Washington, DC

Last weekend I went to the Washington, DC area for a quick visit. I skipped all the monuments and explored some other parts of the city. The three highlights were the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River in Alexandria, Georgetown and the Old Stone House, and Rock Creek Park.

Since this trip was in the height of the fall foliage, everything was spectacularly beautiful. On the Mount Vernon Trail I saw breathtaking views of trees with red and orange leaves lining the Potomac River. I happened to be there just in time to watch the sky shift through various shades of pastel blues, pinks and purples as the sun set and the dark hues of night enveloped the scenery. Without a doubt this was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

During this trip I visited Georgetown for the first time as well. The shops, the old buildings and leaf-covered sidewalks gave the town a nice quaint feel. People strolled down the streets with their kids and their dogs and I stopped to play with every puppy I saw. There was an old building made of stone on the main road that looked rather out of place among so many relatively new buildings. It turns out, this was the historic Old Stone Building and, if memory serves, is the oldest standing building in Washington, DC. It even survived the Revolution. With its low ceilings, small rooms and replicas of the original furniture I was able to get a sense of how life was back in the time of the founding fathers. Little wooden plaques hung from the walls to teach about those distant days and remind visitors of our history.

On my last day in DC I went to the Rock Creek Park. Among other things, this park is a common location for scenes from the show NCIS. The park seemed massive and I only saw a small part of it, but what I did see was incredible. This is my first real fall so I was completely mesmerized by the all the colors. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, creating a carpet of brown, yellow, orange and red as far as the eye could see. Somehow the trees still held on to their charming colors. Beyond a stone wall and an old wooden gate I found a dirt path winding through the woods. Like a little kid, I ran and skipped my way down the path stopping only to take a few pictures.

This spur of the moment trip was a wonderful way to explore some new places. Washington, DC is officially on my list of places to visit in the fall as well as my list of recommendations for travelers. There is a lot to see, a lot to do, and a lot to learn from this historic city. In the right season, it is also one of the most beautiful places I can think of.

Central Park, Belvedere Castle

This post is a little overdue, but sometimes life obligations (like work and school) get in the way of hobbies like blogging. A few weeks ago I took a trip to Central Park. It wasn't one of my most glamorous adventures, but I always enjoy visiting my city's biggest park. There's always something new to see and experience.

During this visit I finally made it to the Belvedere Castle. The castle is a bit of an anachronism right in the center of New York City. The architecture alone is incredible to behold. From a distance you can see the Belvedere Castle perched beside the lake and take in its majesty. From next to its walls you can appreciate the intricacy of the castle's stonework and the beauty of every angle. With its Gothic influence, I couldn't help but feel drawn into history. I wondered about life in a time when castles like this served a purpose beyond entertainment. What was it like to hide behind stone walls during an attack of cannon fire? How did it feel to enter such a place as a guest of its residents? My mind continued to wander as I snapped photos like the tourist I am.

I ended my trip to Central Park with a visit to the famous Bow Bridge. The ducks fished for their dinners and tourists paddled their canoes. I watched the canoes slowly drift by and listened as their occupants laughed and enjoyed the evening. I even had the good fortune to see a gondola pass by, its passengers a newly wed couple and its gondolier serenading them with romantic Italian songs.

Central Park can be one of the most serene places in this bustling city. After just a few minutes I can find myself lost in thought as I try to navigate the maze of sidewalks and pathways. I usually get lost along the way, but I'm always refreshed after my visit to this sanctuary of nature in one of the biggest cities in the world.

Circle Line Cruise, NYC

The Circle Line Cruise departs from Pier 16, right next to the Brooklyn Bridge. There's a whole menu of tours available but I did the 1-hour Zephyr cruise tour. We first went right under the Brooklyn Bridge where our tour guide gave us a very interesting and entertaining history of its construction. We've all seen pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge and many tourists and residents have walked or biked over it, but the view of the bridge from a boat bellow is quite different. The perspective along with learning its history gave me a new appreciation of the bridge's magnificent structure.

The boat turned back and proceeded down the East River, skirting Downtown Manhattan. Heading up the Hudson River, we caught a glimpse of the new Freedom Tower and passed right in front of the Statue of Liberty. All the while the tour guide narrated Manhattan's history as we passed by its famous landmarks. The image of Battery Park's trees and walkways contrasting with its backdrop of Manhattan skyscrapers is enough to inspire the creative instinct in any artist.

The Circle Line Cruise was an excellent way to spend an hour and well worth the $23. There was no shortage of breathtaking views and we learned more about the history of New York City's most famous borough than I've learned in all my years in school. This is definitely on my list of must-do attractions for NYC visitors.

Mount Vernon

One of my many adventures this summer was a trip to Virginia. I'm finally at an age where I can appreciate the historical value of places like Mount Vernon, so even though this was technically my second trip to George Washington's home, it's the first one I remember well.

Unfortunately the house was under construction at the time of my trip so I couldn't take any good pictures of the house. The good news was that we learned an interesting little tidbit because of it. They were adding a paint/sand mixture to the outside of the building, just as Washington (rather, his slaves) did when he lived there. The walls are made of wood, but the sand mixed with the paint gives the impression of cement walls. I'm always amazed at how ingenuitive some people are.

