Nicaragua- Volcano boarding in Leon & Rooster Fishing in San Juan del Sur

Possibly my favorite trip of all time came to be because of a bar chat at the original Cheers in Boston on St Patrick's day.  I was drinking green beer with a coworker when this man sat next to me and we started chatting. He and his business partner, who were in Boston for a seafood convention, invited us to join their table. It doesn't take much to get me to hop on a plane, but by the end of the evening they had convinced me I needed to visit their country of Nicaragua. They told tales of the largest freshwater lake in the world with volcano islands in the middle, hiking live volcanoes, amazing surf, and good food. They even insisted on giving me an 18 year aged bottle of Flor de Caña rum before we went to our separate hotels. My opinion of Nicaraguan people was up there, & I was pumped about the possibilities. So contrary to the norm, I started researching this trip a few months in advance. I had zero problem finding things to do and people who wanted to go. After deciding 5 was a solid #, we set the date, and all flew a Spirit redeye out of IAH because it was a brand new route and had plenty of seats open.

Day 1- León.

- I had been in touch with a few hostels and BnBs in Leon and decided on La Paz de Luna. They arranged transport from the airport at 1 am for us, set up the volcano boarding at Cerro Negro, fed us a great breakfast, arranged transport to San Juan Del Sur (4 hrs), annnnnd upgraded us to the only suite since we booked everything through them. We loved the little BnB. It was bare minimum but had working A/C, an ensuite bathroom (rare in Leon), & they served individualized breakfast and coffee each morning. The staff were all very accommodating (Shout out to Emily for being awesome), and I'd highly recommend anyone to stay there.  Everything mentioned, I repeat EVERYTHING mentioned, was $520.  Total.  Did I mention I love this country?!

So we woke up and enjoyed breakfast before heading out to Cerro Negro. We had noooooo idea what we were in for. First off, you hike up the bad boy. The hike starts by climbing up volcanic rock... the Volcano erupted twice in the late 90s. Those rocks are not set in place, and it was a very tedious task to get about halfway up when it turned to mostly ash and small rocks. 

At that point you walk along a ridge to the top. To your right is a live crater and places where you see 'smoke' coming from the giant hill you're walking on, and to the left is basically a straight down fall.... you can't see all the way to the bottom. So, we keep on keeping on against probably 20-30 mph wind gusts all while holding these wooden boards, still having no idea what we've gotten ourselves into. 

Once you reach the top there are absolutely stunning views of other volcanos in the distance and you can see the giant crater where the last eruption was.  

 Our guide also proved that we were on an active volcano by just pushing back the top layer of ash and showing the smoke from the hot ash being exposed. As if we didn't get it when the bottom of our feet started burning if you stood still long enough.  It was active & could erupt again any minute, got it! I opted not to walk to the edge and look at where we would be sliding down before it was time to put our gear on and go.  Tricky part, at this point we were being swarmed by bees. Actually swarmed is putting it mildly. We noticed clouds of them before in other areas on the way up, but at the start spot we were in the middle of one of those clouds of bees. Apparently bees and butterflies like the minerals coming from the volcano. Cool. So, we throw our jumpsuits, goggles, gloves, and bandanas on and walk to where we would be sliding down the side of a volcano. And realize...

YOU CAN'T SEE TO THE BOTTOM.

Like, they want you to sit on a wooden board and take off speeding (the record is 54 mph) down nearly 2000 ft of volcanic ash (the volcano is 2,400 ft high) without seeing where you're going to be going. Being a Leo and a little crazy, I went first. Honestly, I just wanted to do it before I thought about how many bad things could happen, and I definitely wanted away from the bees that were covering us. It was a blast! I didn't go very fast lol, my board kept turning sideways & I didn't want to die being the first one up (you sit on the board, hold a rope, and steer with your feet.) It took me probably a minute to make it to the bottom & I got to watch my friends all come down after. 

We celebrated with a cold cerveza & lunch after, spent a while showering black ash off ourselves, and then proceeded to play drinking games to kill the time. Picture a 6th grade sleepover with booze and that about sums up the start to our 1st night. It happened to be salsa night at the local spot, and we attempted to blend in. I say attempted because 1. Ashley and I are really white but were trying. 2. Christine had her drink knocked out of her hand and it shattered 3. Shenna was dancing circles around everyone and 4. We had to drag a sweat drenched Kate off the dance floor where she was the tallest person. By 10:30 we grabbed food and called it an early night.

spot Kate?! bahaha

 The next day we walked to Cathedral de Leon (Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Leon), the largest cathedral in Central America! It was built between 1747- 1814.  For $6 you can walk on the beautiful white roof which supplies an amazing view of the city and nearby volcanoes.

