The photo above is a reminder of the world I left with all the green! Memories of experiences there, all the shades of green, even the humitity…helping me feel warmer in this winter gray of Colorado!
Smooth but long travel day. Just a bit anxious from all the conflicting travel information! However, I trusted the driver I hired, left early and was prepared to flow. And it flowed smoothly!
I was up at 3:30 am (2:30 Colorado time) to finishing preparing my pack and getting ready. My driver messaged me when he was on his way. He was early! I woke the overnight security person to let me out and was in the car around 4:15 am. Off we went.
Little traffic this time of morning! And a good smooth patient driver made the trip even better!
When information becomes misinformation!-
Anticipating my very early morning departure, I began searching the web for information on how to get to the airport. The information was conflicting, all over the place, given with authority and resulted in greater confusion! Not greater clarity! It was so confusing I thought about canceling my reservation and moving to a place nearer the airport.
First, I posted a question on a couple Nicaraguan Travel facebook group pages. The results: the same I had found searching the internet. Answers ranges from telling me: the airport is open 24 hours; the shops are closed but the airport is open; you are required to be there 2-3 hours in advance; “I showed up at 4:30 am for my flight and the airport was closed. We waited outside for an hour!”. I was informed that there is a long line at immigration, security can take a long time, etc.
I know things always work out! So rather than check any further outside, I went inside to feel what was right for me! I contacted NICA taxi and asked how long it took to get to the airport. Then, I booked with him to get me there between 5:00 and 5:15 am. The day before, I moved up our departure time 15 minutes for a little extra window of comfort!
The results? A smooth drive that took only 25 minutes. I was at the airport by 4:40. United had only a couple people in line! I covered my backpack, checked in, got new boarding passes and was through in less than 10 minutes. Talking with the friendly gate person about my trip, she told me as we were wrapping up that I “had” to come back to Nicaragua!
Immigration: there was no line! I walked up to a waiting agent. Five minutes, I was through. Then security had a few people in line. It went smoothly and I was through there in under 10 minutes! So by 5:10, I was heading for a coffee and some breakfast at the open shops before going to the gate.
VERY SMOOTH! And….the plane was only about half full! I had three seats to myself on my way to Houston. Immigration there was smooth as well! Just a few questions and my bag was re-checked for Denver. This plane was PACKED but comfortable.
It’s unusual for me to take a trip and only have flights of under 3 hours! I like this!
Big difference in environment! What an adjustment!
I spent much of my time in “off the beaten path” locations in nature. Forest, reserves and coffee farm areas! I was surrounded by trees, tons of green plants, lots of birds and wildlife. I seldom heard a vehicle except when I was in the cities. And things moved slow! A short bus ride of 25K (15 miles) might take a couple hours. And there was freshly made food everywhere!
Home! Nice being home. It’s cold which feels pretty good! No green!! Leaves waiting to be cleaned up. Dead plants in the garden to remove. Home is more isolated and responsible! At the hostels, there was always someone around to connect with! That’s different here!
See the photo at right for a clear visual on the change in my physical environment! I’ve got a lot of photos to edit and to keep me covered in warm memories!
Some immediate adjustments after arriving home!
What an awesome experience traveling in Central America!! Every day held new surpises and experiences. And now I’m here at home and adjusting. I’ve got some unusual adjustments this time!
First, I have to remember how to drive. It’s been over 10 weeks! With the exception of a couple of motor bike experiences, I’ve not actually been behind the wheel. The immediate impact is how fast everyone drives here! WOW! I hadn’t been so aware of that before this trip!
Grocery shopping in such a huge store was a trip! I only picked up a few essentials including milk so I could play with my coffee!
Next…how do I operate my television and sound bar??? The remote controls never seemed confusing before!? Buttons, more buttons, guides, confusion! It’s been over 10 weeks since I watched a television! My priority is getting music up and running while I unpack, organize, do laundry and get things ready for the next trip! That simple task has been challenging!! But I overcame it!
After a day of travel, I was ready for a shower before preparing my espresso machine that evening! Yay! Hot water!!! Except…I forgot I’d set the hot water heater to “vacation” mode. Not cold but certainly not! Good thing I was used to cold water in Nicaragua!
