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Jan. 25 – Los Campesinos Ecolodge

By on January 26, 2019 in The Pearl

“Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.” —Gabby Basora

Stan and I like to look for activities that are a little off-the-beaten-path. We’re not the normal tourist that like to visit every museum or touristy place, in fact those are the places we try to avoid. So after our adventure yesterday at Manual Antonio National Park, it was time to get away from the crowds. 

I do research to find local places and things that will lead us to something different and less crowded. In my research I found Los Campesinos, it’s a little known community-based ecotourism organization deep in the mountains north of Quepos. It took us about an hour to get there, up a mountain road that was a bit bumpy and steep, but no wear near as bad as the road to Rio Celeste last year. The drive itself was part of the adventure…it took us pass charming Tico (local) villages and we saw some beautiful lush green sights.
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Jan. 24 – Manuel Antonio National Park

By on January 25, 2019 in The Pearl
“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” —Gustav Flaubert
The main tourist attraction in this area of Costa Rica is Manuel Antonio National Park. It’s popular for a reason…it has lush jungle, abundant wildlife and exquisite beaches. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing day on one of four pristine beaches or hike through the vibrant, green rainforest. From tide pools alive with crustaceans to endangered monkey species to stunning scenic vistas, the park is a spectacular destination.

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Jan. 23 – Playa Biesanz (Secret Beach), Costa Rica

By on January 24, 2019 in The Pearl
“In Life, It’s Not Where You Go, It’s Who You Travel With” –  Charles Schulz

We had a slow start to our day…breakfast by the pool over looking the marina. No monkeys showed up, but we did see a few later in the day.
We walked through town and found a place to get a sim card for my phone. People are so amazing here in Costa Rica…they go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. It’s fun just talking to people in the stores and restaurants. They are very welcoming.

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Jan. 22 – Quepos, Costa Rica

By on January 23, 2019 in The Pearl

“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb

Our first stop along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica is the town of Quepos, considered the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park. The town’s unique blend of beauty, history, wildlife and culture have combined to create an idyllic rainforest community, which draws international visitors seeking adventure, those wanting to fish for marlin or those visitors that just want to relax on the beach. We plan to do a little exploring and a lot of relaxing.
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Jan. 21 – Back to Costa Rica

By on January 21, 2019 in The Pearl

“And then there is the most dangerous risk of all — the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” – Randy Komisar

Last year I did a blog post about traveling…what it is and how it makes a person feel. Traveling is life, it’s unpredictable, it’s freedom, it’s like a drug – the more you travel the more you want to travel, it’s the exploring of new places, having no limits and being who you want to be. All those statements are very true for Stan and myself, so it’s time for a little adventure, a little walking on the beach, a little relaxation and most of all the exploring of somewhere new.
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Happy New Year 2019

By on January 1, 2019 in The Pearl

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.” —Melody Beattie

Happy New Year…I hope 2019 brings happiness, health and adventure to all of you. The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on where we’ve been, the things that are important to us and what we’d like to achieve in the future. With each passing year the months seem to pass faster than the year before and it’s hard to imagine how so many years and wonderful events have past so quickly. We look forward to the new adventures and events of the coming year. I hope it brings nothing but good things to all our friends and family. 

Looking Back at 2018

By on December 30, 2018 in The Pearl

“Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine.” –Alan Turing

In January we decided to get away from our cold wet winter in Texas. We headed to Costa Rica for ten days of relaxation and adventure. 

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2018 Travel Stats

By on December 27, 2018 in The Pearl
Click here to go to The Pearl’s travel map.
(expand the drop downs on the right side of the map for more information)
This blog post is best viewed on a computer.
Stan and I both keep logs of information about our travels. Mine are more about the places we’ve been and the places we’ve stayed, his are more technical (engine hours, maintenance etc.). For information on where we’ve docked and anchored, please refer to my Travel Logs. This year we took two short trips from Ithaca. We spent two weeks traveling west on the Erie Canal and almost three weeks in the the Thousand Islands. Not as many miles as we use to put under the keel…but an adventure just the same. The totals below are from the time we left home in 2011 till the end of 2018.

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Merry Christmas

By on December 20, 2018 in The Pearl

“Whatever you do, live a life of adventure and meaning so brilliant that, like a Roman candle, it lights up the world. Dazzle us. Astonish us. Be extraordinary.” —President George H.W. Bush

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year…2018 was another wonderful year and we feel blessed to enjoy the life we have. We’re fortunate to be able to spend six months a year in upstate New York and six months in Texas…it’s the best of both worlds. In both places we get to enjoy being on the water and the company of our family. 
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A Day by the Sea

By on December 11, 2018 in The Pearl

“Vicinity to the sea is desirable, because it is easier to do nothing by the sea than anywhere else.” —E.F. Benson

Our weather in south Texas has been dreary and cold lately, but today we were given the gift of a beautiful day. I guess we appreciate them more when they are harder to come by. We spent the day with our friends John and Janice at their beach house at Indianola. Their house sits on the point, the inlet of Powderhorn Lake on one side and Matagorda Bay on the other. It’s a spectacular place to watch dolphins play, try your luck at fishing, birdwatch or just relax. It was a wonderful day…with a breathtaking sunset to finish it off.
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