tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26523876636417823392024-03-13T11:52:10.003-04:00TravelBaggsSeeing the places and wonders..........TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-69899914441785375342010-05-30T23:02:00.001-04:002010-05-30T23:02:47.930-04:00z - Home again - Pura Vida<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A few times during our time in Costa Rica, we were asked whether we speak Spanish... I used to say no, until I thought about it for a little bit..... here is what we know - probably not all perfectly accurate....:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hola! = hello :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dos cervesas por favor = two beers please</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Que banjos? = where is the bathroom?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>taxi = take me there</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mucho gracias = many thanks!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pura Vida - pronounced "purra veerrah' = everything is great/life is good</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Chow! = goodbye</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And with these few words and a few more here and there, we got around pretty well - all the way home. Pura Vida!!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have put the last two albums of photos up on the web - album 4 and 5.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie and Frank</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-55077272165140056902010-05-25T00:27:00.002-04:002010-09-08T22:28:54.414-04:00o - Time to say goodbye.....<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzb9gwQeO-TxPWM30L4HHCWr5icuPfsp2pZVvKNGwG9fVHAHKNoFx0OHHcUuQomPzRLJICtaEiwkO3LirwDbo44smE0hjg5XAoXNbLUCOm8-Ak1ZoBO8S0fdIUAKVa47RZ0j-DPBl750/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzb9gwQeO-TxPWM30L4HHCWr5icuPfsp2pZVvKNGwG9fVHAHKNoFx0OHHcUuQomPzRLJICtaEiwkO3LirwDbo44smE0hjg5XAoXNbLUCOm8-Ak1ZoBO8S0fdIUAKVa47RZ0j-DPBl750/s640/IMG_1659.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">There are 120 volcanoes here in Costa Rica - only 6 of them are active. The one that we staked out for 4 days earlier in our stay here, to no avail, is the only one that one can see the lava flowing - not sure we believe that though seeing as we never even saw the top of it :) The second most active volcano is Poas Volcano and is right here in San Jose. This volcano only delivers geysers that one can smell for miles around - sulphur. And so Sunday found us on a day tour, headed up the side of this volcano to see the blue green lake inside and breath deeply of that rotten egg smell. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We were picked up at our hotel, just outside San Jose, at around 3000 feet and tootled up that narrow winding road to around 7300 feet. It was a lovely drive, there are flowers everywhere, huge cork trees which look a bit like a huge knobbly tree drawn by a comic, or like something created in Disneyland. They have fascinating patterns, gnarls and folds all the way up their trunks. The flowers here are amazing - so many different types and colors, shapes and smells and the regular rain seems to light them up and give them an extra sparkle. The bouganvilla is incredible, it flows over walls, climbs other trees, hangs onto the bars in front of the houses and all the colors are mixed in - looks like a salad of colors. And Plumbago - that beautiful soft blue flower is everywhere around too, there are huge bell like flowers, some in a very pale yellow and others in pale pink with white edges and bird spluttering around them trying to get inside. I just know that there is not enough space in my brain to get to know all the different types of flowers, so I did not even try - just happy to see and enjoy them.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">It took about an hour and a half from here to the Poas Volcano, winding our way up the mountainside, watching so many different levels of live passing by outside the windows. It seems to be a slow lifestyle as soon as one gets out of hte city - maybe because it was Sunday. Many of the houses were decorated with washing hanging on anything that washing could be hung on, making the scenery brighter and even more colorful. People were all spread out on porches, in the road and draped over cars and bikes as they chatted to others doing the same. And all the way, the flowers lit it all up. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">At one point along that tiny, winding little road, we found a good many houses in ruin and were told of the really big earthquake just over a year ago that killed many people and hade a whole community disappear - and it ruined these houses too. Apparently there are on average about 2000 earthquakes a year - and the one we had felt was a 6.4 magnitude - but because it was in Quepos, on the coast, it did not do any damage that we heard about. Anyway, up and up we drove, looking down on the tops of the trees, seeing the sunlight gleaming off the bromelias in the moss laden trees, watching birds flicker all over the place and the clouds wafting through the valley as well. We finally got to the top, often feeling as if we should get out and push, all piled out and walked the last mile to the top. It was a white out. Not cold, just - well, we could see nothing at all through the clouds! So we waited, and waited. We all blew in the same direction together, but nothing helped and after about 25 minutes and the cloud and mist only getting thicker, we once again admitted that defeat regarding a volcano and trooped back down the hill. In the information center at the gates I took a photograph of a photograph and will post that so you can see what we should have seen. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We then headed off to a coffee Plantation.. .Bodega Plantation, for lunch and a tour and explanation. I really found it interesting. The coffee plant is a beautiful deep green, almost shiney and they were all covered with little green berries. Occasionally there were dainty little white flowers, looking and smelling rather like Jasmine, dotting the limbs but the main blooming event was well passed. The berries turn fire hydrant red and ripe starting in December and ending in February. During these months the plantations rely heavily on the illegal immigrants to do the picking. The berries have to be hand picked, one by one and a basket full gets the picker the equivalent of $1 ! And we are not talking about a small basket at all. Its tied to the pickers' waist so that he can pick with two hands, the depth of the basket is about from your finger tips to your elbow and almost as wide. An experienced picker can do up to 20 baskets per day. Wow. Hard and backbreaking work for very little reward.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">The coffee then gets taken to a sorting area where they are floated along and sorted by quality or weight - the ones that float are low quality and discarded. The cherry then gets cracked open to let the coffee bean out and its taken outside to the courtyard for drying in the sun. The top quality coffee beans gets dried this way, the others go into a dryer at high temps for a day to dry. Outside, the beans are turned over by hand with a rake looking tool, every twenty minutes, for three days. If/when it rains, its all quickly raked together and covered up to stay dry. Repeat process. At this point, the coffee bean has absolutely no taste and is a pale cream color. Its then sent to the roasting machines where the time its roasted is critical. Seven, 13 and 17 minutes all deliver a totally different color, quality and taste of coffee, so a close watch is kept on the clock. Apparently Starbucks buys a lot of their coffee at about $160 per huge bag that makes about 1000 cups of coffee. Quite a profit worked in there, it seems.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">And so we left there to head to the small town of Sarchi where we were promised a good shopping experience. The bridges here are painted with really pretty intricate little patterns, as are many of the buildings, or part of them. We stopped at the worlds largest ox cart - a really beautiful and huge piece of art, and I wondered if it could still be called an ox cart if there were no oxen big enough to pull it? And then we came to the souvenier shop where we picked up a few items - there was not much of a choice and too much of the goodies were either too heavy, breakable or too expensive. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">By now it was raining really hard again and we headed home. The guides have so much really interesting information and I really should have taken my notebook with me. One of the things we saw on the way was a huge soccer stadium being built. Its really fancy and reminds me of that huge stadium in Australia - you know, the frilly edge and all right on the water front? Apparently China is donating it all - down to the last nail. When I asked why, the guide said that everyone knows that China will want something in return, but it has not been asked for yet. Now I dont know if its just me - but does that not sound just a tad insane? The other interesting tidbit that I remember is that Costa Rica has an agreement with the USA - Costa Rica is to keep on protecting as much of their land as they can, even the woods used for the tourist trade is imported from Nicaragua, and in return, if it is ever needed, the USA will protect Costa Rica with its army. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">After a very full day we threw a few coins in the penny slots, won a few extra's back and sat gently in the room drinking beer and eating chips! How ordinary, but we are definitely getting into the 'going home' mode now. This morning we decided to visit the Rescue place they have here for birds and animals found either hurt or ex-captivity that need a place to stay. It's called ZooAve and they have a fantastic breeding program as well as a re-introduction program too. I really wanted to see a Quetzal, its the most beautiful bird, hard to describe, but I will put a photograph of it up soon. We were told that we were guaranteed to see one at ZooAve. Its not a zoo as in a normal zoo... but its a very beautiful place. The scarlet macaws of different reds, yellows and greens hung out in the branches above our heads, sqwaking as we clicked away, hoping to get that perfect photo to take back with us. The cages that these birds are in are suited very well to each different bird. We passed the parrots, the cockatoo type birds, more green ones, some big, some small. Some had silly yellow looking rubber-like globby shaped things on their heads, the peacocks and other birds happily tootled around the grounds herding their young away from us, fortunate enough to not be behind bars. The iguanas apparently wont breed while in captivity, so they are also loose and we saw them draped over the top of many cages and on branches all over the place - those things get huge!</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">And so we came to the cage that said "Quetzal". I was almost afraid - I so badly wanted to see one and photograph it and all. But. Again, I had not been specific. I had 'asked' to see a quetzal - not to see it up close and in a way that could be photographed beautifully and all! So, I saw it - waaaaaaaaaay at the back of its enclosure, with its back to us as if in a sulk. The wires on that particular cage were tripled, dont know why, which made it almost impossible to get any sort of photograph of it. I tried, and tried and tried again and after we walked the whole place, we came back to see if he was in a better mood - no luck. But - I had achieved what I wanted to do - I had seen a Quetzal and some of the photos show the coloring, but I will have to look at photos of others to see what they look like. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">It was really lovely wandering through ZooAve - it took about two and a half hours and we saw a great variety of very weird and wonderful and beautiful birds, a good many different types of big cats, panther and jaguar included, peccaries, wolf, many different types of monkeys, many of which were not in cages. The whole place is rather like being inside the rain forest, gently dripping everything, strange and wonderful flowers and plants, insects and bugs- and so peaceful and quiet. Mangoes and papaya's grew everywhere and we nearly got hit by a falling mango while we stood and watched the white faced monkeys playing about 10 foot away from where we stood. And then I found the toucans! They were way at the back of their enclosure, but before long they came to play - oh it was glorious! God must have been having SUCH fun with His paintbrushes when he made them! Those beaks are an artwork in itself, and then those feathers, the colors and the bright bright eyes looking at one through the fence with unguarded curiosity. The one particular one with the most coloring in its beak, hopped and clicked its beak at me,posing this way and that and would have gone on much longer if I had stayed. He sounded quite indignant when I finally left him to head on down the path. And then, right at the end of the walk, we came around a corner to hear "Hola! Hola!" and looked around to see who was calling us........ a parrot! And then he proceeded to have a full conversation with us in Spanish - he did both sides! He must have been saying something funny - one of the little kids there was nearly crying with laughter.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">We got the young lady at the entrace to call us a taxi and she handed me a piece of paper with the number 1047 written on it. I still dont know what that was about, but it obviously meant something judging by all the hand waving and talking she did. The taxi rattled to a stop in a cloud of dust, honking loudly at us and I bent down and asked him to take us to the Orchid Gardens. No English. But he signed that we get in and he would take us to someone who could speak English. Its very weird in a way getting into a rattletrap, dented and rusty car with a total stranger, in a strange country, no common language and then screaming off at high speed down a narrow bouncing road with hairpin bends, not knowing really where we are or where we are going. I must say that its not a horrible or uncomfortable feeling at all - just odd. Anyway, the Orchid Gardens were closed with no explanations so out came our hotel door key, showed it to the driver, who nodded 'Si, Si!' and took us back to our hotel - at breakneck speed! He quickly learned that I take photos of everything and it was not long before I felt this almost continual light tapping on my arm as he pointed out, with a huge grin, stuff for me to take photos of. Now I have many pictures of things that I have no idea what they are :) He was sweet though and looked very proud when I caught what he pointed out.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">And so we have reached our saturation point. It feels like months that we have been here, feels like our heads and hearts are full of the wonders of an incredibly beautiful, diverse and culturally rich country. We flew over the tree tops in Monteverde, dragged our fingers through the waters of Tortuguero on the Caribbean Coast, waited in absolute anticipation for the clouds to clear and the lava to flow at Arenal, walked the treetops over swinging bridges. We have have seen more beautiful beaches here than my camera will hold, screamed down the canals on the Osa Peninsula and almost melted in Corcovado! Each corner we turned gave us something else to treasure, some other adventure, experience or some truth to see and digest. From the sunset on the river, to that awesome little green froglet, the hunt for the Quetzal, the blue jeans red frog, the flowers - oh all those flowers! ..... everything has been amazing and there is too much to mention all over again.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">It's been one heck of an adventure with something new every day for almost three weeks. And now its time to head back home again, where we can sit back gently, savor the experience and we can get to see the photos on a bigger screen and relive it all once more - yeah, even Corcovado and that crazy cabin. Tomorrow, Tuesday, we have nothing planned at all - just relaxing, maybe swimming, a slot or three, a beer or two, packing, snoozing, maybe sorting more photos and then very early on Wednesday morning we catch our flight back home.</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Through all our travels to these amazing and sometimes insane places, one thing is very clear - that there really is nothing like home. I truely believe that if we did not look forward to going home, we would not be able to enjoy these adventures as much as we do. </span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">All your emails have been wonderful and I am really glad you could share this adventure with us - thanks! The rest of the photos will be online sometime this week - I will let you know when......</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Till the next time</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">love, light and much laughter.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Especially to U3, which is really U6 :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Annie and Frank</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">xxxxx</span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com/">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</a><br />
<a href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHW3CTqvHlmjn9NjwRzlndyf9iDfPuFL6MC2aNeqPh6JbrAtFqbgx676CMKNo3AY_Xp2ttxudhwRIGBFsNInw92mjoSvZUHDy2wPuzMUrzeyj7uOh_tlXsYG29m0PY0GM_UkkpSlM1jU/s1600/IMG_0502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHW3CTqvHlmjn9NjwRzlndyf9iDfPuFL6MC2aNeqPh6JbrAtFqbgx676CMKNo3AY_Xp2ttxudhwRIGBFsNInw92mjoSvZUHDy2wPuzMUrzeyj7uOh_tlXsYG29m0PY0GM_UkkpSlM1jU/s640/IMG_0502.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
</div>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-69573913831967976092010-05-22T20:54:00.001-04:002010-05-22T20:54:22.366-04:00n - So Thankful....<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thursday night at the quaint little hotel Aranjurez found us both slapping ourselves all night long.... You see, we had not quite learned enough yet. When we booked into the hotel and I asked for a room with airconditioning and was told that they have fans only because it does not get hot enough here - well, I just let it slide right by. What I did not realise is that when a hotel only has fans in this neck of the woods, that means that..well, there are more airholes in the structure than is normally ok. And so it was here as well. The quaint little garden right outside one set of windows of the room, was nicely humid and fairly buzzing with little flying critters that I had found cute and somewhat interesting earlier. The other windows were all of the slatted kind and not one of them closed properly at all. All nice when one only has fans and the weather does not get hot! But........ when there are mosquitos, ants and other critters breeding gardens everywhere, it definitely does not make for a good sleep. I literally woke up one time with me smacking my own face and when it was finally light enough to get up there were a good few different types of bugs, now dead, littering the bed alongside us. The shooting in the middle of the night somewhere nearby outside also did not help, neither did the fact that any time either of us moved even the slightest bit, the bed scooted across the tile floor, heading to the opposite wall. Finally we put a couple of little coffee tables between the far wall and the end of the bed - that helped but created a fun obstacle course for me to climb over ever time I headed to the bathroom! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So we packed up yet again, checked out early, got a refund with a smile and headed out again. The taxi driver took us on a sightseeing tour around the city, all while trying to convince us that we were going on the most direct route. Suuuuuure. It was a 5 minute drive that took almost 20 minutes, but what the heck can one do if he pretends not to speak English and waves his hands feverishly around while jabbering loudly and frenetically while weaving in and out of traffic?? We got here safely, and thats what really counts.. And while we were booking into this hotel, we heard some others who were wondering about the earthquake we felt yesterday. I was sitting on that ever moving bed sorting through photos when I felt everything shake - the lights rattled and I reached out to quickly grab my camera before it fell off the table. It was not all that bad and no one ran outside yelling or anything, but it really made me think about sleeping fully clothed! Apparently it was centered around Quepos, near Manuel Antonio and was much better felt down there!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So now we are here in Irazu, a little suburb right next to San Jose. The cameras have stopped fogging up finally - that was quite irritating... with the humidity further south, every now and again we could only see a thick fog through the lens. Off came the lenses and we would gently blow them clear, until the next time. Both the camera's are going to need a very serious cleaning job when we get back again. Now we are all spread out in the hotel room - yes, it has airconditioning, no air holes for critters, hot water, a flushing toilet and a view of the Poas Volcano.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yesterday we literally just relaxed - it was so good to totally unwind, not have to think of finding another place, not have to pack up again, not have to figure out what or where next..... we just relaxed, had lunch and then popped into the little casino right next door for a chance at luck. We fed in a note that had a horrendous number on it - 5000 colones. That is the currency name here - colones and the exchange rate is around 500 colones to one dollar.. So although it was almost nervewracking to gamble with such a huge number on the bill, it was onlly $10. I played and lost all mine, Frank played for a little while and then........ ting ting ting TING....he won something and it was spitting it all out into the tray making one heck of a noise and flashing a light above it as well. We are still not sure just how much he won, but think it was around $150 dollars.... time to get out of there and call it quits - and we did. We had a ticket to half price at happy hour at the hotel bar, but it was so noisy and busy there that we happily slipped past it and headed to the room where Frank had put a beer on ice for us earlier. And so we had the best nights sleep for weeks! