After leaving the capital city of San Jose yesterday afternoon, I hopped on a 5 hour bus ride headed for Puerto Viejo de Talamanca. It´s asmall little beach town in the southern part of the country on the Carribean side. It´s gorgeous here, and reminds me a lot of Tahiti. I´m sleeping on a hammock for $5 a night in a cool little place that reminds me of the Club Bali Hi.
I sat next to a kid named Josh on the bus, and we met some New Zealanders as well so we´ve just been hanging out lounging around. Tomorrow we might make a trip down to Panama to get another stamp on our passports. We´ve heard great things about a small island called Bocas del Toros, and feel the need to investigate further.
Costa Rica is beautiful, wish my stay could be longer, Imperial Beer is fantastic...blows Corona out of the water.
Mas Tarde,
Josh
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Off to Costa Rica
A month or so ago, Camille sent me an email with cheap flights to Central and South America. Having been back in the country for about two months at that point I was clearly feeling stagnant, and dying for another stamp on my passport. So without much hesitation, I called Smith and asked if he's like to join me on this mini-adventure. Unfortunately, he has entered the life of a young professional, and he told me he wouldn't be able to accompany me.
So as Smith started his first day of work today, I just finished packing my bags, and am headed to South Station to hop on the Chinatown bus to NYC where I'll rage all night and head to JFK Airport at 5AM for my 7:50 flight to Dallas, Texas. I'll then sit around there for 6 hours until boarding my connecting flight from Texas to San Jose, Costa Rica where a man named Fernando will be picking me up in a green mini-van and taking me to a hostel.
That's about all I have planned for now. Future plans may or may not include surfing, exploring of rain forests, active volcanoes, coffee picking (similar to rice picking I believe), horseback riding, and of course sampling the local cuisine and imbibing upon the countries finest brews. (not coffee)
Adios,
Josh
So as Smith started his first day of work today, I just finished packing my bags, and am headed to South Station to hop on the Chinatown bus to NYC where I'll rage all night and head to JFK Airport at 5AM for my 7:50 flight to Dallas, Texas. I'll then sit around there for 6 hours until boarding my connecting flight from Texas to San Jose, Costa Rica where a man named Fernando will be picking me up in a green mini-van and taking me to a hostel.
That's about all I have planned for now. Future plans may or may not include surfing, exploring of rain forests, active volcanoes, coffee picking (similar to rice picking I believe), horseback riding, and of course sampling the local cuisine and imbibing upon the countries finest brews. (not coffee)
Adios,
Josh
Monday, August 6, 2007
7 Days
I have been back in the states for exactly one week now, and what a weeks it's been. Along with enjoying my time at The Tea Room, which is really just a reality TV show waiting to happen, I've been able to experience some of the comforts that aren't necessarily found elsewhere in the world; air conditioning, garbage disposals, washers AND dryers, free internet, and a couple of other things. However being home does have one downfall...I'm underage again.
I have had quite a bit of fun though, I never realized just how great Boston is in the summertime. Typically I get a taste of fall, a hint of spring, and six frigid months of winter. However this time I have the next two weeks to do anything and everything I could possibly want. Lately I've just wandered around the streets taking in the sights I've overlooked for the past year, while stopping every once in a while at some eatery a friend works at so I can sample the daily specials at deeply reduced prices...as long as the boss isn't around.
Two days ago, after finishing up a lovely brunch on Mass. Ave, I watched a couple struggling to get a mattress into the back of a UHAUL. I couldn't pass up a chance to help out my fellow man, and since I hadn't seen the inside of a gym in 2 months I offered them a hand. 2 Tons and 9 hours later, Jen and Alisha were all moved into their new home in Watertown, about 15 minutes outside the city, and we had a nice dinner at the Halfway Cafe. Finding a free meal doesn't seem to be a problem anymore, however I've decided to take that a step further and implement the 10-day fast that I've been meaning to do.
Introducing, THE MASTER CLEANSER (aka The Lemonade Diet). This 10 day intensive cleanse allows only the consumption of freshly squeezed organic lemons, grade B maple syrup, crushed organic cayenne pepper, and spring water. These ingredients are combined into a lemonade of sorts, and sipped on for 10 days straight. The health benefits are enormous and include weight loss, increased energy, relief from headaches and sinus problems, your skin clears up, and your body basically repairs and heals itself back to tip-tip shape.
