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Amazing Cappuccinos in Matagalpa?
There is an amazing coffee place in this small city. The best cappuccinos ever! The crepes are not too shabby either.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8...956046c1_c.jpg IMG_1465 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8...08cbd5a0_c.jpg IMG_1463 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8...8563f94e_c.jpg IMG_1467 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8...7130f70e_c.jpg IMG_1471 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8...47f0d62c_c.jpg IMG_1473 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Managua
We went to visit Salvador’s grandma at her farm.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8...094b635b_c.jpg DSC05216 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8...9eb48e63_c.jpg DSC05228 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8...4df0d8a4_c.jpg DSC05229 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8...182e2762_c.jpg DSC05231 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr They have an equine therapy center for disabled children. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8...b8bc7516_c.jpg DSC05220 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr They also have trained horses that dance. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8...51c832fe_c.jpg DSC05240 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Leaving Salvador's and heading out thru Managua. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8...b68b0236_c.jpg DSC05251 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8...bd981506_c.jpg FILE3152 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8...5b3e862e_c.jpg FILE3160 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8...4be8b62f_c.jpg FILE3166 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8...0ba6ce93_c.jpg FILE3183 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8...88317ea9_c.jpg FILE3191 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Granada Nicaragua
We had a very short ride past Volcano Masaya and on to Granada.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8...de486653_o.jpg Screen Shot 2013-03-01 at 10.11.00 AM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8...c67ca3de_c.jpg DSC07479 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr There are lots of horse drawn carriages on the square if you want a tour of the city. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8...cb7f402e_c.jpg DSC07476 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We had a “drink” and some amazing ceviche on the front patio of the hotel. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8...c1b8bce1_c.jpg DSC07483 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8...dd004522_c.jpg DSC07484 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The Cathedral here really stands out because of the colour. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8247/8...5741e0c9_c.jpg DSC07574 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8...3865ff6a_c.jpg DSC07534 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8...f29c05a6_c.jpg DSC07553 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8...9cb59b9a_c.jpg DSC07532 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We went to Volcan Mombacho where you have to take a transport truck up the “steep road”. Actually it is steep, but paved and “don’t they know we went up El Impossible!” http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8...8ce36c3d_c.jpg DSC07491 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...0372c612_c.jpg DSC07525 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr While waiting for the ride up we walked thru the orchid garden. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8...29325b5d_c.jpg DSC07487 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We hiked the El Crater trail to the first mirador looking over Lake Nicaragua and the city of Granada http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8...727b9885_c.jpg DSC07494 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...74831116_c.jpg DSC07492 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr On the way to the second viewpoint we took the right turn thru “the tunnel” to get a view inside the crater. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8...3198ed40_c.jpg DSC07495 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8...521255db_c.jpg DSC07496 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8...02b5c741_c.jpg DSC07498 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8...f77b417a_c.jpg DSC07501 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...8b3fe924_c.jpg DSC07508 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This is the view from the second mirador. There were lots of wild flowers. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8...92583bff_c.jpg DSC07520 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8...38291af2_c.jpg DSC07513 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr You can also see the second crater from here. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8...1e51ec92_c.jpg DSC07523 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr When the crater blew out it created the isletas below. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8...92acd6e0_c.jpg DSC07524 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The volunteer firemen or Bomberos were putting on a demonstration in the square. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8...7b0b73b0_c.jpg DSC07537 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8...2d2df331_c.jpg DSC07564 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8...017f327b_c.jpg DSC07570 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We also came across a large procession walking thru the streets. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8...4cbfabf8_c.jpg DSC07540 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Granada Nicaragua
This is a hip and happening place especially on the main street on a Friday night. The cafes and restaurants are packed.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8...c4b61f15_c.jpg IMG_1507 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We ran into a large group of riders from Edelweiss tours. Their 2-week trip is mostly in Costa Rica, but they came for a few days to visit Granada. We also saw them when we were crossing the border. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8...d6a08e5c_c.jpg DSC05254 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8...931b908f_c.jpg DSC05311 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8...b07e5039_c.jpg DSC05313 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We have also been to Isla Ometepe before, so we will not go again, but it is a not to be missed trip to these two islands formed by the two volcanoes in the massive lake Nicaragua. There is a nice hot spring on the way to Merida on the south island where there is a good hostel Hacienda Merida right on the lake. Heading out of Granada. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8...03be0039_c.jpg FILE3200 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...8a67ef5d_c.jpg FILE3207 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr These people in the truck were all taking pictures of us with their cell phones! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8366/8...737b626a_c.jpg FILE3220 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
