Wednesday, December 10, 2008
back to the beach
It´s been 6 days since my last update. I´ll try to be more efficient at updated my blog from now on. I was using my ipod touch (wireless) for most of my internet work but the other day it crapped out on me. Too many programs were running and it shut off and went to the ´connect to itunes´ screen and wouldn´t allow me to log back in. I connected to a few different computers but no go. Called Apple and they said since I put a password on my ipod there is nothing they could do over the phone. I have to bring it in to an Apple store or mail it to them and they will give me a new one. The closest ipod store is in Mexico city. And with my future travel plans, I would have to wait until April when I am in England for an Apple store.
Solution...My Parents!!! They got me another one and are sending it with a friend, Jennifer, who is heading to El Salvador this Friday. I will pick it up from her. Crazy how that worked out! Thanks mom and dad, it´s greatly appreciated!!!
Anita took me out to an opening of her friend´s restaurant-lounge. Gotta love free drinks!
Spent some time in Santa Ana with Marcella and her family. She took me to Juayua where we enjoyed the weekend feria gastronomica (food festival), when local restaurants set up stands and sell you their specialties.
We went to see some Mayan ruins on Monday but it was closed. Managed to take some pictures from the road!
I´m now back at the beach until Friday! Hitched a ride back to El Sunzal yesterday to catch some waves and more of a tan. I wanted to go surfing today but it´s quite windy and the waves are crazy big. I think there were 2 people out there earlier (normally there are at least 15). So I plopped myself on the beach for an hour or so.
Added another bunch of pictures to facebook, hopefully uploading completes this time.
Traveling back to San Salvador on Friday, chillin out there for the day and then taking the bus back to Santa Ana for Saturday to watch a semi final futbol game. Definitely let you know how that goes. Sunday we are driving out to a coffee plantation...should be interesting.
That´s it for now!
Solution...My Parents!!! They got me another one and are sending it with a friend, Jennifer, who is heading to El Salvador this Friday. I will pick it up from her. Crazy how that worked out! Thanks mom and dad, it´s greatly appreciated!!!
Anita took me out to an opening of her friend´s restaurant-lounge. Gotta love free drinks!
Spent some time in Santa Ana with Marcella and her family. She took me to Juayua where we enjoyed the weekend feria gastronomica (food festival), when local restaurants set up stands and sell you their specialties.
We went to see some Mayan ruins on Monday but it was closed. Managed to take some pictures from the road!
I´m now back at the beach until Friday! Hitched a ride back to El Sunzal yesterday to catch some waves and more of a tan. I wanted to go surfing today but it´s quite windy and the waves are crazy big. I think there were 2 people out there earlier (normally there are at least 15). So I plopped myself on the beach for an hour or so.
Added another bunch of pictures to facebook, hopefully uploading completes this time.
Traveling back to San Salvador on Friday, chillin out there for the day and then taking the bus back to Santa Ana for Saturday to watch a semi final futbol game. Definitely let you know how that goes. Sunday we are driving out to a coffee plantation...should be interesting.
That´s it for now!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Quick update
I took my first mode of public transportation the other day...and what an experience. The bus went from San Salvador to Santa Ana, about 40 minutes away. A taxi was about $60 USD and this bus cost $1.50. It was similar to a greyhound but a little...well...rougher. Although, there was a movie playing in English!! I don´t know the name but it is about 10 or so people who are picked to travel to New Mexico from Las Vegas to win $2 million.
This past weekend, went out to a few restaurants, nightclubs. Clubs are the same as back home, although the music is in Spanish...some of it anyways.
Now that I have 2 weeks left in El Salvador, I´m thinking it´s a little too much time. So I might take a bus to San Jose, Costa Rica for a few days next week - leaving Monday or Tuesday.
I´m heading back out to Playas El Sunzal (the beach) today until Friday. Driving back to San Salvador Friday night to go to a theatre, heading to Santa Ana on Saturday to attend a semi finals soccer game and then out to a friend´s coffee plantation on Sunday. That leaves me next week to visit Costa Rica or even Honduras. Going to do some research...
I´ll try to put up some more pictures this afternoon or tomorrow.
This past weekend, went out to a few restaurants, nightclubs. Clubs are the same as back home, although the music is in Spanish...some of it anyways.
Now that I have 2 weeks left in El Salvador, I´m thinking it´s a little too much time. So I might take a bus to San Jose, Costa Rica for a few days next week - leaving Monday or Tuesday.
I´m heading back out to Playas El Sunzal (the beach) today until Friday. Driving back to San Salvador Friday night to go to a theatre, heading to Santa Ana on Saturday to attend a semi finals soccer game and then out to a friend´s coffee plantation on Sunday. That leaves me next week to visit Costa Rica or even Honduras. Going to do some research...
