#occasionally I’ll check the prices for flights to places I’d like to visit

[bewitching-666]

🥲

[artmutt]

Amsterdam, Part 1

Our flight into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport arrived just before dawn, resulting in a beautiful sunrise at the airport. Then we jumped in a taxi into the city, and ended up at our hotel before 8 a.m. It was much too early to check in, so I shifted some things from my day bag to my suitcase, and vice versa, and we went out to explore the city.

It was still very early, and we were groggy from the flight, Our hotel was about a block away from the Rijksmuseum, and the Museumplein (a big open area near the major museums) was quiet and beautiful, with nobody around, except a couple of food vendors getting ready for the day’s activities. After a nice stroll through the area, we decided we desperately needed a real breakfast, and lots of very strong coffee.

Luckily, we found Blushing, an adorable little cafe just off the Museumplein, where they were serving really terrific food and a variety of coffee beverages. Europe has adapted to the new food sensitivities that people have these days, so that even in a country as obsessed with cheese and milk products as the Netherlands, we were able to get coffee with almond and soy milk. Blushing’s version of Eggs Benedict was made with smoked salmon instead of Canadian bacon, and eliminated the Hollandaise sauce, and replaced the English muffin with spelt bread. So no dairy for my lactose-intolerant partner, and no gluten for yours truly: perfect. The walls were adorned with celebrity photos (all drinking coffee, of course), and it’s hard to argue with the sentiment that “A yawn is a silent scream for coffee.”

There are three major museums in the area. Besides the Rijksmuseum, there is the Van Gogh Museum, and we had pre-bought tickets for that on Sunday morning. The third is the Stedelijk Museum, which is the museum of modern art in Amsterdam. That was where we headed, after we were sufficiently caffeinated to actually focus our eyes.

The Stedelijk originally began in an older building, repurposed as a museum, but some years back, they added a new wing to the building, fondly referred to as “the bathtub” by locals because, well, that’s what it looks like. I’ve seen a couple of amazing shows at the museum, which has strong holdings of early Modern art by artists like Kasimir Malevich, and Piet Mondrian. At the moment, because of some remodeling going on (this becomes a motif for the visit), most of the permanent collection is kind of jammed willy-nilly into a crowded space. It does keep important work available, but this jammed presentation doesn’t encourage prolonged or contemplative looking.

Luckily, the current temporary exhibit of work by the Atlas Group, which is to say Lebanese artist Walid Raad, was well worth seeing, and it was given the kind of space needed for careful contemplation. It’s also very diverse work, politically vibrant and conceptually engaged. There were multiple rooms, each with very very different work, ranging from photography to painting to large-scale sculpture. A full-blown consideration of such thematically and technically diverse work would require an extended essay, so I’ll provide three photos, and let you go looking for better discourse on the Stedelijk website. I’ll just say that the exhibit, which spread across seven rooms, included “Sweet Talk,” one of the most stunning video pieces I’ve seen in a long time, in which buildings being demolished (basically imploded), through the use of mirroring, reversals, and loops, became a huge kaleidoscopic abstraction that was both horrific and beautiful at the same time. We sat and stared at this for a very long time because it was completely mesmerizing. While sitting we also had time to contemplate the myth of “progress,” the double-talk that delays any serious effort toward peace in the Middle East, and the whole conflicted notion of what “Modernism” is.

Of course, I can say that now. At the time, the jet lag was really kicking in, and I was rapidly heading toward incoherence. I had planned to have lunch at the Stedelijk’s cafe, only to find it was closed for renovation (like I said, a motif). So we fled to the nearby Keyser Brasserie, where I made the mistake of ordering a couple of Dutch classics, only to discover that neither of them were really what I wanted to eat at that moment.

I had also failed to pack any good walking shoes, and after walking around on cobblestoned streets in my dress shoes, my feet were screaming. So we popped into a shoe store, and I picked up some black high-topped leather sneakers, which totally saved me for the rest of the trip. A bit pricey, sure, but no more pricey than if I’d bought the same thing at Nordstrom in Chicago. And besides, we all need a good souvenir of any trip.

We went for an afternoon stroll through the Vondelpark, one of several large city parks. It was a lovely fall afternoon, and there were a lot of people out and about. My partner was expecting a lot of drugs, and there was certainly the occasional note of marijuana in the air, but for the most part it was a very civilized location, with lots of college-age kids on bikes or roller skates or scooters, and a lot of families with strollers or toddlers in tow. In point of fact, my partner saw less drug-use now than he had seen in the 1970s, before marijuana was legal. Just goes to show...

The neighborhood near our hotel turned out to be one of the fancier shopping areas in the city. This is where all the high-end clothing stores had their outlet stores. This turned out to be a very good thing, because there was very little else in the area besides high-end retail, so during the day the area was buzzing with wealthy shoppers and dropped-jaw tourists (the prices were pretty intense), but once these places closed, the streets were empty, so the neighborhood was very quiet in the late evenings. if we’d been in an area filled with bars or clubs, (like the area just across the canal from us), things would have been hopping until 2 a.m. or later.

My favorite among these places was the Hermés shop. Yes, I’m a fan of their stuff: I wear their cologne, and for many years had a treasured orange scarf from there that I wore until it fell apart. I also recognize how insanely overpriced their merchandise is. But they do have a certain je ne sais qua that I admire. Their Amsterdam outlet is constructed out of glass bricks, consequently, at night, it is illuminated from the inside, and presents a glowing presence on the street that makes all the other buildings look boring.

After a meal of Indonesian food (that merits a separate post), we got to bed early, and more or less collapsed until morning.

[rememberthattime]

Chapter 50. Goodbye Australia

I can’t believe we’ve been here for two years. How has it already been 22 months!? 

We’ve basically lived here just as long as the UK, yet our time in Sydney feels more like a semester abroad. I know the toilets flush a different direction here, but does time move faster too?? Are we so far away from the rest of Earth that there’s relativity distortion???

Regardless of how quickly it’s arrived, our time in Sydney is coming to an end. Like anywhere we’ve live, Sydney had its highs and lows, though I’m surprisingly more sentimental about Australia than any of our previous homes. Australia is a unique and special place, and this goodbye post will capture how proud and fondly Chelsay and I will remember our time Down Under.

The best and worst of Australia can actually be captured by the setting from where I’m writing this post. It’s 6:30 AM. The sun is rising, and I’m looking out my window at an empty Manly Beach, the vast Pacific Ocean in the distance. I have my iced coffee because it’s 85 degrees. It’s quiet. The setting is just perfect.

The birds start to rise from their evening slumber. Some light chatter. But then the magpies wake up. And then cockatoos. And then kookaburras. Pretty soon the romantic notion of waking up to birds chirping has turned into Baghdad. And that’s Australia in a nutshell: an absolute dream for the right amount of time, but then the magpies start & you know it’s time to wake up.

Now, it’s obviously more complex than that. Australia may be the most perfect place in the world to raise a family. First, the weather and setting are unmatched. Anywhere. In an age where American and British kids are glued to screens, Aussie kids are distracted from their phones or TV by sunshine, swimming, and surfing. Chelsay and I first observed this when we discovered the Northern Beaches.

Sydney has some phenomenal coastal walks, but our hikes through the Northern Beaches were my favorite. For 15 months, we were ferrying over to Watson’s Bay for the Bondi-to-Coogee. We’d wrap up with a frosé slushee from Coogee Pavilion, and stop in CBD on the way back for 678 Korean BBQ. It was great.

But one weekend, we instead decided to head north to see how many beaches we could cover by foot. North Manly, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Dee Why, Collaroy, Narrabeen. Pretty soon, we’d walked 20 miles and were stunned. This beautiful, quiet coastline had been in our backyard the whole time!? 

The Northern Beaches walks became our “Richmond Park” equivalent, and as we walked barefoot along the sandy beaches, Chelsay and I took note of the young families. Their kids weren’t stuck back on the beach blanket, looking at their phones. It’s impossible when your spoiled by one of the best settings in the world. They played backyard games on the beach, or volleyball, or ran around with their border collies. Dads surfed with their sons and moms & daughters worked out with the lifesaving club. Yeah, the LIFESAVING CLUB. Instead of tee-ball, Aussie kids are learning to swim out in the ocean and save people. It’s easy to see how Aussies have great attitudes when they’re raised in an environment like this.

That actually brings me to my next point about why Australia is special: the people. Just phenomenal. There are a couple bad eggs like anywhere, but on the whole, Aussies are light hearted, funny, kind, optimistic, and always after a good time. At work, I had the most supportive and entertaining colleagues, enabling the best two years of my career so far. When learning to surf, strangers were welcoming and encouraging (they would tell us when to paddle and cheer when we caught a wave!). And only Aussies could come up with sayings like “Piss in your pocket”, “Good bloke, like a beer” and “We’re not here to ____ spiders.”

I have two stories to exhibit this lovable Aussie attitude. The first came when Chelsay and I visited the Museum of Industry. It was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11, so the museum was hosting a NASA exhibit. The whole thing was great: it was all about how Aussies helped with the moon landing. Really, they played a very small part by simply receiving the camera feed from the moon, which was only due to the Earth’s rotation making them best positioned for Armstrong’s first step. But the Aussies had so much pride in contributing to the accomplishment. They didn’t have the resources to send a man to the moon, but when the time came, Aussies happily and proudly stepped in.

