Well folks, we have arrived at the end of the proverbial road. Ten days from today, we board a plane from Costa Rica back to New York City. This week, we are enjoying the benefit of “low season” special rates, treating ourselves to a private lakefront cabin on the shores of Lago Nicaragua, just outside the small town of Merida, on Ometepe Island. It is the perfect location to mull over this most important of tasks, the official Andes Not The Mint Travel Awards. It has been quite a journey, with plenty of memorable experiences. While I’m not that much of a list-keeper or ranker-of-experience, I can tell you that Lex has been waiting for this with great anticipation since the inception of our journey. To all the index-makers, spreadsheet-hoarders, statistical obsessives, comparative rank-o-filers, and other list-keeping freaks of the world—let this be your day of rejoice!
Today, we submit our preliminary list of categories for your review. If there is something you’d like to see that isn’t mentioned below, give us your suggestion in the comment section. We’re trying to keep it positive here, leaning toward the “best of” rather than “worst of,” with a few humorous exceptions not withstanding. You won’t see anything that seems to be, by design, exclusionary. You know . . . things like “Best New Friend We Made” or “Most Enjoyable Time Hanging Out” or “Most Superior Race of People.” We don’t do that sort of thing here—we love everybody equally!. Anyhoo, now that I’m done listing my disclaimers, let’s get on with the awards! Oh, one more disclaimer—some of these may not make sense now, but we shall explain them in due time.
Lodging
Best & Worst Overall Lodging Experience
Best Room with a View
Most Comfortable Bed
Best Shower
The Dankest Dank
Favorite Place to Cook
Most Sewagey Smell
Worst Back-Douche
Best Breakfast
Purest “Momming”
Culinary
Best & Worst Meal
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Best Bread
Best Regional Beer, Wine, or Spirit
Best Street Food
Favorite New Fruit
Surprise! Surprise!
Best Pizza
Most Abstract Pizza Experience
Best Hot Sauce
“Typical” Dish We Are Most Likely To Cook For You
Transportation
Best & Worst Bus Ride
Best & Worst Long-Haul
Lowest Bus-Related Moment
Time I Was Most Convinced the Bus Would Never Arrive
Best Bus Snack
La Naturaleza
Best Forest
Top Body of Water
Coolest Bird
Coolest Mammal
Best Light
Best Smell
Best & Worst Climate
Personality Disorders: (Physical & Mental)
Most Sensitive Issue
Best Invented Phrase
Best Invented Song On Our Trip
Most Memorable Skin Condition
Object We Missed Most From Home
Geography:
Favorite City
Favorite Town/Village
City That Deserves More Credit
Most Interesting Guided-Visit
Most Heavily Misguided Visit
Economics:
Best & Worst Purchase
Best & Worst Mercado
Best Book Exchange
Andes Not The Mint dot com 
After this fabulous literary adventure at this end, far be it from us to suggest anything……. Perhaps a list of best CAT sitters would be in order……………
Agree with Bob, it’s up to the creative bloggers not the enchanged bloggees to make these decisions. But amongst my favorites: for beauty: Patagonia; for fun: Beisbol; for info: coffee and cigars. And for the writing and the photos: impossible to choose, all great!
Dad W