We have just spent two weeks attending Spanish Language School in the town of San Joaquin de Flores, not too far from Heredia and San Jose in Costa Rica. My brain is hurting! We lived with a Costa Rican (Tico) family, who were very nice to us. However, they did not speak English, so we had plenty of opportunity to practice very basic communication! All of their children and grandchildren lived close by so the house was often full and boisterous. We walked to school in the morning, classes were from 8AM to noon - all Spanish all Morning. The teachers were excellent and we all made some great progress, hopefully a good start in order to survive the next few months.
In the afternoons and weekends we studied or went on outings. We went to the city of Heredia for a walking tour, and to the movies at the local mall (Avatar 3D, English with Spanish subtitles, a few of which I actually understood). We visited the town of Sarchi, which is noted for the production of "traditional" and festively decorated Ox Carts. We visited the "factory" where these were produced. All the power tools were run from a water-wheel. Many belts and wheels running around the place. Each cart is hand-painted, which takes one painter about 2 weeks.
We spent a weekend down on the southern Caribbean coast in the town of Puerto Viejo. Here many of the residents are descended from afro-caribbeans, and the culture is more like Jamaica than Costa Rica. The beaches and jungle are very beautiful. The weather was hot and humid. We were fortunate to be in town for the big surf competition. Watcing the crowd was (for me) just as interesting as watching the contestants. We rented bikes and rode around on the (mostly) dirt roads. I went a little further down the coast and saw many birds, a few monkeys, and two sloths - both very close up. Zane went boogie boarding, and we all ate very well. Sadly, for our Spanish skills, there was not much studying that weekend!
After school ended we took a couple more excursions: a boat trip on the Sarapiqui River, and white-water rafting on the Pacuare River. The sarapiqui river was tranquil and pretty. We saw many monkeys, a sloth, some bats, poison dart frogs, a caiman (small croc), and many birds. The rafting trip was fantastic, 18 miles and 38 rapids, class 3-4, through pristine rainforest. We all agreed perhaps the most beautiful river we had ever seen. Might have even been prettier if I had worn my glasses!! Only Zane took an unplanned swim, and he was hauled back into the raft quickly. Unfortunately no photos from that trip, although we may return!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Quepos Photos
Swimming, anyone? 
Sloth in Manuel Antonio National Park, just above our towels on the beach. 
Iguana in Manuel Antionio National Park.
White-faced monkey in Manuel Antonio National Park.
Our first breakfast in Costa Rica - Gallo Pinto, Breakfast of Champions! 
Zane rides in a wave. Making it look easy.
Tana shows some good surfing form. Who knew?
Nice beach at Manuel Antonio National ParkQuepos, Costa Rica
Our first stop after arriving in Costa Rica was the town on Quepos on the Pacific Coast. We caught a bus from San Jose at the ungodly hour of 6AM, and arrived there just after 9AM after a nice ride. After dropping off our luggage and our first breakfast of Gallo Pinto (rice and beans, very nice), we set off to explore a bit, visiting the local fishing port and wandering around the town. We spent the rest of the day recovering from our two days of travel, and trying to adjust to the heat and humidity, which frankly I welcomed, hoping to erase memories of those -20C nights in Utah.
Over the next three days we checked out some of the local attrations. The beaches and national Park at nearby Manuel Antonio were a big hit. Plenty of people but also plenty of scenery and wildlife. Tana and Zane took a surfing lesson and were quite successful in gettting up on their boards and riding the waves. We visited the park and saw Howler and White-Faced Monkeys, as well as Sloths, Racoons, Iguanas and other lizards. The beach there was also very nice, we parked ourselves in the shade under a tree. Above us in the canopy was a mother sloth with a young baby. Luckily there was no falling sloth poop to report.
On our last day here we engaged in some of the more adventurous activities. The ladies went Horse Riding through the rainforest, and the boys did a "canopy tour" which involved riding ziplines through and above the forest canopy. Some of the lines were about 500 meters long and 100 meters off the ground. It was quite fun and really not too scary. We also saw more monkeys and a hummingbird nest with 2 baby hummingbirds in it, among other things.
We have been practising our Spanish. Sometimes we can even make ourselves understood.
This morning we catch the bus back towards San Jose, where we will begin our two weeks of Spanish Language school tomorrow. Wish us luck!
Over the next three days we checked out some of the local attrations. The beaches and national Park at nearby Manuel Antonio were a big hit. Plenty of people but also plenty of scenery and wildlife. Tana and Zane took a surfing lesson and were quite successful in gettting up on their boards and riding the waves. We visited the park and saw Howler and White-Faced Monkeys, as well as Sloths, Racoons, Iguanas and other lizards. The beach there was also very nice, we parked ourselves in the shade under a tree. Above us in the canopy was a mother sloth with a young baby. Luckily there was no falling sloth poop to report.
