tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9908725451517978272024-03-21T13:33:01.429-07:00The Perls of PaulineAn aspiring teacher with a travel itch went to Sakartvelo (Georgia) for a year. She didn't want to deal with emailing everyone who wanted updates and inevitably forgetting or messing up emails so she created a blog. Years later, she has her own classroom and no less of a travel itch. May as well use the blog to update on travels.Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-31996834106659324492022-08-21T13:06:00.002-07:002022-08-21T13:06:20.300-07:00Return Culture Shock<p> 1- Small talk with strangers happens in ENGLISH in this country. I am struggling to put together sentences after 6 weeks of speaking as much spanish with as many people as possible.</p><p>2. Toilet paper is flushed down the toilet. I am not sure how long it will take for that to be natural again, but every bathroom I have been to in this country, I have been LOOKING for the trash can for toilet paper.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHRXaZcb8PqHLcTiF5I2xCZJ2tBqfcTXKf-HlVhfrQ_VpxkyB3V-8lEeJNJaWFaW22Kqe-tKHnWR3AoKc-HzOfVhIUcLc_Gx720ESwP0FpFB6wZVoX1dqovpSyTUodwCdbRE_edJz779DGQZedCVt5iKAWyw5MHBU0wAKR1qwpHPdK8f8iTEw1mZDRw/s4032/PXL_20220629_184103035.MP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHRXaZcb8PqHLcTiF5I2xCZJ2tBqfcTXKf-HlVhfrQ_VpxkyB3V-8lEeJNJaWFaW22Kqe-tKHnWR3AoKc-HzOfVhIUcLc_Gx720ESwP0FpFB6wZVoX1dqovpSyTUodwCdbRE_edJz779DGQZedCVt5iKAWyw5MHBU0wAKR1qwpHPdK8f8iTEw1mZDRw/s320/PXL_20220629_184103035.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgZBAc6hFUV-yPjjaU2ak5vq3KZoh2DYSUtm7bHYszZAoP7g6G6Vepd9Zb4uSSZVFFrG0PaZ3gaTadYq_oMQs8Rtke4gArRYdBWNuYfyO3DESgRCJviOOeZXdbmposOCnEwiSifllHs052FxegWeY6omABHQePd6vHMebUFxuxFHMKRWIzBe4bQNyXw/s4032/PXL_20220711_143918845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgZBAc6hFUV-yPjjaU2ak5vq3KZoh2DYSUtm7bHYszZAoP7g6G6Vepd9Zb4uSSZVFFrG0PaZ3gaTadYq_oMQs8Rtke4gArRYdBWNuYfyO3DESgRCJviOOeZXdbmposOCnEwiSifllHs052FxegWeY6omABHQePd6vHMebUFxuxFHMKRWIzBe4bQNyXw/s320/PXL_20220711_143918845.jpg" width="320" /><br /></a><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>3. SO MANY PEOPLE!!! I understand I am in JFK, one of the busiest airports in America, but it's 5:30 AM, I have not slept a wink and I need to leave the secure area of the airport with ALL my luggage just to go BACK through security with ALL the other New Yorkers who are awake and at the airport at 5:30 AM to go wherever they are headed! I should have stayed in Costa Rica until Monday, much less crowded then. I thought Manuel Antonio was crowded. Phew, it was NOTHING compared to this!</p><p>4. Pura Vida is GONE. In Costa Rica, I had very few responsibilities. Now I am staring down the barrel of ALL the work I need to do to leave one school and start at another. Also, I have been catching up on what has been happening outside of Costa Rica (I did watch the news every night over dinner with my host family, but it focused on news of Costa Rica). Um, how many waves of a million different serious diseases are circulating right now? I am masked and wiping EVERY surface I come in contact with. I am hoping this is just travel jitters because the knot in my stomach was GONE for 6 weeks, and I don't really want it back.</p><p>5. Stairs are HARD! Most of the buildings and homes I was in in Costa Rica were one story. The only stairs that stand out were the stairs for climbing the mountains in Monteverde (stone stairs so that the path didn't wash away in the rain) and they absolutely killed me. </p><p>6. Remembering that laundry can be done in less than 3 hours if you're motivated. I got to the cousins' house, they offered me the laundry machine, and I thought, "well, I am here for a few more days, so no matter the weather the next few days, the clothes will have time to get dry," and said yes. That's when I remembered machine dryers :)</p><p>7. Speaking in ANY language. Someone says thank you, I say "con gusto." Someone hands me something I need, or supplies the word I am trying to say, and I say "gracias." All my "auto pilot" words (the words you say without thinking, the ones your mind has a pavlovian response to, like after someone sneezes, you say the "response" like you're on autopilot.) are in Spanish right now. But also words like after and before are coming out despues and antes. </p><p>8. So in Santo Domingo, EVERY SINGLE HUMAN you crossed paths with said hello in some way. Buenas, Buenas (Dias, Tardes, it was all shortened to Buenas). Yeah, we don't do that here.</p><p>9. Light switches are up down here, not side to side. Small thing, but an adjustment I didn't realize I had made when I got there, but here, it is hilariously hard to go back.</p><p>10. Costa Rican FOOD! I just want some Casada, but can't find it anywhere! I have typed ALL KINDS of crazy things into google to find a restaurant that has Costa Rican food... (friends, help me out if you know where to find any of the following: Gallapinto, Cas, Casada, good (read healthy) refrescos, banana leaf tamales.) I am getting recipes from my host family, but I am missing the food, BIGTIME.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, soaking in a bathtub has been HEAVEN.</p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-74448024463551293432022-08-20T11:32:00.000-07:002022-08-20T11:32:12.873-07:00Adios Santo Domingo<p> I will admit, I am ready to come home for only 1 thing: a bubble bath.</p><p>Ok, I am excited to see my family for a few days before leaping into an exciting new job at an exciting new (literally) school.</p><p>But there is SO much to miss here. On my día final, I enjoyed my final meals with my amazing host family, my surprise visit to Lapa Verde to see the final graduation of our round of students from Common Ground International (apparently there's a whole new batch of folks coming in next week), and a final stroll around town.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlMflTOE8rmIZWWH41fKRlCkM8eGoEf5vRQu4D2tc1Z5HywyE-zpGlb1y5HX6xZa5wRtxgTLH-AmV_BphS6Fgr8V3fU2VNdkx4QN6QB3gstKVZe9GXVzeIXk8yK-9wemZJ88z6fNkXVcnt5VVf2-OLJrEuw2qRK8uNpyCwJCES4cbquACirJoHjKwrg/s4032/PXL_20220805_164359984.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlMflTOE8rmIZWWH41fKRlCkM8eGoEf5vRQu4D2tc1Z5HywyE-zpGlb1y5HX6xZa5wRtxgTLH-AmV_BphS6Fgr8V3fU2VNdkx4QN6QB3gstKVZe9GXVzeIXk8yK-9wemZJ88z6fNkXVcnt5VVf2-OLJrEuw2qRK8uNpyCwJCES4cbquACirJoHjKwrg/w640-h480/PXL_20220805_164359984.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you are EVER in Santo Domingo, swing by for some of Flory's bread and deserts. <br />They are NEXT LEVEL!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU31n4ViPn-FhJseApyz3s5WHg19tiu3Bs4PntWQrren3FSi-zHZvgct5my1p0plYdVsHq2mK_-jsVJbN_gmtqe2Z0pWmSf-YGvMh1S1zX4YCVtjRvfiYKhah9h6GI6vwIYOeJGYYyo7oUK87b9yTzWAwJtkQ9-830iHkgcfSHlD8XBrWfHn2pAP8j1A/s4032/PXL_20220805_201959256.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU31n4ViPn-FhJseApyz3s5WHg19tiu3Bs4PntWQrren3FSi-zHZvgct5my1p0plYdVsHq2mK_-jsVJbN_gmtqe2Z0pWmSf-YGvMh1S1zX4YCVtjRvfiYKhah9h6GI6vwIYOeJGYYyo7oUK87b9yTzWAwJtkQ9-830iHkgcfSHlD8XBrWfHn2pAP8j1A/w400-h300/PXL_20220805_201959256.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapa Verde (the blue building on the left) was my school every weekday M-F.<br />There is a beautiful sign, but I would have had to cross the street to take a photo of it<br />and I limit my crossing of THAT particular street to ONLY when necessary.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo3hB73iOZgrPYpzEv3BsoMTQ5BOlx5kzFrDZiTh9eFQf12Nj3yEIO_wXpjZZ6ax2B3Hn_OAZTwuWk7k1EnM3b181SeouwkaSsIlazbi85scbhYDpskNC6Ww_2qwrGvhVFH9RRu1wQAAyGqg8ogfpvFkYEbB811kFqin0N2u6YfDIr1F2lXzirCE9oQ/s4032/PXL_20220805_202054414.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVo3hB73iOZgrPYpzEv3BsoMTQ5BOlx5kzFrDZiTh9eFQf12Nj3yEIO_wXpjZZ6ax2B3Hn_OAZTwuWk7k1EnM3b181SeouwkaSsIlazbi85scbhYDpskNC6Ww_2qwrGvhVFH9RRu1wQAAyGqg8ogfpvFkYEbB811kFqin0N2u6YfDIr1F2lXzirCE9oQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220805_202054414.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are street names, but addresses rarely use them. Instead, everything is based on landmarks. <br />Lapa Verde is x meters south of McDonalds. That archway was my EVERYTHING the first<br />few days as I learned many new streets of Santo Domingo<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (because I'd made a wrong turn or two on my way to school)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOGDgyo-7vCbnyvGvQduFS7khOFZoZArVwHnJWZFPZX_13iyZwYrINc8Km4EpiLV32ufuZNyPkko7QFkbD0AEDjpa-DIdMNN9YdtmFkAZF6t4jRUx9f8jbYLOUn-7C3bwSQtx2nGgZCsFt7rxvtJIa3ULHICEQLbjxheh5YTWoFGwoajtvl3Eh6lCiQ/s4032/PXL_20220805_204104265.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOGDgyo-7vCbnyvGvQduFS7khOFZoZArVwHnJWZFPZX_13iyZwYrINc8Km4EpiLV32ufuZNyPkko7QFkbD0AEDjpa-DIdMNN9YdtmFkAZF6t4jRUx9f8jbYLOUn-7C3bwSQtx2nGgZCsFt7rxvtJIa3ULHICEQLbjxheh5YTWoFGwoajtvl3Eh6lCiQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220805_204104265.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISi8Yhos328dGGQpJ8bB4X9eLETWYHJSb1dpYB2Hi_nRCToFo1P_NMpt7J9-So0KEc-A3psUh1v7vGPuoKZSa4j8VlB2Ba7azTfja78E6EY7pI5QihIFAW8asUsSHttdZaiw_cp720_W9QyWYBGi9ZjEpqKT4s4kdkPSepZ8GlEJSbgpC_xFTZnheFA/s4032/PXL_20220805_204135021.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISi8Yhos328dGGQpJ8bB4X9eLETWYHJSb1dpYB2Hi_nRCToFo1P_NMpt7J9-So0KEc-A3psUh1v7vGPuoKZSa4j8VlB2Ba7azTfja78E6EY7pI5QihIFAW8asUsSHttdZaiw_cp720_W9QyWYBGi9ZjEpqKT4s4kdkPSepZ8GlEJSbgpC_xFTZnheFA/w400-h300/PXL_20220805_204135021.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Every colonial head city of Costa Rica seems to be built in the same pattern. The center is a park, with a church or basilica next to it. Then, even streets grow higher the further you get from the park, odds on the other side. And Avenues follow the same the naming patterns, evens on one side, odds on the other.<div>And in the park itself, a sign telling you where you are and what is important to this area, culturally.</div><div><p>Anyone catch that line about "head city"? Yeah, this whole time, I have been living in Santo Tomas de Santo Domingo de Heredia (in Costa Rica)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqIOD1uPPvDszDyUNIX9_spRWNM74weJ9M4V2e8Jyn72G9JwYi4W3z4QLifqFWt8TJOx-1wQRtQvq_quseocwnjKi9Q-0-1QkxvjrYpimpApMqEQbhgL_zr8Xq_pczphgLHeUILVx-xZVrKmpYrtH89uaxvh-CPvhZBjnlsC4mu-SCD2tN3M2Jpel0g/s4032/PXL_20220805_205844583.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqIOD1uPPvDszDyUNIX9_spRWNM74weJ9M4V2e8Jyn72G9JwYi4W3z4QLifqFWt8TJOx-1wQRtQvq_quseocwnjKi9Q-0-1QkxvjrYpimpApMqEQbhgL_zr8Xq_pczphgLHeUILVx-xZVrKmpYrtH89uaxvh-CPvhZBjnlsC4mu-SCD2tN3M2Jpel0g/w640-h480/PXL_20220805_205844583.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last stop on my goodbye tour of the sites and smells of Santo Domingo was the Bus Stop. Yeah, that white sign that says "Parada de Autobuses", it's a MIRICLE that that even exists. I happen to NOW know that it's where you can pick up a few of the buses that go into San Jose, but there are others and they stop at COMPLETLY random locations around the city. I walk past SEVERAL covered bus stops with a bench on my walk to school, but I have never been in a position to wait for a bus there.