CR # - THE END

This is the last journal – for those that enjoyed, I am glad – I really enjoyed documenting this very MEMORABLE time in my life! UNFORGETTABLE….

For those that didn’t – too bad! J

HIGHLIGHTS

Favorite Couple – Lucie and Jacque from Montreal

         Y: nuff wisdom to share in their 26 years of marriage

Favorite Chicas – Mindy, Laurie, Hannah & Lenora

         Y: we all just clicked from the get go…all have spicy personalities…

Favorite Teacher – Sylvia

         Y: Fun, outgoing and shoot straight from the hip

Favorite class – Paula (week 4&5 teacher)

         Y: we spoke about every topic under the sun – loved the interaction

Favorite Restaurant – Mama’s

         Y: Nice mix of Spanish / Caribbean food

Favorite Trip – Monteverde / Arenal

         Y: anyting extreme and sporty – sweet mi

Favorite Experience – My Tica Family

         Y: wonderful to observe a happy union / family in operation daily

Funniest moment – cena con un tico

         Y: dime que puedo comer

(OK OK en ingles – I went to have dinner with a tico and you all know how I LOVE food and can eat nuff….welll – di bredda tell mi – for him, normally when he goes out with a girl – he expects to eat at least 40% of what is on HER plate b/c girls don’t normally finish their food…HOWEVER – that nite – he learnt another lesson…DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS! I laugh so till – as I look down at my VERY VERY VERY empty plate (I mean it clean u nuh– not a roll or rice grain leave) (HEY – it was sushi – who can’t eat 16 rolls AT LEAST??? He was in shock I could eat so much and not be una gordita and I was falling off my chair with laughter – I AM PROUD OF MY EATING ABILITIES ACTAULLY! J - BUT!!! - what got him the MOST – was when I suggested ice cream afta! LAWD A MACY!! – him eye dem go fi fall outta him ‘ead!

 

ANYWHO FOLKS – time has come to wrap this great experience up…thrilled I did it and enjoyed sharing it…

Muchos abrazos y besos and I will catch you on the next RITA EXPLORATION!!! Where in the world next – who knows – Dubai? Australia? Cuba? Dom Rep? Espana? Africa? Thailand?...– endless possibilities man!

PAZ Y AMOR!!

XXXXOOOO

CR #10 - Nicaragua Trip

We were in the bus a total of 12 hours before we got ot our final destination….HOWEVER – the worst part of the journey TO Nicaragua was the border (la frontera) between CR and Nic. – have mercy – worse dan any government / immigration line in JA…for 2 (TWO) @#$%^&*()_ HOURS we stood in line outside a ole bruk building to get entry….then we had 4 more checkpoints in the road with police with big guns…one man was in the building stamping our passports – ONE MAN and the line is wrapping around the building…there are men with huge wads of money walking around if u need to change out – but we are warned dem will short change u so better to wait….let me tell u – we were steaming…hot wid heat, impatience and WHY DIDN’T ANY BODY WARN US!!! Anyway –we get over it and drive 2 more hours before we arrive at our hostel…I never knew we were staying in a hostel..di guide tell me – oh we staying in a nice villa which sleeps 10 YA YAYAYAYA….

Being checked at the border

Oh and when u finally drive across the border – they spray ur car with some sort of fumes – I don’t even know what (to get rid of any germs we may be bringing)– like a cleansing (set up like a car wash) b4 u enter dem country…very odd!!

First impression driving thru - I like what I see A LOT – 

very quaint..yes – see the poverty – but lots of old buildings and character…may remind u of an old European town..cute…I love their doors…not like Heredia with nuff grill and bab wire…oversized and colorful front doors with ‘deep’ houses….love the colors…bold / bright.

Now folks – by NO MEANS am I high maintenance…I can rough it like any soldja right…I do have issue with sharing intimate quarters with strangers however….so we arrive and the first sign at the hotel I see is one warning of water and light lock offs – and a WELCOME TO THE 3^rd WORLD at the end…ATL – u wouldn’t have been happy AT ALL!!! (LOL)

DI BEST SIGN!!!

Di ‘villa’ is a converted house that sleeps like a dorm set up…10 bunk beds in one room…I never did the college campus thing or back packed thru Europe – so this is new to rita…OH BOY!!