My second story comes from North Curl Curl. Chelsay and I were on one of our Northern Beaches walks, when we came across a kids surf contest. (Again, instead of peewee football, Aussie children have surf competitions.) Anyway, the scene was great. It was sunny, the parents had come out to watch, and one of the teenagers set up a microphone to give play-by-play. Some highlights:

“Aw I’m calling it: best day of the year. The waves are     rolling, sausages are rolling.”

“There are sets! Out! The back!”

“Suns out, buns out! Well no buns yet, but the lasses     will be here soon.”

“Just a reminder to any surfers: yield your waves to     the kids. You got a problem with that, we’ve got a group of 20 locals     here. Get amongst it.”

This teen captured what it means to be Australian: funny, positive, and energetic.

I actually have a bonus third story about how much I love Aussie attitudes. Perhaps no story better sums up Australia’s priority of just having a good time than Steven Bradbury. Bradbury was an Australian speed skater that made it to the 1000m finals of 2002 Winter Olympic. As a quick aside, it’s a testament to Aussie athleticism that there is zero snow in the country yet they consistently compete and medal at the Winter Olympics. Back to Bradbury though. He basically only made the finals because all of his opponents crashed in the semi-finals. So now he’s in the finals. He’s matched up against the three fasted skaters in the world, and he knows he really shouldn’t be there. So, for 950m, he holds back. He’s enjoying that he’s made the finals in the Winter Olympics, taking in the moment and happy to let the other skaters fight. The front runners are stressed throughout, constantly passing one another and jockeying to take the lead.

With 50m left, Bradbury is a full 15m back. But then the aggression of the front runners costs them - after battling on the last turn, they all tumble. Bradbury, who was just enjoying a leisurely skate, passes them all and somehow with a grin and somehow wins gold! His quote afterwards captures his Aussiness: “I was the oldest bloke in the field and I knew that. Skating four races back to back, I wasn't going to have any petrol left in the tank. So there was no point in getting there and mixing it up because I was going to be in last place anyway. So I figured I might as well stay out of the way and be in last place.”

“Doing a Bradbury” is now another phenomenal Aussie saying.

The weather and people of Australia certainly exceeded Chelsay and I’s hopes when we moved to Sydney. That said, we’d never been here before, so how could we really know what to expect? Here are some other Aussie realities that turned out different than expectations:

The biggest surprise is how isolated Australia is. I knew it was far away, but didn’t grasp just HOW far. This makes travel harder, both because of flight times and flight prices, which ultimately is the biggest drawback of Australia. Sure we had some absolutely amazing trips (New Zealand, Western Australian, Fiji and Indo all stand out), but a just weekend trip doesn’t get you as far as it would in London. For this time in Chelsay and I’s lives, we’re really looking to see as much as possible.

On the positive side, We expected more bugs, spiders, and snakes. These have been a non-factor in Manly.

Despite the absence of insects, there have been far more sharks than expected. Not Great Whites, but 5 foot Dusky Whalers, Reef Sharks, Wobbegongs, and Port Jackson’s. I see at least one almost every time I go for a swim. After swimming with about 100 sharks over the past year, both Chelsay and I are much more comfortable with them than     expected.

We should be better at surfing. We live on an absolutely ideal beach to learn. Sure, we can competently stand on a 5-6 ft wave or catch the occasional “green face”, but we’d never be confused with pros. After two years, we can barely turn. Those kids in the North Curl Curl competition would surf circles around us.

Okay, we’ve made it to the end. As a “completeness check”, I took a look back at my Goodbye London post. That post was absolutely spot on - I perfectly predicted how I’d feel about London 24 months after leaving. It was such a good prediction that I actually feel a bit of pressure to do the same for Australia.

So here it goes. With Australia, I predict we’ll forget the lack of travel options and focus more on memories we did make. The freedom of driving through outback in Western Australia and the Top End. Drinking wine, snacking on “the goods”, and listening to the hits on a warm night in Esperance. Vacations visiting dinosaurs (Komodo) or other worldly Mordor (New Zealand). Day trips near Sydney to see koalas (Port Stephens) or kangaroos and wombats (Kangaroo Valley). Chic brunches on the Sunshine Coast, and capturing all the Pokémon (Aussie wildlife) on trips to Tassie, the Barrier Reef, and Far North Queensland. Our long weekend walks through the Northern Beaches, followed by delivery daal from our favorite Indian place.

Ultimately though, what I’ll miss most is the free Saturdays and Sundays that we so easily take for granted. Waking up and getting a pretzel croissant from Sonoma. Watching the surfers from the corso, followed by barefoot morning walk along the beach. Grabbing our boards, snorkels, a book, and some guacamole and hitting the beach. Ending the day with chicken nuggets, truffle fries, and an elderflower spritz at Hemingway’s. Taking in the unbelievably colorful sunsets EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!

Unlike London, there won’t be sights or events or attractions that I miss about Australia. It will be the feeling of a free weekend in Manly, the hot sun, and warm Aussies around us.

[topfygad]

REVIEW: Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Set within a 1000-acre private nature reserve, Lapa Rios, Costa Rica is one of the most spectacular lodges you’ll ever visit.

I’ve stayed in some incredible places on my travels, but Lapa Rios is one of the most memorable yet. Sleeping in impressive wooden bungalows with enormous terraces, and just nets for windows means you feel closer to nature than ever.

Sunrise from Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

Frogs hop along the pathways, toucans and macaws flap from tree to tree, and the howls of the local howler monkeys sound loud throughout the day. You don’t have to search for wildlife, it’s right there on your terrace, by the swimming pool, outside (and sometimes inside!) the restaurant and in the surrounding skies. And you know what? It’s absolutely magical.

Where Is Lapa Rios, Costa Rica? 

Located in Matapalo in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios Lodge sits within a 1000-acre private nature reserve. It’s around 12 miles from the town of Puerto Jimenez where there’s also a small airport. If you’re arriving to San Jose, then I’d recommend catching the 50-minute flight with Sansa Airline as it’ll save you a lot of time, leaving you more precious minutes in the beautiful rainforest!

At the airport, the team from Lapa Rios will be waiting with welcome drinks and their private vehicles, ready to transport you to the lodge.

Welcome drinks at Puerto Jimenez airport before transferring to Lapa Rios Costa Rica

From Lapa Rios ecolodge, it’ll take you around an hour to drive to the starting point for travelling into Corcovado National Park – a place that is an absolute paradise for wildlife lovers.

Take a look at this Lapa Rios map to check the location in more detail.

What Is Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

This rainforest ecolodge has sustainable tourism at its heart. Opened in 1993, the owners set out to create a sustainable lodge, which protected its endangered surroundings. The lodge has won countless awards, and has been flying the flag for ecotourism since it opened.

It was named one of National Geographic Unique Lodges In The World – a deserving accolade considering the spectacular design, location and its ecological conscience.

The property sprawls throughout a section of rainforest… so much so, it’s pretty much hidden! You’ll arrive at the hotel’s reception and restaurant/bar area. The restaurant has a spectacular spiral staircase in the centre, which I just couldn’t stop taking photos of! Beyond that are terraces, a Wifi area, and a swimming pool.

Aerial views of Lapa Rios ecolodge, Osa Peninsula

After the pool you meander down various paths to reach the bungalow accommodation. There are only 17 bungalows at Lapa Rios, so it’s an exclusive place to check in!

You really can’t get closer to nature. I saw toucans by my terrace, macaws by the restaurant and even found a frog on my door one evening! Don’t worry, it hopped off so I could go in…! You can sometimes spot sloths too. It’s worth noting that I didn’t feel unsafe, and I wasn’t being continually bitten by mosquitoes! 

Sloth at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica (Photo: Lapa Rios)

Frog on my door at Lapa Rios in the Osa Peninsula

What Are The Rooms Like At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

 The Lapa Rios deluxe oceanfront bungalows are beautiful. Structurally they’re made of wood, with thatched tops and netting all around to keep out the rainforest’s inhabitants.

Bungalow exterior at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

My room at Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

My room had a large double bed, complete with a mosquito net canopy, an open plan sink area, then a separate toilet and shower room. That was only half of my space though, as outside was a huge terrace with incredible views of the ocean and rainforest, plus a hammock, chairs and table and an outdoor shower.

Outdoor shower at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

It was wonderfully private, and apart from the occasional clip-clop of footsteps on a nearby path, I only heard the sounds of the rainforest and the elements.

Enjoying the views from my terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

What Is The Food like At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

In general I had excellent food at Lapa Rios lodge. The main dinner menu had everything from fish to salads to steaks. There’s also an extensive cocktail and wine list.

My favourite meal was the mid-afternoon snack we had after we checked in. I had the ceviche, which was tangy, light and flavoursome. Both nights we stayed there were special events taking place. One night ‘dock-to-dish’, which featured fresh catches from close by. 

Ceviche, fresh juice and more at Lapa Rios ecolodge

As we visited in November, the next evening there was a special Thanksgiving dinner. Many of the guests were American, so it was nice that they could still celebrate, despite being away for the holidays.

Presentation was good, and while I wouldn’t say the lodge is worthy of a Michelin star, there were several tasty dishes on offer, and the waiting staff were very friendly.

Restaurant terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

One afternoon we enjoyed a 30-minute cooking demonstration, where one of the chefs showed us how to make gallo pinto (Costa Rica’s most famous rice and beans breakfast). It was delicious, and I was excited to return to my room that evening and find a bottle of the country’s favourite sauce (Salsa Lizano) and the gallo pinto recipe waiting for me. Definitely something I’ll be recreating back in London soon.

