 20050527 Nicaragua
 Tomorrow I am leaving for Managua via San Jose, Costa Rica. My friend Paul will be waiting at the airport with an old car he rented, and we'll drive to San Juan del Sur to meet a group of surfers and photographers. From there, we will continue down the Pacific coast to an unnamed beach to spend six days. For the group, this is a surfing trip. For me, because I have never surfed, the obvious purpose is the photographic opportunity (although, I intend to get surfing lessons from the pros, as well). Paul and I are camping on the beach, outside the group's bungalow. To make room for camera equipment, I'm packing light and taking only a couple of tshirts, shorts and a hoodie amongst other trinkets of survival like iodine, bandaids, deet, and a flashlight. I have never been south of Miami and know only a few words of Spanish; The cultural experience will be unprecedented. I am wholly prepared to be a respectful and quietly observing gringo; to eat lots of rice, beans and corn totillas; and to drink plenty of Tona, a Nicaraguan beer, which I hear is the best in Central America. Otherwise, I'll be taking plenty of pictures, and will be sure to share them when I get back on the 3rd. PS. Experienced advice is appreciated. 12
Comments:
James McDaniel said... WOW! This trip sounds like it is going to me AMAZING. I'm jealous. 10:59 AM raul said... You sound like you're on the right track with traveling light. Other advice. 1. Buy Pepto Bismol and start taking 2/day now. The bismuth in pepto works prophylacticly and helps prevent stomach bugs from taking hold. After a few days of pepto your tounge will turn black but that's a small price to pay for a happy stomach. 2. Bring a polaroid. If you are going to be shooting lots of people it's a nice way to give back. 3. Humidity/rain can be a problem on the beach in Nicaragua and it doesn't play nice with digital. Make sure you have backups... Also it helps to have at least 2 layers of sealable bags so that you can put stuff inside and keep it nice and dry. A few big clear trash bags to protect against water to put the whole camera bag inside during rain is always a good idea. 4. Lots of stuff to clean the cameras... If you are camping sand will be an issue. 5. No ice... there probably won't be any anyway... 6. If you are bringing film, a lead lined bag is essential. Those central american x-ray machines are brutal regardless what they say. . . . Dude I'm jealous. You're going to a very special place. Enjoy and take way too many pictures. 11:58 AM Melissa said... Word to the Pepto, but also take Imodium; I'm not kidding. It's great for the tourista that's so easy to get. You have the time of your life there, but stay safe and come back to share breathtaking pictures with your hoards of fans. 12:14 PM yp said... have fun. 12:17 PM Zach said... Excellent advice, Raul. I owe you a drink when I get back. 1:00 PM said... what raul says is true (and he should know). Pepto is a natural way to keep your stomach happy, but it only goes so far, so eat safe. Only eat hot well cooked foods. Avoid all raw vegetables. Only eat fruits you can peel (and to be on the safe side wash them with boiled water first, except for bananas which have thick skins. No water except bottled water or boiled water. No ice. Immodium stops up your intestines and can save you from embarrassment so it's also a good thing to have in the arsenal, but use it only as a last resort. Pepto is preventative. Immodium is a treatment. Serious sunscreen. In Costa Rica with 40spf I burned to a crisp. Catch some sick waves. Come back (you'll be tempted to stay). 1:28 PM ktdd said... Have an amazing trip...you'll be speaking Spanish in no time. Please be safe, and take pictures of EVERYTHING. 4:23 PM said... Alex sez: i highly suggest bringing the best zoom lense(s) you can find. photographing people on their boards from the beach is a bitch. 7:36 PM said... wax your board and watch for coral. i want to see surfing pictures!Plenty! 11:22 PM Mareen said... Oh I am so jealous... all these photo opportunities, with the people and places there! I already miss writing with you. Please be save, take care! 2:14 PM C. said... Nicaragua is a very exotic and interesting place...you're going to love it. Here are a few words of advice for you: 1. Make friends with a local. A lot of times the natives try to take advantage of the "gringos" by making them pay more. If you play your cards right you won't spend much money...it's relatively inexpensive. 2. The water in Central America is not very good -- most people who aren't used to it get really sick. I would suggest drinking bottled water at all times. 3. Nicaraguan food rocks, particularly "nacatamales". They're the Nicaraguan version of tamales, and they're delicious. Also, make sure you try "flor de cana", it's an authetic Nicaraguan drink. Be careful though, it's strong and will get you smashed before you know it. Lastly, pick up the basic Spanish phrases: - Where is the bathroom: Donde esta el bano? - Thanks for the food: Gracias por la comida - It's nice to meet you: Mucho gusto en conocerte. - Where is...: Donde esta (fill in the blank) Enjoy yourself...it's awesome down there! :) 2:39 PM Tiffany said... If you stay I swear I will come find you. Eat a mango for me. Germany says hello. 7:42 AM Post a Comment |
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 Hi, I'm Zach. I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana and graduated from Wake Forest. After college, I moved to Manhattan to get serious about a company I ran with friends. We sold it to Barry Diller's InterActiveCorp in 2006. I just wrapped up with a project I co-founded called Vimeo and left CV to focus on being a twenty-five year old. I have another blog called Copy and Taste, where I post about learning to cook. I live in Brooklyn now.  Del.icio.us My Flickr Me on Flickr Last.fm Linked in MySpace Netflix History Vimeo  Amir Blumenfeld Chris Bodenner Mareen Fischinger Fort Wayne Observed Nick Gray Hype Machine Jake and Amir Jakob Lodwick Oh My Rockness Jonathan Marcus Youngna Park Megan Scheminske Eliot Shepard Shorpy Signal vs. Noise Alex Soth Stereogum Ricky Van Veen Khoi Vinh Eugene Wyatt   Postal Skype SMS (via AIM) |