As we waited in line to take the tour we admired the volunteers in their costumes from the 18th century. A women who looked like she could have been Martha Washington herself brought us though the house and gave us the history of the rooms. It was quite amazing to think that I was standing in the house where George Washington lived. We saw his bedroom, his study, his kids' rooms and the dining room. In separate buildings were the cooking areas, the storage rooms, and areas where the servants worked to keep the estate running.

Taking the tour really helped put things in perspective and added a lot of value to the things we saw. The many other buildings on the estate, such as the slaves' quarters, had information posted to explain how the rooms and their contents were used and what a typical day would be like for the residents. If you're ever in the DC/Virginia area, Mount Vernon is a definitely a must-see destination. If you have some extra time, check out the museum which is also on the estate. It has great information about not only George Washington, but also about the other Founding Fathers, the Revolution, the Freemasons, and many other worthwhile topics.

Central Park Zoo

My summer has been jam packed with school, work, traveling, and exploring NYC, which unfortunately has left me with little spare time for blogging. Time to remedy that.

Back in July I had my first opportunity to visit the Central Park Zoo. It was a little confusing to get there, but I eventually found it (after being guilted into giving money to a homeless guy who gave me directions). The zoo is relatively small, which is actually quite nice since it's much more manageable and you can see all of the animals. June seems like the perfect time to go since all the fresh flowers were in full bloom.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of exotic animals the little zoo has. I expected monkey, iguanas, snakes, maybe even a leopard, but the Central Park Zoo had a Red Panda (which looks a little like a huge fox), a pair of seals that gave a nice vocal presentation for the visitors, complete with an impromptu swimming display, and there was even a polar bear. There was an owl, penguins, and a little fly that decided to be my friend.

You can leisurely walk the entire zoo and take all the pictures you want in just a couple hours. You can end your zoo visit with a day in Central Park, maybe even a bicycle tour, and you're guaranteed one of those days of that you can look back on and smile.

Yankee Game

"Larger than life" is the best way I can think of to explain how my first Yankee game felt. We took the express subway up to the Bronx, which I must say was a little frightening for me given the Bronx reputation. I wasn't even sure what stop I needed, but I figured we could follow all the people in Yankee shirts and we'd be safe. I was right. There was a swarm of Yankee-clad fans on the train with us, and they all got off at the stopped entitled "Yankee Stadium."  I really should have been able to figure that out on my own.

We got off the train and when I looked around I was a little intimidated by the slightly sketchy neighborhood. I had no idea how far the stadium was from the stop, but again figured I could rely on the trusty fans (strangers, of course. Why wouldn't I follow strangers to the Bronx and then rely on them to get me to the game?). Then I turned a little to the left and saw the tremendous stadium with "Yankee Stadium" written in what must have been 30-foot tall letters. Again, I should have been able to find that on my own. I'd been to several professional and college sports games, but this stadium far surpassed any stadium I'd ever seen. It was monstrously huge and I tried to picture the number people it would take to fill all the seats.

The line to get in went quickly, and from there we had to figure out what to do next. Take the stairs up? Down? Go left? Right? Take the ramp? The elevator? So many options. We decided to deal with options later and buy food right away. I bought a small Mountain Dew that was probably about a liter and half. Between the two of us we ended up spending about $40 on a ridiculously large bucket of popcorn (which was also advertised as a small), a turkey leg that was literally larger than the length of my forearm, and a plate of garlic cheese fries. I would say everything was wonderful...except the fries. I couldn't even bring myself to try them.

When the game finally started, there was so much energy that it was impossible not to get swept up in the excitement. It was electric, contagious even and I was soon on my feet cheering the hits and cursing the errors like a life-long fan. Every Yankee hit brought a mini adrenaline rush. Every hit by the opposing team brought a mini heartbreak. By the end of the 9 innings I felt like I'd been on a wild emotional roller coaster. I couldn't imagine how die-hard fans survive a whole season full of roller coasters. I came to the conclusion that it must be bad for their health and decided it would be safer to avoid becoming too attached. Despite my conviction to remain only a casual Yankee fan, when I left the stadium I bought a Yankee shirt...and a ticket to go to a game the following week.

Montauk Point

My trip to Montauk began in Greenport. The two-hour drive consisted of a nice little ferry ride, a drive through Shelter Island, and a quick stop in Sag Harbor. We pulled over by a bridge with an incredible view of the water and the harbor. Right beside the bridge was a quaint park with a windmill that created a peaceful ambiance. Even the crisp, fresh air was welcoming and inviting to the many tourists passing through.

We continued on toward Montauk Point, driving on what seemed like an endless road to nowhere. For a while I wasn't sure if we were even headed in the right direction, but then the towering lighthouse began to poke its way into the horizon and suddenly we weren't lost anymore. I'd never seen a lighthouse before and couldn't believe how huge it was. Built so long ago, it rivals even the grandest skyscrapers in Manhattan. A walk not suited for a sufferer of claustrophobia took us to the top of the lighthouse. The winding stairs were surrounded by sturdy brick walls. Small rectangular windows let the light spill into the tower and light our path up to the top. Once there, we could peek out the top and see the vast landscape stretch out before us. Staring out at the endless ocean, it's impossible not to think about all the travelers, all the wanderers who took to the sea and relied on this lighthouse for direction and safety. Without its reliable light, they'd be lost. With it, they knew their way and could make it home.