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This morning we booked a half day city tour of San Jose.. They dont do the tours of the church's here at all - but we got to visit the Gold Museum and the National Theater which were both very interesting.. The National Theater is the most beautiful building with about five different styles of construction. We were fortunate enough to be there when a group of people were practising for a production and we watched them doing their twirling dance steps from the darkened top balcony. The dim lights all around gave me just enough light to be able to take photographs - and I am rather happy at how they turned out. The inside of the building had huge statues all around, some tall and austere looking, one even looked totally ticked off at whoever looked his way, and others were stunning artworks with the feelings oozing out of them - like the one of a mom sitting curved gently over, holding her infant in her lap. It was made of white marble and was all rounded and .. just beautiful. And the paintings - they were just awesome too. Every part of the ceiling had some huge painting on it - in a huge frame. Some were very colorful while others looked like life in the clouds in an imaginary story - all soft and inviting. There were huge gold plated ornate designs everywhere and the whole feeling of the place was very welcoming, with long spiral staircases winding their way upstairs. Its definitately one of the most elegant buildings I have ever been in.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Apparently way back when the mode of transport around here was still by horse and cart - people would wish the dancers and performers "a night of lots of shit". Seriously!! If there was lots of it, that would mean that many horses had passed that way and they would have good attendance that night. Makes sense, but not a figure of speech I am about to adopt either! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And the Gold Museum - that was more about the ancient cultures and the items they made from different mediums like clay, wood and metals. It was incredibly fascinating and the detail in some of those things were stunning! The little talismen that they would create always depicted the connection between humans and all other creations, so many of the items were fascinating things with incredible detail. The building itself was weirdly built and of course I tried taking pictures of that too - but was quickly shut down by the security guy there.... no pictures of this concrete structure at all allowed. I was free to take pics of all the contents, displays and all - just none of the walls and ceilings. It looked pretty sturdy to me and we wondered why they would worry about that.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After seeing all the gold and stuff and the Theater, we were taken for a drive through San Jose proper....... the good, the bad and the ugly. Being Saturday, downtown was really busy, with cars parked all over the road, little roadside stores all along the sidewalks and people everywhere popping in and out of the shops along the way. It continuously stuns me that there are huge piles of garbage everywhere and it alljust seems to be part of life around here... The shops all have bars over the doors and windows and most have apartments above the them that are also all barred up with razor wire strung for miles everywhere. When we were driving through the residential areas, the rich, the middle class and the poor areas - it felt as if everyone is living in a prison... I kept on taking photos of these barred up homes and shops, of the razor wire that in some places had flowers growing over and through them, but still there, and found my mouth hanging open in absolute thankfulness of where and how we live.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I cannot, absolutely cannot imagine living behind all those bars and that razor wire and then when outside of all of that, to face the trash in the roads.. We asked the tour guide about the crime and the bars and all and he spent about 10 minutes telling us that there was no problem at all with crime in Costa Rica - that the bars and all are a status symbol here. If your neighbors have pretty bars, then so should you. Hmmmm- then why does the razor wire all have the names of security companies on it? I know that they cannot talk about the real picture here, and it is heartbreakingly obvious that there is a tremendous crime problem in this country. One of our more independant guides about a week ago, was telling us that the organised crime is absolutely terrible and that its a very very hard place to live if anywhere near the cities. This is not a place I would like to grow up in - not near the cities at all. I have stopped carrying my camera with me when we walk around, or even my handbag.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But even with all this, there does not seem to be a problem during the daytime - everything moves right on, kids walking by themselves, moms sitting in the parks with the kids, pigeons fighting for food in the square and very tolerant drivers everywhere. We escaped the rain today - only finding a few drops earlier but now the lightening is flickering again outside, lighting up the outline of the volcano in the distance. Tomorrow we are taking a tour up onto that volcano and also to a market place where we hope to find some interesting things that want to find a home in Tennessee.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh - and I put another two albums of photos up on the web yesterday :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till next time and with deep thanks for our lot in life</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>...... an extra dollop to U6 - I miss you all lots!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-28048821422852416262010-05-20T23:12:00.001-04:002010-05-20T23:12:28.074-04:00m - a quiet day.<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yesterday was a tiring day all in all and we were really glad to be in that little hotel room in San Isidro. We went to sleep without supper, too tired to even worry about that. I sat up quite late sorting pics writing - there was no bedside light to read with and the main light was brilliant white. So. We both woke up a lot more relaxed and rested. It had poured again all night long but the rain on the roof sounded lovely. It was still raining and I quickly checked the weather report which said that up in the mountains where we were, it was going to rain for three days! Aaaarrrgghh. This was where I wanted to go and find that beautiful Resplendant Quetzal bird! There was not way we would have a chance to see it in the mist and fog and rain. So another decision happened quickly. I had spent some time looking at places to go and found one really near San Jose - central to everything and anything we decided to do. It sounded quaint and all and decided to go and have breakfast, call the Interbus or Shuttle company and head that way.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sure - too easy. Neither the Shuttle nor Interbus runs up this way - its too high up in the mountains and not enough tourists come this way. Back to a taxi which is hellishly expensive. Finally the hotel manager said that they would drive us in their minibus to the next hotel, about 4 hours away, for $200. No bargaining at all, period. We both thought about the taxis we had taken, the air conditioners, speedometers that did not work and decided to bite the bullet and go for it. It took us 5 minutes to pack up and drag all our luggage, which I swear is now double the original weight, down the stairs again and there we sat, in hightened anticipation to leave again. This feeling of wanting to leave places was becoming horribly familiar, but we really did not feel like exploring anything in the pouring rain. Definitely aging, methinks.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I sat up front of the minibus and had a glorious view - Frank had all 12 seats to himself and I heard him happily clicking away as we drove through the most awesome mountains! Every now and again we would catch a glimpse of the views that would have filled up my camera had it not been raining or foggy. It was beautiful and really high up and a gently winding road led us up and back down those mountains. Through the fog we could often see the bright red of the bromelias attached to so many of the trees all along the way. They are huge and rather beautiful plants and I always want to see what is living inside their leaves. We stopped at a few places along the way to buy fruit, cheese and some other goodies. The driver knew no English whatsoever and he had strange taste in music - or rather, the sounds that kept pouring from the radio. It was blissfully cold up in those mountains which was a wonderful change for us.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then we hit the city again - through tiny roads, a gazillion cars. Some places along the way were pretty backed up as there was a stop sign where a traffic light would be really welcome, and it was obvious that this was an ongoing problem because a variety of vendors had set themselves up along the side of that short stretch of road. In a few places on the mountain road, we were reduced to only one lane as the other had fallen down the hillside. No repairs were made, and instead, there was a yield sign painted on the road and a flimsy piece of tape fluttering slowly over the gap. No one bothered, and traffic went by pretty smoothly. It was an abrupt change of scenery from the mountains to the city - gotta say that I much prefer the mountains. The driver was frantically working his GPS, trying to find the new hotel in the little town of Aranjuez, and the roads got narrower and narrower as we went along. And then he stopped. You've got to be kidding! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were in a very odd little place with most of the buildings and houses covered with bars and trees thickly placed on the sidewalks. By now we are not surprised by anything at all - but it definitely did not look like the pictures on the website. Well, actually it did, just much more like real life and the websites photos had obviously had a good cleaning in Photoshop. Ah well. The man behind the desk spoke English!! Whooo hoooo - 10 steps ahead already! We booked a room for a couple of days and dragged those bags down the corridor where we found a neat and tidy room - so much bigger than the other and it had a bathroom that I would love to have at home! Even reading lamps, a tv that did not have snow, extra tables and well........ its a good place to relax for a few days. There are little gardens all over the place inside the main hotel building and I read that the hotel is a conglomoration of 4 houses, joined together - hence the gardens in odd places. Its really quite quaint.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is an interesting tidbit about this area : <FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#0000ff size=3><EM>The first electrical plant, inaugurated on August 9, 1884, was built in Aranjuez on the southwest corner of the<STRONG> Calderon Guardia Hospital</STRONG>. With this lighting that consisted of 25 lamps, San Jose became the third city in the world, and the first in Latin America to have electrical lighting, preceded only by Paris and New York. Initially, the lighting service covered the area from the Atlantic Railroad Station to the Del Carmen Church, and from there to the Parque Central , and then on to other parts of the city. Thanks to the energy generated by the Pelton Wheel which was installed in Aranjuez by Manuel V. Dengo and Luis Batres in 1892, the electrical lighting of the incandescent system was made available to homes. </EM></FONT></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were pointed in the direction of a cafe where we could get lunch and dinner if we wanted to - the hotel only has breakfast. And off we tootled, zigzagging down roads, over the railway track, losing and finding ourselves and all the time finding fascinating things, from little stores to strange trees to many many eateries along the way. We passed the hospital and Currency building, gawked at the wall art all over the place and walked around piles of bagged trash in the roads. When walking, you have to keep a close eye on the pavement and road - there are manhole wide open, smaller holes, deep curbs and well........ we kept our eyes firmly on the road. And then finally we found the Cafe. We sat outside under huge bamboo, with birds flittering around the yard and fish in a fish pond. It was very busy and the people watching was glorious! Our food was simply delicious and the beer ice cold. A definite re-visit is in view.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Today was probably our quietest day yet - nothing exciting apart from being fortunate enough to see even more of the beautiful countryside. I have spent a good bit of time sorting through more photos and will hopefully get them up online tomorrow or so..</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>to U3 espcially - Joleen, I hope you knee is feeling better already!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till next time</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-37480723333504627892010-05-20T00:15:00.001-04:002010-05-20T00:15:46.606-04:00l - Into the Mountains.. and cool air!<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So after I got all that off my chest last night, typing in a dark room and putting mental blocks on all the nooks and crannies in that shack, and exhausted from lack of peaceful sleep and being lulled closer into slumber land by Franks gentle snoring..... I joined him in an attempt to get some rest. We had that extra fan right next to the head of the bed, which drowned out some of the rattling of the roof fan and made a good difference in the temperature in that shack, and somehow I drifted off too. It was lightening outside way in the distance and was lovely the way the outlines of the trees lit up with each distant strike and the frogs all over seemed to come alive and chirrup even louder as the sky lit up. We were much more relaxed the second night there, caring less about where we were and all - maybe we were just plain exhausted or relieved to know that we were leaving the next day. So we slept for a while - all the way till the sky spit wide open with one absolutely indescribable crack of lightening right next to our shack! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I think both Frank and I woke up when we were a good 6 inches off the bed! What a storm that was....... it lasted all night long and the lightening danced around us, so close and so brilliantly and so continuously that everything was like daylight at times. The roof fan sucked in the rain through the holy screen up near the roof and sprayed us with a cool mist all night till Frank turned it off, and one of the holes in the roof collected a good dollop of water before dropping it squarely into Franks bellybutton. Yes, I laughed! I got up a few times to make sure that the laptop and cameras were not getting wet and to go to the loo - it really was very eerie softly pattering around there wondering what creatures had slunk in out of the rain. This morning Carlos told us that his sister was nearly bitten as she walked around their house, by a Ferdilance (sp?) - a very very poisonous viper, and when I told him that we had been getting up at night, he kinda went very quiet. Hmmmmm. Anyway, we are all ok, and it really was interesting to listen to that incredible downpour of rain, the thunder that literally rattled the tin roof and the absolute brilliance of the lightening. We both said this morning that we were a bit worried about one of the huge trees around there, toppling over, but there was nothing our thoughts could have changed, so.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But the storm put any chance of a drive across the peninsula to see new things on our way out of there, firmly out the window. All roads were flooded, all streams overflowing, so Carlos had organised a ride for us back to the beach, a boat ride and a free taxi into Palma Sur. His English is not that great and our Spanish just is not functional yet at all, so we were hoping that this was what he said as he bade us goodbye..... And so, down the muddy road we went, over the hanging foot bridge again where we waited for a good while watching the water that ran over the road rise up even further. Then along came someone who signaled for us to get in, we did, and off we bounced across roads that were now seriously compromised with deep ruts still getting deeper with the water washing down them. It was a very interesting ride. While we were waiting on the beach, we watched as three little doglets went rushing after the big black birds that were at least double their size! And they even flushed out an iguana and a scarlet Macaw for me - bonus day!! :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We piled into this 16 seater little boat with half a roof and took off into the waves again, with more dark grey clouds threatening on the horizon, but to my surprise, we headed to the left - wrong way! Uh oh....... we just laughed, not able to understand anyone else on that boat and frankly not really caring, we just enjoyed the ride. The swells were not too high and the ride down the coast was beautiful. Every now and again the boat would hit the water hard and a glorious spray of white water would blank out the world for a second.... I really enjoyed it. We picked up some more people at three other lodges along the coast and I recognised two of them from when I had been researching places to stay. No matter which one we picked, we would be leaving today anyway. It all looks so awesome on the internet, and in reality its still amazing, but ...... well.......... After about half an hour going in the one direction, us now kinda interested in where we were going to end up, they turned the boat around, kicked it in high gear and zoomed back up the coast in the 'right' direction I have to admit to a bit of disappointment - somewhere new would have been good. And remember those mean jagged black rocks I told you about on the way out there? Well, this guy just waited for a few seconds for a big enough wave and then drove us straight through the middle of the two meanest rocks and we surfed through that gap like professionals! I almost clapped :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At Sierpe boat dock we were met by a very enthusiastic taxi driver, but we had been warned against them, so continuously shrugged him off. But he stuck like glue and was rediculously insistant that we go with him, so eventually I found someone that could speak a smattering of both English and Spanish and finally it came out that this was the driver that Carlos had told to drive us to Palma Sur for free. Phew - great relief all around, and off we went with him. Evidently he was going to take us to Palma whether we liked it or not - Carlos had told him to! The bus stop and small town of Palma was totally deviod of any English speakers or understanders, so after pointing at the map, scribbling of dollar amounts, scratching out and scribbling lower numbers the taxi man scored and we once again piled our stuff into his truck and headed up the road for about two and a half hours to a little place south of San Jose, called San Isidro. The drive was beautiful and hot, his air conditioner did not work, but we literally felt cooler with every extra mile between the Osa Peninsula and us. We drove on roads that we have not yet been on, some pretty good and others tiny ribbons winding around the mountain side with the engine screaming and wheels barely turning much of the time. The driver was a fair sized guy who really flung himself enthusiastically into those corners, nearly ending up on my lap at times as the tires screamed around the corners, but again, the scenery and passing miles made up for it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we were dropped off at a hotel in the middle of town, just about to pay for it when I heard the word "fan". Uh Uh - NO way!! Airconditioning or nothing! So, I yanked back my passport and money and we headed out the door, now with the wheels of our luggage squealing in protest, in search of a taxi to take us to another close by hotel. And now we are here, somewhere in the Talamanca Mountains where everything feels much calmer and is definitely cooler. Its somewhere. Its somewhere with airconditioning and not a single bug in the room so far! The bathroom is so small that you can only change your mind halfway at a time, and the room is really sparse - but its almost paradise to us for right now. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We are going to explore San Isidro tomorrow a bit, I think - it sounds like an interesting town. Its been raining here ever since we arrived and if its going to be wet again tomorrow, we might just head out here to somewhere else again. I have found a neat little place further to the north east of here that we can go and see what's there. Time is running short now and strangely enough we are almost ready to head home again. Almost. It's coming up fast.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I laughed at all the email reactions to my last update - our reasons for doing all that? Well, because we could! And if we had not, we would always wonder what it was like, now we know. It was rather like driving up to the end of the road in Quebec Canada - all the way to a tiny little town right up against James Bay......Chisasibi was its name and it took us three days of driving from the US border, straight north, to get there, only to discover, well, nothing! LOL. But now we know. And so it is with Osa - its beautiful, rugged, loved by many and at least a small part of it was seen by us - even though it was through foggy glasses. Now we know.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The airconditioner has kicked in - bliss! Frank is gently snoring and even though there is no early morning planned, tis time to bring today to a close.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till .....whenever.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter - lots of it</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-78140881410049867812010-05-19T16:40:00.000-04:002010-05-19T16:41:05.639-04:00k - If we were only 20 years younger....<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we sat on that outside porch of the resturant at Sierpe, little knowing what was ahead of us. After not too long a time we were told to 'come! come! to the white boat". And off we tootled, down the steps where we watched as our luggage was flung into the bows of the little boat. I said a little prayer for my laptop but right along with that thought was a definite "oh well, whatever" and a smile. Before leaving, a bunch of black garbage bags were grabbed by one of the guys riding with us, and he struggled for a good while to get our bags inside them. "the rain - she's comin!". I had packed the laptop and all camera stuff in a waterproof bag inside the suitcase so was not too worried about anything getting wet at all. So the bags were then loosely draped over everyones bags and the kid went to sit on top of them all! Sigh.