30 May, 2007: Matthew
Mom and Dad took off work today, so we have had some great time to hang out. Today we slept in a little bit and spent until almost past noon sitting around in the living room talking and drinking coffee... the plan was to get an earlier start and head up to Fayetteville and hike out to Long Point for a picnic lunch. Although our plan was a bit delayed, it was just as well - we got some good dinner out of it. As we made our way out to the gorge dad was sharing we us where many of his patients lived while he was working for Hospice - he was driving out that way at least once a week. It was a beautiful day, if not a bit hot and humid, but we very much enjoyed our hike out to Long Point. We even reviewed the riddle that Nina first told on that hike about five years ago while Christian was visiting us about the three rooms upstairs, the three switches downstairs, and if you could only make one trip uspstairs how could you discover which switch went to which room... anybody know that one? On the way home Mom and Dad took us out to Dirty Ernie's Rib Pit and we dug in to some fantastic ribs.
After the first part of the hike Nina and I took a quick detour down to the spot where I had proposed to her over three years ago! Of course this area of the New River Gorge is special to us, not only because of this, but also we had done a fair bit of hiking and rock climbing in this area the summer that we started dating. We hiked on just a short bit more and looked at some of the climbing area where we have spent some time... I hope that Cresson doesn't read this, but we actually started talking in half seriousness about trying to get on at Camp Happy Valley for the summer (camp starts next week) and we could spend some weekends up at the gorge climbing and end up making some money through the summer too. Ok, but, we are not actually prepared to change our plans and our tickets for South America at this stage of the game. Maybe another year, haha.
25 May, 2007: Matthew
It is strange to feel like we are on vacation in the midst of our long journey... as if we need a break from our travels. But, that is mostly what it has felt like to be back in WV for the past week (or so). This past week we have busied ourselves with visiting other friends and family here in St. Albans. Also we have been doing a lot of just simple relaxing with my parents in the evenings which has included some enjoyable dinners and desserts. I have to confess that I had higher ambitions of keeping up with my Spanish study while being back here than I have actually achieved. The closest I have come is the new notebook which I bought for the purpose of re-writing some of my old notes. Hmmm, not exactly marked progress. I have also been staying quite busy with some around-the-house projects for my folks - it is nice to have time to do these sort of little projects for them as I have not been able to do that sort of thing in more recent visits because of having such a short time here. The most significant challenge I think I am facing here is finding a way to stop and see everyone that I would like to while here... my list always tends to be quite long.
This weekend we will be spending some time with Andrea and John up at Canaan Valley. We are taking off in the morning and will spend two nghts with them. We're looking forward to it. I'm sure that we be able to get some great WV pictures as well, I haven't been to that part of the state in quite a while.
20 May, 2007: Nina
We've been back in the states for about 5 days now and have been very busy! Friday we drove all day to Virginia Beach and met up with our friends David, Tammy, Bill and Mike. We had a blast Friday night and Saturday. It was really really good to hang out with friends again. Mike and Bonnie got married Saturday night and had a beautiful wedding on the beach. Matthew and I left after the wedding and arrived in Philadelphia around 3 am! We are spending today with Bekah and it has been a lovely relaxing day so far. We will have to leave tomorrow morning and make the long drive back to St. Albans, but after all of our long bus trips, these 8 hour road trips dont even really seem to be so long any more. Well, maybe that is easier for me to say because I am not the one driving! Maybe I can take a turn at the wheel tomorrow. It has been almost three months so I've sat in the driver's seat! Haha.
One of the things we were struck by was how cold it is here!! It was nice to breath the cold fresh air. It did warm up yesterday at Virginia Beach, and today is also a lovely sunny/windy day in Philly. It is so weird to think that summer is just about to start here in the US... it feels like it has been summer for so long already. But hey thats cool. :)
15 May, 2007: Matthew
Tomorrow we leave Central America. I fully anticipated this time to go by too quickly, but at the same time now that it has gone it is hard to believe. We have had a wonderful trip so far and are looking forward to both returning to the US for a few weeks to see friends and family as well as move on to our next section of our journey in South America in June.
13 de Mayo, 2007: Nina
Wow, its been awhile! Last week was fantastic. We had such a nice time with our good pal Andres. The guys went surfing every day and I thouroughly enjoyed my alone time basking in the sun by the pool, reading, hanging out at the beach, and of course, watching the guys ride the waves.
Andres flew out this morning and that left Matthew and I to decide what to do with ourselves for our last three days in Costa RIca. Only three more days- unbelievable! We were contemplating hiking in the cloud forests or climbing a volcano, but deciding to head for the Caribbean! I thought I had seen the last of the Caribbean when we left Omoa, Honduras, but alas we return! I actually really like the Caribbean. The waters are so clear and warm, the waves are small, and the beaches are beautiful. Most of all though, I love the Caribbean culture. The people and friendly, extremely laid back, and love reggae music. It is more of my style than the surferfied Pacific. =) But that is probably because I dont surf. Anyway, we got an early start and made it to a sleepy little Caribbean town this morning, and checked into the nicest hotel we have been in yet, right on the beach complete with a view of the crystal blue waters. We have two more days left in our beloved Central America and we will be sure to enjoy them! Right now, we are going to head back to our room, sit on the hammock in our balcony with cocktail in hand, and listen to the rain fall. Life is good.... =)
12 May, 2007: Matthew
It has been a while... we have spent the last week with Andres in Montezuma Beach and Mál País Beach on the Nicoya Penensula in Costa Rica. It has been a great time of surfing, hanging out, and enjoying time together.