San Juan del Sur Nicaragua
Heading south to Costa Rica we stopped for a visit back to San Juan del Sur.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8...7506acbb23.jpg Screen Shot 2013-03-04 at 11.51.46 AM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8...2dcd4189_c.jpg DSC05255 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8...c5cbf7d0_c.jpg DSC05256 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8...d230c9cb_c.jpg DSC05261 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8513/8...b22eff5b_c.jpg DSC05268 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Thanks Orvar for the tip on the hotel with great parking. We ran into a Honduran tour group Maya tours here too. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8...45de6b44_c.jpg DSC05288 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The seafood here is really amazing. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8...ba06ec05_c.jpg DSC05272 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8...f809a14f_c.jpg DSC05292 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Big D finally bought a new pair of sunglasses for 5$. He and Garry Dymond had bodge glued his current pair of riding glasses in Mexico in October! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8376/8...06991691_c.jpg DSC05273 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Why is sunset so special? They are not all the same for sure and I will never get tired of them. Sunrise is a whole other story. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8...386456b6_c.jpg DSC05274 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8...45abd715_c.jpg DSC05279 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8...4bd94587_c.jpg DSC05287 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Summary of Nicaragua experience. This country has come a long way since the revolution and is on the verge of breaking out. This place has nothing but up side. It is less expensive by far than El Salvador and Costa Rica, and is the “safest” country in Central America. There is a ton of great riding off of the Pan Americana! There a gorgeous spots that see few tourists and rarely over-landers. We met a lot over very friendly locals. Our only police stop was in the middle of absolutely nowhere somewhere after Muy Muy and when they asked for the bike registration and we said “your joking right?” they said don’t worry about it and told us to keep going. |
1 border 4 hours
One thing I hate to drive in is wind and that means a wind farm is never a good sign. Gusting to 32mph.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8...b17653f1_c.jpg FILE3236 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8...14331181_z.jpg Screen Shot 2013-03-04 at 11.52.38 AM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr I really used to dread the border-crossing day, but as Guaterider says expect the worst, but hope for the best. I really look at it as a game now. I really find the horde of “helpers” that descend on you very stressful. We just continue to say no gracias and they eventually get tired of us. Occasionally a quiet one will stick around and we might ask him where we start and give him a tip. The exit for two bikes and us from Nicaragua and entry to Costa Rica is 3 hours 45 min (2 hours was standing in line to get passport stamp at CR immigration). Step 1 is to get out of Nicaragua. You stop at small blue shack in the middle of the road where the official looks at your passport and signs your import permit. Ask for a tourist exit paper. Then drive past the Migration building ahead go left and then left around the back to park. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8...b0de753f_c.jpg DSC05294 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Here you pay 1$ each tax and then 4.50$ exit fee at different unmarked windows of course. You get your passport exit stamp here too. Then the official will check your VIN and sign your permit (again). http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...a168e8fd_c.jpg DSC05298 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Then you need to find a cop to sign your import permit. Look for them across the lot sitting under a tree. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8...bd9b827f_c.jpg DSC05300 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Then take it back in side for more signatures. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8...f66c1bee_c.jpg DSC05303 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8...831f3b18_c.jpg DSC05302 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Finally you take your import permit with multiple signatures and give it to the official as you leave Nicaragua. Step 2 is to enter Costa Rica. Drive to the fumigation station where they ask to see you passport. We did not have to have fumigation done. There are no “helpers” here. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8...00e06843_c.jpg FILE3246 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8...7c53cfe6_c.jpg FILE3250 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Drive to the gate where they ask for your passport and direct you to the migration building ahead. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8375/8...ae6b26cd_c.jpg FILE3266 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8...1f180820_c.jpg FILE3278 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8...a2e0651b_c.jpg FILE3295 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8...e84ee264_c.jpg DSC05309 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8...7cd135e2_c.jpg FILE3300 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8...bd000740_c.jpg FILE3305 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We had the bad luck to arrive at 845 am along with 4 full buses that unloaded just in front of us. The line was glacial and took 2 hours. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8...4e8b0d9a_c.jpg DSC05305 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Make sure you fill out a second CA tourist paper for here (the police there have them). No one ever looked at our luggage, despite the bus passengers having to put theirs thru an x-ray scanner. Next walk or drive 300 m down to the Aduana (not across the street to the yellow building marked Aduana, that comes later). http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...b663ed15_c.jpg DSC05324 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8...6141f994_c.jpg DSC05307 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Here you pay 30$ for 3 months of CR insurance and then get copies of the insurance paper, passport photo page, immigration stamp page, Drivers License, and vehicle title across the street. Then proceed back to the small yellow aduada, where they will check all your papers, then your VIN, and send you back to aduana number 1 with your stapled stack of papers. