As a meloncollie wave of emotion sweeps over us we have look back longingly at our journey and nothing but fond memories. While it will be sad to leave the tropical lands that we have called home for the last 34 days we are excited to get back to the familiar and be able to slow down. The longing for home coupled with the fact that my ATM card was denied yesterday when I attempted to retrieve some dinero has made the timing of our return perfect.
So to catch up all of our avid listeners...all nine of you,
From Manuel Antonio Dan and I awoke and took the 8 am bus out of manuel antonio to Quepos. Slowed by an SUV pulling a broken down car we arrived in Quepos just five min. before our bus was schedualed to leave. From there we took a bumps, sweaty packed bus to San Jose. Four hours and some change later we arrived in SJ where we had to rush to catch a bus to Puerto Viejo, a small town on the Mar Caribe. The ensuing five hour bus ride was much more enjoyable because we were accompanied by an arrogant British cynic named Bill, who was exiled from the European Union for heading up an under the table brothel and drug cartel out of his night club in Madrid. He provided some interesting perspectives.
Puerto Viejo was a small Rasta town where the people speak spanish, english and a hybrid knowen as Patua. There we did little more than eat dinner, watch some of the Costa Rican soccer game and sleep surrounded by our first and only mosquito nets.
The next morning we departed early for Sixiola, a Costa Rican border town near Panamá. On the bus ride to the border a friendly Dutch girl approached us with what at first seemed like a shaddy proposition, she wanted us to assist her with brining some bikes across the border to avoid paying tax on the bikes. The plan was that we would go to sixiola where Jenny, our newfound friend from Holland, would buy six bikes, since each person can bring two bikes sin tarifa.
After some poking, prauding and negotiating we decided that she was no drug mule, just a struggling hostel owner that needed some new bikes for her place in Bocas del Toro, our intended destination. We settled on a deal where if we helped her bring the bikes across she would let us stay in her 50 a night private cabin for only 20 a night for 4 nights, including kitchen, private porch, private hammocks and bike rental for the duration of our stay.
As it turned out the ATM in sixiola had no cash, no colones and no dollars, but being the nice dutch lady that she is she kept the deal that we arranged. She even threw in the extra fifth night for the same price.
Bocas was surely a third world country, their only form of trash disposal was to burn it. One day we rode our bikes to Bluff beach, a 45 min. bike ride down some dicey roads and we saw their trash heap... when we returned later that day the pile was ablaze, real green I know.
Anyways, as always we brought the sun with us, five days or scorching heat and beach bliss, followed by relaxing to the towns reggae vibes at a few of the local watering holes.
I would love to say more but am growing sleepy and we need to awake in five hours to take our 350 am shuttle to the aeropuerto...
Keep checking because if we arrive safely tom. in MSP there will be an onslaught of pictures added to the Blog to illustarte our stories.
We love you all and wish us luck with our vuelta to the states.
Jojo
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Pura Vida Máy
So the last time we spoke we were buming around in Tamarindo, surfing, cooking four ounce filet migion that cost only 600 colones a piece, just about a dollar, that we served with rice and beans and ate with our swedish roomates.
One evening in Tamarindo we took a taxi up to Via Real, where there was a local festival and Rodeo going on. Open bbq pits, music, beer and bucking bulls. For two thousand colones you could sit in the bleachers, for free you could sit out side the ring and fight for a good view, for a great view and no additional cost you simply had to crawl into the ring and run from the bull when it came for you.
Naturally we entered the ring. As the anticipation built we watched a group of young Tica dancers preform some traditional dance...then the bulls. Oh boy was that ever dangerous, but an unriveled rush. So people in the ring would immediatly climb the ring and stand and watch, others would run, others would taunt. One time I was running from the bull and he looked right at me. As I jogged around the outside of the ring the bull jogged just a few paces behind me until I slipped into the crowd against the wall and all was good. Whew!