I´ll try to put up some more pictures this afternoon or tomorrow.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Beach Life
You know you have it tough when your biggest decisions in a day are as follows:
1. There is too much sun glistening off of the ocean, should I roll over so I don´t face the window (sun) or get up and shut the curtain
2. Do I go for breakfast, surf, sleep on the beach or go back to bed
3. Should I eat another papusa knowing I´ll be using the toilet within a few hours
3. Putting on more sunscreen is a must...problem: it is in my room and I am on the beach. Do I really want to march up that flight of stairs
These are some of the toughest decisions I have had to make...believe me, I had to think long and hard about some of them but for the most part, they worked out.
---
I finally managed to surf for the first time since arriving in El Salvador. Didn´t stand up yet, nonetheless, it was fun. The guy who takes care of the guesthouse I´m staying at, Charlie Brown, gives surf lessons. We were jammin´ to some music, teaching eachother Spanish and English, eating some local fruits (I can´t remember the names of) when he pipes up...you want to surf? ahora (now)? Sure, why not!
We had a very very quick 1 minute lesson on the sand on how to stand up and where to look when you surfing. That was it. We jumped in the water and paddled out further and further...and further. The waves got bigger and bigger. We didn´t start at the ´biginners waves´, no, we go to the biggest ones. I won´t lie, I was a little nervous. All of a sudden, ¨Shawn...catch this wave!!¨ I quickly turn around and paddle like a madman. I catch it!!! Swallow some ocean water (figure it can´t hurt me now), put one foot up on the board and fall. That generally was the same occurance over and over. Next week I´ll master this sport. ;o)
Today is Friday, December 5 (I think). Planning on heading back to San Salvador for the weekend. Plan to meet up with a few people for dinner tonight, and maybe head out tomorrow to a Disco! For everyone over the age of 40, this does not mean I will relive your youth - singing and dancing along to ´Stayin´Alive´ at the center of the dance floor with a discoball hanging overhead. It´s another word for ´club´.
Need to grab breakfast and then head to the beach. Or should I go to the beach and then eat breakfast...see what I mean, I always have these dilemmas!!!
1. There is too much sun glistening off of the ocean, should I roll over so I don´t face the window (sun) or get up and shut the curtain
2. Do I go for breakfast, surf, sleep on the beach or go back to bed
3. Should I eat another papusa knowing I´ll be using the toilet within a few hours
3. Putting on more sunscreen is a must...problem: it is in my room and I am on the beach. Do I really want to march up that flight of stairs
These are some of the toughest decisions I have had to make...believe me, I had to think long and hard about some of them but for the most part, they worked out.
---
I finally managed to surf for the first time since arriving in El Salvador. Didn´t stand up yet, nonetheless, it was fun. The guy who takes care of the guesthouse I´m staying at, Charlie Brown, gives surf lessons. We were jammin´ to some music, teaching eachother Spanish and English, eating some local fruits (I can´t remember the names of) when he pipes up...you want to surf? ahora (now)? Sure, why not!
We had a very very quick 1 minute lesson on the sand on how to stand up and where to look when you surfing. That was it. We jumped in the water and paddled out further and further...and further. The waves got bigger and bigger. We didn´t start at the ´biginners waves´, no, we go to the biggest ones. I won´t lie, I was a little nervous. All of a sudden, ¨Shawn...catch this wave!!¨ I quickly turn around and paddle like a madman. I catch it!!! Swallow some ocean water (figure it can´t hurt me now), put one foot up on the board and fall. That generally was the same occurance over and over. Next week I´ll master this sport. ;o)
Today is Friday, December 5 (I think). Planning on heading back to San Salvador for the weekend. Plan to meet up with a few people for dinner tonight, and maybe head out tomorrow to a Disco! For everyone over the age of 40, this does not mean I will relive your youth - singing and dancing along to ´Stayin´Alive´ at the center of the dance floor with a discoball hanging overhead. It´s another word for ´club´.
Need to grab breakfast and then head to the beach. Or should I go to the beach and then eat breakfast...see what I mean, I always have these dilemmas!!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
El Tunco
Why did I mention I felt fine?! Came back to bite me in the ass. Felt sick around dinner time yesterday. My guess is it was the 1/2 raw turtle egg I ate with a little tobasco, lime juice and salt. Might be an idea to stick with the cooked food for a while.
Sleep yesterday was kind of rough as well. I thought the restful sound of the ocean would put me to sleep but I guess not.
Going to attach a few pictures, hopefully they work. I´ll write a little about them when I figure out which ones I want to post. If you´re on my facebook, I added an album with pictures I have taken up until now. It´s a lot easier to load onto there.
