Nomad : Nicaragua + Costa Rica > 3/2 UPDATE : Ometepe, Nica military, and beachfront in San Juan Del Sur (1 Viewer)

[Tick]

Missed this until now... blackdot.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

So now we are considering an audible... 

Cut the fancy beach house in SJDS (which we'd burn 3 days in Granada)... just stay in Granada the first week. 
 

So what if we got a 250yo 6,000sqft colonial mansion with an epic courtyard for the week.  

https://abnb.me/tpp5skftPmb

.... for 20% less than the beach house. And we get to experience Granada more properly... we'll still have 3+ weeks at the beach. 

Krista has been a big help on all the things.  

This is a good call. 

 

[[icon]]

YOLO, Casa Blanca is booked. 
 

Challenges include: 

- Wifi is slow (10MBps) but can be upped to 30MBps for $60. Should be fine. I don't do many video conferences... mostly Teams Audio. The GF is on video most of the day. 

- WiFi doesn't cover the whole house but covers the main Salas and half the courtyard including the giant dining table, where we will likely work. In our CR house last year I brought a Wifi Extender that worked well. Left it behind as a gift to the house. Will likely do the same here. 

- Noise: Krista raised the concern of noise in the area being the main drag. Our house in SJDS is next to a night club on the main drag so we are planning on white noise and ear plugs if needed. 

- Utilities: Overages will be charged. The allowance seems good, however, since we don't run AC except for at night, and there likely will be just two of us. Planning to dicuss with the owner. 

The beach house looked awesome, but this seems like it'll be a better experience. Krista is a helluva saleswoman for the city of Granada  

 

[[icon]]

Granada, for those who aren't familiar, was founded in 1524 and lays claim to being the first established city in the Americas.  (Other cities also claim this, but Granada has the most compelling argument.)  It retains its colonial flavor and architecture, and one of the parts I find most charming is that the houses look like nothing from the outside, but they can be spectacular behind the front doors.  Outside they will look like this or this.

Generally the front door will open into the main sala, beyond which there is an open-air courtyard.  While they probably exist, I've never seen a home in Granada that didn't have a courtyard in the middle of it.  Sometimes it is just a garden/courtyard, and sometimes there is also a pool.  So the houses will look just like the one icon posted (albeit smaller than that one!), with the living, cooking, and sleeping areas surrounding an open-air space.  I'll try to find some pictures of my houses there to show it. 

As you'd imagine, central air is therefore not a thing in Granada, but richer people (i.e., usually the gringos) will put strong A/C units in the bedrooms of the houses.  The sala and kitchen will just be open to the courtyard/pool area.  It does make for some discomfort due to mosquitos and sometimes to bats.  OK, often to bats.  You'd think those little jerks would at least take care of the mosquitos.

Another charming aspect of Granada is the tradition of repainting the front of the houses every year around Christmas, or upon a change in ownership.  Despite being such a poor country, people take great pride in the front (and possibly only the front) of their houses.  It's a way to express their own family's heritage and personality.  I think that the tradition to repaint every year is dying out a little now, but it was still a big thing when we lived there.  I loved going to the store and choosing the new colors when we bought!

This is amazing... love the part about painting the front every year. I was wondering about how vibrant the places are. 

Youvr got me wondering about mosquitos and bats.... the bugs weren't bad in Samara this time of year (dry season) last year. Are mosquitos a problem in Feb in Granada?  

Thanks again!! 

 

[krista4]

YOLO, Casa Blanca is booked. 
 

Challenges include: 

- Wifi is slow (10MBps) but can be upped to 30MBps for $60. Should be fine. I don't do many video conferences... mostly Teams Audio. The GF is on video most of the day. 

- WiFi doesn't cover the whole house but covers the main Salas and half the courtyard including the giant dining table, where we will likely work. In our CR house last year I brought a Wifi Extender that worked well. Left it behind as a gift to the house. Will likely do the same here. 

- Noise: Krista raised the concern of noise in the area being the main drag. Our house in SJDS is next to a night club on the main drag so we are planning on white noise and ear plugs if needed. 

- Utilities: Overages will be charged. The allowance seems good, however, since we don't run AC except for at night, and there likely will be just two of us. Planning to dicuss with the owner. 

The beach house looked awesome, but this seems like it'll be a better experience. Krista is a helluva saleswoman for the city of Granada  

Definitely do the white noise.  Also, since you'll have many bedrooms to choose from, there will be some that are farther in the interior of the house and more distant from the noise.  Usually the bedrooms are in the back anyway.

I know I raised my concerns about the electricity charge, but if you're only running one air-conditioner in one bedroom at night, I'm sure you'll be fine.  I expect that this house gets large groups and that's why they are concerned about overages.  Having rented my own places out, I know that some people give absolutely no ####s about turning the ACs off when not in use.   

 

[krista4]

This is amazing... love the part about painting the front every year. I was wondering about how vibrant the places are. 

Youvr got me wondering about mosquitos and bats.... the bugs weren't bad in Samara this time of year (dry season) last year. Are mosquitos a problem in Feb in Granada?  

Thanks again!! 

Mosquitos are not as bad right now since it's the dry season.  If you're dealing with them in the house, you could generally just turn the fans on to drive them away.  They'll start getting worse around April/May.  Bring good repellent in any case.

Bats seem to be case-by-case.  I had a lot of them come around in the first house I bought there.  None at all in the second one (though there was some netting there).  The bats themselves didn't bother me at all - they're pretty cool - but the bat droppings were always a challenge to keeping the furniture clean.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Definitely do the white noise.  Also, since you'll have many bedrooms to choose from, there will be some that are farther in the interior of the house and more distant from the noise.  Usually the bedrooms are in the back anyway.

I know I raised my concerns about the electricity charge, but if you're only running one air-conditioner in one bedroom at night, I'm sure you'll be fine.  I expect that this house gets large groups and that's why they are concerned about overages.  Having rented my own places out, I know that some people give absolutely no ####s about turning the ACs off when not in use.   

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I didn't notice any mosquitos when I was there, but it was December. And Krista had screening over the opening in the roof, so I don't know if any flying critters of a larger sort would have come in without it.

ETA: oops, see krista has addressed this. Listen to her, not me.

 

[krista4]

Let's talk Nicaraguan food.  First, the bad news:  you don't go to Nicaragua for the food.  It's not awful, but not a big selling point.  Similar in many ways to what you'd find in Costa Rica, though maybe a level down in overall quality.  CR definitely has a lot more upscale restaurants, too.

