Packing for Nicaragua/Avoiding Spirit's Luggage Fees

4 years ago

As mentioned in this previous post, we are going to Nicaragua next week to celebrate four years of mawwiage. We have a rule that for each anniversary, we have to travel somewhere we haven't been before. Year 1: Brunswick/Jekyll Island/St. Simon's Island, GA, Year 2: Cape Haze, FL, Year 3: Charleston and Beaufort, SC, Year 4: Nicaragua!!! 

We only have our first 2 nights planned (staying in Granada at an Airbnb place) and we will figure out the rest when we get there. This is my favorite way to travel because sometimes you think you need 3 days in a place and when you get there you discover that 3 hours is just fine (Copan Ruinas, Honduras for example).  

This week we have the challenge of paring down our luggage to fit into two small backpacks. We want to avoid paying carryon fees on Spirit and to make our lives easier as we will be using a lot of public transportation (chicken buses). It's really not as difficult as I thought it'd be and helps me to focus. It's so easy to overpack for all of those "just in case" scenarios but ultimately, all of that stuff just weighs you down! We are bringing some laundry detergent to hand wash anything that gets nasty and we have invested in a quick dry travel towel and some quick dry pants for the both of us that can be worn and washed daily (if needed). 

Note: I just typed up my pack list and it seems like a lot when I type it but, you guys, this is still pretty good! Second note: Just typed up Ryan's list and he is obviously the winner of packing light. Whatever, I'm a girl.

My bag:
-1 pair bright pink athletic shoes...won't stand out in any way *Edit: Just found a black pair of Merrell shoes (on sale!) that aren't quite so obnoxious. I love my pink shoes but they should probably stay in Florida.
-1 pair Tom's, for comfy walking
-1 pair Kino flip flops
-1 quick dry shirt
-3 black cotton short sleeve t-shirts, 1 long sleeve
-1 pair  Columbia quick dry capri pants (just came in the mail, thank goodness they fit!)
-1 pair black linen pants (they never get dirty. The longer you wear them, the blacker they get)
-7 pair underwear (Technically this could be 2 pair and they could be washed but gross)
-1 pair athletic shorts, lightweight and quick dry
-1 pair black cotton leggings
-1 jersey cotton dress and 1 pashmina (just in case...)
-4 pair white cotton socks, 4 pair black foot liner socks. *Edit: Now that I'm not bringing the pink shoes, the black liner socks will be plenty!
-Travel size shampoo, conditioner, body wash and laundry detergent
-Coppertone Water Babies Pure and Simple sunblock, which according to EWG is the bee's knees.
-Waterproof camera and charger
-Toothbrushes and toothpaste
-Fleece jacket, will wear on plane so it doesn't take up space
-3 sports bras, 1 sports bra tank, 2 bandeau bras
-1 swimsuit
-1 UCF hat (b/c I went to school there once), 1 bandana, sunglasses
-Passport/money holder thing to wear under clothes. So dorky looking but makes us feel safer.
-Lara bars, Clif bars and trail mix
-Need to get a poncho, so that will also be in here

Ryan's bag:
-1 pair Sperry slip on loafer things
-1 pair Vibram toe shoes (NERD)
-1 dry bag (for his fancy camera)
-1 fancy camera
-1 pair quick dry pants
-3 pair boardshorts
-2 (or 3?) t-shirts, if it's 2, I'm going to make him bring another
-1 pair travel/quick dry underwear that he plans on washing each day....have fun with that
-Rain jacket (sorta, it is waterproof on accident)
-First aid kit, bug spray with DEET, CVS generic equivalent of Skin So Soft, Neosporin
-Clothesline and a few clothes pins
-Bungee cord
-Quick dry travel towel

So, that's it. For one week, we will get to live like vagabonds and it will be beautiful. I'll post pictures and stories when we get back. Hasta entonces!

Ocean Friendly Garden

This is what 2 tons of rock looks like...didn't fit in the hybrid

If you read my past post about Home Improvement Adventures, you know that Ryan and I have been slaving away to transform our yard from this:

Not our car...this picture was taken by the previous owners

to this:

Looks like we added palm trees but they were always there

It took a lot of hard work and we still have a few loose ends to tie up (note the grass growing in the gravel parking area...whoops) but we are nearly there! The plants growing in the dark brown area (where the pine straw is) are kind of hard to see but eventually will cover the brown area and will be green...and pink and yellow...they have little flowers! We also hope one day to make our driveway permeable (by cutting into the concrete) to further prevent runoff. 

Our front yard now requires no mowing, is drought resistant, salt tolerant and is not a wuss when it comes to massive amounts of wind (welcome to the beach). It also retains rainwater, preventing runoff into the ocean and river. We used no pesticides or fertilizers and followed the directions set out by Surfrider Foundation on their Ocean Friendly Gardens website. 

It may seem like more trouble than it's worth to create an OFG until you read about the problems plaguing our waterways, like the Indian River Lagoon. There are massive unexplained deaths of manatee and dolphin in addition to the decimation of sea grass beds and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms :(

If you want information about how you can make your yard more environmentally friendly, it is fairly simple! In Florida, there is a lot of information available about "Florida Friendly Gardens" here and Surfrider has a lot of information about "Ocean Friendly Gardens" on their website (which started in California but whose principles can be applied elsewhere). It can be a lot simpler than our yard (we did this to ourselves!!) or as complex as you'd like it to be. The main idea is to reduce the pollutants that can get from your yard to the waterways by reducing runoff, using less or no pesticides or fertilizers, conserving water and using native plants. 

Here are a few photos of the process:

Shovel champion

Dug up with one shovel...including all the St. Augustine grass

Putting down cardboard is an eco friendly way to keep weeds from growing through rock

More cardboard

Ryan takes better pictures than I do

Pink purslane is native and considered a weed by some

Perennial peanut

Plants we used:

In the mulched areas (lighter brown): texas sage, yellow bulbine, adagio and one olive tree. 

In the pine straw area (dark brown): ice plant, pink purslane, perennial peanut. 

Have you tried to make your yard more eco-friendly? Let me know in the comments! I'm always willing to learn more :)