This is only day one, but I'm pretty confident I'll make if the whole ten days, not to mention the 3 days where you slowly begin to introduce solid foods back into your system. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it's going, but I really recommend googling "Master Cleanser" and reading up on it...pretty facinating.
Until next time,
-Josh
I have had quite a bit of fun though, I never realized just how great Boston is in the summertime. Typically I get a taste of fall, a hint of spring, and six frigid months of winter. However this time I have the next two weeks to do anything and everything I could possibly want. Lately I've just wandered around the streets taking in the sights I've overlooked for the past year, while stopping every once in a while at some eatery a friend works at so I can sample the daily specials at deeply reduced prices...as long as the boss isn't around.
Two days ago, after finishing up a lovely brunch on Mass. Ave, I watched a couple struggling to get a mattress into the back of a UHAUL. I couldn't pass up a chance to help out my fellow man, and since I hadn't seen the inside of a gym in 2 months I offered them a hand. 2 Tons and 9 hours later, Jen and Alisha were all moved into their new home in Watertown, about 15 minutes outside the city, and we had a nice dinner at the Halfway Cafe. Finding a free meal doesn't seem to be a problem anymore, however I've decided to take that a step further and implement the 10-day fast that I've been meaning to do.
Introducing, THE MASTER CLEANSER (aka The Lemonade Diet). This 10 day intensive cleanse allows only the consumption of freshly squeezed organic lemons, grade B maple syrup, crushed organic cayenne pepper, and spring water. These ingredients are combined into a lemonade of sorts, and sipped on for 10 days straight. The health benefits are enormous and include weight loss, increased energy, relief from headaches and sinus problems, your skin clears up, and your body basically repairs and heals itself back to tip-tip shape.
This is only day one, but I'm pretty confident I'll make if the whole ten days, not to mention the 3 days where you slowly begin to introduce solid foods back into your system. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it's going, but I really recommend googling "Master Cleanser" and reading up on it...pretty facinating.
Until next time,
-Josh
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Back in Beantown
Last night I arrived back in Boston around 8PM to find a crowd of people waiting for me. Included in the crowd were a few cameras and reporters with a number of questions for me. I never thought I would the guy they were waiting for.
Today I start work at The Tea Room, I'll be sure to let you all know how that goes. Here's a clip from Fox25 News.
eBay Kid
Today I start work at The Tea Room, I'll be sure to let you all know how that goes. Here's a clip from Fox25 News.
eBay Kid
Saturday, July 28, 2007
My English Family
I arrived in Oxford hoping for the best. I had met a girl a month and a half earlier in Vietnam, and moments before my last post, I sent her an email telling her that I would be at the bus station in 4 hours. When I got off the bus, nobody was there. I had no money on me, so I waited there for close to twenty minutes, contemplating whether I ought to ask to use someone's cell phone to call my friend, who's number I had written in bright red marker on the inside cover of my waterproof travel journal. Just then I looked up and saw her walking toward me, and it was as if a weight the size of my backpack had been lifted off of my shoulders.
We hugged, and shook our heads in amazement; a drunken idea had manifested, and 45 days later here I was in Oxford. We walked into a local pub and had half-a-pint that was quite nice, and has a pear aftertaste. I told her of everything that had happened since Vietnam, and we caught up for nearly an hour when she rang her mom. She told her I would be staying the night and to "Throw another Jacket in the Oven" which is just English slang for a baked potato.
We left the pub and headed to her house located in the village of Bleubury. Naturally I walked to the right side of the car to get in, when she asked me it I had planned on driving...that's right, it's all backwards here. The drive took us twice as long because many of the roads had been flooded from the rivers that had overflown their banks. We walked inside, and I was more than excited to meet my first English "mum." She was quite friendly as she fixed us each plate of jackets and beans, and she, like every English person I've mentioned it to, could not believe why anyone would sell themselves on eBay.
