The Notorious Over Packer - Travel Relocation Abroad

The over packer's motto:

“I’ll take it.... just in case” 

GUILTY as charged!

I have travelled near and far and no matter where I go, I end up packing too many clothes. I really have the best of intentions because my desire has always been to take "only what I need".  However, even though I bought a fancy luggage scale - in the end I always have at least 2 suitcases full of clothing and have even found myself re-shuffling clothing from one bag to another at the airline check in counter - which is sort of embarassing, I might add -- especially since a good majority of those clothes I never end up wearing. It's a very stressful way to travel!

My packing process has not served me well in the past and for 2015 and beyond I have vowed to change my overpacking ways and travel lighter -- using only a carry on.  (all bets are off when relocating to a new country)

Here's why

You can save yourself some money!
The U.S. airline industry has made about $3.4 billion a year in baggage fees since most airlines started charging for checked bags in 2008. On one trip returning from Barcelona I added a 3rd bag and it cost me over $200! 

The BF says he wil not repeat the luggage debacle we experienced in France when he had to carry our 4 over stuffed suitcases up and down several flights of stairs (no elevator) in one of the train stations in France. All annoucements were in french and they kept switching the departure gate (we think). That was in 2010 and he brought it up again last week. Seems he will NEVER forgive me for that one - although I swear to you "it was not my fault!"

But beyond that, what is really driving this decision is our upcoming trip to Costa Rica because we will primarily be using various forms of public transportation. There will be 5 of us and we will each be repsonsible for our own luggage (meaning the BF won't be carrying my bag). Plus I am pretty nervous about letting my luggage out from under my watchful eye on the buses  -- as I have heard horror stories about luggage and personal items being taken in Cost Rica.  So, it's one bag for me. I might even let the bag have the seat  on the bus and I will stand! :)

Here are some of my tips 

AND.......Don't Forget

Be ready to go through screening and remove electronics and liquids and gels for inspection. If you can, place these items separately in the zipper portion in the front of your suitcase.

Use dryer sheets. Put one in each suitcase. Keeps it smelling nice!  Plus, reminds you of home if you are prone to homesickness. 

PACK YOUR UNDERWEAR LAST

Underwear is tiny.  It doesn’t need it’s own dedicated corner in your suitcase.  It doesn’t even need to be folded.  This might seem a bit haphazard but once you’re done packing you can literally just stuff your underwear into the gaps between your clothes.  Saving a bit of space sometimes really is that simple.

Last but not least

"i don't think you need to bring this"

After you've finished packing and repacking, have an impartial friend or family member go through what you've packed and give you their honest opinion of what you are taking.
Remove the unnecessary pieces.  Zip your bag and Enjoy your trip!

Costa Rica Here We Come!

The beautiful money of Costa Rica - Tips- Relocation Costa Rica

The other day I was getting a little nervous wondering about how and where to exchange money for our Costa Rica trip.  I have made currency exchanges for past trips abroad at a currency exchange location in San Francisco prior to our tirps.

The colón (named after Christopher Columbus, known as Cristóbal Colón in Spanish) is the currency of Costa Rica. The plural is colones. The ISO 4217 code is CRC.

The symbol for the colón is a capital letter "C" crossed by two diagonal strokes.
more about the Colon

I realized that you don't get the best exchange rate at these locations and for some reason I was under the impression that I was to make the exchange at the San Jose upon arrival. I asked our Costa rica contact about this and was told that in fact, the airport was the worst place to exchange money. The preferred option would be the use a bank. However, we are arriving very early in the morning on a Saturday and I doubt that we will be able to get to a bank.

How will we get to our hotel or do anything without the local currency?

Good question

Have no fear!  Michael & D'Angelo to the rescue (thanks guys!).

Cleared everything up and now I'm all set!

Take a listen

This is how we do it - Day 2 - Relocation Costa Rica

It's day 2 and Ashlea, Tommy and Wanda head out for a full day of exploring.

They start the day with a meal of fresh fruit which they purchased from one of the local carts - the fresh fruit is wonderful. It can be cut for you and you are welcome to taste test fruits you might be unfamiliar with.  They buy Rambutan, Star Fruit, mini bananas and some sort of green orange. You can actually buy quite A LOT of fruit for $10!

