Owner: Nomadic Narrative URL:www.nomadicnarrative.com Join Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 10:05:32 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Spontaneous narratives highlighting slow and responsible travel for contemporary nomadic women. Site statistics:Click here
Pedicures and prostitutes (part 2) 2008-08-19 19:59:00 As much as I enjoyed the cacao pedicure at the local brothel, there are two reasons I won’t return. First, I imagined myself sitting there with plastic wrap coiled around my feet to lock in the cacao nutrients as police started herding everyone into the paddy wagon. I could hear myself saying: But I’m only here for a pedicure! I could hear the police officer responding: Sure lady, that’s wh
Graffiti: Alternative voices in San José 2008-08-18 21:45:00 Ever since reading Julio Cortazar’s short story “Graffiti
,” I’ve tried to interpret these painted exhortations more than curse them. If anything, graffiti is another eye into understanding what is bubbling beneath the surface. Unlike Cortazar’s Argentina, Costa Rica has a long democratic history. However, as politicians continue to adopt neo-liberal policies, people seem to be taking th Read more:Alternative
Bulldozing “paradise” in Costa Rica 2008-08-17 11:17:00 While visiting Playa del Coco last month with Tracey, she wondered why there were a couple of houses built right on the beach. Having recently met one of the developers in town, she knew that there were laws restricting building within a certain distance from the beach. After all, a slew of shack-like beachside businesses in Playa del Coco had recently been torn down exposing the beautiful bay vie Read more:Costa Rica
Gone bananas 2008-09-21 18:48:00 We cross so many paths during our travels. Who´d have thought that one of those paths would be a string of bananas
? I sat in a collective taxi in front of a yellow gate blocking the road on my way from the Costa Rican/Panamanian border to the Almirante boat launch for Bocas del Toro. A train is about to pass, I thought. Before I could figure out why there weren´t any train tracks for this locomo
Peeling away at the banana industry 2008-09-17 21:17:00 I cracked my first double-yolked egg in Madrid, Spain back in the early 1990s. A tiny, hole-in-the-wall butcher shop sat across the street from my apartment building. I loved visiting each particular shop to get what I needed for the next couple of days. It was at this fresh poultry shop where I learned that two yolks are better than one in terms of freshness—at least that’s the story I was so Read more:Peeling
, banana
, industry
Surreal nature 2008-09-16 18:12:00 I never dreamed such a landscape existed. I stood at the edge of the powder blue river waiting for thirsty unicorns.Deep in the Costa Rican rainforest, volcanic potions mix with clear-brewed waters to create the Río Celeste. Read more:nature
Keywords for Costa Rica 2008-09-12 21:48:00 I was doing a little keyword analysis the other day to see what topics are driving traffic to my blog. Just to be clear, I have no intention of modifying my content to include keywords that will capture more visitors. I write what I write, visitors or not! Regardless, it's pretty funny to see which keywords are bringing people to Nomadic Narrative:cost of wine in costa rica (Someone is doing thei Read more:Keywords
, Costa Rica
Classical Elements in Tourism 2008-09-09 18:18:00 Just because you're heading to the most relaxing place in the world, doesn't mean you're going to come back rested. I'm not really sure what I mean when I say this. But after spending an amazing weekend in what is one of my favorite places, I'm back in the city feeling chapped inside and out.Some places can overwhelm you with all that they have to offer, and this isn't a bad thing. Feeling overwhe Read more:Tourism
Travel related email scams 2008-10-08 22:45:00 I remember that campy 1970s-looking postcard with the guy on the beach during what looks like spring break. He’s thrusting a can of a beer in the air and the speech bubble says: “SEND MONEY!”Clearly, this debaucherous cry for help was directed toward his parents. At least asking a family member for a handout is a legitimate way of getting funds. (Family members please don’t respond.) A fri Read more:Travel
, related
Walking in San José 2008-10-07 23:37:00 As some of you may know, I live in Costa Rica's capital city, San José. Depending on how familiar you are with the city, that can scare you or intrigue you. I’m sort of straddling the fence here feeling both scared and intrigued with San José at the same time.I finally joined one of the “Tico Walks” which is a guided tour of the city center. (Tico is the nickname for Costa Ricans) I’m no Read more:Walking