After dinner Kirsty told me I should look up the train schedule so I could get to Leicester (pronounced Lester)in the morning, I guess I'll just be staying one night then. I figured it all out, and did some online banking which reminded me of the times I'd be losing in Monopoly and couldn't wait to land in jail so I didn't have to keep landing on hotels.
I was long overdue for a shower, so I cleaned up and went to sleep in her 12 year old sister's room who happened to be at a sleepover for the night. I couldn't fall asleep because I kept wondering whether or not my cousin would receive the email I'd just sent him, telling him that I would be arriving in just about 12 hours. I laid there for an hour or so watching the minutes tick by on one of those clocks that shines the time up onto the ceiling in big red numbers before I finally fell asleep.
In what felt like 15 minutes I was woken up by Kirsty telling me we had to leave in 15 minutes so she could drop me off at the Ditcok train station before work. I fell back asleep and woke up 13 minutes later, threw some clothes on stuffed my bag and ran out the door. We said our goodbyes, made promises to visit soon, and she was off. I bought my ticket to Oxford, and my credit card worked; I could breathe again. The trains were stopped because of the flood so we had to take a bus which also was delayed and took an hour and a half. I made it to Oxford and went to buy my ticket to Leicester. I told the lady behind the counter that if my credit card worked it would be a miracle...it was a miracle. This meant that the money transfer Tyler made had worked, I was rich again!
I went next door, ordered a sandwich, croissant, and a cup of tea and handed them my card. "We don't take cards, there's a cash-point next door." No worries, be right back.
Insufficient Funds
Insufficient Funds
Insufficient Funds
"I'm sorry, but I cannot pay for this food" and I walked out of the cafe quite embarrassed.
I had stashed a granola bar in my jacket a week ago, and snacked on that while I waited for my bus. The bus ride was painless, and we were in Leicester in just over 3 hours. Ok, time to find my cousin (whom I haven't seen in 7 years, and god forbid he send his wife to get me as I've never met her) I look all over the train station...nothing.
I have exactly enough money for a phone call, which is 40 pence...it rings, then I get a voicemail, now I have nothing. I dig through my backpack and find 8 euro in coins, I can't believe I hadn't spent those, but they may save my ass because the 45 minute bus ride to the village of Broughton Astley costs 2.10 Pounds.
I walk around in the rain to 4 different banks trying to change money;
"Only if you bank with us sir" do I look like I bank with first bank of Scotland?
"Sorry, we only change bills" some of these coins are 2Euro coins, what's that about?
"This isn't a bank at all, this is a bookie joint (to myself)"
I'm told there is a travel agency in The Shires, I think they're talking about Lord of the Rings...rather, it's a shopping mall. I find the travel agency, and walk out of there with 4.20 pounds. That's 2 bus tickets!!!
Back to the bus station, hop on the number 13...I'm going to make it after all. I hand the bus driver a post-it with an address on it and ask him to tell me when to get off. 20 minutes later I'm standing on the corner of Broughton Street next to Ye Olde Bull Pub. I like the idea of that, at least I could wash dishes for food(beer)if need be. I walk down Broughton Street looking for Astley House, heaven forbid they use street numbers. 10 houses down the lane I read "Astley House" on one of the brick walls. Maybe this is it? Then I see a Dodge truck...this has to be it, only an American would have a Dodge in England.
I knock at the door, no answer...I peer in the window and see baby toys! I MADE IT, it's just nobody was home. I pull out an old train ticket from my bag and a red pen,
"MIKE, I'm at the pub down the street." -Josh
I walk in the pub, "What ya got in that rucksack, you're whole life?" some tough lookin' guy says to me. "Pretty much" I respond, "Any of you know the guitar teacher down the road?"
Nobody knows the guitar teacher down the road. I ask them if I can "Hang Out" for a bit, see if my cousin turns up. The bartender and a regular named George split the cost of a pint for me, and invite me to sit down and tell them why the hell I'm in Broughton Astley.
I tell them about my trip, but realize these guys only want to hear the parts of my story that I'll never tell my kids...so I entertained them for a while and looked out the window at a gentleman approaching, I turned to the bartender, "I think that's my cousin walking in..."
