Back in Mexico Baby!

    The last month in my trip was spent entirely in Mexico and included a lot of baseball games similar to the Dominican Republic and Cuba. I flew out of Cuba, landed in Monterrey, Mexico and took a taxi towards my hotel within the city. Putting baseball aside, the Macroplaza was a very interesting place considering it is actually the world's fourth largest public square. From the Macroplaza, I was able to visit nearby landmarks such as the Lighthouse of Commerce, the Government Palace, the Heroes' Esplanade, and the Neptune Fountain.

Neptune Fountain at the Macroplaza

    Some other stuff I did in Monterrey included the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Monterrey, the Santa Lucia Riverwalk, the Museum of Steel, Barrio Antiguo, the Mexican History Museum, the Alfa Planetarium, and Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. At Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, there's a beautiful cave system called the García Caves, one of mexico's largest cave systems. The most interesting section of the cave system was the Light Chamber which got its name from the cave's translucent ceiling.

Colorful buildings in Barrio Antiguo, the old Spanish Quarter of Monterrey

    Of course, at this point in my trip I wouldn't be heading to a city without baseball. I couldn't get to any baseball games my first time around in Mexico because the Mexican Pacific League hadn't started yet, so I decided to see 3 games in this 2 week span in Monterrey since I could. All three games I saw were very exciting and fun to watch. The first was on November 22nd which saw the Sultanes de Monterrey get beat narrowly by the Tomateros de Culiacan 8-6. Monterrey took a 2-run lead in the bottom of the 8th before squandering it by giving up 4 runs in the top of the 9th. Right fielder Sebastian Elizalde for Culiacan put together the most exciting game, racking up 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, and a walk in 4 at bats. He hit a game-tying 2-run home run in the 5th and successfully stole home in a double steal in the top of the 9th to score the go-ahead run.

    I saw 2 more games on the 24th and 28th. On the 24th, Culiacan crushed Monterrey 13-0 with all the runs being scored in the 5th and 6th innings. A strong performance from their pitcher, Jefri Hernandez, and the entire lineup led the Tomateros to an easy victory over the Sultanes. The last game was another home game for Monterrey against the Mayos de Navojoa. It actually ended curiously in a 6-6 tie after 11 innings were played. I had never seen that before, but I guess the umps were able to stop it short. That day, DH Sergio Perez was the hero for the Sultanes as he picked up a perfect 4 hits in 4 at bats with 4 RBIs as well. He also had the game-tying 2-run single in the bottom of the 8th with the bases loaded for Monterrey.

    After all my fun in Monterrey with the baseball games and all the other attractions, I headed to Guadalajara for weeks to finally finish my 6-month trip. Since this was my last chance to see Latin American baseball on my trip, I took the liberty of going to 4 home games of the Charros de Jalisco. I saw 2 games against the Tomateros de Culiacan and 2 versus the Caneros de los Mochis. The first game between Jalisco and Culiacan, which was played on December 7th, was insane. There were plenty of lead changes, but Jalisco eventually ended up on top 7-6 thanks to a go-ahead 3-run home run in the 3rd inning by Dariel Alvarez and a walk-off 3-run bomb hit by Manny Rodriguez in the bottom of the 9th.

Logo of the baseball team, Charros de Jalisco

    I saw another game the day after which had the Charros pulling out a tight 2-1 victory over the Tomateros due to strong pitching performances on both sides of the diamond. Manuel Flores got the win for Jalisco despite Zack Dodson's good 5.2 innings of work for Culiacan. On the 11th, I watched a close game between Jalisco and los Mochis with los Mochis eventually tying the game in the top of the 8th and winning it in the 9th. Interestingly enough, 3 of the Caneros' 4 runs came off of solo shots. Isaac Rodriguez Salazar was responsible for one of those home runs, to tie the game in the 8th inning, then also hit the game-winning single in the top of the 9th. The next day, it looked like a blowout, as the Caneros led 10-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. the Charros scored 9 runs in one inning to take the lead(!), then immediately gave up 2 runs in the 9th and lost the game 12-11. Strong batting performances were there across the board for both teams due to the sheer number of runs scored, but it was los Mochis catcher, Juan Uriarte who came up with the game-winning 2-run single.