Day 2-  Leon to San Juan del Sur

After exploring Leon and lunch, we packed into a van and headed out. I mean PACKED into a van. 5 girls, a ton of black crew luggage (that did not even come close to all fitting in the back), and the driver and his girlfriend upfront. So, I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised when halfway through the 4 hour drive we blew out a tire. In the middle of the countryside, in Nicaragua. We all got out and sat on a dirt driveway off the main road while car after car stopped to offer help. That's when we remembered we had a bottle of rum and a coke packed away. Soooo, we passed the time passing the bottle. Sitting in the dirt, on the side of the road in Nicaragua. Think that's all to the tire story? Negative... we start driving again only to stop at what we thought was a fruit stand. It was a fruit stand, lots and lots of fruit, but it was also the local tire shop booth. Literally a booth. We bought some mangos, and sat around for a while.  Being women on a road trip, of course we had to use the bathroom. The local people were nice enough to show us to the restroom. Let me try and set this up properly.... I didn't realize it was a neighborhood/village/community behind us, but a sweet little girl walked us up a dirt path where some small tin rooms I realized were houses were at. We pass them, walk down a path to another tin building, and enter to find a raised cement hole. Tada the baño. However, the open window view from the 'toilet' of a valley below was beautiful.... Obviously it was a first hand experience of the poverty level in the country as well.

After arriving at our airbnb house 1.5 hrs late, we had a dance party in the kitchen because the place was ginormous and there was so much room for activities... that, and we had finished the bottle of rum on the way. Dinner on the beach was next, and then a pretty intense calorie burning dance session at the club next door. Some burned more than others lol. SJDS is known as a party town with lots of young people, and it lived up to expectations. It was a great time, but we were reminded of our age when we woke up the next morning.  We were struggling, but manged to book a sunset boat cruise and eat one of the best brunches I've ever had. 

Day 3 & 4- SJDS

The boat cruise was fun, we rode to a private cove only accessible by boat and jumped in for a swim and walk around the white sand beaches. Shenna and I picked out a few hermit crabs and swam them back to the boat where we had hermit crab races. (We are all 10 year olds trapped in adult bodies). We drank some Toña and our favorite Flor de Caña rum and just enjoyed being out on a boat.  The captain, Sergio, caught a mackerel on the way back, filleted it, and dropped us at a restaurant where they cooked it up for us. Then we took our old selves to bed.

I'm pretty sure the captain enjoyed our company, because he offered to take us back out the next day for double the length of time, arrange our transportation to MGA airport that night (we had a redeye home), & make sure we were picked up from our condo when we needed to check out. Basically, he was awesome and we got the hook up.  If you find yourself in the area -Extreme Nicaraguan Adventures,  Sergio's email is hollywoodhunterct@gmail.com.

This day was a little more boozing than fishing, but we managed to catch 4 rooster fish and 1 snapper. A catch for each of us just as Sergio had promised. I really need to mention that Nicaragua is beautiful! There are lush green hills that lead straight to the ocean, cliff lined beaches, little hidden white sand coves, & small surf towns scattered along the coast. I very much enjoyed just riding on the front of the boat and taking it all in.

Our dinner that night was our fish we caught, which obviously tastes better! 

We had to hustle and eat, and then only had time to each rinse our bodies before our van picked us up for our ride back to Managua. So, remember.... boat all day, catching fish, and just a little prostitute rinse.

DAY 4 (& accidental 5)

The end of day 4 brought us to MGA airport. After some technical difficulties with immigration because we had checked in for 2 different airlines we finally make it to the United gate only to have it be completely full. Fail. Spirit was up next. It was wide open 3 weeks ago, like 50+ seats still. So, when it turned out to be full we started getting nervous. Sure enough it was filled to the brim, and we were able to send Kate (who had n ear infection) home on the jumpseat. The other 3 ladies and myself set off to find a safe place to snuggle up in a corner and try to sleep.