-Josh
We hugged, and shook our heads in amazement; a drunken idea had manifested, and 45 days later here I was in Oxford. We walked into a local pub and had half-a-pint that was quite nice, and has a pear aftertaste. I told her of everything that had happened since Vietnam, and we caught up for nearly an hour when she rang her mom. She told her I would be staying the night and to "Throw another Jacket in the Oven" which is just English slang for a baked potato.
We left the pub and headed to her house located in the village of Bleubury. Naturally I walked to the right side of the car to get in, when she asked me it I had planned on driving...that's right, it's all backwards here. The drive took us twice as long because many of the roads had been flooded from the rivers that had overflown their banks. We walked inside, and I was more than excited to meet my first English "mum." She was quite friendly as she fixed us each plate of jackets and beans, and she, like every English person I've mentioned it to, could not believe why anyone would sell themselves on eBay.
After dinner Kirsty told me I should look up the train schedule so I could get to Leicester (pronounced Lester)in the morning, I guess I'll just be staying one night then. I figured it all out, and did some online banking which reminded me of the times I'd be losing in Monopoly and couldn't wait to land in jail so I didn't have to keep landing on hotels.
I was long overdue for a shower, so I cleaned up and went to sleep in her 12 year old sister's room who happened to be at a sleepover for the night. I couldn't fall asleep because I kept wondering whether or not my cousin would receive the email I'd just sent him, telling him that I would be arriving in just about 12 hours. I laid there for an hour or so watching the minutes tick by on one of those clocks that shines the time up onto the ceiling in big red numbers before I finally fell asleep.
In what felt like 15 minutes I was woken up by Kirsty telling me we had to leave in 15 minutes so she could drop me off at the Ditcok train station before work. I fell back asleep and woke up 13 minutes later, threw some clothes on stuffed my bag and ran out the door. We said our goodbyes, made promises to visit soon, and she was off. I bought my ticket to Oxford, and my credit card worked; I could breathe again. The trains were stopped because of the flood so we had to take a bus which also was delayed and took an hour and a half. I made it to Oxford and went to buy my ticket to Leicester. I told the lady behind the counter that if my credit card worked it would be a miracle...it was a miracle. This meant that the money transfer Tyler made had worked, I was rich again!
I went next door, ordered a sandwich, croissant, and a cup of tea and handed them my card. "We don't take cards, there's a cash-point next door." No worries, be right back.
Insufficient Funds
Insufficient Funds
Insufficient Funds
"I'm sorry, but I cannot pay for this food" and I walked out of the cafe quite embarrassed.
I had stashed a granola bar in my jacket a week ago, and snacked on that while I waited for my bus. The bus ride was painless, and we were in Leicester in just over 3 hours. Ok, time to find my cousin (whom I haven't seen in 7 years, and god forbid he send his wife to get me as I've never met her) I look all over the train station...nothing.
I have exactly enough money for a phone call, which is 40 pence...it rings, then I get a voicemail, now I have nothing. I dig through my backpack and find 8 euro in coins, I can't believe I hadn't spent those, but they may save my ass because the 45 minute bus ride to the village of Broughton Astley costs 2.10 Pounds.
I walk around in the rain to 4 different banks trying to change money;
"Only if you bank with us sir" do I look like I bank with first bank of Scotland?
"Sorry, we only change bills" some of these coins are 2Euro coins, what's that about?
"This isn't a bank at all, this is a bookie joint (to myself)"
I'm told there is a travel agency in The Shires, I think they're talking about Lord of the Rings...rather, it's a shopping mall. I find the travel agency, and walk out of there with 4.20 pounds. That's 2 bus tickets!!!
Back to the bus station, hop on the number 13...I'm going to make it after all. I hand the bus driver a post-it with an address on it and ask him to tell me when to get off. 20 minutes later I'm standing on the corner of Broughton Street next to Ye Olde Bull Pub. I like the idea of that, at least I could wash dishes for food(beer)if need be. I walk down Broughton Street looking for Astley House, heaven forbid they use street numbers. 10 houses down the lane I read "Astley House" on one of the brick walls. Maybe this is it? Then I see a Dodge truck...this has to be it, only an American would have a Dodge in England.
