2001-2005
The route: Panama - Costa Rica - Nicaragua - Honduras - El Salvador - Guatemala - Mexico
With a spectacular flight, in which I would have preferred to inject the sedative myself rather than the horses, we leave South America, flew over Colombia, which was too dangerous at the time, and land in Panama, the country that Janosch says it smells like bananas.
Central America waited with many new impressions and also new challenges. Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Many countries mean a lot of border crossings, bureaucratic formalities and corrupt border officials. But also the tropical climate and the monsoon rain, which produces an incredible blaze of colors, bothered us all. The heat and the tropical insects are torture for humans and animals. But also one of the most beautiful parts of the trip is in this region, Lago de Nicaragua, the second largest lake in the tropics. Riding along its deserted beaches, being able to take a cooling bath in the sea-like lake at any time and the fresh breeze, made this paradise a wonderful, unforgettable experience for us.
After 11 years and 20,000 km, we finally reached Mexico. Every country smells different. But nowhere was this impression as strong as in Mexico. Mexico smelled of chilli and fire, of a spirited life, of music. Mexico showed itself from its picture book side: men with bright, wide-brimmed cowboy hats and trousers with oversized belt buckles. Mexico was the destination of Barbara and my journey.
The team
Günter and Barbara, the female dog Liesl and the horses: Rebelde, Gaucho, Maxl, Samurai and Pumuckl