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8...e76d49c2_c.jpg DSC05310 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8...ed2a4414_c.jpg DSC05315 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8...74f689b4_c.jpg DSC05317 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...bf1104d6_c.jpg DSC05320 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8...e505c92a_c.jpg DSC05321 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Here they enter your data into the computer and give you your import permit. Check the VIN, Plate numbers, and dates carefully. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8...499234e0_c.jpg DSC05323 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8...b1757b1b_c.jpg DSC05325 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8105/8...b34d9fd7_c.jpg DSC05326 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr There was an elderly French man here who was livid as his paper had incorrect dates and implied he had over staid his visa. This of course could not be corrected on a Sunday. This is just after he backed into the parked semi truck, but luckily no harm was done. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8239/8...0a68c796_c.jpg DSC05327 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Finally made it!!! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8...631902f8_c.jpg DSC05328 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8...25339045_c.jpg DSC05330 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8...ff116985_c.jpg FILE0383_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...5dcfe3d5_c.jpg FILE0386_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Playa Copal Costa Rica
Heading out to Playa Copal to the Kite House.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...51c75041_c.jpg FILE0391_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8...c6132381_c.jpg FILE0421_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...0d1b35f2_c.jpg FILE0436_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8...1a653039_c.jpg FILE0525_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8...fe38f0a6_c.jpg FILE0568_2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...6edc0a1d_c.jpg DSC05331 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8514/8...66531d27_c.jpg DSC05332 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
learning to kite surf at Playa Copal
The view from our room overlooking the bay at Playa Copal Kite House.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8...83187295_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8...a240f980_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8...fdc4d17f_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 23 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8098/8...766762ba_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8...d05c07c2_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Learning to kite surf lesson 1- Kite control http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8370/8...61feb12e_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8...d837c328_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8515/8...0e1259d1_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8...807a59e7_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8383/8...5018cd06_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 25 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Step 2 get in the water and then control the kite. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8...8b47499b_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 26 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...9bd0b47b_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 45 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8...6b0237f4_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 32 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Step 3 add a surf board and ride. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8...12ef9b23_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 47 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8...879f3c3c_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 49 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Step 4 get launched at least once. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8...5decb511_c.jpg Kiting in Playa Copal, Costa Rica 52 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Step 5 ride up wind. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8...4779bcff_c.jpg DSC08078 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Nosara Costa Rica
Now that Dan is “a kite surfer dude” we are going to head south to meet his sister and her family in Nosara.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8...93b99ecb_z.jpg Screen Shot 2013-03-13 at 4.32.50 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The drive south was initially on the gravel road back to la Cruz and then for a few hours on the pavement. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8...788dafef_c.jpg FILE0636 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8...a1709773_c.jpg FILE0642 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr After leaving La Cruz there are several Policia stops about 5 km apart, where they record your passport number. It was uber hot at 37.5 degrees and kind of like riding your bike inside a sauna. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8...db58a33f_c.jpg FILE0661 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8...c7b328c2_c.jpg FILE0669 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8...4d695d79_c.jpg FILE0678 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We stopped for lunch and a cold drink in Liberia and ran into Blake from Ottawa whom we had met on the street in Antigua at the beginning of January. Small world! http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...28886970_c.jpg IMG_1512 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8384/8...ea7c0de6_c.jpg DSC05336 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This kid was so excited he was waving his thumbs up at us. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8...393a3214_c.jpg FILE0687 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr At Santa Cruz you leave the pavement and drive the 68 km of dirt to Nosara on the pacific Coast. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8...3edf803b_c.jpg FILE0699 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8...e6f23fbf_c.jpg FILE0703 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8...aa0e5203_c.jpg FILE0715 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr The dirt was a bit deep in spots. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8506/8...654a3846_c.jpg FILE0716 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8...87f02d55_c.jpg FILE0718 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8248/8...8b32b6be_c.jpg FILE0719 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8...d24359a5_c.jpg FILE0721 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8...da0c8e2f_c.jpg FILE0723 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8...a1b65723_c.jpg FILE0726 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...5ffca328_c.jpg FILE0728 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8512/8...1a296c5c_c.jpg FILE0731 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Nearer to town where there is more traffic there was some minor Ripio and some areas in the villages had a skim of cement on the dirt. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8384/8...7a61ea68_c.jpg FILE0745 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8237/8...a3854376_c.jpg FILE0765 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8...6a7ece02_c.jpg FILE0783 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Daniel's sister had rented a nice enough place in Nosara, but this is not a place we would recommend at all. This town is a dustbowl. Luckily we had a pool to beat the 40-degree heat. Dan is cowering in the shade watching the mermaid/men swim. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8...d10f13d3_c.jpg DSC08161 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...e5c63369_c.jpg DSC08165 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8110/8...e66c645a_c.jpg DSC08159 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8...e4d38cb2_c.jpg DSC08168 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8507/8...30484502_c.jpg DSC08179 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This place has another down fall it is in the middle of nowhere, but does have a tuk tuk to drive. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8...ccf2905f_c.jpg DSC05344 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8230/8...fe2f32d0_c.jpg DSC05341 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8...8f32e671_c.jpg DSC05343 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Shopping with my niece Kiara at the fruit market. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8...47ec64ea_c.jpg DSC05350 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Fun in the pool http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8367/8...887d2c69_c.jpg DSC05354 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8378/8...b8044dff_c.jpg DSC05359 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Nosara Costa Rica
We managed to get out to the nearest Beach Playa Pelada for some exploration of the tide pools.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8...07becd76_c.jpg nosara 79 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8...13f48651_c.jpg nosara 68 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8...be34a422_c.jpg nosara 75 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8...09a4383f_c.jpg nosara 90 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8...00463c15_c.jpg nosara 81 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8530/8...dd81350b_c.jpg nosara 99 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8238/8...06125593_c.jpg nosara 80 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr We also got in some fun in the waves. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8379/8...b37a0565_c.jpg DSC08256 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8...db5b70e5_c.jpg nosara 93 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...1ece6033_c.jpg nosara 88 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8...79908d18_c.jpg DSC08267 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...ac18ab68_c.jpg DSC08275 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8...5abba984_c.jpg DSC08388 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Samara Costa Rica
Leaving the dust and heat of Nosara we retreated to the beach at Samara. This was a 28 km ride down a VERY dusty dirt road.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...d4abb3af_z.jpg Samara 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8...2fe3f1c2_c.jpg Samara 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8...1167df9b_c.jpg Samara 3 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8236/8...52169dbe_c.jpg Samara 31 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8...851d2579_c.jpg Samara 10 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr On the up hill and looking back down hill. I’m trying to stay back out of Dan’e dust cloud. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8...501fd101_c.jpg Samara 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8...eb832a11_c.jpg Samara 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Not too bad yet as there is no traffic. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8...94cf0065_c.jpg Samara 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8...94578781_c.jpg Samara 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...eab4f557_c.jpg Samara 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8...7ec59d8d_c.jpg Samara 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Here comes the dust. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8...78a4466c_c.jpg Samara 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8...7db95272_c.jpg Samara 12 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This road was nasty also because it was so bumpy. Both of us had numb hands from the road and the ripio. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8...2b4f33e4_c.jpg Samara 13 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8...c3443c98_c.jpg Samara 42 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr There is a short cut off the gravel on a dirt bit of road. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8...b4581afc_c.jpg Samara 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Then you hit the pavement of Samara a few km from town. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8...d2bb6c35_c.jpg Samara 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8...c00ed1bf_c.jpg Samara 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8...a440eea2_z.jpg Samara 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr This is a nice little beach town. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8...0d02d002_c.jpg Samara 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8391/8...ac01c54a_c.jpg Samara 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8251/8...50a0652a_c.jpg Samara 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8...2e282695_c.jpg Samara 16 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8527/8...8a5c30ec_c.jpg Samara 18 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8102/8...1d2ff159_c.jpg Samara 27 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8...307c0aa6_c.jpg Samara 28 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Playa Samara
