Great Summer Reads, Fiction Edition

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Shoot!

I'm an ultra-amateur photographer, but I enjoy taking pictures of nature - birds, flowers, landscapes - you get the drift.  I used to shoot with a Canon EOS Rebel digital camera, and it took great pictures, but the zoom wasn't great for distance shooting, and it had no WIFI capabilities.  The zoom was 18-55, leaving a lot to be desired. I was looking at a lens I could buy to get the distance, and the lens I was looking at was going to cost $1,000 USD, which was steep considering how old my digital camera was.

I went on a birding trip to Costa Rica, and one of the people in my group had a Nikon Coolpix P900 Camera (this has since been upgraded to the Nikon Coolpix P950 Camera). I noticed that the pictures he got from large distances was of greater quality than what I was getting, if I got the shot at all depending on the distance.  

Before I got home I logged into my Amazon account, and put that camera in my cart.  I purchased it as soon as I returned home. One thing I like in particular is that while on WIFI I can download pictures from my camera to my iPhone in just a couple of minutes. This allows me to share fresh pictures to my media pages.

Here are some of the technical details of the Nikon camera:

• COOLPIX P950 offers 16. 0 Megapixels of resolution
• COOLPIX P950 features an 83X optical zoom/166X Dynamic Fine Zoom
• Built-in Bird and Moon modes along with scene modes for simple shooting
• COOLPIX P950 can capture stills and 4K UHD video
• Max Focal Length: 2000
• Video Capture Resolution: 4K Uhd 2160P

On the back of the camera you can look through the lens for shooting, or look through the roomy display. It was easy to learn the camera's use, it fits in my hand, and it takes great pictures!

Recently, a rare bird for Indiana arrived at Spring Mill State Park, and I was able to capture memories I could not have otherwise gotten with just my iPhone, or some simpler point and shoot camera. Plus, at $797 it doesn't break the bank, which is great. This camera also has a 4+ star rating on Amazon from other users.  Try it out, and let me know what you think!

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Creating an Efficient Travel Plan

 

One thing I enjoy about travel is experiencing local food and culture along with exploring natural resources in the area.  I’m an avid hiker, so nothing works better for me than hiking during the day, and checking out the local restaurants in the evening.  Plus, it’s a good way to relax at the end of a busy day.

If driving it’s easy because I don’t need to consider the cost of a flight, and I like to engage in budget travel for the most part.  Here are the steps I take if flying to a location (if driving, simply eliminate step 1):

1.      Use Google Flights to find cheap flights:

a.      In the Where from box, enter the city and state (or airport code if you know it) of the airport you normally fly out of.

b.      In the Where to box, type “Anywhere” (I use this when I don’t care where I’m going, and just looking at the cost to get to different locales in the world.  If you have a specific destination in mind, type in the city and state (or airport code) for your destination).

c.      Enter your departure and return dates, then hit the “Explore” button.

d.      Once the map pops up you can see the cost of flights all over the world.  I don’t know about you, but I find this exciting!

e.      Decide on a destination!  Once the flights pop up for that particular destination I look to see which airlines are offering the flights, and I book the flights on the individual airlines’ website.  Why?  Because if I run into problems somewhere along my flight journey the airline will help me.  If I reserve through a third party the customer service might be lacking.  However, you choose your comfort level.

2.      Next, you’re going to need somewhere to sleep!

a.      There are so many options for this!  Hotel, resort, AirBNB (try to find a super host), VRBO, hostels, just to name a few. 

b.      I use a site called Kayak to search for hotels in the area I’m visiting.  However, I always go to the website of the property to reserve it for the same reasons I use the airlines’ websites to reserve flights.

