Day 36: San Jose, Costa Rica

Despite the morning orchestra, we awoke relieved simply to not have to make another trip to the embassy today. Two days off from that circus, woopee! Read the rest of this entry »

Dy 35:  San Jose, Costa Rica

Another noisy morning. But this morning, we were geared up and ready to get to the embassy as soon as they opened at 8:30am so we could hurry our visa apps along. After a yummy breakfast of rice and honey with sliced mango on the back patio at the hostel, we were off for another go with the angry embassy woman. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 34: San Jose, Costa Rica

5:30am and this city comes to life. But not just any life. Think of the most noisy, obnoxious sounds you can imagine, multiply that by 80 and you have an idea of just how “lively“ San Jose gets this early in the morning. Incessant, unnecessary horn honking (it´s a red light–what do you want!?), brakes that sqeal so loudly they must have worn our the pads years ago, and the largest collection of muffler-free vehicles in the whole world all come together at the magic hour, 5:30AM, to sound off the start of the day in a truly monstrous cacophany. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 33: San Jose, Costa Rica

Two chicken buses ($3 total/person), a border crossing that was not even close to as bad as everyone warned us, and 8 miles past the Costa Rican border, we were sweating our brains out and Lin was mad as hell. Read the rest of this entry »

It is no stretch to say that Nicaragua has been our favorite place on the trip thus far. Even though it tried to kill us more than once we love it anyway! Even the worst of Nicaragua was a great adventure.  We had so much fun motorcycling around Ometepe, relaxing on the back beaches in San Juan, enjoying the sounds of the streets in Granada and eating the best breakfast ever made at The Garden Cafe. But what I think we will remember most about Nicaragua and what will most definitely see us coming back is the absolute generosity and warmth of the people there. From a more honest than most taxi driver in Managua to the lady selling chicken and gallo pinto on the street, everyone we met in Nicaragua was nice without regard. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 32: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Ugh…this morning midway through cooking an otherwise scrumptious breakfast, we both found ourselves in the throes of a beast we´ve not yet met on this trip: food poisoning. Read the rest of this entry »

After yesterday´s unpleasant beach experience, we are aching for some relaxing, more beautiful beach time today. Thinking of getting in some exercise before our day of laying around, we rented bicycles from another hostel a few blocks from Casa Oro for $6 each for the day (a bit expensive really, but we are in a rather touristy town). Read the rest of this entry »

Day 31: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Being in a beach town without any swimming shorts can become a legal issue in most countries. Wishing to avoid all that messy paperwork in spanish, we made a market run to find a pair of trunks to preserve Saben´s modesty (after all, he is ever so modest). Read the rest of this entry »

Day 30: San Juan del Sur, Nicarauga

It was a sunny, warm day with a light breeze. Just enough of a breeze to keep you from sweating. The dock was bustling with the last load of people and goods dis-boarding and rushing off the dock. We stood in a misshapen line, maybe at the front, or maybe somewhere toward the middle. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 29: Ometepe, Nicarauga

This morning we met up with another couple (the Tasmanian guy from last night and his Canadian girlfriend) and our tour guide for a 7AM volcano hike. Lin was feeling well rested and fully recovered her scratched eye but Saben, the tour guide and the male half of the other couple were, er, struggling. Read the rest of this entry »