The past few days have been absolutely amazing. Every day in Panama has taken my breath away; I am completely enchanted with this place and can definitely answer the question "What is the best place you have ever traveled to?" with complete certainty now. I absolutely LOVE this country!!!! I will try to backtrack and fill in the gaps since I have for once made it to the Internet cafe before 10:30 pm. (I think I have finally got this picture uploading thing down too, so I updated the Costa Rica entry with more pictures, FYI) On New Year's Day I [View Full Entry]

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OK, I have a ton of pictures to share already and lots to write about but this internet cafe closes in about 2 minutes, so i will have to do so tomorrow.....but I made it here and am having a BLAST!!!! I seriously think I am in love with Panama already -- I mean, where else can you snorkel in a Caribbean island in the morning, drive through waterfall-laden mountains, view out onto the Pacific coast and islands, and end up back in the mountains again for dinner?? I'm going whitewater rafting tomorrow on one of the top 5 rafting rivers [View Full Entry]

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The comforting thing about the timidity I had about traveling solo is running into people who are even more clueless than I am. I don't know how many people I met that didn't speak a lick of Spanish or who had never even made it out of the country before starting out on a 6 month journey...I felt quite reassured that I need NOT be so concerned. Anyway, yes, I actually did make it to San Jose alive after a very long layover and customs line. Once arrived I searched for someone resembling a backpacker type to try to split a [View Full Entry]

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Any of you who know me really well know that it is TOTALLY unlike me to be waiting to the last minute to pack my bag because I NEVER procrastinate anything, so I'm sure it is a total shock to you that I have yet to organize my luggage for tomorrow. (At least I have somewhat of an excuse since I caught a stomach bug from my sister and brother-in-law and was out of commission a couple days.)My best pal Pam has graciously agreed to get up at the crack of dawn to drop me at the airport and I have [View Full Entry]

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Since I have had to postpone the culinary and cultural delights awaiting me in SE Asia, I have been scurrying around to devise a contingency plan. Pleased to announce that I bought the ticket, and it lands me back in previously trod Central America. However, this time I will get to add Panama's splendors to the itinerary and will not be as much of a whirlwind traveler (last time was 5 countries in 4 weeks). Three weeks from tomorrow I fly out to Costa Rica, where I will hopefully meet some cool travelers to usher in the New Year with (or [View Full Entry]

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Tip: if you want to feel 10 pounds lighter instantly, quit your job. The feeling of napping in the middle of the day, of NOT checking voicemail and calling all my stores 4 times a day, of not dreading hearing my phone ring for fear of my hovering boss ... these are all PRICELESS. I feel like I just got my life back, and oh, how beautiful life seems when I own it instead of a corporation! Despite the fact that all my travel plans have just run amok, that I am now unemployed and without a car, and the fact [View Full Entry]

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