The lighthouse's hard lines and concrete build starkly contrast with the soft colors of the leaves swaying so gently in the breeze. The sounds of the ocean, the bluffs in the distance, the seagulls flying overhead, the bright blue sky, and the cheery visitors harmoniously worked with the historic landmark to create a park well worth the time it takes to traverse the South Fork.

ArtExpo

This past Friday I had the good fortune to eavesdrop on a stranger's phone conversation about the ArtExpo. As an art lover, I couldn't resist the urge to ask her for more information about the event. It turned out the Expo was in Manhattan this year, this weekend in fact, and would host artists from all over the world. I couldn't believe my luck! I bought a ticket online and attended the next day.

The Expo was on Pier 94 on the Hudson River. After a train ride, a subway ride, and a few wrong turns, I finally arrived at the Pier - with frozen red hands and ears aching from the walk in the cold wind. The building's warmth enveloped my goosebump-covered body as I passed through the glass doors. The welcome heatwave was the best part of my day, but then I left the lobby and walked into the main hall. I actually had butterflies in my stomach as I scanned the room and saw the number of incredible artists and pieces at the event.

It took me several hours to walk through the maze of booths. I saw artists from all over the world, literally. China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, Haiti, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, and Canada are but a few of the countries represented at the ArtExpo. Each artist had a unique style, which made for an amazingly interesting tour for people of every taste. I saw some paintings that were so realistic I wasn't quite sure that they weren't photographs. There were impressionist works that could inspire the creativity in even the least-artistic of people. Brilliant colors splashed on canvases, black and white portraits, shadow boxes with an ensemble of artistically-displayed materials, and completely abstract pieces covered every corner of the showroom. Every aisle, every turn, and every booth brought a new mood and a new experience.

This event turned out to be one of the most successful of my spontaneous adventures. For a while, I wasn't even sure I was on the right side of town. By the end of the day, I had a wonderful time and a great experience looking at the beautiful artwork, talking to the artists, and enjoying the free-spirited atmosphere.

St. Patrick's Day, NYC

There's no place like The Big Apple to spend St. Patrick's Day. This was my first St. Paddy's in the city, and it was everything I expected.

The day started out with a quick stroll down the East River, then an unplanned trip uptown to see the St. Patrick's Day Parade. The river was beautiful, there were hardly any other people around, and they day was perfect for wandering around outside. The parade was crazy, hectic, full of green, full of beer, full of music, and full of smiles. Everybody's happy on St. Patrick's Day, just like everybody's Irish. I made the acquittance of 4 strangers who kindly told me that I was walking in the opposite direction of the parade (I still haven't mastered the city streets). We walked there together, shared stories and laughs, then tunneled through the crowd to find a decent place to stand and watch the parade. The songs of bagpipes and drums carried over the noise of thousands of voices, and with it the spirit of the Irish. Flags held high above marchers could be seen from the back row, igniting some Irish pride even in those with no Irish heritage.

As much as I wanted to stay, obligation called and I had to make my way to class. The laughs didn't end with the parade, however. I passed a guy typing on his phone and his shirt caught my eye. A simple green shamrock with a heading in green letters reading "Winning" marked the front. The clear allusion to Charlie Sheen's recent antics made me laugh out loud. Then I saw the back of the shirt - "Let's get Sheenfaced.". I had no choice, I went back and asked the guy if I could take his picture. I really hope he stumbles upon this blog post some day.

Boston

This post  is a little overdue, but hey, better late than never, right?

My trip to Boston was very spontaneous and undertaken with very little preparation. With only a few days between my idea to go, my decision to go, and my departure date I couldn't find anyone to venture back to continental USA with me, so Boston was a solo adventure. 

The trip began as so many do, with a missed train to Manhattan, begging the guy at the bus terminal (more like street corner) to let me take a later bus since I obviously missed the one I planned on, and an hour wait in line. Yet it all worked out and 5 hours after leaving the terminal I got off the bus at South Station in Boston. The first thing that struck me was the cold. Now, having just survived the infamous New York January I thought I was more than equipped to handle a long weekend in Boston. Unfortunately, I didn't' account for the vicious wind in that little city. But I managed with my inadequate clothing, hopped on the subway and found my way to the apartment of some strangers where I was staying.

First stop - Harvard Square. Filled with bookstores and coffee shops, Harvard Square is a perfect way to end a long day of traveling for a nerd like me. I had dinner at some historical burger joint whose name I can't remember, but with a cash-only policy I ended up dining on cheese fries for dinner and walking home in the rain. At least the fries came out at lightning speed and were delicious. 

Day two - lots of stuff. I started out by walking the Freedom Trail. I didn't walk the entire trail, but I hit the highlights, starting at the Boston Commons and including a tour of the Old State House Museum ($6 for students), Faneuil  Hall, and lunch in the Quincy Marketplace. Since I had planned on that taking up my whole day, I was at a loss for what to do with the remaining half of my day. I found my way to the Theater District, made it just in time to buy a student rush ticket to see the Blue Man Group, killed an hour at Dunkin' Donuts (which are in Boston the way Starbucks is in NYC), and finally saw what I think must be the most entertaining show in the history of  creative shows. The music was fun, the stunts were ridiculously funny, and the dry humor kept the audience in a near-constant state of laughter. The only down side was that I left with banana mush on my jacket that I still can't manage to get off. The day ended with a great plate of pasta and a great glass of Chianti in Boston's Little Italy.