I choose my bunk bed – bottom bunk…was closest to the door and a fan beside it…they have beautiful wooden lockers for ur tings…we off load and cause it so late and we hungry – we rush out to eat…no restaurant is open at 10:30p so the guide tell us he knows of a spot….MEMBA MI TELL U – jerry (guide) heard some CHOICE words when he rolled us into ON THE RUN for our dinner….(yes – on the run – as in ur local gas station mart) – well  - when hunga a bite u and di option dem is 0…. I have to wait because they obviously serve locals first…hmmm – by pass u without a thought…we not the only ones with C/S (customer service) issues – anyway I box off a chiken sandwich and the younguns say they want to go out…I need a drink after 12 hours in di damn bus so I head out…

YEP! this was dinner...ON THE RUN gas station

My bunk in hostel...

Now the mix this trip is – about younguns 6 people (between 18-24), me and the rest are 45 +….interesting mix and very interesting conversations and perspectives…WISDOM and EXPERIENCE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING eh????....

Outing at a local hang out spot

We get to a hot likle spot with a live band…the locals clearly love this place – we observe the dancing and get some drinks….they start to play a likkle token reaggae and the crowd is excited…sean paul, beanie man and buju 
belt out some tunes…I have noticed that the men aren’t aware of WHAT reggae dances men must not do….get a good laugh and head home early…jump in the communal shower, slippers and all at about 1am – when no one is around…there are 2 showers to share – one is fairly wide open (cant take much with u) and one is an enclosed bath…first nite I have to use the open one…see me juggling all mi toiletries and nightie ….FUN!! quite the experience…

amazing crater!

Next morning we head out for a tour – eat some yucky breakfast and got the masayan volcano….jerry never told rita to bring hiking shoes or sneakers – I brought flip flops and light nonhiking shoes…anyway – NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HIKE AND SEE A CAVE in slippers…di trail dem come een like Mountain Spring…my feet weren’t my own when I done. But what a great national park – beautiful craters…about 5 in there and caves…basic but educational and quite a leg work out…learn more bout di history of volcano and caves and bats and BLAH BLAH BALHhhh…the volcano actually remnds me of the movie apocolypto (which I watched in spanisH)…J - mouth of hell they called the volcano and sacrificed maidens and children back in the day..

Bats in the cave...

We leave there and head for lunch…then we get to visit the local market…lots of goodies are purchased cause DEM CHEAP AS HELL!!!

Hiking to caves

Dinner that nite was at a Mexican restaurant – wait time is 1hour…OH JOY!! Not in mood to party – the young folks go (HAHHA! LOL) – I head to bed for a good nite’s rest…

The hostel is comfy with a pool, lots of hammocks etc…cosy spot to chill in….IN am – we head to a boat tour on the Granada lake…there are 365 small islands that were formed from the eruption of a near by volcano – some folks have gorgeous holiday homes there…we get to faaass in one – really pretty…

VERY friendly monkey came on our boat

Highlight of that was a monkey boarding our boat and hugging up some of our passengers – NOT ME THANK GOD! He cute and ting - touched me ever so gently– but di hug up ting – I wasn’t really feeling it…

We eat and then head out to do a city tour – dem put us on some horse drawn carriages which I feel guilty to ride on because di horse dem need some HAY & a burger BADLY – mawga so tilll! Pobrecitos! Of course they are not treated right either but are expected to perform…cho!

Entry to hostel

We learn some tings and get to explore tha city a likkle…I really like Nicaragua and am glad I came….they are one of the poorest countries yes but the people are very warm.

That nite we eat at un restaruante de espana – la comida es muy rica… we have some VERY interesting conversations and are serenaded by a local singer…

We make our way back on Monday – same drama at border but looking forward to getting home…made some good connections with the students  - great bunch of folks.

BATA a Nicaragua !!!

We say our goodbyes and plan a reunion…of course – IN JA!! J

Most interesting question I received: “so where did u learn to speak english?”…..uhhhh ????– I respond as nicely as I can – ‘actually, we speak english in JA’…embarrassed – the person apologizes for not having a clue about our little island….i invite her to visit and learn! J

I also realize I don’t have much tolerance for folks that dont bathe often or don’t smell good….i know it’s not nice – but how can u be in the sun hot and dusty place and don’t bathe??? And den wear di same clothes 3 days in a row den change up and DON’T BATHE???? Jus nasty if u ask me….green arm in a bus – tenk goodness I had a window seat! J

Side note -

pool at our hostel

There is a very interesting documentary on JA that I managed to catch – never heard of it before….Life & Debt (talks about JA in the 70’s / 80’s) – quite interesting…

Recommended read – “Measure of a Man” – Autobiography by Sidney Poitier…very interesting life journey!

