June 17, 2010
Left Quepos at 10 am and had a long but beautiful 3.5 ride through the mountains to Alajuela. Alajuela is only 5 minutes from the International Airport and much nicer and closer than San Jose.
About Me
- Bill Passman
- I am a bohemian nomad, someone who acts and lives free of regard for conventional rules and practices, but also one who moves according to the seasons. After traveling to over 100 countries and all 7 continents over the past 12 years I feel that I truly subscribe to the words of Mary Poxon, who said. "I sought to see the amazing as normal and the daily as unique, and in that swirling paradox I found the joy of travel." I will be forever in pursuit of new sights and adventures and hope that maybe I can convince a few more to give budget travel a chance. Budget travel gives those with little money an opportunity to travel and those with money an opportunity to travel longer.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Leaving Quepos and headed to Alajuela
Left Quepos at 10 am and had a long but beautiful 3.5 ride through the mountains to Alajuela. Alajuela is only 5 minutes from the International Airport and much nicer and closer than San Jose.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Alajuela
June 17, 2010
We arrived at the Hotel Mi Tierra in Alajuela shortly after 1pm. The hotel is great and has a pool We got a room with 5 beds and bathroom for $65 and that includes breakfast and a taxi to the airport. Unfortunately we will be leaving at 5am for the 5 minute taxi ride to the airport.
We arrived at the Hotel Mi Tierra in Alajuela shortly after 1pm. The hotel is great and has a pool We got a room with 5 beds and bathroom for $65 and that includes breakfast and a taxi to the airport. Unfortunately we will be leaving at 5am for the 5 minute taxi ride to the airport.
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Sunday, September 19, 2010
Last Day of Costa Rica Trip (Troubles at Airport)
June 18, 2010
We arrived at the airport at 5 am. We paid our exit fees and got in our respective airline lines. Scott at American Airlines and me at Taca. I quickly got my boarding pass and went through security and waited for everyone but they did not make it until everyone was boarding their flight. With still time to board they were told there was a problem with immigration and could not take this flight. American Airlines obviously overbooked the flight because the boarding passes they were given were not their original seats. To make matters worse, American Airlines would not take responsibility and made them take a later flight to Miami (1:40 pm) in the day and their connecting flight to St. Maarteen the next day. And charged them $750 for their inconvenience.
I am so proud how they handled the situation. They got their new airline tickets, got an inexpensive hostel on Miami beach, and will take an inexpensive bus to the hostel from the airport. They had done an incredible job adapting to the backpacker lifestyle of traveling during the trip. However, today at the airport they earned their Backpacking Wings. I could not be more proud of each of them for confronting to the situation and solving it.
Traveling, whether 1st Class or backpacking, has its up and downs. It is knowing how to handle the situation that makes everything okay. Adapting is a part of everyday life and traveling is no different.
We arrived at the airport at 5 am. We paid our exit fees and got in our respective airline lines. Scott at American Airlines and me at Taca. I quickly got my boarding pass and went through security and waited for everyone but they did not make it until everyone was boarding their flight. With still time to board they were told there was a problem with immigration and could not take this flight. American Airlines obviously overbooked the flight because the boarding passes they were given were not their original seats. To make matters worse, American Airlines would not take responsibility and made them take a later flight to Miami (1:40 pm) in the day and their connecting flight to St. Maarteen the next day. And charged them $750 for their inconvenience.
I am so proud how they handled the situation. They got their new airline tickets, got an inexpensive hostel on Miami beach, and will take an inexpensive bus to the hostel from the airport. They had done an incredible job adapting to the backpacker lifestyle of traveling during the trip. However, today at the airport they earned their Backpacking Wings. I could not be more proud of each of them for confronting to the situation and solving it.
Traveling, whether 1st Class or backpacking, has its up and downs. It is knowing how to handle the situation that makes everything okay. Adapting is a part of everyday life and traveling is no different.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
San Jose to Guatemala City to Antigua (Guatemala)
June 18, 2010
Well, after all the drama at the airport this morning with American Airlines, I was fortunate to have no problems with my flight on Taca Airlines to Guatemala City at 10 am. I will have to adapt to traveling alone quickly, but it will probably not take long as it is the norm. Not anything in Guatemala City that I wanted to see so I took a shuttle for $10 to Antigua about a 45 minute drive.
Well, after all the drama at the airport this morning with American Airlines, I was fortunate to have no problems with my flight on Taca Airlines to Guatemala City at 10 am. I will have to adapt to traveling alone quickly, but it will probably not take long as it is the norm. Not anything in Guatemala City that I wanted to see so I took a shuttle for $10 to Antigua about a 45 minute drive.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Antigua, Guatemala
June 18, 2010
Antigua's setting is gorgeous, nestled between 3 volcanoes (Volcan Agua, Volcan Acatenango, and Volcan Fuego). The streets are cobblestones and the buildings that line the streets are multicolored. The town of 45,000 has a beautiful Parque Central (Central Park) which is the gathering place for both locals and visitors. The plaza's famous fountain was built in 1738. Across the street from the park is the Catedral de Santiago which was founded in 1542, damaged by earthquakes many times and only partially rebuilt between 1780 and 1820.