<br />Also, not ALL the buses that stop there are going to San Jose. And the papers in the window of the busses say the names of the first and last cities the bus is going to. But not which direction it's going or where there might be a stop in between. It is not just the extranjeros who ask the driver for confirmation that it this bus is indeed the one they need before they get on.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Costa Rica, you have no military, and all that money goes into healthcare and education and I LOVE that. And hey, centralized public transportation is pretty great, you know?</p><p><br /></p></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-13661888510529926502022-08-20T11:18:00.003-07:002022-08-20T11:18:58.084-07:00One last surprise tour!<p> So, they say it's a small world, but no, I think it is just a great world where a particular kind of wonderful weird folk attracts that same kind of awesome folks AND THEN they connect each other with those "kindred spirits".</p><p>Such was the case a few weeks ago when I got a reply from the ABV Schmooze list to my announcement that I was headed to Costa Rica. At the time, I was looking to explore southern Costa Rica (I eventually decided ONE weekend at home would be kosher (funny because I then spent the weekend cooking a Jewish meal) and this Worker's Circle comrade has a friend in Costa Rica who just so happens to live in Southern Costa Rica.</p><p>I got in touch with her friend and guess what, she has an apartment JUST down the street from my host family. We arranged to have breakfast at the Hotel that my host family has been TELLING me to visit, so I can see the garden.</p><p>Ok, I get it, I TOTALLY get it, this place isn't a garden, it's it's own botanical garden! Absolutely INCREDIBLE! So here's ONE LAST (maybe) post full of flowers.</p><p>Oh, and moving to the saga of me TOTALLY missing what has been in front of me this whole time. Many MANY posts ago, I mentioned going to the zoo and seeing the Lapa Verde. It's a BIRD, I realized. And yes, my Spanish school was named after the bird- Lapa Verde. When I asked the founder, she explained that many folks were upset about the low numbers of the Lapa Rojo, but the Lapa Verde was just as endangered, but not getting the same attention. </p><p>What does this have to do with today? Well, as we were exploring the garden, I asked about what she is doing down in Limon, and she explained that she and her husband have created a wildlife preserve specifically to reintroduce the green macaw to the region. That afternoon, I was sharing what I had learned with my host family and learned that Macaw isn't a spanish word when Dinia understood what I was saying, but Jose Luis didn't. Dinia clarified that I was talking about the Lapa Verde and I nearly fell out of my seat. Sometimes it can be INCREDIBLY difficult for me to learn information that has been staring me in the face ALL SUMMER! Now I know one of the places for the list for when I come back to Costa Rica.</p><p>Anyway, on to the flowers :)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJQSJvDvAs5h3g2N42SP8UfgyrrtJI9mGe0e-C8mAJUS-OGEyQq3WB4p4Vd8ISSNCt48VkCqm0WwhoH2t7Es1ENv1MXrmJt5WFbXHJlytDI6OOmOhibNy-rN8_uBR0aj42abSN0RVdC16aEnIwetpicLsN3ln75NYpiRU-gKsosiQksrfWBVBRQL7WA/s4032/PXL_20220805_155946010.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJQSJvDvAs5h3g2N42SP8UfgyrrtJI9mGe0e-C8mAJUS-OGEyQq3WB4p4Vd8ISSNCt48VkCqm0WwhoH2t7Es1ENv1MXrmJt5WFbXHJlytDI6OOmOhibNy-rN8_uBR0aj42abSN0RVdC16aEnIwetpicLsN3ln75NYpiRU-gKsosiQksrfWBVBRQL7WA/s320/PXL_20220805_155946010.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxTVJNS4T7B30ua-xC9qD0l4NdtWnnnmn3tNuQqHcmaNpPAMXXMOTcVcpYP6vl1-BqzVO4Y-Kou7wLgTFhiCuALVoZ5zdbTpqoTKV622W9e_pIY-D44SMez_xXyDQn9OyvCmYJ-HrwN0JEZU8RGiy71HHL5dAgrsK6fz-vpQar9SrBNWpspKe2z5Uzg/s4032/PXL_20220805_155936921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxTVJNS4T7B30ua-xC9qD0l4NdtWnnnmn3tNuQqHcmaNpPAMXXMOTcVcpYP6vl1-BqzVO4Y-Kou7wLgTFhiCuALVoZ5zdbTpqoTKV622W9e_pIY-D44SMez_xXyDQn9OyvCmYJ-HrwN0JEZU8RGiy71HHL5dAgrsK6fz-vpQar9SrBNWpspKe2z5Uzg/s320/PXL_20220805_155936921.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjgGaY3RMVoiKTZyLdK70GVjUAT5J3E2AJyMGiBokBRtpVmh4z27xEIwbQK2_Xo8SfOUYQ-1eoRImD0x_aNEadc-z4YK7ZO8D2DY4vt-CUiENvaq-D0wKmnlUlqT_asQ4KGLluX-HycwLPwc-XN40KFKIlEXeN6DZx8xtaVGtScqymY2PFFbFSqR23Q/s4032/PXL_20220805_155954063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjgGaY3RMVoiKTZyLdK70GVjUAT5J3E2AJyMGiBokBRtpVmh4z27xEIwbQK2_Xo8SfOUYQ-1eoRImD0x_aNEadc-z4YK7ZO8D2DY4vt-CUiENvaq-D0wKmnlUlqT_asQ4KGLluX-HycwLPwc-XN40KFKIlEXeN6DZx8xtaVGtScqymY2PFFbFSqR23Q/s320/PXL_20220805_155954063.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv5ANXUZ0T1jAJD93i_cHAKE4HriP_AaOYZis2CVlQu_KtIqJ-gC_Ditx_PxT687quFj4AfmiLGao9G4-jA7Jo1D1YQ923JoXsVuLUD-SwvVtPIc1zikDSOyVhjw2W5MkRLDLJ7SSMm9NpD7JbyOhMZvgN_2DCACRQXZYbYGleeadAQ6wqf4kJtvhSg/s4032/PXL_20220805_160057491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibv5ANXUZ0T1jAJD93i_cHAKE4HriP_AaOYZis2CVlQu_KtIqJ-gC_Ditx_PxT687quFj4AfmiLGao9G4-jA7Jo1D1YQ923JoXsVuLUD-SwvVtPIc1zikDSOyVhjw2W5MkRLDLJ7SSMm9NpD7JbyOhMZvgN_2DCACRQXZYbYGleeadAQ6wqf4kJtvhSg/w300-h400/PXL_20220805_160057491.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOK AT THESE!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCgWhMzs8U84V84aXj3NRETGsewmVEP196t98dKJ6SmRxpBoahTm2dfZ_UELbK5A_CXfg8m2MdDZJNEKyjQ9ij7nHFrOZPfy-yZ236mpnLFIsjLzEKaDjpFbn8ehtyT2S4HJ0K5A91owRKLDfB8PMEpiE2Fb_e5SVE3NllDC34TVt6vCAka598qJB7w/s4032/PXL_20220805_160117005.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCgWhMzs8U84V84aXj3NRETGsewmVEP196t98dKJ6SmRxpBoahTm2dfZ_UELbK5A_CXfg8m2MdDZJNEKyjQ9ij7nHFrOZPfy-yZ236mpnLFIsjLzEKaDjpFbn8ehtyT2S4HJ0K5A91owRKLDfB8PMEpiE2Fb_e5SVE3NllDC34TVt6vCAka598qJB7w/s320/PXL_20220805_160117005.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R1Fz9vIg-89hU_ZUdWX6_afuZR6eGh5-9JZQATwkfTmjFkWemVORixsnF-qfVOeFhPKLo61PVM8xmedfB55zk740qlMGUPzbJZrygpMc3QreKuMMm_MyEQ8apheKln4chao6llPLkP1VuLPZqaZN0TPI0i8pz9yzKyweObv1yimW983RVQNeQ3XYZw/s4032/PXL_20220805_160150249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6R1Fz9vIg-89hU_ZUdWX6_afuZR6eGh5-9JZQATwkfTmjFkWemVORixsnF-qfVOeFhPKLo61PVM8xmedfB55zk740qlMGUPzbJZrygpMc3QreKuMMm_MyEQ8apheKln4chao6llPLkP1VuLPZqaZN0TPI0i8pz9yzKyweObv1yimW983RVQNeQ3XYZw/s320/PXL_20220805_160150249.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ALL the amazing COLORS!<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit37KSvdQlC8wivwi2tBkEW5PSCxZidb4bLfMsjzBFT4goHbaOSo5O49AA7fXJ1-dzKi_0SFYmcNm1p_qpaSyaQ61JYj3Gt10BVDDCmt6uKi1Ftg-50Mrt7eKQ_e8gMzWU1Fk2404S0kWXjgKKPK5amA7fAq8EnZaS8TI05gE_-VIwisd3iJlcSn9jAg/s4032/PXL_20220805_161119820.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit37KSvdQlC8wivwi2tBkEW5PSCxZidb4bLfMsjzBFT4goHbaOSo5O49AA7fXJ1-dzKi_0SFYmcNm1p_qpaSyaQ61JYj3Gt10BVDDCmt6uKi1Ftg-50Mrt7eKQ_e8gMzWU1Fk2404S0kWXjgKKPK5amA7fAq8EnZaS8TI05gE_-VIwisd3iJlcSn9jAg/w400-h300/PXL_20220805_161119820.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a look out point, and this was directly below. FULL of butterflies.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvfiCw1UIMlX7odYBQzIprWDl5DRyBDKzxqj5k-OPg6Lfi7Kr2znu_dvbOjIR2zw83AmzECCF4brK--rhIAukki2p3SacI2MQZHdnHeW_dcQ9ABTOcFuaZuKMRR8hTUbRawcwEzhTH1d67OUBCK56QLSNQLuy59_7jR3DspTqMD2bTBr938GUGgjlJA/s4032/PXL_20220805_161536200.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvfiCw1UIMlX7odYBQzIprWDl5DRyBDKzxqj5k-OPg6Lfi7Kr2znu_dvbOjIR2zw83AmzECCF4brK--rhIAukki2p3SacI2MQZHdnHeW_dcQ9ABTOcFuaZuKMRR8hTUbRawcwEzhTH1d67OUBCK56QLSNQLuy59_7jR3DspTqMD2bTBr938GUGgjlJA/w480-h640/PXL_20220805_161536200.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GIANT FLOWERING BROMILIAD!! WOW!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsRDtSjccbb3p-LEoc3lvJLRTFbROG5n_tENlrpSzvdnvQwL92xffsgf7SQe2fqNoY6c2RPKcm4ymzB7dEHLH1eArQv4bo9AUXjZ8ZdksTXZp0nosyxynTikqqV7mMmf5lVF63SbquK3I69LxVkWFK3pVt8IaI8CEuhv02cW839lMCvB20tx5TwcFTQ/s4032/PXL_20220805_162027204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsRDtSjccbb3p-LEoc3lvJLRTFbROG5n_tENlrpSzvdnvQwL92xffsgf7SQe2fqNoY6c2RPKcm4ymzB7dEHLH1eArQv4bo9AUXjZ8ZdksTXZp0nosyxynTikqqV7mMmf5lVF63SbquK3I69LxVkWFK3pVt8IaI8CEuhv02cW839lMCvB20tx5TwcFTQ/w480-h640/PXL_20220805_162027204.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always smiled when I saw these dudes, but when I saw THIS one, I realized it was the perfect example of both ways that the plant presents, and I love them both!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPyPnLs-QZ7HgT3SMtt5jbOFfb1weDT8OJmHxTEXCDjVv064iuXBHZrhgYPoExuAW3sofIZ1otHf0sM3sqJDNggYWvpkYjxjISi0jToE3MdBW-oEZsnWO6rwOuBhlpFjePbPYyi9l7fqoZ8q_rqeMT39ZaH3YQZNas9d_61vB9wOiUOii5QNFwSLasw/s4032/PXL_20220805_162120634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPyPnLs-QZ7HgT3SMtt5jbOFfb1weDT8OJmHxTEXCDjVv064iuXBHZrhgYPoExuAW3sofIZ1otHf0sM3sqJDNggYWvpkYjxjISi0jToE3MdBW-oEZsnWO6rwOuBhlpFjePbPYyi9l7fqoZ8q_rqeMT39ZaH3YQZNas9d_61vB9wOiUOii5QNFwSLasw/s320/PXL_20220805_162120634.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N_o_IUZ0dQHrCVj_oymLKVb3jeZa-gxW-gIu4q50vVYcL5Yx4tn-kh017iTct3m5hk0meQmSiVdIeYsZEjIfvev4za_qPgqEn-PPEoh1wMfqv8higINT8Z_STblcabA5crTyVJqrjK6eBRqlBIpNfhR-gzbBsEoEeAtUnpDnY3i6rQJOlaTW1BToXA/s4032/PXL_20220805_163159799.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N_o_IUZ0dQHrCVj_oymLKVb3jeZa-gxW-gIu4q50vVYcL5Yx4tn-kh017iTct3m5hk0meQmSiVdIeYsZEjIfvev4za_qPgqEn-PPEoh1wMfqv8higINT8Z_STblcabA5crTyVJqrjK6eBRqlBIpNfhR-gzbBsEoEeAtUnpDnY3i6rQJOlaTW1BToXA/w400-h300/PXL_20220805_163159799.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another tree that is just begging me to sit in it and read!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHUxiEv7p40pysGQ44E60sfdrQNqXjto9h9aUw1ATG07Y-0A41GNqz5wdAvm3OU4PEGMwrhv9SuReqSCBJMjh4viGI95IqXAQPfOoPmynEz2-oFSp6EGSvIThgdPdC8YWLoHZN9W2cqomWBVdghUGQO20rjLgM5YzisysZKl1DLwqdxd7PpCuR05MSQ/s4032/PXL_20220805_163403030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHUxiEv7p40pysGQ44E60sfdrQNqXjto9h9aUw1ATG07Y-0A41GNqz5wdAvm3OU4PEGMwrhv9SuReqSCBJMjh4viGI95IqXAQPfOoPmynEz2-oFSp6EGSvIThgdPdC8YWLoHZN9W2cqomWBVdghUGQO20rjLgM5YzisysZKl1DLwqdxd7PpCuR05MSQ/s320/PXL_20220805_163403030.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At every phase, this is just BEAUTIFUL!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdpHVckEVanDcaZv4OWuagJb55RJ38NZpKtOkkRDBy1jso_WhcfptJodgPL6dCyfStwRuRq1my9Z8FO2_JpyCHIkC6qKlaJsLzTo02n1_LSFuTxyAqs4j0boQtXH0NYhwEw21433Tr5QOEN9Iu84eJv7OQEx-mtUij3r1uGJA28VIP8DU6bv76YXiBA/s4032/PXL_20220805_163956479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdpHVckEVanDcaZv4OWuagJb55RJ38NZpKtOkkRDBy1jso_WhcfptJodgPL6dCyfStwRuRq1my9Z8FO2_JpyCHIkC6qKlaJsLzTo02n1_LSFuTxyAqs4j0boQtXH0NYhwEw21433Tr5QOEN9Iu84eJv7OQEx-mtUij3r1uGJA28VIP8DU6bv76YXiBA/s320/PXL_20220805_163956479.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those pink and purple things are PLANTS!