Debbie Prediger Photography's photostream on Flickr.
A few photos from our Sedona and Grand Canyon Trip
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Sedona here we come road trip part 2
My birthday surprise trip
I am so blessed! My sister took my on a road trip. (Well technically we flew and then had a road trip). I was my birthday surprise! I knew we were going somewhere but no idea where or what we would be doing. She had it all planned out and it was amazing.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Costa Rica how I miss you!
We have traveled to Costa Rica three times. I am sure that is the most we have ever returned to one place other than our local lake (because we own a cabin there). The first time we traveled and explored Costa Rica was 13 years ago for 3 weeks. It was so amazing, we rented a car and drove all over. Not touristy at all. A poorer country but very clean and the people are very proud! We loved the culture, staying close to the locals (Ticos) and watching how things work!
The 2nd time was 6 years later and we took another couple with us. Hoping to see what we missed the first trip, but soon realized that we couldn't see enough of the countryside with only 3 weeks. Another trip was planned and we hoped we could return before tourism changed Costa Rica too much. The prices are climbing as well as the development is taking away some of the beautiful scenery and wildlife that attracted us to Costa Rica in the first place. So 13 years later we go back to Costa Rica, this time renting a house for 2 weeks and enjoying exploring locally instead of moving every couple days. It was fantastic. We took a side trip to Nicaragua and then our last week was spent on the Caribbean side near the Panama border. Again we said, we need to return! We love every part of Costa Rica that we have seen and experienced. Of course we enjoy the tico activities the best! Local rodeo's, friday night BBQ's on the street are a must to see!
We returned saying we MUST go back at least one more time and stay even longer 5-6 weeks I think.
Our son and his girlfriend just returned from Tamarindo area, its a young people's surfing town. Lots of shopping and higher prices, but the beach and surfing is fantastic. They loved it also, but never really had the chance to experience the true Costa Rica outside of the little beach town. Tamarindo is perfect for people that want to stay put, relax, and the airport is close. 45 minutes of probably the best road in Costa Rica. It's definitely an option for a shorter vacation. Another option is one of the few all inclusive resorts in Costa Rica. Now you must realize that all inclusive in Costa Rica is not the same as in mexico. For one thing all the all Inclusive I seen are quite remote and out of the way to other places. Once they have you there, its a cost to go see anything! BUT once in awhile you see these great deals of flight and all inclusive resort for around 1000. that is a real savings and I say stay at the hotel for a bit (2-3 days) and then travel around to other places for a bit. the value of the flight is 750 at the cheapest so the extra $250 is cheap for the week. Leaving a budget to stay elsewhere if you want to explore. Lake Arenal is 3 hours away on windy roads making a day trip a long day. Over night accommodations with breakfast will run you $50-75 for two and we have always found lots to choose from. The Caribbean side is 5 hours from Lake Arenal and the active volcano, so just keep travelling after your overnight stay there. Plan on 2-3 days in that area and then return via San Jose to complete the trip back to your all inclusive resort for the last day and night before flying out. If you want to stay close but see other beaches, I suggest Manual Antonio or Samara, both amazing beaches!
The 2nd time was 6 years later and we took another couple with us. Hoping to see what we missed the first trip, but soon realized that we couldn't see enough of the countryside with only 3 weeks. Another trip was planned and we hoped we could return before tourism changed Costa Rica too much. The prices are climbing as well as the development is taking away some of the beautiful scenery and wildlife that attracted us to Costa Rica in the first place. So 13 years later we go back to Costa Rica, this time renting a house for 2 weeks and enjoying exploring locally instead of moving every couple days. It was fantastic. We took a side trip to Nicaragua and then our last week was spent on the Caribbean side near the Panama border. Again we said, we need to return! We love every part of Costa Rica that we have seen and experienced. Of course we enjoy the tico activities the best! Local rodeo's, friday night BBQ's on the street are a must to see!
We returned saying we MUST go back at least one more time and stay even longer 5-6 weeks I think.
Our son and his girlfriend just returned from Tamarindo area, its a young people's surfing town. Lots of shopping and higher prices, but the beach and surfing is fantastic. They loved it also, but never really had the chance to experience the true Costa Rica outside of the little beach town. Tamarindo is perfect for people that want to stay put, relax, and the airport is close. 45 minutes of probably the best road in Costa Rica. It's definitely an option for a shorter vacation. Another option is one of the few all inclusive resorts in Costa Rica. Now you must realize that all inclusive in Costa Rica is not the same as in mexico. For one thing all the all Inclusive I seen are quite remote and out of the way to other places. Once they have you there, its a cost to go see anything! BUT once in awhile you see these great deals of flight and all inclusive resort for around 1000. that is a real savings and I say stay at the hotel for a bit (2-3 days) and then travel around to other places for a bit. the value of the flight is 750 at the cheapest so the extra $250 is cheap for the week. Leaving a budget to stay elsewhere if you want to explore. Lake Arenal is 3 hours away on windy roads making a day trip a long day. Over night accommodations with breakfast will run you $50-75 for two and we have always found lots to choose from. The Caribbean side is 5 hours from Lake Arenal and the active volcano, so just keep travelling after your overnight stay there. Plan on 2-3 days in that area and then return via San Jose to complete the trip back to your all inclusive resort for the last day and night before flying out. If you want to stay close but see other beaches, I suggest Manual Antonio or Samara, both amazing beaches!