We found a little hallway with office doors that was maybe 5 feet wide by 10 long.  We moved a long banner in front to hide ourselves and our luggage. I snuggled up to my carry on, still in my uniform, and maybe slept a couple hrs.  At 5am we had to roll off the tile floor and start trying flights again.  Still in our uniforms, still with fish/ocean hair, still with yesterday's make up on, still basically sleep walking to the ticket counter as everyone comes in at 6 am looking ready for the day. Didn't make the flight. Misery sets in. So, we snuggled up in a new corner (with carpet... whooo) and hug our luggage again for a nap. 16 hrs after we arrived again the airport we finally made it out on United for twice the price our roundtrip flight on Spirit was. The shower I took when I got home was the best I've taken to date... 

For 3 nights (4 counting the airport) I think we experienced about as much of Nicaragua as we possibly could have. A lot of articles that I've read about inexpensive places you should travel to include Nicaragua, and with good reason. The country is beautiful, the people are soo friendly, and there is SO much to do! I want to go back and explore the lakes, Granada, and other volcanos next time. We almost stayed in a house on a lake thats actually a naturally filled crater!  Then there is Lake Nicaragua, the largest freshwater lake in the world, that has the island of Ometepe which is made of 2 volcanos!  This place is just brimming with places to be explored, and most people don't even know where Nicaragua is! Costa Rica is on the tourism map now, Nicaragua isn't far behind! The places we went to, the adventures we experienced, and the people we met made it such an amazingly great time.

(our balcony view of SJDS)

 BUT, the people I went with made it one of the most memorable trips I've ever been on. I understand some people enjoy solo travel, but I can't imagine having as good of a time as I did without our games, dance parties, laughing fits, and everyone's willingness to see and do it all! 

Nicaragua you were definitely one for the books, and I've never been more thankful for good friends/coworkers that are game for adventure!

April in Paris & Monaco

A few times now friends have tried to set me straight on this one thing that apparently I say a lot. I will start a story with, 'the most random thing happened to me, or you're not going to believe what happened to me!' By the end they say, 'you realize it's not really random when things like this happen all the time.' That may be true, but I like to think that if I keep being open and grateful for the opportunities that fall in my lap, that they'll keep coming.

This leads me to my trip to France.

I became friends with a guy who lives in Monaco, but is in Dallas usually once a month. A few lunches, meeting friends, and months later... I decided I knew him well enough to take him up on his offer to visit him in Monaco.

So, I met my girlfriend Kate at the airport in Paris. 3 different trains and countless stairs later, we arrived at our airbnb on a cute little pedestrian street in the 7th district, near the Eiffel Tower.  

One of the most amusing parts of the whole trip (for me) was watching Kate's face as we exited a train and hauled our luggage down stairs only to round a corner to more stairs going up.  See, we lovingly nicknamed Kates bags her 'house'. She spent 2 weeks at home in Poland prior, & had an over 50 lb giant luggage as well as a duffle bag full of stuff. Paris's train/subway system IS NOT handicap friendly, and there wasn't a single elevator throughout the entire changing 3 trains process. It made for cursing countless stairs, especially when realized we were in a 4th floor apartment with no elevator, & lots of giggles. We spent our first day roaming around the Eiffel Tower, which is where we met the 2 guys who became our tour guides for the afternoon. They were born and raised in Paris (we think), and barely spoke any english. It was highly entertaining. They led us to the Arc de Triumph and to Champs-Elysees, and finally to have a wine picnic in the park at the Eiffel tower. Super romantic, right? I really should leave it at that, but not being able to have conversation past a sentence was beginning to bore Kate and I, (it didn't seem to bother them in the slightest.) And one may or may not have had a terrible unibrow.  Paris is very romantic, but this... was not.  We still a great afternoon trying to learn french from these new Frenchman who were carrying our grocery bags around for us.

The next day... We climbed the freaking Eiffel Tower by stairs. Not to the very top, but definitely high enough.

 We did a river boat that takes you to all the major attractions and started our tourist track at the oldest church in Paris. We were actually looking for the oldest cafe in Paris for some coffee (priorities), & stumbled upon Saint-Germain-des-Pres church that dates from 542. Yes, that's 542, there is no 1 before it. It was beautiful and raw and not tourist filled. After that we decided to head to THE cathedral, Notre Dame. Along with the Eiffel Tower, it truly lived up to expectations. I will admit to being a dork, and to getting really excited about exploring and learning about the history of places, but I think pretty much anyone who enters the doors of Notre Dame gets their socks knocked off. The grandeur of it all, and the detail behind every little stained glass piece is amazing. The Gothic inspired renovations were intriguingly bizarre. I couldn't stop staring up when we were outside walking around. 