I immediately got into the crawl space and fixed that issue!
Coffee play...NOT!
Having been on coffee farms, touring coffee operations, buying coffee to bring home, and learning new coffee techniques from Jared, I was excited to jump in and get practicing.
The new grinder I order had arrived and was in the kitchen waiting! Before coming home, I wrote to Baratza to get some suggestions on how to set it up, adjust it and use it properly. I was primed.
Shortly after I got home, I filled the reservoir on my Nuova Simonelli Oscar ii and turned it on.
Nothing happened! Turning it off and jiggling the tank to make sure it was seated properly, I turned it back on.
Nope!! So much for playing with my coffee!
The lights look good but were not functioning properly! Yikes!
Great support!
Normally, a red light comes on indicating low water level followed by the pump kicking in and filling it to the peoper level. The red light came on, went out and the pump began in short spurts of a second or two, pause, repeated itself, paused and continued that until it stopped.
After that, the front panel lights for single or double shot began flashing and I could hear clicking inside the machine! Yikes!!
I wrote to Nuova Simonelli. They have a great support team. I sent images of what I was on the machine and a recording of the sound it made. Ben wrote back suggesting I likely needed a new main electronics board.
He didn’t suggest I tinker with the float or check the magnet for connection or see if the water tank sensor needed adjusting. He knew! I was reluctant to jump right in and order that. So I took the panels off and had a look at anything I could adjust??
When I was a kid on the farm, I remember taking my toys apart to see how they worked. Most of the time, I got them back together and working. Tinkering with this maching reminded me of my continuing history of doing that very thing. I’ve repaired sewing machines, ovens, a telephoto lens, other coffee machines, etc.
This time, I could see NO options for anything I could do so I contacted them to order the part. It cost nearly $300! Yikes again! That is more than the total cost to purchase my early machines!!
However, this machine for 7 years, made a lot of coffee’s, shared amazing experiences with friends over coffee and intend to continue sharing. And, the reason they didn’t last long…they weren’t quality machines for my use! This one is!!
I made this video when I first got this machine if you want to see what I’m talking about! The video has had over 22,000 views! Lots of coffee lovers out there! I posted it below.
I ordered the board, took photos of connections and it should be here by the end of this week. I’m excited to try my new grinder and new ideas on making coffee and pouring latte art. Yea!
P.S. I did some brainstorming with Jared in Guatemala to get his thoughts. At some point, it occured to me: my first action when I got home was firing up my espresso machine! That struck me as funny! And an indication of how much I missed playing with it while I was gone!
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Seeing and Looking!
Little things, normal here, but I’d never see at home. Like this gas station, pictured on the left! Labeled by volume, how much you want. Uncle Ed had a farm version of this when I was a kid vising his farm!
Local method of transporting things, including cement on construction sites and 40 pound/5 gallon water jugs.
What now with no espresso machine?
I make one cappuccino each morning, a small 8 ounce drink. I like a strong taste balancing the milk and the espresso! Larger drinks often taste like warm milk! That is my primary form of coffee. And I’m a sipper!! I have a thermal cup and take my time enjoying it. Now, that was not possible! So what to do??
My challenge is not coffee but what kind?? I’ve been a barista for a long time! And, if I am going to do something, I learn how to do it wall. I know many methods for making great coffee. The photo below shows most of the methods I enjoy. Not shown is my toddy coffee maker and my pan for Turkish coffee. The grinder in the photo is my new one! Very adjustable! With what little use I’ve had, I’m really happy with it already!
What you see, from left to right. Silver Thermal French Press/press pot. Black Aeropress. In front, the silver Bialetti Mocha pot for stove top expresso (very good Americano). The clear coffee funnel in the middle of the back is a V60 pour over. And to the right with the wood handle is the chemex coffee maker. The small black device in front of that is for making Vietnamese coffee.
And YES, in front of the grinder and tamper, the red packages are indeed Nexcafe 3in1 instant coffee packages. I’m flexible in my coffee preferences. In the past, Nescafe was the only thing available in Mexico and Central America. The good coffee was exported. That is not longer the case.
In some places I’ve stayed, the instant package taste much better that what the “house” is serving! So I am always prepared when traveling!
