English Creole in Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

Most of the people on Big Corn Island, Nicaragua speak English Creole. This language is very interesting. Because English Creole is derived from the english language, we can speak to and understand the Island natives (my aunt knows this creole so thats also helps). Though the English Creole language may just sound like English with a thick accent, it is very different than standard English.

There are many different types of creole languages, but here on the island, it is just English Creole. English Creole is very neat to listen to, it sounds like English with a heavy Jamaican accent. It sounds a lot like english, but on paper it is extremely different. Many argue that it isn't a different language, just a version of English, but anyone that has seen the vocabulary, grammatical structure, and anything else can see that English Creole is its own language.

Everything we do and hear and see on this island is a learning experience. We are gaining so much knowledge about the people, languages, and island itself. The longer we stay the less we want to end our trip, but we are very excited to make the most of our time here,

Jelly Fish In Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

Like I mentioned in my last post, we are frequently in the waters around the island. Being in and around the water so much, we see a lot of beautiful marine life. We also get to have some up close interaction with the plants and animals living in the water (sometimes it's cute, but more often than not we'd prefer to keep our distance). This especially applies to the jelly fish that can't seem to leave us alone. 

Jellyfish can range from about one millimeter in bell height to nearly two meters in bell height. Luckily, the jellyfish we keep running into aren't very big or powerful, but their stings do hurt for quite some time. Jellyfish's stinging tentacles are usually used to capture their prey or ward off any threats. Most species of jellyfish live in salt water, but their has been a few rare jellies that live in fresh water.

Though being stung wasn't on my to-do list when we got here, it has been made a funny story and experience. We are having many things happen to us here, not all pleasant at the time, but fun to recount. We can't wait to experience more interesting things like this and participate in more adventures. 

Coral Reefs in Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

We have done a lot since arriving on the island inly a week ago. A regular for us though is swimming in the beautiful oceans here. After every day we like to go to the beach before sunset and cool off. The water is absolutely beautiful. It's clear and warm and has so much plant and animal life living in it. A spot we love to go to has gorgeous reefs that you can snorkel over and see the fish and coral.

The coral reef is present around both Corn Islands. It provides shelter to many different kinds of marine life. Reefs are located in shallow, warm waters which makes them easy to spot when snorkeling, but also means they are easily susceptible to storms and human activity. Some parts of the reef have been damaged but others are still very healthy and beautiful. The different types of coral you can see here are brain coral, which looks like its name, staghorn coral, which looks like the antlers on a deer, and pillar coral, which also looks like its name. One interesting thing we learned is that coral is actually an animal and not a plant.

The oceans surrounding Big Corn Island are absolutely gorgeous. We are learning a lot about the plants and animals that inhabit the water. We also are really getting the feel of what it is like to live in a country like Nicaragua and live like the Nicaraguans do. The experiences we are having are breathtaking and we can't wait to have many more adventures.

Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

We have made it to our final destination. Our time spent in Costa Rica was a dream, now we are in Big Corn Island, Nicaragua and hope to have just as much fun as we did further down South. So far, the island looks very promising. It is so beautiful and absolutely lovely to be able to stay with my aunt who lives on the island. We are learning a lot from her about the way things work here, what the people are like, and what the island itself is like.

Big Corn Island is about 43 miles east of the Caribbean cost of Nicaragua. Big Corn Island is really not so big. It has an area of about 3.9 square miles. Little Corn only has an area of about one square mile. The highest elevation on Big Corn is a hill called Mount Pleasant Hill which is about 371 ft tall. Though relatively short, it is a great look out point.

We plan on doing a lot more sight seeing soon, as it is only our second day here. The island is beautiful and we will hopefully be traveling to Little Corn as well. We are learning a lot about the different cultures and ways of the people and we can't wait to see more.

