White picket fence

my white picket fence right now: 

having the time of my life, enjoying the company of a good friend who is letting me crash on top a mattress in his living room, in an apartment on the beach in Nicaragua. hitching a ride to the beach is t

he only thing I have planned for tomorrow. eating rice bowls with soy meat, fresh avocado y veg- from the market I walked through on my way home from working at a surf shop all day. Falling asleep to Serge Gainsbourg :) bueno.

 — at Jason's living room .

Vacation from my Vacation, dia 5

30/11/12

Woke up @730, having slept 15 hours.  My head still has the lingering effects from yesterday but "Today is going to be a great day!"

Currently sitting in my private hammock on the porch of my bungalow- this place is beautiful, and my room key is a carved wooden guitar- bungalow 8...

...going to get coffee and explore...

-1415ish, we are laying out on the beach  next to our rented boards, watching the water and kids skin boarding...I am completely bruised on my hip bones from the board, it has been suck a killer day tho!!

Add caption

Met up with a friend I met on the Ticubus en route to San Salvador a few days ago, and moved to her hostel- El Tunco Lodge.  Decided to stay another night so I went down to the Ticabus office and pushed back my bus to Monday since I do not have to work until Tuesday morning... the new hostel is sweet- has a pool and parties...can't wait and now I feel less rushed.... :)X100.

El Tunco Lodge 

Vacation from my Vacation, Dia 4

29/11/12

En route to El Tunco, too. many. cervesas. last night...oooooooccccccccchhhhhhhhh

We are just leaving town- I swear I just saw someone buy goldfish from a man on a curb with a bucket.  I have 11.5 quin left- someone said that the border was $6.  So I should be fine.  Last night I went w/my three  room-mates to "Cafe No Se"...I now am the biggest fan of Serge Gainsbourg...and it was awesome.

view of the volcano just outside Antigua

1118, la frontera...this drive has been absolutely miserable for me...my head is spinning and the driver of the van keeps telling me to put rubbing alcohol on my head and stomach ..right...I just want a bed and pupusas- and Tylenol.

-The trees here at the El Salvador border look as if the roots were the branches, as if they are growing backwards...


I had to ask the cab driver to pull over at one point in El Salvador because the winding roads through the hills + the driver's speed + my stomach + the back seat of a van, I just couldn't take it.  Got sick, stomach is better but migraine is in full throttle.  We arrived to El Tunco at sometime in the afternoon, I think around 2 or 3.  All the hostels were full and I was feeling like death so I just walked into this one with music notes on the gate- that's all I can remember, $15 a night for a private bungalow but at that point I could care less...

-It's actually really nice...put my stuff down, went around the corner, got pupusas to go, came back, barely ate one, and went to sleep.

La Guitarra, the place I ended up for the night

Vacation from my Vacation, Dia 3

28/11/12

-Slept very well besides the sad dreams (having dried tears on my cheers this morning)...had cafe, fruita y pan for breakfast.  Good chat with people at the hostel about travels.  Planned my trip to Antigua (Guatemala) for the day and one night and then on to El Tunco (El Salvador) to meet up with a friend I met on the bus up here.

-On a Chicken bus to Antigua (about 45 min) & 10 quin.  Plan to wander, see museums, churches, etc.  Marcos at the hostel drew me a map and listed out places to go and to eat.  This bus is bumpy but I have the front seat, next to the sweetest looking abuelo.


1358, got to town, beautiful.  Checked into The Black Cat Hostel, then went to make sure my reservation for tomorrow with the van was all good.  Bueno.  Sitting at a little cafe waiting for lunch.  Once again a cute little abuelo was very helpful with directions and planning out my dia on the map.   Stoked to leave here and explore.

the pictures taken were so many its easier to view them here

-1535, only 330 and I've walked a great bit around the city.  Through churches, the ruins, the Jade museum, down hidden alleyways, explored and saw some of the most amazing architecture.  There was this one church that I believe was destroyed by an earthquake in 1728, it was the perfect example of architectural beauty.  As id everything beautiful that could be was sculpted onto the concrete medium.  I- for the 'first' time in this adventure- had my breath taken away.  My college professor, Burt Stout would have loved to see this.*  The workers allowed me to go inside and see the structure further.  Oh and the church that is nicknamed, 'The Wedding Cake' church  is magnificent.  It lives up to its name; the Jade museum was interesting...got to see workers clean and sand down the gemstone...

-The sky is gray yet the city's architecture and breath of life is as glowing as the sun itself.

-I am truly happy I came here even if it is only for one day.

1723, I just took a hot shower, sound-tracked to my 2 French roommates and their guitars just outside the little bathroom window playing a gypsy melody...amazing...

- I feel alive....red wine shared by a new friend from Israel...2 french men playing guitar...and a Guatemalan night....this boy from Arkansas has joined our small kiva...his voice and guitar is on the loud side of the mood for the evening, but my plastic cup of vino just got refilled so I could care less....I want to capture this circus of rhythm and sound...

