Panama

Stuck at the Costa Rica-Panama border... the power went out in Costa Rica (yes, the whole country) a lil before we got to the border, so we couldnt get across- we all waited a few hours trying to track down the guy but to no avail. We ended up sleeping on the bus overnight and in the early morning got back in line and finally made it across- but not before Tracy missed her flight and banged my head really hard.

Getting ready to go out on the town in Panama City with our friend Breno... We went to a club and danced the night away!
The ruins of the cities first capital, Old Panama (or Panama La Vieja). Em and I had the whole place to ourselves and wandered around goofing off (see tea party below).

Downtown Panama City over my shoulder

Panama Canal- wow. One of those things you learn about and seem so exotic so when we finally got there it was awesome.... we splurged and had a bottle of wine during our lunch overlooking the Miraflores Lock.


We got on a overnight bus to Bocas del Toro- if anyones ever taken a bus all night, you know you dont really sleep too much. We got to the "port" at like 5 am and an hour later got on a boat to Bocas. It was a beautiful little area of islands, although deserted when we got there. In looking for a hotel, the first place we saw had a Malaria warning taped to its front door- yay! We ended up staying at this amazing waterfront hotel. The pic below doesnt do it justice but its the sun setting over the water and a hammock in the foreground.

Emily made us walk forever down this road to this gross beach- it was dirty and sand fly filled
Leaving the island paradise of Bocas del Toro, we started our long journey home by first getting on this speed boat for about an hour. As it zipped through this tiny river I hoped we would make it without having to use the life jackets. After the boat we got in a taxi to the border. Below is the scary bridge we had to cross that separated Panama and CR. Once in CR, we took another taxi to Puerto Viejo then a bus to Limon and on to San Jose. The next morning we hopped on our flight back to New York.

Costa Rica! Pura Vida!!

We arrived late at night and taxied to our hotel in Alajuela. We asked the guy working there where we could get some dinner, and he pointed us down the street. We walked a few blocks and headed in to this bar/restaurant where you could hear crickets when we walked in. Actually it was probably those giant flying beetles. This restaurant ended up being one of the most authentic of our trip, little did we know- it was rice, beans, plantains, and for me an egg. Also, Salsa Lizano and a few Rojos (beer). The next morning we had a fabulous breakfast on a patio in our hotel- lotsa fresh fruit and once again rice and beans and eggs- are you seeing a pattern here? That day we wandered around Alujuela and took a bus out to a butterfly garden.

Finca de Mariposas

Arenal

We arrived at night to our awesome resort . I woke up at 5 am to birds chirping and monkeys howling, opened the door and saw paradise. Looking from our balcony we glimpsed the peak of Arenal Volcano- the only time we ended up seeing it - wow.Breakfast at Los Lagos Inn

La Fortuna

While in Arenal we went ziplining, rapelling down waterfalls, rode in a sky bucket over rain forest, had drinks at the swim up bar, went to some really nice hot springs (pic below), relaxed, swam in the pool and wandered around town.
Em and Lu are behind that waterfall

Howler Monkey! Our bus left Arenal at like 4am and it took most of the day to get to Cahuita- on the Carribbean side!! It was awesome to see the beach. Our room in Cahuita was really nice- all wood with big beds and mosquito nets. Right outside our door was the beach and the national park- lotsa monkeys and birds and reptiles congregated in the little river right in front of the place. One night we went and listened to a reggae band and danced and met a nice woman from near San Jose and her boyfriend who said he was the drummer for Kansas, but we dont think that was quite true :)

Leaf Cutter Ants!

Mosquito NetTree in Cahuita National Park

White faced monkey and mango

Before we even got to Rockin Js in Puerto Viejo, we new it was gonna be awesome- and when we got there we were blown away- we loved it! Two huge hammock hotels, a bunch of space for tents and a few cabins, an outdoor area, a shaded place with more hammocks, a cafe, a kitchen, and some picnic tables... everything was covered in artwork from random people that had stayed there and the vibe was really awesome. Thats Jay in the pic, an American expat who owns the hostel. We played cards, read in hammocks, at nights there was a bonfire out on the beach. We could also walk to a really beautiful beach, Playa Cocles. One day we rented bikes and rode down to Punta Uva and then Manzanillo. It was fun except for the fact that the tires were flat, so that made it a bit more difficult.

Rockin Js

It was hard to leave PV, but we had to get back to San Jose so Lucy could catch her flight back to NYC and we could pick up Tracy. We took the bus back, and stayed at Hostel Pangea- one of our favorite places of the entire trip.