    The other highlight of my time in Guadalajara was definitely checking out the Guadalajara Zoo. I got to experience the park from the views of a cable car high above all the animals and even got a good look at the Huentitán canyon in the distance. I was able to go on the Masai Mara Safari to watch animals such as giraffes, rhinos, zebras, ostriches, elephants and gazelles roam freely. I saw sharks at the aquarium and hippos at Kiboko Bwawa. The Valley of the Baboons and Monkeyland held all the primates like baboons, gorillas, gibbons, and other exotic monkeys. The Rainforest contained chimpanzees and orangutans while the Herpetario allowed up-close encounters with crocodiles, iguanas, scorpions, the anaconda, and the boa constrictor. It was such a fun time seeing all the animals in one of Mexico's largest zoos.

A cute monkey hanging out at Guadalajara Zoo

    Some other attractions I visited while in Guadalajara included the Instituto Cultural de Cabañas, the Guadalajara Cathedral, the Expiatory Temple, the Government Palace, the Teatro Degollada, the Rotonda de Los Jaliscienses Ilustres, and the Regional Museum of Guadalajara. After my two weeks in Guadalajara, it was finally time for me to finish my 6-month journey to Central America and fly home on December 15.

Last Days in Cuba

    I spent my last two weeks in Cuba split between Cienfuegos and Trinidad to be able to witness more Cuban baseball as well as immerse myself further in Cuban culture. I was able to just take a bus ride from Havana to my Cienfuegos before I checked into my hotel on November 3rd. Given that my week in Cienfuegos was the last time I'd be able to experience Cuban baseball, I went to 3 games the first 3 days I was there. All three games were played at Cinco de Septiembre Stadium between the Cienfuegos Elefantes and the Matanzas Cocodrilos. 

Top of an inning in a Cienfuegos home game at Cinco de Septiembre Stadium

    Cienfuegos won the first two games by scores of 5-2 and 5-3 respectively behind strong pitching performances from César Rondón and Camilo Hernandez. Catcher Richel Martínez put in the best batting performance with 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and a home run over the two games. It was fun to see the home team win, but the third game brought a lot of excitement when Matanzas walloped the Elefantes 12-1. Cocodrilos pitcher Yamichel Hernández put on a clinic tossing 8 innings, striking out 9 batter, and only allowing 3 hits and a run. The offense was spread throughout the entire lineup, but DH Javier Rodríguez had quite a game with 3 RBIs, 1 run, 2 hits, and a triple in just 3 at bats. It was an absolute blast for my last Cuban baseball game on the trip.

    Before departing on a bus towards Trinidad, I spent the rest of my week in Cienfuegos at various places and activities such as a cabaret show, Guanaroca Lagoon, a couple cemetaries, El Nicho Waterfall, and José Martí Park. I had a short walk from my B&B in Trinidad to Plaza Mayor, which essentially acts as the historical center of the city and was a great place to go sightseeing and spend time in. Within Plaza Mayor, I visited the Museo Historico Municipal, a museum dedicated to exploring the history of Trinidad and its surrounding areas. I also got to marvel at the Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima Trinidad, the largest church in Cuba, and the statue inside known as Christ of the True Cross.

A view of the Museo Historical Municipal from inside its courtyard

    I visited more museums and churches during my time in Trinidad, most notably including the Museo Romantico, the Museum of Colonial Architecture, the Casa de Aldeman Ortiz, and the Museo Nacional de Lucha Contra Bandidos. However, I had a ton of fun and relaxation at Playa Ancon. I spent a couple days just chilling on the beautiful beach and taking everything in because you kind of have to with how amazing Cuba's beaches are. I knew I would've had to take at least a couple moments to enjoy it. It capped of my month long excursion in Cuba perfectly and on such a great note.

More Baseball... In Cuba!

    For the next two weeks of my trip, I stayed at the guest house, Casa Carmen, in Havana, Cuba, hoping to see some more baseball action like I did in the Dominican Republic. However, since there was a break in the season for about the first week I was there, I got to experience some other stuff first. One of the great things in Havana was Old Havana, just a beautiful neighborhood (also a UNESCO World Heritage site) to walk around and take in the locals and their culture. The best parts of Old Havana were Plaza Vieja, the main square filled with art and liveliness, and El Malecón, a stunning 5-mile long boulevard between the sea and the city.

Plaza Vieja in the center of Old Havana

    I also went to nearby places to learn about the history of Cuba alongside its unique culture. I visited the breathtaking Plaza de la Catedral as well as Finca Vigía, the home of Ernest Hemingway for 22 years while he lived and wrote many of his most famous works in Havana. I visited the Museum of the Revolution which essentially detailed the entire history of Cuba and the events that led to Fidel Castro's successful uprising. I also got to see the Museum of Fine Arts which had a very nice collection of Cuban and international works. I also visited some of the beautiful beaches there because they were too good to pass up.

