Terrific Travel Tips

There is more to Bodrum than its world renowned night-life with its contrasting and exquisite old world charm. As the sun rises and the nightclubs wind down, the delights of Bodrum during the day come to the fore. If it’s history you after, Bodrum has it in abundance, with the stunning Castle of St Peter, the Mausoleum and the Myndos Gate just some of the places to see. You could also spend the day at sea on one of the regular boat trips or visit a hamams, otherwise known as a Turkish Bath either way they are the perfect way to relax.

You can’t go wrong with 300 days of sunshine a year and to get the best weather, visit between May and October. August sees temperatures up above 35C with over 12 hours Turkish sun a day. There is generally a breeze drifting in from the Aegean sea that helps to keep humidity down, but even so it can get very hot. So, air-conditioning is a must if you wish to get a break from the hot outdoors. The deep blue Aegean sea reaches a luxurious 25C making it a very inviting place to be! During the Spring and Autumn things are generally cooler, but still a much warmer place to be than the dreary UK.

Just outside Bodrum is Bitez otherwise known as Agacli - meaning “full of trees” which gets its name from the fact it is one of the main citrus growing areas of the Bodrum peninsular. The promenade is lined with restaurants and cafes offering every nationality of cuisine and looking out over one of the cleanest beaches on the peninsular. The clientele of Bitez attracts more of an older circle giving it that high-class feel. This is amplified by the white washed hotels and apartments that overlook the sandy beach with its picturesque wooden jetties, which plays host to a popular windsurfing and sailing school with Bitez cove being the ideal place for the beginner.

Turkish Markets are a must for any holiday maker and Milas Market is one of the biggest in the area. With everything from textiles to perfumes to fruit and more, it is an extraordinary place to visit. The stallholders are uniquely Turkish and this being a”proper” market, you’ll find them courteous and the whole place does not have that “holidaymakers” market feel. There’s still plenty of opportunity to find that perfect souvenir with handicrafts and local weavings and produce in abundance. If your up for it, forget eating out and enjoy putting together your next meal from the local offerings. With so much on offer you find everything you need for that perfect lunch! There is so much on offer you’ll wonder where the time has gone as you wander round the masses of stalls. Once your finished at the market you may fancy a change of pace and just a little north of Milas you will find Lake Bafa where the northern shore of the lakes steep slopes are covered by wild or semi-domesticated olive trees and are virtually untouched to this day. According to legend, it was here that the goddess Selene fell in love with the shepherd Endymion and she asked Zeus to keep the young shepherd in perpetual sleep and bore up to fifty children from her nightly encounters with the sleeping young man.

Karakaya is a unique village hamlet clinging to the sides of the mountain above Gumusluk. The stone houses have been recently restored, and the views across the Aegean are excellent. Visiting local villages and bazaars not only contributes to the local economy but also helps the local community to open up and make themselves known to the rest of the world. A visit to Comakdag Village is special in that sense; a totally separate world covered with greenery, Comakdag village lies 60 kilometres from Bodrum consisting of 304 houses on a mountain slope on the Izmir - Milas road. It has successfully preserved its culture with its artistic houses vibrating with history and wedding feasts lasting for days. Fabulous silk weavings decorate the people and the stores all around. You could also visit Rabbit island which separates the two beaches of Gumusluk, Bodrum. Access is by a partially antique sunken causeway, which was built during the hellenistic period meaning you may paddle over to it!

Golf is one of the worlds most loved sports and you can now enjoy this less than 15 minutes drive from Bodrum. Vita Park Golf complex lies close to the stunning Lake Tuzla and its beautiful flamingos. It includes a clubhouse and the Mike Adams Golf academy and covers over one and a half million square meters. There is the Scottish links inspired, par-71 Milas course which is now open. The second course, the Arizona inspired Halikarnas, is currently under construction.

Bodrum then, makes for perfect Turkey holidays. It’s quiet old world charms, mixed with its vibrant exotic night-life give you everything you need.

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When the economy fails then the travel services are also affected in terms of the negative changes that can be applied to them. The prices of travel products directly increase with the fall of the dollar and the increase in the prices of fuel. There are times when a budget does not need to limit a traveler’s experiences on a trip and the article will be showing how this can be done.