That being said, there are some very good Nicaraguan specialties you'll want to try.  First, and most important to Nica culture, is gallo pinto.  You will have had this in Costa Rica, and the two countries have a long-running dispute over which of them invented it.  But in any case, it's the national dish of Nicaragua and is eaten morning, noon, and night.  Yes, it seems every Latin American country has its version of rice-and-beans, but I love gallo pinto more than most similar dishes.  Maybe I'm part Nica as I could eat it at every meal.  Most often I would have it at breakfast, as part of a traditional breakfast meal that includes gallo pinto, fried cheese, eggs, fried plantains, and a tortilla.  In Granada, go to Kathy's Waffle House for this.  (Kathy's also has American breakfast available if you get desperate for a taste of home, but I've never tried it.)

Nacatamales:  This is my favorite of the Nica specialties.  Again, many places have a version of a tamale, but this one is huge, filled with tons of pork, rice and vegetables, and steamed in banana leaves for ages before serving.  I don't know of any restaurants where you get them, as they're more of a special-occasion food.  And oddly even though they are hearty and gigantic, it's considered a breakfast food rather than something you'd have at dinner.  So where to get this delectable meal?  Ask Julio to get them from Rodolfo's aunt, who is known to have some of the best.  Really.  He'll just bring them over to the house, or one time we also watched her making them. 

Baho:  Beef, plantains, and yuca steamed in banana leaves.  OK, now I'm getting really hungry.  Best place to get this:  the Masaya market.  With your having extended your time in Granada, I definitely recommend spending a half-day in the Masaya area going to the market and the pottery shops, hitting Caterina viewpoint, and seeing the volcano at the end of the day so you get the day/night views as you mentioned.  Time it so you can have Baho at the market, which you can get from the vendor and eat it at the nice outdoor bar there.

Vigoron:  Yuca, chicharron (pork rinds), and cabbage slaw served as a snack/street food.  Honestly not my favorite, but it was invented in Granada 100 years ago and they're very into it.  You'll find it at many fritangas (see below) and street vendors.  The best one I've had was at a baseball game, but you are not there for baseball season, which is a huge loss as it's the most amazing thing to do in Nicaragua.

Quesillos:  My preferred street food, it's just a simple tortilla with cheese, pickled onion, and sour cream.  Usually sold in plastic bags!  Just choose any street-cart vendor in the main square and give it a shot.

Steak/Churrasco:  The beef in Nicaragua is particularly good, and the most popular way to eat it is churrasco style with chimichurri.  El Zaguan in Granada is an institution for this and always a great time. 

Guapote:   Obviously you'll get the best/freshest seafood while in SJDS, but in Granada area be sure to try the ugly guapote.  It's served as a whole fish, head and all, and usually you are just given an option of "small, medium or large."  This is what I get at the place I recommended to you in chat called Villas Mombacho, which is also just a fantastic setting for a meal as it's right on the lake and you can watch sea planes come and go.  However, since it closed and then reopened with new owners, I can't attest to quality.  I you want a truly authentic Nica experience, go to Las Colinas and get this fish.  Las Colinas is on the outskirts of town and will require a car ride, but it's full of locals and not at all fancy...dirt floors and all...but with the best food.

Fritanga:  Fritanga is not a food, but a lifestyle.    You will find these little stands throughout town.  Nicaragua does not have what you might call...errrrr...regulations, so people set up these stands outside their houses or wherever throughout the city and sell their home-cooked food.  These are my favorite places in Granada!  You'll generally find several meats, plantains, rice, salads, etc.  And banana leaves of course.  Just point at what you want, and they'll pack it all up, charge you some outrageously small amount of money, and you're on your way somehow having spent $6 on food that could feed an army.  For some reason, I've found that the chicken at the fritangas is insanely good.  Usually there are a few that locals know are the best at any particular time.  Ask Julio which ones he'd recommend while you're there, and then hope to see them set up one night.

Drinks:  Of course Flor de Cana is the pride and joy of Nicaragua, so you'll be drinking a lot of that.  The national drink is the Macua, which is run with guava and lemon juices and sugar.  Toña and Victoria are the Nicaraguan beers; most people prefer Toña.    

 

[krista4]

  Not you!

I didn't notice any mosquitos when I was there, but it was December. And Krista had screening over the opening in the roof, so I don't know if any flying critters of a larger sort would have come in without it.

The only reason I don't think they would have is that I know that neither of the neighbors across the street had bats.  The first house I had was right by the Xalteva church, so maybe that had an effect (bats in the belfry, you know).

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Julio brought me some local food one day, along with his family. I'm almost positive it included Nacatamales and Vigaron, along with like 12 more lbs of stuff. I had to take a nap afterwards

He also took me to a restaurant to eat near Masaya. I don't recall the name of the place, but remember him driving us down alleyways between pavilions and tents where craftspeople and vendors were. The place we stopped at was like a pole barn with tables, a bar, and TVs. I let him order for us. It was some kind of steak with some sides. It was brought out in two serving platter-sized plates. It was all I do to eat most of it (Julio demolished his). It was really good. I think the bill, with the 5 or 6 beers I drank, was something stupid like $7. 

After that he took me into one of the tents where I watched someone finish painting a shot glass, which I bought. I think it cost more than the meal  Still have it on display.

 

[krista4]

He also took me to a restaurant to eat near Masaya. I don't recall the name of the place, but remember him driving us down alleyways between pavilions and tents where craftspeople and vendors were. The place we stopped at was like a pole barn with tables, a bar, and TVs. I let him order for us. It was some kind of steak with some sides. It was brought out in two serving platter-sized plates. It was all I do to eat most of it (Julio demolished his). It was really good. I think the bill, with the 5 or 6 beers I drank, was something stupid like $7. 

I think we're talking about the same place.  I know it's been a while, but here?  That's the place I was recommending to eat at right behind the main section of the market.  I've been there a few times with Julio, too.  You can get the food there and/or supplement with the baho from the vendor in the market.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

I think we're talking about the same place.  I know it's been a while, but here?  That's the place I was recommending to eat at right behind the main section of the market.  I've been there a few times with Julio, too.  You can get the food there and/or supplement with the baho from the vendor in the market.

That's it! 

We were there in the morning after coming down off of Masaya (not a euphemism), and were the only two in the place. Julio had to cart me out in a wheelbarrow.

 

[[icon]]

Let's talk Nicaraguan food.  First, the bad news:  you don't go to Nicaragua for the food.  It's not awful, but not a big selling point.  Similar in many ways to what you'd find in Costa Rica, though maybe a level down in overall quality.  CR definitely has a lot more upscale restaurants, too.

