What To Pack For A Tropical Destination

 When I was planning to travel to Nicaragua, I could not find a good list of suggestions for what to pack so now that I'm here I thought I would share what I've found to be useful.

 Rubber shoes: The weather is hot and humid, rubber stands up to the climate. Flip Flops will be your best friend, they are open, comfy, and light. If you plan to go hiking you may need some heftier shoes. That said, there are some brands that seem to do better than others.

 For every day wear I like Havianas brand flip flops. I brought a couple of different brands down and my Havianas have lasted the best. Thankfully, Havianas can be found at a few shops down here for around $20 U.S.

 Crocs. Yep, Crocs. I don't personally own a pair but if you need a closed toed or different style of shoe other than a flip flop these are the brand most people prefer. If you are going to be walking down dusty or muddy back roads for any length of time Crocs are easy to clean and comfortable. The shoe version of a rubber boot, practical and less hot than a full on boot. I hear they are making some prettier styles now... If you plan to wear Crocs this is something you will definitely want to purchase before arriving. Prices of Crocs are 2 or 3 times higher here than what we would find them for in Canada or U.S.

 For moderate hiking, I've had Keeners brand shoes recommended to me. I haven't done this kind of hike yet so only sharing what others have said. Serious hikers will want to bring the hot and sweaty shoes designed for the job, built with adequate support.

 Cotton, Linen, and Rayon. For clothing I prefer loose fitting, light items that allow for a breeze to flow through.
 My favourite dresses are from the brand Pink Stitch. 100 % rayon, light and breezy. I frequently wear dresses casually as they are easy, and yes, breezy. Perfect for layering over a swimsuit.

 Light cotton shorts and loose fitting cotton or rayon tanks. If you can find Gauzy cotton tops, even better. I like Roxy brand cotton shorts and beach pants, and I've found some nice rayon pants at stores like American Eagle and Garage. I looked around at several different stores and online before I left Canada, these kind of pants were hard to find and they were only available seasonally at the stores where I did find them.

 I like a good Kimono as well. They work great to throw over a swimsuit and also to cover your arms from the sun without making you hot.

 Baggy beach pants for cooler days, I never wear jeans and anything tight feels stifling. The locals wear jeans though, so if you're used to the heat maybe you will want to bring a pair.

 Swimwear:As mentioned previously, I brought some swimsuits with me but they were not exactly practical for the waves in the ocean. If you are going to be in the surf you will want a sturdy swimsuit with ties so that you are able to tighten it up so it stays on. There are couple of brands available locally. Both Dkoko and Mgsurfline make swimsuits built for surfing.

 A double walled stainless steel water bottle. I haven't been able to find them in Nicaragua and I wish I would have brought one. They are invaluable when dealing with a tropical climate when hydration is important. Nothing else will keep your water cold for any length of time. Swell and HydroFlask are two brands that I know of.

 An umbrella for when it rains, and when it's hot.

 Back up power for your devices.

 A light hat with air holes for ventilation.

 A backpack, you will likely be walking a lot.

 A couple of pairs of sunglasses.

I'm not getting paid to recommend these brands, this is just information I would have found helpful when I was preparing to come down to Central America.

 If you can think of anything I've missed please feel free to share your recommendations.

Eyes Wide Open

 I've talked about some of the challenges since we got here so I wanted to share some of the good stuff. The benefits far out weigh the challenges for us and that's why we're here!
 - We get to have fresh fruit smoothies every morning if we want. Fresh from the trees sometimes and certainly more fresh than we were able to get in Canada. Yumm!

 - Our food is not modified so we can pick the seeds out of a watermelon and grow our own if we so desire.

 - We don't have to stay indoors most of the year because the weather is frigid. We've never liked the cold, and I hate dressing up in a huge parka trying to walk around like the stay puffed marshmallow man.

 - Warm wind, warm rain, warm weather, palm trees, the beach.

 - Passionfruit margaritas.

 - When the power goes out, my kids run outside to see how bright the stars look in the night sky. They've seen worlds underwater, swam in the Caribbean sea and a volcanic lake.