As fuel prices increase, the majority of travel providers also increase the charges they have for everything including excess baggage and special seating for flights. A majority of travelers can start asking if a trip can still be affordable amidst the current economic crisis. Here are some tips which can help any traveler ensure the he or she experiences a quality vacation even with a budget to apply.

A number of travelers are not familiar with their own towns and so they can travel locally and enjoy the sights near their homes. People can experience enjoyable trips in their own backyard and so local travel is a must for anyone. Information on local attractions can be obtained manually but a traveler also has the option to go online and search there.

Travel plans can involve jump off cities where trips to one location can allow for another attraction near the area to be traveled to. For example, a trip to states like Las Vegas can include a trip to the Grand Canyon as well as the latter is only a few hours drive away from the former. There are a number of places like this where a main destination can also lead to other possible travel destinations within the same area.

As much as possible the regional airports should be used when travelers travel regardless of the destination. Travelers can save lots of money with the low priced flights offered by regional airports which are easily accessible. The additional savings generated from a cheaper flight arrangement can lead to more money able to be spent on experiencing travel attractions.

An apartment as well as a home rental can save a traveler lots of money especially of he or she chooses to travel for extended durations. It is not a new thing for hotels to charge more for similar services that can easily be acquired from apartment or home rentals. Travelers can live the life of locals if they stay in apartment buildings when they travel as this allows them to travel as locals would.

For the traveler who wants to book a hotel reservation then there are a number of budget hotels that he or she can travel to. The boutique hotels are smaller hotels that have the same services for much cheaper rates than the big hotels. The travel experience can be boosted this way since additional spending money can be used elsewhere rather than be spent in the hotels.

Traveling always involves expenses including additional fees that can be charged by a hotel or other similar facility. There are a lot of these hidden charges that can be encountered with any particular travel plan and so a traveler should always stand guard. Hidden charges can be avoided if there is a clear list of charges an establishment presents to a client prior to the usage of such amenities.

Travelers should make a point of asking for itemized charge slips from establishments whenever a trip is about to happen. Any establishment has the responsibility of taking questions from clients and providing them with the necessary details they need. A few simple steps can make travel plans easier to accomplish especially if a person is on a budget.

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When my friends and I are planning to go on a picnic, we all start to assign stuff for a particular person to do. I always end up getting the part that picks out a place where to hold the picnic. We’ve been everywhere I can think of. We’ve been to the park and the last time we did, we had ants all over our plates in less that 15 minutes of playing hide and go seek behind the trees.

Evidently, the ants were also playing tag on which food to take on first. The top part is they chose to take over my plate first. My plate, which had a piece of pizza, blueberry cheesecake, hotdogs and macaroni salad, looked like a huge pile of red fire ants. If I did not pay a lot of attention, the next thing I will be eating would certainly be soft food because of a fat lip. So take the park off the list.

Just one of my pals suggested that we check out a local mall and do our picnic on the benches at the food court. Should you will still call that picnic if we do that? That’s where we’re going on a constant basis. Binging out on pizza and then afterwards, going to the arcade to shed off a few pounds with the interactive games there like Dance Dance Revolution (isn’t that kind of 90’s?).

Anyway, the point is, we go to the mall almost every day. I want to set up a place where we don’t normally go and if we do, it’ll be a place where we will be looking forward to go to again after some time. Besides, if we set up a large picnic cloth inside the mall and form a picnic group on the ground, we’d end up in the mall’s administration office for scandal and misconduct in such a public venue and become the laughing stock.

So maybe we can certainly attempt to have a picnic simply by the river. The sole challenge is we would become the mosquitoes’ picnic food and obtain Dengue Fever and not an unforgettably fun experience. Well, it shall be a extremely remarkable experience. But of course, we don’t want to remember it that way. So we’re staying anywhere but near the river as well. I nearly gave up on thinking of the right place where to have our picnic when it suddenly hit me. Why not go to the beach? There is a quiet side of the beach where no person really bothers to go to. It would certainly be a fantastic way to have an exercise as well because it’ll be a spot that isn’t as accessible as the other beach front destinations where you can just park your car nearby.