Revolution, man eating crocodiles and drugs 2008-10-05 18:48:00 A friend asked me the other day what people were saying about the economic crisis here in Costa Rica. I said that it wasn’t making front page news.Let’s take a look at what has made front page news the past two Sundays in La Nación, Costa Rica’s leading newspaper; though, not without its critics. Last Sunday, September 28, the headlines read: “United States Shocked at Arias’ Support for Read more:eating
The joys of blogging 2008-10-02 12:41:00 I never anticipated that blogging would be so fun and inspiring. Blogging helps me appreciate life’s little subtleties that would otherwise most likely go unnoticed. Whether I’m visiting an exotic location or taking a trip to the grocery store, I keep my eyes open for interesting topics to write about. I think this is what slow travel is all about—taking the time to let it all soak in. I als
ContemporaryNomad.com hiking Spiti 2008-09-28 17:24:00 My good friends Tony and Thomas continue to share their amazing journey across Asia. The footage is spectacular and I would highly recommend taking a look at one of their recent videos of a hike in Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India. Keep on blogging T &T!Read post hereRead my interview with ContemporaryNomad.com here
Whining about wine in Costa Rica (part 3) 2008-09-28 16:37:00 Enough already, I know. Why don’t I switch to guaro or something? Mixed with a little juice, wouldn’t that quench my tropical thirst better anyway? Plus, consuming locally produced food, and drink in this case, would mean less fuel burned to transport goods, which means less pollution. The burden of responsibility of the 21st century consumer!The fact is that wine is becoming a part of Costa R Read more:Costa Rica
A bridge that tempts fate 2008-09-26 19:04:00 I wondered why the bus stop was so far away from the National Park where I experienced the mystical blue waters of the Río Celeste. After an hour walk, I reached the bus stop which sat at the foot of an old, wooden bridge
. While waiting, I decided to cross to the other side where I discovered the reason for my trek.Warning: Light vehicles onlyBuses don't drive beyond this point. Drivers beware: I
Bocas del Toro on fire 2008-09-25 14:52:00 Bocas del Toro, Panama entices me in the same way a David Lynch film does. Close your eyes and imagine the most idyllic beach scene. I see curvy palms leaning over deserted, white-sand beaches and surreal, turquoise waters. Add huge starfish, indigenous Indians paddling around in cayucos and a Caribbean flair, and you have Bocas del Toro. At least this is the bright and shiny side.The area is deve
'Gone fishing' takes on new meaning in Costa Rica 2008-09-24 18:41:00 I went out the other night with a guidebook-writer friend who has lived in Costa Rica
for five years. We ran some errands in the downtown area and then decided to get a beer. She suggested a small, side-street bar called New York.We get the first seats on the patio and ring a “service” bell which looks like a doorbell. Staring down the narrow, crowded and seedy streets, she tells me that the a
Costa Rican three-toed sloth strikes a pose 2008-11-01 21:50:00 Many people travel to Costa Rica to see first-hand the abundant and unique wildlife. To be honest, it can be hard to spot animals in the forest. When I do spot something, I’m always afraid to reach for the camera thinking it’s going to run away, so I just observe. I’ve heard that great wildlife photographers spend hours if not days watching a single animal to get that perfect shot. On the co
A traveler's search for 'that' moment 2008-10-27 23:22:00 My mini-vacation last weekend to a town just outside of San José was perfectly imperfect. As usual, I headed out with at least an end destination in mind—this time, Heredia. Sometimes, I’ll even go as far as identify a possible place to spend the night in my Lonely Planet guide. Still, the perfectly imperfect weekends always start out with a little, let’s say, drama.I first wound my way thr
Cross-cultural awareness through mayonnaise 2008-10-21 19:58:00 When I was a kid, I was not a picky eater, but there is one thing I’d never touch—mayonnaise.I rediscovered the eggy emulsion when I moved to Japan. I was hesitant to eat it at first, but it was all over everything. True aficionados would even earn the Japanese moniker mayoler (マヨラー). There were reality TV shows with contestants trying to cook up the best mayonnaise recipe, and nowaday Read more:Cross
Eating it in the city 2008-10-17 19:01:00 I’ve mentioned before that San José is not a city that allows for a lot of meditative meandering, especially in inappropriate footwear. After two straight days of rain, I walked out of my house indulging in the warmth of the blue-sky day. I sauntered down the sidewalk with my eyes half closed as the sun’s rays warmed my body when —whoosh! —I was on my back with my big toe jammed into a ra
McCapitalism 2008-10-16 17:54:00 Talk about a full-service, fast food Mcjoint. After devouring your Big Mac and fries, you can surf the McInternet in the McCafé area. If it’s a stay-at-home day, you can call for McTakeout.
