About This Blog

Here's a little overview to how this blog got started.

I am currently taking an online graduate course on mobile learning.  Since I went to Costa Rica for one of the weeks during this class, my "homework" was to maintain a blog throughout the trip.  For my final project I will be creating an iTunes U course on blogging on an iPad, so since I was going to be out of the country with limited internet access this past week, Luci (my professor) and I decided that I could blog for the week while I was in Costa Rica.

My final project will be about blogging with Google’s Blogger, so it only seemed appropriate that I use the Blogger app on the trip.  With this app I was able to write posts with no internet access, then when it was available I could upload my posts. This worked great.  Many times I found myself in the car or waiting for something, so I was able to write, then post once I found wifi.  

This first thing I noticed, perhaps it’s because I haven’t traveled too much in the past two years, was that it seemed like every third person I came across in the airport was on an iPad.  All I could think was how much Apple was making for all the people using one.  To no surprise, all kinds of people were using one- grandmothers to little kids, and all types of nationalities, no one seemed excluded.  

In Costa Rica everyone had some sort of mobile device.  The daring motorcyclist had them tucked up in their helmets, students walked alongside the roads oblivious to the speeding cars, men rode their dancing horses with one hand on the phone one hand on the reins, and the women selling items roadside all seemed to be caught up in some dynamic conversation. While most people had phones, I didn’t really see a lot of smart phones.  Most people I talked with did not have phone plans, like we have here in the states, instead they used a charge card for minutes, which I didn’t realize could also be used for data too.

Writing long blog posts on a phone isn’t the easiest thing to do.  I tried Suri, but since it only works when you have internet access, I found myself mostly typing them up.  I also found myself having to decide if I would take a picture with my phone or my camera, since I could only post from my phone.  After a couple days I figured out a system that worked best.  Since everyone seemed to have a phone in hand, I found it was nicer to use the phone when I was in places filled with people, because tended to stand out less using my phone vs. my camera.  I found it also interesting that when I had people take pictures of us, they had no trouble knowing how to the phone, but the camera was much tricker for them.

From my posts you can see I used the Pic Collage app a couple times.  It was fun to create the collages, since the app doesn’t need the internet, I could create them anywhere, which I found myself doing twice on the beach.  I tried posting a couple movies, but they ended up taking so long or kept failing, that eventually I gave up.  I used the Aviary app a couple time to crop or clean up some photos, again an app that doesn’t need internet access.

All the places we stayed had free wifi, but all were spotty and we competed with all the others trying to access it.  It certainly made me appreciate access here more.  You don’t realize how much you use your phone until you’re forced into not having it.  There were countless times we would come across things like the fields of hanging fruits, odd white pumpkins, or strange spiky crops that we wished we could look it up.  We had a running joke that we add it to the “Google it later list”.  The one piece of technology we couldn't have done without, was our GPS.  If you ever decide to drive in Costa Rica, first you need nerves of steel and second you need a GPS.  There are no road signs.  The landmarks people use for directions are not updated, so their reference might have been washed away during the rainy season- not too reliable.  

I’ll admit I had a great time blogging.  I certainly had to make the time to do it, it was fun and now I’ll mostly blog again when I travel.  While it wasn’t the easiest thing to do on a phone, it was definitely doable.  I had contemplated taking my iPad, but very glad I didn’t in the end.  The phone was certainly easier to manage and less conspicuous.  This experience certainly gave me some good ideas and insight to my final project.

As they say in Costa Rica “Pura Vida”.

End of Vacation

Wow- what an adventure is has been. Leaving Playa Samara we drove seven hours back to Escazu. With the support of our dependable (yet moody at times) GPS, we stopped along the way in the little town of Los Juntas for lunch. In no rush to get back, we also stopped at a tiny protected beach, where encountered a troop of howler monkeys.

Driving back through the twisty mountains, we darted past tractors struggling up the roads filled with heavy loads, held our breath as we watched even more daring drivers try to pull a double pass (a car passing a truck, passing a trailer). If you like speed racing driving, than these roads are for you.

I was quite expressed with Lorraine's driving, although I was white knuckled sometimes, we made it through with only one scratch on the car. (The scratched happened the first day, pulling into Lisa's carport- thank goodness for full coverage.)

Back at Lisa's in Escazu we had a nice little dinner at home. Her neighbor Diane a fellow international teacher from South Dakota, made us yummy traditional Costa Rican fried plantains. We relaxed that evening, hanging out with her dog Gabby, a schnauzer-westie mix, who was successfully fighting the never ending onslaught of flees.

The next morning we had a couple hours to spare, so we headed to downtown San Jose. Parking consists of paying a random guy to "watch" your car, although he might not be the same one when you get back, so you have to convince him you already paid. We stopped at a market filled with Costa Rican traditional items perfect for the tourist. After dropping our now very dirty rental car off, we headed to the airport and off to Houston, with another 12 hour layover.

Now in Cleaveland, with a possible delay, we are officially back in the cold. We met our frosty breath as we exited the airplane. Now it time for a couple laps in the airport, one last cervaza and tomorrow it's officially back to the grind.

Playa Carrilo

Today we drove 7 kilometers to another nearby beach- our beach day #2. This quiet, blue water beach, sits nestled in a mile cove. Surrounded by palms, the breakwater exploded upon the reef, making for a strong rip tide. As high tide started making its crawl up the beach, our time spent playing in the warm water, ended with bathing suits filled with black volcanic sands.

