Our flight to Costa Rica left Phoenix at 12:20 am and arrived in Houston at around 7 am. After a 2 hr. layover, we boarded for Costa Rica. New destination for us. Pictures from the plane shows the different types of terrain. Landed in San Jose around 10:30 am. Full day to rest before the journey actually begins.
Coastal Area
Mountainous interior
Welcome to the beginning of our adventure
We arrived at our hotel for 2 nights. And after check-in, went for a walk to explore a nearby park.
ducks on pond
Small pond in park, but dry season so very low.
That evening, we had a Mexican Buffet at the hotel. Our hotel had 2 for 1 drinks, so we indulged at the bar before dinner. Dinner was good, but the desserts were great.
Make you own tacos
Almost like a bread pudding, but with lots of cinnamon
The next morning it's up early to be picked up for our river rafting on the Rio Pacuare. Actually one of the greatest things we did on the trip.
We did see numerous waterfalls, but picture by Exploradores Outdoors
We saw a Toucan but again furnished by Exploradores outdoors
Beautiful but again I didn't take this
Saw our 1st sloth of the trip (it wasn't this clear)
It was a III-IV difficulty and the only causality was Bob lost his GoPro Camera and my waterproof camera started leaking. We all stayed in the boat. I was able to take some pictures before the camera broke.
Geared up and ready to go
I
Guide Jepe was great
Breakfast and Lunch was served by the company. Lunch was after the trip, so was a very late lunch. Both were above par for this type of adventure. Back to the hotel for the organizational meeting of the tour we were on.
Next morning up and out after breakfast, Luis was our guide and did a great job. This day was a drive to Arenal Volcano and National Park. On the way we stopped at Sarchi, a artist community with a history of the colorful oxcarts and sculptured hedges at the church. Beautiful scenery along the way.
Largest oxcart in the world in Sarchi
Here you can see a comparison to see the size
Sculpture of artist painting
Church in Sarchi. Costa Rica is primarily Catholic
This is picture of Chanalier in above Church. Everything is crystal, even the tubes holding the lights
The next stop was Larcero. Here a gentleman clipped the hedges at the church as a hobby for many years. The church decided they didn't want him to continue, he had not had the right to do this on church property. The whole congregation rebelled and quit coming to church, so the church rescinded and hired him as the gardener.
You can see the church thru the arches
Our lunch was on our own in the Small town of La Parada. We encountered our first gecko of the trip. First of many.
We pulled into our hotel, Arenal Volcano Inn early afternoon and had time to sit by the pool before dinner.
Our bungalow
view of Arenal Volcano from room
Grounds around inn were beautiful
The next morning we got to see Arenal Volcano without a cloud around it. Locals say it has it's very own cloud.
We also got some shots of the plants and birds in the area.
Today, the big green bus takes us up to Los Chili and for Cano Negro Boat Tour.
Our transportation for the 1st 7 days Max was our bus driver
Dah! Turtle
He was cleaning himself (or herself)
Looking for food.
Ready to strike
Newly hatched
courtesy of Luis
You lookin at me?
Bob's Sloth
Another turtle, I think
Airing out
Catching a breeze
Need something?
Nap time
Lonely little sand piper
Bats in the tree
close up Bats just hanging around
Ibis are in most countries
Called a snake bird because only the neck and beak are straight out of the water and looks like a snake in the water
courtesy of Luis
Sleeping owl
Monkeys galore
he goes down to the water, dips tail in water, comes back up and sucks on the tail to drink.
Lunch after the Boat Ride
Back to hotel to go to Eco Tamales Hot Springs. Really fabulous Hot Springs and dinner.
Pictures are bad, dusk and water spray
The next morning we head out to for a hike and tour of the Arenal National Park. We also have to have our bags set out, because after the hike, we're heading to Monteverde Cloud Forest.
one final view of the Arenal Inn
Our guide, Luis, is a botanist and really knows his plants. Also, his birds and snakes.
Luis explaining the insect on the leaves
Green Eyelash Viper one of the most poisoning snakes in the world
Giraffe Tree
even the beetles have color
At the top a View of Arenal Volcano on one side and the Lake on the other.
Don't know what his problem is
just one of the many orchids in the area
Don't know which bird, but pretty
Brown Eyelash Viper, also comes in Gold, but we didn't see it.
Different bloom
Now on the way to Monteverde Cloud Forest. We are getting very high in the mountains and the road is dirt and rough.
We traveled all the way around the lake. Then stopped at a small town for lunch. We just went to a fried chicken place. Wasn't much in town. Then on to Monteverde and the El Establo Hotel. Luis had us all get whatever drinks (wine) in town so that we could enjoy the sunset in our rooms.
our room
The sunset from our room
This was also outside our room. Didn't get picture, this is courtesy of our guide.
The next morning the people zip lining in the canopy head out before the rest. Some of the others would join us for the Hanging Bridges, and then we all get back together at the Coffee Plantation for the tour and lunch. A really full day. The following photos are courtesy of Selvature Park. Bob rented a video camera for his helmet, but although the pictures were fantastic.
Next is the Hanging Bridges.
Then we went to the Hummingbird farm.
Sitting on my hand
my finger
courtesy of Luis
courtesy of Luis
courtesy of Luis
On to the Coffee House for tour and lunch.