" I sought to see the amazing as normal, and the daily as unique, and in that swirling paradox, I found the joy of travel." Mary Poxon
If anyone has any travel questions about this trip or anywhere else please send them to me. After my grandchildren and traveling, talking about traveling is my favorite thing.
Antigua's setting is gorgeous, nestled between 3 volcanoes (Volcan Agua, Volcan Acatenango, and Volcan Fuego). The streets are cobblestones and the buildings that line the streets are multicolored. The town of 45,000 has a beautiful Parque Central (Central Park) which is the gathering place for both locals and visitors. The plaza's famous fountain was built in 1738. Across the street from the park is the Catedral de Santiago which was founded in 1542, damaged by earthquakes many times and only partially rebuilt between 1780 and 1820.
" I sought to see the amazing as normal, and the daily as unique, and in that swirling paradox, I found the joy of travel." Mary Poxon
If anyone has any travel questions about this trip or anywhere else please send them to me. After my grandchildren and traveling, talking about traveling is my favorite thing.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Lake Atitlan in Guatemala
June 21, 2010
Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, if not the most beautiful. Lake Como in Italy has always been my favorite lake until now. While Lake Como has beautiful mountains, beautiful mansions, and beautiful villages, Lake Atitlan has volcanoes surrounding it. Apples and Oranges, I will consider it a tie. To see Lake Como see my Europe blog.
I just finished a 3 hr hike on a path that runs high on the mountains and follows the lake. An English girl and boy from the hostel went along with me. We picked up an unwanted guide along the way. The English girl spoke Spanish and told him we were not interested in a guide but that did not deter him. Luckily for us he came in real handy. The trail had been damaged by Storm Agatha and had washed out portions of the trail. There was one spot when the path was only large enough for one foot to fit on it and it was about a 30 foot fall if your foot slipped. Thinking back on it this was not a very smart move on our part to follow the trail when there was a serious chance of getting hurt. We made it to San Marcos about 3 hrs after our initial departure, quickly got lost looking for the boat to take us back, and finally made it back to the hostel after a 20 minute boat ride. I took over 260 pictures and will post them in about 4 days. The hostel will not allow us to download pictures on their computers.
Lake Atitlan is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, if not the most beautiful. Lake Como in Italy has always been my favorite lake until now. While Lake Como has beautiful mountains, beautiful mansions, and beautiful villages, Lake Atitlan has volcanoes surrounding it. Apples and Oranges, I will consider it a tie. To see Lake Como see my Europe blog.
Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlan is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing. Aldous Huxley
I just finished a 3 hr hike on a path that runs high on the mountains and follows the lake. An English girl and boy from the hostel went along with me. We picked up an unwanted guide along the way. The English girl spoke Spanish and told him we were not interested in a guide but that did not deter him. Luckily for us he came in real handy. The trail had been damaged by Storm Agatha and had washed out portions of the trail. There was one spot when the path was only large enough for one foot to fit on it and it was about a 30 foot fall if your foot slipped. Thinking back on it this was not a very smart move on our part to follow the trail when there was a serious chance of getting hurt. We made it to San Marcos about 3 hrs after our initial departure, quickly got lost looking for the boat to take us back, and finally made it back to the hostel after a 20 minute boat ride. I took over 260 pictures and will post them in about 4 days. The hostel will not allow us to download pictures on their computers.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
La Iguana Perdida Hostel
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I will post Lake Atitlan and hostel pictures as soon as I get to somewhere that has free wifi. We can not upload pictures here because it will crash the Internet system.
Great hiking yesterday from Santa Cruz to San Marcos and then straight up the mountain that afternoon to the village. Today it will be watching soccer with the rest of the world and relaxing in the hammock all afternoon watching the lake and volcanoes.
There are houses with beautiful views for $250 a month. A good option in the future for escaping those hot Louisiana summers. Nights here are actually cool and require a blanket while the days are mostly in the 70's.
I leave in the morning to go to Chichiastenago for the famous Thursday and Sunday markets in which the Mayan hill tribes come to town to sell their wares. Soon I will be heading to southern Mexico to see Mayan temples and then back to Tikal in Guatemala for what is supposed to be the best of the Mayan temples. I am sure some would argue that point.
I will post Lake Atitlan and hostel pictures as soon as I get to somewhere that has free wifi. We can not upload pictures here because it will crash the Internet system.
Great hiking yesterday from Santa Cruz to San Marcos and then straight up the mountain that afternoon to the village. Today it will be watching soccer with the rest of the world and relaxing in the hammock all afternoon watching the lake and volcanoes.
There are houses with beautiful views for $250 a month. A good option in the future for escaping those hot Louisiana summers. Nights here are actually cool and require a blanket while the days are mostly in the 70's.
I leave in the morning to go to Chichiastenago for the famous Thursday and Sunday markets in which the Mayan hill tribes come to town to sell their wares. Soon I will be heading to southern Mexico to see Mayan temples and then back to Tikal in Guatemala for what is supposed to be the best of the Mayan temples. I am sure some would argue that point.
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