On our last day here we engaged in some of the more adventurous activities. The ladies went Horse Riding through the rainforest, and the boys did a "canopy tour" which involved riding ziplines through and above the forest canopy. Some of the lines were about 500 meters long and 100 meters off the ground. It was quite fun and really not too scary. We also saw more monkeys and a hummingbird nest with 2 baby hummingbirds in it, among other things.
We have been practising our Spanish. Sometimes we can even make ourselves understood.
This morning we catch the bus back towards San Jose, where we will begin our two weeks of Spanish Language school tomorrow. Wish us luck!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
California
From the shivering mesas of Utah we proceeded to California for some classic warm and sunny West Coast weather in Santa Barbara, Pasadena, and San Diego. We ran some errands and caught up with as many co-workers, friends and neighbors as we could. As usual there was not enough time to see everyone, so we apologize to those of you we did not see. We also visited our cats, who actually seemed to know who we were even though it has been four years since we left them in Uncle Lane's expert care. Highlights included Sunday afternoon at Cold Springs Tavern with Tom & Kenny (Glenn), Legoland (Zane), and Hanging out with friends (Tana). We also ate and drank too much (no surprise there). The ever-popular Cajun Kitchen wins with 4 visits in just under two weeks. The weather was true to form and it was great to wear shorts again. We knew it was time to go when the rains began to roll in. Our last full day involved driving from San Diego to Los Angeles, through some of the most intense rain we have experienced. We left Legoland when the park was closed due to rain, and even 30MPH on the highway seemed a bit fast for the conditions. We passed through the storm without incident and arrived in Los Angeles to clear skies. Many thanks to all of our hosts for your great hospitality!!! No photos from California, as I gave the camera some time off.
Next stop, Costa Rica!
Next stop, Costa Rica!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Panoramic Photos
I have discovered the photo-stitching software. Here are some results:
This is in Arches National Park. On the far right you can see Broken Arch, a hole in the rocks.
The view from Fisher Towers, a few miles from our place in Utah. Fisher Mesa is to the left of center. To the right of this in the distance you can see Castle Rock.
This was where we stayed at Kwa-Tuli island camp in southern Botswana.
This is near our place in Utah, looking over Professor Valley. Castle Rock is on the left, Adobe Mesa right of center, La Sal Mtns on the far right.Sunday, January 3, 2010
Utah Photos
The turducken. Very yummy and few leftovers!
Zane in fine sledding form.
The tree. Nearly killed us getting this on the roof of the van.
Tana showing off her sledding technique
Snowing and everything!
Park Avenue, Arches National Park
An icy morning in Castle Valley
The Ol Homestead
Wintry view from Fisher Towers
Castle Rock in winter clothing
Utah
Happy New Year Everyone! Hope your holidays were great and 2010 will be kind to you and your families!
For the holidays it was off to the homestead in Castle Valley (Caboose, Love Shack, and Barn) Utah where we celebrated a wintry Christmas with family and caught up with neighbors and friends. Oh yeah, do not forget the Turducken for Christmas Dinner! (and the Eggnog, and the Whiskey Sours, and the Margaritas, and - well, you get the picture)
We had never spent any real time here in the middle of winter before, and wintry it was. We "enjoyed" snow and very cold temps (lows of -20C/-14F, highs of -12C/ 10F). It was very beautiful with snow on the red rocks. The herd of Bighorn Sheep we saw along the Colorado River was a nice bons as well.
In spite of the temperatures (it's a dry cold), we took advantage of the calm and sunny days and managed to get in a few hikes and even some sledding. (Thanks to Mitch and Tory for that!) Otherwise we sat around eating and drinking too much.
We also squeezed in a brief jaunt to Glenwood Springs Colorado to meet friends and soaked in the outdoor hot pools as thick clouds of steam swirled around us. Also, we ate too much there as well (this is becoming a theme, no?)
Next stop, California - hoping for warmer weather!
For the holidays it was off to the homestead in Castle Valley (Caboose, Love Shack, and Barn) Utah where we celebrated a wintry Christmas with family and caught up with neighbors and friends. Oh yeah, do not forget the Turducken for Christmas Dinner! (and the Eggnog, and the Whiskey Sours, and the Margaritas, and - well, you get the picture)
We had never spent any real time here in the middle of winter before, and wintry it was. We "enjoyed" snow and very cold temps (lows of -20C/-14F, highs of -12C/ 10F). It was very beautiful with snow on the red rocks. The herd of Bighorn Sheep we saw along the Colorado River was a nice bons as well.
In spite of the temperatures (it's a dry cold), we took advantage of the calm and sunny days and managed to get in a few hikes and even some sledding. (Thanks to Mitch and Tory for that!) Otherwise we sat around eating and drinking too much.
We also squeezed in a brief jaunt to Glenwood Springs Colorado to meet friends and soaked in the outdoor hot pools as thick clouds of steam swirled around us. Also, we ate too much there as well (this is becoming a theme, no?)
Next stop, California - hoping for warmer weather!
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