After we got our fill of danger we exited the ring and tried some local fare. yum a dum dum.
We had a good life there in Tamarindo, AC, TV, great people for only 12 dollars per night. But it was time to move on.
So us and four swedes rented a Toyota Prado and headed down the Nicoya Penninsula its southern tip, to the towns of Santa Teresa, Mal Pais and Montezuma.
I drove most of the time because Swedish people just are not very good drivers, narrow winding dirt roads with bridges that can only fit one car (with two way traffic) made for an action packed trip. but we arrived safely to our destination, Brunelas Hostel in Santa Teresa. This place was the ultimate surfer hang out...most of the residents had been coming there for years and staying for months at a time, the owner Juan let everything go on the honor system...There was a stocked fridge and a tally sheet where you kept track of how many beers or sodas you had consumed.
In Santa Teresa there wasn´t much to do if you were not an experienced surfed, I tried the waves once and had little success as mosterous waves crashed down on my board and body as I helplessly tried to paddle out, the only way to combat the waves is to have an expert board that in less bouyant so the surfer can go under the crashing waves..I could not.
So we decided we would drive to Montezuma where we booked a Snorkeling trip for 35 dollars a person that included a 45 min boat ride to las Islas Tortugas, snorkel rental, lunch on the beach and two cold brews. A fine deal considering we ate fresh marlin and raosted potatoes with all the fruit our hearts desired. I actually was able to speak with a local fisherman who for 40 years had taken either his hand carved wooden canoe or small motor boat from Paquera to the islands. This particular day he took the canoe and informed me that he paddles for 2 hours, then dives for fresh oysters and sells them on the beach, I bought two for a dollar a piece and watched him crack them open and prepare them right in front of me.
The snorkeling was also great, I was able to dive down and swim up through schools of fish with numbers in the hundreds to thousands. I would say we saw 20 diferent species of fish.
Then after three days in Brunelas we stayed one night in Montezuma, where we made a bonfire at our hotel and met people from all over the US and Canada.
The next morning we awoke and took the water taxi to Jacó, where we caught a bus to Manuel Antonio where we now stay. Yesterday Dan and I went rafting down a fiver on Duckies, inflatable kayaks, that was a blast then we came back and strolled the beach...I saw a monster coco fall from the tree and picked it up, I began to smash it against a tree and a local Tico saw my struggles and proceeded to give us a lesson in Sobrevivencia, survival. after his lesson I was able to remove a cocos husk and crack the nut slightly and then drink the sweet water trapped inside.
Then today we went into the national park of Manuel Antonio. There we saw three sloths, endless monkies (both white faced and howlers) and endless iguana, oh yea and this giant rodent looking thing that at first I thought was a Pizote but later realized it was just a monster rodent of some kind.
Anyways were doing fine and having tons of fun, next we are thinking of heading to Bocas del Toro, in Panama.
We love you all!
Pepito, José
One evening in Tamarindo we took a taxi up to Via Real, where there was a local festival and Rodeo going on. Open bbq pits, music, beer and bucking bulls. For two thousand colones you could sit in the bleachers, for free you could sit out side the ring and fight for a good view, for a great view and no additional cost you simply had to crawl into the ring and run from the bull when it came for you.
Naturally we entered the ring. As the anticipation built we watched a group of young Tica dancers preform some traditional dance...then the bulls. Oh boy was that ever dangerous, but an unriveled rush. So people in the ring would immediatly climb the ring and stand and watch, others would run, others would taunt. One time I was running from the bull and he looked right at me. As I jogged around the outside of the ring the bull jogged just a few paces behind me until I slipped into the crowd against the wall and all was good. Whew!
After we got our fill of danger we exited the ring and tried some local fare. yum a dum dum.
We had a good life there in Tamarindo, AC, TV, great people for only 12 dollars per night. But it was time to move on.
So us and four swedes rented a Toyota Prado and headed down the Nicoya Penninsula its southern tip, to the towns of Santa Teresa, Mal Pais and Montezuma.