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We cruised through the magrove swamps on a 'tour' that was much more exciting than the one we had the other day that we paid for! This boat was only about 25 foot long but it had a really good motor attached to it and soon we were scudding around corners racing with two other boats going in the same direction. It got interesting as we crossed their wake and we soon noticed that all the people on the other boats had lifejackets on. We could not even see any on ours! But it was fun - we stopped to get a closer look at a crocodile who really was not interested in being gawked at and slid into the water smoothly, reminding me to hang on just that bit tighter as we screamed around the next corner. And then we saw the breakers - yup - the ocean, right ahead, and were soon bouncing over the waves that really were not too big at all, but still!. There was an outcrop of black, very jagged rocks on our left and the boat capitan just kept on getting closer and closer..........then we stopped and my eyes kinda sorta popped out. We were looking at *huge* breakers coming right at us between two of the most evil looking of those rocks! And we just hung out there. I did not even want to look at the El Capitano - he needed to concentrate, obviously. After about a minute and a half of no one saying anything at all, no explanations and a definite unbelievable hush amongst the passengers, he suddenly kicked that motor into top gear and took off like a missile! Around those rocks we screamed, that motor giving it all it had. We bounced up on top of one wave, fell into the trough, only to look up and find another one waiting for us. Then we were flung sharply to the left where we rode the top of the next big one for a little while before falling off like a tired surfer.. Hoo boy. I think my fingers buckled the aluminum awning frame that I was clinging on to. What a totally wild ride that was..... it only lasted about 3 minutes, but geez. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were still a good distance away from 'our place' and for the rest of the ride we ran parrallel to the beach, watching the breakers crash onto the miles of brown beaches, creating 'milk moustaches' all along the way, as the palm trees stroked the the sand as the breeze blew. All along the beaches are little houses dotted - mostly made from corrugated iron, washing hanging outside on the lines and kids playing happily outside. Here and there was an obvious hotel and we dropped a few people off along the way. And then it was our turn. Curly haired, bandana wearing middle aged Carlos was patiently waiting on the beach, just as he said and greeted us as we did the wet landing thing off the boat. This is when we have to step off the boat into the water and wade a short distance to the shore. No problem at all. And there we stood on one of the more remote beaches of Costa Rica listening to the quiet around us. It was glorious. Getting here had taken over an hour boat ride.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Carlos, not at the picture the voice had painted, carried the luggage up the beach where we were met by a motorcycle driving pretty fast right towards us and at the last minute doing a star studded u-turn! The tall, thin guy on the motorbike had his thick black hair combed straight back and upwards, dark glasses perched on top of this do, a bright red t-shirt and a huge, brilliant white smile for us as he reached his very limp wristed hand across the two feet space to greet us with a shy and coy 'hellloooo" as his eyelids fluttered suggestively. It took everything I had not to burst out laughing - I was sure it was a joke, but what if it wasn't. It wasn't. Thank goodness I had not laughed!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were told that the motorbike was a taxi - but not ours and shortly a pickup/bakkie arrived and our luggage once again flung into it. We asked if we could sit or stand in the back of the truck - it had high railings all around and looked like fun. A good many people laughed, but up we climbed and off we went. We learned really quickly to watch out for branches that hung there waiting for us, but we both thouroughly enjoyed the ride along roads that had been seriously washed out by some good rains. I think the best was watching Carlos' face as we bounced around the roads past people he obviously knew.... they all laughed and he jabbered something back at them which I am sure we would have loved to hear if only we could have understood! We passed a few little stores, many people waving, some houses on stilts,lots and lots of beautiful countryside..</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we came to a river. A very very full river that no truck could get through. A short discussion between Carlos and the driver ensued, we were told to get out, out came our luggage as well and we started walking to a tiny little wooden hanging bridge that was about 15 foot above the muddly red water rushing down below. Apparently the rain hit this area hard this morning, but we missed it totally on the river and out in the ocean. On the other side of the little bridge were horses. And we were told to wait. So we did. There was a lady with a small baby in a house right next to the road, who was washing piles of laundry with those old fashioned scrubbing boards.... made us truely thankful for what we have at home. It did. Not too long passed by and another car came to pick us up and took us to the 'hotel'.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And here is where we realized that we bit off much more than we could chew....I really really should read between the lines better, but we were both excited to come down to the Osa Peninsula and it sounded so good at we did not want to pay $250 per night for some hotels around here, which there are not very many of, but all seem to be really expensive...... so I - yes, I will take responsibility for this one....... I picked a place that was much cheaper and sounded kind of 'cabin-ey". It is. Very. We were led down a muddy slippery narrow path of slick red mud, between really pretty flowers, to a cabin in the jungle that looks like the Unabomber's shack! Frank and I looked at each other, swallowed our words and went in. Yes, there are three beds - a double bed and a bunk bed set. Yes there are clean sheets on the beds, there is a table, a very tiny refridgerator that was shuddering as it worked and even a coffee maker! Whooo hooo! There was also at least an inch space under the door - and to the left of it, and to the right of it. Thankfully, the spaces inbetween the planks of the door itself were only about an eighth of an inch - THAT should help keep the bugs out! There is no glass, just gauze, but the bugs never came crawling through the huge openings all over the gauze wraparound - there was no need - the door was pretty much open to them! The floor is painted green.... well, I say painted, loosley. Once upon a time it really was painted, now...well, it was chipping up and...... well, you get the picture. The carpet was one of those things your great great grandma made out of all the left over bits of nylon of different colors that were of no use for anything else and the light shone brightly through the many holes in the ceiling which is tin and very very patched. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now wait - I know you all think I am sounding like a really spoiled brat - but this shack is right in the freaking jungle with the constant falling of coconuts, and dripping rain and humidity. The fan that was attached to the ceiling is pointed away from the bed, and the double bunk - well, I got up on it and it needed two of us to get me down again, so that was not an option to sleep on, even though it is much closer to the fan, that rattles and has years of dust and webs swirling around madly as it churnes itself around in an ineffectual attempt to cool. The table has a tablecloth that has definitely seen better days and could do with some 'get the stains out' bleach, but it was decked with flowers that wished desperately that they were still in the garden. The plastic chairs looked as if too many toucans had nested right above them and the beds - well, everything has a damp, mildewy smell to it. And the bathroom? Laughing. The shower has some kind of fancy contraption with open wires sticking out of the top, and we had to attach a hose to a garden style tap/faucet, turn another switch and literally only dribble the water out if we wanted any hot water. We got warm water once - for about one minute. Seriously. The toilet is the lowest I have ever seen one - I swear my knees got hooked on my ears the first time I sat down! The floor in there is .....well its old linoleum, not very well glued down anymore.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Nice sweet rustic place in the jungle. Just what I ordered, right?? Yup. But before you say that you would have turned around and left or found another place - consider the trip it took to get here! There were no boats going back until the next day and we were exhausted. So we stayed the night. To put it mildly, Frank was not happy at all and I spent some time thinking that if I were still only in my 20's, this might be ok. We did not sleep much at all - its sticky, muggy hot as hades and Frank woke up at 3am with a bug crawling all over us, which he frantically swotted in the pitch dark and spent the next hour and a half anticipating the next, bigger bugs arrival. The next morning we were set to go into the Corcovado National Park. Well, while we are here, lets see what it is that we came here for, right? So 6am found us eating a really good breakfast - oh, supper last night was delicious too!, and then Carlos, with a huge backpack arrived and off we went. He glanced backwards at our feet and told us to go and get our boots. Boots? Ummm. He emitted this long, eyebrow raising, oooooohhhhhh with his lower lip caught between his teeth, then shrugged and off we went again. We should have known better.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first two miles to the gates of the National Park were done in a 4 wheel drive vehicle that nearly got mired down in a good many times along the short distance. And then it was time to get out and do some serious time. Immediately, my glasses fogged up, but I could not see anything with them off either, so I started the endless cycle of wiping them on my shirt and then perching them on the tip of my nose so the heat from my face took a few seconds longer to mist them up again. I just knew that Frank was dealing with the same issue, but I just could not turn around and look at him right then. And into the jungle we slid on shoes with no traction at all. You know how they tell you not to step on dead logs, how dangerous the viper snakes are around here, the Bushmaster and others equally scary - well, we went thundering through the undergrowth, dead trees, muddy holes, past huge tarantula holes with only one thought in mind - Dont lose sight of Carlos!! Here we were trudging through one of the remotest parts of the Osa Peninsula, with no idea how to get out of it, a tiny path, many scary stories and one very fit guide who could escape from us in just one split second.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Very soon we saw Puma footprints in the mud - Big Ones! And very recent ones. We also came across the spoor of the Jaguar. Apparently they dont go for human meat, which was sort of comforting, but it had scared all the other animals away. And so started five and a half hours of pure unadulterated hell. We walked where even the Jaguar and Puma's were slipping in the mud. Neither of us was going to say the words "I want out or back", so on we went. I swear that the paths we walked were not meant for humans at all. The leaf cutter ants made better pathways for themselves! We climbed vertical slopes, all on wet leaves and slippery red clay like ground, in our normal little Walmart shoes! We came down the other side of those hills on the same type of turf, but at times with no more than a foots width of the path and a very steep dropoff to a huge amount of pain. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We did see spider monkeys and they rattled the branches furiosly at us, yelling loudly as we walked on, we saw butterflies, a poison dart frog and some toucans way up in the trees. I know we heard hundreds of other animals, but fogged up glasses, a brow dripping buckets of sweat into already fogged up eyes and a heavily heaving chest did nothing for my curiosity at all. When we did stop, and we did quite often, it was really pretty, the river was cute, the small waterfalls looked lovely except for the jagged rocks we would have to walk over to enjoy their coolth and the sunlight filtering through the branches hundreds of feet up are firmly in my camera. I swear that we lost ten pounds each on that walk! Everything was wet before we even got into the jungle and within minutes we were soaked. I forgot to put on a belt so had to keep hoiking up my pants. Thankfully I did not have to carry the full weight of my camera - that thing weighs about 5 pounds, because I brought the brace thing that goes around my back and hooks onto the camera in the front, so that I can walk hands free. Do you have any idea what its like to stumble through the jungle for five hours in a steam bath with bugs and ants feasting on your ankles with an elastisized dohicky clutching your wet shirt around your back and five pounds of camera tightly to your chest? I was not a pretty picture at all!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And Frank carried the backpack with the rainponchos and what felt like a six hundred gallon waterbottle in it. There was no way that either of us was going to pee in that jungle, so we limited our intake of water too, which kept this huge bottle of water weighing Frank down. But....... we did it. We finally got back to the 'hotel' and had had much friendlier thoughts about it along the way. At one point the heat got to me and apparently I turned a really pale white right before I sat down on the side of the path. Not a nice feeling at all - but it passed too. It was too hot in there to think of sitting for long - we just wanted out! We hiked 12 kilometers - about 7.5 miles in about 5 hours</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, here we are all cozy in our cabin in the jungle, Frank trying to catch up on sleep, our extra fan whirring and jigging around on the not so green floor and the heat seems to be building still. We booked three nights here, but are leaving in the morning as early as possible, before it gets too hot. Carlos is very disappointed, but the heat really is just too much. Out of everything, its the humidity and heat that is draining us of everything, energy, curiosity, excitement and even the want or need to eat. Its unbelievably oppressive. We were going to go on a snorkeling trip tomorrow, but Carlos told us a bit more about it and we decided to pass on that one. The beaches are black or very dark brown sand, and they absorb the heat and cook the soles of your feet very quickly - so there would be no gentle meandering down any beach on the island at all... We would be sitting in a palm tree grove, heavily dosed with bugspray stuff, apart from the hour and a half we were to spend in the water. The trip was to start at 7am and we would be back by 3.30pm. Nope. Pass. We both decided that we can snorkel somewhere else another day.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, when you read this, we will be somewhere else already. Where, we are not quite sure, but from what we understand, Carlos will drive us out of here, across the peninsula to a hotel in Palma something or other where we will find a hotel with airconditioning, a pool and internet. Call me a wuss.... but this is just too hot for us to handle. This would be an absolutley stunning area to explore if it were just a tad cooler or we were twenty years younger - but its not going to get any cooler at all and last I heard, we dont get to be younger again.. I guess we really are too old for some things already. We both struggled a bit with wanting to cut short this leg of the trip, but something Carlos said yesterday in a totally different context stuck with me. He said that its our vacation and we must make sure that we enjoy it. Well, we are making sure of that. This wilted laying around in pure heat exhaustion is no fun at all</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But dont misunderstand - we are glad we came here, glad we tried, it's been an experience that we will never forget and will look back on with smiles and much laughter at our inability to adjust to certain things. A good and fun experience too and that boat ride in here was an amazing, exciting and exhiliarating experience! :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So - till wherever we end up or start up next</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light, laughter and coolth!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>U6 - I dare ya all!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-48253778648368281942010-05-19T14:19:00.001-04:002010-05-19T14:19:31.256-04:00j - Inbetweeners..<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Slowing down for a day or so has brought so many things to mind that I know I have not put in the emails - so here goes. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Everything is damp and growing or rotting and bromelias grow on anything, dead trees, living trees and even concrete posts.. As long as they can get a grip, they stick, it seems. In the leaves of the bromelia's are all sorts of creatures, some frogs lay their eggs in the tree tops in them, others live in there as adult frogs, as do many other creepy crawlies. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We went on the mangrove tour yesterday afternoon - it was nothing much at all - a slow putter around some mangroves for about 3 hours. We saw one boa constrictor curled up in a tree but the guide did not want to wake it up. It rained the whole time we were out on the boat, be we did not get wet - the roof had a good overhang and I still managed to click away a good many times. It was nice to sit in that quiet little boat, only 6 of us including the guide and driver and not have any expectations at all - just a gentle passing of the time to the tune of gently swishing water. We went to have lunch, as part of the tour, and it was really good - chicken served with the typical rice and black beans. And another very lazy night followed with many thoughts popping into my mind.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Our first morning at the Coco Beach hotel while we were eating breakfast, the white faced monkeys came down to grab some bananas that were lying next to the pool. It was good to see them so close by as they made a mad dash for a banana and then screamed off as if they had succeeded in the raid of the century! And then, the first non pregnant cat we have seen here, arrived on the scene and showed a good amount of interest in the monkeys. Cat sat under a chair thinking she was invisible, with her huge eyes like saucers, pointed upwards to the railing where the monkeys danced and pretended to make a dash at the bananas. Evidently they did not much like Cat sitting there. One of the bigger monkies made a sound and at the same time, a more serious fake play towards the bananas. I think that he was dared, as right before this, there was much chattering and jabbering amongst them up high in the trees. Anyway, Cat had had enough - monkey got too close, so off she slunk and watched from a distance as the monkeys then raided the rest of the bunch of bananas. Some of them grabbed three at a time and then still managed to cling to the trees as they dashed away. Yup, I do have photos of that too. The camera is pretty much with me all the time.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There is a fascinating little plant here - it totally wilts the instant you touch it, even gently. Its such a faker! One second its all green and happy looking and then next it looks as if its never had a drop to drink in its life! After about 8 - 9 minutes it swells up again and looks perfect again. Very strange. Apparently there is an electric charge when we touch the leaves..Talking about electrics and stuff - the tiny little window/wall unit airconditioners here dangle precariously from their spot on the wall, pretending to be all cozy and sealed up with what looks like old cushion stuffing jammed all around where there should be no air leaks. Well. Life is not perfect :) And the steps are broken and one is quite a steep step, so they put a little plastic foot stool there for one to use as a step. The pool looked good, though, all clean and crisp with beautiful and intricate tile work all around on the walls. Its amazing how they take so much trouble with one thing, and then something like washing the floor of the walkways is left well alone.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The different colors of bouganvilla and hibiscus flowers are just lovely - they light up gloriously right after a rain and the drops catch the sunlight and sparkle all over the place. Right after it has rained, and before the steam starts, is my favorite. Everything drips, its cool and there is a special light that really sings to the camera.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The town of Quepos, which is the town for the locals and not much for the tourists and which is just outside of Manuel Antonio, used to be flooded by the sea water, with the houses and buildings all up on stilts. Then a banana company came in and built the wall to keep the sea out and now everything is solidly built on the ground. The banana plants later all got a very bad blight from the country just south of here, Panama, and they were all pulled out and African palm Oil palms were planted. These now fill huge tracts of land all over the place - they are quite impressive in size and also the different shades of green all in one field.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are so many hotels and other places to stay around Manuel Antonio. When we first came in and drove those really horrible roads to the other fancy hotels, we hoped so hard that the place we had picked was not like that. It wasn't. We were within really easy walking distance to everything, the beach, the National Park and the store to buy beers! Manuel Antonio also offered a zip line, and all of them say they are the best, the highest and the most visited. We did the best one - I just know it :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so yesterday ended slowly and lazily, but I did manage to book us the bus ride to Sierpo, which is down on the Osa Peninsula and the gateway to the Corcovado National Park. Actually, I booked two different companies without realizing it and a little while later emailed one of them to cancel. I never got a response. So this morning, we upped, packed, ate breakfast and stood outside on the steps with all our luggage waiting to see who was going to pick us up. We amused ourselves while waiting by playing with those plants that 'die' when you touch them - we had a whole flowerbed all wilted :). Finally, about 15 minutes late, a mini van comes screaming around the corner, shudders to a stop right in front of us in a cloud of dust and a guy jumps out saying "Annie?". Yes. He threw our luggage in the back and off we zinged up the hills and around the corners, leaving Manuel Antonio behind us....