I have had my fill of bus rides!

what more could i want? a cervesa &
a hammock -PEACE!

I am so grateful I was not robbed or didn’t get sick there….lots of students were targeted in heredia and I am happy my angels protected me! A swiss girl that was in Nicaragua with us – she was listening to her ipod in the central park in heredia and it was snatched right out of her hand…she attempts to run di yute down and leaves her bag (with her digital camera in there) on the bench – and that too is stolen…I felt so bad for her – but they do watch u to see what u have…I made sure never to take out my gadgets in public…anyway  - she had travel insurance so they will be replaced…not her pictures of course but – betta dan nothing… pobrecita!

my horse drawn carriage....NOT! horse dem hungry :(

Mas manana...

                                                              

He was too cute not to snap! 

Sharing wid da masses

CR #9 - Visitando Limon y Puerto Viejo

  Marzo 23 (fri)…

Hey amigos!

Let’s see – what has happened since Monday…I have been to the movies, a basketball game, got my sushi fix FINALLY – was craving it soo badly! They have a really nice sushi restaurant here…YUMMY!! Gym daily etc…

School has been hard this week – un pocito frustrating – but we will see..waiting on my exam results right now soo… I hope it is good!

Caribbean Side

I am headin to the Caribbean side this weekend – Puerto Viejo y Limon (where the ja’cans settled)…the call ‘patois’ – ‘mekmitellu’ – that’s their name for the language…it is of course hilarious to hear it with di Spanish twist! Not all up to speed with our words – but close enough.

 

HOLA OTRA VEZ!

Lovely spot stayed at!

It’s late Monday 26 and I am about to knock out…had a yummy meal with Gabby – Guido gone play ball and the boys are sleeping…

My weekend was very interesting…I got to go to Limon with a local tico – always best to explore a country with the locals right! well – what an experience…the ride there was LONG…not longer than my bus rides of course..but about 2 hours…it may have taken longer because the roads are bad…and it was a car, not a truck! These people drive bad like we…de truck man dem don’t ramp on di corna dem and di taxi man dem WORSE! Dem MEAN!

I stay at a not so desirable (read – VERY CHEAP) hotel on Friday nite in limon…(CAN U SPELL – B.U.D.G.E.T.) J

get there late so it does the trick – bed and hot water – don’t need much more… in the morning… I go explore the beach that I am on and am not too excited to see it is arena negra (black sand)….well – what can I say, I am very spoilt by our white soft sandy beaches in JA! J

Puerto Viejo

I get to explore the town itself as well as a local business that will be opening up soon- providing employment to some young folks and opening up technology a bit in Limon….exciting! 

Happy for them cause Limon gets a bad rap most times….lots of crime / drugs…The owner goes between the states and JA and is just brilliant (a successful professor, biz. consultant and now entrepreneur)…he and I wrap for a bit about consulting and opportunities and I am quite happy to meet him! The few minutes I talk to this man (maybe 50 or so years old) – I am inspired by his drive and determination. He doesn’t need to work anymore – BUT he loves exploring new opportunities…and doesn’t want to stop learning…love dat!

Limon is NOT my favorite town…it is dirty, reminds me of say port royal????, a likkle pop down and don’t have a safe or good vibe there to be honest… Hmmm…anyway – good to explore other places….thru Limon and heading to Puerto Viejo, I am carried into the worst neighborhood in Limon – don’t remember the name now but is pure badness deh deh I am told!

There is a huge port in Limon and one guy apparently tried to tief some tourists off a cruise ship that were taking pictures in this bad area…well - him coulda beat himself – the tourists (some ex army guy) – hold him and beat him till him dead…OH DEAR! Then the tourist got back on the ship and left like nutting never happen…SO I AM TOLD ANYWAY!!! ….imagine if that was the estados unidos??? Hmmm…

I do like Puerto Viejo – it is a cosy beach town with lots of villas, cabins, bars and playas por supuesto (of course)…..stay at a nicer hotel than Limon and meet some cool folks on vacation…It is amazing how much it looks like ochi – vendors selling Jamaican flags and Rastafarian items….

one local – actually from Germany that visited and never left – he now makes BEAUTFUL lamps out of paper and leaves….di lamp dem pretty so till!! Too hard to travel with so I just admire…dem live very simple and sooo happy to be in dis likkle town without any stress…DATS WHAT I’M TALKIN ABOUT!

Ceviche y cervesa!