Gallo pinto at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

I never experienced a proper breakfast at Lapa Rios as we headed off very early to explore Corcovado National Park, but the banana bread and brownies they baked us were excellent.

What Can You Do At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

There are plenty of tours which you can book onto when you stay at the hotel. Most people visit for the wildlife, and I’d definitely recommend a visit to Corcovado National Park. The hotel will organise a specialist wildlife guide to escort you, who will tell you all about the rainforest, the animals, trees and more.

Exploring the beaches in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Horseback riding on the beach near Lapa Rios ecolodge

From Lapa Rios you can walk to the beach in 15 minutes, then enjoy a day swimming and snorkelling.

There are also optional extras including horseback riding, dolphin watching and kayaking.

If you’re visiting to relax, Lapa Rios has plenty of wellness options including massages and treatments, yoga and more.

The pool at Lapa Rios Costa Rica

Why Should I Stay At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

To experience Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife…

To get away from it all…

To appreciate how lucky we are to live on this planet…

Lapa Rios is a special place. It’s unique. It’s real.

It’s not ‘luxurious’ as the prices may suggest, but it’s somewhere that will give you a real understanding of the rainforest, the wildlife and the Osa Peninsula as a whole.

There’s barely any phone signal, and Wifi is only available in a small area near reception, so it’s time to switch off from social media and immerse yourself in the nature of Costa Rica. Although no doubt you’ll be reaching for your phone to snap a few pics…

Taking photos of the views from my terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Ecolodge Rates

Staying somewhere as unique as this comes at a premium.

I found availability next week for £474, but I know in the highest season, rates are closer to £780 for 2 people, with all meals included.  There are offers, especially for low season, and if you’re a Booking.com Genius then you should get a decent discount (it was £50 off when I checked!) You can check latest prices and availability here.

 I hope you’ve enjoyed my Lapa Rios review. I visited in November 2018 as part of a trip with Visit Costa Rica, but all thoughts and opinions in my Lapa Rios review are unbiased and 100% my own! 

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[creepykingdom]

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Opens in Walt Disney World

By Grant Duvall

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in the Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in the city of Kissimmee in the state of Florida in the United States of America on the planet Earth.  This land is a sister land to the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in the Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu at Disneyland Resort in the city of Anaheim in the state of California in the United states of America on the planet Earth.  However, I have yet to check out the California one, so this was a whole new experience for me.

This was a joy to watch the building of, as it is right on the road that everyone takes into Disney World.  Every month or so I would visit and see new construction happening over the last couple of years.  Did it pay off?  In spades.  As many people know, the Disneyland version was not necessarily seen as a tremendous success.  While people loved the land, it did not bring guests in as park executives hoped it would.  When we arrived there, I was surprised as to how empty the land actually was being that it was only open for one week prior to our arrival.  

The first thing my wife and I did, like any good theme park fans, was walk the land and get immersed.  This land rivals Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida for level of detail.  There is so much to look at, so many displays and decorations, and cast members all do a great job of being citizens of Batuu.  One thing that was missing were the walk around droids that were promised at D23 a couple of years back, but I have no doubt that they will arrive at some point.  The rockwork that Disney does for any project is always phenomenal, and Galaxy's Edge is no exception.  From top to bottom, I could not believe I was walking around Star Wars.  There are even life-sized ships to take photos with.  In front of the Millenium Falcon, Chewbacca will occasionally come out and start working on repairs.  We also saw Chewbacca later that evening wandering freely.  There are several spots for different scenes to take place, as we would see Stormtroopers occasionally patrolling various areas.  I can imagine that if one was to wait in an area long enough a random event would happen, which truly makes the land feel living.  This is very necessary as the one big fault is that the land is very stationary.  Most Disney lands have either water features or big moving parts to make the land feel alive, and Galaxy's Edge does not have that.  A few moving parts would really improve the land, but that's my only complaint.  The land also feels incredibly huge. My wife and I took about 5 minutes to walk from one side to another, and in theme park time that's pretty big especially as I have a large gait.  

We then decided to try the blue and green milk.  We were fortunate enough to get offered a free one by people who were leaving on a flight that night and had to get rid of their dining points, so I'd like to give a shout out to the people who kindly gave us a free green milk.  Both milks are available with alcohol, so I will try that next time.  This time, I wanted to be a purist.  I bought the blue milk so I could try both, and the blue milk reminded me of cereal milk, while the green milk was floral.  Both were ok, but other than trying it with alcohol, I really have no desire to try it again.  There is also a snack stand called Ronto roasters, which we did not try as we were going to try the full restaurant later.  That led us to our main priority, Millenium Falcon: Smuggler's Run.

I had heard mixed things about this ride but wanted to keep an open mind.  I'll say that the queue was very nicely themed as you pass by engines being tested and eventually see a very detailed animatronic named Hondo who explains that we are going to be making deliveries for him.  You get divided by groups of 6, and being that my wife and I were by ourselves, we got placed with a party of 4.  We were then randomly assigned one of three roles, which are pilot (responsible for flying), gunner (responsible for shooting), and engineer (responsible for repairs).  Here is where the fatal flaw of the ride lies.  My wife and I got engineers, which means we were placed in the back.  This makes it hard to see what's going on as the whole time we were worried about pressing buttons on the side of the Falcon, thus making sure that we couldn't pay attention to what was going on in the ride.  On top of that, the family in front of us only spoke French and did not realize that this was an interactive ride and decided to bust out their phones and record their kids flying the Falcon thus not gunning for us.  This caused the ride to royally suck as  the kids were steering randomly and just moving the joysticks back and forth.  The score we got was good and the Falcon ended the journey early.  I got off the ride angry, for my ride experience that I waited 40 minutes for should not be dependent on other people, especially people who have no idea what's going on.  Angrily, we decided to get food at Docking Bay 7.

The food here is amazing and almost wiped the terrible experience of Smuggler's Run out of my mind.  The food is very close to Pandora's Satuli Canteen, meaning the food is rustic and very earthy.  The menu is extensive.  My wife had the pot roast dish and I had the crispy chicken with vegetables.  The portions were both nice and the food was delicious.  We loved both and the dessert, which was a chocolate cake with mousse on top.  Both were served with metal sporks that I wanted to take home with me.  If they sold them they would be a hot seller.

Getting to the shops, which there are many of, the variety of items for sale is unparalleled.  There is a store that allows you to make droids and another for lightsabers.  I didn't have the cash laying around for those, so those experiences will have to wait another day.  There are animatronics in some of the shops which is really cool, including some awesome alien creatures.  My biggest problem is that too much of the merchandise says Star Wars in bold letters on it.  If we are in their universe, why the heck would they know what Star Wars was, or be randomly making toys of Yoda or Chewbacca?  I feel like those objects would be better off being sold outside of the land.   At this point, we had an hour and a half to kill before our Satuli Canteen reservation, so I decided to give the Millenium Falcon another try.

This time, my wife and I were assigned pilots.  We were with 4 people who understood what was going on, but granted one of them was trying to stand in my pilot's seat when I asked them politely to go back to their randomly assigned spot.  Piloting the falcon is an amazing experience, and the ride felt a lot longer as we were able to grab a second canister for Hondo.  If you are a pilot, the right spot controls up and down as well as warp drive and the left spot controls side to side.  The ride was incredible this time.  To me, this ride truly is dependent on your spot and who you are with.  This is either one of the best experience at Disney World or the worst experience based on variables outside of their control.  This makes me very nervous to wait 45 minutes for it as we could wind up in a crappy position with people who don't care about flying it properly.

Satuli Canteen is a great experience.  Drinks are pricey but it's a small price to pay to see DJ R3X, who was the Paul Reubens voiced pilot in the original Star Tours.  I loved every moment of it and it does feel like you are in the cantina from Star Wars.  I tried the rocket fuel drink, which is a hardcore shot with bourbon and spicy pepper liquor.  I also tried the Porg non alcoholic beverage to get the mug for $35 bucks, and the Yub Nub alcoholic beverage for $45 to get the Endor mug.  These are fortunately one and done drinks but the drink menu is very extensive and I look forward to hopefully drinking the menu now that I got the expensive cocktails out of the way.  The cantina is loud and bright but worth every penny.  It was then time to leave the park and head home.

Overall, Galaxy's Edge is an amazing experience and I feel like the main attraction, the rumored to be 20 minute long Rise of the Resistance ride will truly put this over the top.  This is great for Hollywood studios which has been a joke of a park for a while and truly elevated the whole experience.  Other than the huge issue with Millenium Falcon, I have zero problems with the land and cannot wait to return.

Creepy Score- 4 out of 10.  The random aliens could very well be seen as frightening to young people as are the different alien creature heads on the walls of various shops.  Hopefully this score gets higher as Rise of the Resistance opens.  Fingers crossed for creepy scenes!

[mystery-moose]

FIC: Angus McDonald and the Flight of the Flying V (4/?)

[AO3 link]

They’ve come a long way, but even ten years after the world was saved, they’re still not quite where they should be. A whim, a missing painting, and a handful of near-death experiences help a flip wizard and his apprentice bridge the gap.

Taako does his best. Angus takes some risks. Introductions are made, bonds are tested, and lessons are learned — better late than never.