A more secluded side would be great. Walking to and from the place would be a great way to enjoy the breeze and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. The real essence of going on a picnic is enjoying the place, the food, and the people you’re with no matter where you are.

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With St. Lucia Vacation packages you are transported to an adventure of the unfamiliar to the exquisite island of St. Lucia which is still unspoiled and undiscovered by many. The natural beauty of the island of St. Lucia is absolutely breathtaking and it is called the “little Hawaii” of the Caribbean. It is located in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean chain and is one of the Windward Islands.

The resorts offered by St. Lucia Vacation packages in the picturesque island of St. Lucia are a honeymooner’s paradise. With affordable prices, the packages offered transport you into a world filled with natural beauty and a true paradise indeed. The island itself is not easily accessible from many cities in the US, but exactly this makes it an even more interesting place to have a romantic honeymoon, far from the maddening crowd.

Several resorts included in the St. Lucia Vacation packages are for couples only. There are complimentary honeymoon massages included, plenty of excursions planned and sports activities like golf and scuba are also included in many packages. Stay in the most comfortable rooms, enjoy the beautiful view of the sea from your window and as you step out, a 7-mile long beach awaits you.

St. Lucia has a wonderful combination of mountains, beaches and forests. The rainforests are green and so are the mountains. The flowers like the jasmine, scarlet chinelle and wild orchids grow all over the island. The mountain range runs along the island and in one of them there is a volcano, through which it is possible to drive. Black sand in some of the beaches is also an interesting feature of St. Lucia.

For a family vacation the St. Lucia Vacation packages are ideal. A trip to St. Lucia planned as a family vacation to the Caribbean is ideal to bring your family together and spend quality time with one another. The beautiful resorts and the various types of accommodations can definitely cater to your budget and taste and you and your family can explore the tropical island of St. Lucia and the Caribbean Sea together.

St. Lucia offers hoards of exciting events throughout the year, so you can either attend the annual Carnival, the St. Lucia Jazz Festival or the international cricket matches in their new stadium. The thrilling adventure activities are not to be missed like diving, snorkeling, sailing, yachting wind surfing, hiking, running and trail riding. There are plenty of activities to choose from and the health spa will relax your tired muscles after the day’s adventure with a great massage.

It may happen that your favorite event or festival in St. Lucia happens to take place at a time when there aren’t too many tourists on the island. Then you can enjoy off-season rates and not too crowded beaches. But otherwise, the high season begins in December and continues up to April. During these months hotel rates are steep, and the island is often crowded with tourists.

If you once take a vacation on the island of St. Lucia, you will want to come back to it again and again. St. Lucia Vacation Packages makes sure that you have as much fun as possible during your stay in St. Lucia by offering you comfortable rooms, free tours and excellent room service. The alluring beaches, the green forests and hills help you to relax and forget the hectic life of the city.

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The term “cruise vacation” probably brings to mind finding your swimsuit and sandals. But there are a few key things you can take care of before your cruise vacation that can really boost your enjoyment. First ensure that you have obtained a valid passport when traveling outside the US. Next book your spa and shore excursions online. Lastly assess your credit and cash situation to make sure you aren’t caught off guard during your dream cruise. These may seem like small steps but they can add up to a cruise vacation disaster if you don’t take care of them.

Because of recent changes in the law you should get a passport ASAP-especially if your cruise vacation takes you outside US borders. A valid passport is required to reenter the country from Canada Mexico and the Caribbean. Those who have traveled a lot should make sure that it won’t expire soon and that there are blank pages in it. You don’t want to realize upon reentry that your passport just expired.

For some who don’t yet have a passport it’s worth the money to get it processed quicker so it arrives in time for your trip. It’s a great idea to make a few copies of it before leaving. If your passport is lost or stolen while you are gone these copies will come in handy. Make sure to give copies to your emergency contact in the states and put one in your suitcase.

