San Jose, Costa Rica Jan 22, 2020 For the indigenous tribes who called this home, the death knell began with Columbus’s last voyage. Upon reaching the east coast, he dubbed it a rich coast or Costa Rica. And that was the trigger needed for the Spanish to descend in hordes. All in search of gold … More Gold Fever
San Jose, Costa Rica Jan 20, 2020 Hordes of tourists may descend on Costa Rica but few spend any time in San Jose. Even guidebooks seem to advise against it. Unlovely it might be, but the city has grit and it felt more real to me than all the other touristy areas I have been … More Snapshot of San Jose
La Fortuna. Costa Rica Jan 16, 2020 This part of the world has many a lake formed by seismic activities eons ago and most have a startling beauty. But Lago Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica has quite a different history. It owes its birth to the creation of hydroelectric dams and has been … More Ride Across a Manmade Lake
Monteverde, Costa Rica Jan 14, 2020 Perched in the northwestern Costa Rica is Monteverde, a small town which has morphed into a mecca for the typical holiday-makers to Costa Rica. With its string of souvenir shops, eateries and travel agencies offering bungee jumps, Tarzan swings and ziplining, it smacks of Disneyland. But among the many … More The Forest at Night
Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica Jan 12, 2020 Tour operators and guides elsewhere denigrate the Manuel Antonio park in the Puntarenas province, spouting tales of animals just this side of tame. Stories of food-snatching monkeys and others posing for photo ops abound in disparaging comments. They do however, admit the abundance of fauna here … More A Park with a Bad Rap
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica Jan 9, 2020 Starting from David, I headed to Paso Canoas to cross the border into Costa Rica. Busy land borders tend to be an exercise in patience, but this was streamlined to the point where one can do it blindfolded. With no lines at either immigration, it was the fastest … More Package Central Osa
Boquete, Panama Jan 6, 2020 Some kind of festival seemed to be taking place in the main plaza when Antonia and I stepped off the bus. Micky and Minnie mouse cavorted on the makeshift stage to nursery rhymes screeching through loudspeakers. Their antics were watched with rapt attention by both adults and children alike. Most … More Panamanian Highlands
David, Panama Jan 4, 2019 It happened once again! Running into someone whom I met in another part of the globe without having kept in touch in the interim. I suppose I should be used to it, but it takes me by surprise each time. The last time it happened was in Swaziland when I greeted … More Happenstance
Panama City, Panama Jan 2, 2020 Having been in Panama six years ago, I am not exactly frantic to see the sights. Panama City itself, specifically the old city area of Casco Viejo seems more spruced up than I recall. The sounds of restorations are a constant every waking hour. The large groups of tourists … More A Spruced-Up Panama City
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 