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi381OiP7ed0mVW_xrTfrWCeV60Bjumzd9bdzA4lKa8eSCkaiK1byZrlcnMEIzxLGsaln9fETI5i6vR-FwDxjjWTZYOA-IOrFFKc1XCT57m8_zkO65k7MkNJjFRi9IoDG_E5CvRAfjBmLaqsOynmdtdH6y3KVjSCdmM5WPzcoXyIRTMvAbAiMHXlLQpOg/s1919/IMG_6293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="1424" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi381OiP7ed0mVW_xrTfrWCeV60Bjumzd9bdzA4lKa8eSCkaiK1byZrlcnMEIzxLGsaln9fETI5i6vR-FwDxjjWTZYOA-IOrFFKc1XCT57m8_zkO65k7MkNJjFRi9IoDG_E5CvRAfjBmLaqsOynmdtdH6y3KVjSCdmM5WPzcoXyIRTMvAbAiMHXlLQpOg/s320/IMG_6293.jpg" width="237" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PqYVWb3KkN0DgdvXHM6lJkBZfuSm2Lq67GePJaEPdUl1KKh78Uu-38lNycNvAPuAwv1lGj9jlSXUUPkO110oC0P6lDZhkoD3oBZEi4ryJ9VWQ7AnjWFxNui0f0t0T-Y1EixbIq3SrdqfO-CvWtkOVVNQYPltWnDucFlB8g53VR9jO776hzVUbRk1YA/s2016/IMG_6304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PqYVWb3KkN0DgdvXHM6lJkBZfuSm2Lq67GePJaEPdUl1KKh78Uu-38lNycNvAPuAwv1lGj9jlSXUUPkO110oC0P6lDZhkoD3oBZEi4ryJ9VWQ7AnjWFxNui0f0t0T-Y1EixbIq3SrdqfO-CvWtkOVVNQYPltWnDucFlB8g53VR9jO776hzVUbRk1YA/s320/IMG_6304.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was SO happy with my camera that day!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-33731900919322062812022-08-06T05:38:00.001-07:002022-08-06T05:38:25.375-07:00Running Spice<p> Seriously, WHAT is the "spice" all about in Star Wars?!</p><p>Well, this was a <a href="https://www.rainforestspices.com/" target="_blank">spice farm</a> that grows some of the most expensive spices we have on this planet. And I got to take a tour and learn WHY they're so expensive. Seriously, I will not look at Vanilla the same way ever again!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVyh5xAfZWzQBThcf9YVX58ONt2l4-oYkbUg3QXPoH8WJr5L-6u0gTIWGBvFP4RUBJZbmgWXCG_uE-YEu0f8v8UdZjJziC25VIFP1CHi4L4DQfjs2u07eLK7rScGiMsJ2HZ_gT9ewGBSzsF5wrnD5ukkEZF5M3Fffyibu2a9GCjTynWIN8bTKEMX3Ww/s3264/PXL_20220804_153453341.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVyh5xAfZWzQBThcf9YVX58ONt2l4-oYkbUg3QXPoH8WJr5L-6u0gTIWGBvFP4RUBJZbmgWXCG_uE-YEu0f8v8UdZjJziC25VIFP1CHi4L4DQfjs2u07eLK7rScGiMsJ2HZ_gT9ewGBSzsF5wrnD5ukkEZF5M3Fffyibu2a9GCjTynWIN8bTKEMX3Ww/w300-h400/PXL_20220804_153453341.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a>So, where does a spice tour at a farm called Villa Vanilla begin?</p><p><br /></p><p>Claro que si, with chocolate!</p><p><br /></p><p>First, our guide opened a cacao fruit and gave us each a bit of the brain like material inside. The "fruit" of the cacao is actually very yummy, it's a lot like Mamon. Very yummy.</p><p><br /></p><p>Our tour was about all the senses, when we got the go-ahead, we pit into the seed to discover the taste of the bean un altered in any way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0q8XwExUhRgH7e-HnK6xbJhLGH38cU6Wm77Sp-y3vW1FwsMt2jmMCOTbJaXtkBi89FHouPzUK_UauENP7i0YjV2Z80akGtM2qNhCYlRzzUYfBKGvclvhyI3l_EUTJR5BUcza5HtOA10yKySDIp3MtOfUjWYScDB_a__rrzWXxdj52-m42HWLTEKduA/s4032/PXL_20220804_153702844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0q8XwExUhRgH7e-HnK6xbJhLGH38cU6Wm77Sp-y3vW1FwsMt2jmMCOTbJaXtkBi89FHouPzUK_UauENP7i0YjV2Z80akGtM2qNhCYlRzzUYfBKGvclvhyI3l_EUTJR5BUcza5HtOA10yKySDIp3MtOfUjWYScDB_a__rrzWXxdj52-m42HWLTEKduA/w300-h400/PXL_20220804_153702844.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SOOO Yummy!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AEqK40PuAU55FCw6P_YdGKCux_ECrMdezVuVIkaSEiPDZtNgQCKm9X54Idk-K4-Zj0Sx8fxiB-3DaHfrp8AgXtHjQ0wEs-W3UxUqGg7j6ShYPfSpBUTafOTXoHVpOIYzwCXmdCWNpVaix17Gmil6-xJ9B-UvNAsCXvI0eOUJPaeqqwc2Tk-kP6ahmQ/s4032/PXL_20220804_153940586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AEqK40PuAU55FCw6P_YdGKCux_ECrMdezVuVIkaSEiPDZtNgQCKm9X54Idk-K4-Zj0Sx8fxiB-3DaHfrp8AgXtHjQ0wEs-W3UxUqGg7j6ShYPfSpBUTafOTXoHVpOIYzwCXmdCWNpVaix17Gmil6-xJ9B-UvNAsCXvI0eOUJPaeqqwc2Tk-kP6ahmQ/s320/PXL_20220804_153940586.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, not everyone says "yummy" to raw cacao, so they put the beans through a drying...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVgDJS9Y-JP9tnTHw-8_HfgxubNOURxhd5hI2FHaRonroBWMateq3dq5SmneWTE7k1Eb0sP8Mn7jJyhoyF6JCg19djDUZd3SoMBNTp0iv6DT_NFN7zGOxzOg5-kY1qc2USVoQk0uJk0i3O8cKV3r3Y7V23IMEEX6VjwN9OdJrDy137SdRrsjs2T0oAA/s4032/PXL_20220804_154312405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVgDJS9Y-JP9tnTHw-8_HfgxubNOURxhd5hI2FHaRonroBWMateq3dq5SmneWTE7k1Eb0sP8Mn7jJyhoyF6JCg19djDUZd3SoMBNTp0iv6DT_NFN7zGOxzOg5-kY1qc2USVoQk0uJk0i3O8cKV3r3Y7V23IMEEX6VjwN9OdJrDy137SdRrsjs2T0oAA/s320/PXL_20220804_154312405.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and then a cracking process. At this farm, they actually altered a sugar cane processor to help crack the outer shell of the bean. BUT all the actual removal is done by human beings.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbHAc-ODGKTxhsK2aJb1aMGtHya0xLgYSFTmEkH6EHAEPGFl7gkSyek3NdqxQF4gYqTkHFJNbMLznn2m1l_pdY1ccKlNfyegM-JpQGRziSYkMU2HvuJppu8VQH-qCKQB8At6OZr8vZU7kxSvq-FW-vS5v8MCA5mdNz7m805RRhce4RPNKqnLy7oqYGA/s4032/PXL_20220804_154408073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbHAc-ODGKTxhsK2aJb1aMGtHya0xLgYSFTmEkH6EHAEPGFl7gkSyek3NdqxQF4gYqTkHFJNbMLznn2m1l_pdY1ccKlNfyegM-JpQGRziSYkMU2HvuJppu8VQH-qCKQB8At6OZr8vZU7kxSvq-FW-vS5v8MCA5mdNz7m805RRhce4RPNKqnLy7oqYGA/s320/PXL_20220804_154408073.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then of course, came the tasting of the nibs. Seriously, I LOVE this stuff!<br />So SO good and nutty and yummy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQooW1zDANrmOu3mKYYn8mj5yN3IpbddCDbA0Tbf7Q-WB49b7f1xjW0OlnXRDf6iq6pMqAG2oR2g6puu0bzGKI4g7OErA8WV1bt00bkimzS0Gfz8RSwldu-wmuRAIzXOv_t-mc3IRyPXQV2sb529vPbeVZTdLHyxA7c6T7IDHRrDBoM6lTT_xCnkLfjA/s4032/PXL_20220804_160828532.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQooW1zDANrmOu3mKYYn8mj5yN3IpbddCDbA0Tbf7Q-WB49b7f1xjW0OlnXRDf6iq6pMqAG2oR2g6puu0bzGKI4g7OErA8WV1bt00bkimzS0Gfz8RSwldu-wmuRAIzXOv_t-mc3IRyPXQV2sb529vPbeVZTdLHyxA7c6T7IDHRrDBoM6lTT_xCnkLfjA/w300-h400/PXL_20220804_160828532.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we took a tour of the Chocolate Trees.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Just kidding, the rest of the tour was of a specifically lined path for us to see trees and plants that are on the farm in one location. It was AMAZING. Sure it was raining so hard I could barely hear myself speak, but everyone on the tour had a very pura vida attitude about it, our guide worked hard to make sure everyone was includes, and when someone missed something, EVERYONE else helped out. I really lucked out with my tour mates for every tour and activity on this trip.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3awtH70A983hCDidiGQMaY_v5xy4Taj7UB8vE-QVW1QT6L7cXy5UHI2H_5jMrIIivimjrGWA0xZZtZq6ZSEgxEgbvlm51VzSmyNh7WFlpJ9VLu9O-PNr2sA0mxLnb47XzxV6K4ij0L7Kkpk-yIhao2itZdi5-oyUOmWmDP2Xiu4FQJutrRBvIBrqYRw/s4032/PXL_20220804_155603601.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3awtH70A983hCDidiGQMaY_v5xy4Taj7UB8vE-QVW1QT6L7cXy5UHI2H_5jMrIIivimjrGWA0xZZtZq6ZSEgxEgbvlm51VzSmyNh7WFlpJ9VLu9O-PNr2sA0mxLnb47XzxV6K4ij0L7Kkpk-yIhao2itZdi5-oyUOmWmDP2Xiu4FQJutrRBvIBrqYRw/w300-h400/PXL_20220804_155603601.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First up, Vanilla. I knew one flower produced one bean, and I vaguely remember knowing that the bee that polinated vanilla went extinct long ago, but I did NOT know that there is only a 7 hour window to polinate a flower and I DEFINITLY did not know that the beans stay on the vine maturing or 9 Months, and then it takes another set of months of alternating sun and sweating for the vanilla bean to be ready to use.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfMUnyaBzHqdkKTrqeUd05-iGRUGkry7bk4mmqplUeJ3cTZveyirfMWiVWlWio73E5vuxoXOv5w7Rg80e6lWRVtOEiIQMJRppdBh_vy7F0Xs8BvGe8soVbGzm__cWAUWA3YI7vNRNeNDYQVtAKvoluo9OiS8xauI3jAGJwtSLzhJswZdo-pKX7qrP9Q/s4032/PXL_20220804_160051876.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfMUnyaBzHqdkKTrqeUd05-iGRUGkry7bk4mmqplUeJ3cTZveyirfMWiVWlWio73E5vuxoXOv5w7Rg80e6lWRVtOEiIQMJRppdBh_vy7F0Xs8BvGe8soVbGzm__cWAUWA3YI7vNRNeNDYQVtAKvoluo9OiS8xauI3jAGJwtSLzhJswZdo-pKX7qrP9Q/s320/PXL_20220804_160051876.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But wow when our guide opened up a bean and showed us what the seeds <br />and the oil of vanilla is like it was WAY cool.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8SGycaaJi41LWkolmHuU_YprFDCP6hsJrvplqyeqKAOaHALrE8JO3e5BY8BLJDS-yLPlpSfUcl0Z3f7iUIaB_5adGDrghYE5OgEgZTT70EK0XZHnCBnta7SmubwFtzpN7q3zLQ4QBoxFJnrB5m6CKEyn458uxropnRLv7h7quSrMX5qLpYy_8iEW3g/s4032/PXL_20220804_161326915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8SGycaaJi41LWkolmHuU_YprFDCP6hsJrvplqyeqKAOaHALrE8JO3e5BY8BLJDS-yLPlpSfUcl0Z3f7iUIaB_5adGDrghYE5OgEgZTT70EK0XZHnCBnta7SmubwFtzpN7q3zLQ4QBoxFJnrB5m6CKEyn458uxropnRLv7h7quSrMX5qLpYy_8iEW3g/s320/PXL_20220804_161326915.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next up on the "wait, THAT's how it's grown?!" tour was this gem. See that pretty flower? The bean looking things under it are the spice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIiom3qvu2pJ9M2ph0QNViLFgDB7RH7L48BzrGTImQP6zU00_EM17hCyaOish1HTcMHZCqYZU4v0-D7BJs5c8nDGLn8jpj1CPuiT6c3OLcFLigqwf28f5CssKzU2RjKTaEsfGPhk9blCDDiA-jt7z6P27RZgoH5Wx8JvUin1-Wq-VKP_gLAeZBhmgPg/s4032/PXL_20220804_161339985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIiom3qvu2pJ9M2ph0QNViLFgDB7RH7L48BzrGTImQP6zU00_EM17hCyaOish1HTcMHZCqYZU4v0-D7BJs5c8nDGLn8jpj1CPuiT6c3OLcFLigqwf28f5CssKzU2RjKTaEsfGPhk9blCDDiA-jt7z6P27RZgoH5Wx8JvUin1-Wq-VKP_gLAeZBhmgPg/w480-h640/PXL_20220804_161339985.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But wait what are those HUGE stalks behind around the plant with the spice? Why woulf they plant something the flower needs to compete with for sunlight? Nope, those stalks are the same plant, and the tiny beans on the spindly vine like thing at the bottom, THOSE are the spice.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7ClK6xeH5iZ496-bXkVqBs7gUk4IOb96ZKZLtqTymQp69puPX9doNYxjOT-6r6_Or2SM4Uk2hLgAcy7NAOjGyxfgOdopSBOmHBhIegvuckWp1E6u1or8A6zdaMk4n9LMnVMYSHClJW2N11Sozr1QYpTpyFlO4_08OkZu8fDqRud69zmuNFOzI6uUow/s4032/PXL_20220804_161440330.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7ClK6xeH5iZ496-bXkVqBs7gUk4IOb96ZKZLtqTymQp69puPX9doNYxjOT-6r6_Or2SM4Uk2hLgAcy7NAOjGyxfgOdopSBOmHBhIegvuckWp1E6u1or8A6zdaMk4n9LMnVMYSHClJW2N11Sozr1QYpTpyFlO4_08OkZu8fDqRud69zmuNFOzI6uUow/s320/PXL_20220804_161440330.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So THAT's why cardamom is SO expensive (actually there are a BUNCH of reasons)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1rmVdDrjUOWoacHla_91pY0Qe5iXvgGMt9uGmBX1vqgkKHI2UVEmVaIn_jujLLitBiJRalHBls3OuOI0snNzK2vTEN5HXUXJsf2KBYkzsxRf1PDjp-VIQ7YrFxBTKWj5_rBoOLeDIO5G93ASAeneOJdYKqJvH6TlYOcM34srIiW7YUcNPkwcM9_xsQ/s4032/PXL_20220804_161818492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1rmVdDrjUOWoacHla_91pY0Qe5iXvgGMt9uGmBX1vqgkKHI2UVEmVaIn_jujLLitBiJRalHBls3OuOI0snNzK2vTEN5HXUXJsf2KBYkzsxRf1PDjp-VIQ7YrFxBTKWj5_rBoOLeDIO5G93ASAeneOJdYKqJvH6TlYOcM34srIiW7YUcNPkwcM9_xsQ/s320/PXL_20220804_161818492.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next up was pepper. Now, I am generally not a big fan of pepper, BUT I also don't HATE it, so when offered the chance to pluck a peppercorn and eat it, well, I would totally try that out. I made a video to record my reaction to eating straight peppercorn. And I was fine. About 10 seconds later, I needed to record a second video- MY MOUTH WAS ON FIRE!