Note to self: Just remember to wake up tomorrow morning...

For all pics from this day click here

Vacation away from my Vacation, Dia 2

27/11/12

It's 520 and I got a knock on my door @440...was sleeping so well...boarded the bus and we're on our way...

"Daily horoscope: Just be who you are and continue to prove that you are responsible; Actions speak louder that words"

827 am.   Went through the Guatemalan border, beautiful stamp...this bus is so cold you can write messages in your breath on the window...Bought 3 pupusas (my favorite food right now) for $1, stoked.


I just finished reading, 'Water for Chocolate' by Laura Esquivel, and though the recipes and home remedies throughout the book were interesting- I'm not one for such tragedy-even with love stories.  I'd rather escape in my thoughts to science fiction, or dragons, or magic.

-The bus window is warm to the touch and the sky is as blue as a robins egg.  The mountains look as green as fresh cut grass in the morning- we are driving through beautiful Guatemala :)

It is as though the city is in a valley surrounded by volcanoes...

Ah I just saw an IHOP.

Note: the currency here in Guatemala is quetzal

Arrived to Guatemala City, had a nice woman pick me up and drive me to the hostel.  Quetzalroo.

Ok so its 1306, I walked to the mall (in Guatemala City), and I am shocked at how this mall trumps any mall I have seen in the US.  I live in Nicaragua and currently feel like a hobo.  Stores that are the most expensive in the world must be here.  People are walking around in designer outfits, pouring wine at tables in the food court, each food stop in the food court has its own individual wifi connections, I just feel uncomfortable.  Even the cleaning ladies were re-applying makeup in the futuristic bathrooms.  I got miso soup for $3 and think I will stick with street food/local food from now on.  My hostel, Quetzalroo is nice, but too pricey for me- maybe stay 1 night, find the  market myself, take a hot shower, have a beer, and head to Antigua and on to El Salvador.  Whatever makes me happy- but this mall is the epitome of why I live in simple Nicaragua.

Ok, its after 6.  There was no sunset here like in Nicaragua.  The second I left the fancy mall I caught a cab and went to the Historic market.  There was a square where they had set up ice skating, rides, etc; surrounding the square was a palace, an enormous church, and the market.  I got some pictures...children were chasing pigeons and the streets were packed.  

The market was filled with street vendors selling everything from street food to mice to clothing.  There were layers of markets too- the slightly underground one was the most colorful.  I took soo many pictures, bought some gifts...had a churro thing, and fruit with ice and syrup...spent about 4 hours there just getting lost on purpose.

Cabbed it back.  Had a difficult time with a man at a tienda and my attempt in buying soup...350 doesn't mean three hundred and fifty, it means 3.50...don't want to re-live this lower level of brain again... Anyways, having soup and bread with water, catching up on my journal, going to edit my photos, start a new book, and pass out.  PS, I got to take a hot shower.

Vacation away from my Vacation, Dia 1

Sometimes things get to you and can be too much.  Whether it be stress, people, stress and people, small town syndrome, too many noises, whatever it may be you know when you need a break.  I am not the type to mill around and plan; If I'm hungry- I eat, when I have an itch- I scratch it.

I decided to grab some new passport stamps and take a week-ish escape up to Guatemala (through a bit of Honduras and come back down via the coast of El Salvador/the coast, and then back home.  My journey began on Monday November 26th, 2012.  I keep a journal and an "electric notepad of my thoughts", so my transcribed events are a jumble of my notes, thoughts, typed, and written.  enjoy.

note from a beautiful chica the night before I left, lifts me up.

26/11/2012
"It's exactly 445 am as I walk through the silent town of San Juan del Sur.  All I see are cats and sleeping quitadors...note that the direct express bus at 5 doesn't make stops like I was told, so I will be arriving in Managua 2 hours early.  Oh well I have absolutely no problem sleeping anywhere at the moment.  Note: get off at the Movistar stop in Managua, its only a 50 cord cab ride from there to Ticabus :)"

"I am hoping that good news comes early for me and that the black cat that walked parallel to me on my way here and never crossed my path means so.  Decided to let James Taylor guide my mind in the darkness of this morning bus ride...'Carolina in My Mind' playing en route to Managua, Nicaragua..."

8am, arrived at Ticabus station in Managua.  Got the seat in the back left corner of the express bus from town here, I slept ok but when I awoke the bus had become an oven that was stuffed full of people.  Anyone claustrophobic would have lost it.  I had the feeling of lack of oxygen sitting at the window seat.

Damn I forgot my sunglasses.

Again I am mad early so I'm going to be waiting a while.

