Очистить поиск
Karen Hechinger
Karen Hechinger

Karen Hechinger

был(а) 41 странах Читать далее
ПодписатьсяСообщениеСтатистика
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Entering the gondola that takes you to the park. Just like skiing!Views of the city as we ascendAt the entrance to the park, there was a tent filled with booths of vendors selling food & trinketsHow many of these foods can you identify?A guy ahead of me recommended the chorizo, so I'm giving it a go. Its topped with potato & patacon

    28. Colombia - Medellin

    22 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ 🌧 63 °F

    Medellin, at almost 5000 feet above sea level, is know as the City of Eternal Spring for its temperate weather, though it was pretty hot while we were there. It is the 2nd largest city in Colombia after Bogota.

    During our short stay here, we spent a day at Parque Arvi, which is an ecological nature preserve located at the top of the Metrocable System that runs up the slopes of the eastern side of the city. The park is pretty with nice walking trails, but for me, most of the fun included navigating the public transportation system, and the incredible city views from the metrocable (gondola) that takes you to the park.    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник

    27. Bucaramanga to Medellin

    21 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ 🌧 66 °F

    We left Mompox (which took us about 9 hours to get to), for another 8 hour drive to Bucaramanga, which, although a fairly large city, was once again just a stepping stone for us.

    The interesting parts of these long travel days really centered around the travel itself. This part of Colombia is very mountainous, with nothing but one-lane switchback roads filled with buses, 18-wheelers, and motorcycles. (My guess is that 65% of the population travel by motorcycle here). Passing a semi (going 12 mph up a one-lane winding road that has double yellow lines and "no passing" signs) is truly an art form here. You have to do it, or you'll never reach your destination. Because the roads are very sharp s-curves, visibility is limited and passing is a challenge. But everyone participates in helping others pass, whether it be the semi you are trying to pass (who puts his left blinker on to let you know he has enough visibility around the blind curve to see it is safe), or the motorcyclists, who will pass a truck ahead of you, and then reach back and wave to you if the road is clear. The other passing method, which is often necessary, is pulling out halfway into the oncoming traffic lane to assess the situation, and putting pedal to the metal if the coast is clear. That usually requires about a half dozen failed attempts before you make it. The whole process is part entertaining, part stress, and after several days of it, part "just another day's commute".

    The views, however, from Bucaramenga to our next destination, Medellin (famous for being the home of the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar), were pretty spectacular, at least in my opinion. Some pix attached here.    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    St. Augustine Basilica founded in 1606
    All hostels in the city have the same layout: covered entrance & central garden surrounded by roomsThey look more charming from the ouside than inside. (No toilet seat!)Plenty of activity in the townThe town is located along the Magdalena RiverThese guys just made a run to their local Home Depot. :)We find soccer fields everywhere we go. But no players! :(1Awaiting breakfast at the river's edge

    26. Colombia - Mompox

    19 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Mompox is a tiny town along the Magdalena River where we stayed one night, mostly because it was on the route to our eventual destination (Ecuador), and we had to stop somewhere. The town is known for its colonial culture, so we toodled around for 2 hours or so before moving on. A few pix attached.

    The hostel where we stayed was run by a young man named Jesus, who fled from Venezuela to find work to support a child and her mother who are still there. I'm sure most of you know the dreadful plight that the Venezuelan people are dealing with, which includes corrupt government, crumbling infrastructure, no work, no food in the stores, and rampant inflation. Although my Spanish is improving, we chatted mostly by using the Google translation app, which he was not familiar with. I helped him find and download it to his phone. He said he will use it to learn English and try to find a way to make it to the US so he can make some money.    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    A view of the cathedral over the wall
    This is the entrance to the old townWe stumbled on a religious parade that stopped occasionally for the priest to preachThe flower shrouded cross was part of the parade as well1Palacio de InquisicionUsed for torture, but in many cases ended in deathIs this Central Park?1Happiness is...