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokMfK3ctR-dG6kbCXxtV5EP-ZJOf4uiR0kfXcm3_wPl0ctlk5tIAePreKvEC9b5mWx_Pl8Ub0GAXR1r42Y32j8KnVZ0FxXgh5j77qCMX6mkpikjzZjwc1nY_8PCrjAQy2diBZmbOpxhrzETjXCzo2lmVOxuXcFr5E-ZQEQtnzvM0ioTqqxLOg625DaA/s4032/PXL_20220804_163726444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokMfK3ctR-dG6kbCXxtV5EP-ZJOf4uiR0kfXcm3_wPl0ctlk5tIAePreKvEC9b5mWx_Pl8Ub0GAXR1r42Y32j8KnVZ0FxXgh5j77qCMX6mkpikjzZjwc1nY_8PCrjAQy2diBZmbOpxhrzETjXCzo2lmVOxuXcFr5E-ZQEQtnzvM0ioTqqxLOg625DaA/s320/PXL_20220804_163726444.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next up, we said hello to a "true cinnamon" tree. The guide had a pre-prepped stick to show us how they remove the first laver of bark to get to the middle layer, the cinnamon slice. Personally, I was blown away by the leaves. One snap of the leaf and I was smelling cinnamon from across the field.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_LAWbBrX-vln09cS5DLcN07aLMQKmws06HosC6CUeLCmvelaVCdEHViw3Dr_T5Xz3VNEa6clXpy192hjNPY3--jcXLYpixZojXKb2wbnejnzdAtIvbd2ou9fwwoApuqzdlUwYHGbZb2BEjJ-SCocsAvf9e1ESXX9ptRCNC_28jGTwS37HvmUJ3O1-w/s4032/PXL_20220804_165718234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_LAWbBrX-vln09cS5DLcN07aLMQKmws06HosC6CUeLCmvelaVCdEHViw3Dr_T5Xz3VNEa6clXpy192hjNPY3--jcXLYpixZojXKb2wbnejnzdAtIvbd2ou9fwwoApuqzdlUwYHGbZb2BEjJ-SCocsAvf9e1ESXX9ptRCNC_28jGTwS37HvmUJ3O1-w/w640-h480/PXL_20220804_165718234.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfySKEQGhdUc2pi_FPuoa7VEl38DDBWrz2eEYB1Wc8LT2lyvETtvMyzt98nV5nrkwNEscm4ZHKEbinQ1VLuIoKyqfFKn4pj7d1CPSrhRq7x6Jtk27vCT6yKlfenu68Z_4rXI0IQIdhUA7Xp-wW-X7uuKC57I7UrrksIaj5sfLwN_dlwidLLLPQS-JATQ/s4032/PXL_20220804_165728318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfySKEQGhdUc2pi_FPuoa7VEl38DDBWrz2eEYB1Wc8LT2lyvETtvMyzt98nV5nrkwNEscm4ZHKEbinQ1VLuIoKyqfFKn4pj7d1CPSrhRq7x6Jtk27vCT6yKlfenu68Z_4rXI0IQIdhUA7Xp-wW-X7uuKC57I7UrrksIaj5sfLwN_dlwidLLLPQS-JATQ/w640-h480/PXL_20220804_165728318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally the rain cleared up and we went up to a look out point. I was in SUCH a happy place up there. and then, I FINALLY noticed a card on the tables. IT WAS A MENU! Tasting menu?! Oh, I was ACTUALLY in heaven!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PmkmoDm1raTgGwGoU6YKDVSVM4Hx8BRVCGWyOX93dTX2PWnADNZaHx7W3A9cjXTpHa-DGDyBZCj2lp83RrrMgWosDQsHQep6DUN8WRNMfrd0V2emlGmVEHydS1fGLH-jDCRT683MpIr6oBcKjgMdmW8UAuWN7rudhpBx0uvT258gdQN9mszXk0sLNA/s4032/PXL_20220804_170204725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PmkmoDm1raTgGwGoU6YKDVSVM4Hx8BRVCGWyOX93dTX2PWnADNZaHx7W3A9cjXTpHa-DGDyBZCj2lp83RrrMgWosDQsHQep6DUN8WRNMfrd0V2emlGmVEHydS1fGLH-jDCRT683MpIr6oBcKjgMdmW8UAuWN7rudhpBx0uvT258gdQN9mszXk0sLNA/w300-h400/PXL_20220804_170204725.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9eg6rdQan81jo9_XaFqsF2rdsMhTSYl7SQ97KoErsihTXnkS163XJMi6YwL8Him100rLibtpIT6MZqzEYSaE0aHu0sqFlCoUzQsDq4TrbWHUGJGM8bGClKXW-jypBTKijElzwEplllyKfADTHdBL_YgE6QdWXCu8aigi4Hc-fwd-XSjLRg0tFOaO1A/s4032/PXL_20220804_170749526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9eg6rdQan81jo9_XaFqsF2rdsMhTSYl7SQ97KoErsihTXnkS163XJMi6YwL8Him100rLibtpIT6MZqzEYSaE0aHu0sqFlCoUzQsDq4TrbWHUGJGM8bGClKXW-jypBTKijElzwEplllyKfADTHdBL_YgE6QdWXCu8aigi4Hc-fwd-XSjLRg0tFOaO1A/w300-h400/PXL_20220804_170749526.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHhcn6zq3umTKDBJTd_dj5ln7n5wK43NG7l7Acq6JftfDg_kwVhy_JLtGeTuWbgVxFEcVWA_978pCAt6nQL6UFucl4T5u_LGhQX2fVwQN1cJxhObBZR68c98UpjHTxDQdZft9vg_N6LQ-MTanVpGPsbnyK4u4BemH_WrA7dNWGoXbDdaPqp_P_FtbWg/s4032/PXL_20220804_171610267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdHhcn6zq3umTKDBJTd_dj5ln7n5wK43NG7l7Acq6JftfDg_kwVhy_JLtGeTuWbgVxFEcVWA_978pCAt6nQL6UFucl4T5u_LGhQX2fVwQN1cJxhObBZR68c98UpjHTxDQdZft9vg_N6LQ-MTanVpGPsbnyK4u4BemH_WrA7dNWGoXbDdaPqp_P_FtbWg/w400-h300/PXL_20220804_171610267.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one with the spoon has cayenne the one without does not. Again, I am not generally a fan of spicy, but I wanted to try it the way it was prepared as the "drink of the gods." I did like the spicy better, but I drank it first so that I could cool my mouth with the SIN cayenne version.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>This was my last tour activity of Costa Rica, and it was perfect. From the danish couple who knew EXACTLY what each spice was, but couldn't remember the name to the couple from Oklahoma where the wife was a retired school principal and is now on the board of Americorps for Oklahoma. We had a GREAT time together. And the last group on that tour was a family. Mom, Dad, a 3 year old and a baby The guide explains in English to the rest of us, and in Spanish to the family. When we got to the tasting, I sat at the table with the family, and found out they live in California but Spanish is mom's native language and they are raising the kids bilingually. I mentioned that my folks did the same in Yiddish, and it turns out that Dad is Ashkenazi Jewish. He asks the 3 year old what "this" *points to his nose* and the kid says "shnoz" without missing a beat. He can communicate fully in both English and Spanish, and has some Yinglish slang mixed in. I had a lot of fun eating with this family!</p><p>But all things come to an end. One last "am I at the right bus stop, seriously, the bus is supposed to be HOT PINK, how could I miss it, it was supposed to leave at 1, but it's now 1:25, did I miss my bus" panic (no, I didn't miss it, it was just on Tico time) and I was headed back to Santo Domingo for my last set of "lasts" with my host family and time in Costa Rica. How did it do by this quickly?!</p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-30310178573021637922022-08-05T20:33:00.007-07:002022-08-05T20:33:57.811-07:00Manuel Antonio by Day<p> By night, Manuel Antonio was the land of the frogs. And by day there were still A MILLION frogs :)</p><p>My wonderful hotel staff drove me right to the park and got me in on a tour right away (no lines for me)</p><p>Thank goodness for guides and their scopes!</p><p>Heads up, the photos loaded in the reverse order of when the photos were taken, but I am too tired to set them right, so, from last to first:</p><p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KHk61UTlWC11qJzlww1se_TlNt-8sE9srvrIfsp2LlV33C9-E78DJw7iOtvh8fMedzc7VxOvn8DQY1QlYsPe8EtQ9Q1cNDT3Q4U_whMEIKn_vhPZd2FwlSiLn7oDXHUO6uYd4bomC0DxcxXLfHVnWSY1s2obWJEpWD1lMq1QcshBsx5t3150neU88A/s4032/PXL_20220803_172107180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KHk61UTlWC11qJzlww1se_TlNt-8sE9srvrIfsp2LlV33C9-E78DJw7iOtvh8fMedzc7VxOvn8DQY1QlYsPe8EtQ9Q1cNDT3Q4U_whMEIKn_vhPZd2FwlSiLn7oDXHUO6uYd4bomC0DxcxXLfHVnWSY1s2obWJEpWD1lMq1QcshBsx5t3150neU88A/s320/PXL_20220803_172107180.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was walking alongside a guide as we left the park, practicing my spanish,<br /> and he pointed out some GREAT things!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAeByqR2M07p-YYhDdaJ6AMmLHs-FFkgGxB3AzulHwHdQf7sKUsUXIiaraQUnT9Up3XORmD126FCvTGXvaMO-0MtDE2FkuuPQTgppY2S3Wb6EbtyuJbgPp-7NXgaVMQx76FcfOxHrVCe7JlY9YjeJaP-rxZyFN0_wViwBnOVVY3n93mll48mFR0srVQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_172100141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAeByqR2M07p-YYhDdaJ6AMmLHs-FFkgGxB3AzulHwHdQf7sKUsUXIiaraQUnT9Up3XORmD126FCvTGXvaMO-0MtDE2FkuuPQTgppY2S3Wb6EbtyuJbgPp-7NXgaVMQx76FcfOxHrVCe7JlY9YjeJaP-rxZyFN0_wViwBnOVVY3n93mll48mFR0srVQ/w640-h480/PXL_20220803_172100141.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hummingbird love has grown to epic proportions in this country.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnB6x7hPgyMEVWHR-eDQys1gHxPgTgakja0mKHVAiynubHss9iNu0FKiZEZ_6dxXFgCmCgu7jciySkrZ50SSqoDEYAo-jq4oYyQfcZb3xh6KjywXVwDT1LKS3l0bml0ZCca3ufsN2GeMhS4bfLmd1_F-9NRXCAmP3srhEfZhZRPq1pRrcKnwMw2JkRQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_171726061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnB6x7hPgyMEVWHR-eDQys1gHxPgTgakja0mKHVAiynubHss9iNu0FKiZEZ_6dxXFgCmCgu7jciySkrZ50SSqoDEYAo-jq4oYyQfcZb3xh6KjywXVwDT1LKS3l0bml0ZCca3ufsN2GeMhS4bfLmd1_F-9NRXCAmP3srhEfZhZRPq1pRrcKnwMw2JkRQ/w300-h400/PXL_20220803_171726061.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He also noticed another guide pointing out this snake to his tour,<br />so he told me what we were looking at and YES, I should take a photo.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIwOxXnJkCfAzFml_wyzsNEBZYiC5lis_6NNCBASX3PrnTfwBnsnmDnVsJiioLiKcfJsp54BFtKDRlIxycS-bp7zwnlpaHciChHphYiymIVJKlsyYbC9lmcoexcRX2-tT2T_1kgRROmVKo7jqlPN6KUFS8kATLsAWOTCjmRrsGodVV4dcDMeTdPuf1g/s4032/PXL_20220803_170154230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAIwOxXnJkCfAzFml_wyzsNEBZYiC5lis_6NNCBASX3PrnTfwBnsnmDnVsJiioLiKcfJsp54BFtKDRlIxycS-bp7zwnlpaHciChHphYiymIVJKlsyYbC9lmcoexcRX2-tT2T_1kgRROmVKo7jqlPN6KUFS8kATLsAWOTCjmRrsGodVV4dcDMeTdPuf1g/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_170154230.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a number of Capuchins running around, but I was ready to go back<br />and get clean! Instead, I ran into this dude.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2MlyWZnCHKDWY1rd-PUwUvxDqc7u-5mqCdSy8ioeA__Jkcb1rVpEK-KNa9vlOZ7Mkk266gyvbBY0_nLD_jwwC3_Xokwrf-4-Yp7wCYvSzrrm27w-GEuYS_VXGKvMeB1bznYKH3uRqEhc6N4XbihsNIwdjW1OO8amdOdrFdAleErE3cE7-ozMVZLt_w/s4032/PXL_20220803_170150782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2MlyWZnCHKDWY1rd-PUwUvxDqc7u-5mqCdSy8ioeA__Jkcb1rVpEK-KNa9vlOZ7Mkk266gyvbBY0_nLD_jwwC3_Xokwrf-4-Yp7wCYvSzrrm27w-GEuYS_VXGKvMeB1bznYKH3uRqEhc6N4XbihsNIwdjW1OO8amdOdrFdAleErE3cE7-ozMVZLt_w/s320/PXL_20220803_170150782.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63SaqbJjgQZBLsmw0096PE9nXjoCugbU438HB2SSO_ObdiRuWwrVKejW5wUIAaV2kNyI5v2-sDlVRSfLnRfrbyss3hvdIjco5rKhlQ-zV9ZVn7h68OnSwzmF12h6nmfdokmzQAhqiG-d1F_Zl66cITjQR8VBoVOG3swS6fIHe7jJh8K3XM5EV79HUfA/s4032/PXL_20220803_162918944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63SaqbJjgQZBLsmw0096PE9nXjoCugbU438HB2SSO_ObdiRuWwrVKejW5wUIAaV2kNyI5v2-sDlVRSfLnRfrbyss3hvdIjco5rKhlQ-zV9ZVn7h68OnSwzmF12h6nmfdokmzQAhqiG-d1F_Zl66cITjQR8VBoVOG3swS6fIHe7jJh8K3XM5EV79HUfA/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_162918944.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys really do look like fish, but like, the KING of all beasts as well.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKcvHO0AS1GtoaAcYrs9etafw7TJBNMB9vn3E8u4gprTXUIh_V_4i86uNuY2FXZEVA8_yKKLnyuBQ_y3D_8FZqXyrjvN69SJcA_vVtnV5JdV4L3XeOX4GHuqsHRLQzVnMX-JBffYy7sFmlVJSwWTW_7kT1A6rLeuWkOoqx7rzkVllntHK_h8ndjLzFQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_162713031.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKcvHO0AS1GtoaAcYrs9etafw7TJBNMB9vn3E8u4gprTXUIh_V_4i86uNuY2FXZEVA8_yKKLnyuBQ_y3D_8FZqXyrjvN69SJcA_vVtnV5JdV4L3XeOX4GHuqsHRLQzVnMX-JBffYy7sFmlVJSwWTW_7kT1A6rLeuWkOoqx7rzkVllntHK_h8ndjLzFQ/s320/PXL_20220803_162713031.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found the hermit crab on my own. He reminded me of home.