</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then I wondered which bus service had got to us first! Yup - only then. We were the only two on the ride and the driver did not speak English either. But we sat back and enjoyed the two hour ride down the coastal road, only having a vague idea of exactly where we were. The road was a good one, with sidewalks most of the way and the rolling hills accompanied us all the way to the ocean where we could see palm tree lined beaches and tidal pools stretching for miles and miles. The coastline is not reserved for the rich at all and much of the way seems to be owned by private individuals with very roughly put together houses. Its a totally different life here.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We passed through Uvita, Saverge and a few other little towns that I cannot begin to try and pronounce - but they are all quaint and feel as if one has gone back in time a good many years. Many bicycles, many people walking, kids allowed to walk on their own and people actually watch for oncoming cars. About 30% of Costa Rica's lands are protected in some way or another - National Parks or just Protected Status. Its so good to see so much just left to be whatever its going to be. - makes for a really beautiful country.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we headed further and further south, to the beat of Costa Rican music blaring from the radio that had very scratchy speakers, and the driver bopping to the music with his earphones in. Occasionally he would pull them out as if they were bees that had stung him, only to grab his cell phone and talk loudly and animatedly into it - and then get back to the boppin. In Palma Sur we passed through more banana plantations on the left and palm oil trees on the right and in the town center there were a good many huge round stones that came from Cano Island. They dont know how the orginal local people made those stones, or why, but they are really impressively large. Reason for research.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were dropped off at the Las Vegas Bar and Resturant to wait for the boat to the Corcovado Eco Lodge. It was a long wait but fascinating watching all the people coming and going there. We were very surprised at just how few people speak english here - both the tourists and the people in the town of Sierpe. Both Frank and I did a short walk around the town, but quickly headed back to the shady resturant where we watched the mangrove shoots float down the river. the tide was on the way out and little islands of new mangroves floated by the thousands out to sea - many sporting beautiful purple flowers and doing a twirling dance, just for us, as they passed by. It was quite something to watch. I almost wanted to wait there and see them all float back upriver.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As we were sitting there quietly contemplating the tides of life - actually just blanking out for a while, I get this tap on my shoulder, a phone thrust into my hand and this guy telling me in very broken english that I had a phone call! WHAT?? Heck, not even I knew exactly where we were - how could someone be calling me?? On the other end of the phone was Carlos, from the Eco Lodge, telling me that he would wait for us on the beach. He asked me something else, but I have no clue what it was, so he just said that he would meet us on the beach. Beach? What beach? But it sounded good to me..... its not often that I have been tracked down by someone who only knows my first name, with an accent like that and who wants to meet me on a Costa Rican beach.......... Sounded good to me! And Frank too :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so started one incredible ride....... But you will have to wait for the next email before you get that story </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Love light and much laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>especially to U6</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-43279106335832441262010-05-17T01:59:00.000-04:002010-05-17T02:00:18.977-04:00More Photos<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>More photos are up to see...click the link below and look in the Costa Rica 2 file..</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Off to a cabin in the Rain Forest first thing in the morning - bus ride, then boat ride and we will be tucked away under the trees for a few days at least. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till later</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Especially U3</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-11680026972605873752010-05-16T14:24:00.001-04:002010-05-16T14:24:20.938-04:00i - Manuel Antonio National Park<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So here we are in a small hotel, just about 4 minutes walk from the beach - Coco Beach. We left Monteverde the other day with the wind still blowing like crazy. It was interesting that even though it never seemed to let up, there were no clouds of dust around - maybe the wind had blown all that away already... It was quite unsettling walking through the cloud forest the day before on our own, with that wind howling so much.... we heard many trees cracking and it gets kinda lonely in there with the tree tops waving all over the place and the screeching wind way above. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The roads out of Monteverde are something else.... by that I mean that they are an adventure in itself. For about an hour we rattled, hopped, screamed, dove and climbed tiny, bumpy, rocky dirt roads with no barriers, no safety things as all. The road is narrow and from sitting inside the van, it seems as if it should be a one way road. But no. Not at all. Big trucks would come at us, mostly from around corners when we were higher than the tree tops and on an almost blind corner, and yup - there was space. Just. The rear view mirrors nearly always kissed in passing and many of us on the passing side unconciously scooted over as those trucks passed by. The sides of these roads are eaten away by the rain and wheels and I am absolutely convinced that if we had fallen off there, no one would ever find any trace of us at all.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The views were just stunning and the camera clicked away insanely, trying to capture bits of Costa Rica to take home with us... Hmmmm - I said that h-word a tad easier this time. The green of the countryside is beautiful and there are endless streams and little rivers flowing in almost all directions. And then we seemed to come off out of the clouds and back onto ground level where people lived, shopped and walked around again. It was like a different universe. We travelled a good way on the Pan American Highway, which is a road that literally starts in Alaska and ends in the south of South America.... That was one seriously busy road - only two lanes, one each way, no sidewalks, pull off places at all for miles and miles. We drove along the coast for a while which was beautiful, dotted with islands all over the place and the sea a lovely blue. There was a big four masted ship lying at an angle that told us that her adventures were over - but she had a good view, at least.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Then we stopped for a "poo poo rest" as the driver so delicately put it. Any stopping places here involve fruit and veggie stores, touristy things and a mignicifient displays of colors in towells, cloths and other goodies. We also stopped off at a big river where we all walked for waht felt like half a mile out onto the bridge to look at the crocodiles in the water. They were big. They were faaaar down and they barely moved. Everything here is so basic - not in a horrible way, but there really are no frills to anything, and its all totally ok. The fruitstands are filled with fruit straight from the trees, no polishing or picking only the pretty looking ones - they are all there. When we sit down at a table, we always have to wipe away some insect, leaf or dust of some kind. The tables are on wonky legs, the table cloths have definitely seen better days - and its all ok... its part of what Costa Rica is. We found this in Baja as well and loved it there just as much.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After driving through a good many little towns, past a good few obviously tourist-only places, we finally arrived in Manuel Antonio. And the roads we had to drive to drop some other off at some of the fanciest of hotels were just horrendous!! I swear the driver paled a good few times as the wheels lost traction going down hill and the van stalled twice when trying to climb some of those hills! Again, this was not on a road as we know it, but a pathway of rocks, stones, sand and slipperly leaves, at about treetop height and about half as wide as they should have been. Seriously, those hotels need to make a better road in. Or not. Tourists go there anyway, evidently. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were picked up this morning at Poco A Poco Hotel - a lovley place with really great owners and staff, by the way, at 7am and got here around lunchtime - about a 6 hour drive. We were tired and hungry and wanted to get to the beach, so after unloading here at Coco Beach Hotel, we grabbed the camera and headed down the road. Then monkeys yelled at us as we walked down the road, swinging in the branches. The beach here is also not long at all, and after walking for a while, we found a little eating place right on the sand.... They served awesomely cold beers and a fantastic hamburger and fries. As we sat there sighing is enjoyment and watching the surfers dance the waves, we all jumped at a huge and sudden clap of thunder.... and then it rained, and rained. And Rained! Huge ploppy drops thundered on the corrugated iron roof and people scrunched into the covered area, meeting new people as they all sat at already occupied tables. It was a lovely atmosphere. The couple that sat down with us spoke some language that I could not identify or understand at all. We had a good many laughs though and sign language worked some of the time. I think. Maybe thats why they were laughing! After about an hour, the rain cleared up enough for us to walk home in a light drizzle - it was fantastic and cool - right before everything steamed up again. Literally.... the roads, paths, roofs, trees - everything steams!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then on Saturday we went for a guided tour into the National park. Our guide, Albin, carried a powerful telescope with him on a tripod to see closer up what there was to see. This time we mostly just enjoyed the walk while we chatted with him, all of us learning a bit more about both our countries. We did see a couple of sloth, a strange variety of lizard and had a green parrot come to say hello. As we walked away from him, that bird yelled at us! We could almost hear him yelling 'Wait for me - where are you going?", and then he walked on the electric wires above the path right above our heads! Albin said it was unusual to find this type of bird in the park and its need for human company was obvious. Probably someones parakeet that had escaped. When we turned a corner and lost the powerlines, it was almost sad to hear the desperate sqwaking of this bird... until another group of people came along and then we kept them company back up the pathway.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The beaches in the park are beautiful with long lazy limbs of trees reaching out low over the sand towards the waves. Poison green apples litter the ground everywhere, mid sized iguanas scrambled from shady spot to shady spot, trying to beat us there. the waves pounded onto the shore in a very impressive way and it was hot, very hot and very humid. After walking around for about 4 hours, we stopped off at the little grocery store and bought some more water, mangoes, beers, chips and chocolate - energy!! We also stopped off for a twirly whirly ice cream and two slices of pizza to eat later. It was funny that when we were ordering our food, the guy behind the counter, who was about 28 - 35 years old, barely made eye contact with either of us... but as we sat there eating the ice cream and waiting for the pizza's to be warmed up, we watched in amuzement at how that same man bobbed, and danced, smiled and laughed with the two young ladies who had come in behind us! We sat and watched and smiled with a lovely kind of peace.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It was a very lazy rest of the day - we slept a bit, walked back to the National Park for another look and wander down those beaches which were less crowded than the one near the hotel and generally just let life pass by at a very gentle pace. It gets dark here around 5.30 and thats pretty much when Franks eyelids start falling..... oh wait - talk about falling...... After our walk through the National Park in the morning, Frank came out of the bathroom after having a shower and slipped on the tiled floor. What a horrible horrible moment that was. It was as if it was all happening in slow motion and I could not get there fast enough to catch him! He bounces well, but ended up smashing his head into the wall with the rest of him scrunched up into the corner, just groaning. Horrible, horrible moment. Fortunately nothing broke, cracked or split open, but he started growing an egg on his head and I ran downstairs to the kitchen to get some ice. Today he is fine, a little achey but fine and just has a buise on his head left. His hand swelled for a while - but... All ok again. PHEW.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so yesterday ended and today began again, wake up, switch on fans, head out for breakfast of fruit and scrambled eggs and a lovely huge cup of coffee. And then we relaxed for a few more hours, took an amble down to the beach again and found some little knick knacks that wanted to go home with us and here we are, again parked off gently, watching the trees for monkeys or suchlike and waiting till out pick up arrives to take us to the Mangrove swamps for the afternoon, and dinner.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's heckishly hot here. hot and humid and if someone had to ask me for just one tip about visiting Costa Rica, it would be to buy clothing one size bigger than you normally wear!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tomorrow morning we are heading even further south to the Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay area. There we will be picked up by a boat and taken into the jungle where we will stay for a few days, at least. Apparently their internet is not working - she emailed me to tell me this. Hmmm. Okey dokey. Maybe she was just talking about their wireless and maybe we can fix it and maybe not. So, if you dont hear from us for a while - this is why.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am hoping to get some photos up tonight - but that will depend on what time we get back from the Mangroves. We seem to have slowed down quite a bit, or rather, it feels as if we have run into a wall of heat and its really tiring us out quite a bit. The lady I spoke to from Corcovado Eco Lodge, where we are going next, says its nice and cool in the rain forest there and they have plenty of fans around too. We looked at many places to stay in the Corcovado area and most were around $110 per night per person! This place is $50 per cabin per night - food included. It's definitely going to be interesting :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This was going to be a short update - but look there - another book! ah well.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till......the next internet connection.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>yes,yes, U3 too! :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-56492335809445631772010-05-14T00:07:00.001-04:002010-05-14T00:07:44.533-04:00h - Monteverde and zip lines!<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh boy, what a day its been..... but let me backtrack to leaving Arenal only yesterday - it already feels much longer ago than that.... Firstly, we never saw the whole volcano - it was cloudy all the time, especially over that specific volcano. A few times we made a dash for the camera when it seemed as if the wind would blow it clear, but no luck. Maybe its just a myth? Just kidding. Soon after breakfast the van came to pick us up for our "jeep, boat, jeep" ride across the lake to Monteverde. It was not a jeep that we got to ride in, but one of the many tourist vans that are continuously buzzing around here, fetching and carrying tourists everywhere and anywhere. Most of the vans are ......well, their wheels turn, the doors close (mostly) and they are all legal and licenced. There are others that are much newer and clean and all, but those are for the Rich Tourists. Its much more fun in 'our vans" :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So off we bounced, jostled and careened around a bunch of new corners for about 30 minutes until we jarred our way down a slope to Arenal Lake and the boats that were to take us across. Two of the young ladies that were also on this ride, took out their ipod ear pieces just long enough to ask very concernedly whether their luggage would get wet! It took some convincing before they even let the bags on the boat.... Now just what type of boat did they think they were going to get for that price? A yacht?? The boats were just fine and everyone stayed dry, unless you sat at the back, like we did, and then the wake kinda spilled over - a lot. But it was fun to be out on the water and I found a seat right at the back in the middle where the flying water did not reach and happily snapped away with my camera for the forty minutes we screamed across that lake. We had a view of the illusive Arenal Volcano - but it stayed shyly behind its skirt of clouds.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then we arrived on the opposite shore and were told that "we need to wait here because........ because we need to wait here". Ok then. We waited. And waited. Until another van jiggled its way down something that was a cross between a river bed filled with rocks and a mud patch - in other words, a 'road'. A bunch of tourists fell out of the doors as it opened, relieved to be there in one piece and we were told to jump in. And so started the most incredible drive through the countryside. Rolling hills of brilliant greens, dotted with tiny houses, shacks, huts and cows all over the place stretched for miles and miles on each side. The narrow, horrendous road wound itself through this like a little brown river. Monkies played in the trees, toucans yelled at us from the tree tops and we all hung on for dear life, continuously twisting our heads around for the next view. Well, apart from ipod girls who be-bopped their way through all this with their eyes closed! I can just hear it one day in about 20 years time when they tell their children that they 'were in Costa Rica'! ha.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The drive went on for about two hours and we made two stops along the way where we bought some local snacks, petted the local dogs, watched the kiddies walking all on their own, in school uniform (blue and white) down the roads. Again, these are not roads as we know them - just dirt roads made up of endless potholes,no sidewalks and its absolutely common to be jarring our way around a blind bend, only to find a taxi reversing at full speed towards us..... no problem - throw up some dust, pass him with millimeters to spare and a wave from driver to driver. Just today Frank told me my gray hairs shine beautifully! No wonder.......even they are sweaty! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we were dropped off at Poco a Poco hotel. I just love that saying.... Poca a Poca means "slowly, slowly we will get there". Like a tortoise - just keep plodding away, keep going, never give up. You get the idea. Poco a Poco........</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first thing that hit us as we got out was the wind... Oh boy did that wind blow and howl and whistle and blow some more! We were put in a room up on the 4th floor. No elevator, very sore muscles still from all that climbing and walking etc the past two days and faced with these steps just did us no good. We got there though and were immediately greeted by the most insane wheezing, wailing, screaming of the wind...a tree branch was hitting the balcony and the balcony roof had lost a nail or three and was happily and loudly making that fact known. We looked at each other with desperate wide eyes and agreed that there was no way at all that we could get any sleep in that room...... so down those steps we went again to change rooms. While we were waiting for the new room, we had gone walk around in the town.. This town is built on hills........ to get anywhere you need to go down and up and down and up endless hills, and we did. We also went to a cafe where we bought something small to eat and some coffee and contemplated the next hill down. The coffee here is very good. After a good long walk and stretching of the protesting leg muscles we headed back 'home again', chanting "poco a poco, poco a poco" all the way. The new room is much quieter but that wind still whistled like I have not heard in a very long time. I think we were tireder than we thought, because we were quite ticked off with life in general (how incredibly spoiled!) and swore not to stay long at all. So we made a pot of coffee, I tied online for a while, the tv was put on and we watched it rain sideways as the rain and wind blew all possibility of doing anything not only out the window but sheer out to sea, I bet! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After a little bit, Frank slid down the bed into a fully horizontal position, and shortly afterwards I did the same. This was around 5.30pm. I woke up briefly at 3am to take my jeans off and then again at 7am this morning! Frank too. Thankfully we woke with new attitudes, a smile and keeness to see what was out here. We anticipated a quietish day, sedate and almost relaxing. A day to catch our breath and unwind a bit. And it started like that. We were driven back past some of those lovely hills and valleys, to the Monteverde Hanging Bridges and other things. We had a tour booked for the bridges, butterflies and hummingbirds.. We chose to do an unguided walk through the forest and gently ambled along its pathways, which were actually much better than many of the roads around here! We did not see much life at all - well apart from gorgeous trees, flowers and other plant life...... we heard birds but did not see them and we thoroughly enjoyed standing in the middle of the hanging bridges looking down on the tops of the trees for miles around. Those bridges are on average about 150 feet above ground level. We could see a good many people zooting along on the zip lines above the trees and way above the bridges. A good many whooped and yelled and waved as they screamed by - it looked like fun. And on we plodded for about and hour and a half till we arrived back at the starting point.