Angus changed quickly. He'd never exactly had a large wardrobe, though years of birthday and Candlenights presents from the Bureau (and Taako in particular) had given him a particularly eclectic selection. He chose the usual, and briefly thought about wearing one of his gifts before deciding against it; in all likelihood, Taako would have either forgotten he gave it in the first place, or would pretend to as a goof.

Taako was actually ready to leave before Angus, which surprised him. His new outfit was a little more sedate than the one he'd arrived in town wearing, aside from the constants of his hat, umbrella, and jewelry, while his makeup (beyond the glamour he always cast on himself) was as perfect as it always was.

"Thought you were in a hurry, Agnes," he said smugly, checking his nails.

"Not as much as you, I guess," Angus countered, grabbing his blue cap from the shelf by the door. "You must be excited."

Taako shrugged and said, "It's something to do," and Angus immediately knew he was right. He grinned as he left the apartment, and Taako followed after him.

It was a beautiful day in Neverwinter, and it made for good walking weather. Angus chartered cabs when he had to, but he always preferred to travel on foot. It let him get to know the winding streets and alleyways of the city, and kept him fit, the latter being almost as important as the former. Something Carey had drilled into him back in the Bureau days — it was one thing to know what you had to do, and it was another thing entirely to be able to do it.

Taako, of course, disagreed.

"Are we there yet?" he whined, bracing his umbrella across his shoulders.

"Almost, sir!" Angus said cheerily, pausing to look before crossing the street. Simple legwork like this always put him in a good mood.

As they crossed, Taako made a very impolite gesture to one of the wagon-drivers hurrying them along. Angus led the way down a set of old stone steps into an alley between two larger buildings. There stood an old oaken door, with a viewport and an iron cage over it. Angus knocked once, twice more, then once again. The port slid open and a pair of large, intense eyes stared out, first at Angus, then over his shoulder at Taako.

"What's the good word?" a deep voice asked.

"Never a good word," Angus replied, "only a polite one."

After a moment to glance at Taako again, the port slid closed. A series of snaps and clanks sounded as the door was unlocked. When it opened, Angus ducked inside with Taako close on his heels.

The basement shop had changed a great deal from the last time Angus had visited — he recognized a few of the paintings leaning against the far wall, and there was a bronze sculpture of an aarakocra he'd seen before, but the rest was all new. Art of all kinds littered every available surface, from floor to ceiling across the room. There were scroll cases tucked neatly alongside bottles in a wine rack to his right; urns so old the designs upon them were faded almost to invisibility; a suit of armor with an elaborate chest-piece in the shape of a blossoming rose, holding a spear with a bright blue ribbon trailing from its haft; and a large animal horn tucked into a leather bag that itself looked hand-crafted in a old tribal style.

"Boss is in the back," the goliath said as she closed the door. "You're here to talk to 'em, yeah?"

"Yeah," Angus said, tipping the brim of his cap. "Thanks, Sheila."

Sheila nodded, then glared at Taako, who smiled in what he probably thought was a disarming way.

"Don't worry," Angus said. "You can trust him. Can't she, Taako?"

"Oh, absolutely," Taako agreed, nodding emphatically. "I'm as trustworthy as they come!"

Sheila crossed her arms and didn't take her eyes off him. Angus patted Taako's shoulder.

"I'll be out in a minute," he said. Then whispered, "Don't touch anything."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Taako murmured, smiling and nodding at Sheila.

Angus headed for the only other door in the back of the room, past the long ornately carved dining table where place settings of a dozen different styles were stacked a dozen high. He knocked politely before stepping inside.

This room rarely changed much; pieces came and went, certainly, but there were more fixtures here that Angus imagined were kept as much because of their beauty or sentiment as their price. A massive redwood desk with a relief of an ancient battle scene carved into the front dominated most of the room, with a couple chairs in strange and unique styles sitting by the door. There was a grandfather clock in one corner, mostly hidden behind a bookshelf stacked with tomes so old their titles were long faded. An alchemical lamp with a beautiful stained glass shade sat on the desk, illuminating a collection of papers with indecipherable handwriting.

"Be with you in a sec," the tiefling said, standing behind their desk and writing something on a slip of parchment.

Angus closed the door and waited patiently, hands in his pockets. Rocco was worth waiting for; always polite, always helpful, occasionally difficult but never obstinate. It was a shame they were sort of a criminal, but then, so were a lot of Angus' oldest friends. He tried not to judge.

Rocco finished whatever they were doing, swiping their pen triumphantly as they did so. They straightened and smiled as they removed their reading glasses. "Ah, Mr. McDonald! What can we do for you today?"

"Nothing major," Angus said with a shrug. "Just wanted to know if any new paintings came through recently."

"There are always paintings coming through here, detective," Rocco said. "You know that."

"This would be a big one. You'd recognize it."

"Big as in...?"

"Flight of the Flying V."

Rocco blinked — they seemed genuinely surprised, but Angus kept his eye out for any tells. "Flight has been stolen?"

"Less than two days ago," he said. "It hasn't made the papers yet. The Museum contacted me to look into it quietly before the story breaks."

The tiefling's hand rose up to stroke across their horns and run back over their hair. Rocco stepped around the desk, glancing thoughtfully around the room and looking a little disappointed, if Angus had to guess.

"Detective," they said, turning their attention back to Angus. "I'm... speaking honestly, a bit flattered that you thought my business would be able to fence something like the Flying V, but... even if someone had come in with it, brokering a deal for a painting by one of Faerun's oldest masters is beyond me."

Angus' eyebrows rose — Rocco was polite, but they were never exactly humble. "Is that so?"

Rocco nodded, and they wrung their hands a little as they spoke. "To say nothing of the attention it would bring, Flying V is a masterwork. It's the symbol of an entire artistic period stretching back thousands of years. I'd be afraid to breathe on it, let alone touch it."

"The Curator said it was priceless," Angus said. "But if you had to fence it?"

Rocco almost looked like they'd been asked to put a price on their mother. Then they paused and looked down thoughtfully. Rocco was a collector, Angus knew that, but they were also a consummate professional. There were times those two things had clashed in the past, but never quite like this.

After almost thirty seconds of serious consideration, Rocco looked up and gave their price. Angus balked.

"Are you serious?" he asked, already knowing the answer from the look on Rocco's face.

"It's the place I'd start bargaining," Rocco said firmly. "And I'd take a fifth right off the top for the amount of trouble it would bring."

Now Angus was the one running his hand through his hair. He tried not to set expectations early on in a case, but apparently that ship had sailed, because that was very much larger than he thought.

"You see what I meant, now, yes?" Rocco said. "I'm proud of my business, Mr. McDonald, but I know my limitations."

"Yes, I can see that." Angus shook his head. "Well. This is going to sound unnecessary, after that, but if someone does come in wanting to fence Flying V, can you let me know?"

"I won't be making that deal, so all I'd be able to give you is a description."

"That's fine," Angus said, reaching into his pocket. "Whatever you can do will help."

He pulled out his notebook and a small satchet of bonds — paper money was less visible than gold, and Rocco had an account under an alias at Neverwinter Trust. Angus tore half a page out of his notebook and handed it and the bonds over to Rocco, who pocketed them in a smooth and practiced motion.

"Thanks, Rocco," he said, holding his hand out. Rocco shook it. "Stay out of trouble."

"Quite," they said dryly. "Sorry we couldn't be of more help."

Angus stepped out of the office, preoccupied with his own thoughts, and was startled to attention by an unexpected sound.

"—and I was like, 'careful, don't burn a spell on it!' "

Sheila slapped her knee, roaring with laughter. Taako doubled over cackling and leaned on Sheila's shoulder.

"What a stiff!" Sheila said, wiping her eyes.

"I know, right?" Taako said. "You should have seen the look on his face!"

Angus stifled a grin and cleared his throat. Taako looked over, brows raised.

"We're done!" Angus said cheerily. "Thanks for waiting."

"Oh, no bigs," Taako said. "We really got to bonding, right, Sheila?"

"Yeah. I'll 'member about that nail polish," she said, wiggling her fingers. "Thanks."

"You'll look marvelous, ketzile," Taako replied with a brush of his hand over hers. "Adios!"

They stepped outside and Sheila shut the door behind them. Angus turned and regarded Taako.

"What?" he asked, fiddling with a bracelet. "She's a fun lady. Just gotta get past that rough 'n tumble exterior, y'know? Can't judge a book by its cover, Ango. You should know better."

Angus stared at Taako for a moment, then shook his head and started up the stairs to the street. "It's not her I'm surprised by, sir."

Taako feigned shock. "I'm a social butterfly! People like me!"

Angus turned once he got to the top. "Not normally, no."

"Oh, go to hell, twerp," Taako retorted casually, flipping his hair over his shoulder. "You get whatever it was you needed?"

"Yes and no," Angus said, glancing down the street. "They'll contact me if they hear anything, but I doubt they will."

"You attune your stone with just anybody?"

He grinned. "Even better."

Angus pulled out his notebook and handed it to Taako, who flipped it open and shook his head at Angus' handwriting. "I don't get it."

"Remember that old interceptor book I had?"

"Assume that I do."

"This is the opposite. Sends and receives." Angus allowed himself a moment to geek out while Taako paged through the book. "Anything I write in there gets archived in a journal back at my house, as a backup. And if I tear out part of a page, anything written on that piece appears in both. More surreptitious than a stone of Farspeech, and less chance of being overheard."

"Huh." He furrowed his brow. "You enchant this yourself?"