3.      Next,  find out what interesting things there are to do in the area you're visiting:

a.      TripAdvisor is a great resource for this, and offers tours, etc. if you don’t feel comfortable trying to find a local person on your own, or don’t want to go solo.  This is also a great resource for finding dining options; the reviews are helpful in deciding what interesting place to eat next! I have discovered many great nature activities through this site.

b.      Once I decide what I want to do in the area, I create a Google Sheet and enter all the info for my trip:  flight details, accommodations details, etc., including phone numbers, and times an activity location is open.  Then I list in order the things I want to do on any given day; this is especially helpful if you have specific days you have booked tours, etc.  Plus, a Google Sheet can be accessed from my phone, making it SO convenient! If you are like me and want to cram in as much sightseeing as possible, you can arrange the activities by location so that you’re not doing an excessive amount of driving.

I hope this has helped you be more confident in making your own travel plans.  Let me know if there is something specific you want information about!

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Puerto Rico - Day 7 - El Yunque National Forest

 One of my favorite things to do while traveling is hiking.  El Yunque National Forest is located on the east side of Puerto Rico, and is filled with lush, green plants and trees.  I joined a tour group for this hike because I read that hiking there alone was not recommended, and as we began our hike it became clear why having a guide was important.  It was muddy and slippery!!  Along with the slippery mud were steep drop-offs on one side of the trail, and we were advised to stay on the opposite side of the trail lest we slip and fall over the cliff.  There were several times we were literally walking in narrow, muddy indentations in the trail. At a small clearing early in the hike our guide stopped and talked about the abundance and variety of flora and fauna in the forest.  He pointed out one particular plant nearby and advised us not to touch it because it was poisonous.  He said they call it “Itchy, Itchy” because it has the same effect as poison ivy on your skin.

I chose this particular tour because we were going to hike to a natural water slide which I thought sounded interesting.   We hiked a couple of miles along the trail with a small river nearby.  One thing that was notably missing was wildlife.  I don’t know if this is due to the number of tourists (there were many), or if we were too low in the forest, but I saw very few birds, and nothing else.

Finally, we arrived at a large, open pool of water.  It was really hot and humid in the forest, and the cold (yes, cold!) water was refreshing once you caught your breath back after stepping into it!  We hung out there for a few minutes, and then began to make our way to the natural waterslide, which required climbing across and over rocks on the side of the pool of water.  Some were so steep that the guides gave us a hand up onto some of the rocks, which this short-legged girl needed!  Once we got to the top of the waterslide, we waited in the river for our turn to go down the waterslide.  I was a bit apprehensive about doing this because I’m not that adventurous, but I was determined to face my fear!

My heart pounded when it was my turn.  The guides gave me instructions to cross my hands across my chest, and keep my elbows in, then they let me go.  It was a blast!!  Since we were sliding on rocks, I expected the slide to be a little rough, but it was a really smooth ride down to the pool below.  Crashing into the water was refreshing.  It seemed like it took forever for me to come back up to the surface, and I really wished we could have gone down the slide more than once.  However, many other people were waiting for the same experience.

After the slide we came back a short way where people could dive off of a tall rock into the pool below, and then further back, a rope swing into the pool.  I didn’t do either of these because I’m a chicken! HaHa.

Best of all, I met some wonderful people on this tour.  It’s so nice to meet people, and that’s one of the things I like about traveling in general, but is a plus with tour groups as well.

I had originally planned to drive around a big looping highway inside El Yunque after my tour, but I was soaking wet, muddy and tired, so I decided not to do it.  Plus, there was a waterfall I wanted to see and the trail to it was closed, so that will have to wait for another time.

 Have you ever visited El Yunque National Forest?  Tell me your favorite story about it!

I'm so sad to have to leave this beautiful country tomorrow, but what great experiences I had while here.  I want to go back and explore the interior of the country where so many of the mountain towns are located, and many waterfalls!

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Puerto Rico - Day 6 - Beaches, Beaches, Beaches. Oh, and a Statue!

 

On day 6 I headed to the north side of Puerto Rico.  I rounded a corner of the road and stumbled upon Cara del Indio, a statue dedicated to Taíno, a chief who fought bravely against the Spanish invasion of Puerto Rico. This statue welcomes you to the city of Isabela, my first beach stop on the north side of the island.