    25. Cartagena - the Old Town

    15 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Cartagena's "Old Town" is aptly named for its colonial style 16th & 17th century architecture. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site, full of history and local culture, and is safe and friendly.

    This part of Cartagena is particularly lively, and almost attacks your senses. There were sounds of horns honking (pay special attention when its a bus - they can't stop as fast as the taxis can), street vendors selling their goods, music playing, entertainers performing, the clacking of horse hooves on cobblestones, tour guides leading their groups, children playing in the parks, and the occasional political orator sharing his ideals through his bullhorn.

    We wandered through the town, which was full of churches, plazas, restaurants, shops, and street vendors selling locally made trinkets. We visited, amongst other places, the Palace of the Inquisition, which provided a disturbing reminder of the horrific practice of identifying and eliminating heretics through torture. On a happier note, the Chocolate Museum we went to provided free tasting before purchase. Yummy!    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    A local hostel / restaurant
    Brightly colored trees growing out of a smidgeon of dirt are all overMany of the second stories have quaint balcomiesTiny streetsPretty cool wall art all over the neighborhoodThese tiles are set into the concrete. The designer makes a statement about families & communities1Still trying to figure this out, but I thought it was kinda neat

    24. Cartagena - Getsamani

    13 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Getsamani is a cool neighborhood in Cartagena that is filled with hostels, street art, and trendy restaurants and bars. Its charming to stroll through.

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    The guardhouse may be exposed...but the peepholes are only about 4 inches wide, and the wall itself about 12 inches thickWe found this tunnel and started checking it outThere were periodic windows of light, so I kept going. I wanted to see where it ledI took stairs down to a darker part of the tunnel, but got too creeped out and came running back!1More importantly - my new hat!

    23. Cartagena - Castillo de San Felipe

    13 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Castillo de San Felipe is the most magnificent fortress built by the Spaniards for any of their colonies. Cartagena, founded in 1533, was the main port from which Peruvian silver was shipped back to Spain, and as such, became a target for pirates. The Spaniards attempts at making the port impregnable consisted of walling in the city, and constructing forts, the most impressive of which is Castillo de San Felipe.Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Small church inside the convent1The courtyard was charmingHere's one of those great viewsOur hotel is on the far side. The architecture here is a bit tedious & unimaginative, eh?

    22. Cartagena - Convento de la Popa

    13 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ 🌧 86 °F

    The convent was built in the early 1600s on the highest point in Cartagena, at 150 meters. I think its claim to fame is more about the views it offers of the city, than anything else, but it was worth seeing.Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Cartagena skyline - our hotel is out on the Bocagrande strip that you see hereWe're determined to track down delicious smoothies wherever we areWe're at the Hampton Inn shown here1Foot massage on the beach! They sell any and everything that a tourist could possibly wantHow many beach vendors can you spot?

    21. Cartagena Colombia

    13 сентября 2019 г., Колумбия ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    Love Cartagena! This city has it all: history, charm, beaches, a major port, great restaurants, a cool bohemian vibe, and then some.

    We're here for 5 days, which includes 2 days of processing paperwork and payments to get the car released from the container at the dock.

    Since we don't have the car at our disposal, we are taking taxis everywhere. I wish I could take a video of how crazy these drivers are, but my eyes are usually squeezed shut in anticipation of a collision. These guys have no interest in lane markings, and are not shy about using their horns. As you cross the street in a crosswalk, the cabs continue to come at you, veering in one direction or another at the last moment. I've learned that you need to avoid eye contact with them - if you act like you're waiting for them to pass, you'll wait forever. If you confidently "take your space", and pretend you don't see them, they will yield. (Or at least it seems to work this way). I'm from NY and have some experience with aggressive city driving, but NY cabbies ain't got nothing on these guys.

    Another outlet for aggressive behavior is demonstrated by the street vendors. You can't go 10 feet without someone jumping out at you, thrusting their wares in your face, and launching into their sales pitch. They are not deterred by your response of a smile and a "gracias, no", and continue their pitch as they follow you for 10 feet or so before moving on to another more amenable looking target to accost.