 - We haven't been to a mall in months.

 - Everything is new, like a child exploring for the first time, eyes wide open. Some things are scary some amazing!

 - The people. Yes, there have been some that try to take advantage but by far the majority of people that I've met have had a generous and kind spirit. I've had my neighbour bring me food and even a big bunch of bananas from the tree. So many, I couldn't eat them all! I love watching kids get inventive, playing baseball with a stick and an almond (that takes skill) or making music with nothing but their hands and feet.They are having a lot of fun and they are doing it without taking selfies that look like product placement ads.

 - Life here is about living. If you have the chance to step outside the commercialized world, for a holiday, to work abroad, or to start over I encourage you to do it! The bugs are bigger but I've lived outside of town in Saskatchewan and there are some big and biting things there too. Don't believe the hype.

- We have some cool shops run by people that have put their heart into their business. Nicaraguan made surf bikinis, you will need a sturdy bikini that is made to handle the waves, I learned this when I skinned my knees on the sand trying to stay low and get my suit back on after being tossed by a wave!

- Family run restaurants with fresh cooked food where people talk to each other...without the use of a cell phone. Kanye probably hasn't eaten here but I promise the food's still good.

- This place has a way of opening our eyes to what's real and what's real is beautiful!

Exploring volcanic rocks at low tide

Home Is Where You Are

 For a couple of months now, we've been searching. Searching for a place, the right place, to settle in at least for a little while.

  We've visited several towns in a short time and it has been a busy few months. These months of travel have been fun, interesting, and if I'm honest, challenging. We love to be on the move. Staying in the same house, in the same town, with the same job all of our lives does not appeal. While a comfort zone may be 'comfortable' it's no place to live. Having said that, it is nice to have a place where one can feel at home, a place to find rest.

   Travel is a great teacher and I've learned a few things about making a home on the road. Long term travel is different than vacation travel. Thought I would share some tips that have helped us while travelling as a willfully homeless family.

  -Home is not a place but a feeling. When looking for a place to stay there have been some towns, nice towns, that just don't appeal to us. I'm not sure how to describe it but some places feel like home, others don't. Look around, choose accordingly.

 -Though we choose to travel light, there are a some items that are nice to bring along or purchase:

  Blankets. We don't use much for blankets here but on cool nights it's nice to have a light layer on top of your sheets. I brought linen sheets from home, since I heard that good sheets were hard to find here and I plan to purchase a few pretty blankets from the markets in Nicaragua. Simple items, but having your own sheets and bedding can bring a little bit of that homey feeling to any place you go.

 -This goes without saying but, never assume. There are things that we assume to be normal coming from North America that are not considered as such in other lands. One of those things is comfort. Nicaraguan living rooms are generally set up with a few rocking chairs facing each other in a circle. I love it, I love that living rooms are set up around a lifestyle of sitting and talking with each other as opposed to the North American way of every piece of furniture facing the best possible view of the T.V., however, these rocking chairs are usually made of wood. Wooden chairs are not comfortable to sit in for long periods of time. My solution to this is to buy a few of the beautiful hand made beach chairs with hand woven fabric, my own 'furniture' to carry around from house to house. They fold up and are light so fairly easy to move around and worth it to have a comfortable seat.

Market in Jinotepe

 -Pots and mugs. Nicaraguan artisans are known for their pottery. I've always enjoyed having coffee out of my own special mug in the morning. I had to leave my mugs behind in Canada, my favourites are in the care of family so I can still use them when I return for a visit. Mugs are another item on my list for my trip to the market. Sipping coffee from my very own favourite cup tastes like home, a small comfort while living abroad. Since we are still transient and may be for a while, my dreams of planting my own garden and living off the land may have to wait to come to full fruition. In the meantime I'm going to buy a few pots. Beautiful pots that I can move with me, a place grow my herbs, veggies and flowers in a portable fashion.