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55l-S0ZRcZyg1Towf3dGXHQnEy3i8WuDQ0Uo2rrXOkOGdQEUOkjEJY1SisSx5yLyPwfsu3UpUkZLjNSLYD2svqP6LG911aUiQF-IYv4zHJo3WqHfvzWVcnb62MCrkwO2mGChdT2M3uXUm1ivmC0AZBaubrFumNifF1uSL2yrdO1WJrdzwX9ZaEuHE-w/s4032/PXL_20220803_162202837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55l-S0ZRcZyg1Towf3dGXHQnEy3i8WuDQ0Uo2rrXOkOGdQEUOkjEJY1SisSx5yLyPwfsu3UpUkZLjNSLYD2svqP6LG911aUiQF-IYv4zHJo3WqHfvzWVcnb62MCrkwO2mGChdT2M3uXUm1ivmC0AZBaubrFumNifF1uSL2yrdO1WJrdzwX9ZaEuHE-w/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_162202837.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the monkeys play around was indeed great entertainment.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s_oTlk295UxlWTwQ6yciJtgrrKvj5tkczqt5xz9O2s64-5Elo_Mr1DSKUVir5bkNaFUGMQmvFHnepiTt4P3zEsFGpndk_RJlr1-dFrPymAdviSdbNokx18F8h-PagrD_OkRyHzBkmdZIA-rj0fPE-WQcSJnyRDJOnBTGW_KU_2hVna0Au_MyTgua8Q/s4032/PXL_20220803_160144878.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0s_oTlk295UxlWTwQ6yciJtgrrKvj5tkczqt5xz9O2s64-5Elo_Mr1DSKUVir5bkNaFUGMQmvFHnepiTt4P3zEsFGpndk_RJlr1-dFrPymAdviSdbNokx18F8h-PagrD_OkRyHzBkmdZIA-rj0fPE-WQcSJnyRDJOnBTGW_KU_2hVna0Au_MyTgua8Q/w480-h640/PXL_20220803_160144878.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Um, bamboo and asparagus- are they in the same family? Because I was POSITIVE that was a ginormous asparagus stalk.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RAMYe5HHp2ceIAxEKxHTu_M3lzY12B6zThmy0IoVAeaNi_vl7BcvfgZKdxr6s8K1YaAzjVSweitO61vPkUX_wcHZsmmujl1pWhPbwi9GLMqw4V3kTKP_MZR2ZnZaaP3lsoy58_m4fPrXrCkYstYkFlhJKZOBhdOpmC9-Kgd4JxoTkUP_wRwWlUnUXA/s4032/PXL_20220803_155543841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RAMYe5HHp2ceIAxEKxHTu_M3lzY12B6zThmy0IoVAeaNi_vl7BcvfgZKdxr6s8K1YaAzjVSweitO61vPkUX_wcHZsmmujl1pWhPbwi9GLMqw4V3kTKP_MZR2ZnZaaP3lsoy58_m4fPrXrCkYstYkFlhJKZOBhdOpmC9-Kgd4JxoTkUP_wRwWlUnUXA/w400-h225/PXL_20220803_155543841.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoswe8nuz9U_BCfrr2JWtvj4Op24NJnQ1PheZB1TlDF2bDfb5Cg-WRe1jaSA5Q6FxWrYtArCAl89rQr8MFof3yLPGTc8FIi_JGt-_2ssV3_BxeaFemX1IhEiqc9h9DxlixoB2xdLqZZuQ-psbbo8oHSzrEwhBtKXlbfy1s0DFguiW_yYLq1bKY1lLrg/s4032/PXL_20220803_155542780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoswe8nuz9U_BCfrr2JWtvj4Op24NJnQ1PheZB1TlDF2bDfb5Cg-WRe1jaSA5Q6FxWrYtArCAl89rQr8MFof3yLPGTc8FIi_JGt-_2ssV3_BxeaFemX1IhEiqc9h9DxlixoB2xdLqZZuQ-psbbo8oHSzrEwhBtKXlbfy1s0DFguiW_yYLq1bKY1lLrg/s320/PXL_20220803_155542780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWo_2nc8_t6J5gWmee3WZumKmy8DSKmgiR6zmnt3aMcn_m1FeHVT5V3TQASIWRVaLQA6289jjm11Dy_feBHsO6GvcGLL8f2ySEgrvtOoRDKllDU5Vw7aS3oVmFBw5jk1I300gF2834DzHeD7in7Gqe85hUId-OF9Nt0kLH936MdZHFGJNEZIHurBi8g/s4032/PXL_20220803_155536498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWo_2nc8_t6J5gWmee3WZumKmy8DSKmgiR6zmnt3aMcn_m1FeHVT5V3TQASIWRVaLQA6289jjm11Dy_feBHsO6GvcGLL8f2ySEgrvtOoRDKllDU5Vw7aS3oVmFBw5jk1I300gF2834DzHeD7in7Gqe85hUId-OF9Nt0kLH936MdZHFGJNEZIHurBi8g/w400-h225/PXL_20220803_155536498.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-d-rCPUMKuWAePuTNAdgoRwsuwChmZZX1E44spQHAZXF-u7Jy9uMQV2nD58Z8AfbmN1xFJsRLl6l6jeNeq7xXGl5M4sNQxNTcd4_NIRpkJx45iIdenmH_LRRExxiZSFBX9GVLHaLtGudh0IFruRRpsrDLtogKaS0UN6e_2XNjzZmzs1mnLNo4Hobrw/s4032/PXL_20220803_154718408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-d-rCPUMKuWAePuTNAdgoRwsuwChmZZX1E44spQHAZXF-u7Jy9uMQV2nD58Z8AfbmN1xFJsRLl6l6jeNeq7xXGl5M4sNQxNTcd4_NIRpkJx45iIdenmH_LRRExxiZSFBX9GVLHaLtGudh0IFruRRpsrDLtogKaS0UN6e_2XNjzZmzs1mnLNo4Hobrw/s320/PXL_20220803_154718408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUHTRyK63XZzUO3ATBa36HLL_cnYF4bLvxGMoH6yM5juee5BjhoL7MznwdYR0-N9c3GRouJfaRdstZChAD6EVvuZwhuywD-VbjUWw00uOylLosincfurMqk2ZKMd1ZtknroyRSp8ThFOMeh_Ryzl8uft2bAE3sS8ZHvH7lEidreE7NHFdt8o0aYopEw/s4032/PXL_20220803_154649958.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUHTRyK63XZzUO3ATBa36HLL_cnYF4bLvxGMoH6yM5juee5BjhoL7MznwdYR0-N9c3GRouJfaRdstZChAD6EVvuZwhuywD-VbjUWw00uOylLosincfurMqk2ZKMd1ZtknroyRSp8ThFOMeh_Ryzl8uft2bAE3sS8ZHvH7lEidreE7NHFdt8o0aYopEw/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_154649958.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjcKcYBh2Tm-x-JDwWQPOeVRh6UDzR5o5p1W_Q82MjCY04lsMKBCXQuyWpnGqmyOJ8WBNxkZWqXb4EiCTsAOJwDvEqX9_icja-4aF1M3FvtSkF0F8B0zV0AhLdbtD9JKwFxCsv4TQAAXB-LAOTUC87oMJczIHFChsgo3eSdHRCAKY8g88Flq_3IPJ2w/s4032/PXL_20220803_154601954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjcKcYBh2Tm-x-JDwWQPOeVRh6UDzR5o5p1W_Q82MjCY04lsMKBCXQuyWpnGqmyOJ8WBNxkZWqXb4EiCTsAOJwDvEqX9_icja-4aF1M3FvtSkF0F8B0zV0AhLdbtD9JKwFxCsv4TQAAXB-LAOTUC87oMJczIHFChsgo3eSdHRCAKY8g88Flq_3IPJ2w/s320/PXL_20220803_154601954.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the photo I took from the ground with my camera. The rest are through the guide's scope. I had seen other sloths sleeping or scratching, but when this Oso Peresoso climbed down one branch to climb up to another branch to eat, it was EXACTLY as slow and methodical as I had hoped.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTjZL7QH6DcAglkLtMzITSTgQdIegdSNdrx9NouClMQ8IOli88AMn6u7IJJsHJMtWXCpCgq-ySa8SghEPVJIuaCBH-X0_QJe6D3nfALp0yno7CVi3CLM_Gi9abbJt-2N8CSIMVXLf2dIaCZbT7Rdibz2oCI1CsM_9dZPsnTIdIbPapFlcpW3YAxDRyA/s4032/PXL_20220803_152821568.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTjZL7QH6DcAglkLtMzITSTgQdIegdSNdrx9NouClMQ8IOli88AMn6u7IJJsHJMtWXCpCgq-ySa8SghEPVJIuaCBH-X0_QJe6D3nfALp0yno7CVi3CLM_Gi9abbJt-2N8CSIMVXLf2dIaCZbT7Rdibz2oCI1CsM_9dZPsnTIdIbPapFlcpW3YAxDRyA/s320/PXL_20220803_152821568.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love spiders</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF9zRI0WSqKpiFzb_HfOFgkAcGQGfYKV2aYBhlspI7QnCuEy5QT9YKnKxtbMCnrsx4z9ezq-PQd795knYHqO2DHMqMhquOgwBOCgmRoo9Xt73lTn9Foe_Cf6L0Y-AFwk-JZGMPzd7MfV3hI0zbT_oVUwus2z4GrG-9CGBmbJO3ZQqoMU43H4JwYUY5w/s4032/PXL_20220803_152142305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaF9zRI0WSqKpiFzb_HfOFgkAcGQGfYKV2aYBhlspI7QnCuEy5QT9YKnKxtbMCnrsx4z9ezq-PQd795knYHqO2DHMqMhquOgwBOCgmRoo9Xt73lTn9Foe_Cf6L0Y-AFwk-JZGMPzd7MfV3hI0zbT_oVUwus2z4GrG-9CGBmbJO3ZQqoMU43H4JwYUY5w/s320/PXL_20220803_152142305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2LBAESRWSDptqjiZQSlp7fY_9S0MGiStoFGbTiFCR65FT4fWtcsys67c1jh9epSjgWxamxrMlA-k-1ImnoqGKtH8iKAIAH1Uefkx4i0axvz4TO93HUAvpNMKX20ZqyS3KBexBrD7dTUH7IRjrgUU2C0ba0wjHubnghI568bEgpMGhV4avAKIdkkWuQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_151231042.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2LBAESRWSDptqjiZQSlp7fY_9S0MGiStoFGbTiFCR65FT4fWtcsys67c1jh9epSjgWxamxrMlA-k-1ImnoqGKtH8iKAIAH1Uefkx4i0axvz4TO93HUAvpNMKX20ZqyS3KBexBrD7dTUH7IRjrgUU2C0ba0wjHubnghI568bEgpMGhV4avAKIdkkWuQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_151231042.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like LOVE spiders!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk3uR8E6J9uNAXQrZekxKIJRFv2NewZGfKGiRmievC-gwwhZIC4XLTlLwRbvaS7CAU-yYES2BfvbCOv8nCasB38epXZ69P8i3sJpuTt-PFQ6qSeJgEpoixhvwy7CsWM_jop9chNNj97qhq3ZqvgppMRsahLmdFnetbfJdi8HAw955_OxrQgsMAN2mNQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_145247653.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyk3uR8E6J9uNAXQrZekxKIJRFv2NewZGfKGiRmievC-gwwhZIC4XLTlLwRbvaS7CAU-yYES2BfvbCOv8nCasB38epXZ69P8i3sJpuTt-PFQ6qSeJgEpoixhvwy7CsWM_jop9chNNj97qhq3ZqvgppMRsahLmdFnetbfJdi8HAw955_OxrQgsMAN2mNQ/s320/PXL_20220803_145247653.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a crab that absolutely belongs on another planet!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0izFnG3NJ-QDoq6wAivsA3FlcL8Hq5Hf1NRNTKESq11_0yXcLkxLIGSI6Q_Bjq3eMEsdXcrzqdsDp7L1-HYN3JrxrbRnoMZjsLmh7xeMFcMvbamri4DfsFMG0iZH5JGjrKo_pXXLrKmv61ImidmN-ZP71-V5nt0a1vN1mGnvbCv6PxI-5MAkMe3HjtA/s4032/PXL_20220803_144726832.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0izFnG3NJ-QDoq6wAivsA3FlcL8Hq5Hf1NRNTKESq11_0yXcLkxLIGSI6Q_Bjq3eMEsdXcrzqdsDp7L1-HYN3JrxrbRnoMZjsLmh7xeMFcMvbamri4DfsFMG0iZH5JGjrKo_pXXLrKmv61ImidmN-ZP71-V5nt0a1vN1mGnvbCv6PxI-5MAkMe3HjtA/w640-h480/PXL_20220803_144726832.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am told there is a baby on it's parent in this photo. If you see it, contact me with WHAT and HOW?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezH3YmnFVz0IAhaXfi_UXBamhTIRlkklsr6WPxsA7UasewSgXu0wmTItP_l68lpL_iKcMIHZW0Hpq8HZKUYIIhSyT_HQ33CGwQ68BkC5pnBnJ7eX3jvBQdBWZ0qa8UG_h_ueqlly_uX1YMD-aC2p1oeELA_1YHCdMsKJtisrw9jDCwxCNf6xlv7-cVQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_144340339.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezH3YmnFVz0IAhaXfi_UXBamhTIRlkklsr6WPxsA7UasewSgXu0wmTItP_l68lpL_iKcMIHZW0Hpq8HZKUYIIhSyT_HQ33CGwQ68BkC5pnBnJ7eX3jvBQdBWZ0qa8UG_h_ueqlly_uX1YMD-aC2p1oeELA_1YHCdMsKJtisrw9jDCwxCNf6xlv7-cVQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_144340339.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Absolutely majestic!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>But animals was not the ONLY draw for my visit. OCEAN PACIFICO! One more dip before retuning to my Atlantic waters.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bS8X62MKvXAsEY-a4buD2jWLl6ngqntb8l8-Gxdc_fWvUeUdGQSzMtUGG3bgpVRassHhMnuVgQonMMV4Ax223Y_q_ePY_QrEEo0JEjjrnzHIutxY1jTYYeMYeXVU4sdoBMvWRNIgtr9LzIxPfrbSIQ-k1c0nEm5JmZwo1_dV-GT4pZNGO9rWJ-YT6w/s4032/PXL_20220803_164020047.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bS8X62MKvXAsEY-a4buD2jWLl6ngqntb8l8-Gxdc_fWvUeUdGQSzMtUGG3bgpVRassHhMnuVgQonMMV4Ax223Y_q_ePY_QrEEo0JEjjrnzHIutxY1jTYYeMYeXVU4sdoBMvWRNIgtr9LzIxPfrbSIQ-k1c0nEm5JmZwo1_dV-GT4pZNGO9rWJ-YT6w/w640-h480/PXL_20220803_164020047.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have the POWER to lift (and curl) the waves!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb3CIwR-qJTiFEuov-nT6YpGM_c6TulwpbzwJkaPa8CYknOYIKtYIZzpc4G28usUVVPWKtlDE0bxZAAqlwtfuOBrBibFRmA2louuFLKnCSQMZIVcz--VyZ709Mm4CRc3yaO96bkCy-ihdntL-AB4gOU0UXs97Xab6dtgxN3XVARIp3sYtdjPQk2EeGg/s4032/PXL_20220803_164036885.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvb3CIwR-qJTiFEuov-nT6YpGM_c6TulwpbzwJkaPa8CYknOYIKtYIZzpc4G28usUVVPWKtlDE0bxZAAqlwtfuOBrBibFRmA2louuFLKnCSQMZIVcz--VyZ709Mm4CRc3yaO96bkCy-ihdntL-AB4gOU0UXs97Xab6dtgxN3XVARIp3sYtdjPQk2EeGg/w640-h480/PXL_20220803_164036885.MP.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And cause them to crash (and curl, LOOK at that curl) at my whim!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcoeS83hT215oFQ3k8AMZxeV7VDLY63H3vr0s1DZbohYbWNxTFxuVV4MVlLl-5SK69brPaLzYqSkbsPLkbJGgIUO8F1B_ypoCeGr_khYK-qCWNDQdrmu4i1jbH5mZ4CWFnK4_NXmx53tSFntzX5JPhC-_id92hcyJHKqNzl6eblJbS9ma3wB5yoWOyA/s4032/PXL_20220803_165027902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcoeS83hT215oFQ3k8AMZxeV7VDLY63H3vr0s1DZbohYbWNxTFxuVV4MVlLl-5SK69brPaLzYqSkbsPLkbJGgIUO8F1B_ypoCeGr_khYK-qCWNDQdrmu4i1jbH5mZ4CWFnK4_NXmx53tSFntzX5JPhC-_id92hcyJHKqNzl6eblJbS9ma3wB5yoWOyA/w400-h300/PXL_20220803_165027902.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So so happy to finally see this in action!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I7VPN2MfFSQCKQD_XojqMJ5DH2Nr8Oc7tr3CxWe2cYYagAhcu7WjWdhOyiGIv9QBkiZXfF7HL3BSy1rEo3-iXQ7oIG1QBFOU_kr9MLZe0HNBsCxNRoYIPUSsT9CRx9okbN4x5XyEbcy7emveOCIeJ9Y9KY6iC4mQDmvw-LaC_Mx0YDSb7CElwt5DgA/s4032/PXL_20220803_171059233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I7VPN2MfFSQCKQD_XojqMJ5DH2Nr8Oc7tr3CxWe2cYYagAhcu7WjWdhOyiGIv9QBkiZXfF7HL3BSy1rEo3-iXQ7oIG1QBFOU_kr9MLZe0HNBsCxNRoYIPUSsT9CRx9okbN4x5XyEbcy7emveOCIeJ9Y9KY6iC4mQDmvw-LaC_Mx0YDSb7CElwt5DgA/w640-h480/PXL_20220803_171059233.