Day three - day three started at Northwestern University where I had an egg and cheese bagel. That wasn't part of the plan, but neither were half the things I ended up doing. My first stop after breakfast was the Museum of Fine Art, specifically their newly-opened Wing of the Americas. There was an incredible amount and variety of art, complete with the history of each piece and how it fit into the times  in which it was created. I walked through all the wings and saw art from every region of the world. After the museum it was back to the Theater District for Shear Madness - an interactive murder mystery/comedy. It didn't come close to the Blue Man Group, but for the half the price it was well worth it. Once again at a loss for what to do next, I asked around in some stores and following advice, I ended up walking along Newbury Street. Lined with upscale stores and old building, the street was certainly an interesting place, but I preferred the adjacent Commonwealth Avenue, which was lined with trees covered in Christmas lights. The site was beautiful as dusk set in. Ready to go home after about 10 hours of walking, I got back on the subway. Of course, even that didn't go according to plan. I heard someone say something about the Prudential Building and thought, why not? So I got off at the Prudential stop and treated myself to desert and wine at the top of the building, which provided a beautiful view of the city.

Each of these places and shows really deserves an entire post of its own, but honestly I'm just not that motivated so this quick summary will have to due. Suffice it to say that Boston is a great city for a weekend trip. There's no lack of things to do, and the city is relatively small. I walked the entire length in one day, so a tourist can easily hit all the highlights, and even some not-so-highlighted places, with just one or two full days. 

Moving to New York

I have been a little negligent of this blog because my past month and half have been consumed with moving to a new state...and a new climate. Adjusting to the NY winter, especially the most sever January on record, has been no easy task. But, I have purchased a variety of coats, gloves, scarves and hats and have made my way around my new environment.

To explain everything I have done and seen since I moved here would take pages and pages, so I'll skip all those details. Suffice to say that New York is exactly what I expected - a high pace city with no end of sights to see and things to do. Everywhere I turn I'm facing something famous. I have accidently found myself staring up at the Empire State Building, walking through Central Park, Bryant Park, Madisson Square Park, Times Square, I've wandered past Madisson Square Garden, looked out the window at the Crysler Building, found myself on 5th Avenue, and that's just the beginning of the things I've seen here.

The winter in this city is beautiful (if you're looking out a window). I've seen fresh, white snow covering the trees and lining the streets. I watched people ice skate at Rockafeller Center and wished I had the cold tolerance to join them. But I've also seen month-old snow, leaving piles of black dust covering the sidewalks. I love to walk through the city, with no particular destination in mind, and take pictures of all the new things around me. Unfortunately, keeping my hand out of a glove long enough to snap a few shots soon becomes painful as my hands turn bright red and numb. I fight through the pain, though, and have a few good pictures as a momento of my stroll.

I continue to be amazed by the architecture, the nature, and the feel of New York. The hour-long commute from my apartment doesn't even bother me, because I know I have a spectacular destination to look forward to.

Lake Louisa State Park, Florida

Lake Louisa State Park is mere 30 minutes from Orlando. I had no idea such an exquisite place could possibly exist so close to a cement city filled with ridiculous wizard-shaped gift shops. This park encompassed all the breath-taking beauty of untouched nature, yet it is well-maintained and comfortable. The park contained three lakes, but I really only saw two. A short, winding drive through central Florida’s hills brought us to the beach of Lake Louisa. Believe it or not, this lake actually had a white-sand beach alongside a small forest. Little pathways allow travelers to explore the natural beauty of Lake Louisa and its surroundings. We bundled up, had a little picnic and departed to warmer grounds.

We made our way to our cabin, which was positioned on a little hill and overlooked the immaculate Lake Dixie. The cabin had two big bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a living room equipped with an electric fireplace. My personal favorite part was the wrap-around porch with 3 rocking chairs and a picnic table. Sitting on the balcony, I took in the tranquil scene before me. There were about 500 feet of brush between the cabin and the lake. Spanish moss-draped trees lined the lake, giving it a majestic look and feel. The chilly air made it feel like I was far from Florida. I took a little walk down to the lake just as the sun was setting. A few evening birdsongs accompanied me as I strolled along and snapped pictures. The sky slowly evolved from blue, to red, to orange and faded to grey as the sun disappeared below the line of trees in the distance.  One thing I love about winter, I managed to walk along a lake at sunset and escape without a single mosquito bite.

Aside from its innate beauty, Lake Louisa State Park has a lot to offer. They have canoe rentals, all kinds of walking trails, a beach, and a campground. I walked around Lake Dixie, which is about 2 miles. The scenery changed several times in that short distance and I took advantage of several overlooks. I finished my short hike with pictures of scores of lily pads gathered near the lake’s shore, of an armadillo absent-mindedly searching for food, of oranges growing in the groves planted along the road, of dangerous spike-bearing vines reaching out to capture an unsuspecting passerby, and many other unique sights. Of all the places I’ve seen in Florida, this is by far my favorite. So close to home, yet with the feel of a Virginia getaway, Lake Louisa State Park offers the calm serenity that’s worth the trip, even if you’re not a local.