Next we got a little lost on purpose wandering in the direction of the Louvre. I knew in advance how much there is to see inside and how little time we had. It's a place I would love to return and spend some quality time in.

We arrived back at our apartment and connected to WiFi to find a message from my friend asking if we saw our flight was cancelled. I thought he was kidding. I haven't purchased a ticket for a flight in almost 4 years. Tell me what the odds are that flight would get cancelled?! But after an hour facetiming with my friend who was talking to EasyJet on the phone for us, we ended up buying tickets on the train. We ate a baguette and cheese we had purchased for an appetizer, garretts popcorn, and cake Kate brought from Poland for dinner that night. But we were set for the train the next morning.

The apartment we rented was nothing special or nice, but it was all we needed in a nice safe location. Soooo, when the bed started making funny noises we weren't too surprised. When we got into bed (very gingerly) and after a few minutes it collapsed, we were definitely surprised.  Turns out Ikea beds that have tape and nails to hold the middle (and only) support together and 2 large girls don't mix. We took the mattress off and slept like babies on the floor.

My eyes were glued out the window the entire train ride through France. The little villages scattered throughout the hills and farmland in the beginning gradually turned into mountains and then into the coastline and Mediterranean Sea. Picturesque doesn't do it justice.  My friend picked us up at the train station and welcomed us to his place with a glass of wine. It wasn't hard to settle into his home, because it was amazinnnng. The penthouse apartment had a patio as big as the apartment, and it overlooked the Mediterranean and a little beach below, and the living room wall was doors that opened all the way to that view and crisp ocean air.  Nick was an amazing host and really made us feel comfortable. He put up with 2 girls taking over his apartment and bed for a few days and still seemed to like us at the end.

We really were able to live like locals, which is exactly how I like to travel. We met some of his friends who were all a lot of fun, & warm and welcoming. I won't bore you with all of the daily details, but we ate some great food, danced a night away at a club with ladies night & free champagne, experienced Hotel De Paris' 'American Bar,' walked along the coast to get to a beach restaurant, and ate a crap ton of croissants & baguettes & cheese.

Monte-Carlo casino behind us, and Hotel de Paris to the right.

Kate and I also did the tourist stuff in Monte Carlo. They were setting up for the Grand Prix which was pretty cool. The grandstands and the railing along the streets they put up is all redone every year. And obviously takes a lot of time.  We saw the yachts at the port, and walked up to Princes palace. We saw the changing of the guards, and enjoyed a bottle of our favorite, Rose, outside a cafe while we people watched. 

the view of Monte-Carlo from the walk to the Palace

 

One of my favorite 'tourist' activities that we did was just walked up to a medieval village that was behind Nicks condo. A 20 minute walk and suddenly we were taken back centuries. The fortress at the top was built in the 10th century. We arrived too late to tour it, but we're able to walk through the little village and see the people who actually lived there getting home from work or cooking dinner. Cobblestone streets, archways built into 4 story high apartments, and side alleys and stairs everywhere. It was truly charming, and the view was outstanding.

The reason we were late to the fortress was one of those things I would say, 'the most random thing happened' about. We walked and had our moning coffee and Pain au chocolate (I figured out our last morning that's what a chocolate filled croissant is actually called), & went back to condo to get ready to walk up to the village. When we got wifi, we saw a message from Nick saying that his friend that we had met the previous night has 2 box tickets to the Rolex men's tennis championship that was in Monte carlo. Ummmm... we knew it was in town, and had watched Nadal on the practice court on our walk to breakfast, but didn't expect to go. Obviously we said yes, and went on our merry way to watch a couple of tennis matches from our box seats. My first professional tennis match was pretty epic.

The reputation about french people being rude or unhelpful towards Americans was completely untrue on our trip. The smallest girl in the train station helped Kate carry her 'house' up the stairs, & if we looked lost someone would ask if we needed help. I found people friendly in general. I think it's safe to say that Kate and myself are friendly people, and I think greeting someone with a smile goes a long way before you ask for help. I really enjoyed France, Monaco, and the people.