    That said, these things are all part of the experience and, despite my implications otherwise, they add enjoyment to the whole travel adventure.

    We are staying in Bocagrande, which is a strip of hotels, shops and restaurants on a peninsula, and which is aptly nicknamed "Miami Beach". Not the quaintest part of town, but we're right on the beach and a few minutes from the more intetesting parts of the city. We spent a few hours on the beach the other day, and after resisting multiple times, I finally succumbed to a 10 minute foot massage for 20,000 pesos ($6). Felt sooooo good!    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Sitting in a dark parking lot before 6A, waiting for shipping inspection
    Getting instructionsWe are sharing the container with Hugo, a young FrenchmanTues at the Colon shipyard - Hugo's car goes in firstThen "Maximus". The car's owner drives it in himselfAll cozy and tucked in!Wait! Craig is stuck in there!All set? Cause we're closing the door and it's not getting reopenedDone. See you in Colombia!Our bus ride back was pretty comfortable

    20. Shipping the car - Panama 2 Colombia

    9 сентября 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Although they share a border, there is no way to drive from Panama to Colombia. The main intercontinental road, the Pan American Highway, which stretches from Alaska to Argentina, has a 150km gap in it as it passes through what is known as the Darien Gap, located at the east/south end of Panama.

    The Darien is a tropical jungle, with parts of it inhabited by indigenous tribes. While some if it is accessible with a guide, the parts that preclude safe travel have no roads, and ill-defined trails (if any). Visitors are subject to ticks, snake-bites, and disease. The area has limited to no police presence, and is known to be utilized by narcotraffickers. You are considered "on your own" if you run into trouble there.

    I'll pass.

    Hence, we (Craig) are engaged in coordinating shipment of the car via container (shared with one other traveler's car) from Colon to Cartegena. Craig did exhaustive research on this prior to our arrival, but coordinating the sharing of the container required much last minute communication with a several transport brokers to find someone who wanted to do the same thing as us at exactly the same time.

    The brokers are invaluable, but even with them, there seems to be so much room for things to go awry. We needed to be at the car inspection checkpoint between 6 & 7 Monday for car export inspection. Our Frenchman container-sharing partner was driving in from Costa Rica, and was scheduled to be there as well. He showed up just around 7, and the official told him he was too late and had to leave. Since we were scheduled to load the cars on the container Tuesday, this would have been a disaster for us, delaying us for days, since car shipments only get sent certain days of the week.

    Craig pleaded with the official, and we were granted clemency. Whew. (The Frenchman later communicated that he got caught unaware of a time zone change. Geez. Things can go wrong so easily.) We returned to pick up our inspection paperwork at 2, only to have to wait over an hour for it as it wasn't ready. you have no choice but to be patient.

    Tuesday we drove to the east Panama port of Colon to watch the car be loaded onto the container and locked. We caught a bus back to Panama City ( about 50 miles?) for $3.15 each. On the way, we saw an accident involving a container that looked exactly like ours. Our hearts were in our throats momentarily, until we remembered our car is getting shipped from Colon, and not on the road to Panama.

    In the meantime, our flight is booked for Friday, and we have a few days to toodle around Cartagena before picking up the car next Tuesday.

    Fingers crossed!    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Ships come from the Pacific Ocean, to our left, into the lock you see hereThe end of the lock has a large "gate" that separates it from the next lockThe gate opens, and the initial lock get flooded. The ship passes through to the second lockThe gate comes back up, and the 2nd lock gets flooded to raise the height of the ship to lake levelEasy as pie, right?

    19. Panama - Panama Canal

    7 сентября 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    We spent a few hours at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal today. It was fascinating.

    The concept of the canal was first explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century, but it was concluded it was not possible. In the late 1800s, the French commissioned de Lesseps (the designer of the Suez Canal) to build a canal, but inadequate design (the hard rock & jungle of Panama posed different challenges than the desert of Egypt), cost overruns, and rampant disease/death of workers caused the project to fail.