Monday, February 25, 2013
The border crossing into Nicaragua from Costa rica
The border crossing into Nicaragua from Costa rica or the other way around. Is a big business. There are buses, and tours that do just that because each country has a law that you can not stay longer than 90 days. So across the border, get your passport stamped and continue with your vacation. This is a link to In Nic now. Where expats from Edmonton live in Nicaragua. Its a great blog.
http://innicanow.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/another-90-days-in-paradise/
http://innicanow.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/another-90-days-in-paradise/
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Day 2 of Nicaragua Trip
We awoke to wonderful wildlife sounds and are ready for our day 2 adventure and discovering Ometepe Island. Where time stands still! Danny our guide talked to us last night about all the things we can do on Ometepe, such as hike 10 hours to places few have seen. (no thanks), swim in health waters where we will look years younger in 20 minutes (yes please) visit a farm, or a coffee planation, maybe some towns or museums.
We decided hiking in the forest and seeing the wildlife is good, as well as swimming, coffee planation, and a farm with drawing carved in the rocks from 1000's years ago. Catch the Ferry back B4 dark and then cross the border back into Costa Rica.
Here are photos from our walk.
We decided hiking in the forest and seeing the wildlife is good, as well as swimming, coffee planation, and a farm with drawing carved in the rocks from 1000's years ago. Catch the Ferry back B4 dark and then cross the border back into Costa Rica.
Here are photos from our walk.
The Blue Throated Jay bird
Thorny Cedar tree
A monkey hurrying to get away from us. (they don't see to many tourists here)
This tree looses its red bark and is green under
Our guide tells us about each plant and animal we see
The brown vine snake joins us
The trees in this small forest are huge
Danny catches the Vine snake and tells us about him
The roots of this tree was amazing
This tree is being killed by the vines climbing on it.
Ometepe Island Overnight stay
Altagracia, the largest city of the island, Ometepe has three major attractions: its volcanoes, nature, manifested in its forests and animals, and adventure of sailing across the lake.
The island has a great potential for agricultural and ecological tourism. A lot of tourists come Ometepe U.S. and Europe. A foreign tourist, on occasion, said he would "come to a farm that had a shelter that would allow them to milk the cows themselves." Others say they want to "come to cut that we thought was banana banana". With this, the island offers the possibility of integrating the different sectors of tourism production, so that not only are a few recipients.
"The Adventure of Ometepe actually begins before you reach the island itself," begins when the tourist embarks on Granada or San Jorge in the boat or small ferry that carries passengers and vehicles between the island and the mainland. From the dock of San Jorge to Moyogalpa on Ometepe, is nearly an hour of being a sailor, as the island with their two huge volcanoes is becoming increasingly large and imposing as they cover the twelve miles between these two ports.
Already in Ometepe is impossible not to be impressed and captivated by the spectacular nature of the island, for its paths covered with Malinche, Chilamate, strawberry, Janissaries, plums and monumental ceibas. Mangroves, beside the green waters of Lake Charco Verde, whose surroundings are full of trees Nancite, among others, are a unique experience. In these trees, up to 50 feet high, inhabiting the Congo monkeys, which are visible from the trails covered by the branches of the trees surrounding the small lake, which is located only few meters from the beaches of the island.
The island has a great potential for agricultural and ecological tourism. A lot of tourists come Ometepe U.S. and Europe. A foreign tourist, on occasion, said he would "come to a farm that had a shelter that would allow them to milk the cows themselves." Others say they want to "come to cut that we thought was banana banana". With this, the island offers the possibility of integrating the different sectors of tourism production, so that not only are a few recipients.
"The Adventure of Ometepe actually begins before you reach the island itself," begins when the tourist embarks on Granada or San Jorge in the boat or small ferry that carries passengers and vehicles between the island and the mainland. From the dock of San Jorge to Moyogalpa on Ometepe, is nearly an hour of being a sailor, as the island with their two huge volcanoes is becoming increasingly large and imposing as they cover the twelve miles between these two ports.
Already in Ometepe is impossible not to be impressed and captivated by the spectacular nature of the island, for its paths covered with Malinche, Chilamate, strawberry, Janissaries, plums and monumental ceibas. Mangroves, beside the green waters of Lake Charco Verde, whose surroundings are full of trees Nancite, among others, are a unique experience. In these trees, up to 50 feet high, inhabiting the Congo monkeys, which are visible from the trails covered by the branches of the trees surrounding the small lake, which is located only few meters from the beaches of the island.
Our experience:
we are played out from a busy day that started at 5 am. (it is hard to believe we have seen so much and travelled so far in one day) It is growing dark soon, and we still have to travel on the ferry across Lake Nicaragua to Ometepe Island where our day 2 of our Nicaragua adventure will start.
We get to the dock of San Jorge and realize its a very small ferry that is bobbing around in the rough waters like a bouy. Both Mavis and myself get motion sick very easy and this ride doesn't look like it will be too much fun. We watch the ferry come in and when it turns to back in, we laugh out loud, it looked like it was going to flip over the water was VERY choppy.
Half of the island. There are actually two volcanos on the island.
The dock where the ferry is tied to.
loading the ferry with cars and trucks
The Ferry's bopping around in the water waiting for docking. THis is going to be one rough ride.
Our room on the island
view of the 2nd volcano
the hotel from the beach,
At least it is cool and the breeze will help blow through the lower deck. By the time we leave dock it is dark and raining. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get across because the rough waters I guess. When we arrive the walkers get off 1st, and must squeeze between parked trucks cars and motorbikes. When we get to the dock it seems like everyone is happy to find us a ride. But our guide Danny is there to pick us up and drive us to our hotel on the other side of the island. We are tied and hungry, so didn't enjoy the scenic drive as much as we could have. I do remember that there are more people, dogs, horses, and chickens on the road that on the main land. Our hotel is the best on the island we hear, and it was certainly a welcome sight as was the supper (red snapper) and drinks. Tomorrow is another day...in paradise.
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