Angus puffed his chest out a bit. "Yep!"

Taako looked momentarily impressed. It shifted into amusement as he handed the book back. "Cute. Real Caleb Cleveland stuff."

His grin turned sheepish. "I came up with it on my own,"

"Are you sure? Because I seem to recall a similar device from Caleb Cleveland and the Treacherous Trail—"

"A wholly original creation!" Angus loudly declared.

Taako snorted and put his sunglasses on. "Well, where we going now, Poirot?"

"That depends." Angus started down the street with his hands in his pockets. "How do you feel about a trip down memory lane?"

Taako's whole head rolled along with his eyes. "Must you speak in riddles, sahib?"

[gartdavis-blog]

Visit to Aguadilla

Friends,

I recently traveled back to the house I grew up in on M street in Ramey. I have followed the state of the island since Maria hit almost 8 weeks ago, and had lots of questions going down, so I thought I’d share my notes…

Travel by air:  I was not able to book in or out of BQN airport… Jetblue flights that run overnight from the states were all cancelled.  So I booked AA through San Juan.  Prices were reasonable on AA, but Jetblue is still the best if you can get a flight.  Easy to find flights down to the island… harder to find them back.  SJU airport was full, but operating normally.  AC was on, and I had no trouble transiting and picking up my rental car.  BQN currently only has had a regular service from Spirit Airlines from FLL.  In theory, service from Jetblue and United will return to BQN before the holidays, but we’ll only know for sure once its happened.  One new feature of BQN - the old ready area where the bombers used to park has been taken over by the US military, and is now a small city of lights with lots of army trucks exiting and entering near the golf course.  Now that the Army’s mission is complete, this may return to its normal empty state.

Connectivity: much better than expected.  I have a Verizon contract and was connected to Claro the moment I powered up at SJU and it remained so all over the North side of the island.  Near Ramey, the connection is actually LTE, which means its been good enough to use my phone as a hotspot for email, research, e-commerce.  I believe that this is partially a result of more than 40 high efficiency solar powered cell stations that were brought to the island by Vanu inc.  (Vanu Bose, the founder of Vanu and the driver of this humanitarian contribution, was the son of Amar Bose of the eponymous corporation. He passed away last week.)  People on AT&T were also on Claro.   I had coverage from San Juan to Mayaguez continuously on Route 2 without interruption.  I wouldn’t count on this to watch netflix, but it was strong and reliable for phone, text, and email.  All of Ramey had coverage.  At this point there is no value in pursuing satellite, but there are various expensive Satellite systems, like this one from Garmin, that keep you in basic communication when you're off the cell grid, but they don't actually replace Internet connection.  There's a great review in there that goes on for pages - its a complicated device.

Travel around the island - Driving from San Juan to Ramey was almost completely normal except for the visuals.  You notice right away that all the outdoor advertising and large signage is gone, and pretty much anything involving wood, corrugated roofing, or poles for any use.  Traditional construction of concrete with metal ventanas is pretty much untouched. The impact is notable in San Juan, but becomes much more dramatic from Arecibo on.  A kinda weird visual - you could tell the worst sections because the buildings looked sandblasted.  Many businesses along #2 were open with generators, or occasionally, a section that had power.  I took the same route to Ramey as I have done, without detours.  Some traffic lights are out, but none of the really important ones where big routes cross.  If you have to turn left at a busted light on rt. 2, just don’t…. turn right and figure it out later.  

Water… is flowing in Ramey and many places around the island, and did not drop out when I was there.  There’s still a boiling order, and when you take a shower you come out smelling like you exited a heavily chlorinated pool.  But regardless, having water is great.  I brought two different filtration systems, one that is gravity based (Lifestraw) and one that you pump.  I bought 4 coleman solar showers, which are basically 5 gallon black plastic bags with nozzles.  Down the road, I’ll try to purchase some water storage, a big cisterns for flushing, and something else for long term storage of potable water, but right now this was not as urgent.

Fuel:  I had no problems getting gas, there were no lines and most gas stations were open.

Groceries: The Econo is open, and even takes credit cards.  As always, its a social center, so budget 3 minutes for talking for every minute of shopping.  The coolers were full and prices are about as I remember them.  I bought a fresh salad that was good!

Restaurants: many are open, though some with a smaller menu or shorter hours.

Open out gate 5:

Levain (daily coffee here was sent from heaven)

Debut

Cofos Pizza

Martin’s BBQ

Cinco

Country Pizza

110 thai

Palmas

Open down the Hill:

eclipse (dinner only, no breakfast or lunch)

The frituras place at the S on the way down to Jobos

Ocean Front and lots of places near Jobos

Julios and lots of the other frituras places on the beach near Isabella

Open out Gate 1:

El Meson

Sasones

Desecheo

Lots of fast food out near #2

Closed:

Umas

Ramey Bakery

Airport cafe

Marriott (they have a small thing set up just for guests)

Beaches: After seeing pics of crashboat online I was concerned that all the beaches were just as hollowed out… not so:

Crash boat: every bit as dramatic as the pics.  Right side is now tiny and not terribly safe, lots of exposed rock under the surf near the jetty.  It seems that a lot of the missing beach was thrown onto the space that was the parking lot… which is now 3-4 feet deep with sand.  I hold out hope that this sand can be pushed back out to re-create some of the old the beach.  The left side you can still park and swim; its smaller but not that different from how it was.  

Malecon Aguadilla: The brand new oceanfront walk seems to have come through entirely unharmed and looks great.

Borinquen beach: Much as beautiful as it always has been.  Only new feature: a military unit desalinating water in the parking lot… impressive operation.

Survival / Martinica / Bajuras / Shacks: the Sand road down the cliff is still intact, though the left turn to go to Survival is completely blocked.  You can go straight across, although its still rainy season and with all the recent dumping its turned into a bit more of a cesspool of garbage and shit than I remember.  It appears that despite the violence of the storm, the waves did not break through the dunes and flood the old sand excavation area - a concern I’d long held.  Once across, you can walk the strand to either survival or Shacks without impediment.  I saw many hoof prints as well, so it looks like people are riding this stretch.   The lawns next to the Eclipse took a beating, but the restaurant was hardly touched… hopefully people will be able to breakfast and lunch their soon.

Jobos: is in mid-construction down near the beach access, so I didn’t see that much, but did not seem too undermined.  None of the oceanfront places fell in, and many were open and totally full on a Friday night.

Surfers: the road down has a couple trees propped across the roadway, but not so low you can’t pass.  The parking lot structure is a bit undermined, but it was before.  Waves are the same.

Spot/Middles/Isabela: I was down that way at Julios in lower Isabela on Sunday and the place was as full as I can remember, complete with the parade of Jeeps and music.  The beach roads are intact and the north shore seems largely as it was.

Money / ATMs, Banks, Credit Cards: this is not quite back to normal, cash is still the only currency in a lot of smaller businesses, but I didn’t have trouble getting cash out of ATMs, and used credit cards for large purchases at Home Depot and Econo.

Electricity - This is really the biggest story that remains.  The grid is a string and tinkertoy tangle that will be an enormous labor to sort out.  Just to restore 30 houses on our street is a project that will require clearing/cutting dozens of fallen trees to create backyard access, and then every pole, wire and transformer is down (and will have been for months), and most connections to the individual houses are impaired as well.  And the whole island is like that.  Right now, the focus is on the easiest and most critical places.  The most recent estimate that I think is credible is 70% of meters connected by the end of February.  This leaves the 30% that pay the smallest bills and are the hardest to reach, and I could see it being another year before its 95%.  While I was there, none of the housing areas in Ramey had power, but there were a few areas outside Gate 1 and Gate 5 that had been restored.  Lots of people run generators - our neighborhood sounds like lawn mowers going 24 hours a day.  The Solar folks, particularly Maximo Solar near us, are crazy busy.  He’s signed contracts for more than 1,000 off-grid systems… only about a million more to go!

Until power is restored - There is a lot that can be done to improve quality of life even if you do not have grid power.  Its hard to know how much to spend because you don’t know when you might be lucky enough to get your power back on.  My view - think of your spending as one part now, one part preparation for the next Irma/Maria.  But with the money thing in mind, I’ll go in order from cheapest to most expensive.  I brought two checked bags of 50 lbs each, so my experience was limited to what I could brink and what i could buy on the island.  

— My very favorite thing is the OPolar USB fan. This 9 inch fan  doesn’t replace a ceiling fan, but it runs all night, blows enough to keep me cool and keep the bugs at bay, and uses just a part of my laptop battery, and it was cheap.  We still had our mosquito nets, but the mosquitoes were actually not bad in Ramey, so I did not re-hang them.  This fan actually had a review from someone in PR who used it after Maria using her laptop battery.  I also found these little fans that are used to cool electronics and blow 50 CFMs each and are powered by USB ports out of the batteries.  I bought two sets of two... These worked and drew very little, but the Opolar was a much better solution for cooling down and sleeping.

— I bought 4 LED solar lights that you leave outside during the day and stay on all night... they have motion detectors and you can leave them in three modes: full on, night light, or motion detecting that goes from night light to full.  My next favorite thing.  charge up during the day, take them inside and light your evening hours no problem.  Then leave them in night-light mode so you don’t stub your toe on the way to the bathroom.

— a Two burner grill and a propane cylinder.  I bought these on the island for $89 and $49 at the Home Depot in Hatillo, and now I can boil water and cook stuff.