Your company will send your documents for your cruise vacation a month or so before embarkation. They contain important information about ship activities and amenities as well as shore excursions. Many cruise lines allow you to make reservations online via their websites. While you could wait until you board your cruise ship to make these arrangements you’ll likely find a long line and inconvenient times available. Booking ahead allows you to begin enjoying yourself the minute you step on board knowing that you’ve got it all taken care of.

A cruise vacation is a great way to celebrate a milestone such as a honeymoon birthday or anniversary. Check with your cruise line to see what kinds of special packages are available. You should check as soon as possible so that they have plenty of time to make arrangements. Those who wait until they are at sea to request twelve dozen orange roses will likely be disappointed.

Several months before your cruise vacation assess the amount of credit available on your credit cards. This gives you time to move money around open another card or pay down your balance. Expect that your cruise line will place a hold on your credit card for incidentals upon check in. This hold could range from $50-200 per day.

Confirm your cruise line’s policy with a quick call. This is really important if you plan more hotel stays and car rentals during your vacation which mean multiple holds on your account. While you will ultimately only be charged for actual expenses it make take several days for it all be adjusted. To avoid the embarrassment of a declined credit card during your trip make sure you have enough available credit.

It is also a good idea to bring enough cash for your trip. While you’ll use your credit card a lot there are times when cash is important. Because of the high rate of fraud many merchants will not take traveler’s checks. ATMs are usually available on ship but sometimes they run empty and you can count on a high fee. On shore some smaller merchants and street vendors will not take credit cards. Bring smaller bills for cash tips to your cruise line staff. Bringing cash means you can enjoy your dream vacation and avoid inconvenience.

Even a chaotic person can get organized for a cruise vacation. Just a little bit of preparation can ensure that you arrive at your ship prepared to delight in every minute of your cruise vacation. Make sure your passport is current reserve your shore excursions and spa appointments ahead of time and assess your credit and cash needs. These are small steps that will help make sure you are able to relax and truly enjoy your cruise vacation. Make sure you pack your sandals and swimsuit!

Do you know which Vacation Destination you would like to visit? Do a little more Research on Your Vacation at our Travel Site.

Sydney, Australia is one of the world’s premier travel destinations. Both tourists and business travelers say that Sydney is one of their favorite destinations. That comes as no surprise to those who are lucky enough to call Sydney their home. They love to share their city with its visitors, so finding a Sydney accommodation is not a problem at all.

Sydney is inviting even from the air, where you will see its cityscape and magnificent harbor spread out before you as you make your approach. Then you will be warmly greeted upon your arrival. When you start looking for you Sydney accommodation, you will surely find someone to help you find it. The residents of Sydney welcome tourist and business travelers with open arms. Backpackers, families and business executives all get the same warm welcome in Sydney.

Backpackers often gravitate to the old King’s Cross area of Sydney when they are looking for a place to stay. King’s Cross has its own vibrant night life scene and King’s Cross Station is conveniently located for public transportation to anywhere you might want to go in Sydney.

Sydney is famous for its beaches. One of the most famous beaches in the world is Sydney’s Bondi Beach. There is a Bondi Beach Sydney Accommodation for every traveler at Bondi. There are backpackers hostels within a couple of minutes walk to the beach and there are deluxe hotels with sweeping views of the beach and beyond.

On any given Saturday or Sunday, you will find throngs of tourists meandering around Circular Quay. Aside from all the shops and restaurants that are right there at Circular Quay, it is also the hub of the Sydney Ferry system. This makes it a perfect spot for your Sydney accommodation, because there’s no better way to see the city than from a public ferry. As is true everywhere in Sydney, there is an accommodation for every budget in the Quay.

Sydney is one of the great business hubs of the Southern Hemisphere. Business travelers come to Sydney from all over the world. Executive business people are accustomed to the finest and Sydney can offer even the most demanding executive a Sydney accommodation that will satisfy all of their requirements in beautiful Darling Point.

Closer to the Central Business District (CBD) an accommodation can be found for business travelers, families or backpackers. The CBD is the hub of activity in Sydney. Just a short stroll away is one of Sydney’s major attractions - Darling Harbor. There are dozens of shops, restaurants and cafe’s to wander through in this large complex or you can take a harbor side stroll outside and just enjoy the beautiful Sydney weather.