 -If staying in vacation rentals or furnished homes, test out the beds. We liked our pillow top mattress. We have not found this to exist in Nicaragua. The comfort level of the beds here feels to me like I imagine it would feel to lay on a piece of plywood covered in, well, not much. Couple that with the wooden chairs or concrete benches made for sitting on during the day and you have a recipe for misery, in my opinion. If you can, find a place with a decent bed or buy a mattress topper, again, worth it! If you are backpacking bring a hammock, it may be more comfortable than some of the beds.

 -Check the plumbing, good plumbing is not a given and check for amenities. If you are not comfortable bartering or shopping at the local markets you may want to stay in a town where there is a grocery store, also not a given here in Nicaragua.

 -Screens in the windows. Not all homes have them. Mosquito nets are fine but I'd rather not have the bugs come into my house in the first place. Most home owners will allow you to put screens in if you would like them so it's a small thing but good to check for while you are looking. You will likely want to have your windows open, it's nice to have a breeze flowing through the house, and in a humid climate, smells get smellier...faster. Fresh air flowing through is a good thing.

 -We're currently loving our sweet little spot by the beach, learning to take each day as it comes, and enjoying the simple comforts in life.

Jumping In

 It's been a while since my last entry, I have a lot to say but right now, I'm processing. Processing a new language, new lifestyle, new culture, and trying to find a long term housing situation.

The Housing Situation:
 After 2 months we are still staying in the VRBO we originally landed in, only because there happened to be a cancellation and we were able to extend our stay. Finding a 3 bedroom house during  high season has been a challenge. There are few 3 bedroom homes in our area, those that are available are not always willing to rent long term because owners can rent out properties for $500 to thousands of dollars per night during the busy season so they would rather keep their homes empty in anticipation of getting top dollar during the holidays. Waiting does not seem to be in vain because almost all places are now booked. The ones that aren't, well... As a side note, there is a little bit of, shall we say, misrepresentation when it comes to properties around here so if you happen to know anyone that is familiar with the area you would do well to ask their opinion before booking. Our property was rated at 4 1/2 stars on VRBO unfortunately looks and reviews can be deceiving. By the standards we are used to we consider this a 2 1/2 to 3 star for numerous reasons. We would have moved sooner but alas, no other options.
  We have decided to head out out of town to a less tourist heavy area. Times like this it's nice to have very few possessions. we can pack up and move house in one day. Living the life of gypsies, has it's challenges but with challenge we learn so here's to getting smart.

Learning The Language:
  Although we practiced Spanish with Duo Lingo before we left, trying to learn a language when there is no one around you that speaks it proved to be fairly futile for us. It was far too easy to get caught up with work and day to day life back home. We were busy getting ready for a huge move and  spanish lessons, unfortunately, got put on the back burner. Being as we are we knew it would work best for us to throw ourselves into a situation where we could not make excuses. Full immersion. Learning has been tiring on the brain, and sometimes I don't even want to think about Spanish but I'm learning, and in two months I've come farther than I did in a year back in Canada.
 As a Canadian, I learned French as a second language in school. Initially when I would try to remember words in Spanish I would go straight to French, I found myself asking for 'Gateau' (french for cake) at a restaurant one evening only to be met with a look of confusion. Recently I have met a couple of french speaking people...I starting speaking some form of 'Franglish' with my limited spanish and french that only another french, english, spanish speaking person could understand. Somehow, I was understood, my husband looked on thoroughly entertained, then had the nerve to ask, "Why are you speaking English in that weird accent?" Speaking now feels like some sort of research project where I'm searching through old files in my brain hoping to piece together words that will form some kind of sentence.

  Through it all, we're making memories and we've got stories to tell. Learning hard and fast as we
                                                                        jump right in!

Laguna De Apoyo. A volcanic lake that is a must see if you plan to visit Nicaragua.

A Day In The Life: San Juan Del Sur

 San Juan Del Sur is a town where there is always something to do. We've been surprisingly busy since we got here, who knew setting up a whole different kind of life would be so much work? Thought I would share just a few of the things happening in town on a regular day.

