By Vicki Barnes
The towns along the Río San Juan are rough around the edges, as one might expect in the distant frontier of a country.
Sandwiched between the river and the rainforest on land that is Nicaragua, but which in some spots is claimed by Costa Rica, it is not surprising that the residents are strong and a bit boisterous. Continue reading
Posted in All posts, Costa Rica, Destinations, Getting around, Nicaragua, Photos, Vicki "Mamita" Barnes
By Vicki Barnes
Of the things we’ve done without on our trek – television, air conditioning, telephones, washing machines – there is one thing that Steve says he misses one thing more than any of those: a hot shower.
Frankly, with temperatures in the upper 90s most days, I find a cool shower feels far more refreshing.
It is rare in a hostel to find hot water. A shower here is a place to wash off the grime you have collected during the day. It is not a place to luxuriate under a cascade of warmth.
It is not just hostels where hot water is difficult to find, most of the residents in Central America can not afford a water heater for their home, much less the electricity necessary to heat that cylinder of water and to maintain it at a high temperature. Continue reading
Posted in All posts, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Photos, Safety, Vicki "Mamita" Barnes
By Vicki Barnes
It’s amazing that I have seen anything in Nicaragua.
Walking through town, one hops from sidewalk to street and back, depending on traffic, the placement of impromptu stores or where a group has gathered for a chat. Cars are sometimes parked on the sidewalk while the streets are clear.
A walk becomes a dance…a precarious one. Moving both forward and sideways simultaneously. Jumping while moving ahead. Stopping and going to the side…all at once.
All the while, there are hazards like this three foot deep hole, unmarked and without warning. You have to be prepared for these extra dancers on the way while still keeping an eye on the world around you.
Posted in All posts, Nicaragua, Photos, Safety, Vicki "Mamita" Barnes
By Vicki Barnes
One of the best ways to experience the city of Granada in Nicaragua is to get high.
High, that is, above the city in the bell tower of the Iglesia La Merced.
The view of the cathedral from the bell tower at Iglesia La Merced
The iconic church, just a few blocks from the central park, is a beautiful spot to see at ground level, but when you change your perspective, it becomes an even more amazing trip.
Only about six stories high, the observation platform is high enough in a city where only the churches rise above two stories. From the vantage point near the top of the bell tower, you can see the surrounding volcanoes, the central square and cathedral, Lake Nicaragua and every red tiled roof in the city. (It’s fun to try to guess under which roof you are sleeping that night as they are identical.) Continue reading
Posted in All posts, Budget, Destinations, Granada, Nicaragua, Photos, Vicki "Mamita" Barnes
By Vicki Barnes
When someone asks if you want to go swimming in the crater of a volcano, you’ll probably think they’ve lost their mind.
If the volcano is Apayo, a half an hour car ride from Granada, Nicaragua, you should immediately take them up on their offer. This volcano is practically extinct.
The last time it erupted was well before the current age, though there is still an active fumarole (an opening in the earth that emits steam and gas) on the western side of the crater, which means it is only sleeping – sleeping very deeply. Continue reading
This guy is not picking through the trash outside the bus station. He’s sorting through the packages that have been shipped to town via bus. In a country with few street names and no addresses, packages are usually taken from place to place in the cargo areas of the ever-moving buses. For example, if I wanted to send a birthday present to my Tio Juan in Pinas Blancas, I would take my box, marked with his name and the city to the main bus stop here and put it on the bus. He would go to the main bus stop in his town, show his ID and pick it up. Not as simple as taking it to the post office in the US, but certainly effective. I don’t believe that the packages are guaranteed to arrive undamaged – or to arrive at all.
Posted in All posts, Costa Rica, Photos, Vicki "Mamita" Barnes
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Our Great Loop Boat Trip 2014-2015
Sustainably South is a bicycle tour from San Diego California, to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brasil. Along the way we will be hoping to promote things we find important such as bicycling, farming, and preserving natural environments. The bicycle will provide us an economical and environmentally friendly means of transportation for this journey.
Two travelers - with more time than money - show you how to explore the world on a shoestring
Photos and thoughts from along my way