Río Camuy Cave Park has one of the more complex cave systems on the planet.  They charge a small fee (I think it was $18 USD).  To say the views were stunning here is an understatement!  Some of the most beautiful views I saw in all of Puerto Rico.  There was a spot you could climb in to view cave drawings, but it was a very tight fit, and I was afraid I’d get claustrophobia!   I did get a picture (along with the camera shadow) of an emblem carved into the rocks.

My next stop was La Poza del Obispo (The Bishop’s Pool) in Arecibo.  This was a really neat place where a line of rocks separated a pool of water from the sea.  The pool water was very calm, and so it was a great place for kids to swim. A lot of the beaches on the north side of the island are too dangerous to swim in because of riptides.  I saw a wee little crab on the beach!  The parking area at the beach had many trees in it, which was nice because it was very warm outside (I’m not complaining; I loved it!) and heard a lot of birds chattering away.  I thought it might be parrots, so I set out to investigate, and  I found a flock of monk parakeets in the tree.  One cheeky guy looked down at me when I was taking his picture!

After this I stopped at Mar Chiquita (Small Sea).  This pool of water was similar to La Poza del Obispo, except that the waterway from the sea into the pool was much smaller.  There were more rocks in the bottom of this pool, too.  Off to the right were lava-like rocks that had some good views.  There was a food truck at this location, and I had a delicious Puerto Rican lunch of marinated pork and potatoes.

Which beach was your favorite?

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Puerto Rico - Day 5 - Hello Ponce, Yauco, & Rincon!

 

Right after breakfast today, I started driving southwest.  My first stop was Ponce.  Ponce had a fountain I wanted to see (plus, I collect Hard Rock Café pins, and this was the only location in Puerto Rico!).  After a few minutes of trying to find parking (my biggest headache in the cities), I finally found a parking garage just a block from the fountain. Fuente de Los Leones (Lions Fountain) is a famous fountain located in Plaza las Delicias, the main square in Ponce.  The square was surrounded by businesses, including restaurants, and I found a quaint little place called Jalapeño’s with outdoor seating overlooking the square.  It was so peaceful and relaxing.  The food was good, too! Although I didn’t go up into it due to time constraints, there is also a structure called Cruceta del Vigía (Watchman’s Cross) with expansive views overlooking Ponce.  It’s an impressive structure!

Cruceta del Vigia

Once I left Ponce I headed to Yauco with its brightly painted buildings.  Once I left Ponce I noticed a change in the scenery.  The landscape wasn’t as lush and dense as the eastern portion, and I began to see more open green spaces with small, pointy mountains, as though someone dropped green gumdrops. I wished I could have taken pictures of them, but I was on an interstate, and stopping wouldn’t have been safe.

My stop in Yauco included seeing Yaucromatic, an urban art and mural initiative aimed at increasing the number of visitors to Yauco.  I can see why they wanted to do this; the city was deserted when I was there!  I expected it to be busy, but I guess it’s a bit off the beaten path. The first thing I saw in Yaucromatic was a tree with a crocheted cover around it.  The brightly colored buildings were really beautiful and interesting; I think I saw only two people while I was there!  It felt a bit eerie.

After spending a few minutes in Yauco, and traveled on to Rincon, where I hoped to see whales. The land started flattening out, and I saw more agriculture and wetlands.  As I came into Rincón (again, very narrow streets), I made my way to Red Flamboyan Guesthouse, where I would be staying for the night.  The Red Flamboyan Guesthouse was a newish hotel located on the west side of Puerto Rico, and had a restaurant serving authentic Puerto Rican food.  My room was very nice and comfortable, with a balcony that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean.  There was an outside lounge area on top of the building with expansive views all around.  I had to drive a couple of minutes to the beach access, but wow was it worth it!  I watched a very beautiful sunset while seeing pelicans diving for food. Sadly, no whales though.  At dinner that night I talked to a few people at the bar area and they said people were seeing whales further south along the coastline.  Oh well, it’s just an excuse to go back!

