Thank you for all the love and support throughout our traveling!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Oregon Trail
We're home sweet home! Enjoying all that our homeland has to offer: drinkable tap water, toilets that flush paper, food that you can eat without second-guessing; not to mention family and friends! We will have our cell phone on Saturday, the 28th, (same number) so feel free to call us and we'll hang out!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Two of us Sunday driving, not arriving, On Our Way Back Home
We are coming home! We just bought our tickets! We will be arriving in San Francisco on the 21st of February! That's only 9 days from now! We will visit some friends in California and be making our way north shortly after that! So unreal! The Beatles song is running through my mind... We're on our way home! On our way home! We're going home! ... You and I have memories, longer than the road that stretches out of them.....
Can't wait to see everyone!
Can't wait to see everyone!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Today we went on a hike to the top of a hill in panama city called Cerro Ancon and it was really hard and long, but it paid off because we saw an armadillo and four tiny and cute monkeys and some weird jungle animal that we couldn't recognize. There were amazing views, but we didn't have a camera. :( We've decided not to buy a camera because the next camera we buy will probably be the 'baby camera' so we are going to want it to be really really good, with video and all that.
The other day we saw a crocodile in a river! Also, the other day, I saw a sea snake while we were snorkeling and almost jumped out of my skin.
The hostel people here offered us a free room if we would promise to conceive our first child in the hostel and if it was a girl, name her Luna. The hostel is called Luna's Castle. We did not agree. But we did chuckle. I miss you guys. I miss family a lot. And friends. A lot a lot. A lot of travelers aren't homesick at all and it makes me think that they must not have the amazing and supportive family network that we have. hmm....
I want to take a roadtrip across the US this fall, or next spring. Being away has made me realize how little I know about my own country. I know almost nothing! Southeast Iowa and Oregon. A little Washington, a little California. That's IT. I want to see the south, DC, Arizona, the grand canyon, Maine, Toronto, Canada...that's not in the US, but I still want to see it.
The hostel is playing Creedence right now.
The other day we saw a crocodile in a river! Also, the other day, I saw a sea snake while we were snorkeling and almost jumped out of my skin.
The hostel people here offered us a free room if we would promise to conceive our first child in the hostel and if it was a girl, name her Luna. The hostel is called Luna's Castle. We did not agree. But we did chuckle. I miss you guys. I miss family a lot. And friends. A lot a lot. A lot of travelers aren't homesick at all and it makes me think that they must not have the amazing and supportive family network that we have. hmm....
I want to take a roadtrip across the US this fall, or next spring. Being away has made me realize how little I know about my own country. I know almost nothing! Southeast Iowa and Oregon. A little Washington, a little California. That's IT. I want to see the south, DC, Arizona, the grand canyon, Maine, Toronto, Canada...that's not in the US, but I still want to see it.
The hostel is playing Creedence right now.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Panama
We flew from Cartegena to Panama yesterday. It was an hour long flight. Now we're going to hang out in Panama for a while, eventually we will go to the San Blas Islands for some more snorkeling and relaxing. After that, who knows!
Story:
We went to the Hard Rock Cafe in Cartegena. It was a little weird, but cool to feel like we were sitting in a little slice of the US. Most of everything was in English, except the waiters. There was a woman with a group from a cruise ship in there. She was trying to order some nachos, or something like that. She was trying to convey to the waiter the level of spiciness that she wanted for her food. She was doing the whole thing where she was speaking English to the waiter, only louder and slower, as if that was going to help him understand. She would say something, and then he would repeat what he thought she said, only in Spanish. She wouldn't understand, so she would just repeat what she had said before. This would make the waiter think he had gotten it wrong. She was basically yelling by the end of the whole thing... For some reason, I just watched instead of going to help.
When the waiter left she turned to her other cruise friends and said something like "Well, who knows how spicy it will be!!? It might be really spicy, or maybe not at all! Who knows! ... But that's why we're out here! For the adventure!" A lot of chuckling and adult humor followed.