One of the wonderful things about Sydney is that there is something for everyone there. That goes for your Sydney accommodation, too. There are innumerable backpacker’s hostels, motels and hotels for families and deluxe accommodations for the executive traveler. What’s more, all of them are within a stone’s throw of the harbor and one of Sydney’s world famous beaches. No wonder everybody loves Sydney!

If you are searching for Sydney Accommodation for your next holiday, you may want to find cheap Sydney Motels. There are a number of great places to stay in Sydney.

There are many tourist spots in Australia. Beaches, landmarks, museums and other stunning places are scattered all around this continent. One of the most visited cities here is Perth. Perth is the capital city of Western Australia. Tourists from all over the world add up to the 1. 6 million residences here. Perth accommodation is being provided to the tourists and other visitors in various ways such as in hotels, restaurants, cafes, malls and beaches.

When will be the best time to visit Perth?

Yes, they can. People can enjoy the warm atmosphere during summer while they can also feel the cold breeze during winter. Although most of the holidays here are not celebrated, there are others such as the Labor Day and Foundation Day which are commemorated by locals. During these days, most of the shops are closed.

Where are the best places to stay?

For backpackers, there are lots of hostels in the area and they are commonly located in Northbridge. For those who wanted to enjoy the scenery of the beach, several beach houses offer services that a beach lover will surely crave for. People who stay here enjoy watching sunrise and sunset while eating some continental dishes served to them.

For families who want to spend few days in Perth, there are hotels that offer spacious and well-equipped rooms to their customers. Delicious meals are also provided to keep the family energized in going to different destinations. This is also the case for some apartments that are available within the city or in nearby places. Some families might be thinking of having a good time while spending less. This is possible due to the presence of the caravan parks. These trailer parks offer facilities and services with cheap rates.

What are the restaurants available?

Perth offers different kinds of cuisine other than theirs. There are restaurants who serve Southern European dishes while others have Asian cuisine in their menu. Perth became a melting pot of some other cultures and it became evident on the list of foods that a tourist can find there. A little problem may arise for people who love late night dining since only few restaurants serve foods after 10pm.

How is the night life in Perth?

Yes there are. They are like the typical clubs on other places that let their customers drink and dance all night. Fun is also guaranteed on clubs that provide comedy shows and other forms of entertainment. Cocktails and beers are also being sold to let their customers unwind a bit.

Perth marks its visitors with memories that are worth remembering. The city’s facilities and establishments make the tourists feel that they are accommodated well. There are few reminders that travelling experts want to share. One is that a tourist should avoid some troubles or problems along the way. This is done by taking care of your own stuff, not showing or bragging your possessions, being kind to the locals and not trusting someone too much.

Learn all you need to know about Perth Tours online. Find the perfect Perth Accommodation that will have you in the perfect location to enjoy it all. Go online now and find out more.

When thinking about canyons, Canyon de Sumidero is different from the Grand Arizona. What makes Canyon de Sumidero different is while the latter is in a desert, Canyon de Sumidero is full of greenery, water, and wildlife.

Canyon de Sumidero is in Chiapas State, Southeast Mexico. It begins near Chiapa de Corzo, stretches for 35km. Sumidero Canyon finally ends at the reservoir of the Chicoasn hydroelectric dam.

Canyon de Sumidero can be visited by boat or driving along the miradores at the top of the cliffs surrounding Canyon de Sumidero. We opted to join a boat trip at the Cahuar embarcadero. We were quite fortunate that a number of people turned up shortly after us, so we didn’t need to wait for long. After putting on our life vests we were ready to go to Canyon de Sumidero!

The boatman took us to some of the interesting spots along Canyon de Sumidero. The first one was the Cueva de Colores (Colours Cave), a small cave which has some interesting pinkish colours on the ceiling and a small statue of Virgin of Guadalupe. Later, toward the middle of the boat trip to Canyon de Sumidero, we arrived at the highest point of Canyon de Sumidero, a cliff that reaches nearly 1000m, where the mountains from both sides of the river create an impressive gate full of life surrounded by nature.