    The US was very interested in having a canal constructed, but could not come to an agreement with the Colombians, under whose rule Panama fell at that time. Therefore, in 1903, the United States successfully backed Panama's efforts at gaining independence from Colombia, and an agreement between the US & Panama for construction and administration of the canal emerged soon thereafter. The project started shortly thereafter, and was completed in 1914 (at the start of WW I).

    The 80 kilometer interoceanic way, as its called, operates through a system of locks that raises ships from ocean level to that of Gatun Lake, which, at 27 meters above sea level is the highest point throughout the crossing, and then lowers them again. I've never been that interested in engineering, but being here and seeing this massive project in person was inspiring.    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    All the streets are incredibly narrow hereA local artist is preparing for a competition focused on a door paintingEverything here is so bright and colorful!The center of townPanama City skylineYou can see the rain clouds rolling in

    18. Panama City - Casco Viejo

    6 сентября 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    Casco Viejo is the historic district of Panama City. When the Panama Canal was being built, an influx of workers caused massive growth and expansion of Panama City, and the elite residents abandoned Casco Viejo for a better location in the city, letting Casco Viejo fall into ruin. It is now an UNESCO World Heritage site. While much of its architecture has been restored, some buildings remain in crumbling ruin.

    We wandered through there today. The architecture was pretty neat, and there are some cool historic churches. We had a great view of the Panama City skyline. On the downside, it was filled with overpriced restaurants, and dozens of vendors selling the same touristy souvenirs in every shop.

    We chose to check out the Panama Canal Museum they had there. It was filled with floor to ceiling placards documenting in detail the story of the many failed attempts, and the eventual successful one, at building a canal. It would have been easier to read the story in a book, as the museum offered little else.    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Small clusters of small abodes would periodically appear on the side of the road
    Many don't have real windows - just creatively carved cinder blocks that allow light and air inThe bus stopNot an uncommon site

    17. Panama - on the way to Panama City

    4 сентября 2019 г., Golfo de Panamá ⋅ ⛅ 82 °F

    From Mama Ines' place in Santa Catalina we drove Playa Coronado, staying one night before heading to Panama City. In my opinion, Playa Coronado was undistinguished. The beach is lovely, but, no waves, and lined with condos and hotels.

    The drive leaving Santa Catalina took us through a long, winding, 2 lane road that offered glimpses of what a small village farmer's life is like. I'm posting some pix here...    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Here we are in Santa Catalina
    Another beach / surf townBut we never tire of the viewsWe kayaked out to one of the offshore islands today - got overturned by a wave coming back.Our porch facing the surf at Mama Ines HotelBreakfast overlooking the oceanMama Ines lounge area before the surfers arriveNeed directions?Adios Santa Catalina

    16. Panama - Santa Catalina

    1 сентября 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    On the way from Boquete to Santa Catalina, we stopped for one night in Boca Chica, a small village on the Gulf of Chiriquí that focuses on fishing expeditions and fishing tournaments. There's no real beach there, just more of a fishing dock, and not much in the way of any other amenities. It wasn't quite our cup of tea.

    Santa Catalina is a popular surf spot, but still relatively undeveloped. We found a cool place with a heavy surf vibe right on the beach, and went swimming and kayaking. Sea kayaking was fun, but somebody has to tell me the secret of getting back to shore without getting hammered and toppled by the surf. This is my second time in the ocean, and my second time getting clobbered. (Sorry - no pix of this - I was to busy trying to keep my phone from drowning!)    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Ruiz Coffee Farm
    New coffee plantsCarlos was an excellent tour guideEach piece of coffee fruit has 2 beansDrying racks. Harvest time is generally October, so they are presently unusedDiscolored and misshaped beans are filtered out by handGeisha beans - the good stuff! Packed and ready to goThe best part - the tasing room! Charts on the wall show how to evaluate and describe the coffee