I can make coffee with each of these, using the exact same coffee beans, and the coffee will taste different in each!
To the right is the new Baratza grinder. Beside that, my temperature controlled gooseneck kettle for pour over coffee and my coffee scale!
One thing I have to watch before my machine gets repaired: caffeine! Espresso generally has about half the caffeine content of regular coffee! It feels different!
Yes!!! If there are past lives, I’m sure I was an alchenist in one of them!!
Home transition process
When I first took a backpack and headed off on an adventure, I had no clue what I was doing! Much of what I took along was not used, was too heavy or didn’t work in humid conditions and I still had to carry it aroud. Over the years, I’ve dramatically improved my knowledge of what I need to pack!
Preparing for a trip, I begin laying out the things I know I will use. There are always other things that creep in with the thought “I might be able to sue this”. That’s when Travel Larry takes over from Living Room Larry! It is isn’t essential, it stays at home. It’s a small backpack! Not a junk drawer! Seriously! I drop into a very stern mindset or remembering and knowing WHAT I NEED and leave everything behind!
Coming home, I reverse the process and take every item out of my out of the travel stuff sack or bag it was traveling in, and review whether or not it was truly essential! That takes time! In the future, it saves time and makes packing easier.
In my travel journal, I make a quick note about whether an item was essential and used! I go through the t-shirts I travel with deciding the comfort level and use deciding if it will go on a future trip. I do that for everything. Two list form. One: what items to purchase for the next trip! Second: what will I leave at home next time.
The other list is for technology, photography, shaving kit and nutritional items. I’ve gotten such great minimal gear now to take care of all my technology needs. At first, I had separate chargers and cords for everything. Now, I have minimal items that do everything I need!
I repackage everything for my shaving kit and my nutrition bag. I know what size bottle of shampoo I’ll need for 2 1/2 months! Shaving lotion…same thing! All my nutrition goes into different size bottles. For example, I travel with garlic tablets and vitamin B-1. I found a capsule that contains the equivalent of 8 garlic cloves and is designed to digest in the intestines, not the stomach. I never get that garlic belch. I learned about combining those decades ago as a deterrent to mosquitos! I begin taking that a week or so before leaving.
Every nutrition supplement I take along has its own bottle! Thus, when unpacking, I empty everything, clean it and have it ready for next time! That’s what I’ve been doing since getting home. And as well as I packed, I have things I won’t take again on my next trip. And there is one thing I left home I’ll definitely take the next time I’m going to be spending so much time in the forest!
Stuff sacks, waist pack, clothing, lens cloth, shoes, everything…it all gets washed and put aside. When I pack, I roll everything. It keeps clothing in better shape and they fit nicely into my packing cube. At a glance, I know that many of the items in the photo below no longer travel with me. Most have been replaced by something that works better for me.
The gallery shows other miscellaneous items I take along.
Unpacking almost wrapped up
I take my time but persist. If I don’t, I might not ever finish and this process is so useful! The photo below is the final stages. These are questionable items I might not take and I’m making notes about them. The orange roller I took along. It was great for loosening the tight muscles and ligaments in my legs from so much walking. I roll out my back with it as well. This is the first time I’ve taken that.
Even though I have a small backpack, it is not full! I had room for the roller and space to add a few things as I went along! One thing that doesn’t fit: my SHOES!! Size 13…so I wear those whenever I have a travel day. And if I really wanted to, I could fit them into a plastic bag and into my backpack!
As I finish writing this, nearly everything is washed, cleaned and put away…ready for the next adventure!
Next project!
Sometime this week, the part to repair my espresso machine will arrive. Then, I’ll take thing apart, install the new main board and prepare to finally play with my new coffee beans! This is the board I need to remove and replace.
Parting shots
I randomly selected a few images, quickly, that are some of my highlight experiences from travel! Some are nature and others are people! I purposely left out the food! That would make too hungry at this hour!! Enjoy!
Now what?
Now, I’m settling in and enjoying life. I practice the same inner thoughts and feelings that guide me so well on my trips. And I’m savoring experiences of living in Colorado and appreciating meaningful connections with friends! Ciao!!