Geckos in Big Corn Island, Nicaragua

One thing we haven't been able to shake, from Costa Rica to Nicaragua, isn't the calming sound of the ocean, or the exotic roar of the howler monkeys, or even the interesting sound of humming birds perched outside your window. No, what we haven't been able to escape from for the weeks we've been in Central America, is the quiet laughter you hear while taking a shower, or eating a meal, or trying to fall asleep. The one thing that has constantly been around is the small but startling sound of geckos.

Geckos are lizards that live in warm climates all over the globe. They are very unique creatures due to their strange vocalizations. They use chirping sounds in order to communicate with other geckos. (so they aren't laughing at you in your sleep, even if it does sound like it) Geckos can range from 1.6 to 60 centimeters long depending on the species. One interesting thing about geckos is that they don't blink, they often just lick their eyes to keep them moist and clean. Though it may sound like these small creatures have been plaguing me, they're actually quite helpful seeing as they eat all the bugs you don't want in the house, and they might be pretty cute when they aren't laughing at you.

We have seen and interacted with many different animals, but the geckos are definitely one of my favorite. The longer we stay down south, the more wildlife we are able to see and learn about. We look forward each day to seeing new interesting creatures.

Palm Oil Trees On the Way to Nicaragua

On our way  to Managua, Nicaragua, we drove by (that's right, drove. As in drove for 12 hours across Costa Rica to Nicaragus) many interesting sights like beautiful waterfalls and lush jungles. One of the more memorable things we saw though, was the acres upon acres of palm oil trees.

Palm oil is an edible oil made form the fruit of oil palms. Along with coconut oil, palm oil is on of the few high saturated vegetable fats. Palm oil has been a common cooking ingredient, but is being widely replaced by coconut oil. Palm oil became sought after during Britian's industrial revolution to be used as a machine lubricant. Today, its not usually used for machines but for more basic things like cooking. Though palm oil is still being produced and distributed, it is suspected that coconut oil will soon replace the more expensive, harmful to the environment, palm oil.

Traveling through the countries, we are able to see many different plants and animals and people that we like to learn about whenever possible. We are constantly researching the new things we see and experience to get a better understanding of what Nicaragua and Costa Rica are truly like. We have learned so much so far and can't wait to see more of these countries' people, agriculture, and wildlife.

Manuel Antonio National Park

We visited the Manuel Antonio National Park while we were traveling near Quepos, Costa Rica. It was very fun hiking through its trails and seeing the hidden wildlife. While there, we went to a beautiful beach and met and talked with some native Costa Ricans.

The Manuel Antonio National Park is a small national park in the Central Pacific Concentration. The park was established in 1972 with a land area of 1,983ha. Though small, it attracts about 150,00 people annually. It has been listed among 12 of the world's most beautiful national parks. The park has four beaches. It has 109 species of mammals and 184 species of birds.

The Manuel Antonio National Park is truly a wonderful park and most definitely deserves its spot listed amongst the world's most beautiful national parks. I hope to visit again one day, until then, we will continue our trip up north to Nicaragua to find many more beautiful landscapes and creatures there.

Quepos, Costa Rica

We, once more, left Grecia, Costa Rica and headed to a couple small towns and tourist attractions near Quepos, Costa Rica. Here, we've done many fun things. We saw and swam in some beautiful waterfalls and went to many beaches. The one thing we really wanted to see though was some monkeys. On the last day of our trip to the coast we still had not seen any monkeys, so I was begining to think we wouldn't be able spot any at all, how wrong I was. While at the beach, we saw a whole family of White-faced Spider Monkeys.

The White-faced Spider Monkeys, otherwise known as White-faced Capuchin Monkeys, are native to the forests of Central America. Adult White-faced Capuchin monkeys can be from 13 to 18 inches tall, excluding its tail. This species of monkey has a tail longer than its its body. They can weigh from 6 to 8 pounds when fully grown. They can live past 50 years old, making it one of the longest living species of monkeys in the world. These guys are adorable but, like any animal, can get easily aggravated. (One attacked my aunt while we were at the beach when she was trying to shoo it away from digging in our bags!!)

