Day 39: San Jose, Costa Rica

Today was an utterly glorious day. Knowing that we were going to get our Brazilian visas this afternoon put a skip (or two) into our step. We wandered around the city some more this morning and enjoyed a lovely (huge!) lunch served on a fancy cut piece of wood and banana leaves. Between the two platters (let´s be real here–“plate“ just isn´t a sufficient description), we could´ve fed 2-3 other people. Once we were stuffed to and beyond the gills, we waddled a couple miles back across the city to the embassy and danced a little jig all the way up to the 6th floor and into the office as we picked up our much-sought after, overly complicated visas. Then, after triple checking that they were indeed real (and switching to check each other´s), we danced another jig while we waited for the elevator. But the doors opened to reveal another, rather serious looking passenger so we had to forgo the descending jig and just quietly giggled at each other for the joy of finally having those stupid visas. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 38: San Jose, Costa Rica

It´s Groundhog´s Day, woohoo! So apparently the groundhog predicts more bad winter weather for those folks in winter-weather areas but today marked some seriously good news for us: The formerly irritated old woman at the embassy gave us a nod instead of a head shake! Read the rest of this entry »

Day 37: San Jose, Costa Rica

Started painting bright and early this morning but today we were using chalkbord paint. Fine and dandy for the 5 hours of painting we did today til we went to wash up. Apparently chalkboard paint spreads really really well when mixed with skin and water, but we didn´t know that til we were covered up to our elbows in the evil stuff with not even a tiny hint of skin peeking through. Read the rest of this entry »

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 »