I knock at the door, no answer...I peer in the window and see baby toys! I MADE IT, it's just nobody was home. I pull out an old train ticket from my bag and a red pen,
"MIKE, I'm at the pub down the street." -Josh
I walk in the pub, "What ya got in that rucksack, you're whole life?" some tough lookin' guy says to me. "Pretty much" I respond, "Any of you know the guitar teacher down the road?"
Nobody knows the guitar teacher down the road. I ask them if I can "Hang Out" for a bit, see if my cousin turns up. The bartender and a regular named George split the cost of a pint for me, and invite me to sit down and tell them why the hell I'm in Broughton Astley.
I tell them about my trip, but realize these guys only want to hear the parts of my story that I'll never tell my kids...so I entertained them for a while and looked out the window at a gentleman approaching, I turned to the bartender, "I think that's my cousin walking in..."
-Josh
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
London Calling
So my trusty travel partner left me stranded with his cousin's fiance in an apartment in The Netherlands. I spent the day there playing with the cat, and attempted to do some laundry, where I managed to flood the laundry room, and cause a leak through the floor into the shoe store below the apartment. I swear, you leave me alone for just one minute...
Anyway the next morning i woke up (after missing my alarm) and ran to the train station headed to Amsterdam. I got to my gate and met two girls from Long Island headed to London themselves. One of them had been studying Eastern medicine in India for 2 months which I happen to be an expert on, and the other is a social worker...also a hobby of mine.
We chatted for a while, then were seperated during the flight, and reunited at the baggage carouselle. They were headed somewhere on the tube, and I was headed anywhere, so I joined them. We ended up in downtown London, hunting for the CBRE building where a man she had met a year earlier worked at. They had met once, kept in touch online, and now my backpack was being stored on the 5th floor in the fire closet. That was fantastic because while Smith did take some of my stuff with him when he left, my backpack still weighs 40 pounds.
We headed out to explore, me and the two 25 year olds, and a couple of pounds in my pocket. The exchange rate in England is 2-1 however everything has the same price number value so you're basically paying twice as much. Scoop od ice cream, £5=$10. There will be no ice cream for me.
We went out to a dinner I couldn't afford, where our new friend invited the 3 of us to stay the night...even after I told him that I had met the girls eight hours earlier. That was also fantastic because it looked like I was going to be sharing a tent with the protesters across from Wesminster Abbey with the "Free Palestine" signs everywhere.
We cruised around all day, I had a few conversations with an ATM machine, I would say "Please give me money..." and it kept responding "Insufficient Funds!"
Headed to Oxford to stay with a girl i met in Vietnam...out of internet time, I'm alive, stay well.
- Josh
Anyway the next morning i woke up (after missing my alarm) and ran to the train station headed to Amsterdam. I got to my gate and met two girls from Long Island headed to London themselves. One of them had been studying Eastern medicine in India for 2 months which I happen to be an expert on, and the other is a social worker...also a hobby of mine.
We chatted for a while, then were seperated during the flight, and reunited at the baggage carouselle. They were headed somewhere on the tube, and I was headed anywhere, so I joined them. We ended up in downtown London, hunting for the CBRE building where a man she had met a year earlier worked at. They had met once, kept in touch online, and now my backpack was being stored on the 5th floor in the fire closet. That was fantastic because while Smith did take some of my stuff with him when he left, my backpack still weighs 40 pounds.
We headed out to explore, me and the two 25 year olds, and a couple of pounds in my pocket. The exchange rate in England is 2-1 however everything has the same price number value so you're basically paying twice as much. Scoop od ice cream, £5=$10. There will be no ice cream for me.
We went out to a dinner I couldn't afford, where our new friend invited the 3 of us to stay the night...even after I told him that I had met the girls eight hours earlier. That was also fantastic because it looked like I was going to be sharing a tent with the protesters across from Wesminster Abbey with the "Free Palestine" signs everywhere.
We cruised around all day, I had a few conversations with an ATM machine, I would say "Please give me money..." and it kept responding "Insufficient Funds!"
Headed to Oxford to stay with a girl i met in Vietnam...out of internet time, I'm alive, stay well.
- Josh
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