    Now, I couldn't miss my absolute favorite activity, especially in Cuba, watching baseball. The Cuban National Series has a long history and is another one of the respected Latin America baseball leagues. Fidel Castro even played baseball in Cuba when he was a young spry lad. I was able to see two of Industriales' home games at Estadio Latinoamericano given the awkward timing of my arrival and the schedule of the winner series. 

An Industriales batter and a Las Tunas catcher watching the baseball after it was hit

    The first game I went to on October 27th saw the Industriales Leones beat out the Las Tunas Leñadores 6-4. The Leones exploded for 5 runs in the third inning and held steady behind their starter, Erlis Callava. Yoalkis Rondón picked up the loss for the Leñadores while Wilfredo Jiménez, the designated hitter for Industriales, put up the best offensive performance with 2 hits, a home run, 1 run scored, and 2 RBIs.

    The next game I saw on the 29th, Las Tunas got their revenge, whipping the Leones to a 7-0 victory. Yander Morales pitched 6 shutout innings to get the win for the Leñadores over Angel Jiménez of the Leones. Las Tunas spread their 7 runs out over 4 innings with help from catcher Rafael Alvarez' stellar performance. He put together 3 hits in 4 at bats including a home run, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. While these Cuban baseball games didn't have the same star-power seen in the Dominican Republic, they were still an absolute joy to watch and experience.

Across the Border to the Dominican Republic

    Global Builders covered my transportation to the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti where I took a 6-hour bus ride toward my destination across the border, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I couldn't wait for this part of my trip because I knew the winter baseball league in the Dominican Republic was starting soon. Ultimately, one of my main goals on this trip was to watch some good baseball when I could, and that's exactly what I did. In Santo Domingo, I was able to watch home games of the Leones del Escogido and the Tigres del Licey at Quisqueya Stadium Juan Marichal.

Quisqueya Stadium Juan Marichal empty before a baseball game

    The first game I went to was Opening Day on October 11 between the Leones del Escogido and the Tigres del Licey. It was an exciting 7-3 victory for the Leones to start the season off. The starting pitcher for Licey was none other than Ubaldo Jiménez, a former MLB pitcher and probably the best to ever wear a Rockies uniform. On the other side of the diamond, Frankie Montas, a highly-touted young pitcher for the Oakland Athletics got the win against Jiménez for Escogido. After getting out to an early 1-0 lead, Escogido piled on an additional 6 runs during the 6th and 7th innings to earn the win. The best batting performance came from second baseman Otto Lopez who had 3 hits in 5 at bats, scoring 2 runs and knocking in 2 more. I was so excited to be actually watching Dominican baseball and it was definitely one of my favorite times in the entire trip.

    I went to two other games during my time in the Dominican Republic and thoroughly enjoyed both of them as well. On October 15, I went to a Tigres home game in which they were beat by the Gigantes del Cibao 5-1 with 5 of those 6 runs coming in the 5th inning alone. The last game I went to, I got to see Escogido pummel the Toros del Este 8-4. They were down 4-2 until they surged back with a 6-run 7th inning thanks in part to a game-tying 2-run home run hit by Nellie Rodriguez. After all the games I had watched, I just couldn't leave without buying a baseball cap proving my newfound fandom for the Leones del Escogido.

A beam of light from above illuminates one of the lakes at 3 Eyes National Park

    I was very excited about the baseball, but I did visit some other places in the D.R. To list them, I visited the National Botanical Gardens, the 3 Eyes National Park, Alzacar de Colon, the Museum of the Royal Houses, Plaza de España, Parque Colón, the National Pantheon, and the Catedral Primada de América. Out of these the 3 Eyes National Park obviously stood out because I love exploring nature and the 4 lakes within the limestone rock created such a beautiful atmosphere. I also greatly enjoyed learning about the history and architecture of the Dominican Republic in the Museum of the Royal Houses. My time in the Dominican Republic was busy and exciting, and it may have been the favorite destination of mine throughout the entire trip.

Building Houses in Haiti

    After Jamaica, I set myself up with a very unique opportunity to head out on a two-week trip to Haiti and help build houses for the people living there through a program called Global Builders. Quite frankly, it was pretty amazing that I was able to have such a great experience in the middle of my trip. I had an overall great time working with the program building houses and rejuvenating my soul.