The one circumstance where we did not exactly enjoy an interaction with the locals was when we were pulled over by the French police. Apparently they can do that without cause, and then ask for everyone in the cars ID. Well, Kate had juuuust asked if we needed an ID before we left the house and was told no. So, the officer asks for my ID, I have my passport as well as my drivers license because I'm paranoid. He then goes to the back seat and asks for Kates who informed him she doesn't have it. He was confused and asked again. Again Kate said, I do not have any identification on me. He asks again and again and finally got a reply of, 'I ONLY HAVE MY PHONE, CASH, AND MY LIPSTICK,' as she holds up her clutch for the officer to see. So he proceeds to take her information, and doesn't understand what a flight attendant is.  He was looking at us funny and writes down that she is a stewardess.  After they let us go, Nick is laughing and tells us that prostitution is legal in Monaco and most of the prostitutes are Eastern European. The officer probably thought my friend who was only carrying her phone, cash, and lipstick, was a prostitute. I died. It was the running joke of the rest of the trip, and still makes me laugh.

The trip was amazing & France and Monaco were beautiful. I'm beyond thankful for randomness, and the opportunity to spend time with a friend who went above and beyond as a host.

... and for my polish prostitute friend.  Til next time France!

4 days in Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia is a destination that (i feel) is extremely overlooked.

It's a triple threat... The history of the city basically slaps you in the face, islands with beautiful white sand beaches & turquoise water are a speed boat ride away, and the culture/ food is worth experiencing. Obviously those are all fabulous qualities, but perhaps Cartagenas biggest selling point for me was that it's cheap. The Dollar goes a lonnnng way down there.

Like, I did 4 full days and 3 nights for $400. That's everything. Including a $15 coffee mug I just had to have at the airport on the way out, an unnecessary soapy water massage on the beach, and a romantic carriage ride with my bestie. Here is everything my friend Kate and I did for $400... 

Keep in mind I fly for an airline. So, my roundtrip ticket was $70. I know that's usually the biggest expense when vacationing. We stayed at a simple bed & breakfast, Casa Abril II, that was inside the walled city.  The 'walled city' is the protected 'city' by a fortress built in the 1500s. If you're not getting it, it is completely surrounded by walls. The city has obviously been restored, but maintains a very colonial charm. The colors of the buildings contrasting the flowers/balconies/streets is great! There is plenty to do inside too, and it's also quite tourist friendly and seemly safe. People should know by now, Colombia isn't what it used to be.  But our little B&B (like most in the area) was an old colonial house turned hotel. The ones we saw typically have an open courtyard, and lots of character! I travel on a budget and don't need any luxuries in my hotels, but for $50 a night our room was cute & clean with exposed brick and a view onto the street and courtyard, had working a/c, a fridge, and hot water. All things that aren't guaranteed when traveling in Central and South America and not staying in hotel chains or pricey accommodations. 

Our hotel also booked our excursions for us. Our 2nd day in town we wanted to go to the beach. That was the main point of Kate and I even taking the trip. These anti-winter girls needed a beach and a tan! So we loaded up on a little speedboat to take the hour ride to the island of Baru and to Playa Blanca. It was a nice peaceful ride. Along the way we made friends with a couple of Canadians & decided to all sit together so we could keep an eye on each others stuff (see mom, I am a smart traveler). The island is completely isolated from civilization. There are no hotel visible on the beach, only hostels that are literally palm branch topped huts on stilts, but when you push back your mosquito net you wake up with this view every morning. 

 We enjoyed our beach day immensely, not even caring that our Pina coladas we brought (just in case we couldn't buy them there of course) were warm because ice was scarce.  The Pina coladas might explain why we gave into the vendors walking up and down the beach bothering us. However, $6 for a 15 min back massage on the beach is totally worth it. I would have paid double just for witnessing Kate get her head smashed by the large masseuse ladies boobs. 

The island was beautiful, and it was and amazing day in paradise! The ride home is where things took a turn. We realized the sea was much rougher when the waves were rocking the boat so badly on the shore that we had to be picked up and put in the little speedboat by the men working on it. Latin men are small, Kate and I are not. That part was scary enough, but I was pretty sure we were going to capsize on the monster waves on the ride back. My arm was hooked through Kates, she was wrapped around one of my legs, and we (mainly she) squealed everytime the nose of the boat went up really high, knowing it would have to go back down. The first row was a scary and very wet place to be seated. We would literally be lifted off of our little bench of a seat and then hit hard. No kidding, I needed a doughnut the next day to sit on. Chalk it up to a funny experience and a memory I won't soon forget. 