A normal beach day, Lorraine and I can sit quite content for many hours on a beach. Unfortunately this sun has won. After two hours we needed to go back home, rinse the accumulated salty-sands from our bodies, re-apply sunscreen, then try it again.

Knowing this time we wanted shade, we opted for two beach chairs, an umbrella, and a bucket of cervezas. Although not as tranquil as Playa Carrillo, we were quite content with this next spot.

Just to top off our day so far, a herd of wild horses, meandered down the beach. Leisurely taking their time, with no fear, they trotted beach side, showing their foal the way of the land.

Back once again to rise off the ocean, it's time for a little siesta, well American style- a book to read, rum & juice, and our view with a breeze.

Destination #4- Playa Samara.

After a quick stroll on the beach we jumped in the car and headed off to Playa Samara- another beach on the pacific coast line. Thinking we cut some diving time down, we decided we'd take the 17 kilometer dirt road that cut diagonal across.

Our little Toyota Yaris got a good workout in the shocks- apparently they don't grate their roads here. Our car rattled so much we thought our fillings would come loose. Didn't seem to be a problem for the local drivers, as they sped past us, kicking up red dust, that threatened our visibility just as much as the fog on the road to La Fortuna.

One and 1/2 hours later we arrived in Playa Samara. Even more laid back than Tamarindo, this very safe little beach town gives the impression that life is just meant to be loved, cherished, and sun kissed.

Sunset

Is that mine?

Playa Tamarindo

It's the dry season for sure, everything is coated in a layer of red dust. Playa Tamarindo seems quiet right now, the beaches aren't crowded, but the surf is still rolling. Our hostel is cute. Tucked off the main strip, on a short dirt road, it sits far enough to feel peaceful, yet close for quick walks to the beach.

Life here is "pura vida"- full of life or this is living. Nobody is in a rush, stressed or worried about time. If you want to relax, you come here. My stress knots from the road over here went away with the setting sun. I can see why people come and tend to stay just a bit longer.

We rented an umbrella and two beach chairs for some quality beach time- a very good idea as the equator sun would have quickly burn our pale winter skin. After much compilation, I decided to purchase a sun hat. I had one packed for the trip but took it out in the end thinking I'd save room. As a hat wearer and should have known better.

The sun rises and set at 6:00 every day, no deviation. Time now to grab a couple cervezas and head to the beach for sunset- Edwardo said we could have our chairs back.

Off to the ocean!

Zip lines, thermal hot springs, and night out with the locals dancing certainly made for a fun filled, packed day and evening. Then incredibly I ran into a friend who was traveling from Arizona, it's such a small world.

With no time to spare we headed out to Playa Tamarindo on the pacific side. The road around the volcanos was another twisty adventure. With barely enough room for two cars, we had to share the ride with tractor trailers and zooming tour busses. Fortunately though they have been clearing the sides of the roads to keep the forest from taking over, but unfortunately they were doing it with hand held weed-wackers- what a never ending job, by the time you'd get to the end you'd have to start all over. Along the way we spotted group of coatis (a member of the raccoon family) who had come down from the trees to feed. Four hours later we arrived in Tamarindo just as the sun was setting over the ocean.

Horse Festival

We were fortunate this weekend in La Fortuna it is their local bi-annual festival. We watched spectacular dancing horses, trotting up and down the street, prancing with pride as they kept beat to locals singing typical Costa Rican tunes.

La Fortuna

After waiting in 45 minutes of traffic it was a leisurely, yet stressful winding tour. A quick pit stop in Sarchi, home of the painted carts, we arrived five hours later in La Fortuna. Our evening consisted of dinner and the local marching band competition. We just arrived back from zip lining through the rainforest. The 11 zip lines brought us through the canopy over waterfalls and rivers. The longest one was 950 meters, the fastest one had us zooming along at 40 miles per hour.

Our hostel is laid back and lots of friendly travelers, all here for some adventure and volcano sight seeing, although the volcano stop erupting a couple years ago.

San Jose- Escazu

Landing in San Jose around 3:00, we caught a bus to go pick up our rental car. GPS loaded we headed out into 5:00 PM San Jose traffic to Escazu to Lisa's house. After a white knuckled drive, where motorcycles shimmy through the cars, shoulders are non-existent, street signs are far and few between, and everyone has the right of way, we almost made it to Lisa's.

Almost because we had to ask directions from a very nice "Tico" (Costa Rican) as we were looking for a pink gate that had just been repainted orange. After 30 minutes we finally figured it out and arrived at Lisa's lush tropical apartments, hidden behind pink flowers- and an orange gate.

That evening we headed out to her friends apartment that over looked sparkling San Jose. After meeting many of the teachers at Lisa's international school, where she teaches high school history, we caught a bite to eat at Laly- a local hot spot for cervezas and a good cheap meal.

Huston

Patiently waiting in GW-Houston, getting some interesting people watching done, and listening to country music...

Burlington International

To no real surprise the flight is delayed, but not because of Burlington, the plane is late from Cleveland. Only 45 minutes... so far.

One day to go!

With a snowstorm coming in last night, I found myself out shoveling before the sun had crept up over the mountainside. While my body was trying to keep warm against the early morning chill, my mind was drifting to the sunny days that await in the very near future.  Soon this white landscape would be replaced with spewing volcanic lava, howling monkeys, and sparkling beaches.