    15. Panama - Boquete - Coffee Farm Tour

    31 августа 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    We attended a superb tour of a local Coffee Farm while in Boquete. Craig did an excellent job noting the highlights, so I'm offering his post here:

    A highlight of our stay in Boquete was a tour of the original, now organic, Ruiz Coffee Plantation (one of the 11 owned by the Ruiz Coffee Co.). Most people associate Panama with the canal and shady off-shore banking (Panama Papers). But Panama grows the world's most expensive coffee beans, an Arabica variety called Geisha, priced at over $1000 per pound. This translates to about $75 a cup at retail. Boquete produces 50% of Panama's coffee at 600+ plantations.

    Coffee harvesting and processing is a complex process. The coffee berry is a fruit, and there are two coffee beans per berry. After hand picking, the berries are submerged in water to determine which ones are insect infested (the floaters). Next, the outer-skin is removed. The sticky coffee beans are then fermented for a short time before drying and removal of 2 more skins. The beans then go to sorting for color, size, and shape (helps insure even roasting). Next, the green beans are aged and become ready for packaging for the coffee roasters. My apologies for lumping many of the steps into one general step!

    Our tour guide, Carlos, has been with the Ruiz Coffee Co. for 23 years. We found his knowledge of the coffee growing, harvesting, processing, and roasting to be invaluable. "Coffee," Carlos says, "should be smooth tasting and not bitter." Good coffee does not need sugar, cream, or milk. Carlos continues, "Starbucks makes coffee drinks for people who do not like coffee!" Coffee's bitterness comes from "burning" the coffee bean during roasting. Dark roasted coffee is akin to charcoal. We viewed two packaged bags of roasted beans, one dark and one light. The darker roast bag had nearly 25% more volume of beans than the light roast, yet weighed approximately the same. No more dark roast for me...

    The original Ruiz Coffee plantation, now organic, uses natural methods to control insect infestation. Banana trees are used to shade the coffee plants, while the fruit from Avocado, Mango, Orange, and Lime trees attract the insects, who are in turn eaten by birds. Nothing about the coffee bean is wasted. The beans rejected earlier for size and cosmetic reasons are ground up for instant coffee. Eighty percent of the coffee beans' skins are used as a compost to replenish the soil, while the remaining 20% is dried and sold as tea.    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Our patio at Oasis
    where we could catch up on our blogOne view from our patio...And another1Breakfast started with delicious fresh fruit. Papaya, banana & pineapple are in abundance hereA local favorite - holjaldras - is served instead of bread. No wonder they like it - it's a donut!Toucan Sam was part of the breakfast area decor

    14. Panama - Boquete - Oasis Hotel

    30 августа 2019 г., Панама ⋅ 🌧 72 °F

    We stayed at a place called the Oasis Hotel, just off the main street. It was so pretty and had wonderful views. We’re getting some really nice rooms at great prices – I think partially because its rainy season and tourism is not at its peak. Its rained every other day or so, for a few hours. Fortunately, without any planning at all, we’ve managed to arrange all of our outings and activities around that.Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    The Caldera RiverNot your typical home!A drive up in the mountainsColorful gardens on the riverLaundry was easy to find1But the laundry staff are getting younger and younger!So many beautiful mountains here

    13. Panama - Boquete

    30 августа 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 75 °F

    We arrived in the highlands of Boquete early afternoon, and immediately enjoyed a much cooler and less humid climate. At 4000 feet above sea level, it’s a lush, green area located on the Caldera River, and is decorated throughout with beautiful, colorful flowers and trees and surrounded by mountains, including the local volcano Vulcan Baru. The main strip was a hodgepodge; from a food perspective, there were places with typical American bar food, local places that sold only the typical Central American meal (rice, beans, small salad, and meat, usually pollo), and fine dining options as well. Smoothies are popular here, and quite delicious since papaya, banana & pineapple are readily available everywhere.