That being said, there are some very good Nicaraguan specialties you'll want to try.  First, and most important to Nica culture, is gallo pinto.  You will have had this in Costa Rica, and the two countries have a long-running dispute over which of them invented it.  But in any case, it's the national dish of Nicaragua and is eaten morning, noon, and night.  Yes, it seems every Latin American country has its version of rice-and-beans, but I love gallo pinto more than most similar dishes.  Maybe I'm part Nica as I could eat it at every meal.  Most often I would have it at breakfast, as part of a traditional breakfast meal that includes gallo pinto, fried cheese, eggs, fried plantains, and a tortilla.  In Granada, go to Kathy's Waffle House for this.  (Kathy's also has American breakfast available if you get desperate for a taste of home, but I've never tried it.)

Nacatamales:  This is my favorite of the Nica specialties.  Again, many places have a version of a tamale, but this one is huge, filled with tons of pork, rice and vegetables, and steamed in banana leaves for ages before serving.  I don't know of any restaurants where you get them, as they're more of a special-occasion food.  And oddly even though they are hearty and gigantic, it's considered a breakfast food rather than something you'd have at dinner.  So where to get this delectable meal?  Ask Julio to get them from Rodolfo's aunt, who is known to have some of the best.  Really.  He'll just bring them over to the house, or one time we also watched her making them. 

Baho:  Beef, plantains, and yuca steamed in banana leaves.  OK, now I'm getting really hungry.  Best place to get this:  the Masaya market.  With your having extended your time in Granada, I definitely recommend spending a half-day in the Masaya area going to the market and the pottery shops, hitting Caterina viewpoint, and seeing the volcano at the end of the day so you get the day/night views as you mentioned.  Time it so you can have Baho at the market, which you can get from the vendor and eat it at the nice outdoor bar there.

Vigoron:  Yuca, chicharron (pork rinds), and cabbage slaw served as a snack/street food.  Honestly not my favorite, but it was invented in Granada 100 years ago and they're very into it.  You'll find it at many fritangas (see below) and street vendors.  The best one I've had was at a baseball game, but you are not there for baseball season, which is a huge loss as it's the most amazing thing to do in Nicaragua.

Quesillos:  My preferred street food, it's just a simple tortilla with cheese, pickled onion, and sour cream.  Usually sold in plastic bags!  Just choose any street-cart vendor in the main square and give it a shot.

Steak/Churrasco:  The beef in Nicaragua is particularly good, and the most popular way to eat it is churrasco style with chimichurri.  El Zaguan in Granada is an institution for this and always a great time. 

Guapote:   Obviously you'll get the best/freshest seafood while in SJDS, but in Granada area be sure to try the ugly guapote.  It's served as a whole fish, head and all, and usually you are just given an option of "small, medium or large."  This is what I get at the place I recommended to you in chat called Villas Mombacho, which is also just a fantastic setting for a meal as it's right on the lake and you can watch sea planes come and go.  However, since it closed and then reopened with new owners, I can't attest to quality.  I you want a truly authentic Nica experience, go to Las Colinas and get this fish.  Las Colinas is on the outskirts of town and will require a car ride, but it's full of locals and not at all fancy...dirt floors and all...but with the best food.

Fritanga:  Fritanga is not a food, but a lifestyle.    You will find these little stands throughout town.  Nicaragua does not have what you might call...errrrr...regulations, so people set up these stands outside their houses or wherever throughout the city and sell their home-cooked food.  These are my favorite places in Granada!  You'll generally find several meats, plantains, rice, salads, etc.  And banana leaves of course.  Just point at what you want, and they'll pack it all up, charge you some outrageously small amount of money, and you're on your way somehow having spent $6 on food that could feed an army.  For some reason, I've found that the chicken at the fritangas is insanely good.  Usually there are a few that locals know are the best at any particular time.  Ask Julio which ones he'd recommend while you're there, and then hope to see them set up one night.

Drinks:  Of course Flor de Cana is the pride and joy of Nicaragua, so you'll be drinking a lot of that.  The national drink is the Macua, which is run with guava and lemon juices and sugar.  Toña and Victoria are the Nicaraguan beers; most people prefer Toña.    

Oh HELL Yes. This is right up my alley, thank you. Already working on an AnyList of places/things to eat. The GF LOVES Tamales so she's already champing at the pit for the Nactamales. Boho/Guapote/Fritanga all look right up my alley. The Vigoron looks interesting. It shares the Chicharrones with Chifrijo from Costa Rica but otherwise looks much simpler and likely less flavorful. 

Turns out my little brother spent a week in Rivas / Granada a few years back on a mission trip (helping dig a well in Rivas). He spoke highly of Granada, Monkey Tours, AND happened to mention dinner at El Zaguan being a high point of the trip. You just solidified that as a must stop. I've never had a proper Churrasco so I'm especially excited about this. 

How are street vendors w/r/t foodborne illness in the main areas? I've got a pretty strong gut, but would rather not push our luck too hard   

Looking forward to trying the Tona/Victoria beers. I loved trying out all the Costa Rican brews... Pilsen, Bavaria, and Imperial... I initially settled on Imperial Red, but quickly moved to Silver con limon with the heat as it is. Imperial Blue (Zero) was too thin for me. Bavaria was cheap and a bit skunky...reminded me of PBR. Pilsen was a good middle ground between Imperial Red and Silver. 

 

[[icon]]

Julio brought me some local food one day, along with his family. I'm almost positive it included Nacatamales and Vigaron, along with like 12 more lbs of stuff. I had to take a nap afterwards

He also took me to a restaurant to eat near Masaya. I don't recall the name of the place, but remember him driving us down alleyways between pavilions and tents where craftspeople and vendors were. The place we stopped at was like a pole barn with tables, a bar, and TVs. I let him order for us. It was some kind of steak with some sides. It was brought out in two serving platter-sized plates. It was all I do to eat most of it (Julio demolished his). It was really good. I think the bill, with the 5 or 6 beers I drank, was something stupid like $7. 

After that he took me into one of the tents where I watched someone finish painting a shot glass, which I bought. I think it cost more than the meal  Still have it on display.

First one (Julio coming by with family) sounds like Fritanga that Krista mentioned above  

This place sounds fantastic. Will have to give it a shot. 

I have a feeling I'm going to be buying a lot of Meals for Julio as long as he's willing to show us the good spots (on top of what Krista & the rest of you are sharing in here  

Thanks man! 

 

[krista4]

Oh HELL Yes. This is right up my alley, thank you. Already working on an AnyList of places/things to eat. The GF LOVES Tamales so she's already champing at the pit for the Nactamales. Boho/Guapote/Fritanga all look right up my alley. The Vigoron looks interesting. It shares the Chicharrones with Chifrijo from Costa Rica but otherwise looks much simpler and likely less flavorful. 

Turns out my little brother spent a week in Rivas / Granada a few years back on a mission trip (helping dig a well in Rivas). He spoke highly of Granada, Monkey Tours, AND happened to mention dinner at El Zaguan being a high point of the trip. You just solidified that as a must stop. I've never had a proper Churrasco so I'm especially excited about this. 

