March: comida tipica with local Chivay lady
Jim: Bolivia, 8th March: Argentinian Steak in La Paz
.. neither of which we have photos of, too interested in the food!
Best Pudding
Peru, 27th March: Meringue Lips at Tanta, Lima
Best Drink
Peru, 21st March: Pisco Sours at El Albergue, Ollantaytambo
Beautiful bombs of fury. More, more, more.
Best Fruit
Peru, 18th March: Sancayo in Chivay
Like a sour kiwi fruit. Also makes an excellent sour cocktail when combined with pisco!
Best Journey
Guatemala, 25th November: Journey to Semuc Champey – both the Best and the Worst!
Normal for 2 hours, uncertain for 6 hours, over excited for 6 hours, absolutely soaked to the bone and freezing for 4 hours.
Best Border Crossing
Special Mention: Costa Rica; The bridge to Panama….
“2 stars, half-board. The Costa Rica -> Panama border, a precarious set of planks over a river (plus the bridge was a bit worn).”
Winner: Panama, 26th January; San Blas Islands boat trip to Colombia
Absolute paradise; tiny islands of white sand, azure water and reef – each with just a few Kuna huts and a bar. What a great way to border.
Best Beach/Sea
Tough one…. Runner Up is Panama, 24th January: Kuandiup
Perfect. Just perfect. Just a little too perfect – judging by the ferries now pulling up.
Winner: México, 10th Nov; Tulum
Bike there, azure sea, short trees to give shade and somewhere to hang your things, white/ fine grain sand, not much visible in the tree line but palm trees… oh please take me back!
Best Sunset
El Salvador, 31st December: El Tunco. Absolutely no doubt…
Best Accommodation
Emily: Nicaragua, 4th Jan: Hotel Cacique Adiact in Léon – what a relief!!
Jim: Peru, 26th March: 2nd Lima Apartment – for cost, location, comfort, wifi, TV channels, pool/sunbathing etc
Best Ruins
Peru, 22nd March: There can be only one…. Machu Picchu of course!
Total disbelief the entire time you are there.
Best Travelling Tip
- Russ: Pack light. You really won’t need it – there are plenty of cheap laundries & you can buy whatever you need (within reason)
- Chris: Find the menu del dia
- Chris: If there’s one thing you put on your credit card, make it the Galápagos
- Vicky: Use clothes with closeable pockets (buttons/zips etc) – very useful when you don’t want to carry a bag around.
- Vicky: Vacuum pack bags
Best Joke
“No one likes a smartarse Emily. Apart from me, apparently.”
We all know who said this, no need for more credit.
Funniest Moment
Serendipity in action.
Best City
Peru, 13th March: Lima
Lima, Lima, Lima… love love love.
Chilled, warm, great food, great drinks, cheap, on the coast… Don’t much like cities when travelling, but Lima is an exception.
Best Experience
Ecuador, 16th February: Galàpagos Cruise
This. This. THIS!!! If you ever get the opportunity, don’t just try and grab it… run towards it and tackle it to the ground, pin it down and make it surrender!
Best Blog
My favourite is the reflection on Galápagos and why it’s so special
But how about you, what’s yours?
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