— portable fold up solar panels (36 watts) - this is perfect for charging cell phones and kindles, but not for laptop or fan.  I’d skip this, and instead, the next two are useful individually, but if you’re willing to drop the dough, they are perfect together:

—185 watt-hour battery that output USB and, with separate inverters, 110 volt AC which runs laptops, charges phones, anything up to 100 watts draw, including the USB fans (see above), but also the smaller of the standard 120 volt rotating fans.  

— 80 watt fold up panel to charge the battery.  These connect to each other via a 5.5 outside diameter * 2.5mm inside diameter DC cable that is female on both ends, but is fairly short, so I bought 3 12 foot male to female extenders. This combo worked great, but you really do need 8 hours of sun to recharge the battery if you’ve drawn it all the way down.  It weighs 4 lbs, folds to the size of a fat laptop, and if you have a reasonably sunny day, will power up the battery I listed above.  While I don’t recommend it, I did leave this unit out in some pretty heavy rain several times, and it continued working.

— One of the things that I hungered for as I tried to mete out my meager trickle of electricity was the ability to know how many watts a thing used… what would burn down my battery faster, this fan or that fan?  This watt meter would have been super useful, so I’ve bought three and they’ll go back down with me in December.

— A 1000 watt honda generator.  This is 26 lbs and can be brought in checked luggage as long as you never open the box.  It is the quietest, lightest, smallest generator on the planet, and runs longer on less fuel than anything out there.  Two trade-offs: you can only power 900 watts of stuff with it, and its pricier than many bigger, noisier, heavier generators.  This will let you run things like a (modern) fridge, almost any household item that doesn’t have a heating element including all your fans to keep you cool, and you can charge your batteries in the rain.  Generators could not be had at any store I visited on the island, nor could you buy a jerry can, and I looked.  If you bring a generator to the island, bring a jerry can or you’ll not get much use of it.

— Cool trick: turn off every single breaker in the house.  Turn everything off.  Cut off the female end of an extension cord, and splice on a male end.  Plug one end into your generator, and the other into a wall socket.  Now all the things that are on that circuit are powered by the generator.  In my case, that enabled things like ceiling fans and the lights attached to them.  Warning: do not back-power the grid, make sure that the circuit you plug into is -not- open.  If this sounds confusing, just think of it like water.  If your neighbor has well water and your city water is out, they can run a hose to your outdoor spigot and turn both ends on, and you’ve got water in your house… now you just need to make sure that your neighbors well isn’t running through your house back out into the city water system full of broken pipes or whatever.

— Refrigeration -- Our house fridge ran brilliantly on the Honda genset… it cooled right down, and stayed pretty cool when the generator wasn’t running.  Alternatively, there are some really fantastic new compressors  in a 40 quart fridge/freezer (about 1.33 cubic ft) that draw just 30 watts (about 10% of the power of a normal fridge) and can run for a week on the charge in a 12 volt car battery.  I'm not going to jump on this, but it may be the best way forward for folks that are trying to run a minimalist electrical footprint on portable solar panels.

— Cleanup & Tools -- Chainsaws could not be had at any store on the island.  Dewalt has a new 'flexvolt' battery system with 60 volt tools.  For example this chainsaw or this fan.  If you buy 4 batteries, you can power an inverter power station that with the power stored in all 4 batteries is a little like the jobsite version of the Tesla Powerwall, which can power a house fridge or other normal things that need house current.  I didn’t purchase / test this.

Laundry -- This becomes a top issue once you’re in week 4 and you have water and generators.  The motors in older washers draw 1,000 to 2,000 watts, so you need a bigger generator than the one I brought.  Modern energy star washers draw more like 500 watts.  Dryers - Just no… I’ll put up a clothes line for the back porch.

Bigger Batteries, Inverters, bigger portable solar — We have had folks from RAM staying in the house, and they were kind enough to put another portable solar solution on the house.  It was a pair of Centech 750 watt inverters, a Solar charge controller model cm-30a, two Uni-Solar PVL-136 roll-out solar panels, and a 935 CCA 12 volt lead acid truck battery that I bought at the local auto parts place.  This system worked, but was not able to run stuff that drew more than 100-200 watts.  I think part of this was just my ignorance of how to optimize the utilization of this rig.

Bigger Generators - Generators are everywhere, so the whole island is like Saturday morning with lawn mowers running.  The inexpensive gas generators work great but they are -very- noisy.  After waking up to the sound of a generator for the Xth time, quiet is important and merciful.  With that in mind, the Honda 2,000 watt generators can be put in tandem, they have an ‘eco’ mode that throttles up and down as energy is drawn, they are efficient, and as quiet as its possible to make a generator that makes this much power.  4 kilowatts peak service will allow most houses to do most things, with thoughtfulness about what gets turned on.  A dual rig with parallel cables, security attachments and extended run fuel system can be had for under $2,500.

Permanent Solar - This is the long term solution.  I’ve gone ahead and committed to 21 240 volt panels and a Tesla powerwall, to be installed by Maximo Solar.  This, combined with a moderation of electrical consumption, will permanently address electrical power.  Two neighbors had rooftop solar arrays that survived the winds of the storm completely intact.  Another neighbor out on the cliff was a bit more exposed, and their array tangled with a solar water heater tank, and was a total loss.

A couple concluding topics:

Law & Order: My experience was really very much like life on the island at any other time.  Across more than 4 decades there’s been lots of petty larceny, and perhaps I’ve just been lucky,  but I’ve experienced just one face to face larceny (in high school on the track bus) and zero violent crimes.  While there are stories (as ever) and people should take proper precautions, I found the island as peaceful (and chaotic) as ever it has been.  The mood and tone were warm, and I felt at every moment surrounded by commiseration and a willingness to help.  I felt totally secure at gas stations, banks, supermarkets and airports.

The big work: I saw electrical crews out at all hours of day and night, in all weathers.  Debris removal crews had started to come through our neighborhood.  Its an extraordinary undertaking, with no drive-in assistance, but I think the agree with others that amidst the huge challenges and overwhelming scale of work, the key words are resilience, optimism, and heartwarming positive vibes.

How to help?  

The first way to help is simply to think about this as you read the news, and as you advocate and you vote.  The future of the island is absolutely in the hands of our federal government, everything from the amount of assistance supplied to the diaspora of Boricuas that are arriving in the 10s of thousands, to the way that PREPA will pay the billions required to rebuild 50 years of electrical power infrastructure.  This stands on top of the basic questions that predate Maria: a decade of economic and population shrinkage, and a death spiral of debt burden.

There are many charities doing extraordinary work on the island.  Global Disaster Immediate Recovery Team worked with the Vanu team to restore cell communications on the island.  There is still a lot of work especially up in the mountains, so you can volunteer through the coordination site Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters.  If you’re on the island and unemployed, FEMA is hiring.

At a more personal level, I’ve followed through on gofundme campaigns of friends and colleagues, and tried to work the connections I know and contribute what I can to the upward spiral.  I’ve diverted resources from stateside projects to cleaning and rebuilding on the island, and tried to support others as they’ve done so as well.

[touristguidebuzz]

8 Essential Things to Know Before Your First Trip to Senegal

Traveling to underdeveloped countries can be a daunting endeavor, but the positive things — like fresh, cultural insights, friendly locals and affordable prices — often outweigh any possible complications. The Senegalese people are excited to share their beautiful culture with tourists and treat visitors with the utmost respect, so once you get all the essentials down, I have no doubt you’ll have a wonderful vacation like I did. Here’s what you need to know before your first trip to this incredible country.

1. There’s No Need to Cover Up

Senegal is a majority-Muslim country, but you don’t need to worry about covering your knees, head or shoulders in most areas. In larger villages and cities, most local women don’t wear a hijab, and you won’t be showing disrespect by not covering up like you might in parts of India, Malaysia or the Middle East. In fact, many local women prefer traditional Senegalese dresses — exposing their neck and arms — or modern clothing like shorts and skirts. When ladies do cover their heads, it’s typically not for religious purposes, but to shield them from the intense African sun. Bottom line: dressing as you normally would in a hot, humid climate, like wearing shorts and a tank top, won’t elicit stares or make you feel uncomfortable here.

These women are all wearing more traditional dress, but just as many women here wore modern clothing as well. Image by the author.

2. Don’t Worry, Senegal is Safe

Senegal is known for being a safe country, and while visitors — especially female solo travelers — should take the typical precautions you would when traveling alone, visiting solo here shouldn’t present any big problems. The locals are friendly, and robberies and violent crime against tourists are pretty uncommon.

After chatting with this gentleman, I headed over to his restaurant, where he prepared a meal of fresh fish for me. Image by the author.

3. Brush Up on Your French 

Few locals speak English in Senegal. Instead, you’ll hear a mix of Wolof and French. During my travels, I only occasionally encountered guides or drivers who spoke even a little bit of English — it’s slightly more common to find people who might speak some Italian, Spanish or even German, thanks to a recent rise in European tourism. People will usually try their best, especially if you start with a friendly “Bonjour,” but knowing a few key words in French can be useful, too.

Being able to say a few words in French was really helpful when I inquired about the Senegalese custom of pouring coffee back and forth between two cups before drinking it, pictured here. Image by the author.