How are street vendors w/r/t foodborne illness in the main areas? I've got a pretty strong gut, but would rather not push our luck too hard   

Looking forward to trying the Tona/Victoria beers. I loved trying out all the Costa Rican brews... Pilsen, Bavaria, and Imperial... I initially settled on Imperial Red, but quickly moved to Silver con limon with the heat as it is. Imperial Blue (Zero) was too thin for me. Bavaria was cheap and a bit skunky...reminded me of PBR. Pilsen was a good middle ground between Imperial Red and Silver. 

Good question about the foodborne illness; I should have addressed that.  I've never had any issues with the food there, whether street food or whatever.  Of course, you'd just be smart like you would anywhere, and if it looks questionable (like, something dairy sitting out a while), just move on.  There are a lot of people there without access to much good refrigeration, so their foods tend to be stuff that can last a while at room temperature anyway.

But that brings me to the water...  I think considering you won't be there for long, it's best to stick with bottled water.  It's not that the water is unsafe (in all but rural areas it is perfectly safe), but your stomach just is not used to the particular water, which might have different content of micro-organisms.  That said, I don't think you need to be as particular about the water - avoiding ice, salad, fresh fruit, etc. - as in some countries like India.  That type of thing shouldn't be a problem for you.  Most any restaurant you go to will use purified ice, too.  Where you stay should be providing the big jugs of purified water and replacing them as necessary - that's what I always did for my guests.  By the time we'd visited several times I gave up on the bottled water entirely and always just drank from the tap, but again since you're just there for a few weeks, I'd stick with the bottles for this visit.

Don't get your hopes up for the quality of Nica beer, but there are plenty of other options such as the Costa Rican and Mexican beers if you don't like the sixty-cent Tona.  

ETA:  Fantastic about your brother!  It'll be great to have advice from him since he knows you and what you like.

 

[The Z Machine]

So now we are considering an audible... 

Cut the fancy beach house in SJDS (which we'd burn 3 days in Granada)... just stay in Granada the first week. 
 

So what if we got a 250yo 6,000sqft colonial mansion with an epic courtyard for the week.  

https://abnb.me/tpp5skftPmb

.... for 20% less than the beach house. And we get to experience Granada more properly... we'll still have 3+ weeks at the beach. 

Krista has been a big help on all the things.  

That's sorta like the place we had in Mérida. Not as large, but colonial and right in the city.  Watch out for lack of AC if the weather will be hot. 

@krista4, do you know of any way that I can put my kids in a summer camp in Grenada? They speak Spanish. 

 

[[icon]]

Good question about the foodborne illness; I should have addressed that.  I've never had any issues with the food there, whether street food or whatever.  Of course, you'd just be smart like you would anywhere, and if it looks questionable (like, something dairy sitting out a while), just move on.  There are a lot of people there without access to much good refrigeration, so their foods tend to be stuff that can last a while at room temperature anyway.

But that brings me to the water...  I think considering you won't be there for long, it's best to stick with bottled water.  It's not that the water is unsafe (in all but rural areas it is perfectly safe), but your stomach just is not used to the particular water, which might have different content of micro-organisms.  That said, I don't think you need to be as particular about the water - avoiding ice, salad, fresh fruit, etc. - as in some countries like India.  That type of thing shouldn't be a problem for you.  Most any restaurant you go to will use purified ice, too.  Where you stay should be providing the big jugs of purified water and replacing them as necessary - that's what I always did for my guests.  By the time we'd visited several times I gave up on the bottled water entirely and always just drank from the tap, but again since you're just there for a few weeks, I'd stick with the bottles for this visit.

Don't get your hopes up for the quality of Nica beer, but there are plenty of other options such as the Costa Rican and Mexican beers if you don't like the sixty-cent Tona.  

ETA:  Fantastic about your brother!  It'll be great to have advice from him since he knows you and what you like.

Awesome to hear on the food. I'm an adventurous eater while traveling. 

Re: water. The house we rented has a water purification system so I think we SHOULD be good. We have hydro flasks we'd fill for walks (cut back on waste), or just dip in and grab water bottles in a pinch. 

I'm no beer snob so 60cent Toña sounds right up my alley if they're even halfway decent  

That's sorta like the place we had in Mérida. Not as large, but colonial and right in the city.  Watch out for lack of AC if the weather will be hot. 

@krista4, do you know of any way that I can put my kids in a summer camp in Grenada? They speak Spanish. 

We went without AC most of the time jn Samara last year. Between going very light on clothing during the day and having the pool, it worked out for us.

The GF liked the sounds of nature which required the windows/Doors to be open. Guessing Not so much with nature sounds in Granada, but unless it's noteably hotter than Samara I'm hoping we will be okay.  

 

[krista4]

That's sorta like the place we had in Mérida. Not as large, but colonial and right in the city.  Watch out for lack of AC if the weather will be hot. 

@krista4, do you know of any way that I can put my kids in a summer camp in Grenada? They speak Spanish. 

Kids' stuff isn't in my wheelhouse, but I have a couple of gringo friends I can ask.  I feel certain this is possible, but I'll get some suggestions.

Awesome to hear on the food. I'm an adventurous eater while traveling. 

Re: water. The house we rented has a water purification system so I think we SHOULD be good. We have hydro flasks we'd fill for walks (cut back on waste), or just dip in and grab water bottles in a pinch. 

I'm no beer snob so 60cent Toña sounds right up my alley if they're even halfway decent  

We went without AC most of the time jn Samara last year. Between going very light on clothing during the day and having the pool, it worked out for us.

The GF liked the sounds of nature which required the windows/Doors to be open. Guessing Not so much with nature sounds in Granada, but unless it's noteably hotter than Samara I'm hoping we will be okay.  

I'm not a beer drinker, but Mr. krista likes Toña perfectly well.  Kind of a basic pale lager...I'll ask him what he'd compare it to here.  The craft beer movement has not hit Nicaragua, unfortunately.  

Regarding heat, you should be fine.  In SJDS you'll have sea breezes.  Granada will be hotter, but in the dry season I don't find it uncomfortably hot, and you can get a breeze off the lake.  Front doors usually have a gate that you can keep locked but allow the air to flow through.  And those room AC units are powerful and keep the bedrooms icy cold if you wish.

The "sounds of nature" in Granada will be the previously mentioned guys who come by the door selling everything.     Plus since you're right on the Calzada, your sounds will include a lot of music, partying, and the cathedral bells.  

