Winter in Ohio sucks this year. I do not mind the snow because it is pretty (at least before it becomes an icky grey mess), and it means I get to snowboard. But I do mind the terrible cold we have had this year. So in order to survive what I hope is only a […]
The sloth whisperer
Bismar, the guide from my Breakfast at the Farm Tour, is a master at spotting wild animals. As we drove through the vast property of Morgan’s Rock, he talked about the families of monkeys and sloths living in the trees around us. I had seen about a million monkeys on this Nicaragua trip. While it […]
A traditional Nicaraguan breakfast… at the farm!
When I read that Morgan’s Rock offers a Breakfast at the Farm tour, I jumped at the opportunity to see where ingredients from some of my delicious meals were coming from and learn about what makes the traditional Nicaraguan breakfast unique compared to neighboring countries. Breakfast at the Farm Our tour guide Bismar explained the […]
Can I live here forever?
For the end of my travels in Nicaragua, I wanted to treat myself. I wanted to relax and not feel obligated to do anything. After a lot of research, one place seemed like the perfect destination. Morgan’s Rock Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge is located on the southern coast of Nicaragua on a sprawling 4,000-acre jungle […]
The difference a small nonprofit can make
My last day on Ometepe I took the Totoco Cultural Tour with Martijn’s partner Patricia. As I mentioned before, the Totoco Foundation is a separate entity from the business to ensure that it is not fully dependent on the profitability of the business. I could have spent my morning lounging in the Ojo de Agua […]
Kayaking between volcanoes
Kayaking is one of my favorite travel activities. It’s a way to get some exercise while seeing a place from a different perspective. When I discovered that I could kayak between the two volcanoes on the island of Ometepe, I made this a top priority. Rio Istián Rio Istián is a small estuary that meanders […]
Can a small eco-lodge in Nicaragua change the world?
People think I’m a super-green, eco-crazy person because I have chosen a car-free lifestyle (in a city where that is quite rare). While I certainly care about the environment and do the simple, convenient things to try to lessen my impact and reduce my consumption, Martijn has taken things to a level I didn’t even […]
Simple luxury, natural balance
This was not my plan. I had successfully negotiated a shared taxi from the port with two girls on their way to a hotel very close to my destination. I was feeling good. I only paid $10 to get here when arranging private transport in advance would have been $38. Then the driver stopped at […]
Wipeout!
You have already seen what an awesome photographer Jerson Barboza is in my first post about learning to surf. He also has perfect timing. Check out my epic wipeout on Day 3. (And yes, I can say epic now because I’m a surfer chick.)
Get inspired by the chicas
I am curious about people and their stories. How did they end up where they are? Where have they been? Where are they going? What interesting skills do they have and how did they figure it out? What makes them happy? This curiosity is part of what drives my desire to travel. CHICABRAVA’s all-girls […]