I felt like yelling, "You are at a Hard Rock Cafe! That is NOT an adventure!!! You are on a cruise ship!!" Luckily, my filter happened to be on at that moment and my brain told me that what was on my mind did not happen to be the best thing to say at the moment. I held back. But I kept thinking about it. For a few days.
I realized how horrible I was for wanting to say that. Obviously, the HRC in Cartegena IS an adventure for her. Why can't I just back off and let her have her adventure? Why do I need to cut her down for it? I was taught a wise lesson.
Story #2:
My bag was being searched at the Colombian airport by a member of the Colombian military. He was making small talk as he went through all my stuff, including sniffing my shampoo. He asked me if I was traveling alone, and I told him I was traveling with my husband. Then he asked me if my husband spoke Spanish. I told him, only a little Spanish. Then we talked for a little while more about where we had traveled, and then he asked me if he could have my email address! I was so flattered. I told him I didn't have one. He didn't seem to believe it, but I didn't want to outright turn him down because he could delay our plane! I was really flattered and told Jason as soon as we were out of earshot. He laughed...Ahh.. Goodbye Colombia
Story #3:
Panama rocks. We're really stoked to be here.
Story:
We went to the Hard Rock Cafe in Cartegena. It was a little weird, but cool to feel like we were sitting in a little slice of the US. Most of everything was in English, except the waiters. There was a woman with a group from a cruise ship in there. She was trying to order some nachos, or something like that. She was trying to convey to the waiter the level of spiciness that she wanted for her food. She was doing the whole thing where she was speaking English to the waiter, only louder and slower, as if that was going to help him understand. She would say something, and then he would repeat what he thought she said, only in Spanish. She wouldn't understand, so she would just repeat what she had said before. This would make the waiter think he had gotten it wrong. She was basically yelling by the end of the whole thing... For some reason, I just watched instead of going to help.
When the waiter left she turned to her other cruise friends and said something like "Well, who knows how spicy it will be!!? It might be really spicy, or maybe not at all! Who knows! ... But that's why we're out here! For the adventure!" A lot of chuckling and adult humor followed.
I felt like yelling, "You are at a Hard Rock Cafe! That is NOT an adventure!!! You are on a cruise ship!!" Luckily, my filter happened to be on at that moment and my brain told me that what was on my mind did not happen to be the best thing to say at the moment. I held back. But I kept thinking about it. For a few days.
I realized how horrible I was for wanting to say that. Obviously, the HRC in Cartegena IS an adventure for her. Why can't I just back off and let her have her adventure? Why do I need to cut her down for it? I was taught a wise lesson.
Story #2:
My bag was being searched at the Colombian airport by a member of the Colombian military. He was making small talk as he went through all my stuff, including sniffing my shampoo. He asked me if I was traveling alone, and I told him I was traveling with my husband. Then he asked me if my husband spoke Spanish. I told him, only a little Spanish. Then we talked for a little while more about where we had traveled, and then he asked me if he could have my email address! I was so flattered. I told him I didn't have one. He didn't seem to believe it, but I didn't want to outright turn him down because he could delay our plane! I was really flattered and told Jason as soon as we were out of earshot. He laughed...Ahh.. Goodbye Colombia
Story #3:
Panama rocks. We're really stoked to be here.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Cartegena
Here we are in lovely Cartegena! We spent six days and five nights hanging out on the beach, eating fresh-from-the-ocean fish and snorkeling whenever we felt like it.
The first day we were there, we were on a completely deserted beach. The local who dropped us off assured us that everything would be great here, a completely safe beach. We had arranged with some local fisherman to bring us our food everyday, and whatever else we would need. We started to get really excited. We hid our bags behind some rocks so that no passing boats would see them, and went for a swim and a snorkel. Ten minutes later we came back and our camera was gone. BIG BUMMER. Almost 6 months of photos gone, besides the ones we have uploaded here and on facebook. At first I was really upset. I was sitting on the beach throwing rocks and being angry. It was obviously the fisherman, they were the only ones who knew we were there, and no boats had come or gone. I was really upset.
