Posts Tagged With: see the world

Flying roaches, black sand beaches, and SLOTHS all in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Posted on June 27, 2014 by valarieivester

As we leave Bocas behind us we made our way to Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. With its lush rainforest and vast variety of animals running about we were ready for a bit of a change in our journey….but first, The Border Crossing.

The border crossing from Panama to Costa Rica was one of the more interesting crossings so far. First….I was seated next to THE WORST COUPLE EVER!! I mean it! I sneaked video footage of this ridiculous couple but I won’t subject you to their trashy, drunk, profane filled antics but know that in a shuttle bus of 8 people. ..all 6 of them felt sorry for me having to be seated next to them while Jorgie giggled behind me at my SUPERHERO like restraint from going off on them both. It took all I had not to go all HALF MEXICAN/HALF KOREAN on em! “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL! ” Now, imagine that, then when you feel like the bus stops to deliver your brief moment of freedom from these crazies to cross the border, you see it….THE DEATH BRIDGE BORDER CROSSING. This had to be the shakiest, gap filled bridge ever! The busdriver said he would meet us at the other end of the bridge (in Costa Rica), he had all our bags, sometimes I guess you just have to move on faith. “Please busdriver, don’t make me judi chop you for stealing my things.” Turns out…no judi chops were needed….#THANKUJESUS

We arrived out our hostel room to find it upgraded to the main room with a beautiful patio! WINNING!

So here’s the thing…
Costa Rica has these gigantic flying cockroaches. Here’s our meeting one and our plot to kill him. Sorry bug….we can’t share a room. We obviously aren’t trained bug killers;)

The black sand beaches create a coastline like we haven’t seen yet!

If you travel further down the beaches no longer have the black sand but still provide a serene atmosphere.

WE ARE MOBILE!
We decided to rent some bikes and ride up the coast to take in more of what Costa Rica had to offer on our way to visit the Jaguar Rescue Sanctuary
Note: No jaguars @ The Jaguar Sanctuary but dont miss this opportunity to play with howler monkeys and sloths!!

After being a walking backpacker this long, having a bike felt a little like owning a car for the 1st time!;) FREEEEEEDOOOOOM! (In my best Braveheart voice) 😉

The coastal ride provides plenty of stops at different beaches and surfers are always present and ready to hit the next big wave.
Do yourself a favor…GET A BIKE AND TAKE THIS RIDE;)

The Jaguar Rescue Sanctuary awaits us….

This little guy just walked right up to Jorgie for some lovin!;)

TUCAN SAM

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS PLACE! Cameras weren’t allowed in but we got to go inside and play with the monkeys!! I was a little nervous but the baby monkeys just swing and hang from you and everything! So worth it!!

And now ladies and gentlemen….it’s the Slowest Animal On Earth….
The Sloooooooooth;)
This little guy just PASSED OUT as soon as he climbed down the tree! What a lazy butt!! Lol

And this one just stayed hanging asleep! Ha!

Now that we are returning to town, a drink at our favorite spot, MADRE TIERRA was a perfect way to watch the sun set on the beach. Their drinks are strong and their bartender is the coolest!

Sit upstairs on the balcony. …It’s great!

Lazy days in Puerto Viejo……where everything is PURA VIDA😉
Until next time Costa Rica……

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: backpacker, backpacking, beach, beaches, bikes, black sand beach, border crossing, budget travel, bugs, Central America, Costa Rica, deet, freakout, jaguar sanctuary, Puerto Viejo, pura vida, roach, see the world, sloths, tucans | 5 Comments

“You want to rub me down with mud??…Okay!” ;)

Posted on May 28, 2014 by valarieivester

How could I forget the MUDDY MASSAGE?!?!? If you find yourself in Cartagena, Colombia be sure to take a day trip to Volcán de Lodo El Totumo. It’s a short bus ride but many believe that the muddy rubdown has healing powers… I’M IN!
(I had to lure Jorgie in with the promise that I heard mud wrestlin was part of the deal….LOL)

***FYI: There will be no muddy girls awaiting your arrival boys…nor will any wrestlin take place. I KNOW…I lied…but don’t act like you ain’t ever promised an ice cream cone to an unruly child to get your Sunday errands done…It happens;)

To get to your massage you have to climb these sketchy steps to the top;)
PLEASE NOTE: You will be asked to leave your sandals at the foot of the Volcán….if you do, someone will watch them but you will need to tip them. If you would rather carry them up and keep them with you in the mud, you are free to.

Jorgie hops in first and his rubdown begins;)

Okay….I’M COMIN IN!!

The mud is so dense you just float!!! It’s an awkwardly amazing feeling!;)

BUUUUUUT …be careful!! Mud in the eye = “I gotta get out NOW!”

