Jennie’s Adventure to Guatemala and Nicaragua

Not a soul in sight  

My casita is called Jicoba, as this tree is growing in my bathroom. At first I thought a mushroom was growing on the trunk, but it turned out to be a bud. .

 

Nicaragua is one of the best birding locations in the world, home to over 700 resident and passage birds, Because of its unique topography, the country is relatively flat compared to hits mountainous neighbours to the north and south.  It forms a kind of geographical barrier, which means that many birds from North America reach their southernmost point in Nicaragua, while many birds from South America reach their northernmost point in the country. It is one of the few places in the world where you can find both a Roadrunner and a Scarlet Macaw.

To help people deepen their connection with community, nature, and self by creating an open and nourishing environment that stimulates presence, curiosity, and growth. To generate an inspiring community model to improve the collective wellbeing; by nurturing a diversified locally-owned economy that shares the vision of social equality and environmental protection and regeneration.

On Tuesday we went off to see the Collado Reserve in a jeep equipped with a snorkel for crossing rivers. It was a wild bumper ride, taking us through a community that only received electricity six years ago.  Lemon Grass West Indian Elm or Bay Cedar The Centre that will be a refuge for bartered women Colourful beetle Our jeep Banana trees and tree seedlings Tim the Turtle man Tim the Turtle man described some of the many projects they are developing such as a free market to exchange food and other goods, a women’s shelter against violence, and the reforestation program, a food forest they are planting for people and animals. Every month they give away large amounts of bananas to the local community. The tree planting starts with banana trees, and once they are established, helping retain the soil, they plant many other species as identified by local elders as being native, and grown from locally sourced seeds. They have also established a community medical emergency fund, as childr...

 After leaving behind Tim, our guide Junior took us on a hike through the tropical dry forest to a beautiful waterfall. While there a number of blue morphos flew around us, as well as a red butterfly. We enjoyed a refreshing swim in the pool below the waterfall. In addition to seeing several owls, we saw a sloth high up in a tree. It was a truly beautiful hike and quite magical swimming under the waterfall with the gorgeous blue morphos around us.

 As they needed someone to teach yesterday’s afternoon class I offered. It was a real privilege to teach in this gorgeous setting. There were several yoga teachers in my class, including two from Costa Dulce, and almost everyone was very experienced, so a bit daunting! A number of people came up to me afterwards to let me know how much they enjoyed the class. It also felt like a bit of a test, as I am planning on working here and teaching yoga is one of several things I hope to do here, as well as teaching English and meditation. On Monday I offered a Thai massage to my yoga teacher, definitely the most beautiful setting I have ever worked in.

 As I had added on an extra day, today I changed rooms. I am under Casa Ola, a little closer to the beach and with a new view.

 

 I went surfing! It was so much fun!

 

View of the dining area  

 We left the eco-resort at 4:20 a.m. - Irma my driver was waiting for me. An hour and a half to the border. We got there at 5:30 ish, and people were already starting to line up. By six when the border opened there was a long line of travellers on foot and another of trucks and cars. Fortunately it was quick to make it through the two borders since I was close to the front of the line. My chauffeur Johnny was waiting for me on the Costa Rican side, who took me to the Liberia airport, another hour and a half drive.

Sansa 12 Seater Plane The flight back to San Jose was on another little plane with the local airline Sansa. My next flight on Spirit Airlines to Fort Lauderdale has been delayed by several hours.  There was a huge lineup at Spirit - and self check out directed me to an agent - but somehow I lucked out as a guy took me to the side and in front of everyone and got me to an agent for my boarding passes. Still hoping to make it to Los Vegas by midnight. A slow route home - tomorrow I return to Los Angeles, then back to Vancouver on Westjet.

What a travel day that started at 4 a.m. and ended at 1 a.m. Friday! We arrived in Fort Lauderdale two hours late. The delays in Fort Lauderdale since early morning meant that there was a huge traffic jam of planes waiting for gates when we arrived. We were told we had to wait for a plane to deplane its passengers, have them clear immigration, reboard, and then find crew to move the plane. I could see planes lining up on the runway waiting for gates. We finally got off an hour and a half? later. Then we had to clear Immigration. We lined up, still optimistic we would make our flights as they had also been delayed by several hours. Originally I had over four hours to do this, have supper, and take my evening flight. Well, they decided to only let US citizens clear immigration and had hundreds and hundred of us lining up and fenced in like cattle waiting. Some were travelling with babies, some were elderly, all of us were tired and just wanting to get home or make our next flight. We sto...

Another woman from Colombia also needed a hotel, so we started searching together for one on our phones. I found one with rooms still available and called to make our two bookings. They insisted on asking for all kinds of details and setting me up with a rewards card, even though I told her we were exhausted and just needed to get there. When I called back they had no record of my call - I got a different person - and when he started in again I begged him to just send us a shuttle and take care of details when we got there. So we were finally able to get to our rooms at just before 1 a.m. My new flight only leaves at 6 pm and gets in to Vancouver at midnight, so one more night in a hotel before I can get home. My new friend Angela was only given a flight at midnight - and she is only going home to Houston, a short flight. This morning I bumped into her on my way to breakfast and so we will hang out together today. So it may be a complicated trip home, but I have made a new friend!

Travel day number two went by quickly. Angela and I had fun shopping a a new mall in Dania Beach and going out for a rushed lunch before taking the shuttle to the airport in the early afternoon. As we left from different terminals, we parted ways, after sharing contact info and promising to visit each other in the future. She offered to share yoga retreat info with her niece and others, who are yoga enthusiasts living in the Cancun area of Mexico. While I hadn’t envisioned running a bilingual yoga retreat, it could be a possibility, so I will have to study up on Spanish yoga terminology. From Spirit hell the day before, I walked into Delta heaven. There were no line-ups so I walked in effortlessly. At the bag scanning I met a guy from Tacoma, Joseph, and we ended up exchanging all kinds of stories over a beer which he invited me to. He used the last of his cash on our drinks, so I bought us both bagels for supper, the only vegetarian option I could find. Neither of us had reserved seat...

Well, fortunately I am not in a hurry. Since I am in Vancouver, I have decided to head out to Port Coquitlam this morning for a short visit with my son Alex and his family before heading home. So another bonus, I get to go on a short hike with my grandchildren! No doubt I will catch an afternoon ferry to Nanaimo and make it home by early evening. There could have been easier, and faster, though costlier, ways of travelling, but it has been an Adventure! Lessons learnt - never ever ever  fly Spirit again, no matter how cheap their flights are, and one I already knew, avoid travelling through the United States at all costs. Delta was impressive, they delivered my bag to Port Coquitlam and are going to buy me a new suitcase, since it arrived damaged.

 

After three days of travel it was good to get home. My friend Dyan kindly met the Gabriola ferry and took me home, first stopping ar her place to feed me dinner. I returned to find my neighbour had turned on my outside lights to welcome me. A great end to one of the best solo trips I have ever taken.