4. Hire a Guide for Tours and Excursions

While I’ll typically run from guided tours in most countries, it can be helpful to hire a guide if you plan to tour Dakar or take excursions, especially if your French is on the weak side. For a reliable, English-speaking guide, I’d recommend contacting Moussa (+221 779180534, moisethiaw@yahoo.fr), or for a reliable Spanish-speaking guide, Luna (+221 774379252, albadara.samb@gmail.com). If you’d prefer to go the agency route for excursions, check out Nouvelles Frontières, a reputable company that has locations at the Dakar Airport (DKR), city center and in Saly.

As infrastructure and roads aren’t great and traffic is maddening (since there are few rules), it’s best to hire a driver rather than renting a car or hopping on an over-packed bus. Prices for both guides and drivers are extremely low, and you can always try to strike a bargain. Many times locals — who are kind, but persistent —will try to sell you things or convince you to enter their stores or restaurants, so traveling with a guide will ensure you won’t be hassled too much. Some drivers and guides will accept euros as well, so if you have any laying around, bring them along.

Having a guide to explain the history of Île de Gorée in English was really helpful. Image by the author.

5. Be Prepared for Anything and Everything

Though a yellow fever vaccine isn’t required to enter Senegal, it’s recommended, as are malaria pills and a typhoid vaccine. Using a good mosquito repellent, carrying tissues (as toilet paper can be scarce in public spots) and wearing sunblock are all essential. It can also be extremely dusty during the dry season, so having allergy pills on hand can also be helpful. Don’t be alarmed to see horse carts, roaming goats and cows as well as buses packed with locals all sharing the same dirt roads with cars and pedestrians — this is normal.

A typical bus in Dakar. Don’t be alarmed to see more people than you could ever imagine fitting inside pouring out of one. Image by the author.

6. Get Ready for an Adventurous Airport Experience

Many international flights from the US and Europe flying into Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport (DKR) arrive in the middle of the night between 2:00am and 4:00am. Exhausted and jet lagged, you’ll find it’s not a bad idea to have a driver waiting for you to avoid being accosted by locals offering taxi services and having to haggle over prices in French. Most hotels either have a pick-up included or can arrange one for you at an additional cost. Either of the guides mentioned above as well as the Nouvelles Frontières agency can also organize a pick-up for you.

There’s also a stand at the airport for Orange, a cell-phone service provider where you can buy local SIM cards to use with an unlocked phone. The stand is open all night and you’ll typically pay between $10 to $30 for a card offering 2 GB to 10 GB of internet, as well as local calls and texts. Just know that 4G isn’t usually available in Senegal, and sometimes you won’t even have access to a 3G network depending on your location. You’ll also get a decent exchange rate here, so changing money at the change bureau near baggage claim is definitely worth it.

You should also expect long lines at immigration, lots of mosquitoes, no air conditioning and crummy restroom facilities. The airport, like the rest of Senegal, is a work in progress and even the lounge isn’t like what you’d expect to see at your average international airport. On the bright side, LaGuardia Airport (LGA) will seem so much nicer after you visit DKR.

DKR airport looks decent on the outside, but inside the floors are dirty and ceiling tiles are missing. Image by the author.

7. Chow Down and Enjoy Great Tunes

Senegal is known for its happening music scene and delicious cuisine. Traditional eats like thiebou dieune (savory rice with fresh fish) are often accompanied by live African drumbeats or reggae jams at practically every dining establishment. Beachfront dining is relaxing and cheap, so visit Le N’Gor in Dakar for marinated shrimp and a crisp glass of wine. You can have a full meal of barbecued fresh-fish skewers, salad and Gazelle beer for under $10 at Chez Poulo in Saly alongside live guitar and typical Wolof tunes. If you’re craving live music, the outdoor stage at Just 4 U is practically an institution in Dakar, featuring many different styles of music.

A plate of thiebou dieune. Image by the author.

8. Enjoy All the Beauty That Senegal Has to Offer

Once you get the logistics part settled, Senegal is a gorgeous place. You can soak up the sun on the beautiful beaches of Saly or watch the boats dock in the fishing town of M’Bour. Birdwatchers will love the lagoon beach set among mangroves in Somone. Once you get tired of watching countless pelicans swoop in and out of the water, chill out at the Paradise Rasta Bar on the beach. While bargaining at Dakar’s many markets — like Marche Sandaga — isn’t for the faint of heart, you can find great deals on traditional African housewares, fabric and even fruits and snacks there. Families should take a morning safari to see giraffes, zebras, rhinos and crocodiles roam the savannah at the Bandia Nature Reserve. A visit to Île de Gorée — an island that’s home to the Maison des Esclaves, a memorial to the trans-Atlantic slave trade — is a somber but important experience and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Just outside Dakar, Lac Rose (also called Lake Retba) is a salt lake separated from the ocean by giant sand dunes where you can float in the super-salty water, rent a quad and drive around or chat with the locals about how they excavate the salt. The lake actually looks pink thanks to an excess of the Dunaliella salina bacteria, which thrives on high salinity. The bacteria produces a pink color in order to absorb the sunlight, hence its name, Pink Lake.

A giraffe spotted at the Bandia Reserve. Image by the author.

Have you been to Senegal? Tell us about your experience, below.

Featured image of fishing boats at dusk along Saly Beach courtesy of the author.

[topfygad]

REVIEW: Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Set within a 1000-acre private nature reserve, Lapa Rios, Costa Rica is one of the most spectacular lodges you’ll ever visit.

I’ve stayed in some incredible places on my travels, but Lapa Rios is one of the most memorable yet. Sleeping in impressive wooden bungalows with enormous terraces, and just nets for windows means you feel closer to nature than ever.

Sunrise from Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

Frogs hop along the pathways, toucans and macaws flap from tree to tree, and the howls of the local howler monkeys sound loud throughout the day. You don’t have to search for wildlife, it’s right there on your terrace, by the swimming pool, outside (and sometimes inside!) the restaurant and in the surrounding skies. And you know what? It’s absolutely magical.

Where Is Lapa Rios, Costa Rica? 

Located in Matapalo in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios Lodge sits within a 1000-acre private nature reserve. It’s around 12 miles from the town of Puerto Jimenez where there’s also a small airport. If you’re arriving to San Jose, then I’d recommend catching the 50-minute flight with Sansa Airline as it’ll save you a lot of time, leaving you more precious minutes in the beautiful rainforest!

At the airport, the team from Lapa Rios will be waiting with welcome drinks and their private vehicles, ready to transport you to the lodge.

Welcome drinks at Puerto Jimenez airport before transferring to Lapa Rios Costa Rica

From Lapa Rios ecolodge, it’ll take you around an hour to drive to the starting point for travelling into Corcovado National Park – a place that is an absolute paradise for wildlife lovers.

Take a look at this Lapa Rios map to check the location in more detail.

What Is Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

This rainforest ecolodge has sustainable tourism at its heart. Opened in 1993, the owners set out to create a sustainable lodge, which protected its endangered surroundings. The lodge has won countless awards, and has been flying the flag for ecotourism since it opened.

It was named one of National Geographic Unique Lodges In The World – a deserving accolade considering the spectacular design, location and its ecological conscience.

The property sprawls throughout a section of rainforest… so much so, it’s pretty much hidden! You’ll arrive at the hotel’s reception and restaurant/bar area. The restaurant has a spectacular spiral staircase in the centre, which I just couldn’t stop taking photos of! Beyond that are terraces, a Wifi area, and a swimming pool.

Aerial views of Lapa Rios ecolodge, Osa Peninsula

After the pool you meander down various paths to reach the bungalow accommodation. There are only 17 bungalows at Lapa Rios, so it’s an exclusive place to check in!

You really can’t get closer to nature. I saw toucans by my terrace, macaws by the restaurant and even found a frog on my door one evening! Don’t worry, it hopped off so I could go in…! You can sometimes spot sloths too. It’s worth noting that I didn’t feel unsafe, and I wasn’t being continually bitten by mosquitoes! 

Sloth at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica (Photo: Lapa Rios)

Frog on my door at Lapa Rios in the Osa Peninsula

What Are The Rooms Like At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

 The Lapa Rios deluxe oceanfront bungalows are beautiful. Structurally they’re made of wood, with thatched tops and netting all around to keep out the rainforest’s inhabitants.

Bungalow exterior at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

My room at Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

My room had a large double bed, complete with a mosquito net canopy, an open plan sink area, then a separate toilet and shower room. That was only half of my space though, as outside was a huge terrace with incredible views of the ocean and rainforest, plus a hammock, chairs and table and an outdoor shower.

Outdoor shower at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

It was wonderfully private, and apart from the occasional clip-clop of footsteps on a nearby path, I only heard the sounds of the rainforest and the elements.

Enjoying the views from my terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

What Is The Food like At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

In general I had excellent food at Lapa Rios lodge. The main dinner menu had everything from fish to salads to steaks. There’s also an extensive cocktail and wine list.

My favourite meal was the mid-afternoon snack we had after we checked in. I had the ceviche, which was tangy, light and flavoursome. Both nights we stayed there were special events taking place. One night ‘dock-to-dish’, which featured fresh catches from close by. 

Ceviche, fresh juice and more at Lapa Rios ecolodge

As we visited in November, the next evening there was a special Thanksgiving dinner. Many of the guests were American, so it was nice that they could still celebrate, despite being away for the holidays.

Presentation was good, and while I wouldn’t say the lodge is worthy of a Michelin star, there were several tasty dishes on offer, and the waiting staff were very friendly.