 

[The Z Machine]

Kids' stuff isn't in my wheelhouse, but I have a couple of gringo friends I can ask.  I feel certain this is possible, but I'll get some suggestions

Thanks.  I appreciate it.  We're down to spend 4 weeks in Latin America somewhere but really want our kids in a place where they'll interact daily with other kids in a Spanish speaking environment.  Sure we could hire a nanny, but it's not the same. 

 

[krista4]

Thanks.  I appreciate it.  We're down to spend 4 weeks in Latin America somewhere but really want our kids in a place where they'll interact daily with other kids in a Spanish speaking environment.  Sure we could hire a nanny, but it's not the same. 

Well, it appears I was wrong to be certain about this.  Nicaragua school year goes from February to December, so they will be in regular school at that time.  They only go half-days, though, and there are probably after school extra activities your kids could participate in.  My friend Andy mentioned he could set up some play dates for them, with his wife's (Nica) kids (8 and 11, girls) and with other people's kids, too.  Definitely Julio and Rodolfo could do that with their kids (mostly boys and one girl) as well.  Andy also mentioned there are things like karate classes that are offered to kids, stuff they could do in the afternoons.  But maybe not really what you're looking for, so I'm not sure this is going to be ideal for you.

While I was talking to him, I also asked about your Granada house, icon.  He said it's nice and you'll be very happy with it.    I'm going to put you in touch with Andy before you go, and he will also take care of you while there.  He's a Canadian ex-pat, but not like some of the more typical ex-pats down there.  In other words, he's great.  And his wife manages a big dance club there, Encuentros, for your VIP clubbing needs.  I'm past my clubbing days but even had a good time there.

 

[[icon]]

While I was talking to him, I also asked about your Granada house, icon.  He said it's nice and you'll be very happy with it.    I'm going to put you in touch with Andy before you go, and he will also take care of you while there.  He's a Canadian ex-pat, but not like some of the more typical ex-pats down there.  In other words, he's great.  And his wife manages a big dance club there, Encuentros, for your VIP clubbing needs.  I'm past my clubbing days but even had a good time there.

You're way way too kind, Krista! Im not a huge clubbing guy either, but we may try to dip in one night out of curiosity... depending how COVID is doing down there at the time  

Is he in Real Estate Does he make YouTube videos? I think I saw one he made about SJDS.. or maybe it was another Canadian dude named Andy  

I know what you mean about Expats. Lot of degens/alcoholics end up as expats in central/South America it seems... in my limited experience anyway 

 

[krista4]

You're way way too kind, Krista! Im not a huge clubbing guy either, but we may try to dip in one night out of curiosity... depending how COVID is doing down there at the time  

Is he in Real Estate Does he make YouTube videos? I think I saw one he made about SJDS.. or maybe it was another Canadian dude named Andy  

I know what you mean about Expats. Lot of degens/alcoholics end up as expats in central/South America it seems... in my limited experience anyway 

I think it must be someone else, actually.  Doesn't do real estate or YouTube videos that I know of.

 

[The Z Machine]

Well, it appears I was wrong to be certain about this.  Nicaragua school year goes from February to December, so they will be in regular school at that time.  They only go half-days, though, and there are probably after school extra activities your kids could participate in.  My friend Andy mentioned he could set up some play dates for them, with his wife's (Nica) kids (8 and 11, girls) and with other people's kids, too.  Definitely Julio and Rodolfo could do that with their kids (mostly boys and one girl) as well.  Andy also mentioned there are things like karate classes that are offered to kids, stuff they could do in the afternoons.  But maybe not really what you're looking for, so I'm not sure this is going to be ideal for you.

When you say, "they only go half days." What timing is that for the school day? 

Playdates are good and all, but these kids need something to do everyday and do it in Spanish with other kids.  We want to explore with them in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Maybe we'll end up in Mérida again or maybe CDMX as we have a connect there as well.  Really, I'd love to find a place in Colombia, but we have no family connections there.  If Venezuela was in a different place, these kids would be summering there.  Maybe we'll do Panama...

 

[[icon]]

When you say, "they only go half days." What timing is that for the school day? 

Playdates are good and all, but these kids need something to do everyday and do it in Spanish with other kids.  We want to explore with them in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Maybe we'll end up in Mérida again or maybe CDMX as we have a connect there as well.  Really, I'd love to find a place in Colombia, but we have no family connections there.  If Venezuela was in a different place, these kids would be summering there.  Maybe we'll do Panama...

Just wanted to chime in that I think it's absolutely amazing what you guys are doing with your kids.

Massive advantage over other kids in tomorrow's world. 

 

[krista4]

When you say, "they only go half days." What timing is that for the school day? 

Playdates are good and all, but these kids need something to do everyday and do it in Spanish with other kids.  We want to explore with them in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends.

Maybe we'll end up in Mérida again or maybe CDMX as we have a connect there as well.  Really, I'd love to find a place in Colombia, but we have no family connections there.  If Venezuela was in a different place, these kids would be summering there.  Maybe we'll do Panama...

The kids are in school in the mornings, until around 1.  Probably this is not going to be the locale for you.  Panama or Colombia could be great.  I've spent time in and enjoyed both, but just as a regular tourist.  

Agree with icon about how amazing it is that you guys do this.

 

[[icon]]

Some Tech Chatter for those interested in what we carry for remote work:
 

For those who know me from prepper type threads, I'm a big "be-prepared" guy. This is less of a concern in countries like the US where Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy are never far away. In smaller Central American towns like Playa Samara or SJDS it's best to travel prepared. Going 101 level on this so some of this may be "duh" for you guys. 

UPS / Battery Power Supply:
From what I'm reading, power reliability in Nicaragua can be a small step down from Costa Rica. Thus, this trip we're adding a small UPS to run the Modem/Router off. This will help avoid meeting interruptions during the charming quick brown-outs, or keep us online during the less charming several-hour outages that can pop up. 

Extension cord: 
Sometimes there's not a plug where you want to work. Part of the fun in working abroad is having an "office " on a patio overlooking the pacific. However America's obsession with having outlets everywhere isn't always reflected in other places. A 10-15ft travel extension cord helps fix that. We went with 15' to be safe. 

Outlet Adapters: 
Apparently Nicaragua has a lot of places where two prong outlets are the standard. This isn't a huge deal until you need to plug in your 3prong Laptop power supply.  Luckily that's a cheap/easy fix on Amazon. These will go in our box of travel adapters when we return. They sell big universal boxes but they're too bulky IMO. Especially if you need multiple. We try to pack semi-lean so these work better. 

WIFI EXTENDER: 
Again, part of the lure working aboard is working where you want. Sometimes that's standing in the pool with your laptop on the deck. WiFi range sometimes doesn't cover the whole property. A WiFi Range extender fixes that issue. At Casa Verano in Samara last year the owner told us the WiFi didn't cover the pool/patio area. I set up this unit and it worked flawlessly. Left it there for the owner as a thank you gift.  Got another for this trip as the owners of Casa Blanco in Granada have informed us the WiFi does not cover the entire sprawling properly, including one area of the courtyard we want to work. This should fix that issue. 