  Every Saturday morning there is a farmer's market in town where one can buy fresh greens, health foods, home made baking, and the list goes on. Many expats attend in hopes of finding comfort foods from home that can be hard to find here in Nicaragua. Items like chocolate chip cookies and tarts go fast since desserts in Nicaragua are generally not what those of us from up north are used to.

Taking a walk down the street will find vendors selling fresh squeezed orange juice, coconut water (straight from the coconut), and cashews among other things.

 I think he was annoyed because I didn't want any cashews but the nuts made me nervous, I have to ask more questions before I buy nuts on the street. They're probably fine, I just don't know...

There are several coffee shops in town. This is El Gato Negro, they've got cappuccino, bagels, books, and more. Books are another item that can be difficult to find so this spot is another favourite among the expat community.

I will save the night life for a future post, I know there are some wondering about tourism prices etc. so I will try to write about that soon as well. 

Experiencing The Unknown: Hurricane Otto

 A few days ago we got some news, some slightly alarming news. We were about to experience a very rare event. A late rainy season hurricane had formed and was heading for the coasts of Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. As the storm approached it grew larger and more threatening. Unsure of what to expect we stocked up on supplies, prepared important items, and readied ourselves for what was to come. We had to be ready to possibly stay in and wait it out or move quickly in case of evacuation. 

As the storm grew closer we were happy to hear it had been downgraded to a tropical storm but still potentially damaging. We picked up some friends from low lying areas and headed to higher ground to wait it out. As we waited and texted our anxious families back home reports started to come in about a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that had occurred on the western side of El Salvador being felt in areas of Nicaragua. Tropical storm from the east, earthquake from the west. Within moments we were given warning that a tsunami was due to hit the west coast within 30 min. 

Tropical storm, earthquake, tsunami.

We were already in high ground so we opted to stay and hope for the best. I am not an un anxious person but there comes a time when anxiety becomes moot.We had prepared the best we could. Panicking, worry, or running amuck was not going to save anyone so we sat around the patio, listened to music, and cracked morbid jokes.

In the end the storm did minimal damage in Nicaragua and the tsunami passed us by.

                                    Repairs taking place on the beach in San Juan Del Sur.

Damage on the beach in San Juan Del Sur. 

While we were happy to escape tragedy this time we are deeply saddened by the loss of life in Panama and Costa Rica.

We Took A Trip Down The 101

 Why did we fly to Seattle upon leaving Canada? We had to see the Pacific coast one more time, while we had no fixed schedule and no need to rush. My husband and I had taken this trip when we were first married, no kids and no obligations. We didn't have a lot of cash so we did it on the cheap. We drove until we felt like stopping and stayed in the cheapest road side hotels we could find.

 At one particular hotel, we wanted to rest up and take a hot bath at the end of the day. I turned on the tap and attempted to adjust the temperature, it seems I did something wrong because, not only did the water not warm up, the whole faucet blew off the wall with gusto shooting a wide stream of freezing cold water across the room. After frantically trying to shove the tap back on to the wall, against the water pressure (I'm not really good in high pressure situations), and running wildly outside to find our host. We demanded our money back and headed for our next destination, laughing in the aftermath.

 That trip was a great trip and we wanted to share it with our kids. Our first stop was Seattle, which wasn't my favourite. I loved that there was so much diversity in the city, and there was plenty to do but big cities just aren't for me. The steep hills in crazy traffic made me feel like I was on a scary ride at the fair. I do not like scary rides.

 Our next stop after we rented a car was Long Beach, Washington. I had wanted to return to this town because the beach was, as they say, long. You can drive your car on the beach and it is really the first beautiful view of the ocean after driving through the woods of Washington. The town is a little more decrepit than it was on our first visit but still worth a stop, if only to stretch your legs after driving and get in touch with the sea. I will post more towns worth a visit in further posts.

We are getting ready for the effects of Hurricane Otto here in Nicaragua so may be without internet for a little while. Will be sharing our story after we weather the storm.

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