As you climb out…Yes, once again on a sketchtastic ladder, you make your way down the volcano and waddle your muddy bodies to a nearby lagoon where you bath yourselves to a greyish form of clean.
What do you expect…your bathing in a river with mud;)

ANOTHER NOTE:
When you get to the lagoon there will be local women wadding in the waters wanting to assist in rinsing you clean (Don’t think “SCORE! I’m about to be bathed by a ravishing young Sophia Vegara look alike!” Think more like Sophia’s grandma’s older sister) once again boys…Im sorry…Anyhow, if you allow them to wash you, you must tip them;)

It’s a pretty awesome way to spend a day in Cartagena if you find yourself there;)

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Cartagena, Colombia, massage, mud, mud volcano, see the world, south America, travel, volcano, volcán, Volcán de Lodo El Totumo | 4 Comments

Vamos a La Paz, Bolivia!!!

Posted on April 2, 2014 by valarieivester

Fresh off the plane and standing outside the airport as we have done several times now, the first 5 minutes of every city has felt the same, anxiety so high its hard to breathe, the absurd feeling of being completely naked allthough I have everything I own strapped to my back, and the look Jorgie and I give each other right before we step out of the safety of an airport and out into the open hoping all the planning we have done in books and on the Internet was going to match what was in front of us….this first 5 minutes we feel the most vulnerable and lean on each other incredibly. It’s funny how quickly we have learned and adjusted who is better at what. As quickly as those first 5 minutes start….they fade. Each city has brought us incredible blessings and La Paz was no different. At first glance, La Paz is slightly scary. Gone are the big high rises of Buenos Aires, the afternoon window shoppers of Mendoza. They are replaced with a much poorer looking city with a people that are dressed in garb I wouldn’t of imaged. But of all the cities so far…La Paz, Bolivia would be the place I would recommend people to as a whole;) Let me show you why…..

The people of La Paz are ones that have held on to long practiced traditions and haven’t conformed too much. This single thing alone makes a visit here feel like your in another world completely.

La Paz is roughly 11,975 feet above sea level. That means a very light headed, nauseous, “I can’t breathe”, Val. 😉
At this elevation, the air is so thin that it is recommended to take it easy the first couple days until you adjust to it. They have a “local ” cure for altitude sickness, COCA TEA! This simple, yet effective, tea is plainly: very hot water, the coca leaves in their natural state, and sweetner if desired. These little leaves are banned in the US because these are the leaves that, along with a bunch of other chemicals, make up cocaine.
NOOOOW…. it’s extremely important to understand that these leaves are a daily staple to the Andean people and they take great offense to anyone believing that they are using a drug. They are very quick to fully explain that in their natural state they aid in altitude sickness, upset stomach, are loaded with antioxidants, and help with digestion. It is completely true that the coca leaves alone are nothing more than a leaf. You can see women and men all over the city sipping their coca teas or simply putting the raw leaves in the side of their mouth (much like tobacco dip) and chewing and ingesting the juices. We tried both of course! The tea was amazing!!! The raw leaves tastes exactly like that….like I was chewing on grass! 😉 We preferred the tea!

Don’t be alarmed if a young man with a mask walks up to you…you will see gentlemen like this guy all over the city. They are shoe shiners and cover their face because they are embarrassed that tgey aren’t in school and want no one to know their identity.

I was photo bombed by a local!!!

In La Paz do not miss the local markets that sell handcrafted goodies made by the locals here. While everything is very reasonably priced, bargaining is okay. The Witches Market are stalls upon stalls with colorful alpaca sweaters, purses, hats, gloves, and the famous toboggan (sp?). We couldn’t get enough of all the colors!

I did say this was a WITCHES MARKET😉
Here they have potions, pills, and even alpaca fetuses that will cure anything that might ale you from infertility, neck aches, back aches, impotence, and we even found a cologne makes it seem if worn your gonna have to beat the women off you with a stick!!
Jorgie eyed it for a moment….but what this place doesn’t sell is a quick nudge and a questionable look from a woman. That cures most things;) Move along buster;)

I’m not sure if this is how the outfit was supposed to come together….but he was just too happy about his hat purchase to pass this moment up without capturing it;)
Winter hat, summer tank top, basketball shorts, and flip flops?!?!
#Adorable but he still is a hot mess here;)

Like all of the cities so far…they have no shortage of beautiful churches.

Plaza Murillo has its flagship church right in he center of the plaza and it is gorgeous.

We caught some schoolboys in the plaza in an intense game of fútbol!

As we made our way to Calle Jaén the roads changed to cobblestone abd the buildings more colorful.

Calle Jaén

Keep strolling and you will run into the place were all the big decisions are made.

This plaza was COVERED with birds waiting to be fed, as the kids played with them.

CLEARLY. ..We are kids;)
(I couldn’t open my asian eyes!)

This took some time cause with all my interactions with animals, I’m TERRIFIED at first.

But soon the birds just perched on my head and we were able to get along juuuuuust fine! 😉

We called it a day and indulged in a café. Here the coffee is made with pure coffee bean extract so you have to add water to it, super strong stuff, but a fantastic way for us to end our time in La Paz!