Then another dive boat came and we told them about what happened. The leader´s name was Nene. He said that this beach we were at was not the safest. We should come with him to the next bay over. There is a place we can set up our tent under nice thatch huts and the people who live there are really nice. They weren´t home at the time, but we took his word for it. We weren´t feeling too comfortable at the other beach after that had happened.
The people´s place we stayed at was amazing! Benches overlooking the water, beautiful flowers, two kittens, four puppies, and three dogs (Jason´s heaven). Four Colombians were living there taking care of the place for some Doctor who lives in another town. Their names were Jymie (Hi-may), Pipi, José, and Rubiella. They were so nice! After we cancelled our food from the fisherman, Rubiella cooked for us. We went fishing with the boys. I caught a four foot eel straight from the ocean! They use nothing but a piece of fishing line with a rock tied on and with a hook attached with some fish meat on it! You throw the line out and just hold it and wait for a bite! I couldn´t believe it worked! But because we didn´t have a net, my huge eel got away. They were all very impressed with me. "Ella cojé una grandisima morena!"
Rubiella was an amazing old lady who talked to me about her life in Colombia. It made me feel very pathetic to be sad about my stolen camera. After all, she reminded me, they didn´t take passports, or money or anything else, so we were very fortunate. And we are safe, which is the most important part. Jymie went over to the fisherman´s camp and yelled at them for a while, but they didn´t give it back, and then he bought a fish from them. Colombia.
Now we´re in Cartegena. Don´t really know what we´re doing. Going to try and find some more good snorkeling. We´ll keep you posted. But unfortunately there won´t be any more pictures! Aah!
The first day we were there, we were on a completely deserted beach. The local who dropped us off assured us that everything would be great here, a completely safe beach. We had arranged with some local fisherman to bring us our food everyday, and whatever else we would need. We started to get really excited. We hid our bags behind some rocks so that no passing boats would see them, and went for a swim and a snorkel. Ten minutes later we came back and our camera was gone. BIG BUMMER. Almost 6 months of photos gone, besides the ones we have uploaded here and on facebook. At first I was really upset. I was sitting on the beach throwing rocks and being angry. It was obviously the fisherman, they were the only ones who knew we were there, and no boats had come or gone. I was really upset.
Then another dive boat came and we told them about what happened. The leader´s name was Nene. He said that this beach we were at was not the safest. We should come with him to the next bay over. There is a place we can set up our tent under nice thatch huts and the people who live there are really nice. They weren´t home at the time, but we took his word for it. We weren´t feeling too comfortable at the other beach after that had happened.
The people´s place we stayed at was amazing! Benches overlooking the water, beautiful flowers, two kittens, four puppies, and three dogs (Jason´s heaven). Four Colombians were living there taking care of the place for some Doctor who lives in another town. Their names were Jymie (Hi-may), Pipi, José, and Rubiella. They were so nice! After we cancelled our food from the fisherman, Rubiella cooked for us. We went fishing with the boys. I caught a four foot eel straight from the ocean! They use nothing but a piece of fishing line with a rock tied on and with a hook attached with some fish meat on it! You throw the line out and just hold it and wait for a bite! I couldn´t believe it worked! But because we didn´t have a net, my huge eel got away. They were all very impressed with me. "Ella cojé una grandisima morena!"
Rubiella was an amazing old lady who talked to me about her life in Colombia. It made me feel very pathetic to be sad about my stolen camera. After all, she reminded me, they didn´t take passports, or money or anything else, so we were very fortunate. And we are safe, which is the most important part. Jymie went over to the fisherman´s camp and yelled at them for a while, but they didn´t give it back, and then he bought a fish from them. Colombia.
Now we´re in Cartegena. Don´t really know what we´re doing. Going to try and find some more good snorkeling. We´ll keep you posted. But unfortunately there won´t be any more pictures! Aah!
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