A picture of two smiling Haitian children I met

    A typical day had me waking up around 6 to eat breakfast at 7 AM. Work started at 8:00 and lasted until lunch, which we ate on site between 12 and 1 o'clock. After lunch, we got right back to work up until 4:00 PM. Dinner was then served around 6 once we got back from the worksite. We had pretty nice weather for most of the days I was there so there weren't too many issues with the rain preventing us from working. The cost of the trip covered all the food, lodging, and transportation expenses for me so I didn't have to worry about it.

    As for the actual work I was doing, it certainly wasn't a cakewalk. Some examples of tasks I had to do while there included laying blocks, clearing rubble, applying stucco, cutting rebar, mixing concrete, and more. The work wasn't easy by any means, but after being on vacation for months, it felt pretty good to be productive in some way. The one thing I will say is that the heat was pretty ridiculous. I had to constantly drink water to stay hydrated and protect myself from the heat.

A big, beautiful waterfall at Bassin Zim

    We had work on all days except Sundays, which were our time to rest, relax, and go sightseeing through opportunities set up by the organization. The first Sunday I was there, we visited a local school to spend time with the children. It was so heartwarming to see all their little smiles when we played games and sports with them. The other Sunday I was there, the group visited Bassin Zim, a beautiful treasure of nature filled with waterfalls, coves, and caves. The views were absolutely breathtaking. The experience of building houses in Haiti as a whole was one of the best things I've done in my life so far.

Having Fun in Jamaica

    The next stop on my journey turned out to be Kingston, Jamaica. I had been there before with my family, but this time I wanted to be closer to the city and really immerse myself in the culture. I flew in on September 8th and headed to my hotel, the Labrish Guest House in Kingston before doing anything else. The first place I visited within Jamaica was Devon House, the former residence of Jamaica's first black millionaire. I soaked in some of the Jamaican history and culture represented by the house and also grabbed a cone of devon stout ice cream from the famous I Scream shop.

A board with all the unique flavors offered at I Scream

    Other than Devon House, I also visited Port Royal to give me more insight into Jamaican history. It used to be known as "the wickedest city in the world" for being the pirate and shipping capital of the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries. While in Port Royal, I was also able to catch a ferry ride out to Lime Cay, a small little islet off the coast of Jamaica. The beaches and the clear blue water were beautiful there.

    I also spent a few days away from Kingston hiking through Blue Mountain National Park, which was very serene and a nice experience. I love hiking so it was great to get out there once again and explore Jamaica's natural environment. Another thing I did a couple nights to meet some friends was bar hopping. Kingston had a pretty lively nightlife and it was fun just going around meeting and hanging out with different people.

Entrance gate to the Bob Marley Museum

    The best part in Jamaica, however, was definitely the Bob Marley Museum, located at Marley's very own home. I don't think I expected to enjoy it as much as I did, but it was very charming and fun. Bob Marley is revered in Jamaica as a national hero for spreading Jamaica's culture, specifically reggae music, to the rest of the world. It was very interesting to me how important he is to the people living there as well as his importance in the general history of music.

Further South to Panama

    I caught a flight further down south to Panama City after my two weeks in Costa Rica and took a shuttle to my new hotel, Hotel República. The first thing I absolutely wanted to check out in Panama City was the famous Panama Canal. It obviously isn't flashy or exciting, but it was still pretty neat to actually see it in action and realize its great importance to international trade.

Aerial view of a huge cargo ship heading through the Panama Canal

    I was able to get a good view of the locks as well as the ships heading through them by going into the Miraflores Visitor Center. It doubles as a museum and gave some good information regarding the Panama Canal and its history. Overall, I was glad to have the opportunity to witness it at least once in my life.

    Another quaint little feature I enjoyed exploring in Panama City was Casco Viejo, or the Old Town. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, Casco Viejo held a lot of life in its mix of old ruins and architecture and was a very pleasant experience. Some of the attractions I visited within Casco Viejo included the Iglesia y Convento de la Compania de Jesus, the Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo, the Paseo de las Bovedas, and the Plaza de la Independencia.

100-foot observation tower overlooking the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center

    Always looking to experience the natural side of things in these beautiful Central American countries, I took trips to the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center and Parque Nacional Soberania. Both were beautiful spots of wildlife and great for hiking. The observation tower at the Rainforest Discovery Center was an excellent sight, but I still think I preferred the far more extensive hiking trails present at Parque Nacional Soberania. These highlights concluded my trip to Panama as I prepared for the next country I'd travel to.