Lake Ridge Winery - Clermont, Florida

The Lake Ridge Winery was not my first winery, but it was the first I’ve visited at an old enough age to appreciate.  Not quite 2 hours from my home-town, I certainly didn’t have very high expectations of the general area, but I went with no preconceived notions of the winery itself. I must say, even before I arrived at the actual location I could see that the area far exceeded the sub-par scenery that I had expected. Florida’s winters tend to bring more brown and gray than any other color, but on the drive to the winery I saw some hints of the yellows and reds you’d expect to find in the brilliant foliage of a New England fall. We passed orange groves and open fields, even the occasional bare land with absolutely no development. It was a nice way to precede my winery experience.

Due to the unusual cold snap, the winery employees and guests made every effort to stay inside whenever possible. We started our visit in the toasty gift shop, which was home to a number of amusing odds and ends. Among the many gadgets was a 6-piece wine care set. Now, who needs 6 pieces of equipment to care for a bottle of wine? I asked around and found that, in fact, many people do. A label cutter, a cork screw, a reusable cork…and 3 other extremely important pieces that I can’t remember. I entertained myself by reading birthday cards which were arranged by the year, highlighted a specific wine, and gave trivia about the year of birth on the card. During the year my grandmother was born, IBM entered the typewriter business (here’s to you, Grandma).

We began our tour with a short video of the history of the winery and its owner. I was surprised to learn that the first US-made wine came out of Jacksonville, Florida, more than 100 years ahead of California. Yet another thing a Floridian can be proud of, right alongside NASA, the Keys, Disney (if you count that as a source of pride), and I’m sure some record for hurricanes.  I learned about the muscadine grape, which is the only grape in the US south that can produce wine. It naturally only makes sweet wines, but thanks to the University of Florida, it has been genetically crossed with other grapes and can now produce the entire spectrum of wines, including reds, whites, sweet wines, dry wines, and even sparkling wines.

After the video we took a short trip to the cold and unwelcoming outdoors. The view was magnificent to my Floridian eyes because there wasn’t a building in sight. Nature, in all its winter colors, stretched on as far as I could see. The grape vines probably look nicer in the summer, considering that they were dead, gray and crispy during this trip, but it was a pleasant sight nonetheless.

The last and best part of our winery tour was the wine tasting. We started with the driest wine and worked our way down to the sweetest. One quarter-glass at a time, I tried all kinds of red and white wines while I read the descriptions. I can say for a fact that I did not taste blueberry in any of the glasses I tried, but the descriptions said that I should have in at least 2 or 3. I guess I still have a long way to go before I can say that I’m a wine connoisseur. Continuing my education, I learned that I love dry wines and really have no taste at all for sweet wines, which to me taste like some terrible concoction of a once-good wine mixed with some sugary sin to please a child’s palate. I hear that some people really love sweet wines, but I’m certainly not one of them.

All in all, my trip to the Lake Ridge Winery was a very enjoyable experience. It was a nice and unexpected destination that I think every local should at least try to visit, especially since it’s winter and the mosquitoes are on a hiatus.

Bocas Del Toro, Panama: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

This post is about a month old by now, but better late than never, right?

After over a year of trying to go to Bocas, I finally made it a couple weekends ago. Two days of traveling brought me from San Jose, Costa Rica to the Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo where we bunked for the night. Rather than take the cheap route and rent a tent for $4, which we usually do, we sprung for a $20/night hotel. That, of course, turned out to be a mistake that I realized the next morning. I lifted the pillow and found a cockroach under it, then took a shower and noticed a good dozen spiders hanging out around the shower head. I quickly moved on, though, as I had a long bus ride to the boarder ahead of me. We boarded at 6am, went to the boarder, split a van fair with a European couple, then hopped on a water taxi that finally took us the main island around 11am.

The Good:
Bocas del Toro is a beautiful string of islands that can take the breath away from even the most well-traveled tourist. The pure green trees, the blue sky, puffy white clouds, and crystal clear water created a scenery worthy of Thomas Kinkade's attention. As I stepped onto the dock I noticed that the water below was filled with tiny fish frantically swimming about and several starfish doing whatever starfish do on the shallow bottom. I knew immediately that this was a place I would never forget. We walked around the little town, found a nice $15/night hotel (cockroach- and spider-free), and a plethora of fun restaurants to try. First things first, though. We dropped our stuff off in the room and went straight to the docks to find a snorkeling tour. As luck would have it, we were the only two tourists on the trip so we had a little slice of the Caribbean to ourselves. We swam around for a bit, saw some seaweed, then all of a sudden I was surrounded by sea life. I found a little patch with all kinds of fish and plants. I even saw a purple jellyfish. I would have loved to stay and explore a bit more, but the water became a little too rough to enjoy it.

Once back on dry land, we strolled around, stopped at all the artesian's booths, and looked for a restaurant. We ate at several unique places during our weekend at Bocas, but my two favorites were a vegetarian restaurant and a Chinese restaurant. When we went to the Chinese place we were greeted by two playful children. The parents were nowhere to be seen so the older girl gave us a menu and told us to sit down. Finally the dad came to talk to us, and boy was it an experience trying to talk to him. He didn't speak English, I don't speak Chinese, and we both have difficult accents in Spanish. Fortunately Rene had a little luck deciphering his words. We eventually figured out everything and I had some of the best wontons, chicken and rice that I've yet tried. We stayed for about an hour and watched as a storm developed and crept its way to our island. We decided to leave only because we wanted to make it to our evening coffee house, La Buga, before the downpour began. I had my cappuccino, Rene had a fruit smoothie, and we sat with the European couple that we seemed to run into every day. I loved the flow of our conversations. The four of us exchanged our stories about Bocas, with four different accents  - Costa  Rican, United States, Spanish, and French. Their 6-year-old daughter danced around us and sang the whole time.

