Costa Rica: Puerto Viejo

Our second city in Costa Rica was much more lively.  Unlike the quiet, hidden-paradise feel Cahuita offered, Puerto Viejo was filled with life.  The roads were lined with restaurants, bars, hostels and shops.  I don't want the city to sound like the busy streets of New York city, it is just that in comparison to Cahuita, it offers a much different vibe.

The town is still filled with friendly people; locals and travelers.  In fact we met our surf instructor the first afternoon in town by simply striking up a conversation with a stranger on the beach.  (Note: If you are interested in surfing this is know worldwide as one of the best places to do so.)

The food was also fabulous.  I had the best taco of my ENTIRE life in this city at a Mexican restaurant bar called TEX MEX (owned by a retired man from England) .

Prior to our trip we were warned this city could be unsafe.  What we found is that you simply need to apply common sense.   Do not wander the streets late at night, on your own, with lots of cash on hand.  I know this seems like the most basic information for anyplace one travels however, I believe the laid back island-feel of southern Costa Rica somehow makes people forget the most basic safety tips.

Although the city is much bigger than Cahuita, by our second day in Puerto Viejo we already knew a handful of locals. By the time we left, we couldn't walk into a restaurant or bar without finding someone we knew to sit down with.  The most common question we were asked was "Why are you leaving?" Believe me, as the trip came closer and closer to the end, the question became harder and harder to answer.

Costa Rica: Cahuita

The first stop on our trip to Costa Rica was actually San Jose, the country's capital.  Almost all international flights into Costa Rica land in this large city.  Although it makes a trip a lot easier to stay somewhere close to San Jose, I promise you a much more authentic experience if you venture into other areas of the country (even if they are not easy to get to). 

We jumped straight into a van and began (what we thought would be ) our 4 journey through the mountains and down the eastern coast (Caribbean side) to Cahuita. The drive was beautiful but tedious!  There is only one road through the mountains and unfortunately that afternoon, there was a rainstorm which led to a 4-foot-wide tree collapsing onto the road.. +2 hours.  When it rains in Costa Rica, it pours!  By the time we were 6 hours into our drive we hit the low lands which were filled with rain waters.  To make a long story short, at one point there were cars floating passed us, water up to the bottom of our van windows, and some Spanish prayers being whispered by our driver.  As luck would have it, we did actually make it to Cahuita that night.

This small coastal city is as far away as you can get from the hustle and bustle of a big city. I couldn't find the exact population of Cahuita, it's estimated to be around 3,000 people.  There is one main road with about a dozen places to eat and shop.  The biggest draw to this Caribbean influenced city is that not only does it boarder a beautiful beach, but also the Cahuita National Park.  The vast number of animals and plant species that can be found within this park and other neighbouring forests is breath taking. It truly was inspiring to see how much of a priority Costa Rica has placed on environmental preservation.

 

We spent an entire morning hiking through one of the forests that boarders Panama. Without man-made trails, you have to literally wade through rivers and climb rocks in order to get around. We were able to see monkeys, sloths, iguanas, frogs etc. Even better, by hiking through the forest with one of the locals we learned about dozens of plants and flowers, and what the indigenous population had used them for.  (Everything from grass for cleaning teeth to flowers to help with stomach cramps).  The best part, we ended our hike with a swim at the base of a beautiful waterfall.


Some other great things we were able to check out in Cahuita included a sloth sanctuary, a chocolate making tour, and zip-lining. But the biggest selling feature of this city has to be the locals.  An extremely safe and friendly city, my friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Coral Hills. A small bed and breakfast owned by a retired couple originally from Sweden and the US, it literally feels like you're staying with family.  They upkeep a beautiful garden and have 3 large and spacious cabins for travelers to stay in. Plus each morning, a lavish breakfast is served with local fruits, fresh croissants and buns, and a homemade treat from Joe!

Costa Rica for Christmas

Instead of taking part in what is regularly the most hectic week of the year, the week before Christmas, a friend and I decided to avoid it all and take off on a vacation.  Looking for a mix of relaxation and some adventure we literally met at a coffee shop at the beginning of December with an atlas and a laptop.  We knew we wanted to go somewhere warm, but not an all-inclusive island getaway.  We wanted to go somewhere authentic where we could experience a new country and new culture.  But with only a week away it needed to be a relatively close flight.

 By the end of the afternoon, plane tickets to Costa Rica were booked.

Now what?  There is a lot to do and see in this country!  I've talked to at least a dozen people who have recently traveled to this Latin American country, none who have stayed in the same city.  The basics of which we came to learn is that instead of looking into the infinite number of cities we could visit, Costa Rica can be split into a few key sections, each geographic region being very different in what is has to offer to the traveler.  While many people visit the Northern Pacific Side we opted to visit the Southern part of the Caribbean Side.

Where most of the culture in Costa Rica has a Spanish influence, the unique part about the Southern Caribbean cities is the mix of cultures.  Along with the Spanish population there is also a large Jamaican population and a growing number of ex-pats from Western Europe.  This mix of cultures makes for delicious food, vibrant cities, and a truly harmonious atmosphere.  'One Love'.

The beauty of this country, you can be sitting on a beautiful beach with the rainforest right behind you. How many other places in the world can you experience both of these natural wonders at the same time? The shot to the right was taken after a morning hike through one of the many rainforests ending up with a swim at a beautiful, hidden waterfall.

I stayed in two different cities on this trip, I plan to make a post on each of them. The first, Cahuita, a small, quiet coastal town.  The second, Puerto Viejo, a larger, energetic, surf city.

Miami: South Beach Society

Lucky enough to be treated to another work trip, this time I was in a much warmer climate; Miami, Florida. Although there was a lot I enjoyed about Miami (the SUN, the night life, the ocean...) my favourite part of the trip can be summed up into two main streets: Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road.

Ocean Drive:
Ocean drive is essentially the eastern most street in South Beach, right on the ocean. It's riddled with outdoor bars, art deco shops, and restaurants. (Specifically, we started our adventure at about 10th ave & Ocean Drive and walked for roughly 6 blocks.)

The best part about the restaurant scene on Ocean drive is its European feel.  Lots of outdoor seating so you can enjoy your meal in the warm weather, and people-watch! There is also a hostess standing outside each of the eateries to try and convince you come in and try their special of the day. (If you've ever been to Little Italy in New York its also very similar).  To top off this wonderful evening, after our (rather large) meal, we walked through a few galleries/art deco shops. This photo is now my inspiration for my stairwell at home!

Lincoln Road:
This outdoor shopping area puts all Toronto 'outdoor malls' to shame!  Cleverly nicknamed 'The 5th ave of the South' this pedestrian road is enclosed by boutique shops, brand name stores, restaurants, cafes, bars, theaters...you name it, it's on Lincoln road.  I spent so much time in this area I ended up eating both my lunch and dinner in this district. Just like Ocean drive, the restaurants offer most of their service to outdoor seating.  Of all the restaurants we checked out, Meat Market was hands-down the best. (We actually sat indoors at this place).  The decor was stunning, the wine selection was superb, and the food was fantastic! The only thing I didn't like about Meat Market....was my bill at the end of the evening.