I drove most of the time because Swedish people just are not very good drivers, narrow winding dirt roads with bridges that can only fit one car (with two way traffic) made for an action packed trip. but we arrived safely to our destination, Brunelas Hostel in Santa Teresa. This place was the ultimate surfer hang out...most of the residents had been coming there for years and staying for months at a time, the owner Juan let everything go on the honor system...There was a stocked fridge and a tally sheet where you kept track of how many beers or sodas you had consumed.
In Santa Teresa there wasn´t much to do if you were not an experienced surfed, I tried the waves once and had little success as mosterous waves crashed down on my board and body as I helplessly tried to paddle out, the only way to combat the waves is to have an expert board that in less bouyant so the surfer can go under the crashing waves..I could not.
So we decided we would drive to Montezuma where we booked a Snorkeling trip for 35 dollars a person that included a 45 min boat ride to las Islas Tortugas, snorkel rental, lunch on the beach and two cold brews. A fine deal considering we ate fresh marlin and raosted potatoes with all the fruit our hearts desired. I actually was able to speak with a local fisherman who for 40 years had taken either his hand carved wooden canoe or small motor boat from Paquera to the islands. This particular day he took the canoe and informed me that he paddles for 2 hours, then dives for fresh oysters and sells them on the beach, I bought two for a dollar a piece and watched him crack them open and prepare them right in front of me.
The snorkeling was also great, I was able to dive down and swim up through schools of fish with numbers in the hundreds to thousands. I would say we saw 20 diferent species of fish.
Then after three days in Brunelas we stayed one night in Montezuma, where we made a bonfire at our hotel and met people from all over the US and Canada.
The next morning we awoke and took the water taxi to Jacó, where we caught a bus to Manuel Antonio where we now stay. Yesterday Dan and I went rafting down a fiver on Duckies, inflatable kayaks, that was a blast then we came back and strolled the beach...I saw a monster coco fall from the tree and picked it up, I began to smash it against a tree and a local Tico saw my struggles and proceeded to give us a lesson in Sobrevivencia, survival. after his lesson I was able to remove a cocos husk and crack the nut slightly and then drink the sweet water trapped inside.
Then today we went into the national park of Manuel Antonio. There we saw three sloths, endless monkies (both white faced and howlers) and endless iguana, oh yea and this giant rodent looking thing that at first I thought was a Pizote but later realized it was just a monster rodent of some kind.
Anyways were doing fine and having tons of fun, next we are thinking of heading to Bocas del Toro, in Panama.
We love you all!
Pepito, José
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tamarindo Es Muy Lindo
We are alive, in case you were wondering. We took the 7 am luxury Tica Bus down from Granada to Liberia, AC, BR, comfy seats and a pirated version of Slumdog Millionaire to boot. The only hitch was crossing back into Costa Rica when they found the 10 pounds of un-cut Nicaraguan Bam Bam in Dan's bag, a bribe or two later we were off scott-free. But seriously the border was a bit of a hastle, hot dusty with a pointless security check that consisted of un zipping and re-zipping our bags, adding about 45 min to the trip.
We hopped off the bus and got into a cab that took us 5 blocks for 1.25 USD to the Mercado Municipal, where we caught a city bus to the costal town of Tamarindo. two and a half hours later we were walking down the dusty streets of this developing surf town to the hostel named la botella de leche, the bottle of milk.
We hopped off the bus and got into a cab that took us 5 blocks for 1.25 USD to the Mercado Municipal, where we caught a city bus to the costal town of Tamarindo. two and a half hours later we were walking down the dusty streets of this developing surf town to the hostel named la botella de leche, the bottle of milk.
We checked into one of the four person dorm rooms with a private bath and AC for just 12 a night. We have spent the last three nights here and dont know if we ever want to leave. Today was the third time I attempted to surf and Danny's second. We are starting to get the hang of it...riding the small waves straight forward, but we are getting a good feel for a board under our feet.