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just AMAZINGLY beautiful.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-11914545821817246062022-08-03T16:09:00.002-07:002022-08-03T16:09:46.715-07:00Land of Frogs<p> So, when I told folks I was going to Costa Rica, and what are the "must sees" EVERYONE said Manuel Antonio. Yeah, I get it, this is a pretty neat place!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULV8wQDKErXpU10De38QJfOLxq6aYZTnYytPCzyEWGBWFDWoVcyGQW3GVgfCQLGEjaea0oJBBvJWZQzjD6zyet5_am9MmoXUnKjkmyHFyEhhliDOVcI4G7-oTHQLllLZHSAMSE7AeQnOVpYDQuoqEY8ZOLwhqe_6hAqbRZjw8DtYLWOTpMzqXvJeefg/s4032/PXL_20220802_220356154.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULV8wQDKErXpU10De38QJfOLxq6aYZTnYytPCzyEWGBWFDWoVcyGQW3GVgfCQLGEjaea0oJBBvJWZQzjD6zyet5_am9MmoXUnKjkmyHFyEhhliDOVcI4G7-oTHQLllLZHSAMSE7AeQnOVpYDQuoqEY8ZOLwhqe_6hAqbRZjw8DtYLWOTpMzqXvJeefg/w300-h400/PXL_20220802_220356154.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBXTbA-00Vf6_T4LOCOd-DmaA2b-We_estEI8bJc2-502Rr0qO_LPgmdL9ojg6njC4p7pfF6Dr8USoR4AAfbWkX2K3rhjGU8QMKmOUJSc5ghkZF4bYkjDtS0xC9MWQjVmkdLyPW7jNOOpFDh4K-0eKY_6hYwuMCAVkJMv6LCQMKSqttaFMivbOYg2nA/s4032/PXL_20220802_234631027.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBXTbA-00Vf6_T4LOCOd-DmaA2b-We_estEI8bJc2-502Rr0qO_LPgmdL9ojg6njC4p7pfF6Dr8USoR4AAfbWkX2K3rhjGU8QMKmOUJSc5ghkZF4bYkjDtS0xC9MWQjVmkdLyPW7jNOOpFDh4K-0eKY_6hYwuMCAVkJMv6LCQMKSqttaFMivbOYg2nA/s320/PXL_20220802_234631027.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This country is just plain beautiful. And yes, I generally sit in the seated hammock, but it was too hard to get a photo of it while I was in it...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Once again, my first night in, I went on a night hike. This one was with a few more folks, but they were FANTASTIC at finding things so I was MORE than happy for the company. BTW, this is the cut down version of this hike. Also, unless stated, all photos by the wonderful guide who stopped waiting for my "porrfa" and just reached out to take my camera by the end.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSjgWuD3eB98NKVH3FzV3ONMnu123zqk-gT24FrZ8JItn6e11N02Cv4L_BcmBkXOFf3nEn-hHI4yJeb2_o9_x7jXuuBRBHfVBvnRVVxYTTYD3RTBDlzeWWvXk4EGnFU3uaFanDW20v8EjvveTBLXdeIul0swX-Mo0asIDCuKOTzGLzJCvGjBcSPLa1g/s4032/PXL_20220803_002406114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSjgWuD3eB98NKVH3FzV3ONMnu123zqk-gT24FrZ8JItn6e11N02Cv4L_BcmBkXOFf3nEn-hHI4yJeb2_o9_x7jXuuBRBHfVBvnRVVxYTTYD3RTBDlzeWWvXk4EGnFU3uaFanDW20v8EjvveTBLXdeIul0swX-Mo0asIDCuKOTzGLzJCvGjBcSPLa1g/s320/PXL_20220803_002406114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpbtZpPExfBjRi2t2VttWxavprni6MEMfEirMadTLic2F29zoDiQQmk8ZKidwmwBPK9aPvI99APxmnRc_OQEr9e9Dd8uSN7ko8iUYHpkyzgV2Xfd7Kgfxi-j7uEkJH_7-FAIQ-_tlfOyCTC4Pahbl7lv9R_Tf-F1fMhp649pJT_JsP1eaPwBq53mnWQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_002419334.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpbtZpPExfBjRi2t2VttWxavprni6MEMfEirMadTLic2F29zoDiQQmk8ZKidwmwBPK9aPvI99APxmnRc_OQEr9e9Dd8uSN7ko8iUYHpkyzgV2Xfd7Kgfxi-j7uEkJH_7-FAIQ-_tlfOyCTC4Pahbl7lv9R_Tf-F1fMhp649pJT_JsP1eaPwBq53mnWQ/s320/PXL_20220803_002419334.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnD_7EloCF7kLS5Wj0vi2ChRP-5EH3xWg1HE1OYAMxke5RJlcx-wW9K0laC_VQ4laZ_WayXr9mgOycYWvKen-1ff76cBOsyLDJnsqRDR4Wq4b5v68zRFp0Ak2qqmd996sTyVCugYbJrM6qdhlrELies3V_-SLuwUQWnFd9kqkU_MIpTWKyG_zQnG7Aw/s4032/PXL_20220803_002858841.NIGHT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnD_7EloCF7kLS5Wj0vi2ChRP-5EH3xWg1HE1OYAMxke5RJlcx-wW9K0laC_VQ4laZ_WayXr9mgOycYWvKen-1ff76cBOsyLDJnsqRDR4Wq4b5v68zRFp0Ak2qqmd996sTyVCugYbJrM6qdhlrELies3V_-SLuwUQWnFd9kqkU_MIpTWKyG_zQnG7Aw/s320/PXL_20220803_002858841.NIGHT.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDZuBbmr14GqU_7S3U4_EPNsEwUMPyX_xF3fcM2R034cFo4p69cO3Ss58-v-e3nePUcAPzMRk8-Ltygoal-ikP8B3EvEsPeuQQA3237loKQ6J8mx_nceamzyhiKroF2L4h6ud-r-hvwFNofshu94sLIFtec01BynF252O4Af_4i1Y-lA8VxmXDaPlfA/s4032/PXL_20220803_003244723.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDZuBbmr14GqU_7S3U4_EPNsEwUMPyX_xF3fcM2R034cFo4p69cO3Ss58-v-e3nePUcAPzMRk8-Ltygoal-ikP8B3EvEsPeuQQA3237loKQ6J8mx_nceamzyhiKroF2L4h6ud-r-hvwFNofshu94sLIFtec01BynF252O4Af_4i1Y-lA8VxmXDaPlfA/s320/PXL_20220803_003244723.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3SXHYu4vsMVLIlc7b1sba2tGIGFPSOoHrkYrUrJMBdZy2JgivCz9lvy13G1pNIB99VqTWqtrJx4D886ErMMh14PrfNYA0kY_UUzGzNi4m_s1V5FInQ7xgh1pLFr8CpX0asC83wX6aqjGxr35HVmTs2Z0OXUMDxNn8Yvd8gBa-IFC-7vr79cCFAVL2A/s4032/PXL_20220803_003610395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3SXHYu4vsMVLIlc7b1sba2tGIGFPSOoHrkYrUrJMBdZy2JgivCz9lvy13G1pNIB99VqTWqtrJx4D886ErMMh14PrfNYA0kY_UUzGzNi4m_s1V5FInQ7xgh1pLFr8CpX0asC83wX6aqjGxr35HVmTs2Z0OXUMDxNn8Yvd8gBa-IFC-7vr79cCFAVL2A/s320/PXL_20220803_003610395.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this one. Seriously, I have been feeling VERY close with Arachne this summer</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEuF_q34H4ZvsfxQE6E4GgNsBJ4atJ_Gn2vx2Jlf6vHQJwP27SQ1u_EIcKN6Xkzz0qEFWw_hqoo-ZazJ7yIPSZEmV4YN0hWOrH7NVYk15q6kYTt3HezsFj2kobKP12BeAVwjySErd1DLRGSOUAK5iFX-dn7_Lk71BaNH1jP4i7raUG5D64EtAfdv2Wg/s4032/PXL_20220803_004135612.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEuF_q34H4ZvsfxQE6E4GgNsBJ4atJ_Gn2vx2Jlf6vHQJwP27SQ1u_EIcKN6Xkzz0qEFWw_hqoo-ZazJ7yIPSZEmV4YN0hWOrH7NVYk15q6kYTt3HezsFj2kobKP12BeAVwjySErd1DLRGSOUAK5iFX-dn7_Lk71BaNH1jP4i7raUG5D64EtAfdv2Wg/s320/PXL_20220803_004135612.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This spider made me realize I should definitely ask the guide for assistance when taking photos.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ln31C7_GSety416MKr3d50nSxE_806DtTuD1mrr7rgcsWbRXRCLtuL9bjSXrMm_hepoodNuKYCosJYId_sG2XAXcvTuwRiqPYN8BUJhTnDtUvl2qxrT4X1Gq9KLrZx5IVgrPGrntLt1LQ87GwReEJHXeBOFu078RaD5C5bjzfqaxDeHJevMGM6GTzQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_004710110.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ln31C7_GSety416MKr3d50nSxE_806DtTuD1mrr7rgcsWbRXRCLtuL9bjSXrMm_hepoodNuKYCosJYId_sG2XAXcvTuwRiqPYN8BUJhTnDtUvl2qxrT4X1Gq9KLrZx5IVgrPGrntLt1LQ87GwReEJHXeBOFu078RaD5C5bjzfqaxDeHJevMGM6GTzQ/s320/PXL_20220803_004710110.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beautiful telaraña</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNemx3RjabLNPA1qHd83TAsnyDqUQixJBFmcuACZqsDaJTQeGV6D9lHezgVzhSElVqsRin2lerch9HYIucjmC8-pFRUvljhul8nJZGIwFEnG7WbkkKm0RrXWlYT84QMfbjdfS77b3xCbIWEp2qRxZBk2ZghsPLbPG5L-IIz9RprksT_3dDOGoDvs1CdQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_005154358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNemx3RjabLNPA1qHd83TAsnyDqUQixJBFmcuACZqsDaJTQeGV6D9lHezgVzhSElVqsRin2lerch9HYIucjmC8-pFRUvljhul8nJZGIwFEnG7WbkkKm0RrXWlYT84QMfbjdfS77b3xCbIWEp2qRxZBk2ZghsPLbPG5L-IIz9RprksT_3dDOGoDvs1CdQ/s320/PXL_20220803_005154358.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RjkzOAcGEY5EFwJoW7HHPWQIJ8_myX-HJpMdyMg4X8WeFGJ1VX31Ab4buBqoF61GF3u2JpHQZ8nolfhYF0Yz6tQm9flwxA18IMirnl0L948P46QO_K5otx6mH_dbAmZdSmVChsS8c8I2Xfnmn31QpxEhac_Z1aCYss89pXNlisN2FzeaSU5LgN3I0A/s4032/PXL_20220803_005348382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RjkzOAcGEY5EFwJoW7HHPWQIJ8_myX-HJpMdyMg4X8WeFGJ1VX31Ab4buBqoF61GF3u2JpHQZ8nolfhYF0Yz6tQm9flwxA18IMirnl0L948P46QO_K5otx6mH_dbAmZdSmVChsS8c8I2Xfnmn31QpxEhac_Z1aCYss89pXNlisN2FzeaSU5LgN3I0A/s320/PXL_20220803_005348382.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a crab there, can you see it?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF2hciEpzzJnA9ylygP08JsS5vRHfiAnB4X5dzcb3osQl7StZX5MtPesXOx8uv4QPy1RljwgHGklTV5nkL5wIMxXc7JRo9iDl2bwa_JZWWL6ynOnjfuhC9tHXZlViI_Q0WOeAUSf3ZbmPfOIEPcTbBqhUGvH3v5caD4eQVPJ4lH8ZPawOpKHFEaVcQw/s4032/PXL_20220803_005451984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxF2hciEpzzJnA9ylygP08JsS5vRHfiAnB4X5dzcb3osQl7StZX5MtPesXOx8uv4QPy1RljwgHGklTV5nkL5wIMxXc7JRo9iDl2bwa_JZWWL6ynOnjfuhC9tHXZlViI_Q0WOeAUSf3ZbmPfOIEPcTbBqhUGvH3v5caD4eQVPJ4lH8ZPawOpKHFEaVcQw/s320/PXL_20220803_005451984.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That crab and this spider taught me to try myself, but then ASK FOR HELP<br />when taking photos :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxNCEDSTAVP7Xx1ferUgSlu1VsE5oOwL26ysRsWI8FMoM7cnGfp_3UqZ1i5kbgycMz6BqGHVf42e8wpZwZBqkAjyPGH6LQHv56EJJI-YrMsPVlwY-cjSiEviKfGjd05kNu7V7WM3w6Qrq7PbzoyFBHliQsDjcnZygzgJzzXobRfq8W8yAiwpDuZjwDA/s4032/PXL_20220803_005543296.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxNCEDSTAVP7Xx1ferUgSlu1VsE5oOwL26ysRsWI8FMoM7cnGfp_3UqZ1i5kbgycMz6BqGHVf42e8wpZwZBqkAjyPGH6LQHv56EJJI-YrMsPVlwY-cjSiEviKfGjd05kNu7V7WM3w6Qrq7PbzoyFBHliQsDjcnZygzgJzzXobRfq8W8yAiwpDuZjwDA/s320/PXL_20220803_005543296.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqrE8rtfahSCkC279oI0CZu6tkfylCeH89wSC_M7uUJXBJMRwBTriR76iDG-g0NnixJfa6AVa25-WFh5o3lAOqRQyFyi9w-LCA7kx4bKAzUu9eqpBfYfFhcnQRfjf0JQdXUfGyPp53HBOHXZhVmA3WoQhft-spdk-2ucEWuFQdeTnm27AfXJftFcO6Q/s4032/PXL_20220803_005720322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqrE8rtfahSCkC279oI0CZu6tkfylCeH89wSC_M7uUJXBJMRwBTriR76iDG-g0NnixJfa6AVa25-WFh5o3lAOqRQyFyi9w-LCA7kx4bKAzUu9eqpBfYfFhcnQRfjf0JQdXUfGyPp53HBOHXZhVmA3WoQhft-spdk-2ucEWuFQdeTnm27AfXJftFcO6Q/s320/PXL_20220803_005720322.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-sTwrSdLqQZOjHwaRrNIuT9YCMvUaW5l9u3sI9ce8hJGUMpu-Q6huTf_il5OLlA4dfyVruT6vS3FJsraKgvpoF3GuAWbUWemTW1SEGhtG2LQgmCKmqIJK31tChnGRLwmCovt7mDeGbkxZnbRiiDLkLgMlVzOY07Ez1EPMa_ezyebdPfuvVxnc73XDQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_010321394.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-sTwrSdLqQZOjHwaRrNIuT9YCMvUaW5l9u3sI9ce8hJGUMpu-Q6huTf_il5OLlA4dfyVruT6vS3FJsraKgvpoF3GuAWbUWemTW1SEGhtG2LQgmCKmqIJK31tChnGRLwmCovt7mDeGbkxZnbRiiDLkLgMlVzOY07Ez1EPMa_ezyebdPfuvVxnc73XDQ/s320/PXL_20220803_010321394.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5utm-KO6sbLWwZGK9vigVMhahy8aMeudQbm9LxoRasORZLEjU-AuF116L3cwjuFW8EQj_7im2J-hQUmg4NFy5XrCE4_gLTqQibtwRpkGBLwCOAxxg3NUM5t_5LJEcT9Qtup6F2bPohxk3uWIccPOl1fvsYEUeqOeNIsuvQeM-obLl2zYjL2y7vv6yNQ/s4032/PXL_20220803_013942929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5utm-KO6sbLWwZGK9vigVMhahy8aMeudQbm9LxoRasORZLEjU-AuF116L3cwjuFW8EQj_7im2J-hQUmg4NFy5XrCE4_gLTqQibtwRpkGBLwCOAxxg3NUM5t_5LJEcT9Qtup6F2bPohxk3uWIccPOl1fvsYEUeqOeNIsuvQeM-obLl2zYjL2y7vv6yNQ/s320/PXL_20220803_013942929.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lAhRNmmadTw7axo7Ity6juvm-VrrOEw6EF7OWCXFyXfU4nKavleZtaya0y9OZLR2yMZg3AIzbaZwsDKLp2DTcD03mTQu9GZmOggwkupV2eWaKxpSJXckms7R-F8hk--BC6v10R0PrZ96axvB_QlRnZuVmWcENEpkBJZ2C9hzOdBXeQdhc78YCZtrnw/s4032/PXL_20220803_014706888.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lAhRNmmadTw7axo7Ity6juvm-VrrOEw6EF7OWCXFyXfU4nKavleZtaya0y9OZLR2yMZg3AIzbaZwsDKLp2DTcD03mTQu9GZmOggwkupV2eWaKxpSJXckms7R-F8hk--BC6v10R0PrZ96axvB_QlRnZuVmWcENEpkBJZ2C9hzOdBXeQdhc78YCZtrnw/s320/PXL_20220803_014706888.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Yeah, I was ok with frogging my work if it lead to all these frogs!</p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-45996537832938268052022-08-03T15:52:00.002-07:002022-08-03T15:52:16.025-07:00Monteverde<p> I was able to check another thing off the box of MUST DO IN THIS LIFETIME while in Monteverde.