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We still had lunch, the butterflies and birds to see but nooooooo, Frank got a gleam in his eye and off we went to find out about the zip line tour! We quickly rented a locker, stashed everything but my camera and joined the line to do this crazy thing! They put us in a harness that went around each leg and then around our waist and had two big clips on it and clanged like a chain gang when we walked. We were the oldest couple by FAR, and, I noticed, were the only ones allocated red helmets... the others all got orange ones. They gave us a short lesson on how to work the 'brakes' and how to sit and all. You hold one heavily gloved hand behind your head on the cable, gently - no frantic grasping allowed.... bend your knees and hold on to the cord that strings you to the cable, with the other hand. They asked if anyone wanted 'taxi service' down the zip line.This is when one of the guys flies with you, and basically brakes for you. Well, I wanted to take photos and not worry about braking or hitting the platforms on the other end or whatever, so I got the taxi service - for the first 4 ziplines! They he said that I was on my own - and it was awesome! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We zipped along 5 lines and then had about 5 minutes of hiking higher up before coming to the next line. That was rough on us, walking with the extra weight and uphill and all, but we did it. And .....well, how can one explain what it feels like to be screaming down a cable on your own, sometimes over 200 foot up in the air and seeing forest for as far as you can see? How can I describe what that wind in my face felt like or how desperately I just wanted to stop the ride in the middle and just hang there for a while and soak the view up? And the joy and sadness of reaching the tiny platform again and again without anything going wrong with that whistling line still ringing in my ears. Oh it was all great. there were 13 ziplines all in all and I really could have done 23! On one of them, one of the guides told me that he would take photos of me as we were going down, and he reached for my camera. GULP! But I handed it over with a smile - Frank just stood there laughing at me! The guy got some nice photos, I must say :) I dont just hand over my camera to anyone at all, and here I did it way up in the air with only one second hesitation and to a guy who was ahead of me and going to scream away from me at high speed. Hmmmm.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And on one of the platforms, as I was struggling to get my glove off to take a photo - another one, yes... I felt my bracelet break.. its a small little thin bracelet and it fell onto that platform way up in the sky and started jiggling its way throught the holes.... but I nabbed it in time! I would have hated to have lost it there - no doubt some magpie would love the shiny thing for its home.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The zipline was absolutely fun and I will do it again whenever I can. It was tiring - well, the walking between platforms was, and we turned down the opportunity to walk yet another half mile to do the Tarzan Jump... we figured we were both secure enough with ourselves to know that we were better than Tarzan anyway, and we headed back to the lodge for lunch and the butterflies and reptiles. Oh yes, I changed the hummingbirds for reptiles. Lunch was great, the flutterbie's beautiful and the snakes were awesome! but nothing quite like the shower I had once we got back to our room.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What a lovely day that was. It would have been such a pity if we had not done the zipline. I would recommend it to everyone! I never really knew what it was at all, but now that I know.......... :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We spent a good while at the front desk finding a place to head to tomorrow and finally decided on a place called Coca Beach Hotel, right next to the Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacifica Coast of Costa Rica. Its about two thirds of the way down the coast and apparently there the monkeys play on the beach much of the time. There are long open beaches, palm trees and the room with all amenities cost only $50 per night. We plan to spend a good few days there. Its within minutes walk to the main entrance of the park and one can walk into the forest right from the hotel too. The bus ride there is about 5 hours, so we will be really ready to rest up for a while after that. The lady, Lilliana, here at Poco a Poco has been incredibly helpful and very friendly. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, tomorrow at 8am we will be off on yet another leg of this adventure....everyone says its a bit touristy there, but the little hotel we will be in is small and a little bit away from the big, expensive ones. We will see, but those long open beaches with their palm trees and quiet are really calling us loudly.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till then...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter - and Poco a poco..... :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie and Frank</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-60852803624231357662010-05-12T09:44:00.001-04:002010-05-12T09:44:23.888-04:00Some pictures are loaded!<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>click on the link below - the photobucket link - and in the folder Costa Rica 1.....</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>will sort through more when I can</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love and light</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-1269764623479563032010-05-12T01:09:00.000-04:002010-05-12T09:17:31.253-04:00g - Cano Negro and Nicaragua<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It poured all the way to Cano Negro this morning, which was about an hour and a half drive.... we took a bit longer to get there because at about the half way mark the driver got a message to say that there was a late booking and they are screaming up behind us trying to catch up in a taxi! So everything slowed down quite a bit. And then, on a tiny little road, around an almost blind corner, next to a pineapple field and right there in the middle of the road, we stopped. And so did a taxi in front and behind us. 6 happy people bounced out of the fire hydrant red taxis with huge smiles on thier faces and came aboard the now almost full bus. It was a happy crowd and those that could not understand the others, at least made the effort and sign language seemed to be the most used language of the day, right next to English. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We drove past papaya orchids, rice paddies, pineapple plantations, just to mention a few. Most of the places here do not have those aweful bars all around their houses like in the cities, but its sooo poor! I know that in reality one really does not need to survive, but geez - some of these places are almost beyond bare. Even the houses that are painted bright colors have seen better days, anything concrete has a definite mildew look to it and after the rain everything is muddy as there is not such thing as a sidewalk of paved parking area, its all just mud and puddles made from slightly red ground. Many people ride bicycles here which creates quite a headache on the narrow roads and there are many places marked where people have been killed on these narrow roads.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first sighting of the day was when I spotted two huge iguana high up in a tree along the side of the road...One particularly keen lady, forever now known as Iguana Lady, bounced up and down as if she had seen a full blooded lion! Oh she was sooooo excited! It was very catchy, but the guide just laughed and said that its ok, we were about to see about 200 iguanas in the trees in a few minutes. And we did. They lay over each other, higgeldy piggeldy in the tree tops, of which we had a magnificient view from yet another single lane, old, no safety barrier bridge. We just scooted up a bit closer to the edge whent the traffic wanted to cross over. The iguanas were huuuuge and they look so prehistoric and so...... well, they WATCH one in a very eery way, hardly moving at all. They are insect eaters, but I think that if one of those animals came at me with that gleam in its eye - well, I would move faster. I know it. They are known locally as "tree chickens" and are often eaten by the locals.....and when it was announced that we would be having chicken for lunch - well, there was this very strange gulping silence, until Leonardo the guide, cleared it up - ordinary chicken. Phew!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And on we went to another place where we had time to use the bathrooms and where we were going to have lunch after the river trip. There were some really lovely little teak ornaments and goodies and I meant to buy something, but time got away and I did not get around to it. Ah well... another time. A little while later we boarded the boat - it was a pontoon boat that seats about 60 people. We were only14 on this trip. Lovely. This town is the last town before finding Nicaragua - see, I can spell it now, and there are a good few boats and canoes there with the Nicaragua flag flying. When I say boats, I mean mostly long motorized canoes and some pontoon boats, all filled with people wearing very colorful clothing waiting to head into the country next door. There is a small resturant there and someone was cooking the most delicious smelling something or other and we all wished we would be eating there instead. When we boarded the boat, we first had to walk down a few steps... and these were huge, both wide and deep. Again, no handholds, no 'be careful signs and then came that huge gap between the last step and the boat. Interesting, but we all made it safely enough. And then off we went.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pretty soon we started seeing wildlife really close up..... we saw both types of sloth within 10 minutes and one gave us quite a show, moving around and eating the bark of the tree it was hanging in. Then it climbed high into a tree that had not leaves at all and gave a really good photo op. Wonderful. We saw a good variety of birds, many cayman, jumping garfish, basilisk and more of those Jesus lizards. And then we heard the howler monkies.. those things can put the fear of whatever you are fearful of, deep in your soul! They sound like a huge troop of enormous lumbering creatures, seriously ticked off and after you! Its a very impressive sound. We found some howler monkies that were willing to come really close to the boat and I got some intersting photos. Tiny kingfishers were everywhere, some blue, some with red breasts and some just black and white. The rain had stopped and I sat on the front of the boat, absolutely enjoying the open fresh air and listening to the silence around us all. It was just wonderful. There was one particularly huge Kapok tree that just dared me to take more photos of it. I obliged.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then we came to the turnaround time... always the saddest part of the day. And back we went to the boat dock... and on past it for about 10 minutes to the Nicaraguan border. There is just a signboard and about 5 sticks stuck in the ground, to show the border. Apparently there is no problem for them to come across into Costa Rica to this little town, but the Nicaraguans need to have a work permit to work here and we did pass through a checkpoint where there was one serious looking, unsmiling, uniformed offical looking man with a gun - but its easy to see that any person wanting in could literally just walk a quarter of a mile away and get in through the trees.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It was a fascinating day - I always love being out on the river. I was using my long lens again today and finally thought o put the one I normally use onto Franks camera - what a lovely difference! I almost had to fight to get it back from him! :) He is starting to have fun with the camera and its lovely to see him getting excited about a photo well taken. We got back to the hotel around 3.30pm and I headed off to talk to the local tourist assistant man, Victor, in the lobby. I booked a hotel for us at Monteverde, up in the Cloud Forest, as well as our jeep-boat-jeep ride to get across the Arenal lake to the Monteverde area. One can take a bus, public transport, get a guide or private transport around on the road - but this way sounds like much more fun to us both. We will also be taking a wander across some more hanging bridges and are told that the cloud forest is much different from the forests here in the Arenal area.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We enjoyed a delicious dinner again in the hotel. The dining room, bar or upstairs computer area or hang out place, has no windows. There is a roof and huge open spaces where windows would be...... but its open. A very pregnant cat wanders through the lounge, stopping at some tables and telling stories with her gentle meeows to the people she picks - we were very honored to be one of the lucky ones she told a story to on two nights. She really enjoyed the head scratch. The bullfrogs sit just outside doing what bullfrogs do best - bellow and sit there like huge slobs. Birds duck and dive up near the roof, but we never saw any inside. It's lovely to have the breeze blowing through the building - quite different and very nice.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then off to the hot springs we went for our last swim here. We hung out in a different little pool for a good while. It seems that some of them are warmer than others and we went a good few pools up the path where we could sit under the little waterfall that came from the pool above. Very nice, very relaxing and just awesome to lay there under the stars and just be quiet and feel our muscles relax and sleep approaching at high rev's. Walking back down that path, one has to watch for the bullfrogs - I shudder to think what it must feel like to step on one of them..... eeeeww!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now we are all packed up and ready to head out of here at around 8.30am to new things to see. Today we have been in Costa Rica for a week already and in some ways it feels like ages. We are settling in to the sounds, smells and the general 'beat' of the country. The unprocessed foods and the fruit are just wonderful and whenever we have the chance, I load up on the papaya.... thats my best by far.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So - till Monteverde on Wednesday.........</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>an extra dose to U3 ( I have been asked what this "U3" is.. they are our three amazing kids who are holidng the fort back home and seeing what they can be doing one day when they are old like us :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-32148294897438404902010-05-11T18:56:00.000-04:002010-05-11T19:00:18.809-04:00f - Triple dip day :)<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What a day this was... we started off with an early morning wake up call and we did not slow down till we collapsed into bed not too long after dark. The rain has still not stopped so with bags covering the cameras we walked down to the pick up point at the entrance of the hotel and off we headed in the direction of the hanging bridges...which is slighly north of the town of La Fortuna which is the main little town near the Arenal volcano. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The first thing we saw at the entrance gate was a viper, a snake, right above the gate guard's head in his hut. Apparently it hangs out there and they let it be because its not aggressive and, well, everyone seems to like it there. The first bridge we headed over was definately a weird feeling - its very odd to look through the grating to waaaaay below, but the view was glorious and if Frank had stopped making it swing even worse, I might have got some halfway decent photos immediately. :) The bridges are really high up, pretty much in the tops of the trees and have absolutely magnificient views. There were two parakeets sitting on the top of that bridge, but I think they are a permanent feature there too - just like the snake.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And for the next two hours we wandered around the hillsides on a tiny, uneven, little path, deep in the forest. We saw many birds, amazing flowers and bright red poison dart frogs with legs that looked s if they were wearing blue jeans. The sounds of the rain dripping through the trees was lovely and at one point we heard a serious cracking sound, followed by a few more even louder...... we were all poised to run like heck and then saw a huuge tree fall right on the hill above us! Fortunately there were a good few other trees inbetween and it did not come rolling down the hill on top of us.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The leaves and dead trees lie thick all over the forest, with all colors of algae growing out of them, Spider webs are so abundant that they almost seem to be holding some parts of the hillside next to the path, together. We tried to entice a tarantula out of its burrow - but no luck. The insect life was not awake yet but the few that found us, bit hard and our legs soon turned into knobbly, red pegs that were quite releived to get out of there. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After finding some more bright red poison dart froglets, beautiful flowers of all shapes and colors, and walking over 5 long hanging bridges and many many other smaller ones, we found our way back at the starting point where the gardeners had the endless task of raking leaves. They told the guide of a pit viper laying beneath one of the trees - and yes, I was one of the three other weirdos that went to see and take photos. She had a slightly pink shade and a lovely pattern with the destinctive viper head. It was a good find.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We had bought pink rainjackets - yes, Frank got one too - thats all they had. He looks kinda cute in pink! Anyway - walking with them on was like walking in a sweatbath and I swear we both lost a good few pounds..... I could feel the sweat dripping down my back and legs, connecting the dots of insect bites on my legs as they ran down into my shoes. We gratefully climbed into the van to head to the next destination - the waterfall..... Cool waters and gentle sitting around. Or so we thought.....</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After excitedly piling out of the van, we headed to the path - and the almost 500 steps down!! I swear someone added another 600 steps before we headed up again.... Hoo boy. We can do this... The steps are not even, they are not evenly spaced nor are they in a straight line downwards.. They were made of rocks and sand, winding around tree roots and some very deep and others short happy steps. We were very grateful for the chain they had strung alongside the path - most of the way. Its beautiful in the forest and the birds and butterflies flit by at odd times making us want to look around rather than at the steps. not a good idea. Many people coming up were seriously huffing and puffing, which sort of made us a tad nervous. But down we went. Down, down, down and then some more steps down. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The waterfall was beautiful - thundering into the pool of water with enough force to kill one if you managed to fight the force and get right under the falling water. There were a good few people swimming or hanging around the rocks, but the water was cold. I took some nice photos, found a tiny, tiny frog........ it was about 4mm long, caught some birds with my camera and then it was time to head up again. We listened to the people on the sip line as they screamed along the mile long line, many with their mouths wide open and lungs functioning very well indeed. We stayed down at the bottom for about half an hour, but we were all getting hungry and we knew that we needed to get a head start on the others back up - it was going to take us some time! And it did. Not that we got tired, ya hear - we just found sooo many things to stop and look at, photograph, or ooh and aaah about. Lots of things. We almost cheered when we reached the top again! But we did not feel all that bad - there were many much younger people who were having a rough time of those steps. This comforted us greatly.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We were dropped off at the hotel to rest up and get some lunch, which we did. The starters was something to do with black bean soup... not sure of the name at all, but it arrived in a little bowl, looking like sloppy mud and hovering around in it was an egg! I think they cooked the egg in the soup but it did not taste bad - it just does not look very appetising at all. I ate enough and then a little more, to give it a good taste, but then let it find a new home. We were almost too tired to eat much apart from the lovely array of fruit they offered - but we did enjoy the apple pie and icecream :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Soon afterwards we were picked up again for the hike on the Arenal volcano. We were told that the walk was a tad more strenuous than the hanging bridges, but not as bad as the steps to the bridge. That might be, but our legs were already screaming and the volcano was steep! There really were many reasons to stop and take a breather - the views of open green landscape stretching for many miles, liberally dotted with big trees - all the way to the Arenal Lake and Dam. This dam provides electricity for about 70% of Costa Rica. Its a huge man mad lake that drowned out two villages when they built it. There were a huge variety of different flowers and the most beautiful blue berries everywhere, little birds teased us as they divebombed us all along the path and leaf cutter ants marched up and down the hillside carrying their treasures back home.