The hostel itself is great. Good people from allover the world. Some Danes, Swedes, Israelis, Americans, French and Aregentinians. Free internet, surf board rental, cable TV, fell kitchen, a maid service, many hamocks and comfy beds are many of the atrributes that make this bottle of milk a refreshing one.
The past two nights we have had two Swedes as roomates. Par (with two dots on the a) and Patrick are good fun and wonderful flatmantes. They are taking a two month spanish course and surfing while not in class.
The town of Tamarindo is a good place, one of the up and coming vacation destinations of C. Am. I would venture a guess that it resembles places like Puerta Vallerta and Cozumel twenty years ago; somewhat developed without excessive tourist traffic, although some of the locals I have spoken with would beg to differ with the later. There is a man that squeezes the juice from four crates of these orange/lime hybrid fruits and sells a glass for 500 colones,90cent. Delish!
So we are having a great time and will upload some pics soon.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Adios Island Oasis
Photos: (Top to Bottom) Granada´s Catedral, Concepción Volcano, Sun set in SJ del S, The shanit of a hostel.
Since we last spoke much has happend.
San Juan del Sur, part duex
So thanks to a faulty water system at out luxurious hotel in SJ del S we got to experience living in a real life Latin America shanti, but for only five a person a night who can complain. We had our own beds and a private shower, spiders geckos and flies and no extra chrage. Needless to say we spent little time in our room, we relaxed on the beach, chowed some food at a beach side rest. while the sunset and drank a couple of brews in two rocking chairs while the pacific´s rolling waves sang their gentle song.
The next morning, after sleeping in our shanti we caught the bus out of SJ del S to Rivas a town about 5 km from the Cocibola coast (Lake Nic). From rivas we took and bicycle taxi to the ferry launch and quickly boarded the ferry to Ometepe. One hour and 60 cordobas (3 buck) later we landed in Moyogalopa, made a rapid dash for the one ATM on the island and collected some loot. Then we ran caught that drove past the bank just as we were exiting the bus to Playa Venecia, luckily another stop was just around the corner.
We arrived at our stop and all there was to be seen was a grass hut of a drink stand and a sign pointing us down a small dirt road. A short stroll later we had arrived at the resort of Venecia where we hired a small cabin with a lake view and A.C. for 15 per person. Much to our shagrin (i know its spelt worng) we learned that the lake is unusually high and the beach was under water. Nonetheless, after som searching we found a good spot to lay back catch some rays and take a cooling dip. That evening I ate my first fish that was served whole, more work than reward, but still delish and dan had a steak casado.
The next morning we awoke and headed for the small village of Santo Domingo. The we found a decent room with private bath for 7.5 per person. The first day there we swung in a few of the many hamocks scattered about the hostels grounds. The second day we headed to el ojo de agua the eye of water, which we were told was a natural lake but later learned was more likely a damed up river. The minor lie did not detract from this lagoon´s beauty, crystal clear water softened by the natural sulfites of the islands volcanic material. There I burnt my shoulders and developed a heat rash or sun poisioning while dan burnt his scalp.
We returned to our favorite hammocks at the hostel and read until dinner rolled around. After dinner we played a few games of Eucre with this retired canadian couple, followed by an 18 hole match of golf (the card version).
The next morning, this morning for that matter, we awoke caught the first bus out of Santo Domingo to Moyogalapa. While we waited for the ferry we met a women and her daughter who too desired to travel to Granda. Once we arrived in San Jorge, back mainland, we negotiated with a cab driver who cut his rate down to 25 for the four of us. Saved us some time and some hastle. We then checked into our first dorm room accomidations, 3 bucks, and headed to town where we found this wonderful internet cafe.
Next we don´t know...