LOCAL SIM CARD:
This is something that spooked me the first time I did it, if you guys recall from last year's thread. Modern cell phones have dual sim capability. Usually this means porting your US SIM to the phone's "E-sim" bay, then using your SIM tray for your second line. 

In Costa Rica I used Kolbi and it was cheap and easy to add data/minutes on the fly. In Nicaragua we are planning on using Claro. It seems like a 2 week plan with 7GB of data is under $6US and can be topped up anywhere. Im planning on re-upping so ~$11US for 3 weeks and 14GB of data. One perk to LATAM Prepagio plans as stated earlier by Krista, they usually include social networks (FB, IG, WhatsApp, Spotify, Messenger, and a chunk of YouTube)... those do NOT count against your data, which helps a lot if you post or share pics/videos about your trip.  

A good hot-spot plan on your phone is a key "redundancy/backup" connection for working abroad IMO. Handy when you want to work on the beach or at a bar that may not have WiFi.... OR even more handy when the power/internet goes out and you need to keep working.  

USB Charging Hub:

Between two cell phones, pocket flashlight, battery packs, etc.... having a compact charging station is handy. The problem is all the cords take a ton of space too. I use an Anker 6 port 60W hub then picked up 6" long Lightning, Micro USB, and USB C cords. This saves a surprising amount of space, and the short cords are great when paired with an extra battery pack (I like these for capacity / size / quick charge) when out and about. Way less space in the pocket. 

I also travel with a micro Anker 20W USB-C charging brick with a 6' QC Compatible cord to keep on the kitchen counter or near my workstation. VERY small but still capable of quick-charging phones. 
 

This sounds like a TON of ####... but it will all take up about as much space than a men's shoe... and should keep you up and running and working comfortably where you want in most circumstances. 

 

[The Z Machine]

As someone that brought my own Orbi routers and extension cords with me to support 4 simultaneous Zoom calls, you're speaking truth here.  I had a carry on suitcase filled with laptops, power supplies, routers, cables of all sorts.  Even brought a Roku with us for the kids. 

 

[steelerfan1]

I know how to say "Lo siento por mi español"... that help?

My Spanish is basically LOW level transactional Spanish (I need a table for 4 folks, I need to pay my check, where's the bathroom, etc).  My girlfriend's Spanish is several steps above mine but is still WAY short of fluent or conversational Spanish.

Thankfully in many areas of Costa Rica (unsure about Nica yet) it's not really needed. I try to use it where I can out of a courtesy, however it often leads to the other person taking off talking like I'm fluent and I have to back them up and explain. 

Google translate with its optical reading and "conversation" mode is VERY handy... and several times we'd find ourselves handing the phone back and forth letting it to the heavy lifting. 

Im starting up Duolingo for 20-30min a day again but I'm under no delusions about being conversational anytime soon if ever (unless we move south then I 100% would want to be fluent). 

Thanks for your time friend! 

So, I probably still know less than you haha. I’ve been using Pimsleur and Duolingo, but I’m old and my mind just struggles to retain what I learn regarding Spanish.  It’s super frustrating because of the fact that the wife and I are seriously starting to entertain becoming expats. I don’t want to be that ##### American who just expects people to know English, and probably even more importantly is my wife or I have some type of emergency and be unable to communicate. I mean we still are a while out and I’m going to keep plugging away.

 Thanks again.

 

[steelerfan1]

Regarding English/Spanish...we lived in Nicaragua despite neither of us being fluent in Spanish.  I speak Italian so was always able to pick up a lot of Spanish, and with each visit and then the benefit of time I got more conversant, but never fluent (or really near that).  Mr. krista spoke what we called "kitchen Spanish," in that he'd worked in restaurants his whole life so knew a lot from there, though mostly curse words.    

I'd been to Costa Rica numerous times before visiting Nicaragua, and found surprisingly more English speakers in Nica.  That is in Granada, though.  The farther you are from the central tourist locales, of course the fewer English speakers.  In SJDS I'd expect fewer people to speak English as it's smaller and more remote, but I don't think anyone would have an issue getting by there at all with nothing more than bits and pieces of Spanish.

Thanks krista! That’s good to know, but still worries me that I’d still be at a bit of a handicap in a crucial situation, but you have actually lived there so what do I know. We’re tentatively planning a trip this year just to start exploring certain places to see if being an expat is a serious option.

 

[[icon]]

As someone that brought my own Orbi routers and extension cords with me to support 4 simultaneous Zoom calls, you're speaking truth here.  I had a carry on suitcase filled with laptops, power supplies, routers, cables of all sorts.  Even brought a Roku with us for the kids. 

Haha! It's funny how we'll run to exotic locales to escape the bustle of our daily lives, but we have to take SOME of it with us if we want to keep up with our lives back home. 

I hear ya on the TV.... We have a hacked firestick with Cinema HD (stream any movie/tv-show on demand) and dual IPTV setups (20,000 channels) so we won't miss any big games or if we want to watch TV. Though, Last trip I think we watched TV at home for like 15 mins one day... it felt good to unplug from news, TV, etc. Spent nights floating in the pool under the stars drinking beers and palomas and just talking.

That said with Kids I can see how it's a necesssity. They don't "get" the allure of unplugging a bit quite like battle-worn adults do.  

 

[The Z Machine]

That said with Kids I can see how it's a necesssity. They don't "get" the allure of unplugging a bit quite like battle-worn adults do

Honestly, they would have done just fine.  Read books, played games, but more than anything, they would have wanted the attention from he adults when we were still working or getting dinner ready or planning something.  TV is a way to get them out of the way for a bit, but it's a crutch and I wish I had the discipline / patience to deal with my kids all the time, giving them the attention they want. 

Plus, I want to watch soccer games, so I need some way of doing that without going to a bar, especially during that Nations League final. 

 

[[icon]]

Thanks for your time friend! 

So, I probably still know less than you haha. I’ve been using Pimsleur and Duolingo, but I’m old and my mind just struggles to retain what I learn regarding Spanish.  It’s super frustrating because of the fact that the wife and I are seriously starting to entertain becoming expats. I don’t want to be that ##### American who just expects people to know English, and probably even more importantly is my wife or I have some type of emergency and be unable to communicate. I mean we still are a while out and I’m going to keep plugging away.

 Thanks again.

My pleasure. 

Krista and others in here have FAR more experience than I in this regard, but I will say that in both Cuenca, Ecuador and Samara, Costa Rica you could live pretty comfortably knowing only basic transactional spanish. Also, as an expat... with time you'll naturally pick up more as needed. If you find yourself in a situation where you NEED spanish (like I did at the Kolbi offices)... Google Translate or just having a bi-lingual friend in town will get you through it. 

