I put together a planning website for our trip - should be a blast!
http://sites.google.com/site/panamacanalcruz
We probably won't be able to post pictures as we go, but I'll do that as it becomes available.
Whee!!!
Brigid Travels
Updates from The Road
Map of vacation pictures
Here's a map showing where I have traveled and a sample image from each place!
Next up - Miami, Costa Rica, Philadelphia, London [2005]
Itinerary, for future reference:
First - Meet Anette in Miami (no hurricanes!) Sept 28 - San Diego to Miami (a-8:32p) - overnight: Colony Hotel: http://www.colonyhotelsouthbeach.com Sept 29 – Miami – overnight: Colony Hotel Sept 30 - Key West - overnight: Chelsea House: http://www.chelseahousekw.com Oct 1 - Key West, Fort Lauderdale - overnight: with Anette's parents in Fort Lauderdale
Then - Costa Rica!!! Oct 2 - Miami to San Jose (a-12:33p) - overnight: Rosa del Paseo Hotel (RP): http://www.rosadelpaseo.com Oct 3 - San Jose to Tortuguero - boat tours, night turtle walk : http://www.tortuguerocanals.com - overnight: Laguna Lodge: http://www.lagunatortuguero.com Oct 4 - Tortuguero to San Jose - overnight: RP Oct 5 - San Jose to Pacuare – rafting - overnight: Pacuare Lodge (PL): http://www.junglelodgecostarica.com Oct 6 - Pacuare – morning butterfly walk, zip lines or hike - overnight: PL Oct 7 - Pacuare – same - overnight: PL Oct 8 - Pacuare to San Jose - overnight: RP Oct 9 - San Jose to Drake Bay - snorkel, kayak - overnight: Drake Bay Wilderness Resort (DB): http://www.drakebay.com Oct 10 - Drake Bay - Cano Island or Corcovado - overnight: DB Oct 11 - Drake Bay - same - overnight: DB Oct 12 - Drake Bay - Mangrove Island, horseback riding, Rio Claro, kayaking, butterfly farm, canopy tour, swim with dolphins or Violines Island - overnight: DB Oct 13 - Drake Bay to San Jose to Miami - overnight: Miami International Airport Hotel: http://www.miahotel.com
After that, it's back northeast to visit the family in Philly, including a quick hop across the pond for a Sri Lanka team reunion in London (Oct 28-31 - Ramada Hotel & Suites, Docklands).
Ready to go! [2005]
Ready to go! I'm ready a whole 20 minutes early - not sure that has ever happened to me before :) Just waiting for Danielle to pick me up - she's driving me up to LAX. Hopefully it won't take more than 2 hours, but we'll see how the traffic is. Thanks Danielle!!!!!
It still doesn't feel real, but I am ready!
Some websites: Sri Lanka Beach Cleanup Project: http://www.i-to-i.com/other/project/sri_con_beach.htm Home base - Kalutara: http://www.travelsrilanka.com/travel/towns/kalutara/index.php Sri Lanka news: http://www.island.lk/ Sri Lanka Tourism site: http://www.srilankatourism.org/
Sri Lanka [2005]
Just in case... Flight there, through Singapore leaves LAX 9:20pm Fri the 8th, arrive in Columbo 10:50am on Sun the 10th. (Singapore SQ19, Emitates EK6176) (renting car to drive from San Diego to LA)
First night: Blue Seas Guesthouse, 9/6 De Saram Rd, Mount Lavinia Rest of the time: Dias Sea Resort, 183 Abrew Rd, Kalutara N
Main Contacts: me: byentz@yahoo.com, 858 349 8926 (I'll have my cell, but not sure of the coverage)
i-to-i desk in UK: Susanna Lutman susanna.lutman@i-to-i.com ++44 113 205 4637
In Sri Lanka: Hemamali Palihakkara (Dr Pali) h.palihakkara@i-to-i.com ++0777-247848 (cell)
Emergency: ++44 (0) 113 205 4614
Flight home (all on the 24th), through Singapore leaves Columbo 7:10am, arrive LAX 5:30pm (Emirates EK6174, Singapore SQ20). (renting car to drive home that night)
Columbo
We spent our first night in Columbo, and then headed off to Kalutara.
Kalutara
We stayed here while we did tsunami cleanup work.
Kandy
We had a long weekend off, and headed to Kandy.
Negumbo
The last night in country we spent partying in Negumbo.