Our other tours throughout the weekend took us to an isolated island with a magnificent beach. We walked all around, which took about 30 minutes. At some points we had a swim a little, we had to climb a little, and we had to duck and roll a little, so the trip was never boring. We finally made it to where we started from, set up camp, and went swimming. The initial chill of the water quickly melted away as the pleasant warm current covered us. We splashed around and took pictures until the boat came back for us. .We went to a little restaurant on the water. Now, when I say "on the water", that's exactly what I mean. The restaurant was built on a dock right over the water. As we ate, I looked down at the floor planks, then through them to see the little waves churning. I had some delicious fried chicken and Rene had a traditional Caribbean chicken and rice dish. We took off once again to snorkel. We went to a spot that was relatively shallow, but with no shortage of nature to see. The reefs were some of the most incredible that I've ever seen. I saw all kinds of plants that looked like everything from tall grass to brains. There were sea urchins, colorful fish, and the wonderful crackling sound of the fish munching in the water. I spotted another jellyfish and frantically felt around for Rene's leg so he could take a picture of it. All of a sudden I was aware that there were jellyfish everywhere. There was a current that was bringing a whole swarm of them right to us. I decided that this was the end of my snorkeling adventure and very carefully swam as fast as I could against the current and back to the boat. I was really disappointed to have to cut my snorkeling time short in a place with such an amazing variety of life to see. Soon, everyone else had the same idea as me and we were all back on the boat. What happened next? A woman on the tour with us told us that she's a diver and that this type of jellyfish was totally harmless. Of course, by that time we were already well on our way back to shore and it was too late to finish our tour.

The Bad:
It seemed to me that the people who worked in Bocas think of tourists as a easy targets. For example, I paid for my hotel in advance on the first day. The total came to $45, I gave the woman $60, and she put in the drawer and said thanks. It took about 10 minutes of arguing to get her to open the drawer and check. She subsequently realized that she owed me $15. The next day, she asked when we were going to pay. I guess she thought that I'd forgotten that I'd already paid for all 3 nights. Everyone we talked to had a similar experience. One person told me that he bought a few beers, that cost about 50 cents, and a bag a chips and they charged him $30. This poor guy didn't realize he was being ripped off because he's Australian and used to their currency, he had just spent several weeks in Costa Rica using colones (500 of which is about $1), and this was his first day in Panama using US dollars. If traveling to Bocas del Toro, I would recommend being very conscientious with your money.

The Ugly:
Nothing at all. There is absolutely nothing in Bocas that is ugly. The scenery is exquisite, the streets are clean with little artesian booths scattered around and all the restaurants are open and inviting. Everywhere you look, you see a beautiful Caribbean view and the atmosphere of a relaxed beach community.

Home

"One's place of residence" is Webster's first definition for the word "home" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/home, if you don't believe me). The word itself can conjure up images of family and warmth, possibly a holiday reunion, and can bring comforting feelings of love and tranquility. I'm leaving Costa Rica tomorrow to return "home", hence the topic of today's post.

Throughout my life and travels, I have found that the word "home" is quite variable. Sometimes, it is much more than simply my "place of residence," however sometimes it is much less. After an exhilarating day of snorkeling, swimming, and burning my tender white skin on a beautiful Costa Rican beach, "home" is the cheap, bug-infested hotel to which I return to sleep. When I left Europe, I felt like I was "home" when I landed in a US airport, even though it was nearly a thousand miles from where I lived. Once again, I felt "home" when I landed in the Orlando airport, a 1-hour drive from my house. I was "home" again when we took our exit off the highway and I was once again on familiar roads. Finally, I was "home" when we walked in the front door of the house where I grew up. 

Perhaps I feel that my true "home" is where my family is, where I spent my whole childhood and adolescence. Does that ever change? Will I someday feel so at "home" somewhere else, or will I just create another version of "home" and have two? When I was in college, "home" was my dorm - 3 actually, since I had a different one every year. When I studied abroad in Costa Rica, "home" was the house of my  host family. When I studied abroad in Panama, "home" was the house I shared with two other students. When I leave for the weekend now, "home" is my boyfriend's house, where I've lived for the past 6 months. Tomorrow I will fly "home", to where my family is. How is it that I can leave "home", fly for 4 hours and arrive at "home"?

Why on Earth do I exert my brain power thinking of these things...?

LIGA!! A Live Soccer Game

I finally had the opportunity to go to a live soccer game! I've been wanting to go to one since I studied abroad in Panama back in January 2009. It turned out to be everything I wanted and more.

First things first. We arrived at the stadium two hours early to get a good seat. Tickets, by the way, were only $10 each and this was a semi final game. The streets were impassable for cars and overflowing with excited fans dressed in red. We were searched and made to give up any beer and coins (apparently they're a danger) before we could enter the stadium. Our section was packed and the only seats available were in the front row. I still don't quite understand how the front-row seats are the less desirable ones, but it worked out perfectly for us. The team's band set up about 20 feet from us so we were literally at the center of the energy. I'm not a big fan of soccer, but I spent the whole 90 minutes attentively watching and cheering along with the most devout followers.

