Mar 19, 2013 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica

March 18, 2013 At Sea I was up and on deck at 7:30 am for my usual walk after which I stopped by the international café for some decent coffee, croissants while reading a few more pages in my e-book; almost finished. Back in our room, Cherie got dressed and we went to breakfast around 10. Just north of the equator, the sea is very calm, the temperature warm and humid. There was a pitching contest at 11:15 which Cherie and I participated in. Cherie also participated in “the longest drive competition as well. I did that a few weeks ago and I...

Mar 14, 2013 - Nicoya Penisula

Alejandro, Necia and I are driving to Puntarenas (1.5 hrs away), to board the ferry, with my car, and head to the Nicoya Peninsula- Montezuma waterfalls and over night in Santa Teresa! These new friends have been awesome, as they are not only wonderful to travel with, they have such positive energy...which radiates into having a really nice time! Max and Molly stayed home today.....and at breakfast I saw a toucan!!  Well, we missed the 11am ferry, so we drove around, had ceviche pescado, and now I sit on the 2pm ferry to Nicoya!  i truly...

Mar 13, 2013 - monkeys and more!

What a wonderful evening last night, a fabulous way to begin my 52nd year! Max,Molly, Necia and I went to Manual Antonio National Park, just outside of Quepos. Upon entering the park we were lucky to look up and see a sloth....Ahhhh, a sloth's life-patient, stress-free, and oh so slow- nothing urgent about a sloth! We then witnessed a fight between a howler monkey and a white faced monkey! Apparantly this is very rare....there is s certain tree with leaves that get the monkey high, yes...high, as in mind altering, which gets them aggressive...

Mar 12, 2013 - It's my birthday! Feliz Cumpleanos!

I woke up early and took a drive to Esterillos Oeste beach...it was low tide, so I could walk way out to the mermaid in the sea. I sat on the beach in solitude and wrote! When i got back for my 10am yoga, it was absolutely wonderful....1.5 hours...birds chirping, and serious core work!! I decided to take surf lessons, so Alejandro hooked me up. Necia went with me... adding photographer to my translator/negotiator companion! Oh, also party planner as she bought a birthday banner and cake, when I was riding the waves! Surfing was a...

Jan 25, 2013 - Monteverde is amazing

I had an amazing time in Monteverde. Went zip lining! Went on a day hike and night hike and saw a spider monkey, sloths, viper, walking sticks, butterflies, hummingbirds, quetzels. Monteverde cloud forest is a beautiful place. Leaving this morning for the beach, Tamarindo....

Jan 22, 2013 - Monte Verde

Incredible trip to Monte Verde this morning. The boat ride across Lake Arenal was beautiful and the horse back ride was so fun! We say a big snake sleeping in a tree (see picture) and lots of white face monkeys (no pics) :( Tomorrow morning zip lining!

Dec 26, 2012 - Sky Walk in Costa Rica

12/26 – Day 2 in Puntarenas, Costa Rica It didn’t get quite as warm as we were expecting. A high around 90 and very humid is what we got. Jean, Jerry, Jim & myself had booked a Sky Walk tour in the tropical forest. Buses are air conditioned, so the 40 minute ride was comfortable. We saw white-faced capuchin monkeys along the way and another couple on our walking tour. A bird with pale blue feathers is the only tropical bird that was spotted. Rather disappointing. Leaf cutter ants covered our trail in one section. Pretty cute to watch those...

Dec 25, 2012 - Costa Rica

12/25 Christmas in Costa Rica, “rich coast” Costa Rica is the belly button of Central America. Our guide said, “You know it’s there, but you don’t pay much attention to it.” Costa Rica has no military and no welfare. (One lady asked what happens if Nicaragua attacks you, and our guide said that they have an agreement with the US and Spain that they will defend Costa Rica.) If you don’t work, you don’t eat. Tourism is the #1 contributor to their economy. Coffee has dropped from #1 to #7. Even the export of tropical plants to decorate homes &...

Dec 13, 2012 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica - Poas Volcano

Hola, senores, senoras, en senioritas, pura viva! Costa Rica! Our second jetty docking for this cruise,and the Holland cruise ship Amsterdam berthed opposite ours this morning in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. We had heard from a couple we met in San Juan del Sur, their ship has been experiencing a gastro outbreak and the laundries have been closed to prevent any possible spread. Our journey was to see the worlds largest active volcano crater, Poas Volcano located in its own national park. The crater is 1.5 Kms across and steaming hot. it was a...

Nov 29, 2012 - Gallo pinto & co.

Jetz, wo ys der letschti gallo pinto bevorstoht, mues y d Ironie doch scho in Koffer pagge und no ergänze, ass s Ässe in däm Land phantastisch isch (nit ass no e falschen Ydrugg entstoht). Der gallo pinto het s zwoor wiirgglig immer gä, wenn mr s gschribe hän, und d Ticos ässe dä au däglig zem Zmorge und hüffig zum Zmidaag und Znacht. Es isch aber nit so wie z. B. z Kuba, wo me numme Rys und Bohne dur s Wasser zieht, sondern är isch wiirgglig fein gwürzt und schmeggt! Zum Zmorge gits zum gallo pinto maischtens Riehrai und Kochbanane...

Nov 29, 2012 - Last days in paradise

Die letschte 2 Däg im Paradies hän mir nomol in volle Züge gnosse. Für mi isches geschter hoch zu Ross und meischtens in vollem Galopp zume versteggte Wasserfall in de umliigende Hügel gange (jäwoll, tour a Caballo numero cuatro, für die wo mitzelld hän :-D ) - s isch unglaublig wie zueverlässig und trittsicher die Ross do sin (Criollo heisst die lokali Pfärderasse; Quasi dr Freibärger vo Costa Rica); Heerlig! Zmidag isch denn e riise Gwitterräge obenabeko, was abr grad für ideali Bedingige für unsere Night Walk gsorgt het. Tatsächlig hämr...

Nov 25, 2012 - Quepos/Manuel Antonio

Wiehnachte stoht vor der Düüre und do dörfe d Temperature au scho mol in Käller stürze. Der kältischti Daag im costaricanisch Joor hämmer also bi agnähme 18 Grad (ok, im Näbelwald het s öppe 13 oder 14 ka) z Monteverde verbrocht! Do gönnt me sich doch – wärmende gallo pinto im Mage – am beschte e «Costa Rican massage»! so nenne d Ticos e Erläbnisfahrt uf de vo Schlaglöcher übersaite Stroosse. Scho hüpfe mer also wider uf ere Buggelpischte richtig nägschte Stopp. Uf der pazifische Sytte schlyche mer in s Taal, löhn Räge inklusiv -booge und...