Caio
Jo
San Juan del Sur, part duex
So thanks to a faulty water system at out luxurious hotel in SJ del S we got to experience living in a real life Latin America shanti, but for only five a person a night who can complain. We had our own beds and a private shower, spiders geckos and flies and no extra chrage. Needless to say we spent little time in our room, we relaxed on the beach, chowed some food at a beach side rest. while the sunset and drank a couple of brews in two rocking chairs while the pacific´s rolling waves sang their gentle song.
The next morning, after sleeping in our shanti we caught the bus out of SJ del S to Rivas a town about 5 km from the Cocibola coast (Lake Nic). From rivas we took and bicycle taxi to the ferry launch and quickly boarded the ferry to Ometepe. One hour and 60 cordobas (3 buck) later we landed in Moyogalopa, made a rapid dash for the one ATM on the island and collected some loot. Then we ran caught that drove past the bank just as we were exiting the bus to Playa Venecia, luckily another stop was just around the corner.
We arrived at our stop and all there was to be seen was a grass hut of a drink stand and a sign pointing us down a small dirt road. A short stroll later we had arrived at the resort of Venecia where we hired a small cabin with a lake view and A.C. for 15 per person. Much to our shagrin (i know its spelt worng) we learned that the lake is unusually high and the beach was under water. Nonetheless, after som searching we found a good spot to lay back catch some rays and take a cooling dip. That evening I ate my first fish that was served whole, more work than reward, but still delish and dan had a steak casado.
The next morning we awoke and headed for the small village of Santo Domingo. The we found a decent room with private bath for 7.5 per person. The first day there we swung in a few of the many hamocks scattered about the hostels grounds. The second day we headed to el ojo de agua the eye of water, which we were told was a natural lake but later learned was more likely a damed up river. The minor lie did not detract from this lagoon´s beauty, crystal clear water softened by the natural sulfites of the islands volcanic material. There I burnt my shoulders and developed a heat rash or sun poisioning while dan burnt his scalp.
We returned to our favorite hammocks at the hostel and read until dinner rolled around. After dinner we played a few games of Eucre with this retired canadian couple, followed by an 18 hole match of golf (the card version).
The next morning, this morning for that matter, we awoke caught the first bus out of Santo Domingo to Moyogalapa. While we waited for the ferry we met a women and her daughter who too desired to travel to Granda. Once we arrived in San Jorge, back mainland, we negotiated with a cab driver who cut his rate down to 25 for the four of us. Saved us some time and some hastle. We then checked into our first dorm room accomidations, 3 bucks, and headed to town where we found this wonderful internet cafe.
Next we don´t know...
Caio
Jo
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Beach at Last
Whew what a crazy day we had yesterday getting here to Nicaragua, but first an update of what we have done since.
The Santa Elena Reserve
This forest reserve is located in the secondary rainforest but is nonetheless still teaming with life. Life that we had great difficulty seeing. After a 4 km treck through a muddy, rainy cloud forest we had seen two different birds and five mosquitos. However the trip still was well worth the 6 dollar entry fee, in the rainforest we were able to see some incredible plant life, the cloud forests of CR are teeming with diverse Flora. One speific family, phylum or genus, not sure, is the hepophites that use other plants as a host in a none parasdic manner, these include various orchid, mosses and bromediads that offered some great vistas.
After the treck we decided to do a much needed load of laundry b.c our cloths had gotten so muddy from ziplinning and rainforest hiking.
We then came across a group of america travelers, one from V tech and another from Georgia. The V tech folks were good poeple where as the Georgians were no so much, fat ignorant, dumb southern reds. Anyway we ended up having a few adult beverages at the hostel and playing some cards, then once the sun had set we, at the recomendation of Ronnie the hostel owner, went to the Monteverde frod pond. There we walked through dark zoo lit by only floor runners and the guides flashlight. While we observed a wide range of frog and toad attributes the georgians continuded taking pulls from their JW Red Label bottle and asking terribly stupid questions.