Sunday morning….on way back to heredia from PV… we stop by this GREAT location – I guess it is comparable to a Morgan’s Harbour Or a combination of Groovy Grouper (is that the name? – on doctors cave) with Lime Cay )-  but all the locals come out on a Sunday morning with family to the beach…this place is a huge restaurant / bar set up on the beach and we watched beach football (local Limon team), people eating, catching up, DJ playing..this is like midday I guess…lots of fun…my waiter trips out when he hears my accent….he switches from Spanish to ‘mekmitellu’ immediately and asks if I work on the ship …he tells me how he loves Jamaicans and knows them well from his many jobs…and of course Limon..he offers me a local magazine to keep and asks if he can join me….ah – NOT today I tell him!! A cervesa and ceviche later – I am back on the road to Heredia!

 LUNES / Monday - Today is the first day of the last week of classes here…can u believe – I have been here since 27^th of Feb! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT FOR SURE! Week 5 to rhatid! I have MY graduation on Friday! Many of the girls that hang out are also graduating so we hope to have a graduation party on Thur…I already told my teacher that my mind has moved on to what I have to do next so….I wont be here mentally much this week – and FOR SURE I am not taking any more exams….she laugh! Mi wonda if she know seh mi nah joke? J

 What a journey it has been… I missed my family and friends terribly but I am sooo grateful for this experience! I wanted to do this since college – but I don’t think I would not have been able to appreciate it as much as now…this was the perfect time in my life for this!! Got some clarity on some things…met some wonderful people – at school and of course my tico family…had some fantastic experiences and opened my mind up to endless possibilities…

Limon

Gabby told me tonite how much they are going to miss me, how special I am to them and that I can come back anytime! Mi go fi bawl!! They really are wonderful people…I am going to miss them a lot FOR SURE…who wouldn’t miss being treated like a princess DAILY??? BUT - I am ready for what is next in Rita’s Life….Great segue into Q2 of 2007!

IT’s Thursday 29….i understand why mindy had her breakdown week 4/5….i had my fill of Spanish this week..i checkout out mentally from class on Wed…brain FULLL!! So I bun school today and will also tomorrow so we can leave earlier for NIcarauga…last tour / last weekend etc…bitter sweet I suppose …

I won’t participate in graduation cause we have to leave town too early – but I got my certificate today and am excited! YEAH! School OFFICIALLY DONE!! Time fly sah..

Anyway – is bed time…write again end of week. Looking forward to the weekend – going to Nicaragua! YAHOO!!!

CR #8 - Arenal Weekend Outing

Zip lining..GORGEOUS...THRILLING!

Miercoles,14th

Head out to school, start to get news on my truck (FINALLY) and try sort dat out (it's being fixed since it got written off)...then attempt to find a place for my monthly pampering – mi tika mama gave me ‘walking’ directions to a place – dat never work out at all  - just couldn’t find it…I feel like I stick out when I walk the streets here so I am VERY aware of my surroundings…I think I look the student / foreigner part – not good in Heredia – they can mark u I guess..well un barracho (drunk man) at 4pm starts to follow me…he drunk and old so I confident I can outrun him – but I wasn’t up to it and I was in my slippers – I bolt and go back to school to find another place…by this time – YAH- I am craving a mani / pedi and wax routine! BEEN 3 WEEKS PEOPLE! insane J

So much for roughin it – I get my pampering on and am thrilled! Dinner is yummy tonite and I help Guido study for his test this week…he is learning American geography (Poor me – like I know DAT!) – I give him some study tips and a formula on how to remember the continents … we go for a walk to the bakery for some dessert…..they tell me to slow down – I walk too fast! WHAT??? U 11yr and 8 year old cant keep up with me? They double up their speed and attempt to keep up! We get some goodies and head back home…

Gabby baked me a FANTASTIC cholocate cake this week too…I wonder if I can take her back with me? Dem spoil me so till!

Bed time now – feelin sleepy!

Tmrw – another tour and then weekend suppose to tek off somewhere into di hills …MORE LATER!

OH OH OH – by di way, thanks for ALL those responses on my tattoos! HAHA – LOL! In the words of my favorite mechanic – ‘STAY CALM’ – B, in Spanish – it’s ‘TRANQUILO’!