Next they head off to rent bikes from one of the many bike shops. Bikes are a normal mode of transportation for tourists and locals alike. They rental rate is $7/ea for 24 hrs. They then head south  to explore the area south of Puerto Viejo. 

It's a scenic ride and they past by the Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel where we are going to stay and Ashlea remarks that "it looks awesome" (whew!). On the way they stop in Cocles at La Isla Inn located across from the ocean and booked their next two nights. The inn is owned by a very nice German lady. There are many different cultures in this part of Costa Rica. Ashlea is in love with melting pot of people who live in the area.  

As they continued their journey there were boutiques, restaurants, quaint hotels and grocery stores which dotted the entire ride. Ashlea and I had been a bit worried that there would be no cool clothing places but to our surprise there were many! She will send us some pics which I will include in a later post.

"Aqua de pipa" as it is called in Costa Rica is not to be confused with coconut milk. Drinking young coconut water provides a quick and easy source of nutrition without taxing the enzyme systems of the body. It improves the absorption of minerals, B vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as some amino acids.
Costs about $2.00 and can be found just about everywhere!

Along the ride they came upon a man on a bike...yelling "pahhhhty patty patty" so they decided to stop him and ask what he was selling. Homemade empanadas from a recipe originating in Jamaica...and fresh juice. He also instructed them that is they continued on their path, once they reached the town of Punta Uva (where a lot of the expats live), cross bridge and turn left they would find beach. After following the long road through the jungle and they arrived at a truly breathtaking beach. They swam...lounged about and then headed home.

Total miles on the bike....18
Now THAT is some riding!

Stay tuned for day 3 and it's all about the dogs!

This is how we do it! - Relocation Costa Rica

Tonight I am doing the happy dance.

This is how we do it

Montell Jordan

I've been chatting with my new friend Ashlea for several months now. We met on Facebook due to our mutual interest in relocating to Costa Rica (particularly the Puerto Viejo area located on the Southern Caribbean coast).

Ashlea and I had many really long, drawn out IM conversations on Saturday mornings. Each of us confessing our true desires (like possibly finding a boutique or some place to shop and how to open up a business) and our fears (like too many insects, wild animals and lousy internet).

Ashlea, her mom and a friend made plans to visit Costa Rica several months earlier than our planned spring time trip. So, she promised to report back to me and give me the 411 on the area.

Well, she arrived yesterday and is following through on her promise!

Looks like the only glitch so far has been the flight over (Spirit Air).  I have been very hesitant about taking advantage of one of the advertised "cheap" flights. They keep popping up on my fare alert. I think Ashlea took one of those flights and it was delayed in Miami.  The delay pushed them back a day. My plan is to fly Jet Blue to Ft Lauderdale and then on to Costa Rica.  Not the cheapest fare but reasonable if we wait for the right time to buy our tickets.

When they finally arrived in Costa Rica they made the 4 hour bus trip to Puerto Viejo. She reports that the trip seemed a bit long but explains it was due to their earlier flight delay.  A thumbs up to the bus and the beautiful scenery along the way.

The initial report was that the place is packed full of culture and pretty cool place despite the fact that it is also very hot and VERY humid. However, we both knew this going in.

Coco Loco Lodge

They stayed at the  his cute little place called the Coco Loco Lodge. A very nice, quite little place a bit off the beaten path and with no AC and mosquito nets--a plus.  On their 1st night they endured a power outage but were assured that although it happens from time to time (generally when it had rained a lot) It is not the norm.  In spite of this they were very happy with their lodging choice.  They did miss the earthquake that rocked Costa Rica the day before.

Our plan is to stay at Le Caméléon Boutique Hotel in Playa Cochles, located on a beautiful beach a few miles from Puerto Viejo.

They had a chance to check out Bread and Chocolate, a bakery and bistro in Puerto Viejo.  It's also on our list of places when we eat. The breakfasts look scrumptious.

Because we both have pets, Ashlea and I discussed the stray dog situation which I've read a lot about. The rumors appear to be true although she says the dogs seem friendly.

The local people have been very helpful and offering loads of info.

