37 Photos of Some of the Most Amazing People We’ve Met on our Travels
(part 2 of 2)
What made our experiences so special were the people we met, all of which we now consider friends. This is part 1 of the “Friends” group.
Friendships on the road are usually more intense. I wrote a blog post about friendships and saying goodbye, some time ago, here.
These are our 1st 500 Days of travel in pictures. Miro and I left on our journey on mid 2009 and (with the exception of one trip back to the states for Burning Man a month later) there has been no turning back! Our 1st 500 Days span from July 1, 2009 to November 13, 2010. To commemorate the 1st 500 Days, Miro and I have pulled 500 of our favorite images from our journey to share with you. We are releasing a new batch of photos every couple of days until we’ve shared all 500 of our favorite moments. So please do check back often. We are not professional photographers and like many, the reason we take photos is to help preserve memories of our travels. We invite you to peek into the moments that make our travels so special to us. Enjoy!
Here is Part 8 of The 1st 500 Days in Pictures – Some of the Most Amazing People We’ve Met on our Travels
Our friend Katka from the Czech Republic.
She is signing the drum that she gifted us, which has now traveled through 4 other countries.
We love you Katka!!
Our friend Guatemalan artist Mario. He is not really biting the dog, it’s just a little love nibble. Mario is featured in Podcast Episisode #9, Reflecting on Culture Through the Arts.
Jose Ponce and Miro in Panama City. Jose has such a wonderfully interesting life, has worked for social causes all throughout Central America and the United States including working side by side with César Chávez and Dolores Huerta with the United Farm Workers movement.
Lainie and Ages in Costa Rica. Agnes is the recipient of the famous “It’s Agnes’ fault” saying. We love you Agnes!
Miro and Craig in Costa Rica. Craig (who incidentally, originated the saying “It’s Ages’ fault”) is a dear friend we met through couchsurfing and is married to the very beautiful Agnes above.
Miro, mustaches, Andres and Felix, school friends from Antigua, Guatemala.
Friend Fernando and Lainie in Gautemala.
“Che”, Lisa and Lainie in Antigua, Guatemala at the couchsurfing May Day Potluck.
Smiling Chris and Roxanne in Antigua, Guatemala.
Smiling Sylvia from Italy. We met her with boyfriend David when they couchsurfed with us in Antigua. Silvia and David founded Xamanek Hostel and Cultural Center located at the lakeside village of San Marcos featured in Podcast Episode #5.
Traveler Billy has one of the biggest smiles I’ve ever seen. We loved meeting this amazing spirit.
Lainie, Miro and Norwiegen born Gert. Gert works for the United Nations in Panama but
after the new year will be starting a new position in Yemen. We send him many blessings!
Wonderful group shot in Antigua. From left to right, Patrick, Silvia, Dave and Roxanne. Dave is one of the founders of Xamanek Hostel and Cultural Center located at the lakeside village of San Marcos featured in Podcast Episode #5.
Canadian Dan and fellow traveler in Portobelo Panama.
Miro and friend Scott playing cards in Panama City.
Bubba and Elizabeth in San Isidro Costa Rica. Bubba and his beautiful mom Dixie, are featured in Podcast Episode #12.
Lainie, Miro and friend Julia on her last night in Antigua. Among the many things we love about Julia, is her beautiful singing and guitar playing.
Shannon and bottle of Indita in Antigua, Guatemala. Shannon is interviewed in Podcast Episode #2.
Hanna as she prepares to ride off towards South America. She couchsurfed with us for about a week in Antigua. She is also featured as one of the stories in Podcast Episode #4, Bicycling Across the Globe, 2 Amazing Stories.
Marcus a wonderful couchsurfer host in San Ignacio, Belize.
Marcus has a larger than life personality and an infectious smile. Read more about our time with him here.
Queer activist Cassandra in our living room in Antigua, Guatemala.
We interviewed Cassandra for Podcast Episode #3.
Geraldine!
Jonathan posing with his homemade pasta in Antigua, Guatemala.
We miss Jonathan and we miss his curls!
Canadian Evelyn who spent a week with us traveling and playing in Guatemala including Montericco, the Paul Van Dyke concert on the beach in Puerto San Jose and in Antigua.
She is responsible for teaching Miro how to play poker.
Canadian Russ we spent a week with in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.
Cyndi and her boyfriend Zumunda in Caye Caulker, Belize.
Lainie and Dutch friend Brenda in Panama City. Yep, we have the same hats.
Our dear friend Christopher Howe from iamwalking.org. Our paths crossed as he found himself on a spiritual journey walking
from Los Angels to Brazil, meditating on the prayers of others along the way. Such an inspiration to us all!
* Photo taken by Brenda Isabel
Beny, our Panamanian friend who is an avid birdwatcher.
Beny is featured in Podcast Episode #13, Migration of Birds and Men.
This was a special night that I am not likely to forget anytime soon. The evening included, tequila shots, mail order brides from Russia, garden gnomes and underwater cities. Participants included (from left to right) Juan Pablo, Marcella, Miro, Laine and Nova. We met Nova about 8 months before this photo was taken in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica and ran into her in Guatemala after she did silent retreat at Lake Atitlan. This night, she wasn’t silent.
With our couchsurfer friend Mario in Antigua.
In Rio Dulce with Juanito, Juan Pablo, Diego, Lainie & Miro.
Beautiful Lauren, Lainie, Katka and Miro in Parque Central in Antigua.
Christmas 2009 in Antigua with the girls.
In Granada, Nicaragua with Lester and Diego from Escuela de Comedia y el Mimo, featured in Episode #11, Clowning Around
Miro with Katia, our Spanish teacher in Granada, Nicaragua.
Cale! I fell in love with this guy after several wonderful conversations about life, travel and the world.
Cale is our wonderful couch surfer-friend from Chicago who is currently traveling around Latin America.
