Two Weeks of Cyber Space and Trivia
Our lives for the past two weeks have been centered on a specific Internet cafe. They now know us there and surely, must find it strange that two gringas came all the way to Nicaragua just to spend all day everyday staring at a computer screen. In fact, it is a bit strange. If this is what they’re thinking, then they’re right. But, alas, some things have to get done no matter where you are in the world. Megan just finished applying to grad school. Sarah has now applied to about twenty teaching jobs and programs across the country.
When we haven’t been in the Internet cafe, we’ve mostly been hanging out with Ken, our new Austrian friend, playing trivial pursuit and drinking Toña. We’ve noticed that the French have a particular affinity for trivial pursuit, they often join our games and stay for a few hands. One eavesdropped on Sarah getting a question wrong and chimed in with “oh, that’s an easy question” and then left. Thanks a lot, man. Thanks a lot. Anyway, we’ve played so much trivial pursuit that there is no longer a card in the deck we have not conquered. We’re still unsure about whether we should admit to this in the future, or just use our creepy knowledge of trivia to beat all future competitors.
Today was the first day since ziplining that we’ve done anything besides play board games and work. We took a boat trip around “Las Isletas,” which we thought would be a nice little jaunt through nature, but turned out to be a “lifestyles of the rich and famous” type tour. Las Isletas are a bunch of little islands formed from a volcano eruption many years ago. These days they almost all have gorgeous vacation homes on them all owned by Central American business tycoons and foreign vacationers. We learned that we could, in fact, buy our own private island for a lot less than it would cost to buy any kind of home in San Francisco. Go figure.
We head to San Jose, Costa Rica tomorrow and the day after that we catch a flight to Panama City. We’ve got a lot of travel ahead of us. Wish us luck.
-Sarah (with help from Megan)
Tags: Central America, Granada, Internet, Nicaragua, Travel
admin
Good luck!!
Good luck, darlins! And please oh please tell me Philadelphia didn’t fall off your list of possible future places to live and work. PLEASE. But tell me the truth. Hurt me if you must. Congrats on your two weeks of TP (that’s trivial pursuits, not toilet paper) and internet cafe-ing being over.
Yes, Yes. Good luck indeed! I am so glad this part of your journey is behind you and hope you are able to enjoy the next leg of the journey without perseverating on apps sent. All I really hope is you that you land somewhere between Washington and Maine. We’re still in the middle of the ice storm here, so I cant really recommend Oklahoma as a future residence for you and I can’t even promise I could ever travel to see you. Connie and Tom had to cancel their trip to Mexico because of inclement weather. But, I continue to be warm, well fed and thankful I am not homeless.
Safe travels! love,
mom
congrats on finishing! How wonderful. And now you can sit back and mouth Bethany’s favorite addage: “All will be revealed in the fullness of time” while smoking cigars and sipping tequila — or cookies and milk. Broccoli and OJ? Not to start the broccoli thing again.
I can’t believe it’s cold anywhere in the world. Here in RI it’s just been the warmest month ever. I hardly ever have to wear my coat and that’s just creepy for January. It’s supposed to “snap” today or tomorrow though… we’ll see.
I do recommend Philly. What a fabulous fabulous city. Of course, that’s 99 percent because of the fabulous fabulous Bethany and K.L. But honestly, I could see Miss. M and Miss S having a grand life there, especially when fed by their aunties.
lots of love,
mom/becca
Salud!
Happy trails and good flights. See you on the internets again soon.
Dad
Bethany,
If Megan and Sarah don’t end up in Philly, you’ll at least get one Brown, perhaps giving them more reason to join us!
-Austen
What? Are you coming to Philadelphia? Are you already here? Oh m’god! That is fantastic. You’re going to love it. It’s secretly one of the greatest cities in the country. Let me know the minute you turn up and we will cook you a big welcome dinner. And maybe the good smells wafting over the countryside will draw M and S to us . . .
I was already there! I went to NY with a friend, then took a train to Philly for a night. I thought about contacting you, but my shyness got the best of me. I’m planning to move there after college.
Amherst, Massachusetts, anyone? Hint, hint.
OK, now I’m officially jealous. There is no way to articulate the fabulousness of Providence. In case anyone writes in from some paltry city like New York, or some measly city like Chicago, or any other place on the planet, let’s be clear that nowhere, not even Philly, can compete with Providence. The mob, for instance. Where else is the mob still running the government… OK, well, don’t answer that. Who wants to live in a city known for cheese steak? Come on, be real! Providence is providential and it’s in a State so small you can blink and be in other States in an instant. WHOOO HOOO!!! Austen, if it’s the letter P that you like, OK — so in Philly you get P for Philly and P for Pennsylvania — but how important is that really? P, R!!!! PR!
Personally, I like that they are both near humble little New York City. Beyond that, I stand back.
Dear Austen. You should totally have called me! But since you’re coming here anyway, and since I don’t plan on going anywhere soon (knock on wood), Philadelphia freedoms all lie before us. Yay! (Notice how I am studiously ignoring the yelps and growlings from other East Coast cities) . . .
Let us not forget the pleasures of a small city with temperate climate and a history of music and folklore. You might say it’s what we don’t have that counts! How’s that for a chamber of commerce spiel? Austen, you know you’re always welcome in Tulsa. Actually, I feel pretty foolish mentioning temperate climate right now when the entire city is a sheet of ice. Jennifer had to rappelle down her yard to get to her car, I gave my recycle bins one good shove and they slid all the way down the drive to the curb. This is new to us Okies. We much prefer the 60 degree winters to which we’re accustomed. Maybe next week . . .
Panama City, anyone? It’s kinda great… never drops below 30 Celcius, you can buy a breakfast of eggs, bread and coffee in an old-fashioned diner for $1.25, and go shopping for expensive designer jeans that you’ll never buy!
-Megan & Sarah
Umm, Panama City sounds great, but what about the burning question: PHILADELPHIA?!? I fear you are avoiding the question . . .
SOLD!!! Panama City it is. Yahoo!!! Glad you’re there, sorry I’m not. But for me, the burning question is: how good is the coffee?
and then again the real question is how in heavens name do I get there when the airport is closed because of ICE, ICE, ICE. Details. They always complicate things.
Is Philadelphia even a choice? uhmmm can’t seem to remember a school that was calling your name but, again, details. As for YOU Mr. Brown, first things first. Egypt, Turkey, graduation. again, its those details.
mom
Well, I guess Jennifer knows the awful truth. I am resigned. Austen and Kate and I will just have to have piles of Philly Phun without you.
Pouting,
Bethany
Hey Bethany, if my son is there so am I. Please set an extra plate!
and what happened to these “admins?” Do you think they had their fill of cyber cafes or what? I want to hear from them.
Everyone’s invited! We’ll have a big ol’ Philadelphia hodown the first minute we can. yay!
As for M and S, they’re probably innertubing through the Panama Canal or something. The wind is HOWLING around our house, it’s freezing out (finally — I’m not complaining), and all I can think of is the two of them blinking in the sun like contented cats.
Here we are!!!!
We just got off the plane in Ecuador where it is not unbearably hot. THANK GOD!
Post to come about our latest adventures.
-las dos