My favourite spot in Sumidero Canyon was a curious formation called the Christmas Tree. During the rainy season it becomes a waterfall, but during the winter, when the rain is not so abundant in Sumidero Canyon, an interesting formation is created covered with moss that resembles a Christmas Tree. It was quite a coincidence to be in Sumidero Canyon during Christmas season to contemplate this interesting sight.

After an hour on the boat trip, we arrived at the end of the Sumidero Canyon, where the river meets the Chicoasn dam. On the way back from Sumidero Canyon we tried to spot spider monkeys, birds and crocodiles. We were fortunate to see all of them in Sumidero Canyon.

Need more information on Canyon de Sumidero? Visit the Indie Travel Podcast for excellent travel advice for Sumidero Canyon.

With luggage and camera gear packed in the van by 8 in the morning my new friends and I on my photography tour are off to our first destination, promising to be an outstanding adventure. The excitement is high with everyone getting to know each other and talking cameras and pictures on this their first day.

Arenal, an active Costa Rica volcano, is our destination but first there are a couple of photography stops along the way. We go first to the little Tico community of Sarchi where brightly colored, decorated oxen carts are made in an old water powered factory. The second stop is nearby Zarcero, which has, as its focal point, an old wooden church and a double row of lovely topiaries leading up to it. Many memory cards are filled just photographing these two places with the magnificent colours and patterns of Sarchi and the incredible shapes of the topiaries in Zarcero.

The roads in Costa Rica are famous, not only for the magnificent land which they traverse but for their condition. Our driver, Luis, knows that we will encounter many potholes so he is cautious and as a result we are passed by most everything on two or four wheels. Many drivers here, from the ubiquitous taxistas to truck drivers, think they are Formula One drivers. Indeed, reportedly there is a bus driver whose passengers frequently find religion on his overland route.

After Sarchi and Zarcero we stop for lunch in La Fortuna and are now just a few miles from the lodge in Arenal. Upon leaving the main highway for the lodge we find ourselves traveling in, out, and around potholes. The rainy season ended about the beginning of December so many roads are still in very poor condition. Our road is unique because it was built out of crushed lava.

Rounding a curve we see a clearing beside a tropical river and there is the perfect cone shape of Arenal Volcano! Those who have never seen a volcano are stunned at the sight.

The point of the cone is cloaked in puffy white clouds with a beautiful blue sky as a backdrop. We immediately stop and quickly leave the van attaching cameras to tripods. Some of us wade into the river for a better image while some shoot from the riverbanks getting a different perspective.

Who is to say how dangerous being this close to an active volcano can be? Fortunately, Arenal is very predictable and today is closely monitored so there is a very low risk of a serious, catastrophic, unexpected eruption. Only 1 km away from the base of the volcano and 2 km to the top of the cone is the lodge where we stay and without a doubt any activity attracts the attention of everyone.

What a surprise that while we are unpacking and settling in, Arenal comes to life again! It roars loudly as smoke and gas shoot many hundreds of feet into the sky and rocks tumble down the slopes. Mantled Howler monkeys hoot loudly following the eruption but we really do not know if they are hooting in protest or howling in support.

We all sit in the lodge dining room enjoying our dinner as the volcano erupts again. I had told everyone that there are photo opportunities in Costa Rica but no one imagined anything like this could happen, certainly not while you are eating dinner. And this was only the first day of the photo tour!

Most of us do not get much sleep for the first two nights. Instead, we find some comfortable chairs in the common area outside our rooms and attach cable releases to our cameras and put them on a tripod. From past experiences I decide to use an 80-200mm lens set at 80mm and an aperture of f8, the camera shutter set at “B” for time exposure.

With the activity of the small flare-ups at the cone and the lava flowing down the opposite side I think a time exposure of more than twenty minutes will produce an ugly yellow blob of light, so if there had been no eruptions after this length of time I will close the shutter and start another exposure. Using a cable release makes these exposures very easy and Arenal puts on quite a display while we are there.

What a magnificent first day of the tour in Costa Rica. Eight more days of photography to go and everyone is anxiously looking forward to what exciting adventure tomorrow will bring.