Let me know what you think about these locations!

Puerto Rico - Day 3/4 - Beautiful Island of Vieques

Vieques is an island off the east coast of Puerto Rico, a scenic ferry ride away.  It is possible to fly there, but it was much cheaper to ride the ferry.  They have a huge parking lot at the ferry port which is very affordable.  I couldn't take my rental car, so I left it on the mainland. As the ferry neared the island it was clear just how beautiful it was!  

One of the first things I noticed were horses walking along the streets!  Most articles I read said the horses were wild, but the owners of the little hotel I stayed in said they are owned by people on the island, they just let them roam around freely.  Many time I saw horses grazing alongside the roads, walking on the streets, and walking on the sidewalks!  There were also chickens everywhere.  One day while driving along a deserted stretch of road I saw a few chickens and roosters standing beneath a tree next to the road.  I decided to get out and take pictures of them.  By the time I got around to the back of my car chickens and roosters were pouring out of the vegetation in the background.  It was quite funny!

The ferry dropped me off on the north side of Vieques, and I walked a short distance to pick up the car rental.  Based on what I read beforehand I rented a jeep, but I found this unnecessary.  The owners of the inn where I stayed said it makes sense to rent a golf cart (the island is pretty small). One thing to note is that gas stations expected payment in advance; this was challenging since I had no idea how much I needed!

Once I picked up my car I navigated through the tiny, narrow streets and made my way south to Esperanza, where I would spend the night.  My accommodations were at The Vieques Guesthouse, which was right across the street from the beach.  The room was very spacious, and the owners were very gracious.  They gave me lots of ideas for things to do on the island!  On the top of the building was a patio with amazing water views. The owner told me of a path right across the street to a beach where she finds a lot of sea glass.  I walked the short distance, and found a handful within minutes!  They also served breakfast and had many cold and hot options to choose from. I highly recommend this property for your stay there. Click here for more information about The Vieques Guesthouse.  Let them know I sent you!

There were several restaurants within walking distance of my hotel along with a few shops.  I found a nice restaurant with a view of the water to eat dinner before I met my excursion company.  My main purpose for coming to Vieques was to kayak in Mosquito Bay, the brightest bio-luminescent bay in the world.  I met my guide outside the restaurant and he took us to the bay.  It was quite dark, which is what you want, and I was hoping I wouldn’t be weirded out by being on water in the dark! 

Once we got into the kayaks we made our way north, paddling along.  I noticed underneath my clear-bottomed kayak it appeared as though thousands of stars were passing beneath me.  The bio-luminescence!  We stopped at a certain point, and our guide was telling us more information about the bay.  He told us to bang our paddles on the kayak, and once we did so the fish were darting away.  You could clearly see the outline of the fish, and it was so cool! I wish I could have gotten a picture of it, but our guide said that it takes a special camera to catch it.  What an experience!  Click here for more information about Mosquito Bay.

The next day I visited Black Beach.  There is a small parking area where the path begins to the beach, and about a ¼ mile walk to get there.  The path was mostly shaded, which was nice.  Once I got to the beach I discovered that what caused the black "sand" were minerals. It was a very nice beach, and I hung out for a few minutes enjoying the view.

I visited several recommended beaches on the island, and they were all beautiful, but after a short time, they all started to look the same!  I made my way back to Esperanza Beach, where I found so much sea glass I could be picky about what I chose.  I spent over an hour there.  Not only was the sea glass beautiful and plentiful, but the water views were amazing, too!

While driving around the island I came across a massive banyan tree.  This thing was huge!

Finally, I made my way back to the ferry port for my return to Puerto Rico’s mainland.  I had plenty of time waiting for the ferry to arrive to chicken watch in the waiting area.  Later, as they moved us into the queue for the ferry, I could see barracuda hanging out by the pier.  Yikes!

If you are looking for a very laid back vacation with amazing beaches, Vieques would be a great destination.  Everything is chill and relaxed. Click here for more information about Vieques, Puerto Rico