    One of the things I’m interested in during this trip is the concept of “retirement abroad”. As you might imagine, your dollars (which are the official currency here), go much further here than in the USA. Our coffee tour guide, (discussed later) has a monthly salary of $700. His is considered a good job.

    Boquete has a large ex-pat community (7,000 of the 19,000 residents) that is growing rapidly. The community is experiencing typical growing pains; while they welcome the jobs associated with development, and economic buying power of the new inhabitants, they bemoan the depletion of forests and farms that are being sold and cleared out to make room for more gated-community developments. That aside, the area is stunning in its natural beauty.    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник

    12. Border Crossing - entering Panama

    30 августа 2019 г., Панама ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    DISCLOSURE - as with post #11, this is Craig's post from his blog.

    As we cross the border, we are motioned to the side by men with official-looking I.D. tags. These are the Ayudantes (helpers) who either assist you in crossing borders by expediting the process (usually involving bribes) or by creating a chaotic situation from which only they can extricate you. After parking the car, I tell them that I do not need any help, but thanks anyway. I have prepped for this border and know the proper sequence: first, acquire auto insurance. Done. second, get immigration to stamp your entry into your passport. Done. third, get the T.I.P. for the car from customs. So far, so good! Completed application...now for the car inspection. I open the rear door, and the customs agent tells me EVERYTHING must be taken out of the car and run through the scanner on the other side of the building. This is not going well...

    As a crowd of Ayudantes gather around, the customs agent asks if I would like help transporting the entire contents of the car to the scanner and back. Things are beginning to smell a little "fishy" here. Undeterred, I insist upon transporting everything myself while Karen guards the car. After first moving two large suitcases to the scanning area, a more senior customs agent comes over and requests that we complete the Panama customs declaration forms. After completing mine, he reviews it, makes some corrections (suggesting I don't really have to list every edible fruit and foodstuffs in our possession) and asks me to complete the form again with corrections. At this point, he can sense my frustration. I comply, and then we move into the scanning area. After scanning the two suitcases, he tells me I only need to bring in duffel bags and the like. I ask him to accompany me to the car and point out the pieces he would like to scan. He grabs a couple of bags, and we go scan them. As we move back to the car, he tells the original agent (a lower ranking one) that we are done since I only have foodstuffs, supplies, and personal use items. A brief argument ensues between the two, and the junior official is overruled. Seeing his potential cut from the Ayudantes who might be asked to help me transport everything vanish, he sulks away and glares at me from a distance as I rearrange our gear. The senior agent signs off on my T.I.P. The last steps are paying $1 to fumigate the car and then passing through the final immigration checkpoint set up by Panamanian Marines. Bienvenidos a Panama (welcome to Panama)!

    The way the "border mafias" work, as best I can determine, are as follows:

    1) Identify potential victims who appear to have money (We are travelling in a 2019 Toyota 4runner TRD Pro).
    2) The Ayudantes (helpers???) immediately overwhelm you with offers of their services to expedite your border crossing. They do this by offering bribes to the immigration and customs agents which you end up paying for...and in addition, the fee for the Ayudante's services.

    OR, as in my case here, my refusal to engage with the Ayudantes MAY have led to the lower ranking customs agent demanding that we scan everything in the car, thereby making the Ayudantes eventual engagement and his probable cut of the proceeds more likely.

    They get you either way...but by "sticking to my guns" and insisting on doing everything myself, we gained the upper hand this time!    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник

    11. Border Crossing - leaving CR

    29 августа 2019 г., Панама ⋅ 🌧 75 °F

    Crossing the border is a 2 part process. You have to officially “check-out” of one country, then “check-in” to the next.

    DISCLOSURE – this is Craig’s post from his travel blog. I stayed in the car, guarding it, (which is code for playing games on my phone) during most of this activity.

    Paso Canoas or "How we outsmarted the border mafia"!