Most communities popular with Expats seem to adapt for bi-lingual support. Most Expats I've encountered had only a cursory grasp of spanish... from transactional only to fractured conversational. 

Presuming you're considering areas that have established expat communities, I wouldn't fear the language barrier. I WOULD strongly suggest doing a long term rental for a while to check out a town. EVERYWHERE can seem amazing for a long weekend or a week.

Spend a month or two there... learn what it's like to pay your power bill, cell bill, get groceries, purchase odd things needed for around the house, etc. Idiosyncrasies are abound in every community. Some are consistent across many LATAM towns... some are unique to certain towns. It's best to unearth them before you're 6 figures into an investment. 

 

[[icon]]

Honestly, they would have done just fine.  Read books, played games, but more than anything, they would have wanted the attention from he adults when we were still working or getting dinner ready or planning something.  TV is a way to get them out of the way for a bit, but it's a crutch and I wish I had the discipline / patience to deal with my kids all the time, giving them the attention they want. 

Plus, I want to watch soccer games, so I need some way of doing that without going to a bar, especially during that Nations League final. 

Don't feel bad about the crutch. Our parents did the same with us (even if it was "Go play outside and don't come back till dark"). Adults NEED time to get #### done and kids can be needy AF.  

 What's wrong with a bar for a big match? Crowds can be FUN for that kinda thing. Especially in places that are passionate about the match at hand  

 

[chet]

Sounds like a great trip, gb.  Be safe and have an epic adventure!

 

[beer 30]

Some Tech Chatter for those interested in what we carry for remote work:
 

For those who know me from prepper type threads, I'm a big "be-prepared" guy. This is less of a concern in countries like the US where Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy are never far away. In smaller Central American towns like Playa Samara or SJDS it's best to travel prepared. Going 101 level on this so some of this may be "duh" for you guys. 

UPS / Battery Power Supply:
From what I'm reading, power reliability in Nicaragua can be a small step down from Costa Rica. Thus, this trip we're adding a small UPS to run the Modem/Router off. This will help avoid meeting interruptions during the charming quick brown-outs, or keep us online during the less charming several-hour outages that can pop up. 

Extension cord: 
Sometimes there's not a plug where you want to work. Part of the fun in working abroad is having an "office " on a patio overlooking the pacific. However America's obsession with having outlets everywhere isn't always reflected in other places. A 10-15ft travel extension cord helps fix that. We went with 15' to be safe. 

Outlet Adapters: 
Apparently Nicaragua has a lot of places where two prong outlets are the standard. This isn't a huge deal until you need to plug in your 3prong Laptop power supply.  Luckily that's a cheap/easy fix on Amazon. These will go in our box of travel adapters when we return. They sell big universal boxes but they're too bulky IMO. Especially if you need multiple. We try to pack semi-lean so these work better. 

WIFI EXTENDER: 
Again, part of the lure working aboard is working where you want. Sometimes that's standing in the pool with your laptop on the deck. WiFi range sometimes doesn't cover the whole property. A WiFi Range extender fixes that issue. At Casa Verano in Samara last year the owner told us the WiFi didn't cover the pool/patio area. I set up this unit and it worked flawlessly. Left it there for the owner as a thank you gift.  Got another for this trip as the owners of Casa Blanco in Granada have informed us the WiFi does not cover the entire sprawling properly, including one area of the courtyard we want to work. This should fix that issue. 

LOCAL SIM CARD:
This is something that spooked me the first time I did it, if you guys recall from last year's thread. Modern cell phones have dual sim capability. Usually this means porting your US SIM to the phone's "E-sim" bay, then using your SIM tray for your second line. 

In Costa Rica I used Kolbi and it was cheap and easy to add data/minutes on the fly. In Nicaragua we are planning on using Claro. It seems like a 2 week plan with 7GB of data is under $6US and can be topped up anywhere. Im planning on re-upping so ~$11US for 3 weeks and 14GB of data. One perk to LATAM Prepagio plans as stated earlier by Krista, they usually include social networks (FB, IG, WhatsApp, Spotify, Messenger, and a chunk of YouTube)... those do NOT count against your data, which helps a lot if you post or share pics/videos about your trip.  

A good hot-spot plan on your phone is a key "redundancy/backup" connection for working abroad IMO. Handy when you want to work on the beach or at a bar that may not have WiFi.... OR even more handy when the power/internet goes out and you need to keep working.  

USB Charging Hub:

Between two cell phones, pocket flashlight, battery packs, etc.... having a compact charging station is handy. The problem is all the cords take a ton of space too. I use an Anker 6 port 60W hub then picked up 6" long Lightning, Micro USB, and USB C cords. This saves a surprising amount of space, and the short cords are great when paired with an extra battery pack (I like these for capacity / size / quick charge) when out and about. Way less space in the pocket. 

I also travel with a micro Anker 20W USB-C charging brick with a 6' QC Compatible cord to keep on the kitchen counter or near my workstation. VERY small but still capable of quick-charging phones. 
 

This sounds like a TON of ####... but it will all take up about as much space than a men's shoe... and should keep you up and running and working comfortably where you want in most circumstances. 

LOL, I spent  few months in CA last year and my checked bag was basically my office. I still ended up buying Wifi extenders, monitor, cords, etc.

FYI, most of your links no work GB. Some good stuff above, Might want to purchase some of it myself.

 

[[icon]]

FYI, most of your links no work GB. Some good stuff above, Might want to purchase some of it myself.

Damn @FBG Moderator why do the boards break Amazon Links? Such a bizarre, impractical quirk    

 

[The Z Machine]

What's wrong with a bar for a big match? Crowds can be FUN for that kinda thing. Especially in places that are passionate about the match at hand

That nations league final was crazy, bro.  Some drunk Mexicans might not have enjoyed my presence.  Just an unwise situation to put yourself in. 

Now if I want there with some buddies that were pulling for Mexico and I was pulling for the states? Different story.  But I'm not doing that by alone. 

 

[[icon]]

That nations league final was crazy, bro.  Some drunk Mexicans might not have enjoyed my presence.  Just an unwise situation to put yourself in. 

Now if I want there with some buddies that were pulling for Mexico and I was pulling for the states? Different story.  But I'm not doing that by alone. 

Oh yah I didnt think if it that way  

 

[krista4]

Spend a month or two there... learn what it's like to pay your power bill, cell bill, get groceries, purchase odd things needed for around the house, etc. Idiosyncrasies are abound in every community. Some are consistent across many LATAM towns... some are unique to certain towns. It's best to unearth them before you're 6 figures into an investment. 