After the frogs the rest of the group went to eat and Dan and I went back to the room to pack and prepare for our outgoing buss at 6 am the next morning.
When are newfound friends returned we recomenced the enbibbing and sociallizing. Once all were ready we headed to a local watering hole stayed for a few hours and took off. Outside the bar one of the southern bells fell down and caught herself with her face. I didn't see the event occur but I did see the aftermath, a split lip and an immd\ediatly bruised face...to me it looked like she had broken her cheek bone. So Dan and another guy helped carry her back to the hostel much to her schgrin, sp? Eeek, dont worry parents we are being leauges more responsible than that.
Next morning we woke up and headed off to the bus. Two hours later we were down the mt and at our first stop, we transfered buses and headed up the Pan Am line to \liberia where we negotiated with a taxi driver to take us the last 40 miles to the border for 10 bucks. Then the insanity began.
Never in my life have i been acausted as much as I was in the international territory between Nic and CR. First we were surrounded by people trying to get us to change our colones for cordobas, once we had walked far enough away from their homebase the gave up, next a man showed us where to go through customs, which was actually fairly confusing, waiting for a tip I gave him a dollar and said we dont need help. Then at custom we dished ouy another 7 bucks for our tourist card, then after much debate and conflict info from the locals we decided to take a taxi. After negotiating with the cab driver we settled on 60 percent of his initail price which seemed like a good deal becasue he was unhappy with the final price.
Then we needed to dish out another dollar just to cross the border, and the guy who showed us to the taxi then awaited a tip...good grief, after that hour of insanity it felt good to be on the road heading to the small beach town of San Juan del Sur, which is where I now sit. After arriving we checked into our room went out for some lunch and headed to the beach. we soaked up some rays and headed back to the hotel where we enjoyed cable TV and AC in our private room for just 12 per person. We ended up asleep by probably 8 o clock exausted from a long day of travel and little sleep the night before.
Today we must decide what we will do, our options are to stay here another night or head for our intended destination of the island of Ometepe.
-Jumpin Joe
The Santa Elena Reserve
This forest reserve is located in the secondary rainforest but is nonetheless still teaming with life. Life that we had great difficulty seeing. After a 4 km treck through a muddy, rainy cloud forest we had seen two different birds and five mosquitos. However the trip still was well worth the 6 dollar entry fee, in the rainforest we were able to see some incredible plant life, the cloud forests of CR are teeming with diverse Flora. One speific family, phylum or genus, not sure, is the hepophites that use other plants as a host in a none parasdic manner, these include various orchid, mosses and bromediads that offered some great vistas.
After the treck we decided to do a much needed load of laundry b.c our cloths had gotten so muddy from ziplinning and rainforest hiking.
We then came across a group of america travelers, one from V tech and another from Georgia. The V tech folks were good poeple where as the Georgians were no so much, fat ignorant, dumb southern reds. Anyway we ended up having a few adult beverages at the hostel and playing some cards, then once the sun had set we, at the recomendation of Ronnie the hostel owner, went to the Monteverde frod pond. There we walked through dark zoo lit by only floor runners and the guides flashlight. While we observed a wide range of frog and toad attributes the georgians continuded taking pulls from their JW Red Label bottle and asking terribly stupid questions.
After the frogs the rest of the group went to eat and Dan and I went back to the room to pack and prepare for our outgoing buss at 6 am the next morning.
When are newfound friends returned we recomenced the enbibbing and sociallizing. Once all were ready we headed to a local watering hole stayed for a few hours and took off. Outside the bar one of the southern bells fell down and caught herself with her face. I didn't see the event occur but I did see the aftermath, a split lip and an immd\ediatly bruised face...to me it looked like she had broken her cheek bone. So Dan and another guy helped carry her back to the hostel much to her schgrin, sp? Eeek, dont worry parents we are being leauges more responsible than that.
