May | 2012 | Rule #2: Don't Die.

Archive | May, 2012

Our pants may be crabby from time to time, but we’re not crabby pants!

Hi all, the three sisters have finally been united (plus one Landin). Man, just getting out of Honolulu was a big deal… between trying to finish things at work and getting stuff together to come took two weeks! It is hard to take a month off of work, but the Europeans and Canadians do it enough that I know/think everything should be okay…

Leaving would have been easier if my banks wouldn’t have created extras problems; I am switching to a credit union when I get home (plus my bank just sent me a letter stating that now that I am 30 something, I have to start paying for my checking account – that is not a good letter to receive right before your 30rdy birthday!). Between debit card expiration drama and not-so-fantastic customer service I’m ready to make the switch.

Everything was good once we got to the airport in San Jose; the sisters were there to greet us with a very detailed sign proclaiming my 30rdy birthday celebration. (who hasn’t always wanted their name on a sign at the airport!?! Landin even had his own side) We leisurely drove down to Punteranas to catch the ferry to Nicoya Peninsula but drove in just in time to watch the 5 pm ferry float away. So we decided to drive around the gulf rather than wait until the next ferry at 8pm; we only made it as far as Barro Honda before calling it a night.

The next morning, since we were so close to Barra Honda National Park, we decided to do some spelunking (like Carmen Sandiego was always known to do in our childhood) down into the limestone stone caves; which were awesome and we had a great guide! We officially know that anis is a natural mosquito repellant and makes a great tea for upset tummies (guess we all have to start liking the taste of black licorice).

After that we took some bumpy roads down to Montezuma, where we stayed for two nights and spent a full day at Isla Tortuga. H saw an octopus ink, which made her day (we proceeded the inking with a discussion of Finding Nemo and how that should really be her favorite Disney movie)! Landin got bit by a fish (it even drew blood); and he has now been playing with all of the crabs to see if their pitchers hurt… he is going to try to get bit or pitched by as many creatures as possible while in Costa Rica. One crab even donated its claw to Landin’s quest (we’re kind of hoping those things grow back…) and others have been crawling around in our shoes and clothes trying to help him out as much as they can!

Yesterday we drove on more bumpy roads to reach Nosara, which is the best so far! The beach sunset was spectacular and the waves were great… may even be equal to Hawaii’s best beaches… We are staying at the cutest place about 200 meters from the beach, in our own little cabina by a pool (including its own little waterfall) with a kitchenette, private bath, and space for 5 to sleep. For $11 a person per night, we have stumbled upon a ridiculously wonderful place at Kaya Sol!

We went out and enjoyed a great meal and live music at The Gilded Iguana, with adult mac and cheese and adult beverages for a reasonable price! The town has a definite ex-patriot feel to it, but it’s beautiful and H even found her future husband running around town before she caught the perfect wave!

Today we are headed to Playa Hermosa for the beach house, which means more dirt roads – but we will get some beach and town exploring here before leaving. Until next week; I can’t believe I get to do this for a whole month!

Tags: Barro Honda, Costa Rica, Isla Tortuga, Montezuma, Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara, Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas, San Jose, travel blog

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Categories Costa Rica, Our Travel Stories
Author G

The art of turning a lie into a friendship; AKA we love Nicaragua!

21 May

We went to Nicaragua on a whim and had done little to no research as to what to expect. We went to San Juan del Sur to surf a little then ended up on a double volcanic island in the middle of a massive lake. We hiked both volcanos, saw a lake at the top of the smaller and breathed in toxic fumes at the top of the other.

We tried out a variety of lodging options in the southern part of the country, ranging from $1.50 per person to camp in a driveway in a rough neighborhood outside the window of a new born baby on the full moon that encouraged all the dogs in town to lose their minds and voices (not a lot of sleeping to be had), to $5 a night to crash on the couch of a party hostel, to our favorite option: $7 a night to stay at San Fernando on Ometepe in our own cabina directly on Lake Nicaragua with the nicest owner and puppy we have yet come across. We ABSOLUTELY recommend Don Ramon’s place at San Fernando, he is wonderful, caring, and a fantastic host!

The most amazing part of Nicaragua, however, was meeting our guide Ronmel on Ometepe. Not only did he guide us to the top of Volcán Concepción (which is exactely what one would think scaling the side of an active volcano would be like) but he also gave us the history of Nicaragua’s civil war and a Spanish lesson that we actaully learned a lot from! He was incredibly patient with R’s slow pace and falling behind, as well as Traci’s working through a phobia of heights like a champion. If you ever are going to be on Ometepe island and feel like experiencing some breath-taking views look him up in town because his company is more than worth the effort! (plus he goes up 3 times a week, so you can coordiante that into your schedule quite easily).

We learned a lot about our future travels on this trip in Nicaragua: not every place is green and lush, water is often not potable, people really don’t recycle in the world, also, lieing is a sport when money and/or lack of knowledge is involved. There is no way to take anyone at their word, even if they are the most lovable person you have ever met. But we learned to embrace the culture for what it was, and the people are so warm and inviting you almost stop caring that they are lieing to you!