Canadian Frank Scott lives in sunny Costa Rica where he is a professional Costa Rica Photographer offering unique photography tours. Some of his work can be seen in Costa Rica Vacations, a very popular travel guide to this unique country.

As a Costa Rica professional photographer, encountering new experiences is the norm, not the exception. My tour group never knows what is around the next corner.

One of the destinations for my group in Costa Rica Photo Tours is the beautiful, pristine Osa Peninsula along the southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, a place that National Geographic says is “the most biologically diverse place” on the planet. In order to reach this location by vehicle we drive through the tiny village of Ojochal, which is very near my home.

One of my groups discovered that moving day for some Costa Ricans can be rather unique. As my group and I were passing through the village we saw an incredible sight. But before I tell you the story let me tell you a bit about the man who was moving.

Our only neighbours when we moved to Costa Rica were Ticos (that is what the Costa Ricans call themselves) and one of them by the very Spanish name of Wilson came calling with a house warming gift of some flowering plants. It was very comical to see him standing at our driveway waiting to be invited in onto the property so that he could give us this gift. He was too polite to come to our door without an invitation.

After a sort of “conversation”, he in Spanish and my wife and I mostly in English, I realized that he wanted to give us the plants. We were new in the community and this was a welcoming from the neighbours who live at least a hour walk up the mountain. Yep, walk. No car. Senor Wilson walked an hour just to deliver a gift. Now, that is neighborly!

Over time, neighbor Wilson has walked to my house many times with plants. Now, it often happens that when he gives me his gifts he stands there waiting for me to plant them. Of course, sometimes I may already be on another project and cannot very well stop what I am doing so the plants get put into the ground later but my good neighbor sometimes drops by to find out where and when I had planted them. I never imagined that when I moved from Canada to Costa Rica.

Wilson came back a few days later to deliver yet another plant while his children swam in the river by our house. To my procrastinating dismay he asked where I planted the others that he had brought me.

Well, they were still in the pots (these pots are not the plastic pots that we are familiar with but old aluminum kettles with drainage holes made by stabbing the bottom with a machete), would you believe it? Wilson saw this and decided that he not only would bring the plants but he would plant them in our little garden. That tells you all you need to know about this good man.

Now, back to my photography tour group and the day they met Wilson. As we were driving along, we saw a man walking a horse. It was neighbor Wilson. What a sight! The poor horse was carrying two huge, not big–huge, white bags filled with clothes and household items. To add insult to injury, Wilson had propped a broom between the bags so that its blue bristle appeared between the horse’s ears. It looked just like the critter was wearing a bristle blue tiara! Not a very macho horse, I must say.

Wilson, standing by the horse, was holding a bridle in one hand and a birdcage in the other. A man, his birdcage, a horse, his crown. Quite a sight! It was moving day in Costa Rica.

I started the conversation as usual with “Hola, que tal?” “How are you?” And then I asked if he was moving (only kidding). But, sure enough, the horse was neighbor Wilson’s version of a moving van. I believe it is called a grass-eating 4 X 4.

Wilson explained that his family would be babysitting one of the Bed and Breakfasts while the owner was going back to Germany during the rainy season. This was ideal for him because it was much easier for his wife and 3 children to live in the pueblo close to the school rather than walk down about 2 miles from their mountain home every day.

I thought that it was rather interesting that he was carrying the birdcage. I would have thought that on one of the previous trips down to their new digs one of the children would have wanted to carry the cage.

However, seeing that he also carries flowering plants down the mountain, I guess carrying birdcages is not so far off the mark. He told me that the bird was young (parrot or parakeet, I’m not sure) but that it was very talkative and knew many words. To show off, it started to chatter while we were talking about it but as I have not yet mastered Spanish, I certainly did not understand bird Spanish.

You can imagine that my group was very excited about taking pictures of a crowned horse, chattering bird, and Costa Rica family walking down a mountain, worldly possessions carried by their trusty steed. Moving day in Costa Rica. One never knows what one will see or experience on my photo tour of Costa Rica.

Frank Scott lives in sunny Costa Rica where he is a professional Costa Rica Photographer offering one-of-a-kind photography tours. Some of his work can be seen in Costa Rica Vacations, a very popular travel guide to this unique country.