    Leaving Pavones at about 6:45 A.M., we arrived at the Costa Rica border at Paso Canoas at about 8:15 A.M. Exiting a country is the easiest part, generally speaking, of any border crossing. This is not an overly busy border, so I anticipated an easy Costa Rica exit. As has been our experience, signage is always a problem. And this border is no exception. Arriving at the border, we nearly crossed directly into Panama before realizing that there were no Costa Rican Immigration and Customs offices in the immediate area. Up the road a ways, I saw a building with some border signage. Luckily, we arrived just as the immigration offices were opening. I parked the car, and quickly grabbed a place in line. After about 10 minutes, I handed my passport to the immigration officer. He said that I needed to go across the street to pay the exit tax and bring him the receipt so that he could stamp me out of Costa Rica. Since I was in the vicinity of the Aduana (customs) office, I thought why not cancel my T.I.P. (Temporary Import Permit for my car). After waiting in line for about 10 minutes, the customs agent looked over my paperwork and said that I needed the receipt showing that the exit tax had been paid. So, I dashed across the street, paid the tax, and got my receipt. Back in line at the customs office...the agent sees that I have my exit tax payment receipt, but he points out that my passport does not have the exit stamp. Back to the immigration line, which by now has grown quite large. 15 minutes goes by, and I have my exit stamp. Back again to the customs office...another 10 minute wait. Finally, the customs agent closes out my T.I.P. I can now officially exit Costa Rica! Karen has been guarding the car, and now it is her turn for immigration. Maybe it takes her 15 minutes at most. Now, we are ready for the Panama border!    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Air conditioning
    Discarding used tp in the toilet (you need to throw it in the trash bin here)Reliable wi-fiShowers that have a shower head and hot water.A feeling of safety, even if there are no bars on the windowsGrego's breakfast culinary skillsEverything else about Grego tooNever thought I would be so desperate to find vegetables

    10. I no longer take for granted...

    28 августа 2019 г., Коста Рика ⋅ ☁️ 79 °F

    Though I've been traveling for only about a week so far, I have quickly come to realize and appreciate how good we have it in the US. Here are a few things I no longer take for granted...

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    The view as we arrived in Pavones
    The roads to Pavones are mostly gravel and rock. Not sure DoT would approve the safety features of this bridgeOur room. Can't even remember the name of the place.The Surf shop is the front of the house of a guy named Colin, an ex-pat who moved there from LA 3 years ago. LManzana agua - a piece of fruit from Colin's yard. Has the texture of a soft pear, but less sweet.Grego (Craig) is prepping his board

    9. CR - Pavones

    28 августа 2019 г., Коста Рика ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    We thought Dominical was a one-horse town with its raison d’etre being surfing, until we came to the tiny 600 resident community of Pavones. It consists of 2 grocery stores (about twice the size of a 7-11 mini-mart), with several hostels/family run hotels (usually with 1-4 rooms), a few eateries, (mostly like your typical outdoor beach-bar), and the ever-important surf shop. The guide books announce clearly that there are no banks or gas stations here, so you need to stock up before you arrive. (Credit cards are rarely accepted).

    This area is famed for having the second largest point-breaking surf in the world. Craig has taught me – beach break is bad – that’s when the wave pretty much breaks all at once, and point break is good – when the wave starts breaking at one end and the break rolls towards the other end. Remember the Hawaii 5-0 TV show opening?

    Surfing today – then on to Panama.    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник

    8. CR - Dominical - no Pura Vida today..

    26 августа 2019 г., Коста Рика ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    You have probably heard the Costa Rican phrase "pura vida", or pure life, which loosely translates into "the good life". Craig and I have been enjoying the pura vida - until today.

    Craig had a number of things that he did not need regular access to stored in a water-proof soft cargo bag affixed to the roof rack, including a few things I gave him before he left so as not to have to transport them on the plane. We finally got around to opening the bag to find a few small rips that allowed enough of the occasional torrential downpours over the last few weeks to sleep in. Clothes were drenched, smelly, mildewed and moldy. Kinda gross.