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Huge boulders lay everywhere along the sides of the volcano, the trees, moss, flowers and birdlife is so incredibly lush and interesting. There are the most glorious white flowers, about the size of my hand, that only bloom for a day and then they die. Each on of them had one single bug inside it happily gathering pollen while it had the chance. We finally reached the top and sat on some really rough lava rocks. Costa Rica is not like the USA at all in the tourist places...... there were not smooth benches, no handrails, no signs saying 'dont jump' nothing that gives you anything other than pure nature. The air is clean, the constant rain helped a lot with that! It has not stopped raining for days now. Well, it rains heavily at night and seems to lighten up during the day - mostly. Its no big deal though... Roads flood, people wait and life moves on. Time is not a serious thing here.. if we are told to be somewhere at 7.30am - we might get picked up around 8 or 8.15am. They might also be on time, like they were this morning, but then everyone sits and wastes a few minutes or more, so as not to be early or on time at the next pickup point. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So after the volcano walk we went to a lookout point to see if we could see the lava... but the clouds came in thick and heavy and we only managed to see a few boulders bouncing down the hillside from way above, firmly beneath the cloudy sky. We sat on a river bank watching the sun set and all blowing towards the volcano in the vain hope of chasing away the clouds. That did not work. So after it was obvious that we had not even a snowballs chance of seeing the lava, we headed out of there. The people standing on the bridge had to flatten themselves against the railings so that they did not get squished when the trucks came thundering by. The bridge was a very narrow bridge that seemed as if it had defnitely seen better days.. And then the van broke down along a tiny, winding, very dark and narrow road. Fortunately the guides all have radios here and the driver called in to get us new transport. Not long afterwards a van stopped alongside us and we were quickly bundled into that van with some words muttered in Spanish. Hmmmmm. And off we screamed along this road for another 30 minutes or so, not able to see anything, not knowing where we were or who was taking us there. It was quite fun :) But we got back to the hotel with many laughs along the way.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It was a tremendous amount to squeeze into one day and we are so glad that we had the opportunity to see it all....The countryside is beautiful, lush and the most amazing green.. The howler monkies scream at us from trees everywhere sounding like very a family full of very angry Bigfoot's, and birds with unbelievable sounds screech and twitter from every bush. The hotels and tours are largely empty which works very well for us on a number of levels. There are no huge crowds anywhere or lines to wait in or difficulty in going where we want to go. Good for us and other tourists, definitely not good for anyone working here. 70% of the people here work in the tourism industry in some way or another, and its been slow these past couple of years, but our guide today said that its not as bad as he thought it was going to be - and not as bad as he hears it is on the news... That is good news for them. The country could definitely do with an injection of money.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>By the time we got to the hotel we were almost beyond tired, but we decided to have supper, although most of it was wasted on us, and we even passed up the hot springs for an early night. I have not been that tired before and Frank was asleep before I had even finished brushing my teeth!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tomorrow, Tuesday, we have a river trip on the Cano Negro River which is right up on the Nicuaragua Border - Maybe I will learn to spell that... Maybe. We need a day of sitting and as few slopes and steps as possible, besides, I just love being in the forest and on the water - it has a special kind of peace and quiet. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Until then</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Especially U3</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-41377884551987553762010-05-10T23:20:00.000-04:002010-05-10T23:25:13.203-04:00e - To the Volcano<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh boy - I missed one day's typing and bam, now I feel like I need to page back weeks ago to remember all we have done.........Our days are so full and busy even though we were going to take it easy on this trip.. Suuuuure - that is not working :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok - I left off when we were still in Tortuguero National Park and heading for a beer on the river banks after packing up and getting ready to head out for new adventures. And we did. Early the next morning we dragged out bags to the boat that would take us out of the canals and up to Arenal Volcano and the town of La Fortuna. The ride on the boat was glorious, we screamed up a different canal than the one used to get us in there and hit trees and branches under the water many times. That is a horrible sound - the motor bounces upwards, dies and then we all look around to see where we were going to land up. A few times it was really close or we would have found ourselves tangled up in dead tree branches. There was quite a flow to the river, even if it was really shallow in many places. We saw a good few birds, Basilisk but mostly the scenery is what got to me on this trip. The trees stretch skywards and then spread out like huge umbrellas in the sky, the toucans fly as if their bodies are too heavy for them and its as if they bob across the sky in a wavy pattern. We created a good sized wake that rushed up on us at times when we had to slow down suddenly and also flushed out some interesting looking birds.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then we came around a corner and there was Interbus.... the shuttle bus service of Costa Rica - ready to take us on our next leg. The countryside is really green and lush and green bright with those living fences holding in small herds of what looks like Brahma bulls and cows. There are pawpaw trees everywhere, heavily laden with ripening fruit that made my mouth water. We drove through pineapple plantations, fern growing farms where the gauze is stretched for miles over a gazillion ferns - it big business here by the looks of it. Holland is the biggest importer of decorative plants from Costa Rica. And then back through little towns. The poverty both draws and repels me. I find my camera jumping up at almost every shack, in almost morbid fascination at how people actually live like this. There are many shanties - houses made out of sheets of corregated iron. Many of these are painted and some even have huge fences around them! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Many of the roads through the smaller towns here are not good at all and the concept of sidewalks has not reached this country yet. There is a lot of trash around, but somehow the real life of it all is more noticeable than the trash........ Kids playing outside, people walking, talking and sitting outside in huge gatherings just enjoying their Sunday afternoon. Even with all the fences, there is no 'fear factor' at all and everything feels quite peaceful and calm and totally safe. There are a gazillion bicycles everywhere and at one place of business, there was an area where the bikes were hung up while their owners put in a days work. Water barrells are everywhere, catching the rain water in most places, washing hangs outside almost every house and sometimes even on the fences alongside the road.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have learned not to look out of the front windown when riding in this country too. The drivers seem to race around one car, only to set out at high speed to find another car that he can tailgate for a mile or so, around tight corners, on narrow bumpy roads where there is not chance of overtaking....And then when he flings us around that car, I could almost feel the hunt beginning again.. A row of cars ahead made us all break out in a sweat at one time.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There are many dead trees around the place, but they have become the hosts for many plants to attache themselves too, creep up or twine themselves around - making that dead tree stump all alive and green looking again.... It seems that all the greenery is either rotting and thereby feeding other plants or animals, or hooking themselves on something that is dead of rotting to start the circle all over again.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>All along the way in the towns along the way, are speed bumps which have become an opportunity for casual sellers of fruit and vegetables to set up and try to make a dollar or two. Unfortunately our driver did not want to stop and let us buy some - he was on a schedule. In San Jose on the way from the airport, there was a wreck along the road and the police had just arrived - waaaaay after the vendors who were already out and about selling fruit, veggies, candies and water to the cars that were backed up for a good long way along the road. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We dont have a really good map, and trying to find out where we are gets interesting at times. Looking at the names on the signs along the way, we are never quite sure whether they are advertising something or whether its the name of the town! So we gave up and just enjoyed the ride. I knew the road we were on, and that was enough.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>At aroudn 4pm we were deposited at the Arenal Paraiso hotel and shown to our room that has a beautiful view of the volcano - that if the clouds will ever clear! It has rained heavily ever since we arrived - so hard that we were both aware of it all night last night. After dropping of our luggage, we headed off to find out about the different things to see and do around here - and we now have two full days booked. We start off with the hanging bridges through the treetops, then off to the Arenal Waterfall, which is quite a walk down many steps.. Then we will come back here for lunch and head out again in the afternoon for a hike on the volcano. And then on Tuesday we are off on a boat trip up the river.... Cano Negro - into Nicarauga (sp?)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then we ended the evening with a good old soaking in the volcano heated mineral hot springs in the grounds of the hotel. It was just glorious! There we lay in this warm water, totally silent all around, stars bright in the sky and a frog or two chirruping somewhere in the plants around us. We have a little porch outside just for ourselves too, which leads into a garden with some beautiful flowers and again, a promise of a volcano view. Maybe tomorrow.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It's been another long, lovely day..</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till tomorrow</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-86276658196909417912010-05-08T22:15:00.000-04:002010-05-09T08:50:29.575-04:00d - A peaceful day..<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What a lovely sound....... the rain pounding down outside for hours this morning before daylight - well, it felt like hours. And then it stopped and the birds, bees, chickens, frogs, monkeys and everything else that lives screamed at us to get up! It was 6.15am. Sheesh... no wonder there is no need for wake up calls around here! Today was a day when we had absolutely nothing planned, well other than a beach walk, a walk through the forest, a drink or three and lounging in the pool....</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But first we had to make the travel arrangements to get out of here, transfer to a different bus half way back to San Jose so that we could head up to the Arenal Volcano for a few days. The guide we had gave us a number to call for the shuttlebus and we made the reservations, and as I confirmed our 'delivery address', I realised that we had better check to see if there was space available at that hotel. But yes, no problemo - that would have been fun. All is set and we leave here at 9am on Sunday morning and will probably be at Arenal Paraiso Hotel at around 4pm. A long long day.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And this is also why we decided to take a bit of a break today and just soak in the scenery at a slower and quieter pace. There was almost no one around the Lodge again today, and those that were booked in here were all out on day tours... so it was almost deserted and just fantasic. After making our bookings, we headed for the beach, but once there realised that it was way too hot for a walk on the sand. You see, its black sand, from the volcano and the heat soaks it up and holds it tight, just ready for tender feet to wander out on it. It was also really humid and we looked at the waves rushing in, the coconuts and palm fronds laying around and decided to do the forest walk..... gotta be cooler, right? Not by much.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But it was at least in the shade. We wandered along tiny little paths, ducking under huge leaves and branches, finding funky spiders, mostly small, and catipillars, other creepy crawlies, frog eggs, but no frogs. Ten million mosquitos found us though. The guide had shown us some natural insect repellant and I decided not to use any chemical stuff, but pick the natural ones leaf, wipe it on as he showed and then if we did find a frog, I could pick it up without worrying about any chemicals on my hands. The natural stuff did not work. Frank had sprayed his legs, but I could almost hear the mozzies on their loudspeakers calling all the others that I had two unprotected legs to feast on! And boy, did they! By the time we decided to leave there, about an hour after heading into the forest, my legs were knobbly from huge bites and itching like hell and back again. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But it was great - we also saw a few more of those Jesus lizards and I even remembered their correct name - Basalisk, or is it Basilisk? Anyway..... they really are weird creatures and remind me of Star Wars for some reason.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we came home, grabbed our swim suits and headed to the pool to cool off and ease the itches. What bliss. There we wallowed in the water with the sound of the breakers on one side and the river on the other, toucans flying overhead, the blue morpho butterflies and a good many others too, flitting around all over the place, competing for airspace with a huge variety of other birds. We stayed quite still in the water and after a few minutes it was as if the birds all forgot we were there. It was so quiet too, no humans in sight at all. Right before we got all seriously wrinkled up, we headed to the river bank for a margarita. Oh boy... I swear that bartended tripled up on whatever he put in there, but it was not long before Frank's silly face reflected in mine and we realised that we were blotto! And that was us for the afternoon. We had lunch and went to sleep. It was very hot and humid but we managed to sleep for about three hours! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Back to the river to try to find a breeze, dinner, and then to the other pool, where we lay like beached whales soaking in the lights across the river, the sounds and smells of the waves and the stars - oh they are glorious out here! All bright and twinkly and millions of them can be seen! There was a huge bird walking gracefully along the grass, back and forth, as if he was keeping watch over us. We did go and hunt some more Red Eyed Green Tree Frogs and found a few - they are really cute!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now we are all packed up and ready to head out in the morning. This is a really beautiful place but its time to go and find some other things. We have been really fortunate in how much wildlife we have been able to see in such a short space of time. I promise to put up some pictures in the near future - the internet here is just not going to handle uploading them - hopefully the hotel at Arenal will.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One of the things that always strikes me in these third world countries and feels so good, is that it is assumed that one will use common sense. There are no signs that say 'be careful of this or that', nothing that protects one if you do something stupid. Not even a 'do not dive' sign in the pool.. Its really good to see that common sense and watching out for others around one, is really big out here. Just dont jump in the water with the alligators - I am sure not many would jump in to save you! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Its beautiful, its rich in so many things here, tourism is the main income for this country and its very obvious here when you go to the village....... but out in the forest and along the shoreline - its just magic, quiet, peaceful and beautiful.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A happy mothers day to all you Mothers/Mama's/Mom's....... and U3 - I know you miss me on Mothers Day - I miss you and I love you too - LOTSA!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now to catch some sleep.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>xxxx</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-52082787873313918652010-05-07T23:11:00.000-04:002010-05-08T09:20:08.661-04:00Kissed by a frog!<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It just goes on and on...... the plants, flowers and animals are just absolutely incredible. This morning we were up at 5.15am - partly because we had a 6am boat ride into the forest, but also because the sun was up and the frogs and birds were having none of this sleeping in nonsense! We all hopped on the boat for the first ride of the day, into the Torguguero National Park, mostly for birds and things....... what things we did not know. We saw plenty of bird life, big small and inbetween. It was lovely to see just how unafraid they are of humans and the boats with engines. A few people were on canoe tours, which was, no doubt, so that they could sneak up on the wildlife without scaring them away.. Seriously - that was not necessary, besides, for the first mile or so, there were about 5 other boats with engines. They are all pretty quite and there is no mad revving going on - its all a no-wake zone, but I am glad we did not get the canoe trip - we got to see so much more with a motor that took us way up into the forest. When we saw a bird, or iguana or Jesus Lizard, they just sat there and looked at us as if we were the ones on display. The reflections in the water are just stunning and I was constantly changing my lenses to be able to capture both the tiny critters and the wide panoramas that the forest laid out for us. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We went up a fairly wide river and saw a sloth, monkies, heard the howler monkies doing their thing. They really do sound very fierce! We saw the Aninga, I think thats how you spell it - otherwise known as the snake bird. It lies under the water with only its head sticking straight up, looking like a snake. One bird was a lovely shade of blue and had a very wide beak, much like a platypus. Oh I wish I could remember all the names! We saw three different species of Kingfisher and a good many other wading birds too. We saw a good many iguanas high in the trees and that funny upright running lizard as well..little ones this time. It was a really lovely two hours.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After breakfast we headed out again - the National Park is only about 5 minutes by speed boat. This time I told our guide that I wanted to see poison dart frogs and an anaconda. Well, he swopped the anaconda for a toucan... a lovely toucan high in the tree, but there he was out in the wild and it is amazing to see the huge beaks on these birds. For this excursion we had the boat driver who was also an absolutely excellent spotter as well as the guide, and then Frank and I. That was it. Perfect :) and oh did it rain!! We were on our way to the National Park and the rain came down so hard that our guide, John, and us were crouched over in our rain ponchos just rattling with laughter with out cameras safely tucked underneath. It really was a very hard rain and each drop made its point.. The driver just kept on going and got us out from under that cloud - fast. It rained a bit on and off during the whole tour, but I had a plastic bag that I have adjusted to fit over my big camera and still be able to take photos in the rain, and Frank hid his one when it rained.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The camera's really got their fill for this trip.... we heard a jaguar but could not find it, saw a few cayman and their babies. They lay dead still with unblinking yellow slit eyes, just daring one to jump in and join them! We passed up that offer gladly. We saw a tiny little red poison dart frog, but it is only poisonous if you eat it or put it on an open wound, so we all had it on our fingers at some point. Pretty little critter. A good many birds were still out there ...... and the howler monkies filled the forest with their screeching. We saw two otter and they both came out of the river, only about three feet away from us, and climbed onto a log for a perfect photo op! They are apparently quite rare to see, but we got two. And those stunning blue morpho butterflies flitted in amongst the greenery - there is no way one can get a decent photo of them while they are flying, so we just watch them and enjoy the smile they always bring. And then, there high in a tree was about the last thing I thought we would see....... a squirrel and a nut. Really - whats that about! Those lizards that can run on the water are very prehistoric looking, very weird indeed. I got some really good pics of a good few of them. I love the roots of all the trees in the forest, they are sometimes like huge folds, sort of like when you pour cake mix into a pan and it makes those big loose floppy folds.... like that, just upright. And then there are those long thin pointy roots that seem to make a jail for many of the things on the forest floor. And the flowers! Oh they are soooo beautiful - hugs pink ones, bright red, perfect pure white, blue, purple and almost every color inbetween. The greens are a thousand shades of green and then a thousand more, and then the different lichen - some huge and white, or tiny button looking growths..... others brown, black or a beautiful orange. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There was so much to see that i had to go and flick though the photos to remind me - oh boy am I going to have a rough time picking some to put up online! Cant do that quite yet, the internet here is not of 'uploading quality', so you will all have to just wait a few more days.