Sleep yesterday was kind of rough as well. I thought the restful sound of the ocean would put me to sleep but I guess not.
Going to attach a few pictures, hopefully they work. I´ll write a little about them when I figure out which ones I want to post. If you´re on my facebook, I added an album with pictures I have taken up until now. It´s a lot easier to load onto there.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Volcano!
Day 3 and everything I have eaten has not come back up or caused other issues down south. I say that knocking on wood because most of what I ate so far has been boiled, fried or baked. Minus a few foods digested this evening that might cause some discomfort tomorrow. Actually, now that I think about it my stomach is a little off. Meh!
Yesterday, I worked on my tan, had some delicious seafood for dinner and visited the El Salvador museum of modern art. Some very impressive pieces.
I hadn't accomplished a lot today (unless you call lying in the sun for hours, productive) until this afternoon when I met up with Marcella - a friend from high school. I received a msg on facebook stating she was currently in El Salvador as well. She picked me up with a couple of her cousins. We drove to the top of a volcano, that is now a lake. We had a bite to eat, a drink and played some pool on a dock out on the lake. I'll try to post pictures soon, I need a reliable computer first. They toured me around Santa Ana. We went for papusas!!! If you don't know what they are, google it. All I'll say is they are the staple dish of El Salvador and are bloody delicioso!
I leave the comfort of the Sheraton tomorrow and head to the coast to become a beach bum. Plan to do some surfing, surfing and more surfing. I'll keep updates on how that's working out.
It's 11pm - bed time!
Buenas noches
Yesterday, I worked on my tan, had some delicious seafood for dinner and visited the El Salvador museum of modern art. Some very impressive pieces.
I hadn't accomplished a lot today (unless you call lying in the sun for hours, productive) until this afternoon when I met up with Marcella - a friend from high school. I received a msg on facebook stating she was currently in El Salvador as well. She picked me up with a couple of her cousins. We drove to the top of a volcano, that is now a lake. We had a bite to eat, a drink and played some pool on a dock out on the lake. I'll try to post pictures soon, I need a reliable computer first. They toured me around Santa Ana. We went for papusas!!! If you don't know what they are, google it. All I'll say is they are the staple dish of El Salvador and are bloody delicioso!
I leave the comfort of the Sheraton tomorrow and head to the coast to become a beach bum. Plan to do some surfing, surfing and more surfing. I'll keep updates on how that's working out.
It's 11pm - bed time!
Buenas noches
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The journey begins
Well, I can say I officially started my trip. Landed in El Salvador this afternoon - 31 degrees and sunny! Awesome!! Leaving the cold winter of Canada behind somehow makes it feel that much better.
The flight was alright. I sat beside this lady from Nicaragua. She is visiting her father who just had a stroke. Next to her was another lady from El Salvador. She spoke no English and was quite funny when talking to me in Spanish. It was always followed by a blank look of confusion at the blank look of confusion on my face (why don`t you understand....gringo!) The middle lady was translating for us which was quite nice. I was invited to dinner with her family if I was traveling to her home town near Ciudad Segundo Montes - unfortnately, I`m not heading that way.
Anyways, the lady next to me was telling me about this Rum from Nicaragua - stating it is some of the best in the world (obviously, right!?). One guess at to what they were serving on the phone - yup, that Rum. When she figured this out - one more guess at who was drinking this rum from Nicaragua! A little bit of rum later I was speaking Spanish! Who knew!?
I decided to book myself into the Sheraton Presidente in San Salvador for a few nights - spoil myself a little before heading into the dark world of `budget travelling`. I got a shuttle to the hotel which is about a 30 minute drive AND a man holding a sign with my name on it at the airport...it is all about the man with the sign. Last time this happened was when I was in Prague, Cody and Kari met me at the airport with a sign that read TRON...memories.
There is a wedding going on this evening which I might try to join...you know, engage in a little wedding crashing, should be fun. I have to make sure there is rum so my Spanish comes back.
Plan is to do some sightseeing on my own for the next couple of days - visit a few museums, see parts fo the city that I don`t have to worry about getting mugged in. A buddy gave me some contacts here which I will try to get in touch with. One of which is in El Tunco, on the coast. Hopefully head there for a week or two, learn how to surf, again - try to get some of that tan back that I lost from Calgary`s uber long summer.
This blog will be read by people who are wasting time at work, putting off shoveling the driveway with all that snow that falls - I hope it`s a lot by the way :o), or my parents who will read it multiple times a day. If you want a personal email, I am using shawn.hoffart@gmail.com Email me and I´ll get back to you when I have some extra time.
Adios para ahora.