In Costa Rica, soccer teams have an element that I don't think our teams have in the US. They have what we might call "official fans". There were thousands of them at this particular game. They have their own section and several tremendous flags. They spend every second of the game, halftime included, jumping, singing, and cheering on their team. They call themselves "La Doce", which means "The Twelve" and is a comparison to the 12th player on the team who goes to every game just to cheer. La Doce, the band, and all the cheers from a stadium of 18 thousands fans created an atmosphere of unbelievable energy and excitement. It was like the stadium was filled with an electrical charge that constantly flowed through us all. Every pass, every block, every foul was another jolt of power in our veins. Every man, woman, and child spent the game on their feet with their eyes glued to the field and their hearts full of anticipation. In the end, our team didn't let us down. They shut out the opposition with a 3-0 victory :). I think this game might have converted me into a soccer fan. I bought my first soccer shirt as I left the stadium as a memento of my first game and its effect on me.

Manual Antonio

Last weekend I had the luxury of experiencing Costa Rica's second most-visited national park, Manual Antonio. Located on the Pacific shore, Manual Antonio has the benefit of both the gorgeous ocean view and the wildlife-packed forest all wrapped up in a nice little package for us tourists. We walked up a well-worn dirt path, struggled through the hordes of tourists, and passed a monstrous hotel which was built right outside the edge of the park. If I could have removed the swarms of tourists dressed for a safari and the imposing hotel, then our entrance would have been picture perfect.

After we paid for our tickets we made our way to the trail. It was still soaked from a recent storm so a misstep could have resulted in thick mud up to the knees. Luckily, I managed to avoid that pitfall.  The forest was filled with all kinds of animals. There were tiny insects who found their way to my t-shirt, I saw a sloth doing absolutely nothing in the top of a tree (now that's the life by my standards), and there was a never-ending supply of plants and flowers of every shape and color.

At the end of the trail was my favorite part, the beach. This beach was certainly not the beach I imagined. When I think of a Costa Rican beach, I think of clear water, white sand, a sunset, and of course there's no one there but me. This particular beach in the Manual Antonio park was none of those things. Everywhere I looked there was a tourist. There were little pieces of plastic, including a plastic fork, floating in the water, and there was driftwood everywhere. One more unexpected appearance made the trip unforgettable. Monkeys. There were dozens of monkeys all around. I couldn't believe my luck! They were everywhere and they practically posed for pictures. Some of them ran right up to people. I even saw a monkey unzip an unattended backpack on the sand in search of food. One monkey strutted right up to a man eating a sandwich and snatched it out of his hand, and apparently that's not such an uncommon sight. He then scampered up a tree to feast on his treasure. It was a hilarious sight with plenty of photo opportunities. Nature 1, Humans 0.

After practicing my paparazzi skills on the monkeys, I finally made my way to the water. I waded out past the garbage buildup and found that it was quite pleasant. The water is shallow enough to stand for a good distance so I could find a place that wasn't surrounded by strangers. I was still in shock about the monkeys when I looked over at the rocks beside the water and saw a huge iguana sunning himself. Soon there was a girl iguana and the first was no longer so interested in the sun. Then, predictably, the national geographic scene began and I had to look away to give them some privacy. As I moved my gaze and scanned the beach, I saw a pack of raccoons ransacking someone's beach bag. One of them took off with a plastic bag because it had an energy bar inside. The poor guy tried to chase the raccoon, but to no avail. Nature 2, Humans 0.

I have never seen so much wildlife anywhere except a zoo. Even if the animals beat the humans in every battle I witnessed, I had a great experience and was thrilled to have been so close to the action. I left the beach with a huge smile on my face and slight burn on my shoulders. Nautre 2, Humans 1.

Roma Caffe

Dear loyal readers (or should I say "reader"?). I must apologize because this will be my first post without a picture. A picture is worth a thousand words, they say, so I am sorry to deprive you of the usual visual addition. I hope my words will suffice. So, why no picture, you ask. There's no picture because I didn't expect a cup of coffee with a couple friends to be a blog-worthy experience. From now on, my camera will become a permanent fixture in my purse to avoid the repetition of this unfortunate tragedy.

We noticed this little cafe on the corner, called Roma Caffe, and decided to make a point to try it out. We went last night with a couple friends to the new restaurant. The owner talked to us for a bit and told us that it's only been open for about 4 months. I would describe it as being 70% coffee house and 30% bar. It was nice mix that made for a fun yet relaxed environment, and without the kinks that you'd expect from such a new place.

The waiter showed us to our table, which was front and center and right next to the band. The big windows, asymmetric place mats, and partially stone interior gave the feel of an artsy, uptown bar while providing a view of the city's center. With a menu offering Italian appetizers, meals, and deserts, a full bar, and a variety of coffees and teas, everyone can find something that tickles their fancy. I chose a mint tea to combat the night's chill. It not only kept me warm and happy, but covered my taste buds with the refreshing flavor. For me, the best part of the ambiance was the band. Live jazz music filled the room with a upbeat and cheery energy. The band consisted of a keyboard, a base guitar, an electric guitar, a saxophone, and a tiny drum set. The group of 20-somethings skillfully worked their respective instruments and played a variety of styles, holding the interest of their audience.