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As if all this today was not enough, we had a 'walk around the property' tour this afternoon. I was not madly impressed with our guide, John. He walked way ahead of us, muttered through his binoculars, nodded thoughtfully to himself and at other times hauled out his camera and was taking photos before ever telling us what he had found. I spotted more animals and things than he did - maybe he was preoccupied, he did seem more personable later on in the evening. Anyway, we had already walked around most of the gardens - there is so much color and its just beautiful that any time we have a few minutes we stroll down a pathway and see what there is to see. We saw toucans right outside our room door, hummingbirds, more of those 'on the water running lizards', and other little cute puffy round birds. There is a place about two minutes from our room that is a pathway inside the forest - just a dirt path and its like a steambath in there, but its filled with all sorts of critters, lichen, flowers and - yup, we found our first Red Eyed Green Tree Frog! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We had seen newly laid eggs - like a tube of see through gel with the eggs all spaced beautifully inside it... and searched the leaves all around for the frog - and there it was.....looking like a pale green blob on a leaf. It looked plain boring, until John got it to open its eyes and stretch! Oh what joy it was! That is the cutest little thing out there..... huge red eyes, blue on its legs, patterns on the side and bright orange feet with big suckers on each toe. That poor froglet must have thought the papparazzi had found him the way our camera's clicked..... But he was not interested - they simply dont 'do daytime' very well at all, and within seconds his eyes had slammed shut again and we were left tickling its butt to try and wake it up. No luck, so we parked him back on his leaf and headed out again. We want to go back into that forest tomorrow as we have a full free day to walk the ocean, go into the little town and just relax with no deadlines apart from breakfast, lunch and supper.. glorious!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But wait - there's more!! After supper I decided that I just had to see some more of these little froglets, so I tootled off to find a flashlight (torch) so that we could find the little suckers in the dark when they were actually willingly awake. Right next to the big swimming pool is a frog place (dont ask me to spell it now, but it starts with a T), where they have some frog eggs and tadpoles in some smallish fish aquariums...... Not only are there these, but there is a walk way, filled with the plants that these little froglets are most often found on. So, armed with two cameras and the flashlight, off we headed. We found seven! They are really such cute looking critters and they definitely like the night life a whole lot better than daytime. They are about 2 - 3 inches in crouching position and about 5 - 6 inches when all stretched out - sometimes bigger or smaller too. We found them peering around the stalks of plants at us, watching us from the top of a huge leaf or just sitting quietly hoping that we would just go away. No such luck. Frank held the flashlight while I happily clicked away, and then some more.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>But, I was not happy with that - I needed to hold one for more than just a few seconds and I really wanted one on a leaf where their reflection shone through the leaf..... so off I went to find another one, picked it up really gently and tried to get it on a leaf that Frank had picked....(Kate, I can hear you laughing already! Alaskan Bear, Wendy?) .....and thats when it happened! That little frog jumped straight onto my mouth!! Thank Goodness my mouth was closed right when it landed! I let out a huge, from-the-belly yell that was thoroughly muffled as there was no way on earth that I was going to open my mouth right then.... ! This all took just a second, but Frank was already in hysterics....and thankfully froglet quickly made another leap onto the leaf right behind me. Funny how tightly my eyes slammed shut when this happened!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So now I have been kissed by a frog - does that make me a princess yet??. Oh, just in case you want to know - it feels a bit like a slightly tacky gummy bear.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we called it a night. Just in case anyone has any doubt - these past three days have been totally friggin amazing. It already feels like weeks ago that we were on that beautiful island, and well, there is so much more to come.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I know there is a lot to read, and there are certain people that I can almost hear groaning from here as I send that 'send' button..... (yeah Kev, you are one!) but I am trying to get all the memories and thoughts down so that I can re-read it one day when we are too old to enjoy this type of travel anymore..... may those "books of memories" be many years old before I have that need to read them!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter - and thanks for all your emails!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>ps. Joleen, I hope you are not too overworked, Lisa, I hope you guys are all feeling better, Steven and Laura - congrats on your 1st wedding anniversary this weekend :) We love you all lotsa</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>xxxx</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-33616353342511081312010-05-07T14:28:00.000-04:002010-05-07T19:43:56.561-04:00c - San Jose to the Caribbean coast<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What an amazing day - all the way from 5.15am till now - nearly 10pm. We started with a lovely pot of Costa Rican coffee, brewed in the hotel room while we tried to prise our eyes open. The coffee here is really delicious. After being picked up at the hotel in a van that seats about 30, we headed out to pick up all the others - all 4 of them! It was fantastic - an almost empty bus. And I had grabbed the seat as close to the front as I could get and Frank took the next one back so we could move around and see out of all sides of the bus. It really makes such a difference being able to see all around one. As we were climbing into the van, one of the hotel guys came running out with Franks camera! He is never ever going to live that one down.... poor man. We drove through some more utter poverty in San Jose, around impossible corners and then finally headed out of town into the mountains. Oh boy. We could not take the road through the Barillo National Park as there had been a good few mud slides and the road was closed, so we were diverted to this incredible zig zag of a 'road' which is the southern route to Tortuguero National Park. It wound itself around corners, through what seemed to be pure jungle, up hills and down valleys and at times we felt as if we could well be being kidnapped - the area looked so remote. But the sad part of it all was that because the other road was closed, all traffic was using this one...... the big tractor trailors, trucks, lorries, had a very difficult time manoevering around some of those corners and at times all traffic was firmly jammed while trucks and cars slowly untangled themselves. It got very interesting at times and we had a good many really close calls when even our driver yelled in horror! Actually, this driver is one of the reasons why we will never ever drive in this country either...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>That driver had the most serious case of verbal diarreah I have ever come across! The words just spilled out of him non stop and we dont quite know where he fitted in the time to breathe. We all just laughed even though we could not understand a word of it, and he kept on keeping on. We had a driver and a tour guide today and when the guide needed to say something he would have to shush the driver up... They got on very well, and mostly it was funny :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The countryside is beautiful - lush green, tall grasses, overgrown almost everywhere. The road was tiny as I said, with the grass and trees etc trying to reclaim it all over the place - no such thing as sidewalks here - if you go out of your lane, you are off the road and in a pile of poo too, in most places!. We drove through coffee plantations - the beans had been picked already, but its a lovely rich green shiny plant. And then through the sugar cane plantations we drove and on into the banana plantations where we stopped for a while... Oh, wait, before we got there we had an absolutely lovely view of one of the 6 active volcanoes in Costa Rica, spewing its stuff a good way into the air. Apparently for the past two years it has been building and the local farmers are getting upset because the 'toxic rain' from the volcano is ruining their crops. Apparently there are around 112 to 120 volcanoes in Costa Rica, and three of them are picking up the pace. This one, another one and the one we will be staying at after leaving here..... early next week. That would be Arenal Volcano - this one shows its fiery lava almost every night, spewing into the air giving everyone a great lights show. Cant wait!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We stopped for breakfast about an hour out of San Jose - it was good and the resturant had beautiful views. Not sure I really like the idea of black beans and rice for breakfast though.... Coffee was great! The cattle farmers had built their fences from sticks cut from local trees - and now, all along the road, there are living fences. Its quite lovely, creating a view easier on the eyes and also a windbreaker. Ok, back to the banana plantations......... I had a million questions..... . Why are the bananas covered with a light blue plastic bag? Because insects apparently cannot see light blue so they dont bug the fruit , it also stops the chemicals they spray from getting on the fruit as well as it creates a little hothouse for each bunch of bananas to grow in. We watched as the bananas came in out of the plantation - they are clipped onto an overhead rail and a worker pushes them into the processing plant on this rail setup. He sits in a little car and does his thing from way out in the plantation. I have a video of it - they scoot along quite fast. The bananas are sorted by quality and packed and shipped from right there.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Outside the plant was an oooold man, no doubt with a million stories and a face that told that he smiled more than frowned.... He was sitting under an umbrella selling coconut milk - still in the coconut, for a $1 - so we bought one. I dont like coconut as a general rule, but boy was this goood! He chopped open that husk right in front of us, dug out a bit of the flesh, handed us two straws and waited for our smiles. He got them - big ones :) And he had a beetle. No ordinary beetle at all, but a huge one, almost as long as my hand, with hornes and 'dont come near me' eyes. He looked harmless and slow moving, although I was not about to bet on that..... and he posed for photos very well indeed.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And on we went at a fair speed until we hit one of the worst roads we have ever travelled on. I am sure it was once upon a time a road, but well, it was definitely past its sell-by date. Just stones thrown together in a sort of ribbon, winding around small, hand tended farms and more rain forest. The countryside was beautiful but that was the longest 32 kilometers we have driven in a while.. We all felt very tender by the time we hit the river where the boat was to pick us up for the rest of the ride. And up the river we went... running parallel to the Caribbean coast line and every now and again seeing the breakers of the ocean. I just absolutely love the forest and jungle, its quiet, even with the sound of the engine revving high.... its a sort of peacefulness that seems to seep deep into my bones and kinda washes everything clean. The air here is clear and clean and fresh and at times when we stopped to look at some birds - we saw gorgeous pink spoonbills - the quiet was so intense and we could see that feeling happening to the others on board too. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>About two hours upriver we arrived at the Laguna Lodge. From our cabin we can hear the ocean out of the back 'window' and see the river in the front. There are no windows as such - just netting stretched over the space and shutters if we want them closed, which we dont because there is no airconditioning here and the fan functions better with the shutters open. The bathroom has the same sort of deal, but way up high against the ceiling so no one can see in. There is no telephone, tv, air conditioning, coffee maker, iron( phew!), or anything like that in here. Its lovely! The building is made of proper wood, not laminate and the floor too. No carpets and the blankets are folded up and packed on a shelf - fat chance of needing them here. There are a good many power plugs to charge the camera stuff into and internet can be reached at the bar and resturant........ eat or drink while connecting - sounds good :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The frogs screech outside and there are so many different birds all over, blue, yellow, woodpeckers woodpeckering away all over the place and the plants and flowers are just incredible. The Lodge can take 300 guests, I hear, but right now we are the only 4 here, two guys that came in on the boat with us have left already. There is a party of 10 coming in later today, but......its beautifully peaceful.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After arriving here, we were given a delicious lunch and off we went to visit the little town that houses all the staff that work at the lodges and hotels along the river. There are 2000 people that live there and one main road - straight through the town and parallel to the river. The kids play in the road, riding their bicycles at breakneck speed as close to one as possible, little toddlers stand with there fingers in their mouth looking at us with huge bright eyes and a few small kids had great fun drawing pictures in the sand while happily talking to themselves, no doubt playing imaginary games. Most of the main road there is geared totally to tourists, with the houses set to the back, away from the rivers edge. The prices of anything and everything is astronomical, but I just had to buy a small little tortuga made of mother of pearl shell. Its lightweight so wont be a concern to carry around till we head h-word (home) again.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After that visit we wandered around the grounds of the Lodge, finding the Caribbean coast with its dangerous rip tides and serious instructions not to swim in it! Its beautiful in a different way - rugged and totally empty of people. We just love it! We spent a few hours just rocking gently in the chairs provided on the porch of our rooms, watching the birds and critters wandering by. There is one little lizard type thing that is commonly known as the Jesus Lizard..... apparently it can run on water, but does so upright. We have seen a good many of these around here, but not managed to get it on video yet.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We ended the day with a delicious dinner and a very well made margarita right out on the dock with the river flowing beneath us, the sun setting and the tiny, brightly colored houses across the river, turning on their lights and creating multicolor streaks across the water. Perfect.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tomorrow we have two different boat rides into the forest to see what we can see.... cant wait for that :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Till then</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Love U3!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>h</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">tp://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A>. </FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-31864322371709824732010-05-06T00:07:00.000-04:002010-05-06T00:08:21.620-04:00b - Tortuga Island<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This morning our wake up call happened without any consideration for how we felt at all! We were picked up at the front door of the hotel by a huge tour bus. The roads here are very narrow and I wondered just how this bus was going to get around some of the corners.... Well, it did, although at times it looked very close. It is very sad to see how trashy this part of San Jose is. We obviously have not seen much of it at all, but this part, oh boy its bad! Huge piles of stinking trash/rubbish everywhere. Some places the heaps are burning but mostly it just lays there or blows all over the place when the wind blows. All houses have very high - like 8 - 12 foot fenses around them with razor wire on the top of that... even the yards are fenced in and the cars are all parked behind the fenses. And then we saw this evening, that many people drag out a chair onto the sidewalk - outside the fence, and sit and watch the world go by.........</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Even the tin shanties are painted different colors, the wiring would give any inspector a full on heart attack and the kids playing in the street would have serious problems elsewhere...... But here - it all works together to make a vibrant, interesting and very colorful culture. Its great to see so much outside the tourist places that one normally gets to see on vacations. Little scooters buzz all over the place and red taxis are evidently kept very busy. Some benches at the edges of a spot of grass were made from a tile pipe chipped away until just the rounded bottom part was used and stuck on block.... that also worked. Fruit trees are everywhere and they are laden with ripe and ripening fruits of all sorts - some I know and others I wish I did. Papaya, pawpaw, oranges, naartjies, banana - just to name a few. Cant wait to find a market we can wander around in.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we sat up high in this airconditioned bus for the two hour drive to Puntarenas, which is on the west coast of Costa Rica - on the northern end. The countryside is lovely, lush green with rolling hills and a fair bit of farming going on.. mostly just smallish farms, it seems. We drove over a good many rivers on a new toll road that cuts a good hour and a half off the trip. We stopped off for breakfast along the way and took a shot at the local meal - well, the choice was a ham and cheese sandwich or the local type food - no brainer. and it was good too! We wandered around the grounds of the resturant and tourist store for a while - they made amazing wooden art - and then headed back to the bus.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The roads at Puntarenas are even narrower than in San Jose! But we made it and boarded the catamaran after buying ourselves some much needed hats with fairly wide brims. And the fun really began... I love being out on the water and the day was just perfect and we found the whole front of the boat unoccupied, so we plonked ourselves down and had a lovely two and a half hour boat ride past other ships, boats - both small and little, with and without sails and between a good many very green and lovely looking islands. All of them had the black sand - its from the volcanos forming most things around here. After going through yet another narrow channel between some islands, there lay Tortuga Island - looking just like a lazy turtle...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The palm trees reached high into the sky while the blue water and white sands almost made me drool! We quickly got off the boat and looked for a good place to swim.. Oh was that water beyond perfect! We floated and played around for a good hour or so, just bobbing around and sometimes being dragged back onto the shore by the incoming tide and current. It was glorious. And then the band started playing again, which meant that lunch was ready. The marinaded raw fish they had given us on the boat just was not enough..... We did taste it, but quickly decided to leave it to the locals! It was literally raw fish floating in something like watered down vinigar, with a bit of parsely. Raw wobbly fish. eeeew. Now we know.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After lunch we lay around or sat under the shade area drinking a beer and listening to the 4 man band play some more. A few of the other tourists got a tad 'plastered' and had a very happy time dancing and cavorting to the music - it was great fun to watch. It was really hot out there and we both got quite red, not too badly though. The island is really beautiful - well, the part we could see.. pure white beach, green elegant palm trees and some other ones that only grew to a certain height and then went out sideways, pretending to be tables, or something. The water really was that beautiful see through blue, but just a bit less so right close to the shoreline. They had recently had a big storm and it pretty much muddied up everything.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>After another long boat ride back to the mainland, more music, a long bus ride with a good many snoring people, we are now back at the hotel, had supper, all packed up and ready to head out to the Caribbean coast tomorrow. We wont be on the beach there, but in the jungle. The drive is around 5 hours with a two hour boat ride after that.... Its going to be very interesting. I am not sure about internet contact from there..... we will see.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Love light and Laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>from two very tired but happy people.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie and Frank</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-63973361687569123592010-05-04T22:14:00.001-04:002010-05-04T22:14:59.321-04:00a - We're here!<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The sights and smells and bustling and colors of everything is a brain-hog! It's just amazing...... but let me start at the beginning.. Neither of us slept very well at all, afraid that the alarm would not go off or wake us or something, but eventually we found ourselves on the back seat of the bus to Atlanta - it was only barely 4am.... .shudder. We both dozed a bit but neither will admit it - that is until we arrived in Atlanta. The fog has settled in for real and the buildings rose out of the top of the mist like dislocated ghosts with their lights bouncing around the mist and giving a very eerie touch to it all. And then we we delivered to the Delta doorway, got processed and settled in for the wait. It was a looooooooong wait. We walked that airport from soup to nuts. The art they have all over the place is fascinating and lovely and they have tons of stuff on display that people have brought in to the USA undeclared.... they did not get to take it home and it all sits in mute rebuke to anyone else trying the same thing. There was anything from a knife made from pirana teeth to a real elephants foot and even a crowbar. yup.