The flight was alright. I sat beside this lady from Nicaragua. She is visiting her father who just had a stroke. Next to her was another lady from El Salvador. She spoke no English and was quite funny when talking to me in Spanish. It was always followed by a blank look of confusion at the blank look of confusion on my face (why don`t you understand....gringo!) The middle lady was translating for us which was quite nice. I was invited to dinner with her family if I was traveling to her home town near Ciudad Segundo Montes - unfortnately, I`m not heading that way.
Anyways, the lady next to me was telling me about this Rum from Nicaragua - stating it is some of the best in the world (obviously, right!?). One guess at to what they were serving on the phone - yup, that Rum. When she figured this out - one more guess at who was drinking this rum from Nicaragua! A little bit of rum later I was speaking Spanish! Who knew!?
I decided to book myself into the Sheraton Presidente in San Salvador for a few nights - spoil myself a little before heading into the dark world of `budget travelling`. I got a shuttle to the hotel which is about a 30 minute drive AND a man holding a sign with my name on it at the airport...it is all about the man with the sign. Last time this happened was when I was in Prague, Cody and Kari met me at the airport with a sign that read TRON...memories.
There is a wedding going on this evening which I might try to join...you know, engage in a little wedding crashing, should be fun. I have to make sure there is rum so my Spanish comes back.
Plan is to do some sightseeing on my own for the next couple of days - visit a few museums, see parts fo the city that I don`t have to worry about getting mugged in. A buddy gave me some contacts here which I will try to get in touch with. One of which is in El Tunco, on the coast. Hopefully head there for a week or two, learn how to surf, again - try to get some of that tan back that I lost from Calgary`s uber long summer.
This blog will be read by people who are wasting time at work, putting off shoveling the driveway with all that snow that falls - I hope it`s a lot by the way :o), or my parents who will read it multiple times a day. If you want a personal email, I am using shawn.hoffart@gmail.com Email me and I´ll get back to you when I have some extra time.
Adios para ahora.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Itinerary
Itinerary
November 26, 2008
• Depart Vancouver, Canada to San Salvador, El Salvador
• Possibly travel to Honduras for up to a week
December 18, 2008
• Depart San Salvador, El Salvador to Lima, Peru
January/February 2009
• Chile
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Possibly Uruguay and Bolivia (time permitting)
March 1, 2009
• Depart Sao Paulo, Brazil to Capetown, South Africa
March 24, 2009
• Depart Capetown, South Africa to Madrid, Spain
May 30, 2009
• Depart Istanbul, Turkey to Cairo, Egypt
June 10, 2009
• Depart Cairo, Egypt to Beirut, Lebanon
June 20, 2009
• Depart Beirut, Lebanon to Dubai, UAE
June 24, 2009
• Depart Dubai, UAE to Chennai, India
July 5, 2009
• Depart Chennai, India to Bangkok, Thailand
Not confirmed yet:
Aug 5: Bangkok - Manila
Aug 24: Manila - Sydney
Nov 15: Auckland - Fiji
Nov 22: Fiji - Calgary
November 26, 2008
• Depart Vancouver, Canada to San Salvador, El Salvador
• Possibly travel to Honduras for up to a week
December 18, 2008
• Depart San Salvador, El Salvador to Lima, Peru
January/February 2009
• Chile
• Argentina
• Brazil
• Possibly Uruguay and Bolivia (time permitting)
March 1, 2009
• Depart Sao Paulo, Brazil to Capetown, South Africa
March 24, 2009
• Depart Capetown, South Africa to Madrid, Spain
May 30, 2009
• Depart Istanbul, Turkey to Cairo, Egypt
June 10, 2009
• Depart Cairo, Egypt to Beirut, Lebanon
June 20, 2009
• Depart Beirut, Lebanon to Dubai, UAE
June 24, 2009
• Depart Dubai, UAE to Chennai, India
July 5, 2009
• Depart Chennai, India to Bangkok, Thailand
Not confirmed yet:
Aug 5: Bangkok - Manila
Aug 24: Manila - Sydney
Nov 15: Auckland - Fiji
Nov 22: Fiji - Calgary
Monday, November 10, 2008
T minus 16 days
So, the 'to do' list has started and final preparations are finally being checked off the list. A quick general overview of what has to be done before I take off:
- Book Machu Picchu tour (for Dec 2008)
- Cancel phone, utilities, cable, internet
- Notify bank, VISA of plans and what will be expected on this trip in terms of finances
- Purchase travel insurance
- Purchase backpack (saw a really good one that has wheels and a handle so I don't have to throw it on my back the entire time $350)
- Clothing
- Email friends in El Salvador
Since I'm moving out of my place and back to the parents for a week or so before I leave, this list includes getting all that sorted out as well.
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