    We asked at the front desk about local laundry facilities in the area. They told us there were none around except for the on-site facility that would do laundry @ $1 per item. Yikes! With very little additional research, we located 2 public laundry options within a mile of the hotel, and used one of them. BTW - when I say public laundry, the one we chose consisted of a guy in a garage with a few washers and dryers hooked up, and a few bags of laundry ahead of us I'm the queue. We left the clothes, crossed our fingers, and later retrieved a bag of freshly laundered, 95% mildew-free, folded clothes. Although a few things could not be salvaged (Craig's hiking boots for one), we came out relatively unscathed.    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод
  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Instruction...
    Crashing and burning...More crashing and burning...What's wrong with this picture?1Finally - success!And again!1Our reward at the end of the day

    7. CR - Dominical - Surfer Girl!

    26 августа 2019 г., Коста Рика ⋅ 🌧 82 °F

    At Dominical Beach, I took my first ever surfing lesson with Eze from the CR Surf School. They are careful to schedule lessons at low tide, and teach you in the white water, not the big breakers. They guarantee you will get up on the board, and they were right! It was so fun, though there will be no style points awarded today...Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник
    Diuwak groundsDiuwak groundsOur porch at DiuwakBeds were comfyView from our porch

    6. CR - Dominical

    25 августа 2019 г., Коста Рика ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    Dominical is a beachfront community focused on surfing and more surfing. We stayed for 2 nights at a beach resort called Diuwak. The word resort is used loosely; a Costa Rican small town resort is not the same as the Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton by any stretch. While the grounds were quite lush and beautiful, the a/c died in our first room, and we had trouble with the plumbing in our second room. The shower had no temperature control, but the room was clean and quite pleasant otherwise.Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник

    4. Costa Rica - Arrived!

    23 августа 2019 г., Коста Рика ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    After watching the clock tick slowly towards my departure date over the last few weeks, it's finally here. My flights were on time and were unusually pleasant (thanks, Alaska Air, for the upgrade!), and the customs line in CR relatively short. I was worried that they might have questions about me having no documented departure plan from the country (b/c I'm flying back from Bolivia), but the agent looked tired and apparently didn't view me as much of a threat. Upon determining where I was staying for the evening, he produced the coveted passport stamp and I proceeded without incident through the baggage check and out to where Craig was waiting.

    The journey begins...    Читать далее

  • Karen HechingerCentral/South America 2019Путешественник

    3. The Date is Set!

    12 августа 2019 г., Соединенные Штаты ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Craig is now close enough to San Jose to confirm our rendezvous date, which is...…
    AUGUST 23, nine days away!

    My 12+ hours flight leaves at 6A and arrives after 7P. Craig’s stepson Ken, who has been travelling with him since Belize, will be departing as I arrive. I’m really glad Kenny, who is a big strong (young) guy, was with Craig through some of the more dangerous areas of Central America. Safety in numbers, right?

    I’ve been to CR before, but not in the area through which we will travel this time. Although much of the trip is loosely planned and will be a journey of discovery, I am looking forward to a few highlights. They include surfing in Costa Rica (I’m determined to get up on the board this time!), seeing the Panama Canal and experiencing the vibrant and modern Panama City, doing business with Colombian drug lords (not), seeing how the retired ex-Pats live in Ecuador, (could be my future – you never know), enjoying the wildlife and understanding the ecological challenges of Galapagos, trekking to Machu Pichu in Peru, visiting the 16,000+ ft high Lake Titicaca, and finishing with 3 days of roughing it through the Laguna Trail in Bolivia. Another highlight would be grabbing a pick-up game of soccer with the locals somewhere, if they’d be willing to let a gringo (and female at that!) on the pitch.

    I’m so excited.    Читать далее

    Посмотреть перевод

Создайте ваш личный профиль

Бесплатно

QR code

FindPenguins для iOSFindPenguins для Android