</p><p><br /></p><p>After a mix up with Uber cancelling my scheduled ride SUPER early in the morning, Marino came to my rescue and got me to the bus to Monteverde on time. It was a long ride, made even longer about an hour in when the folks who bought the seats I was sitting in came in and I stood the rest of the way there.</p><p>When I got to MapleTico (the wife is from canada, the husband from Costa Rica. Pronounced MaplayTico), they convinced me the weather was perfect, I should take my night tour THAT night. I am so glad I did. No one else was on the tour, so I had a private. The guide was so passionate about the trees, plants and animals, I loved it. We looked for, but didn't see any sloths or other large animals, but OH the bugs, plants and trees!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqedA-IKl7JDTq4-sM5s6PYiYsc6gNHvCo6oF7UYU-UVxSBqF5YTEizA5CPVs9Fo9ns7beCP1cNyNeH3xCjTgEnA_PyM11WNnPneNmkueQjDZOigR8qYUL2ThrUuUg0CIK6necZ1k3UUzS7JpwYt_SaN7Tb4ffAn_Lnf16oMelJCPGTgY8TUDt4l0Rrw/s4032/PXL_20220731_002810189.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqedA-IKl7JDTq4-sM5s6PYiYsc6gNHvCo6oF7UYU-UVxSBqF5YTEizA5CPVs9Fo9ns7beCP1cNyNeH3xCjTgEnA_PyM11WNnPneNmkueQjDZOigR8qYUL2ThrUuUg0CIK6necZ1k3UUzS7JpwYt_SaN7Tb4ffAn_Lnf16oMelJCPGTgY8TUDt4l0Rrw/s320/PXL_20220731_002810189.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telarana- Spider Cloth. I LOVE that name for a web!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYitWVE-L7U1G5ltblXcWmKEZdNTgrByxT8MN5HERfBm_v99HzLAIm5t8FgX2dNMGPnxVjTVkwRWEBR1sRt0kNZE445mlqlxyWN7DqBUN1WGmD0new8GWV4sdkBgdowNgnwsXL1P_yRhFKuSW4SPcFdjx3ARFxXNe1dpOVAGdRJuNRxIDlmhj6pqv3Og/s4032/PXL_20220731_003512578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYitWVE-L7U1G5ltblXcWmKEZdNTgrByxT8MN5HERfBm_v99HzLAIm5t8FgX2dNMGPnxVjTVkwRWEBR1sRt0kNZE445mlqlxyWN7DqBUN1WGmD0new8GWV4sdkBgdowNgnwsXL1P_yRhFKuSW4SPcFdjx3ARFxXNe1dpOVAGdRJuNRxIDlmhj6pqv3Og/s320/PXL_20220731_003512578.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many neat sleeping birdies!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvcXqprmffpGs3okkisrDtvtdMNJxYfJCiKRHAXZOakoI1mgj1dIk2NTY0Xongw08Oj-BlQlSVDB1Oda5naYSjAnM8BootTdiTUjwWpj2Ig0NirlOxahb-S9hWrM085wgCQ9DLPTDUqtrsWeiivZ3TlKvzwAvMPkLNoHjaGK1zC8dSArJXvcycerkzQ/s4032/PXL_20220731_011926443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvcXqprmffpGs3okkisrDtvtdMNJxYfJCiKRHAXZOakoI1mgj1dIk2NTY0Xongw08Oj-BlQlSVDB1Oda5naYSjAnM8BootTdiTUjwWpj2Ig0NirlOxahb-S9hWrM085wgCQ9DLPTDUqtrsWeiivZ3TlKvzwAvMPkLNoHjaGK1zC8dSArJXvcycerkzQ/s320/PXL_20220731_011926443.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fascinating symbiotic relationship between the bromeliads and the trees </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Sunday morning I was UP AND AT EM for my exciting adventure day! I have 2 different angle videos of my bungee jump, but here are some of the pictures from before and after. Also, My hiking boots have metal hooks, which could hurt me when my feet come together, or other issues, so I jumped without shoes. I chose the right socks for the day!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4yKrhxQvpy1C9j0_i91ay8BaSWYzzyFgJ7goG6nQdaEIIa1z4k6stAEB2fD5uuwSZXPKFs1Tc4rQ-WYS_ujyGt1eDLkSIaHNAG6mDn9QG4FY9B_y7WjfulI7hfKpQsjly0phsemx_AmPcB656IeI8PG9VIQKlMvCJOaPTYZsoboV651sR47bkg0o4A/s5568/G0038499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4176" data-original-width="5568" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4yKrhxQvpy1C9j0_i91ay8BaSWYzzyFgJ7goG6nQdaEIIa1z4k6stAEB2fD5uuwSZXPKFs1Tc4rQ-WYS_ujyGt1eDLkSIaHNAG6mDn9QG4FY9B_y7WjfulI7hfKpQsjly0phsemx_AmPcB656IeI8PG9VIQKlMvCJOaPTYZsoboV651sR47bkg0o4A/s320/G0038499.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain America and Spiderman to help me jump 143 meters above the ground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49E-NUs1Po4AUj7gSMyz_zB6HTDmedu3vnde6g_GbiUdzyfh-kKfqylMUwXeQyySqCz5VaU7wbFaHdloJFhmGoZ3XYPlP0CB3T2mDZHavpCmjNVN0sJd-W38N0U3o5G35QuUYG0lbar5FhZst4NwmMRJzyR0iM3mWRVDw5myK2AHsvCG3zPwyTWa4ZA/s5568/G0028495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4176" data-original-width="5568" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49E-NUs1Po4AUj7gSMyz_zB6HTDmedu3vnde6g_GbiUdzyfh-kKfqylMUwXeQyySqCz5VaU7wbFaHdloJFhmGoZ3XYPlP0CB3T2mDZHavpCmjNVN0sJd-W38N0U3o5G35QuUYG0lbar5FhZst4NwmMRJzyR0iM3mWRVDw5myK2AHsvCG3zPwyTWa4ZA/w400-h300/G0028495.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was SO excited!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Q6Mm2gQiIHOqaj6hHEK75l6ihYMYrxGUT_3plmwUSdKY6HDxvyOCvB0aRz3tPwTSuueKPTvIlJvMNcaI9H0XhNRF_KG29yt9VWdMysSCAON1GfrA_dpmVTrBFzRIeXhx-n6q-ApecMXsuQhaJz86IfAlG2-TIWlRQPs1IUUr0p13nsWFuBhf_GK0iw/s5568/G0018492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4176" data-original-width="5568" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Q6Mm2gQiIHOqaj6hHEK75l6ihYMYrxGUT_3plmwUSdKY6HDxvyOCvB0aRz3tPwTSuueKPTvIlJvMNcaI9H0XhNRF_KG29yt9VWdMysSCAON1GfrA_dpmVTrBFzRIeXhx-n6q-ApecMXsuQhaJz86IfAlG2-TIWlRQPs1IUUr0p13nsWFuBhf_GK0iw/w640-h480/G0018492.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was ready to jump again!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>So the park had a deal to get you do more of their packages. I was planning on skipping Ziplining in Monteverde, since I had done it in Arenal, but WOW am I glad I didn't skip it. I was the only person skydiving for the morning group, so the whole thing was incredibly fast. Instead of waiting around a few hours for my Canopy tour, they got me in as the last person in the morning group. In front of me was a woman from Chile, also traveling solo, 2 couples from Spain, and a family from Germany. For the VERY long cables, I went with the woman from Chile, so we got very close, very quickly. </p><p>Now, at Arenal (different ziplining company) they took us to the top in a tram, and the ziplines crisscrossed the valley until we were back on the first level. Not the case this time. WE HAD TO CLIMB the mountain to get to our next cables sometimes. That mountain was breathtaking in more ways than one. (Dad!). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ATWaCN-P7W7ZafptSznwUAu4CzlOcXlIGqb1LFJpfFXQ8rVMNioKy09qcpOe3zbQ6rXqbBijsqzEWF5OSvjb84n6UxoiaveX0q2KzbZJDC_dK_dyImpGJywK_cJXXFyfL0i0tXL27k5DNSRqAJ8y1XpCBMPiE0hrsgsqGGkUzVDWUDsQhmD25HVUNw/s4032/PXL_20220731_154756137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ATWaCN-P7W7ZafptSznwUAu4CzlOcXlIGqb1LFJpfFXQ8rVMNioKy09qcpOe3zbQ6rXqbBijsqzEWF5OSvjb84n6UxoiaveX0q2KzbZJDC_dK_dyImpGJywK_cJXXFyfL0i0tXL27k5DNSRqAJ8y1XpCBMPiE0hrsgsqGGkUzVDWUDsQhmD25HVUNw/w400-h300/PXL_20220731_154756137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qNgLcGnPimVMZpjdKOqP3iSiuIcHWb63_UorT5RWsCDYVQp5GGQUAZTqpp2uZ2_OG3i6hmufqL0bwdu9ucWByy-BJh54ib6BPw0CBUnLJGVQvi341m8GEtj3l0Uoz7GT9myRrFVrxsWmjFWAIt8cXrB9rfGzGLozpw6oC5uCwosLGQuw6MfzNGOAjw/s4032/PXL_20220731_150318465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7qNgLcGnPimVMZpjdKOqP3iSiuIcHWb63_UorT5RWsCDYVQp5GGQUAZTqpp2uZ2_OG3i6hmufqL0bwdu9ucWByy-BJh54ib6BPw0CBUnLJGVQvi341m8GEtj3l0Uoz7GT9myRrFVrxsWmjFWAIt8cXrB9rfGzGLozpw6oC5uCwosLGQuw6MfzNGOAjw/w640-h480/PXL_20220731_150318465.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbows would appear and disappear EVERYWHERE!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHTKkEvdwmaKlfOsfB97MdwIiPky9d3hsBo7Fb53OsHIqmuWkwgA762JCAg4kgd6PXBZct1zQKdqquflOk3O01WSlI_4ey_yb2NcMI-P2_3tYq-12d95yUcLTph5MF--PZT3ffcxAl_-Pfh5KdYpDA19imDN56QPeMHBv0Ibr9-rpmL-f7j8Drtl9oQ/s4032/PXL_20220731_160648346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHTKkEvdwmaKlfOsfB97MdwIiPky9d3hsBo7Fb53OsHIqmuWkwgA762JCAg4kgd6PXBZct1zQKdqquflOk3O01WSlI_4ey_yb2NcMI-P2_3tYq-12d95yUcLTph5MF--PZT3ffcxAl_-Pfh5KdYpDA19imDN56QPeMHBv0Ibr9-rpmL-f7j8Drtl9oQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220731_160648346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>So there was the regular zipling on your own. At this place, you had a glove with POWERFUL protection and you squeezed to break.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbaIxWOdQ4Rvj6Jk2IRLW9wRxhqr1Hw7m7tL0XcBoWfvwDT1CAX4v6msz4kvC5SOSd0wqhbZzwmM8pAJU05xZDf2Jnx5d8eo8SAJ53uTlObf4Dc6gi7rWdQqvrmrfIQYskhtSYK4bOHDi-2hdJOc-CE-7rhmyjuL2B_RwMOUPTR9_GX8zPJu49g4sPA/s1920/SEIS%20(84).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbaIxWOdQ4Rvj6Jk2IRLW9wRxhqr1Hw7m7tL0XcBoWfvwDT1CAX4v6msz4kvC5SOSd0wqhbZzwmM8pAJU05xZDf2Jnx5d8eo8SAJ53uTlObf4Dc6gi7rWdQqvrmrfIQYskhtSYK4bOHDi-2hdJOc-CE-7rhmyjuL2B_RwMOUPTR9_GX8zPJu49g4sPA/w640-h426/SEIS%20(84).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Then there were the long ones where you went with a buddy. So, for those ones, what they DID NOT explain was what being so close to someone else's line would do to ones face :)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCJ0zBJaeSJvbyribW22ECMqjC3SlMiwq34gok2vNbkGMtvADmpJvy3Hgk26S85r1CT6sWjutK8I_HWExmnFohbFwTmMlWsyC9GHlOUKxjaSl_kT6Ht3m1ethSCIoiQW22s9nlN9eJXCHhnslPAyDmDGA_aFzBDjZRF6mlNfbZMHLpbjQliZ8_Zr06w/s3264/PXL_20220731_145823116.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjCJ0zBJaeSJvbyribW22ECMqjC3SlMiwq34gok2vNbkGMtvADmpJvy3Hgk26S85r1CT6sWjutK8I_HWExmnFohbFwTmMlWsyC9GHlOUKxjaSl_kT6Ht3m1ethSCIoiQW22s9nlN9eJXCHhnslPAyDmDGA_aFzBDjZRF6mlNfbZMHLpbjQliZ8_Zr06w/w300-h400/PXL_20220731_145823116.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot to take another picture before cleaning up, but I was actually <br />MUCH cleaner than some of the others who had been the back person .</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Next was the "superman". It's more like airplane than superman, arms to the sides, rather than in front, but SO MUCH FUN! There were 2 runs on the superman, one VERY long one across the valley and one shorter one through the tunnel. It was raining as I went across the valley, so looking anywhere was kind of difficult. Rain droplets are powerful when you are travelling at VERY high speeds. The tunnel was a neat experience too. By looking down, I saw absolutely no light, and really felt like I was flying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAxmyInyLnRDTfoJa1O5hYcKnXbvzg8MBw-9NYWObURr_mK68M4Bd-RmWnCYjXzjUlALX9Nvvpnp6AbM9OX4cXaej8G5dke4s-3-bAPa_vaY5XIcDhbXYMn7IDTd55TjaO4YUH_JqEUZdM-Va1OgstfdpC6F9cTnM5k9liTV4t-iow6fLXhG3ADphWQ/s1920/IMG_1483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAxmyInyLnRDTfoJa1O5hYcKnXbvzg8MBw-9NYWObURr_mK68M4Bd-RmWnCYjXzjUlALX9Nvvpnp6AbM9OX4cXaej8G5dke4s-3-bAPa_vaY5XIcDhbXYMn7IDTd55TjaO4YUH_JqEUZdM-Va1OgstfdpC6F9cTnM5k9liTV4t-iow6fLXhG3ADphWQ/w400-h266/IMG_1483.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The last was the "tarzan swing" which again, I have two videos of from two angles, so when we see eachother in person, ask. I had a BLAST!</p><p>I spent the rest of the day wishing for a bubble bath and walking around Santa Elena with the biggest smile on my face. The last day in Monteverde, I went to the National Park itself and learned to ALWAYS let the guide take a photo for you :) I didn't ask nearly enough, and I can't tell what the image is of for MOST of my photos.