This last Spring I made an oath to be home for the holidays. The ongoing flow of travel and work had kept me away for a majority of these last 12 years since I had first left California in September 1999. And an extended stay at home is always a welcome hiatus from the road and her wearies.
This last Spring I made an oath to be home for the holidays. The ongoing flow of travel and work had kept me away for a majority of these last 12 years since I had first left California in September 1999. And an extended stay at home is always a welcome hiatus from the road and her wearies.
So the topics around the dinner table revolved around two topics: religion(Catholicism) and food(rodent)…I am adventuresome when it comes to travel, but rather on the strait and narrow when sampling local cuisine. But for those traveling in the Andean regions of Ecuador such as Banos, Cuenca and Otavalo, you will eventually see one of those oversized rats being skinned, butterfly split and skewered, roasting in the open air markets. I am referring to the Cuy(a Quechua word, pronounced Kwee)
So the topics around the dinner table revolved around two topics: religion(Catholicism) and food(rodent)…I am adventuresome when it comes to travel, but rather on the strait and narrow when sampling local cuisine. But for those traveling in the Andean regions of Ecuador such as Banos, Cuenca and Otavalo, you will eventually see one of those oversized rats being skinned, butterfly split and skewered, roasting in the open air markets. I am referring to the Cuy(a Quechua word, pronounced Kwee)
Everything in Costa Rica is a monopoly. One electrical company, one water company, even when it comes to cable or internet there’s not a lot of options. Cable Tica is one of those few options, but is it the best option?
Customer service is the mark of a successful company. In my opinion, Cable Tica is failing miserably when it comes to customer service. Recently I called their customer service line to ask a simple question, How many channels do you offer in English? I had to call six different numbers before anyone would even attemp to anwers my question. Then the only answer I was given was “All I know is that 6 channels are SAP enabled. ” Read more
Any legal paperwork in Costa Rica can be a real pain. Long lines, a million hoops to jump through and just when you think you have every document you could possibly need they ask for another one, original and certified photocopy. Getting your CR driver’s license could be another classic headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you need to know:
If you have a valid driver’s license from a foreign country then the process is pretty simple. You need
Your valid driver’s license. Original and photocopy
Full physical examination. Just ask your doctor for a physical for your driver’s license and you’ll get exactly what you need.
Passport with a current tourist visa, permanent residency card or
Bahia de Carquez and the north coast of Manabi are some of the last parts of Ecuador with pristine beaches and cheap property for sale. Much has been happening in the last few years to improve the infrastructure
Last Saturday we had hoped to go to the beach, but with the rain clouds looming overhead, those plans sadly had to be put on hold. We made up for the gloomy morning by sitting around inside, eating waffles with fried apples (thank you La Sirena), pecans and whipped cream, topped with real maple syrup – thanks to our wonderful French Canadian friend – and discussing what fun, indoor activity we could do later in the day. That’s when Chris suggested checking out the Las Hermanas Mirabal Museum in Salcedo.
Las Hermanas Mirabal are perhaps the most adored historical figures in the Dominican Republic (they’re even on the 200 peso note!). Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal are revered Read more
Vagabond Explorer Magazine challenges you to get outside the rounds of conventional tourism, get into the open air, and look the world directly in the face. Serving as the official magazine of Vagabond Journey Travel, in each issue we strive to give you the best on the ground travel reports, biting vagabonding narratives, tactical and money saving tips, and reviews of the top blogs, books, and gear made for the traveler. Look inside at Vagabond Explorer Magazine
I will be the first to tell you that, when you live here you don’t make it to the beach nearly as much as you should. And, when you finally make it there, chances are you are there for a day trip, or have friends to stay with. So, despite the fact that you live on a Caribbean island, you spend very little time at the resorts that dot its coastline. (Which makes it hard to write a “Best Resorts Dominican Republic” post.)
(So far, in 6 years in the Dominican Republic, I have only made it to one resort. Shameful, I know.)
Given my lack of experience, the following is a review of the best resorts in the Dominican Read more
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