Next morning we woke up and headed off to the bus. Two hours later we were down the mt and at our first stop, we transfered buses and headed up the Pan Am line to \liberia where we negotiated with a taxi driver to take us the last 40 miles to the border for 10 bucks. Then the insanity began.
Never in my life have i been acausted as much as I was in the international territory between Nic and CR. First we were surrounded by people trying to get us to change our colones for cordobas, once we had walked far enough away from their homebase the gave up, next a man showed us where to go through customs, which was actually fairly confusing, waiting for a tip I gave him a dollar and said we dont need help. Then at custom we dished ouy another 7 bucks for our tourist card, then after much debate and conflict info from the locals we decided to take a taxi. After negotiating with the cab driver we settled on 60 percent of his initail price which seemed like a good deal becasue he was unhappy with the final price.
Then we needed to dish out another dollar just to cross the border, and the guy who showed us to the taxi then awaited a tip...good grief, after that hour of insanity it felt good to be on the road heading to the small beach town of San Juan del Sur, which is where I now sit. After arriving we checked into our room went out for some lunch and headed to the beach. we soaked up some rays and headed back to the hotel where we enjoyed cable TV and AC in our private room for just 12 per person. We ended up asleep by probably 8 o clock exausted from a long day of travel and little sleep the night before.
Today we must decide what we will do, our options are to stay here another night or head for our intended destination of the island of Ometepe.
-Jumpin Joe
Monday, March 9, 2009
MonteVerde par t deux
Good Heavens, the canopy tour was dyno-mite and well worth the 30USD I charged to my credit card (dan paid 40, forgetting his student ID). Basically there were two mts. or hills that were densly coveed in cloud forest/rainforest that were coneccted by zip lines spanning 600-1000 meters. Between the two terran bumps was a lush valley filled with grazing cattle and a few small shacks. If speed, height and scenery get you excited I must strongly recomend. The link for the company is pasted below.
We decided to stay another night with our gracious host Ronnie and Yusefina. So today we will be picked up at 830 )(if dan wakes up) and we will be heading to the Santa Elena Nature Reserve. where we will hike through the rainforest and hopefuly enounter some neat wildlife, but nothing to dangerous or poisonous. Then back to town where we will enjoy another relaxed day in this sleepy mt town.
Mañana we will awake at 530 am and catch a bus back don the mt. conect with a bus to Liberia where we will catch a bus to Nicaragua to the beach town of San Juan del Sur, stay a few days and eventually work our way to the island of Ometepe in the center of Lake Nicaragua. The volcanic island is supposed to be a paradise so we are unsure how long we will stay, following that back to Costa and on down the Pacific coast.
We miss all of you that we love and if your reading this I am sure that is you.
J
http://www.monteverdeextremo.com/
We decided to stay another night with our gracious host Ronnie and Yusefina. So today we will be picked up at 830 )(if dan wakes up) and we will be heading to the Santa Elena Nature Reserve. where we will hike through the rainforest and hopefuly enounter some neat wildlife, but nothing to dangerous or poisonous. Then back to town where we will enjoy another relaxed day in this sleepy mt town.
Mañana we will awake at 530 am and catch a bus back don the mt. conect with a bus to Liberia where we will catch a bus to Nicaragua to the beach town of San Juan del Sur, stay a few days and eventually work our way to the island of Ometepe in the center of Lake Nicaragua. The volcanic island is supposed to be a paradise so we are unsure how long we will stay, following that back to Costa and on down the Pacific coast.
We miss all of you that we love and if your reading this I am sure that is you.
J
http://www.monteverdeextremo.com/
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Monte Verde
The Green Mountain could not be a more fitting title for this quaint Costa Rican town. Following an arduous bus ride from San Jose that lasted five hours and curled up a narrow dirt road, for what seemed like a dangerous eternity, we finally arrived here in MonteVerde, after sunset. We strapped on our bags and began our searh throught the dark wet night. From what I have gathered from some of the locals I have spoken with the weater here is fairly consistant; sun, mist and wind, strong wind.
