Just Jess

"Do a loony-goony dance 'Cross the kitchen floor, Put something silly in the world That ain't been there before." -Shel 

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We had to say goodbye to our friends, the Grows, from Seattle today. 😩 These guys were down for any adventure from sleeping in hammocks at hippy hostels, to walking for miles in the heat of the Nicaraguan dry season. Here they are in a rickety old boat en route to Isla De Ometepe with 6 huge cartons of eggs placed precariously close to our backpacks. We love you guys for coming to visit us and having true "Nica" adventures with us! Thank you for the Theo's chocolate, teaching Shea about Kinder eggs, and for just being some of the best people we know. #stottstakenica #growstoo #islaometepe #suchgoodsports (at Moyogalpa Isla de Ometepe Nicaragua)

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The cutest little cemetery ever. It was full of beautiful flowers, bright blue graves, and at the base of volcan Maderas. #islaometepe #stottstakenica #growstoo #volcanmaderas (at Volcan Maderas, Isla De Ometepe)

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My sunset view today. I have loved exploring Ometepe with these kids. #stottstakenica#growstoo#islaometepe (at Mérida, Isla De Ometepe)

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The carpet making process. This is a pretty basic mold. They had others that were much longer with elaborate patterns where they would place several different colors of sawdust in each form. Some of the molds were symbolic of Mayan art. A combination of indigenous and Christian traditions. #antiguaguatemala #semanasanta #stottstakecentralamerica #alfombras (at Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepequez)

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Good Friday procession in Antigua. This view is from the roof of our hotel. Below in the bottom right corner you can see them walking over the alfombra we all made together. We started making this at about 10pm and finished at around 1am. During our carpet-making we got interrupted by men dressed up as Roman soldiers who were riding horses and banging drums. They declared they were coming for Christ. This procession started at 4am. There were 2-3 processions like this everyday in different neighborhoods. No time to sleep as everyone was making their carpets. #stottstakecentralamerica #semanasanta #antiguaguatemala#goodfriday (at Yellow House Antigua)

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Possibly my favorite alfombra of the day. Made of produce. I love food as an art form. These carpets are beautifully made to be trampled over by a procession. All in the name of penitence. I loved seeing people work for hours all night long to create these labors of love and devotion. (at Parque San Sebastian, Antigua)

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Alfombras (carpets) in Antigua, Guatemala. Every neighborhood makes their own carpets out of dyed sawdust. This city takes celebrating Easter to a whole new level. Be prepared for Insta-overload. #stottstakecentralamerica #guatemala#semanasanta#alfombras (at Parque San Sebastian, Antigua)

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Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Guatemala is mystical. In some ways it feels untouched by time. People here still speak Mayan languages and dress in traditional clothes. On Lake Atitlán they travel by boat from pueblo to pueblo. Each pueblo is nestled in the crevices of the surrounding mountain volcanoes. So dreamy. #stottstakecentralamerica#lakeatitlán#guatemala (at Lake Atitlán)

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Pure joy eating fresh pupusas in El Salvador. Yep we ordered 8 for the two of us in true American, glutinous fashion. But there were so many flavors I had never tried before! They were all amazing and the horchata was excellent. Cross that off the bucket list! #stottstakecentralamerica#elsalvador#pupusasricas (at Planes De Renderos, San Salvador, El Salvador)

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Salvadorian sunset. Salvadoreño atardecer. Traveling Central America by bus again. This time for Semana Santa or Holy Week. I feel like the earth here in El Salvador has so many stories to tell. So much violence has happened and is happening here. I am grateful to be inside the bus looking out, but at times it feels like an insensitive place to be. #stottstakecentralamerica#elsalvador#atardecer (at Puente Cuscatlan, Rio Lempa)

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Shea and I fell in love with Panama City. We were especially enamored with the neighborhood Casco Antiguo that we accidentally stumbled upon. I felt like I was in Pirates of the Caribbean, New Orleans, and Havana all at once. It was so unexpected and pleasantly surprising. #stottstakecentralamerica #cascoviejo#cascoantiguo #cuidaddepanamá#panamacity (at Casco Antiguo, Ciudad de Panamá)

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I get the hype about Costa Rica now. I was a skeptic at first, with all of my Nicaraguan friends telling me their country/people were the best, and while I do agree, (I am biased) Costa Rica is absolutely lovely! Paraíso indeed. #stottstakecentralamerica#puravida#costarica (at Catarata La Fortuna)

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Ever since Mr. Brough's 9th grade geography class I have wanted to see the Panama Canal. Yesterday I had the chance to see the canal in action! What a feat of engineering and sheer determination. @sheastott #panamacanal#stottstakecentralamerica (at Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal)

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Was inspired by these tiles in the bathroom of our restaurant tonight. Something about the decor and vintage tango music had me remembering why I love cities. I feel so much inspiration in cities. I love the details in their crevices and cranny's and I am fascinated by the people who wander their streets. #sanjosé#costarica#puravida#stottstakecentralamerica (at La Esquina de Buenos Aires)

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Shea takes a leap of faith into Somoto Canyon. So nice to find a southern Utah staple in northern Nicaragua. 📷 cred: @ericlundq #stottstakenica#SomotoCanyon#DiscoverNicaragua#lavidaloca (at Cañon De Somoto, Nicaragua)

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Our buddy @ericlundq is visiting so of course epicness will ensue. We decided to visit the Northern Highlands of Nicaragua. Shea talked this farmer into giving us a ride in his old Russian jeep from the revolutionary war here. Definitely an Indiana Jones moment. Also if you decide to visit the Nicaraguan highlands do yourself a favor and rent a 4x4, not a Honda Civic. #stottstakenica#Nicaragua#LegitIndianaJones (at El Tisey, Esteli)

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Happy birthday Shea! I am the luckiest to have this fellow by my side. He is so good at making everyone around him feel special and loved. When we walk around town in Granada, it never ceases to amaze me how many friends he has and all the people who know him by name. He is so full of happy, fun-loving energy. And even though his love for tall women lead him to stray to this lovely lady in the streets the other day, I still hope his birthday is a happy one. Happy birthday @sheastott #StottsTakeNica (at Granada, Granada, Nicaragua)