That evening we tried to cover up our sunburns and went to our favorite patio spot for the first time. The blue bar that had 2 for 1's on the best mojito everrrrr, and a people watching table on the street across from San Diego Plaza.  We made friends with a girl from Siberia, another who had just spent 3 months volunteering in Cusco, Peru, and most importantly the waiters of the place. We tried to find something to get into that night after dinner, but didn't have any luck.  

The mud volcano. Apparently this isn't a well known place for locals, but I saw it online and just HAD to go. We booked a trip, boarded a big greyhound style bus, and headed to the country.

That's where the big hill they call a volcano was. But whatever you want to call it, the setting was nice with a large lake and hills behind it. This volcano has a grey mud that runs 200 meters deep in the crater. So you climb up the volcano/hill and wait to climb down a ladder into the mud with 10 other people give or take. It's a very strange feeling to float in something the consistency of mud. After we floated on our back and got a 10 min massage for 3000 pesos (like $1.20), you just kinda enjoy the mud and each others company for another 10 min.

They tell you to point your toes down & stand up while floating. Basically, we were rolling all over each other. We being myself, Kate, & Mak (one of our new Canadian friends).  After you marinate in the warm mud for a while you have to climb out. You climb out on a ladder as well. Only this ladder is covered in slick, wet mud. So are the steps to get off the volcano. I'm happy to report there were no casualties the day we went.



I dont know the last time someone gave you a bath, but I would imagine it's probably a fond memory. Mine, not so much. After you get down from the stairs, the middle aged women come grab your hand and take you into the lake. They have a cup and they wash off the mud that is now stuck to you.  I was totally cool with her running her hands through my hair and wiping off my arms and back. You actually have to rub off the mud, it doesnt just rinse. I guess I should have been grateful when the lady stuck her hand halfway in my bikini top to make sure I was mud free? This middle age Colombian woman who was missing teeth got to 2nd base.  Then she said, in english, 'nakie.' I look up, 'hmmm??' Yea, she signaled for me to take off my bikini bottoms right there in 3 ft of lake water with a bunch of strangers around. Mak had just gone through the same thing, & she had just felt me up, so i figured what the heck and handed this lady my bikini bottoms to wash out.

Kate opted to bathe herself. I would say it was definitely the best decision, except she forgot that she had untied the back of her top, stood up, and flashed a few Colombian women. Obviously,  I immediately died laughing.

We got back, scrubbed in the shower, and headed out to explore the city and to the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas.

This is a monstrous fortress sitting up on a hill designed to protect the city from pirates and other countries. It was built in the 1500s. They gradually added onto the fort, which was under attack numerous times throughout its history.  We were dorks and did the audio tour of it. I would definitely recommend anyone who visits to tour it!

Our last night! We went to have mojitos, and got 2 for 1s again since we befriended the entire restaurant the previous day. We giggled with our Canadians for a while, went to eat dinner, and then realized we only had enough pesos for 1 drink each to close out our last night. There's a really nice bar on top of the actual wall that overlooks the water. We wanted to spend our last pesos there. That's where we met Mr. Bogota, and then Christian & Andres again. I say again because we met them on scooters on the way and made them race each other (blame it on the mojitos), but they obliged. Apparently it was absolutely unacceptable that we hadn't tried the drink of Colombia yet. Which is a clear liquor that tastes like liquorice that you shoot. No mixing, just shots.

After they buy a bottle of that for the table, it became absolutely unacceptable that we hadn't gone salsa dancing while we were there. So, we walked to a spot they knew, and danced til 4 am. Let me rephrase... Kate, who was apparently made to be dance partners with Mr. Bogota, danced til 4 am. I was passed off every other song between the 2 other friends, and was soo done by 2. This white girl can booty dance, shake my rump, twerk, whatever you want to call it... but I need either a lot of alcohol or a lot of focus for Latin dancing. Kate had it tho. Those hips went to town.

That evening should have ran up the cost of the trip some, but who are we to turn down an authentic night out :). But for real, a special thanks to the nice guys for treating us poor (in pesos) ladies...

It helps if you're a female and a flight attendant. But, see what all you can do for $400?!?!