Economic freedom is environmentally friendly 2008-10-14 19:40:00 One thing that keeps popping up as I hear people talking about the current economic crisis is the need to learn to live within one’s means. For someone living or looking to live a contemporary nomadic lifestyle—a lifestyle which gives us more freedom and has a light impact on our environment—achieving economic independence is key. I don’t mean simply receiving a steady income, but most imp Read more:Economic
San José revealed: the inside and outside perspective 2008-10-12 17:27:00 To really understand a place, you have to see it from many different angles – night versus day, summer versus winter, up close versus far away, etc. While most people choose to avoid San José, I’m determined to explore it inside
and out to find a seed of charm. After the Cow Parade, it seems as though many people have rediscovered San Jose’s center—hopefully a sign of better times ahead.
Nomadic update: one year 2008-11-20 20:02:00 Exactly one year ago today, I officially resigned from my full-time government job at the university. Leaving such a “stable” position wasn’t easy, but I knew that if I stayed, I’d just wither away. I decided to “follow my dreams” — a saying that sounds a bit cliché, but I’ve grown to believe that we can’t be successful in something we’re not passionate about. For those who ha
Costa Rican cuisine: pejibaye soup 2008-11-17 21:05:00 Trying different foods is one of the greatest joys of traveling, and living for that matter. I’m not a picky eater, so I really get to explore the gamut of a country’s culinary offerings. What’s even more fun is to learn how to cook a few typical recipes.My roommate picked me up a traditional Costa Rican cookbook the other day. A lot of people dismiss Costa Rican food as bland and boring, bu
Practicing Sensazione: My first double rainbow 2008-11-13 21:17:00 I could have hot-footed it to the supermarket without even looking up at the sky. I could have kept my pace while gazing up at the Earth's ceiling every few blocks. Instead, I decided to come to a complete halt and gaze at the first rainbow I had seen in the city. It seemed so wide and near that I decided to look at it from a different angle — the arch grew. I hurried to the next block — the a Read more:double
Spa culture - It's shocking! 2008-11-08 19:01:00 Just another day at the spa — nature sound CDs, scented oils and electric shock therapy.A new spa opened down the street from my house, just as my former spa-haunt (read previous shocking revelation) was pulling down its sign and closing up shop. I decided to try another neighborhood locale and made an appointment for a masaje relajante, which was described as gentle and as the name says, relaxi Read more:culture
Costa Rican newspapers capture Obama’s win on front page 2008-11-05 20:10:00 Obama's historic presidential win is on the cover of newspapers
around the world. Here are today's front pages in Costa Rica: Headline:"OBAMA The United States Elects First Black President." La Nación is Costa Rica's leading newspaper. The top headline mentions that the Democrats increased their majority in both chambers. The bottom headline says that Obama showed reconciliation in his first spee Read more:capture
, Obama
Tucurrique Pejibaye Festival 2008-11-03 22:41:00 I went to the Pejibaye Festival
last weekend and I ate it! All of it!Pejibaye is a fruit that grows in bunches on palm trees. I love it because it tastes a bit like a roasted chestnut. My taste buds are not alone. Around thirty thousand people gather in the small rural town of Tucurrique de Cartago, Costa Rica every year to indulge in all kinds of pejibaye-based products from cookies to empanadas
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