The room itself also contributed nicely to the atmosphere. The bar was built with hard lines and boxes, creating a very sleek look and modern feel. The dining area had softer lines and splashes of brick and natural stone designs, giving a more inviting and comfortable feel. The dining area's deep red and slate grey paint subtly incorporated the bar's modern look into the dining room to create a smooth transition between the two areas. The black and white prints and the colored lanterns worked with everything else to create a very unique cafe/bar.

This little gem of a place was a nice surprise in a city that has more reggaeton bars than anything else. I have yet to find another place here with a similar environment and feel. I give Roma Caffe a thumbs up and a permanent place on my weekly to-do list.

Parque Nacional de Diversiones

Theme park! This past weekend I experienced Costa Rica's one and only Parque de Diversiones. Having grown up 1 hour from the world-famous Disney World, I have quite a bit of theme park experience and consider myself somewhat of an expert on the matter. The Parque de Diversiones was much smaller than the pride of Orlando, but had all the components of a great theme park built for a great time.

Right at the entrance of the park was their only roller coaster. Bright yellow with a couple twists, turns, and corkscrews, the Anaconda gave a welcoming vibe and was our first stop. My first surprise was the fact that there was no line at all! We walked the trail right up to the ride and got on without a wait.

The Anaconda slowly climbed the track, making a very disconcerting clicking noise throughout the whole ascent. We got to the top, I looked at the mountainous scenery and ...weee!! we sped down the track, flipped through a corkscrew and left my stomach behind, a few more turns and the 20-second ride was over. It was really nice not to have to wait 2 hours for a 20 second ride like I used to at Universal Studios.

One of my favorite parts was the bumper cars. Even at my ripe old age of 21 I still enjoy smashing a bumper car full force into strangers. We zipped through the line, hopped into the carts and waited anxiously to be able to start. We got the green light, I stomped on the gas and puttered to a slow and disappointing start. I finally gained enough speed and was off - an unstoppable force bludgeoning my way through the masses. My goal was to hit the people I knew more than they hit me. I can't say that I was successful, I did succeed in thoroughly enjoying myself... and bruising my back from smashing against the seat every time I crashed. The electricity stopped, we jumped out of the carts and ran back to the line like little kids. No wait :). We went another 10 or so rounds in a row - I love Costa Rica.

We had lunch in a traditional restaurant in an old-fashioned town modeled after an 1800s era Costa Rican town. I had a view of the picturesque chapel with the mountains in the background and ate a tamal. Except for the Disney prices, lunch was perfect.

We took an old-fashioned train around the town and ate coffee fruits right off the trees. I  bought a tooth-rotting traditional candy, which was every kids' dream come true. The roosters crowed, the peacock posed, and the goat comped away on a branch wedged in the fence. We walked through a 118-year old home with 3 rooms, an ancient piano, iron, and sewing machine. I noticed the lack of bathrooms and the presence of buckets next to the bed and decided that I prefer modern luxuries to old fashioned simplicity. I really enjoyed getting a feel for ancient Costa Rican life.

Chicharones at Donde Alcides

Rene and his friend decided that they needed some chicharones tonight. For those who don't know, chicharones are pork prepared in the "chicharon" style. It's basically chunks of pork thrown on the grill for a while. They're great for people who are into that kind of thing, but unfortunately for me I'm not such a fan of meat in general.

We hopped into the car and started driving. Apparently today was some kind of tamal festival (another kind of Latin American food) so the roads were packed. What is normally about a 10 minute drive took us around 30. The silver lining here is that the view from the road is amazing. We were driving through a little town and headed toward the mountains. We had old homes around us, plenty of people available for people watching, and the not-so-distant mountains right in front of us. Again, unfortunately for me, I get car sick pretty easily. All the twists and turns of the mountain roads, while a nice sight, created a pretty unpleasant ride for me.

Finally, we arrived at restaurant called Donde Alcides. My angry body soon forgave me as we walked into the BBQ-style restaurant. There were huge wooden tables everywhere. We chose one next to the window. I looked out and saw a wooden home on stilts right next to a ledge on the mountain. One thing I love about Costa Rica is the amount and variety of trees. Having lived the majority of my life in Florida, I'm used to a pretty homogeneous landscape consisting of flat land, palm trees, and the occasional and very celebrated pine tree. A sight like the one I was seeing is still something that gives me pause. I looked upon a mountain scene with trees of every shade of green, each tree next to one of a different species and completely different look. The foggy sky created a surreal effect, making us feel isolated in our little slice of paradise.

Then the food arrived. The waiter placed two plates overflowing with tremendous pieces of meat. Pork and beef filled the table, along with my baked potato and corn on the cob. I tried the pork, which was very flavorful and juicy. I tried the beef as well, which was not such a success. I particularly dislike beef and the beef  here required far too much effort to chew with too little flavor to reward my hard work. The boys, however, loved every bite.  We ate and ate and ate until we could eat no more. After the three of us were finished with a combined total of 2 meals, we were left with enough food to bring home a complete meal for the guard who watches our street.

Donde Alcides turned out to be a great restaurant, even worth the car sickness-induced suffering. I would recommend it to anyone who's in the area and has the ability to go.