With minor complication, only one rolled ankle from a convinently located hole in the road, we found our wondeful hostel. Run by Ronnie and Yusefina Sleepers Sleep Cheaper hostel does not disapoint. With just the mention of my name we were showed to our private room with private shower, which I must say rivals the bathroom of most American establishments. After a showe r each we officially checked in and at our front desk, paid the 7 .5 USD per night and made reservations for the ExtremoCanopy tour.
Next we began our assent into te town of Santa Elena, just a km or two long but packed full of restaurants and hostels. We found a decent looking spot t o eat and had some much needed dinner . After the meal we retired to our room to read and depite the howeling wind and a pillow that as one traveler described feels like two popcorn bags poured into a pilow case we sunk into our respective beds and wandered off into LaLa land.
This moring we awoke and mosied on to the kitchen for our complimentry breakfast, coffee (best in the world so the locals say) granola, wheat toast, a fried egg and fresh piña melòn y sandìa (watermelon). Did I mention the price of 7.5 USD per night. After breakfast we hiked to the mercado for some waterbottles and granola bars for our canopy tour that leaves in an hour. Skie s are blue, mountains are green, wind is strong and the mist is light. Wish us luck, I don´t think we will spring or the extra insurance, sorry moms.
SAN JOSE
The capital city of San Jose left little to be desired for Dan and I. With few tourist destinations in the city proper we ended up wandering through the streets sticking out like an inflammed cold sore. One thing that we did take from the city is some grat food. There are these plaes called soda cafes where for 1,900 colones about 4 bucks you get a plate of food so massive w e could hardly finish. Also we had some street food. These things called pupusas that are pancakes filled with beans cheese and pork rinds, they were awesome. Any way no montezumas revenge ye..knock knock...Anyway I need to play with one of the owners kids that has been sitting on my lap for the last ten min.
We will try and get some pictures up but it has been hard to find somewhere that will let us upload them.
Much love to all!!!
-Jojo
With minor complication, only one rolled ankle from a convinently located hole in the road, we found our wondeful hostel. Run by Ronnie and Yusefina Sleepers Sleep Cheaper hostel does not disapoint. With just the mention of my name we were showed to our private room with private shower, which I must say rivals the bathroom of most American establishments. After a showe r each we officially checked in and at our front desk, paid the 7 .5 USD per night and made reservations for the ExtremoCanopy tour.
Next we began our assent into te town of Santa Elena, just a km or two long but packed full of restaurants and hostels. We found a decent looking spot t o eat and had some much needed dinner . After the meal we retired to our room to read and depite the howeling wind and a pillow that as one traveler described feels like two popcorn bags poured into a pilow case we sunk into our respective beds and wandered off into LaLa land.
This moring we awoke and mosied on to the kitchen for our complimentry breakfast, coffee (best in the world so the locals say) granola, wheat toast, a fried egg and fresh piña melòn y sandìa (watermelon). Did I mention the price of 7.5 USD per night. After breakfast we hiked to the mercado for some waterbottles and granola bars for our canopy tour that leaves in an hour. Skie s are blue, mountains are green, wind is strong and the mist is light. Wish us luck, I don´t think we will spring or the extra insurance, sorry moms.
SAN JOSE
The capital city of San Jose left little to be desired for Dan and I. With few tourist destinations in the city proper we ended up wandering through the streets sticking out like an inflammed cold sore. One thing that we did take from the city is some grat food. There are these plaes called soda cafes where for 1,900 colones about 4 bucks you get a plate of food so massive w e could hardly finish. Also we had some street food. These things called pupusas that are pancakes filled with beans cheese and pork rinds, they were awesome. Any way no montezumas revenge ye..knock knock...Anyway I need to play with one of the owners kids that has been sitting on my lap for the last ten min.
We will try and get some pictures up but it has been hard to find somewhere that will let us upload them.
Much love to all!!!
-Jojo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)