The next bay over is Playa Carillo so we rode over to check it out the white sand and waves.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8...5a9700e7_z.jpg Screen Shot 2013-03-24 at 4.44.37 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8...10fdddaf_c.jpg playa Carillo 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8...306d49ae_c.jpg playa Carillo 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8...7ba12df8_c.jpg Samara part 2 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Back in Samara there were quite a few horses wandering down the beach. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8...12dd479f_c.jpg Samara part 2 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8...24316725_c.jpg Samara part 2 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8...9641e13e_c.jpg Samara part 2 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr There is a fair in town so we had to check it out. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8...ceb1d2fa_c.jpg DSC05455 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8...e9b465ff_c.jpg DSC05461 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8...959ae4ef_c.jpg DSC05466 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8390/8...48e41a10_c.jpg DSC05453 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8242/8...ec52c655_c.jpg DSC05454 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Time alone after 9 months
After 9 months on the road together we actually were going separate ways for a week. Dan was headed back to kite surf up north at Playa Copal and I was headed to Nuevo Arenal on the lake for some relaxation and a cooler climate after 2 weeks of oppressive heat at the beach. When we left home in June we said we would try to get time by ourselves regularly and we did not do it.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8...fdea2dbb_o.png Screen Shot 2013-03-30 at 9.52.01 PM by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Heading east off the Pan Americana you can feel it get cooler from 37 to 27 degrees. Turning towards the lake the road was initially like a paved country lane. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8521/8...b161ca8b_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 1 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8...20ba94b6_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 2 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr It did get windier (is that a word) and windier until I saw the dreaded wind farm. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8...61a865a5_c.jpg FILE2208 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr Suddenly the pavement stopped and for a few KM it was a dirt road with some pretty steep down hill grades. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8...4b327ab5_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 5 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8241/8...2e9973f3_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 6 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8101/8...e333bfc1_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 4 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8...9dc541c9_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 7 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr I had booked into the Agua Inn B&B for some R&R. They have a steep very windy driveway too. Up is worse than down for sure, especially if you meet a car. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8...7c88fd90_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 8 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8...df619132_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 9 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8...b684a0a5_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 11 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8...1cc7ec8e_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 14 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8529/8...b3486bf9_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 15 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8...54090b4c_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 35 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr It was nice to be alone and go for walks to the lake or just hang out on the deck and watch the birds. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8...d458b419_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 20 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8...d1c575e0_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 22 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8...e3a04829_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 21 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8259/8...ced715a8_c.jpg DSC08559 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr They really make you feel at home here. The girls were always making goodies for me. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8...4b2a630d_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 17 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr There was a tropical storm here and it poured rain for days, but I did not mind just hanging out on the couch with a book. It rained so hard on the metal roof on the inn that I hardly slept 2 of the nights. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8254/8...7d8c2b25_c.jpg Nuevo Arenal 19 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
Trying to kite surf with a tropical storm
Daniel meanwhile was at copal with wind that was way too strong for a noobie, but some of the experts did kite by the full moon with glow stick on their kites.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8...f586605d_c.jpg DSC05475 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8...0ebac434_c.jpg DSC05479 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8124/8...5e9ebfcd_c.jpg DSC05481 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8542/8...6cd41740_c.jpg DSC05484 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr He finally gave up and headed back down the dirt road south of Copal to hit the Pan Americana. http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8399/8...425bcd70_c.jpg FILE2442 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8541/8...e9779469_c.jpg FILE2441 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8259/8...cd3106dd_c.jpg FILE2498 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8258/8...11312e7e_c.jpg FILE2626 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8259/8...3960c1ab_c.jpg FILE2708 by Worldwide Ride.ca, on Flickr |
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