We hope to see many more animals like the White-faced Spider Monkeys. We could do with a little less up close and personal but it was so fun to have the experience of seeing a family of monkeys so near and in their natural habitat. I'm sure we will have many more great experiences and stories like this one. We can't wait to learn more about the incredible animals that live in this beautiful country.

Back in Grecia, Costa Rica

We left the fun town of Monteverde and headed back to Grecia for a few days to recover from a cold we caught and to relax before heading off into our next adventure. Back in Grecia we had the great privilege of seeing a wild parrot fly across our front yard. Parrots don't usually travel this high into the mountains so it was such a privilege to see one right outside the home we're staying at. 

The bird we saw is called a Red-lored parrot. The Red-lored parrot is usually native to northern Costa Rica so we aren't sure how it ended up in Grecia but it was incredible to see! The Red-lored parrot is mostly green with a beautiful spot of red no the top of its head. Unlike many other animals, parrots choose their mates for a lifetime. Most birds help the environment by eating fruits and dispersing the  seeds to make more plants, parrots don't do this. Parrots eat the seeds of the foods they have, they crush the seeds to get their nutrients. 

We are seeing new animals everyday here in Costa Rica. The amount of species we are learning about is incredible. We look forward to experiencing new adventures ands seeing new animals in the weeks to come. 

Day Three in Monteverde, Costa Rica

Today in Monteverde, Costa Rica we were able to visit many more wonderful sights and popular attractions here in the city. There are so many places to go and things to see, but sadly our trip to Monteverde is being cut short so we only had time to do a few things on our third day in the city.  One thing we did that was very fun was seeing the cloud forest.

The cloud forest is set on top of Costa Rica's continental divide. Due to city's high altitude of 4662 ft above sea level, Monteverde has a constant supply of clouds and the moisture that comes with them. This steady stream of moisture, that is mostly in the form of fog, helps the ecosystem grow and thrive. Visitors and residents can explore the beautiful rain forests and see the many animals and insects that live in the wilderness here.

The trip to Monteverde was very fun and we were able to learn a lot from the different ways of the people, environment, and animals that live in this cute city. However, we are planning on continuing our trip and moving up the coast to visit even more beautiful sights and creatures.

Second Day in Monteverde, Costa RIca.

Today we were able to visit and see some neat sights here in Monteverde, Costa Rica. We went to some popular tourist attractions like one of the well known dairy factories here, and we drove a little ways to a chocolate factory to see how the chocolate is made (yummy). These were all very fun, but my favorite thing we've done in this city so far has been being able to see and experience some up close interaction with Costa Rica's wildlife.

My favorite type of bird is the hummingbird and we have been able to see plenty of them. Of the 338 known species of humming bird, about 54 live or breed in Costa Rica. Honestly, I can't name which ones we were able to see, but they were all beautiful and incredible to look at from only inches away. Though I can't say what types we saw, our guide did tell us some interesting facts about the hummingbirds in Costa Rica. One interesting thing we were told was that hummingbirds nests are only about the size of a penny or quarter depending on the bird, and their eggs, depending on the species, can be smaller than a jelly bean!

It has been a great pleasure getting to see so many beautiful animals and plants; people and buildings. We seem to be learning something new every minute about the lives here. The experiences we are having have truly been beautiful and we can't wait for the many more adventures we are bound to obtain.

Monteverde, Costa Rica

In the past few hours we have traveled from Grecia, Costa Rica to Monteverde, Costa Rica. The trip was not a long one, only about a two hour drive. We have been able to see and learn more about Costa Rica's wildlife and history.

One new thing we learned about was the coffee plants here. Coffee production has had and still has much to do with Costa Rica's history and economy. Costa Rican coffee beans are considered one of the world's best. Coffee production has gone down in San José (the capital of Costa Rica) due to the effects of urban sprawl, which is the expansion of human population away from central urban areas like San José. Though this has happened fairly recently, coffee is still one of the Country's major agricultural exports.

We have been able to learn a lot on our first day here in Monteverde, and we expect to know a lot more about Costa Rica when we return home. Until then, our brains are being packed with as much information about the way this country works as possible. We plan on taking in much more of this little town and its neighboring cities in the days to come.