Last I heard from Ashlea they were are off to dinner and some music at The Lazy Mon.
Can't wait for the review!!
BTW - Our first stop in Puerto Viejo will be to the legendary Open Mic Night where you can jam out with musicians from all over the world every Sunday night!

Pura Vida!

Making new friends in Puerto Viejo

Thank you Ashlea, Wanda and Tommy

please stay tuned for more...

Boomer Retirement Abroad - I will not be retiring in Saudi Arabia

Since I've been making my plans  to escape  from the U.S, oops I mean relocate, I've been following a lot of expat blogs.  I have even contacted some of the bloggers.

One of the blogs I follow is Black Chick on Tour. I have not contacted her (yet) but find her posts and her videos to be very funny and always informative.

Now, under NO circumstances do I plan to move to Saudi Arabia, but I thought it was very interesting to hear about her experiences as an expat in Saudi Arabia and I especially enjoyed her change of attitude regarding the abaya.

You know, I never really gave it much thought that there was any diversity in choosing one of these garnents. (c'mon and you didn't either) I figured they were just black garments that the women wrapped up in.

Right?

Wrong!

Just goes to show you - women are women, everywhere!

Here are a couple of things you might want to know if you plan to go to Saudi Arabia

What is an abaya anyway?

The abaya sometimes also called an aba, is a simple, loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in parts of the Muslim world including in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

 Traditional abayat are black and may be either a large square of fabric draped from the shoulders or head or a long caftan. The abaya covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands. It can be worn with the niqāb, a face veil covering all but the eyes. Some women choose to wear long black gloves, so their hands are covered as well.

Abayat are known by various names but serve the same purpose, which is to cover. Contemporary models are usually caftans, cut from light, flowing fabrics like crepe, georgette, and chiffon. Other known abaya styles are front open and front closed abaya. Styles differ from region to region: some abayat have embroidery on black fabric while others are brightly coloured and have different forms of artwork across them.

What is the difference between an abaya and a burka?

A burka and abaya are different. Both are undergarments worn by Muslim women to maintain modesty in public.

A burka is a head to toe covering worn by women. Their face is concealed by fabric that you can not see into but they can see out of. This style of Islamic dress is common in Afghanistan. They can come in different colors but black and blue (afgani) are the most common.

An Abaya is a body cover, often black in color (especially in the Gulf Region), that covers a women from neck to toe. There are many different styles of abayas, and they usually are paired with a matching shayla (oblong) style hijabs.

Check out Terri as she chooses her new abaya

Boomer Retirement Abroad - Some Costa Rica Facts

According to Travel Market Report, roughly 3.3 million American baby boomers claim that they intend to retire abroad.

As prices continue to rise in the US and health care costs remain a huge concern for many retirees looking to retire on the cheap, there has been an increasing number of expats relocating to countries in Central America. 

Costa Rica is still a first choice destination for many of those seeking a better life abroad. 

San Jose, Costa Rica (capital)

Costa Rica 

Costa Rica boasts 27 hurricane free micro climates, abundant and inexpensive highlands real estate up out of the tropical heat, humidity and bugs of the coastal areas, and a welcoming attitude by the Tico people. 

It's not as inexpensive as it used to be but a typical Social Security income of $2,000/month for a couple will provide enough money to live in a good house, have a part-time maid or gardener, and still have enough left over at the end of the month for a little fun.

• Jobs are not easy to find although starting a business is feasible. 

• Retirement visas can be obtained (you can file papers yourself although the process can become a bit problematic). For a more seamless process it is recommended that you seek the help of a lawyer. BEWARE - Lawyers are lawyers everywhere (some good and some not so good). Be sure to do your research before hiring one and NEVER pay their entire fee upfront.

• English is spoken more and more in Costa Rica, and you can probably get away with not speaking Spanish. However, it is recommended that you learn at least some basic Spanish. It will also help you feel more like you are a part of the community. Being able to speak some Spanish is a must outside of the capital

• Anyone in the country can legally buy and own real estate (it is advisable to rent for at least a year BEFORE buying any real estate). Do not be lured in by the hype of the many ads hawking cheap real estate. Although real estate is very affordable (beware of scams) and be sure that you know that you really want to live in Costa Rica first. Investigate the areas and get to know the culture before buying. Make 'rent before you buy' your mantra!