Conversation with brother on text while waiting at bus terminal in Managua:
"Me: wearing sanuks, spandex pants and a humane society tee at a bus terminal in route to Guatemala:) but I'm happy

B: Wearing khakis and a button down polo in a cubicle 23 floors up in a high ride downtown"

1115, depart for San Salvador, 3 hours until la frontera de Honduras.

Border was boring, took a picture.


Driving for 2 hours through some country.  Roads aren't so nice, lots of nothing, just green mountains.

1733 arrived at the border of El Salvador.  I just want some street food which I see everywhere but I am only carrying $11 U.S. and change in cordobas.

1908, I can't begin to write the bus is rocking and bumping; my coffee is going everywhere.

We just pulled beside a Burger King.  Its just surreal that this morning it was street cats and horse and buggy, and now its El Salvador where they've adopted the US currency and I look outside my window at a fast food joint.

2235, we arrived @ San Carlos, which is a (bad area of town) and a girl from Costa is traveling to Guatemala City also so we've stuck together.  This Ticabus hotel is pretty horrid  ha I can only imagine Mom taking one look at the area, let alone the room I am staying in and freaking out.  It's $12 a night, and my toilet / hose shower is directly beside my bed.  Passing out and setting my alarm for 515.

Note: I thought seeing all the fast food places, and shiny billboards, and malls/shops in new stucco buildings would make me so happy- yet living in a town where there is a 60/40 taxi/horse and buggy ratio- I already miss the simplicity...maybe its not simplicity but the less interest/fascination with $$$money-everywhere I look I see money signs/prices/amounts- life isn't about what you don't have and need...its about making the best of what you do have and being happy.

-night

I got a little bit of the "itch"

5 Countries in 7 days (technically 3 days, and including Costa and Nicaragua)

Totally embarking on a mini solo adventure.  I mentioned earlier in my blog about wanting to travel up to Guatemala City, down the coast of El Salvador, and through Honduras, doing it- leave Monday morning on a bus from town at 5 am.  Sometimes you need to give yourself a breather, yea I will be going through borders, and traveling quite a lot, but the escape, the adventure, the new people, everything will be worth it.

The great thing about this trip (and to be honest the past day or so) is that I've felt inspired to write in my journals and my blog. I am excited to clear my mind and write about the coming week.

Quoting a great friend a second after I expressed this to him, "ah you got the itch, now you gotta scratch it"-Jason O.

“It seemed an advantage to be traveling alone. Our responses to the world are crucially molded by the company we keep, for we temper our curiosity to fit in with the expectations of others...Being closely observed by a companion can also inhibit our observation of others; then, too, we may become caught up in adjusting ourselves to the companion's questions and remarks, or feel the need to make ourselves seem more normal than is good for our curiosity.” 

― Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel

Border Run 1

An excerpt from my digital journal: "Border run; passing volcanoes and wind turbines, 'Gagnam Style' is playing on the cabbie's stereo as we come up upon the miles of semi trucks and la frontiera, this is Nicaragua." 

My 90 days allotted by the Nicaraguan customs has expired so my friend and I ventured off to do the typical "visa run" this morning.  I am still amazed every time I pass by the volcanoes Concepción y Maderas.  Whether it be on the road to Rivas or to la frontiera.  This is a picture from the back seat of the cab...

There are maybe a hundred wind turbines around this area also.  I ♥ the juxtaposition.

So the border situation was nothing fun.  We were heckled left and right, front and back.  To be honest it really is best to play "dumb tourist" at times like this, at least when you're dealing with the policia and border people.  To put a long story short, we made it through with a group of men who I guess were there to assist us with the things I believe we could have just done ourselves- EXCEPT for the part where we were supposed to stay in Costa Rica for a minimum of 8 hours (so said one officer).  We waited for-ev-er (at least 2 hours) and got our stamps leaving Nicaragua, stamps for entering Costa Rica, then our stamps for exiting Costa Rica, and finally (with the help from our original guys/amigos/?) we got our stamps back into Nicaragua.  Paid some people off, I smiled* a bit, and after about 4 hours we were back home in San Juan del Sur.  Grabbed some gallo pinto and a bottle of coca cola and took a breather.

Simply Roasted Corn

There are soo many types of street food found here in the streets, corners, most everywhere in Nicaragua.  I am currently collecting images and all the data I can to blog one big blog on street food  here.  But for now here is one to share- this goes along with the previous blog about sitting on the chicken bus in Rivas waiting for it to fill with people on our route home.  Simply roasted corn.  I have no idea what its called (yet) besides the Spanish word for corn: maize.  I believe I paid 5 córdobas for one ear of corn.  The old grandma selling it from a bucket handed it to me just as-is in the photo.  It had a barely-cooked but still sweet texture to it, and really gave me something to do for about 10 minutes, ha.

But what made me want to get this in the first place was this little girl, learning against some crates and dusty Pepsi bottles........

There are some images in this world that are wordless, and priceless, I believe I captured one of the rare few.