Restaurant terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

One afternoon we enjoyed a 30-minute cooking demonstration, where one of the chefs showed us how to make gallo pinto (Costa Rica’s most famous rice and beans breakfast). It was delicious, and I was excited to return to my room that evening and find a bottle of the country’s favourite sauce (Salsa Lizano) and the gallo pinto recipe waiting for me. Definitely something I’ll be recreating back in London soon.

Gallo pinto at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

I never experienced a proper breakfast at Lapa Rios as we headed off very early to explore Corcovado National Park, but the banana bread and brownies they baked us were excellent.

What Can You Do At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

There are plenty of tours which you can book onto when you stay at the hotel. Most people visit for the wildlife, and I’d definitely recommend a visit to Corcovado National Park. The hotel will organise a specialist wildlife guide to escort you, who will tell you all about the rainforest, the animals, trees and more.

Exploring the beaches in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Horseback riding on the beach near Lapa Rios ecolodge

From Lapa Rios you can walk to the beach in 15 minutes, then enjoy a day swimming and snorkelling.

There are also optional extras including horseback riding, dolphin watching and kayaking.

If you’re visiting to relax, Lapa Rios has plenty of wellness options including massages and treatments, yoga and more.

The pool at Lapa Rios Costa Rica

Why Should I Stay At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

To experience Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife…

To get away from it all…

To appreciate how lucky we are to live on this planet…

Lapa Rios is a special place. It’s unique. It’s real.

It’s not ‘luxurious’ as the prices may suggest, but it’s somewhere that will give you a real understanding of the rainforest, the wildlife and the Osa Peninsula as a whole.

There’s barely any phone signal, and Wifi is only available in a small area near reception, so it’s time to switch off from social media and immerse yourself in the nature of Costa Rica. Although no doubt you’ll be reaching for your phone to snap a few pics…

Taking photos of the views from my terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Ecolodge Rates

Staying somewhere as unique as this comes at a premium.

I found availability next week for £474, but I know in the highest season, rates are closer to £780 for 2 people, with all meals included.  There are offers, especially for low season, and if you’re a Booking.com Genius then you should get a decent discount (it was £50 off when I checked!) You can check latest prices and availability here.

 I hope you’ve enjoyed my Lapa Rios review. I visited in November 2018 as part of a trip with Visit Costa Rica, but all thoughts and opinions in my Lapa Rios review are unbiased and 100% my own! 

Enjoyed this post? Pin it for later…

The post REVIEW: Lapa Rios, Costa Rica appeared first on Wanderlust Chloe.

source http://cheaprtravels.com/review-lapa-rios-costa-rica/

[topfygad]

REVIEW: Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Set within a 1000-acre private nature reserve, Lapa Rios, Costa Rica is one of the most spectacular lodges you’ll ever visit.

I’ve stayed in some incredible places on my travels, but Lapa Rios is one of the most memorable yet. Sleeping in impressive wooden bungalows with enormous terraces, and just nets for windows means you feel closer to nature than ever.

Sunrise from Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

Frogs hop along the pathways, toucans and macaws flap from tree to tree, and the howls of the local howler monkeys sound loud throughout the day. You don’t have to search for wildlife, it’s right there on your terrace, by the swimming pool, outside (and sometimes inside!) the restaurant and in the surrounding skies. And you know what? It’s absolutely magical.

Where Is Lapa Rios, Costa Rica? 

Located in Matapalo in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, Lapa Rios Lodge sits within a 1000-acre private nature reserve. It’s around 12 miles from the town of Puerto Jimenez where there’s also a small airport. If you’re arriving to San Jose, then I’d recommend catching the 50-minute flight with Sansa Airline as it’ll save you a lot of time, leaving you more precious minutes in the beautiful rainforest!

At the airport, the team from Lapa Rios will be waiting with welcome drinks and their private vehicles, ready to transport you to the lodge.

Welcome drinks at Puerto Jimenez airport before transferring to Lapa Rios Costa Rica

From Lapa Rios ecolodge, it’ll take you around an hour to drive to the starting point for travelling into Corcovado National Park – a place that is an absolute paradise for wildlife lovers.

Take a look at this Lapa Rios map to check the location in more detail.

What Is Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

This rainforest ecolodge has sustainable tourism at its heart. Opened in 1993, the owners set out to create a sustainable lodge, which protected its endangered surroundings. The lodge has won countless awards, and has been flying the flag for ecotourism since it opened.

It was named one of National Geographic Unique Lodges In The World – a deserving accolade considering the spectacular design, location and its ecological conscience.

The property sprawls throughout a section of rainforest… so much so, it’s pretty much hidden! You’ll arrive at the hotel’s reception and restaurant/bar area. The restaurant has a spectacular spiral staircase in the centre, which I just couldn’t stop taking photos of! Beyond that are terraces, a Wifi area, and a swimming pool.

Aerial views of Lapa Rios ecolodge, Osa Peninsula

After the pool you meander down various paths to reach the bungalow accommodation. There are only 17 bungalows at Lapa Rios, so it’s an exclusive place to check in!

You really can’t get closer to nature. I saw toucans by my terrace, macaws by the restaurant and even found a frog on my door one evening! Don’t worry, it hopped off so I could go in…! You can sometimes spot sloths too. It’s worth noting that I didn’t feel unsafe, and I wasn’t being continually bitten by mosquitoes! 

Sloth at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica (Photo: Lapa Rios)

Frog on my door at Lapa Rios in the Osa Peninsula

What Are The Rooms Like At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

 The Lapa Rios deluxe oceanfront bungalows are beautiful. Structurally they’re made of wood, with thatched tops and netting all around to keep out the rainforest’s inhabitants.

Bungalow exterior at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

My room at Lapa Rios, Osa Peninsula

My room had a large double bed, complete with a mosquito net canopy, an open plan sink area, then a separate toilet and shower room. That was only half of my space though, as outside was a huge terrace with incredible views of the ocean and rainforest, plus a hammock, chairs and table and an outdoor shower.

Outdoor shower at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

It was wonderfully private, and apart from the occasional clip-clop of footsteps on a nearby path, I only heard the sounds of the rainforest and the elements.

Enjoying the views from my terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

What Is The Food like At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

In general I had excellent food at Lapa Rios lodge. The main dinner menu had everything from fish to salads to steaks. There’s also an extensive cocktail and wine list.

My favourite meal was the mid-afternoon snack we had after we checked in. I had the ceviche, which was tangy, light and flavoursome. Both nights we stayed there were special events taking place. One night ‘dock-to-dish’, which featured fresh catches from close by. 

Ceviche, fresh juice and more at Lapa Rios ecolodge

As we visited in November, the next evening there was a special Thanksgiving dinner. Many of the guests were American, so it was nice that they could still celebrate, despite being away for the holidays.

Presentation was good, and while I wouldn’t say the lodge is worthy of a Michelin star, there were several tasty dishes on offer, and the waiting staff were very friendly.

Restaurant terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

One afternoon we enjoyed a 30-minute cooking demonstration, where one of the chefs showed us how to make gallo pinto (Costa Rica’s most famous rice and beans breakfast). It was delicious, and I was excited to return to my room that evening and find a bottle of the country’s favourite sauce (Salsa Lizano) and the gallo pinto recipe waiting for me. Definitely something I’ll be recreating back in London soon.

Gallo pinto at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

I never experienced a proper breakfast at Lapa Rios as we headed off very early to explore Corcovado National Park, but the banana bread and brownies they baked us were excellent.

What Can You Do At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

There are plenty of tours which you can book onto when you stay at the hotel. Most people visit for the wildlife, and I’d definitely recommend a visit to Corcovado National Park. The hotel will organise a specialist wildlife guide to escort you, who will tell you all about the rainforest, the animals, trees and more.

Exploring the beaches in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Horseback riding on the beach near Lapa Rios ecolodge

From Lapa Rios you can walk to the beach in 15 minutes, then enjoy a day swimming and snorkelling.

There are also optional extras including horseback riding, dolphin watching and kayaking.

If you’re visiting to relax, Lapa Rios has plenty of wellness options including massages and treatments, yoga and more.

The pool at Lapa Rios Costa Rica

Why Should I Stay At Lapa Rios, Costa Rica?

To experience Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife…

To get away from it all…

To appreciate how lucky we are to live on this planet…

Lapa Rios is a special place. It’s unique. It’s real.

It’s not ‘luxurious’ as the prices may suggest, but it’s somewhere that will give you a real understanding of the rainforest, the wildlife and the Osa Peninsula as a whole.

There’s barely any phone signal, and Wifi is only available in a small area near reception, so it’s time to switch off from social media and immerse yourself in the nature of Costa Rica. Although no doubt you’ll be reaching for your phone to snap a few pics…

Taking photos of the views from my terrace at Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Lapa Rios Ecolodge Rates

Staying somewhere as unique as this comes at a premium.

I found availability next week for £474, but I know in the highest season, rates are closer to £780 for 2 people, with all meals included.  There are offers, especially for low season, and if you’re a Booking.com Genius then you should get a decent discount (it was £50 off when I checked!) You can check latest prices and availability here.

 I hope you’ve enjoyed my Lapa Rios review. I visited in November 2018 as part of a trip with Visit Costa Rica, but all thoughts and opinions in my Lapa Rios review are unbiased and 100% my own! 

Enjoyed this post? Pin it for later…

The post REVIEW: Lapa Rios, Costa Rica appeared first on Wanderlust Chloe.

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