• Cars and other 'luxury' items are heavily tariffed

• Fruits and vegetables are inexpensive and abundant. You will pay a high cost for imported goods and your favorite foods from the US (up to twice as much

• Electricity rates are on the rise so keep that in mind when choosing a location to live. (if you want to live at the beach where it is HOT you will be spending more on electricity to run that air conditioner)

• Costa Rica boasts top notch medical facilities (with English speaking doctors trained in the US) affordable health care costs for a fraction of US costs and inexpensive medication costs

• Once again the topic of CRIME comes up. Once again, I will say, what you classify as high crime is relative. Always stay vigilant and don't make yourself a target. 

Costa Rica Travelog

ALWAYS do your HOMEWORK   I've already done a ton or research (which I will share here) and I've talked to many people who have first hand knowledge about living in Costa Rica Stay tuned for more information on moving to Costa Rica

Oprah finale show pink bracelet - The Answer Has Arrived

Pink Tassel Bracelet - July Featured Special 

Just about everyone has fallen in love with Oprah's pink diamond bracelet from her final show.  Now you can have the look without the price tag (reported to be around a million dollars). This is a tribute to that bracelet, not a copy, and it is made with two shades of pink Swarovski crystals and has a slide lock clasp and 1 3/4" crystal tassel.

I had the pleasure  of speaking with the designer of this beautiful bracelet. Her name is Paula Huckabay. 