Day Three in Grecia, Costa Rica

Today we were able to visit a type of farmers market the Costa Ricans call the faria. It really gave us a sense of what it is like to live in this country. We were able to experience what it is like for the citizens to have a market two days a week where they can come and get pretty much whatever they need for the week. It is a lot like a farmers market in the states in some ways, but some of the produce  and wears they sell are not readily available or necessary in the states. Seeing these different foods and supplies made going an adventure.

We are planning on visiting one of the Corn islands in Nicaragua. Right now, Costa Rica is just getting into their wet season, so it rains every afternoon. Nicaragua will be entering their dry season, so no rain there, only hot and humid temperatures. Because Costa Rica is just coming into its wet season, the weather is still hot and muggy, but the beautiful rain showers and flourishing wildlife makes the high temperatures worth while. The hotness is Nicaragua will be a little less fun, but being able to jump into the ocean that surrounds both Corn islands will definitely be helpful. The lowest temperature we will have in Nicaragua will be 75 degrees fahrenheit, hot hot hot. 

One animal we have yet to see is the howler monkeys that live in Costa Rica. Adult howler monkeys are black with brown or blonde saddles. Infants are born silver or light brown and become increasingly darker until about 12  weeks old when they become completely black. howler monkeys are famous for the vocalization made by the adult males. Their howls can be heard over 1km away through the rainforest. Howling is their way of communicating.

This trip so far has been an excellent learning experience and a great way of getting to know how different parts of the world work. We can't wait to do some more exploring and see new sights and creatures.

Second Day in Grecia, Costa Rica

Our second day in Grecia, Costa Rica has been just as busy and fun-filled as the first. We have been able to see more of the beautiful rainforest, lovely creatures, and have been able to experience more of what it is like to live in Costa Rica. We were able to make some of our own adventures and also visit some local tourist attractions. Some things have been a bit bumpy (like waking up to an ant infestation in your bathroom), but for the most part, we have been making constant adventures and learning a lot about how different parts of the world work.

For example, we were able visit the Poás volcano and national park in Costa Rica. It is still active and has erupted thirty four times since 1828. It is 2,708 meters wide. There are two crater lakes near the summit of the volcano. 

We visited a popular tourist attraction near Poás. Here, we were able to hold toucans. Toucans have mostly black feathers with spots of brightly colored feathers. They often have large beaks that are brightly colored. Toucans generally live in tropical and sub-tropical regions, like Costa Rica. Six of the forty two species of toucans in Latin America are found in Cost Rica. We were able to hold toucans when we visited a wildlife preserve on the second day of our trip, it was a thrilling experience. 

Our trip has only escalated from good to excellent. Many more adventures await in the weeks to come. We will soon be traveling north through the country towards the pacific coast and, hopefully, towards Nicaragua.  

Grecia, Costa Rica

The city of Grecia is much more populated than I had originally assumed. It's actually quite large. There is a population of about 15,500 people. There is a mix of fairly wealthy and very poor citizens.  A house made of stacked wood can be sitting next to a modern, well built, two story home. Not having traveled much before, seeing the difference in social ladders and economic scales is very surprising. Unlike other poor countries though, these citizens are, for the majority, well fed and happy.

One thing that caught my eye while exploring on our first day here was Grecia's church made entirely of metal. The giant building is named Iglesia la Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. The church is composed entirely of steel plates painted red.

The first animal we saw here was a wild sloth on the side of the road. The poor guy had fallen out of a tree and landed near the small road. Sloths' fur hosts two species of algae, this is to provide camouflage, but it also makes them look ugly and can cause them to smell vary bad. Sloths have big eyes, short snouts, long limbs, small eyes, long limbs, and large claws. Their claws serve as their one natural defense.

Though it is only my first day here, I am loving Costa Rica; or what I've seen of it at least. The incredible looking animals, to the beautiful landscape has made the thought of being away from home for so long very bearable.