Been to several coffee plantations, this was interesting and the food was good. They also process chocolate and sugar cane here.
Next morning we say Goodbye to Monteverde Cloud forest, but first some pictures from the resort. They were completely in the forest and had multiple trails we could have taken. Would have loved to be able to explore more.
This was the unit that we stayed in. There were nine of this situated up the mountainside
View from our room
another view
Bob and I hiked up to the canopy forest to just explore before we left. The bridge is for the monkeys to cross on
Now it's board the bus for the Coast and Manuel Antonio. On the way, we got the first glimpse of the Pacific and then stopped at Jaco for lunch. This is a surfing capital that surfers from all over travel to. We had lunch and then walked on the beach and in town.
on the way to the coast, we stopped for smoothies and I met this fellow.
walking on the beach in Jaco
water arch in town to stay cool
Our next home for 3 nights
Went down for happy hour at the pool and the monkeys joined in
We had out the next day to hike thru the Manuel Antonio National Park. Only really rainy day, but still had a great time and 1st dip in the Pacific (1st on this trip, been there up north). We had a couple of hours to either play in the water or hike, so Bob and I hiked up to Cathedral Point to get a view of the ocean.
We saw this sloth, but couldn't get a good picture of it.
Monkeys all along the trail
Big rodents
Views great, but a very cloudy day
Hawk
After the tour and hike, we returned to the hotel. Bob wasn't feeling well, so I explored the private beach and relaxed by the pool.
The next day was an optional catamaran trip. So of course, we took it. We drove down to the Marina in Quepos and took off from there. But first Breakfast at the hotel. and Our 3rd view of Toucans. The first I was able to get good pictures of.
This was the Ocean King Catamaran. Held around 300 and we only had 45 or 50 for the day.
Sisters and brother on Tour with us Family get together
Relaxing in tub
Nice relaxing day, did some snorkeling, but no camera. The view were good and lunch was ok. Returning to the hotel, we had a couple of hours until dinner that evening, so Bob and I went down to the beach. It was a hike to get there.
That evening , dinner at El Lagarto for good food and a great sunset.
And good-bye to Manuel Antonio
Next morning it's back to San Jose and the last day of the tour. We head out and not far down the road, we spot another sloth and then the only McCall's of the trip.
When we get to San Jose, we have a city tour that evening with dinner. City tours are great, but sometimes long. The final meal with the tour was delicious. San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and has a long history. Our guide as always was very knowledgeable.
Parrot mixed in with Pigeons
Evolution
Goodbye to the tour and one more day in Costa Rica. This is a relaxing day on a Catamaran to Tortuga Island. Saved one of the best for last. Full day, picked up at 5:50 am then about 1 and 1/2 hours to the boat. Off course back on the Pacific Coast. Breakfast at the Shrimp Shack and then All-Aboard.
On Saturday morning Dec 3rd, we arrived at the Fiji airport. It was only 5:30 am, but they still had a Band to greet us. We had to wait until 7:00 for the grocery stores to open, the the Malolo Cat office that would be transporting us to the island of Malolo Lei Lei to our resort, the Malolo Lei Lei Lagoon Resort was open Rosa welcomed us with a flower for my hair. After a trip to the grocery and to see the town of Nadi, we boarded a bus to the Marina to disembark to our island vacation. The Malolo Cat II took us for the hour trip to the island. First view of our home for the week. It was everything Bob and I wanted, no phone, no inter-net, and no TV. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t even a microwave. (we could have had inter-net at $5 for 30 minutes, but we opted not to even get on) The computer was strictly to save pictures. and that we did!!!! The beauty has to be seen, not described. It was early Saturday when we got to the resort and we couldn
This will bring the travels up to date with a Bummer of a breakdown. After playing on Sunday morning with Tom and Becky and their son-in-law, we headed out. We were actually going to stay in a RV Park, the RPI on Wellsby Island in the middle of the St. Lawrence. Going through Fulton, we heard a crunch and a loud clanking. We pulled over and saw nothing, so headed out again. Too much noise, so decided not to chance it. Called CoachNet to arrange a tow. Spent one night in the Valero Gas Station parking lot. On Monday morning we were towed to Camping World in Syracuse, NY. One week later, we're still here, camping in their parking lot, waiting on a new rear-end. Luckily, there's water and a dump within hose length. Here's the problem child. A rear end problem.
Winter’s gone and the seasons over. We got to Happy Trails at the end of October and immediately started with tournaments. Not playing just working. In December, we took our annual trip for a beach and snorkel fix. Then back for more tournaments. I had back surgery on Dec. 17th, so no pickleball for me the rest of the season. In April, my big brother Jim Richardson, my Sister, Gladys and Husband, Denny Houghton, and my Sister, Anita and her husband, Stan Kubin cam to visit me. We normally meet somewhere in May for an annual get together. This year it was April and at my place. Dom and Sue were nice enough to move their rig and Gladys and Denny parked on their lot right next to us so that we could all be together. Bob and I moved into our RV the night before they arrived since we were headed out after they left. Picked Jim up at the airport on Thursday, April 18th. We stopped for lunch/dinner at our favorite Mexican Food restaurant and headed home to welcome Anita and S
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