My interview with Paula is below

~~~~~~~~~~~~

what is the name of your business and do you have a studio or is it an online business?

Pacific Jewelry Designs, Fresno CA

My jewelry is sold online at http://www.pacificjewelrydesigns.com

how long have you had your business?

I have been designing and making jewelry for about 10 years and have been selling it since almost the beginning.

why did you decide to work with jewelry?

My love for jewelry has always been apparent, I don’t feel dressed without at least my earrings and a bracelet whether I am shopping for groceries or dressing for an evening out. I live mostly in blue jeans but ladies, my jewelry will always make a statement! I have been an artist most of my life, specializing in oil paintings and portraits, so I have always had a sense of color and design. My paintings and prints are in the US, Canada and Europe and at one point I designed the t-shirts for the Leon Russell and Edgar Winter tour. When the beading scene began to reemerge several years ago it was an easy decision to start designing and making my own jewelry and it has grown from there.

how would you describe your style? 

My style is eclectic, there are so many different things I love to incorporate in my designs. I can get excited over a new piece of chunky turquoise or a set of gorgeous handmade lampwork beads. I love working with Swarovski crystals and one of my favorite things is freeform peyote, a great example of which is the “Rivoli Peyote” bracelet which began with a Swarovski crystal rivoli and turned into a lovely bracelet incorporating freeform and structured peyote. My inspiration comes from many different things, sometimes a color or combination of colors, sometimes nature and sometimes the beads themselves are all the inspiration I need.

what kind of jewelry do you make? 

I focus on mostly bracelets, earrings and necklaces although recently I designed an original Swarovski crystal ring and I now wear one of those just about every day.

what types of materials do you use? 

I use a lot of lampwork, Swarovski crystals, gemstones and glass beads and I love working with wire. I like to use the best quality materials I possibly can while keeping my pieces affordable.

who is your target market?

My target market is the woman who appreciates high quality handcrafted jewelry and who doesn’t want to be wearing the same jewelry as can be purchased at most retail stores by other women. There is a lot to be said for being individual and that is why I do a lot of custom designing, I love to work with a client to make exactly what she has in mind.

do you have a blog or a newsletter? do you have sales or specials on any of your collections? If so how do you let people know?

At this time I don’t blog or have a scheduled newsletter but I do send emails to alert my customers when there is a sale or a special of any kind (usually four to six times a year). My goal is not to flood the inboxes but to let you know when there is a really good special or a large selection of brand new jewelry so it is really important to sign up for the mailing list on the home page of my website. You know when you receive an email from me it is for a really good reason.

what gives you the most pleasure as a jewelry designer?

As a jewelry designer my greatest pleasure is being able to be creative and to do what I love doing every day. Customer service is my number one priority, I believe in great communication, high quality and total customer satisfaction as well as beautiful designs. Added to that, making jewelry is just fun!

what was the inspiration for your "tribute to Oprah pink bracelet"?

My inspiration for the Pink Tassel Bracelet (tribute to Oprah’s pink diamond bracelet) was very simple. Oprah has inspired so many millions of people in her long and remarkable career and she has a very devoted following. The idea was to provide a beautiful bracelet that would pay tribute to the lovely bracelet that Oprah wore in her final episode and yet have it be at an affordable price for everyone ( I don’t personally know anyone who can afford a cool million or so for a bracelet). The bracelet I designed has incredible sparkle and a lovely tassel and I would like to think that wearing this bracelet will remind you of the inspiration that Oprah has been in your life.

I want you to love your jewelry and wear it with joy! Many thanks to Devon for the opportunity to do this interview, it has been a pleasure getting to know you and I hope you will love wearing your new Pink Tassel Bracelet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Paula. I'm a glass artist and jewelry designer myself and I am very impressed with your work. I am sure I'm going to love my bracelet! It actually arrived today but I was not home so it is now at the post office. I will pick it up tomorrow! Can't wait!

order your bracelet today (it will also make a perfect gift) - to get your special "reader" discount - Click here and type in the code PINK10

I'm Just Sayin!

Oprah finale show pink bracelet

I loved Oprah's final 3 shows. I'm keeping them on my DVR for now, using the save setting "I delete."  This will insure that they don't get deleted for any capacity issues.

Anyway, as I was watching the finale I was mesmerized by the beautiful pink bracelet Oprah was wearing. Did any of you notice? (Sorry I couldn't find a close up of the bracelet).

If you're interested, I did a little research on the subject. I'll share it with you so that you don't have to waste time searching on your own (oh c'mon now I saw your to-do list and I know you were going to look this up next).

I was very interested because, I (want one) thought the bracelet may have been the work of a new jewelry designer (I hoped maybe an affordable one).

At first I read that it was the creation of Ivanka Trump but finally learned that the bracelet is the design of Lorraine Schwartz "jeweler to the stars."

I'm not sure how much the one Oprah was wearing cost, but the average price I saw for many of the others was around $900,000.

Guess I won't be buying one anytime soon. However...I have my fingers crossed that someone will Please, Please come up with a knock-off!

*********UPDATE 7/1/11********The Answer has Arrived************

Just about everyone has fallen in love with Oprah's pink diamond bracelet from her final show.  Now you can have the look without the price tag (reported to be around a million dollars). This is a tribute to that bracelet, not a copy, and it is made with two shades of pink Swarovski crystals and has a slide lock clasp and 1 3/4" crystal tassel. 

To order your very own custom Pink Tassel Bracelet and get your special "reader" discount Click here and enter the code: PINK10