Such important advice!

As far as Nicaragua, you're smart to bring all that stuff.  Getting things in Nica is not as easy as Prime shipping on Amazon.    Amazon itself did not ship to Nica when we lived there.  We showed it to Julio and he said, "OH MY GOD.  You can just buy something and then it comes to your house?"  I'd never seen him so amazed, and he says "OH MY GOD" a lot.

Even if it did ship, getting something to your "address" is...interesting.  Nicaraguan doesn't have number/street addresses, but instead the addresses are a long series of words using landmarks.  For instance, we lived at an address that was something like the Spanish for "three blocks north of the lake and one block east on Almendro Street to the block where the old post office used to be."  Not kidding!  

There are, however, two Pricesmarts in Nica, one in Managua, and one in Masaya.  Pricesmart is Costco, with even many of the same items offered.  You do have to buy a membership, as with Costco.  We were members of the one in Managua (I'm not sure the Masaya one existed) and got a lot of our basic household supplies there.

Groceries tend to be modern and useful, at least in Granada, which has two good-sized, clean and bright groceries that happen to be right next to each other.

Getting other stuff there - such simple items as a certain type of light bulb or whatever - often required a trip to Managua.  

 

[[icon]]

Such important advice!

As far as Nicaragua, you're smart to bring all that stuff.  Getting things in Nica is not as easy as Prime shipping on Amazon.    Amazon itself did not ship to Nica when we lived there.  We showed it to Julio and he said, "OH MY GOD.  You can just buy something and then it comes to your house?"  I'd never seen him so amazed, and he says "OH MY GOD" a lot.

Even if it did ship, getting something to your "address" is...interesting.  Nicaraguan doesn't have number/street addresses, but instead the addresses are a long series of words using landmarks.  For instance, we lived at an address that was something like the Spanish for "three blocks north of the lake and one block east on Almendro Street to the block where the old post office used to be."  Not kidding!  

There are, however, two Pricesmarts in Nica, one in Managua, and one in Masaya.  Pricesmart is Costco, with even many of the same items offered.  You do have to buy a membership, as with Costco.  We were members of the one in Managua (I'm not sure the Masaya one existed) and got a lot of our basic household supplies there.

Groceries tend to be modern and useful, at least in Granada, which has two good-sized, clean and bright groceries that happen to be right next to each other.

Getting other stuff there - such simple items as a certain type of light bulb or whatever - often required a trip to Managua.  

Ha! Costa Rica is very similar with the lack of formal street addresses. Gave me a good laugh. Seems like the type of thing that would be easily fixed... but also seems like the type of thing lazy govt would address with "but why, it works fine now"  

Won't need any crazy shopping options in my limited time there (3 weeks)... I usually cook up breakfast (have mastered plantains, working my my Gallo pinto now)... then either leftovers or street food or lunch out and about... and we always eat dinner out and about. In Samara you had to go to Nicoya for anything of too much substance.. and sometimes San Jose for certain items.
 

Sounds like they are similar In Nica   Not a terrible system once you get used to it I imagine. I hear friends in Samara often reaching out to folks in their network to see who's making a run to Nicoya or SJ. Community helps in those cases. 

 

[krista4]

Ah yes, I forgot about Costa Rica.  Actually there I found that streets often didn’t have names.  At least in Nica there are street names!

 

[Alex P Keaton]

This thread is so awesome.  No joke, this is the canvas I’m using to sketch out early retirement plans.  Bummed that we will be in Costa Rica earlier than icon.  Was hoping we would overlap.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Ha! Costa Rica is very similar with the lack of formal street addresses. Gave me a good laugh. Seems like the type of thing that would be easily fixed... but also seems like the type of thing lazy govt would address with "but why, it works fine now"  

Won't need any crazy shopping options in my limited time there (3 weeks)... I usually cook up breakfast (have mastered plantains, working my my Gallo pinto now)... then either leftovers or street food or lunch out and about... and we always eat dinner out and about. In Samara you had to go to Nicoya for anything of too much substance.. and sometimes San Jose for certain items.
 

Sounds like they are similar In Nica   Not a terrible system once you get used to it I imagine. I hear friends in Samara often reaching out to folks in their network to see who's making a run to Nicoya or SJ. Community helps in those cases. 

My brain needs to wrap itself around the idea of not having street names or addresses.   In an actual town or city.  Wtf?

 

[[icon]]

This thread is so awesome.  No joke, this is the canvas I’m using to sketch out early retirement plans.  Bummed that we will be in Costa Rica earlier than icon.  Was hoping we would overlap.

Thanks GB. I figured I'd stick my neck out, and thankfully the FBGs who know way more about this stuff have been amazing about stepping in with insight and guidance.  Trying to document the menial/logistics stuff too so anyone else who wants to do something similar has guidance. 

Awesome re: CR! When are you heading down, and where ya going to? 

 

[SWC]

i hope you have fun on your latin american trip lleva eso al banco bromigo 

 

[Ron Swanson]

i hope you have fun on your latin american trip lleva eso al banco bromigo 

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Thanks GB. I figured I'd stick my neck out, and thankfully the FBGs who know way more about this stuff have been amazing about stepping in with insight and guidance.  Trying to document the menial/logistics stuff too so anyone else who wants to do something similar has guidance. 

Awesome re: CR! When are you heading down, and where ya going to? 

Heading down in mid-Feb.  Only there for 10 days — part of the time in the center of the country, part of the time in Guanacaste on the beach.  Might make a side trip to either Samara (because of your previous reporting!) or Nicaragua (may not happen due to Covid complications, etc).

We love it down there and really want to spend part of our retirement years (I’m only 46 - this is still a few years off) somewhere in CR…..

Thanks again for sharing all of your experience and plans.

 

[[icon]]

i hope you have fun on your latin american trip lleva eso al banco bromigo 

LLO  

 

[[icon]]

Heading down in mid-Feb.  Only there for 10 days — part of the time in the center of the country, part of the time in Guanacaste on the beach.  Might make a side trip to either Samara (because of your previous reporting!) or Nicaragua (may not happen due to Covid complications, etc).

We love it down there and really want to spend part of our retirement years (I’m only 46 - this is still a few years off) somewhere in CR…..

Thanks again for sharing all of your experience and plans.

Awesome! Happy for whatever help these threads have provided.  

If you guys are going to be looking for tours in La Fortuna, I can't speak highly enough of Carlos with Caribbean Winds. Dude does a "safari river rafting tour" that goes down the Penas Blancas driver. He apparently does lots of other tours in La Fortuna, Monteverde, Rio Celeste, etc. Dude is like a Tico Crocodile Dundee. Mad energy, knows EVERYTHING about flora/fauna... just a good dude.