A-typical Thanksgivings

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costa rica, Hurricane Otto, Nicaragua, thanksgiving in Ecuador

Tent Community between Jama and Playa El Matal (Ecuador)

Greetings to all on this USA day of Thanksgiving.    In strong contrast to those affected by world-wide unstable weather, I spent the early morning helping with finishing touches on a mural-painting “minga” near Mindo’s central park.   Students, teachers and artists worked in easy harmony over the past few days while all-but perfect sunny skies smiled upon us.

Although the experience filled me with gratitude for these lovely people who embrace foreigners into their culture, my thoughts have also been tweaked to equally-loving people in Central America who are and will be affected by Otto’s late-November visit to the area.

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Late-November Otto & Central America

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costa rica, Nicaragua, Tropical Storm Otto

Thinking of all of you that are affected by Otto’s late-November surprise.

When I scan maps of Central America, I always spot that large Lake Nicaragua- Cocibolca (Ometepe is home to Debbie and Ron, who – ironically- were in New Zealand and experienced the recent 7.8 earthquake…)  Then I look due south to find the Nicoya Penisula where many of my friends live…. and now due east to Barra Colorado on the north-east border with Nicaragua, where my friend Dan has Rio Colorado Lodge.   Hang in there everyone…  Many will be watching from afar.

Kris out of Panama posted an update on weather in the David area. ‘Otto is Soaking Us”

(To anyone with internet there, updates are appreciated…)

Lessons to all:  Keep your homes well stocked – disasters seem to be surprising people world wide….

Love,
Z

The Wanderlust Breed

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costa rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mark Knopfler Wanderlust, Nicaragua, Republic of Panama, Travel in Ecuador, Wanderlust, Wild Weekly Challenge Wanderlust

Thanks, Let’s Be Wild, for selecting the image of “Little Bit” Iguana in last week’s winner’s circle.  This week’s theme is Wanderlust, a perfect topic for the life of the Zeebra!

When I was about ten years old, our class studied about Argentina’s  pastoral Pampas grasslands.  The images of horses and cattle affected me, and I dreamed of living in faraway Argentina.

Oops.. This is Nicaragua – We haven’t made it to Argentina yet!

Mark Knofler’s song Wanderlust makes a perfect backdrop for this post, and the video is paired with images from Ecuador.    Enjoy the song while scrolling through these images of Latin America.

Green, Green & More Green!

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Green Plantains, Limon Nicaragua, Nicaragua, Nicaragua Landscape, WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge Green

“Busted!”  Oh, how great it is to have the camera ready for action! Z

Journey with me to Nicaragua for WordPress’s Weekly Photo Challenge of GREEN.   The following images were taken on a drive from the Managua airport to the petite area of Limon, where I stayed at Casa Rosada for one month in November of 2010.  The landscape, lush green from a lengthy rainy season, provided numerous photo ops along the way.

Rice Harvest north of Rivas

Enjoy the images, which helps illustrate that Latin America is not as dangerous as many are led to believe!

Z

Weekly Photo Challenge: Happy Circles!

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costa rica, Ecuador, happy people, Nicaragua, Republic of Panama, WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge Happy

“I LOVE MY JOB!” Mueso Cancebi – Manta Ecuador

WordPress updated gallery options for sharing images and asked us to test them.  *For this post, I am attempting to put each image in a circle of a spotlight.   Visit the WordPress DailyPost Home Base to see posts from all over the world!

Thank you, WordPress for the great weekly challenges.   Thanks, everyone, for your incredible feedback on last week’s Post on Solitary.  I hope to have a follow-up story on that old man as soon as I can retrieve more images trapped in an old hard drive!  

Thanks, also, for your support for the Inspirational post about my nephew Don.      I am blessed to have so much positive feedback and support.  He seems genuinely baffled that we think he’s a very special and unique person!

WordPress community: YOU ROCK!    I hope that these images make you smile!

SOLID – Jake’s Sunday Post Challenge

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Costa Rica Stone Spheres, Isla Ometepe, Jake's Sunday Challenge Strong, Nicaragua, Scorpion

Mystery Stone Spheres of Costa Rica

SOLID:  Big strong boulders come to mind when I ponder the best example for JAKE’S SUNDAY POST challenge.    Pictured above is a large stone sphere located at the Best Western El Sitio in Liberia Costa Rica.  Whenever I am there, I walk round and round the stone spheres and ponder.

San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua (SJDS)

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Nicaragua, Park Avenue Villas, San Juan Del Sur, SJDS, Zeebra Maps

Sunset from Park Avenue Villas

San Juan del Sur endeared itself to me in 2001 when I consulted a pictorial map in Rivas and saw the symbols for food and lodging where a road ended at the Pacific coast. The sleepy little town town’s picturesque front street was a mix between classic Pacific post card and Colonial American architecture.  I liked it instantly.

Walking one street back from the harbor, I felt as if I had stepped onto the set of a Hollywood ghost town! The streets were swept clean, and the empty buildings were basic and unpainted, yet dripped with character.

“I wish I had enough money to buy the entire town!” I exclaimed to my friends when I returned to Costa Rica.

LIMON, Nicaragua

Tags

Buena Onda, Casa Rosada, Hacienda Iguana, Hostal Las Tortugas, Limon 1, Limon 2, Nica Waves, Nicaragua, Nicaragua Map, Nicaragua Rental, Rancho Santana, Zeebra Maps

Playa Rosada Sunset

Needing privacy and isolation to work on a deadline last year, I stayed at Casa Rosada, part of the Rancho Santana Project along Nicaragua’s southern Pacific Coast.  Mike, the owner of Casa Rosada, suggested that I draw a Zeebra Map for the area, which presented several unexpected problems.  While I slowly explored the 4-wheel drive backroads, the sleepy area from Hacienda Iguana to La Salinas fast endeared itself to my senses!

Quickly discovering there were no decent maps of the area, (most showed the entire area as “POPOYO”) I slowly plotted the curves of the roads and noted points of interest while a friend navigated the bumpy and often-muddy roads.  The map incubated as we explored side roads, stopped for sodas or inquired about locations.   The locals gladly nudged us along, though finding correct names of beaches and where one community started while another ended was one big question mark!