The tattoos are real – yes, REALLY HENNAH!! (temporary paint) J I know, I know I had some of u going….forgive me – it was fun though… it has faded now – only lasts like 15 days…

Nite nite – nuff XXXXOOOO

butterfly emerging

Today is Thur…school early in the morning – then did a tour to Cateratas Paz..a Garden with some GORGEOUS but dangerous water falls, butterfly, frog and snake houses…beautiful property….we see one animal that they call pizote – look like cat family or something – WHO KNOWS??? Was nyaming up di bananas left out for birds. Someone called it a mongoose but CERTAINLY don’t look like what ‘we’ call mongoose…

Tomorrow we head out to Monteverde / Arenal area – volcano and outdoor activities…will write more afta weekend. BLESS!

Cateratas Paz

EL DOMINGO – Marzo 18

Hola ! I just got back in and unpacked! I had a fantastic weekend! Que Divertido! We left school about 1 and got to monteverde at 5pm on friday..it is a TINY TINY town that we circled on foot in bout 5 minutes…stayed in a cute little hotel…4 beds to 1 room for us mujeres… an interesting group on this trip…I am one of the 2 youngest, the rest are way over 40’s…a retired doctor, a couple from Montreal, a university event planner from Washington and a new graduate hoping to be a teacher in California… lots of chatting and sharing life stories…I love to hear the journey’s of SOO many people.

More lunch...

We check in then head out for a really nice meal at a restaurnant called Morphos ….i hit the sack like a brick after a light walk J

Zip line READY!

We raise VERY early for Saturday – full day ahead for us. We go to ‘Extremo Canopy’ and I am in heaven..zip line is SOO much fun and a tarzan line and repelling… the guides have fun with us! I chat with the owner for a while and we hit it off…my Spanish lacks but I told him he needs to learn english! He agrees !

Hot Springs Resort...FANTASTICO!

We head from there to una caminata (a hike) thru a ‘forest’ for lack of a better word….i see monkeys – they are sooo cute…UNTIL they start throwing tree branches at us…from there – we can see Volcan Arenal which we are heading to next…it is active still and quite a site man!

Chilling at hotel

After another rhatid long bus ride…We get to arenal hotel – check in and head to the hot springs….now when he said ‘aguas termales’ I am thinking a likkle hole in the ground close to the base of the volcano…NO NO NO! it is a HUMONGOUS resort with about 20 hot springs (pools) with swim up bars and man made falls etc…we bask for about 2 hours in the sulfur smelling but very relaxing water…it HOT so till…property is out of this world..think it name Bidal.

Oh - On way to arenal – we buck up a family of strange animals jus in di middle of di street…looks like a fury possum…they call it a pizote as well…don’t mek sense – they don’t look alike to me…anwya… look at pics for urself!

We head back to hotel and eat din din…the youngsters wait on the guide to come get us – we decide to go party at the local discoteca! We had a great time…we played fusbol – never done that before, danced and chatted till about 3am…I buck up 2 more girls from school and their local friends…the guides from the tourist spots entertain us J

 

Beautiful Volcano

Sunday – we get up late and after breakfast think we are heading back home…our guide tells us he has a surprise for us and that we must change into our swim suits… he takes us to Rio Fortuna (fortuna is the town that the volcan arenal is) pretty pretty waterfall…there is a rope to chuck off into the water with…u know I love dem excitement!

Then a muchacho who CANNOT swim decides he wants to try it…lawd have mercy….our guide has to jump in after him…..i would have (with all my life guard training and all)…but he looked like he was really playing and he was only TWO steps from being able to stand…POBRECITO! He started to panic and went under twice before people believed – he wasn’t playing….we suggested he NOT do that again till he KNOWS how to swim! He agreed! J

Fun and exciting weekend for me! Glad I went…

Back at home now with family…kids doing homework…I tired from weekend – will be an early nite to bed…2 of girls from samara will be here this week…looking forward to them!

In class this week we talk about healthcare, how to give directions and  I learn that ‘gordita’ and ‘negrita’ (fatty and likkle black girl) are merely terms of affection here – not to be insulted by them at all!! I am referred to on the street as ‘morena’ or ‘linda’ so far…

I have 2 more weeks of school then 1 of travel and then THAT”s IT! cant believe I going into week four SOOO SOON man! Time flying quick quick!

Oh – you would be VERY proud of me – I score a high grade on my last exam – am I improving? Maybe – my Spanish is getting better I think. Is whole heap to remember…let’s see what level 6 offers tomorrow…need to find a place at home to keep practicing – or u lose it soo easy!

Well this week I will need to plan for my last 2 weekends here….have lots going thru the brain…feeling good & reenergized!!

Bless and more in di week!

Dinner at Morphos

Hasta luego!