Elephants in Manhattan

So Chris Burns called me at like 11:00 pm on a Tuesday night to ask what I was doing. As I was unemployed, I answered not much. Somehow, Chris and I ended up meeting Chris B on 34th street to watch the elephants come into town. It was so awesome, when the circus comes to town they walk the elephants through the Queens Midtown Tunel and up 34th Street all the way to Madison Square Garden

In all the excitement, this was the best pic I got of the clown riding on an elephant.

Chris and Chris

Big ponies

Little ponies

EMILY COMES TO TOWN.....

oh yah, and its St. Patty's Day...

Emily got to my house at around 2:30 am after getting her bags last and waiting in the longest taxi line possible (typical Emily style). After her long day of travelling, she was a bit hungry so we trekked out to the good ole 24 hour diner, Cozy Soup and Burger. This trek turned out to be a recurring theme throughout her trip because we walked there or near there atleat twice every day she was in town. The next night we went to McSwirleys, the Irish alehouse thats become our traditional pre-St.PattysDay bar. We met some fun Irish girls, a couple from Texas and some veterans that were marching in the parade the next day. Emily could tell you all their names and occupations (you would be proud, mom) and did tell most of the people we saw for the next few days :)

Finally, the special day came, the day we had been waiting for all year - the day we had been planning for and collecting things for, the day that took hours of preparing - Saint Patricks Day! First came the unveiling of the capes, thats right CAPES - designed and handtailored by Emily and Supan just for the occasion. I think they made 17 in all - some for the west coast posse, some for the east coast gang. Green ones, a yellow one, and striped one - all with pots of gold on the back and sparkly black shamrocks. Emilys was the queen of all capes - with gold tassles hanging down all over, and green designy lining on the inside and tons of shamrocks all over it. They are magnificent!!!!


With our capes, shamrock necklaces, whistle pipes, green wigs, shamrock clappers, green beads, four-leaf clover shirt, and green eyeshadow we set out to the parade. We met up with more friends- Jeff, Alex, Kristen, and Binky and had frontish row spots to see the parade on Fifth Avenue. There were lotsa bagpipes, marching bands, dancers, and random groups of people walking.

I love the pipe and drum bands!!!!!!


After the parade we wandered around a bit and then met up with more friends- Chris Burns, Stacy, Jess, Sandra, Kate, and Will. Here are some more pics:
Sandra, Chris, Me, Jess, Em, Lucy, and Stacy in the front

My old New York roomie, Kate

Em, me, Binky, Alex (the caped avenger?), Kristen, and Lucy

Chris Burns and I (man, I missed this guy)

The day Em left we went to Loodys school and helped out in her 3rd grade classroom. It was really fun and the kids are so cute. They are learning about interviewing so a little girl interviewed me on why Pluto is not a planet- smart kids. They also wrote penpal letters to Emilys 4th graders in California.


Saint Patricks Day was a lot of fun and definitely a day to remember. Can't wait til next year!

Makin the Move

New York, NY
After a lengthy and fun stay at Lucy's, Chris and I found our own place in the East Village. Its a great location and a good size place. We have been exploring our neighborhood and found many wonders. This is the first official meal at our place- gourmet yummy house on the kitchen floor- how sophisticated!


The weather is so unusual here. It will be snowing one day and then warmish the next. Im still not used to it- dont know if I ever will be. Chris and I went to Central Park and the Natural History Museum.

It's coooooooooooold!






Belvedere Castle in Central Park - in the snow.







Natural History Museum- Chris likes the dinosaur bones and the squid and the whale. I like the birds and mammals. While there, we saw a stuffed bird that was the same as one we saw in Central Park- it was a woodcock! (a rare bird for NYC)

New Years in Mammoth

Chris and I went to Mammoth for New Years to see our bestest friends and go skiing - my first attempt ever. We also soaked in the hot tubs, ate blueberry muffins, attempted a trip to the hot springs - lets just call it an offroad adventure, played Spades, and sampled Scott and Kevins year-in-the-making barley wine (yum!).

Skiing, aah, skiing - my new friend... This picture was taken on the lift up to the top of the craziest run ever - Sesame Street - it doesnt get more bunny than this.Kevin, me and Scott all going for a ride- check out my awesome orange goggles!

Here it is - proof that I actually strapped ski's to my feet and slid down the mountain. Chris said I had good form...

Here is Scott and Kev at the top of the mountain. They, along with Chris, went to do some harder runs - maybe you can see me down at Sesame Street... It was perfect weather for skiing - a warm, sunny, windfree day.
Towards the end of our sesh we took the gondola up to McCoy's Station and had a beer - brewed locally - it was quite tasty and pretty funny when the foam started freezing over. Kevin definitely wins for best ski hair ever - with Chris following close behind. Scotts hair was perfect all day, seeing that he snowboards like 4 times a week. Getting down from this part of the mountain was quite an adventure for me - highlighted by falling often, screaming loudly, and laughing hysterically. All in all, it was a great way to spend the new years!