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was really interested to see that I had absolutely no fear of flying this time at all. No sweaty palms, no fists even..... nada. I really do think that voluntarily jumping into three different lakes in the Amazon Jungle that had pirana, boas, cayman and much more, kinda cured me of any fear of flying... Its sort of silly after swimming in those lakes. Feels better this way too. Or maybe I was just too tired to care?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And then, just as I really felt as if I was on vacation, we get handed these papers to fill out/in (which is it?) The writing is tiny and Frank very kindly put them all in a neat pile in front of me with a huge smile. Yup - I did them. That out of the way, I grabbed the bag of biltong (jerky) and we dug into that as they dont serve any meals in coach on Delta anymore. Is that a loss?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It was good to be on a direct flight and soon we were headed south right along the west coast of Florida,where I recognised a good few of the places we had been in the motor home. And then out over the open water we went, only to come across a stunning view of the Florida Keys - and they all fitted into my lens just beautifully! The color of the water was just amazing, about 7 different shades of blue, all melting into each other, getting darker as the water got deeper and each island ringed with a pure white skirt. Before I could recover from that - there popped up Cuba as clear as can be with picture perfect water colors too and we could even see the breakers thundering on shore on those long, wide open white beaches. I think we also saw the Grand Caymens, but will have to check the photos against Google Earth when we get back. Now that was just super stunning!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A few hours later we found the coast again somewhere below Belize and started heading inward to San Jose where we landed at around 11.30am their time. Someone please remind me to put socks on for the return trip - my feet froze! Costa Rica is that tiny little country squished between Nicaragua and Panama - that part of the world that joins North and South America . There is a two hour difference from Soddy Daisy, TN, so we adjusted the one watch we have and felt four hours tired-er. We got through the airport in almost no time at all, until the last gate before out where the customes lady got a bee in her bonnet about something and slowed everything down to a crawl until we all started crying foul and then we got out there, only to find that the shuttle bus from our hotel was nowhere in sight. We waited almost 45 minutes and then called a taxi. Boy those guys cruise around one like great white sharks just waiting to make a buck or two. 'Calling a taxi" is not really the right word, we stood up, stretched, looked at our one watch and the taxi door opened like magic behind us. Of course we had to tip the one guy who "called the taxi" and the other who 'took care of us while we waited' and then the taxi too. No biggie at all - those guys were all really sweet and helpful to us.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The drive to the hotel was about 20 minutes and confirmed our lack of desire to drive in this country as well. The taxi that we got had a bungee cord to close the trunk - which bounced up and down all the way like a crazy thing keeping us wondering if our luggage would be spread across the road somewhere, a door that did not close properly, half the dash removed and a bumper that was gone. It rattled and shook, but Taxi Man was very proud of it and said that it was much better than the shuttle bus - and it was in so many ways.......it got us there and the driver was so helpful in telling us all sorts of things about the town and the places we were driving past. He tells us that 12 000 trees have been planted in the city in the past three years - the schoolkids get to go into the hills and jungle, dig out trees and plant them in town. It looks lovely! And then there is the site of the old airport..... its a eucalyptus tree park now, filled the the most beautiful straight and tall trees, manicured lawns, tasteful statues and things splattered around that seemed to attract people attention judging by the small crowds around them.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And so we headed closer to the hotel. First let me say that sometime during our trip we are wanting to stay at a very expensive hotel that has no walls, right inside the jungle and so I, yes me, booked this cheapo hotel to try to compensate in a little way for the later one. I know, I know, silly... Anyway, as I was saying......we drove down smaller and smaller, dingier and dingier little roads... In some places there was a long open market all the way down the roads that made me want to get out and walk and see what fruit and veggies and other stuff they had - and it made Frank wish for 'some protection'.. It was not the right time to stop, so on we went and it got worse - horrible actually. There are huge, huge piles of trash in the road - the cars literally have to veer around them.... the stink of rotting fruit and vegetables was beyond nice and we both went very silent. This gave Taxi Driver Man the time to tell us that the "City is Red" and not to walk around at night. Did I understand? nope. So he repeated himself two more times. Eventually I nodded frantically just so he would stop talking with his hands and put them back on the wheel! And I solumnly swore not to walk around at night and if we went out, to call for a taxi before leaving the hotel -cross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die, and all. And then it clicked with a huge thud..... The City is Red means that prostitution is legal and rife and........ well, dont walk around at night. Poor Taxi Man was almost sweating blood until he saw that penny drop!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If I look out of the hotel window, there are tin shacks everywhere, many brightly painted in a stunning array of colors, a huge closed down market and a bar/pub that is very much open and very much visited and well...... the City is Definitely Red. There are some nice places around too, but well, umm, its dark right now so I cant describe them yet. Dont get me wrong - we are not scared, or worried or anything at all. Careful, vigilant - yes.... its so good to have everything so un processed!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Supper here was delicious..... steak and fries for two came to $17 and we ate every bit of it, along with a Screwdriver that went down very well indeed. We changed some money here which made us feel very rich.... $1 = 505 colons. So now I have 505 x 200 = 101 000 colons worth of pink and blue funny looking money in my purse. Sigh. A beer costs $3 or ...well, you do the math - we had two beers too and its late and you should all be more rested than I am. It would be way less shocking if they would give the price in dollars and not someting like 3000 colons please!! Talk about a double take.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And we booked two places we wanted to see...... tomorrow we get woken up at 6am.. this is going to kill me!.. and we will be taken to the Pacific Coast, Puntarenas, stopping along the way for breakfast and a bit of sightseeing too.... Then we hop aboard a catamaran and head out to Tortuga Island for the day -its about a two and a half hour ride out there... The pictures truly scream 'screensaver island' - loudly! There we will swim, lay on the beach, eat, drink as much or as little as we want to and soak up the sun. We will be delivered back to the hotel at around 9pm. It sounds just wonderful. And then on Thursday morning we have to leave here at 5.45am for a 5 hour drive, followed by a two hour boat ride to the Tortuguero national Park on the Caribbean coast side of Costa Rica. There we will head into the jungle and stay for the next 4 days.....Maybe we can ignore anything before 8am there for a day or two. Also not sure of any email contact from there....</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Its so good to be out and about again...we could literally hear the hassles, any thoughts of fixing computers, and all the other little things, worries and sadnesses all either falling away or getting better.... it was around the start of the second beer that that happened.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>We cant wait to see what is beyond this hotel - day walking is fine apparently - but first, I am going follow Frank's example and close down, snuggle up and go to sleep. Tomorrow is already awsome.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Ok -lights out for me - I have also just heard the cops arriving at the pub - action! </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>especially U3 </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie and Frank</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-71421793170294125462010-05-01T23:46:00.001-04:002010-05-01T23:46:22.857-04:002 days to go!<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oh wow - only two days to go and two and a half sleeps left.. yup, we leave at some insane time in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday.... Up at 3.30am, off at 4am, flight out from Atlanta at just before 10am from Atlanta. The flight time is only 4 hours so we will be in Costa Rica for lunch on Tuesday :)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Are we really doing this? Its going to be so very different from the last trip where everything was organized before we left home.. On this trip we have only got the air tickets booked and the first two nights in San Jose. Once we are there, we will see what we want to see. Many, many hours of researching places, looking for unusual and strange things and places to see have been spent, so we have a good idea where to find poison dart frogs, puffing volcanoes and long empty beaches... and much more.</FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To say the least, its going to be interesting.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You will probably find many spelling errors in my emails - we are taking that tiny little Acer netbook with a tiny, small, minute keyboard. My fingers were just not made for such a keyboard, and I dont have the time or energy to proof read what I type as its normally after a long and wonderful day. So. if you dont understand something - feel free to email me and ask, no problem. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And please, please do not send me any forwards, funnies or other stuff like that - to <U><STRONG>any</STRONG></U> of my email addresses. The internet connections we get while travelling are very rarely capable of dealing with large files, and they block up my email, preventing me from sending or receiving. Thanks!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Now I just need to start packing! Frank has been packed for a week already...:)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>See you on the 'plane</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>love, light and laughter</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Annie</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com">http://travelbaggs.blogspot.com</A><BR><A href="http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs">http://s992.photobucket.com/home/travelbaggs</A></FONT></DIV>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-75689103006771957432010-04-17T20:02:00.003-04:002010-04-17T20:03:33.047-04:00Email updates....If you want email updates instead of having to come to this blog to get the updates, please email me and I will add you - thanks.<br />
<a href="mailto:travelbaggs@gmail.com">travelbaggs@gmail.com</a><br />
Thanks<br />
AnnieTravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-14841102804541927022010-04-02T22:01:00.001-04:002010-04-02T22:01:32.007-04:00A bit about Costa Rica<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 22px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 22px; "><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Costa Rica have about 3. 6 million in habitants whose native language is Spanish. There are seven provinces which in the country: San José; Alajuela, Heredia, Puntarenas, Cartago, Guanacaste and Limón. The capital is San José.</span></span></p><p><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Land Area:</span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> 50, 895 square kilometers<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Population: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Estimaded 4. 5 million<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Capital:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> San Jose (pop. 300, 000)<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Language:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Spanish<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Property Rights & Safety :</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Costa Rica law protects private ownership via a Public Registry.<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Taxation:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Tax rate is ONLY 0. 25% on the declared value of the property!<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Getting There:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Costa Rica has International ports on both coasts; Air, Ocean and Freight Transportation Services.<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Location:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Central AmeRican between Nicaragua and Panama<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Government:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> One of the oldest democracies in the AmeRicas, since 1889, and in 1948, the government abolished the army. Furthermore, perpetual neutrality was proclaimed in 1983<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Medical:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Exist a new clinic openened in 2006. Offers modern facilities comparable to the United States.<br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Religion:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> More than 90 percent of Costa Ricans are Roman Catholic.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span></div></span><div id="AppleMailSignature"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div><div><div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></div>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-81970405286151999782010-04-02T21:29:00.000-04:002010-04-02T21:55:45.052-04:00A few........<div style="text-align: left;">These are just a few things we want to see and do during our 22 day stay in Costa Rica :)</div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKo2vJjNsp_AuL9tOfHQIhwS8hK3Adh0AdVMaXurGEieVG-bvDbkRjwpX2hyphenhyphenSgx43GcO0mnePG5tSPIunyJAKJhBVY44W-v7O68Frsh9yDh7TEPgEKlDLyXN95xdo6jo0FDHVSGBfcaiQ/s400/costa-rica-map.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718567286511682" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kAyjbuqsLk1EO6d6Ty7jv2iMR8GeDmsA-M-CuffVQTw2sEqKF_pE-GBQ2mmvLBumJGlEwIr25qhAebhaLEdMtuONL7bgK6QTTWchUC_-umiGkbwawexD6b5bx7FxMC5dANHXiGKLrms/s400/c78f99f102d83cf8.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718557834378594" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVyFzQirifq9mw2_dIWIRmWxAP8rDNZqgXb2isBnMRrW1XT53iHqeqi9-LX7_3FTpbAHeCbNdb2upbxfSGDU3XrclK9ldOSN62X2MNUns6MoXAElqL2rXAMW_SQl6Qnd4g8BUf7KJQao/s400/tortuguero+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718872414701522" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 96px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCqMWrK3X05TNeV3o8r-cfmDfMv-gLj762IuI8QIoVQqMOyQ9QOqyLKfQcnEmalGAjFO3KibXusCRkKzfUVCLMfc8ywL7Y3ajb8SHV6oFFvQNuxQHdiQJP0EvQ2XI5PjLoy_loPZlNOs/s400/d0a03601ba3509ca.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718576705703378" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFz_mt5oYuuy_vZ5KEMZl99WJqWGGz3qbvh01jCTvo_EEm_Q468q76WyeekIPi1zOuw3q9m_O_yI6WSqm_8ogSKEDM78pS4TlIcaooP31AXlqWNGp4kXHN1ToxgzwGlkFstX7gjU3McA/s400/swing-inn7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718799079929618" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 106px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNCDSuD4oBw9EJZ43yQ4wqQR3K1RD4_gUR2rPW8tVR9WU5U-rCyg6OpBa1MtThyLm6KKQg1zFpvdozTXB0fRv5cgQqkCwyMopKKpIF1sNbNn4we3eXoeR7F66wc06zpB0k30krqseY2c/s400/f9d83cae11613b10.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718579519672226" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuakdFhEHmak8s4uEa2P2xPAAEbLh1lWyf19rZbL5bpXjVxdpSeLFibODUsIeHB3LeocntCmdvZp6tCL4G5l4W8al5OPxNSmaFBOAH2I-0-hl1e8pR4wS_5QsPbt6bRNwE-W7_6dSeKc/s400/scarlet+macaw+duo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718791258109826" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx80WIF7kkdeiFnRZbLs3mXNWj7Cc9EMniBoXxyoA2kOk4tykI6B7Op1wejKkbUx6S1KCqMLSaqOTPSpuhBGVqkOuObb9G-W9jcut3QzCD7b5CJ2_sOC0RHj9MJFLwf27kHzfFsKzFko/s400/f92fb129bf1b7fbc.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718779117105282" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgu43-cIArBg1eiESC6h8ryhhORz5ht9a3WewFE0Cop0_2_YnWvbl-AMv5Oi0VY3omsQJ9NbFY4mdUhkYg813F1X3xaSiiFnfsiwHOOzfpXF6X636Je7PMuZIT-G0PK1puQwYt7oEgsA/s400/monkey1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718786169663506" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 105px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6esPezbH1lnGFdFmp7w-5RL9PuDZWxwZHcacVaH5Ge-jv8zmC9k-9cthTj7J1T-qwSY1wAJ6UYBDWSIsaYbCtczAhhFqGOP-3pf9mXXkoQMsUNlUTGsnophn5erEE5asvNLw6s0kgf0/s400/afed6051f43e213a.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718299576575778" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x-Wl_jyBFi4nfqwZc0POgo69nGIfmOkCcQWx6l4TNGU1XxpVSSZjrsIMuQfuYVLCuPnEH3KmcOWziVb_30_S1xepDyVp9mLPslfYwnsIrrCE80GYGJIoJ3Q526e_eP82AqTgOu8gPk8/s400/frogsinlove.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718780473315074" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0TiFLBzBX9td3KZLU50MEcI_41bEt6n1mMOFX6FYOtti-W3xtvUvMc34wqYowzs7mbVZYe8QHR2pEiVrUYCCOrUUbqlxqvdTIqUykUvSLD1EtNnJZwbf-ZMe6x1KNmHmmOSXy7tKrlM/s400/ac6ab278720e31a6.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718302069887730" /><br /><br /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD5Q3VA5bMu76J0Mzpmbx00gS4dot1e_wdInfhHTTm68NLrJe2uXc-nODzkGKanUK20k7z7-y3IUFqNDYBkIduRH-kyBQhX4HPA_pw1rHcIsMH2QCsRkmP1B37HKkU26036_e78lybu4/s400/beach4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718316233775778" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5sUSePwSjJIGOWAqty-aBWF0gDQV2RPg_k2dpumpEoKjLdYJDCzNaW5BWRHyyFpRgfcESlto7XhjbLCAoVtd9sJJMk0MFondd9UQy0ZQDIrb8LutdP9ebOgzDp41J8aURjHbZXqmj0K8/s400/b8d309d406e26928.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718306419810226" /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsexdBvty41D0AGH_3-cBFS9Xv-Dy62Ayd1uoayaZVej60QSCT5R3JtbHNcqDCO8vtNZFTazJtwlkwu7IxtzHfjsHpqEmKv_M5k3sExnpDwQri6wRwnSMYn_MA8RkHkgRwbBAlpdHXiHA/s1600/3091144093_c00626deae.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsexdBvty41D0AGH_3-cBFS9Xv-Dy62Ayd1uoayaZVej60QSCT5R3JtbHNcqDCO8vtNZFTazJtwlkwu7IxtzHfjsHpqEmKv_M5k3sExnpDwQri6wRwnSMYn_MA8RkHkgRwbBAlpdHXiHA/s400/3091144093_c00626deae.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718081608489138" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kaaNIa7vO8QkGbo61qxEu6ckE2dOp4rw9IIuzVX4SrEbQHsM1GeIhoHKtB_RGQSpDYHaG3Odr3Ka-Zev0G8f8luUi8VDbhrvFz9H8MtZLBjPUGEPb6ncaJCaq08yZSxqrBMlJ2mouWc/s400/cfd77463a683e4de.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718564611649490" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbVC99wuZk0kKjfQMCeC92KhGTUCqExY4zikc10IkftE4iu9W7VmvCtmkmgmK5EU3KT7p6TvDd-qNfXGiBWDAG2GAvgN4o-XwgTl0JeNvSOqjW12ixW-V7mAei3ONUyMrACRhv0-CmjE/s400/b72920ca32cd290a.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718307285764434" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLKOxeibOuFa1Ma3lFGeaiF-NPJf-4gGQq-tJ6Vwf3OpzNm1HM473WzKD4mfpJzxh37GTBxqYSmyxMn58NCTALCUumQnx5y89lXykaJe4LgGEGTr5uf8L-YMXlbNlg4oblv6vtjg29p4/s400/98cba55994091274.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455717780428875458" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4TCaiQMkv5Y4F1VEP6j4S28u_Ki5fubmQv-q2AES3R88JUcOANZh_ozLo0bvPsIGNvjtdHtBc_NP99mIiC01A3ZuaIuZa2G1hxWHp6-6iin58HhajhsDk98bycJxJi4t_9A_bl_sFu4/s400/551f13829f5be8fa.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718066718639042" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 108px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KDzj7v8Kj2xuGs1Xnrlo42vfo4l1VAIfQx4EQUClP_tfPF0lCUQQRkVe6EZD5Y0xg5chYRS0lIbfbqP8Wp-01m6MdgiAAhbZ2yvZZjZFDASvZRRsMJoMRI7y6C1GQfMxkPxEOXNpX3E/s400/5035b5a6fc67c2ea.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718073327826674" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 98px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapUuHDi0Z9maaSS2y_cy4Ldf7JqI2wCp1jJ93qkOwSYgQNpvBa3kwXwWl4hfaU8XQo-e7gl1j5vW4dHpW5qY0Dl8DkUNArPnvWNtB5amc6tSHxrpt_tw2FVxtyyhvGqUP_Uemfh3E7BE/s400/27bff37ea59166a0.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455717768346451586" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kN31PHhWXiy7r96nyRRml78yQl3mKua_zZepCynnQHMVn_taTrhm8m9ftPw7RQEck7ESTaRr107zJ-mZdl5T8ZAh24XA5lD2ZG_FJ0cHdQVb_Z6mTtUBRl_B7_kagB25diudNg_D_1c/s1600/248306ecc0313444.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 92px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kN31PHhWXiy7r96nyRRml78yQl3mKua_zZepCynnQHMVn_taTrhm8m9ftPw7RQEck7ESTaRr107zJ-mZdl5T8ZAh24XA5lD2ZG_FJ0cHdQVb_Z6mTtUBRl_B7_kagB25diudNg_D_1c/s400/248306ecc0313444.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455718077551736210" /></a><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5POZUNimzU_ZnQ9GaFO_Fo402YAfmoKLoDPdoGQWQ79cO9e5hTwukYJJqlBj93FZ8k5xFEo85Tw1JTfaZvNPO8jPSvOBdc78FpOScQaCV0QWxJI-Dyt6MaImGdbWZgjNxZW72RGnd3c/s400/78eb2e06891e5aa2.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455717771404976930" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 88px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmh6q5Hpta0mxy8yUwpaNrUegiXoSERNh1V0DMDtUE5BK6z7ZOkDJR_fB-3RlPXG1IXEj-sBtb1mOEwQZJLhaT3mpLDOazHKZfHHA0lziF25M0VbhWjoYFJeb5KETGQsXGy_I2soQj_g8/s400/4e3ee372b4c7e052.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455717768300405602" /><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganDvZdSdX-VW3brbCz8E6-lALjjpjMftPJ0vCSo-mg7jhRwx1NLzwB_BYZ0huhKzWJM4lBpfmQyWbbDV0jMDPouaf3J1FxCksKHzGX24Uc-LAxfxPPYIjVfn92n4sqTZ-V-IVe_mW9M0/s400/0a58c27f8b58f77c.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455717763818968946" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div>TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2652387663641782339.post-91168487630668125742010-03-17T22:34:00.001-04:002010-03-17T22:34:52.839-04:00Off to Costa Rica!Sometime later this year, we will head off to another amazing time in a country that we know so little about...... Costa Rica! Watch this space for the travelogue from there. :)TravelBaggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07144724032871428782noreply@blogger.com0