We met up last Sunday in Montezuma beach at the hostel Luna Llena. Nina and I were fortunate to make it as near to the scheluded time of our meeting as we did since we had some problems with getting to the right ferry going across the penensula. We finally made it though, and showed up only two hours late. Upon our arrival we found Andres konked out on the big chair on the upper veranda of the Luna Llena. After "waking him" we exchanged all of our little travel adventures of the day and started our week together. We were delighted with the location and atmosphere of the Luna Llena with it being nestled in the hillside with all of the tropical plants and wildlife about. Also, they had several dogs that we enjoyed hanging out with, including Leon who was a huge golden retriever looking dog who was super chill and fun see his creative ways of staying cool.
Hmmmm, I´m not actually going to have enough time right now to catch up on the whole week, so I am closing here for now, but we´ll work on some more updates about our time this week.
5 de Mayo, 2007: Nina
There is a road that makes its way North, leaving the Panamerican highway, 45 miles or so east of the Costa Rica/Panama border. It leaves the humid hustle and bustle of David and the highway, and subtly climbs into the hills in search of a fresh, crisp, climate. The hills become greener, the grass lush with new fallen rain and dotten with grazing horses and small flocks of sheep. The hills beyond the lush green grasses are a deep, dark, almost blackened green, so rich is the color. The sky is a mixture of soft white to the south and deep grey to the north. Misty clouds nestle amongst the blackened green hills. The hilltops reach into the thick clouds, invisible. Wild flowers appear lazily along side of the road, in the fields, and among the small wooden houses scattered about the hillsides. Strawberries, coffee, cabbage, and carrots thrive in their neat little rows in the rich volcanic soil. The colors are vibrant and contrasting- the hills, the sky, the flowers, the fences. Everything that has color is the richest of that color. Nothing is blended, everything appears fresh and untouched, but yet old and stable.
We get off the bus and I am taken aback by the fresh, cool, air. We walk through the country roads on our way to a trail that will lead us several kilometers into the cloud forest, eventually taking us to another town on the other side of the volcano. My heart is racing and I am overcome with the beauty of this land. I feel a sense of infatuation, as if I will never be able to soak it all in, as if it will never be enough. I soothe my desire by promising to return some day. I take a deep breath of the mountain air and feel alive.
We leave the lush farm land behind enter the cloud forest. Mist crawls about the ravines, the trees touch the sky. We walk for miles amongst the cloud forest foliage, ducking under vines, crossing streams, and stopping too frequently to gaze up into the tree tops, hoping to see another quetzal. Our trail eventually leads us out of the forest and to another small country road where we begin our descent down to the town, where we plan to stay the night. The sign says 3 kilomters to the town... about 20 minutes later another sign says 4 kilometers... are we going the right way? The guide book says two hours... hmm. We continue. This walk is equally as beautiful... steep dark hills, fertile soil, wooden fences, wild flowers everywhere, hanging mist. Then begins the rain. First soft and subtle, like walking into a cloud. But as the road takes us from above the clouds to below the clouds, a heavy rain falls relentlessly. By the time we reach the town... 3 hours later... we are completely drenched. But the air is still fresh and we are not cold. Just very, very wet!
2 May, 2007: Matthew
Yesterday I had the opportunity to do some surfing with Chris, as Nina mentioned below... it was good to get in a warm-up run before spending our week in CR with Andres! It has been three years since I was on a surf board, which was in Mexico, and especially with the fact that I never achieved much of an accomplished stance - I can use all the practice I can get, haha! It was a nice mild day for me though, and I did manage to recall my few skills aquired with my previous experience. It was a great day to spend out with the guys.
Last night we went up to this cafe that is right by the Miraflores Locks here on the Panama Canal. It was very cool to see a couple of the ships come through and watch the magnitude of this opperation. It is so amazing that this system was first implemented nearly 100 years ago now. Quite the engineering accomplishment.
Today we are shoving off back west to Costa Rica. However, we are going to stop for a night in David, and then do a day hiking trip up through the Boquete area. We have been told by several people that this is a really beautiful rain forest area, and so we're squeezing in a day trip. I'm expecting it to be quite fun that our journey between Volcan and Boquete does not have a road, and so that is the section that we will have to hike. There is however, a bus returning from Boquete to David, and so that is how we will get back on the traveling route after the day hike.
Ok, well I'm going to go to the task of packing up my bag now so that we can get on the road.
1 de Mayo, 2007: Nina
We have been enjoying our visit with our friends! It has been so relaxing and really fun to hang out with Chris, Kalika, and Marek. Matthew and Chris left early this morning to the beach to go surfing. I am going to enjoy a morning with no plans! The Stantons have a huge mango tree in the back yard. Every now and then we will hear a loud THUMP on the roof, as a mango tumbles its way to the ground. Being one of our favorite fruits, Matthew and I have been enjoying the abundance of the mangos and will eat a couple each day. Yesterday I even made a mango pie. It actually turned out really well!