and Don't forget to check out my interview with the Designer!

 

Pink Tassel Bracelet

*******************

Lorraine Schwartz Collection

I'm Just Sayin

Vacation Review - My Little Slice of Heaven

It’s A Wrap

I have been home for a week and the time has come for me to sit down and reflect upon my travels (and also share some of the many photos I was not able to post during our trip).

To start with - This was - without a doubt - the ~BEST~ vacation I have ever had!! Twenty-two (count em 22) days is a long time to be away from home but I loved every, single, minute of it.  I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing Europe for the first time by ship and I highly recommend it (especially for anyone who wants to get the flavor of many different places all at once). The Celebrity Century is a beautiful ship and the new friends we met on board helped to make this a most memorable occasion (a special "Thank You" to our new friends - you know who you are). Our ship arrived in port around 6:00 am every morning, As the engines loudly signaled our arrival, I could hardly wait to throw open the curtains to view each new port. I would stand out on our balcony in the early morning sunlight and behold the panoramic beauty before me. It was quite a sight. My first moments of "awe" are captured in the “Welcome to…” photos that I shot from our balcony, posted to the blog and I shared with you each day.

My plan is to now highlight the highs and lows of each stop along our journey.

So, let’s get started with our first stop (pre cruise) and also my most FAVORITE place Yep, you guessed it!

PARIS!

And there are so so many reasons why..

First of all, if you think about it, Paris is really one ginormous museum. A magical, cosmopolitan city steeped in history. Paris is a visual feast and a photographer's wonderland. The 5-6 days we spent there did not give us nearly enough time to take in all that this enchanting city has to offer.  Something about being there, just felt right to me, and now that I am NOT there, well, it feels as though something is missing. If the ticket didn’t cost so much and the plane ride wasn’t so excruciatingly long, I’m sure I would pop over to Paris every chance I got. 

I was very pleased with our HOTEL suite at the Hotel Le A (a very nice boutique hotel centrally located in the 8th arrondissement). We have some photos which I cannot seem to locate among the multitude of pictures we took. At any rate, the staff was pleasant and more than helpful. The hotel provided a very nice breakfast in their lobby each morning. The only draw back (if I should have to name one) was that our suite was on the 4th floor and shortly after our arrival (approx 15 minutes to be exact) the elevator broke down and was not fixed before we left. Every time we went in and out, we had to climb the narrow winding stairs to our room (usuallly stopping briefly on the 3rd floor to catch a second wind).

I found the PEOPLE of Paris to be friendly and helpful. I observed no hint of rudeness. It is true however, that there are lots of Parisians who do not speak any English. In those cases there was usually someone close by who could do an adequate translation, and my high school French came in handy as well.

The METRO was a little unsettling at first, but once we got the hang of it, we were off to the races.  The stations are pretty old but each one has its own charm.  Kind of felt like I was in an old French movie.

The FOOD was good too. I know most people rave about it but I am not really that in to food so I was more taken by the atmosphere. We went to several nice restaurants but we really liked an Italian place, called La Cavallina, which was very close to our hotel. We ate there twice. On our 2nd visit, the waitress even remembered what I had ordered the first time - which was very helpful (as I could not recall my order - en francais). The meal even included a complimentary glass of a fine French champagne (yum) The patrons were nicely dressed, the dog was under the table and the air was buzzing with conversation......all in French. 

Of course in Paris, Desserts were everywhere. Need I say more? But what I enjoyed most was sitting out at the sidewalk cafes and watching all the people go by. In Paris you can make a day of just watching people.

SHOPPING - I think you really need a ton of cash to shop in Paris (OK, maybe I just need a ton of cash to shop in Paris). One day I walked to the Champs Elysees (which was dangerously close to our hotel - I might add) anyway, I strolled in and out of many of the shops and little malls along the way. I found the cutest little boutique and stopped in to find no other customers in the shop. I spent the next 2 hours there, trying on clothes  (I bought 4 items which cost me more than I care to say) but the experience was one I will remember for some time to come. Oh, and BTW French women are very tiny and the European sizes are different from ours.  if you want to buy clothes there and you are bigger than, say a size 6 - get ready for salesgirl to go into the storage room to find you the BIG clothes sizes.

ah... The City. What can I say? The buildings, the river, the museums, the flowers, the trees.  Tres magnifique! I highly recommend the red double decker tour buses. The cost is reasonable and tickets can be purchased for 1-2 days. This tour will give you a good cross section of the most popular sights. I will say that June is the beginning of tourist season and there were soooo many people in the city that we were not able to easily visit many of the attractions. But, It's all just so FRENCH! and I loved it anyway!

Bag-a-licious

Longchamp Paris was established 60 years ago and is a well-known, top fashion brand in Paris. It has been very popular with Hollywood stars and other rich and famous people. The Longchamp brand is famous for their making of quality handbags which is why more and more celebrities are supporting the brand.

These handbags are also a celebrity favorite because of their luxurious French style. But the most distinguishing characteristic of Longchamp handbags is found in their horse logo. Why a horse you ask? The famous Longchamp Horse logo was inspired by a notable Parisian race horse track called Longchamp (French translation: long field).

The collection comprises a range of styles, from party clutches to shoppers and travel bags, all in red and black leather as well as zebra print.

              

Longchamp will collaborate with Kate Moss on two collections per year. The first lot went to the brand's boutiques and a few department stores (Galleries Lafayette in Paris, Selfridges in London) and worldwide on February 11th.

Since I plan to buy a handbag while in Paris I will check out the Longchamp.


I'm Just Sayin