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC69fysk7tmxGrW-Tf34y1pLexiV9aXElpE5lTEvZripAE23lU31RjtAvr3AqgZnjh9gOs_Wf0WmdyPW4CpLfEpr-ummz6Czj51PFzdcqKCWhqwNqpLgHZ87P1V3M0K0jOo4CVVSeeyWAo5YcP0IQC8_aphEbr_zqGoZodRwHP4h3GZkFdqwKA_3Vig/s4032/PXL_20220801_143537048.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTC69fysk7tmxGrW-Tf34y1pLexiV9aXElpE5lTEvZripAE23lU31RjtAvr3AqgZnjh9gOs_Wf0WmdyPW4CpLfEpr-ummz6Czj51PFzdcqKCWhqwNqpLgHZ87P1V3M0K0jOo4CVVSeeyWAo5YcP0IQC8_aphEbr_zqGoZodRwHP4h3GZkFdqwKA_3Vig/s320/PXL_20220801_143537048.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guide taken- Stick bug</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRi56bbWQfqIqQqUF7iPsxbPw9WwFTdhOC_SsgBe4Y3fichKrv-DgZVELmS0y9iFeJc-IivipKId-Tvm7aFbiOjLRsRD-kp6u8Kax706216xeaqaNshxk2rpoOlvbPieBH-xnVMbHvycwHVGGQFedslOLV4Vmmanbw93hIyfw_ykGuNP2j_kUNiBUpQ/s4032/PXL_20220801_144421215.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRi56bbWQfqIqQqUF7iPsxbPw9WwFTdhOC_SsgBe4Y3fichKrv-DgZVELmS0y9iFeJc-IivipKId-Tvm7aFbiOjLRsRD-kp6u8Kax706216xeaqaNshxk2rpoOlvbPieBH-xnVMbHvycwHVGGQFedslOLV4Vmmanbw93hIyfw_ykGuNP2j_kUNiBUpQ/s320/PXL_20220801_144421215.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guide taken- hummingbird calling out for a female</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6h3DS55UFTDOjlhC-7CUrTxDZe_gh6gUgngLzJrl54imN0dUqmPqTea3vDJhq4DdVpQ_9ujFtVEHibOmk88CM28mUzdP9ZZv54H2-JFsoCd6aOHQmRvsRm394R011PaeuWgw13-qzNd1mKVINRSy-d_nd23CE8VnMSMJjW8nRkaHZex1PPaUs2fkQvg/s4032/PXL_20220801_144709493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6h3DS55UFTDOjlhC-7CUrTxDZe_gh6gUgngLzJrl54imN0dUqmPqTea3vDJhq4DdVpQ_9ujFtVEHibOmk88CM28mUzdP9ZZv54H2-JFsoCd6aOHQmRvsRm394R011PaeuWgw13-qzNd1mKVINRSy-d_nd23CE8VnMSMJjW8nRkaHZex1PPaUs2fkQvg/s320/PXL_20220801_144709493.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pauli taken- Do NOT mess with this millipede!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHow1Qg-cVduaR159ZhzzlyuLXkMoaAlPPmM4KSgcHtXs3FmUrI1UqzMhPhws5Fi2v5oVKMrMhhU8tC0h4EPQwVw_vA9vOABwZXCifYd1G2nez4tyr80c4SnfLUoXrCTmmrtPS9Clnue50IKuk-r_GGQNZ82yJZTXRqgKfL6pd61vlxdiNX0mpYuuTTw/s4276/original_f5980fba-ffbd-48a2-9ece-22cbbee0d6d8_PXL_20220801_150534819.PANO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4276" data-original-width="1514" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHow1Qg-cVduaR159ZhzzlyuLXkMoaAlPPmM4KSgcHtXs3FmUrI1UqzMhPhws5Fi2v5oVKMrMhhU8tC0h4EPQwVw_vA9vOABwZXCifYd1G2nez4tyr80c4SnfLUoXrCTmmrtPS9Clnue50IKuk-r_GGQNZ82yJZTXRqgKfL6pd61vlxdiNX0mpYuuTTw/w226-h640/original_f5980fba-ffbd-48a2-9ece-22cbbee0d6d8_PXL_20220801_150534819.PANO.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guide taken- He showed everyone how to take the photo with panorama<br />to show HOW TALL this tree is.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbi1A0SjAdrn6ozJnW0fMFeRQWrGckfC0iqd0NEIO3UR1EtG-40sGkaJCKpf2lFtcPEao9bq4_cCHKnkaIif0Z5CLiKBuRXXu4o7UYiETknnQms5ZrszXO-rMSzf-vAKji8vebc2i9pobgct1_VTIKAjN2QFNCpwVSk_s0ovfqnEA-6XTp0uxMkGSUw/s4032/PXL_20220801_152830973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbi1A0SjAdrn6ozJnW0fMFeRQWrGckfC0iqd0NEIO3UR1EtG-40sGkaJCKpf2lFtcPEao9bq4_cCHKnkaIif0Z5CLiKBuRXXu4o7UYiETknnQms5ZrszXO-rMSzf-vAKji8vebc2i9pobgct1_VTIKAjN2QFNCpwVSk_s0ovfqnEA-6XTp0uxMkGSUw/s320/PXL_20220801_152830973.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pauli taken. No clue if there was an animal, I just really like the picture :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_Od7SKOD-SD6D0s0drzZmUYUu44ViBB6XbVkFQOsSXnymWvsuPA-Cps81wgel_VKfiUDsWA0wEKqSBX1MNakBGd0kKdwctanGNMRTlys8EQZrSKPMJPzOuo9F1_xzefVU5n_nW9wM8UJMqM5PI0FAzZYgreK9Uu3EN1kJD5jsYZdi2-8ZsPeOWC7Rw/s4032/PXL_20220801_154258501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_Od7SKOD-SD6D0s0drzZmUYUu44ViBB6XbVkFQOsSXnymWvsuPA-Cps81wgel_VKfiUDsWA0wEKqSBX1MNakBGd0kKdwctanGNMRTlys8EQZrSKPMJPzOuo9F1_xzefVU5n_nW9wM8UJMqM5PI0FAzZYgreK9Uu3EN1kJD5jsYZdi2-8ZsPeOWC7Rw/s320/PXL_20220801_154258501.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monkey fern!? Monkey FERN! I LOVE THIS FERN!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had a GREAT time in Monteverde. HOWEVER, on my way to my next adventure, I realized the reason the pattern I was working on for knitting wasn't looking right. I had to frog the whole thing. (foreshadowing)</p><p></p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-51708011589579994352022-08-03T15:02:00.002-07:002022-08-03T15:02:53.572-07:00Lapa Verde<p> Lapa Verde. The bird is beautiful, but the Spanish School is out of this world!</p><p>Every Tuesday and Thursday, after language classes, we had Culture classes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUchqQyU_9fqMPS4cMrAglEXBYoGs_b4XLTE0l_rfGl2UPRwqgUvL9CEMoezFFn3a_rz5y1WTUDT7xPgLJcqBhsTM0lspC0jzSQrr_F9G5hUEKk5w4AAHEjKQ8TWlQgLrl5DehQKAh1SEoFbCU7KDOz9CIvx12i3wS9PS24CUyq4Gs3sBHGMNfQvjJUA/s4032/PXL_20220706_000701228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUchqQyU_9fqMPS4cMrAglEXBYoGs_b4XLTE0l_rfGl2UPRwqgUvL9CEMoezFFn3a_rz5y1WTUDT7xPgLJcqBhsTM0lspC0jzSQrr_F9G5hUEKk5w4AAHEjKQ8TWlQgLrl5DehQKAh1SEoFbCU7KDOz9CIvx12i3wS9PS24CUyq4Gs3sBHGMNfQvjJUA/w225-h400/PXL_20220706_000701228.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clases de Baile<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJKq2d--N3DJIhoyUTFv7Zlw1_UexS1rQIE-elDQyDui3uUmxssK4ZLZZPMBZMUdVYgWitlGwSvgALtITbLYny6oZUmXWpiBouqtcddb7f-QQjiVin-bjeVPJ9B6btFQirPZadYuQ0qTofM-tDy5FBY6VqsSDL6rOoWlOeZsyX5CT6LT2Bv0fGQ3hKQ/s3545/PXL_20220630_233641900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3545" data-original-width="3006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJKq2d--N3DJIhoyUTFv7Zlw1_UexS1rQIE-elDQyDui3uUmxssK4ZLZZPMBZMUdVYgWitlGwSvgALtITbLYny6oZUmXWpiBouqtcddb7f-QQjiVin-bjeVPJ9B6btFQirPZadYuQ0qTofM-tDy5FBY6VqsSDL6rOoWlOeZsyX5CT6LT2Bv0fGQ3hKQ/w339-h400/PXL_20220630_233641900.jpg" width="339" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clases de Cocine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And during the two weeks of school vacation, we ran programing in the mornings for kids. My AMAZING co runners (both FANTASTIC spanish speakers) and I had a blast working together.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmYdLRa-AC07Csib9ZlzOML0aYNmyFTHFTSEAJfTd86YDpyx7Mgeyl8eorslDKkuGhzZA8dAA_u_uTNUkp2ezrLlmGksymjnYlOVr4_qP1vlAj6h9Q0JpgppM2SmGnd6ROhawzSOg3bFeDxwTt3mPfHgVkL-rCU0xELIWQMVyfDqSPk-MYHDNxWzsJg/s4032/PXL_20220723_010458372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmYdLRa-AC07Csib9ZlzOML0aYNmyFTHFTSEAJfTd86YDpyx7Mgeyl8eorslDKkuGhzZA8dAA_u_uTNUkp2ezrLlmGksymjnYlOVr4_qP1vlAj6h9Q0JpgppM2SmGnd6ROhawzSOg3bFeDxwTt3mPfHgVkL-rCU0xELIWQMVyfDqSPk-MYHDNxWzsJg/w300-h400/PXL_20220723_010458372.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wisconsin and Chicago are NOT far away from each other.<br />I am coming to visit ladies!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>But something that really made Lapa Verde stand out was the school itse'f.</p><p>Yes, of course there were times I thought "4 HOURS of spanish class, am I NUTS?!" (rhetorical question) but for the most part, I had a great time in my classes at Lapa Verde.</p><p>My first two weeks were with 5 teachers and our Spanish teacher. We were all focused on words we needed for the classroom, and our teacher changed the plans to help us with that goal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgwcyiyfY9bP3sHmXOsf8sGlax83-rwgMCAfiGDkGc7D91escMmGp6L8yKaaVpkj0m4x2wEjivdHYyI-IaRnuRkqTDOk0u_3D_uKQl-kQ5ECU2fKq2CEbg1obi59guavSYfl5H2AuRHiTY879pHOu3r9UE9W1O2m2rZvRQVdoVEyMr56F5hQhc1wd4A/s1600/unnamed%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgwcyiyfY9bP3sHmXOsf8sGlax83-rwgMCAfiGDkGc7D91escMmGp6L8yKaaVpkj0m4x2wEjivdHYyI-IaRnuRkqTDOk0u_3D_uKQl-kQ5ECU2fKq2CEbg1obi59guavSYfl5H2AuRHiTY879pHOu3r9UE9W1O2m2rZvRQVdoVEyMr56F5hQhc1wd4A/w300-h400/unnamed%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKhJ9I4Ds2SXMf5TvEjEj4KQnnh62-8fxXhtHaSP2pXYu3SAp_BvS3bfZioxuO3N1fkFz4OHGpRdwOMBQ2QrZbHB4X-wMfo3Ujqv5I_Y7XiymLtMIio2c04AtH1Uji4_U7VPvRKR41iGUlqlQqhubAulhn2espcAG5GHMbGgyN1dMAg6KshtFNjz9oQ/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKhJ9I4Ds2SXMf5TvEjEj4KQnnh62-8fxXhtHaSP2pXYu3SAp_BvS3bfZioxuO3N1fkFz4OHGpRdwOMBQ2QrZbHB4X-wMfo3Ujqv5I_Y7XiymLtMIio2c04AtH1Uji4_U7VPvRKR41iGUlqlQqhubAulhn2espcAG5GHMbGgyN1dMAg6KshtFNjz9oQ/w300-h400/unnamed.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><p>In the 3rd week, many folks had gone home, so there was a shuffle with the classes. I had a new teacher, with one of the others from our other class. That week was a SHORT one for me, as I basically missed Monday (coming home late from Arenal) and missing Friday (to go to Tortuguero).</p><p>The 4th week, I had a new teacher, but NO other students in the class, so our focus changed a bit. I had been trying to read the boxcar children in Spanish, and was KINDA getting it. At the same time, I was having a hard time with when to use the various past tenses of spanish (HOW MANY does a language need!?) My teacher had me read outloud the story and whenever there was a sentence that had grammar we had worked on, she would ask me to explain why it was written the way it was, or who/what the "lo" at the end of a verb was referring to. It was FANTASTIC.</p><p>The last week of school, there were only 5 adults and 3 children left in the program. Classes shifted again, but I was still in my own class, and we had a BLAST using songs to listen for and hear the grammer structures we were studying. ALSO in that last week, with 8 students and 6 teachers, we had a lot of fun together during the coffee break. Somehow, we all shared SO MUCH FOOD with eachother. There was picadillo, there was challah (3 loaves, even with challah french toast, is too much for 3-5 people to eat), there were AMAZING deserts, it was a really fun week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGW8CvmtURpGJ0VU5guS5FZd7iLIloZi_RbPRKqgZOWyoUsPk0nM5DkHHqaIUa8TDL7Fa0OvbpStaGJ2AfN5TxCueYQqL_BeaBXOsKDoJhYIFj8PKMtNA3WR5lXwrnj0nKTMhW_FJfwWH5kXfop_sSId2DtXkIqpQhBHvP2u0FWKrcJX2bbb7fdpkUA/s4032/PXL_20220722_233129506.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGW8CvmtURpGJ0VU5guS5FZd7iLIloZi_RbPRKqgZOWyoUsPk0nM5DkHHqaIUa8TDL7Fa0OvbpStaGJ2AfN5TxCueYQqL_BeaBXOsKDoJhYIFj8PKMtNA3WR5lXwrnj0nKTMhW_FJfwWH5kXfop_sSId2DtXkIqpQhBHvP2u0FWKrcJX2bbb7fdpkUA/w480-h640/PXL_20220722_233129506.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week 1 and 2- Alejandra</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg2OU6AXLM6t2WwUNZ-5Bv2tcTIqL_qtxuiE8xpVHosZTHkTX8dcmWKnTkO--uQBWpirGOp-wddpR8LuBJC1OwZOMuTStfDg0lURn_PfUk_vKneJQFHgdzFFjSIUnkJBp1nM1TAW-7P5i3yrdS_AZ770EfWZj3lv26da1ApN3eR-k6MX7F0fJxPs9GQ/s4032/PXL_20220723_001256163.NIGHT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg2OU6AXLM6t2WwUNZ-5Bv2tcTIqL_qtxuiE8xpVHosZTHkTX8dcmWKnTkO--uQBWpirGOp-wddpR8LuBJC1OwZOMuTStfDg0lURn_PfUk_vKneJQFHgdzFFjSIUnkJBp1nM1TAW-7P5i3yrdS_AZ770EfWZj3lv26da1ApN3eR-k6MX7F0fJxPs9GQ/w480-h640/PXL_20220723_001256163.NIGHT.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week 3- Ana<br />(and a morning at the National Museum followed by finishing The Boxcar Children in Spanish)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGns-YxKNppvVSUIb4mhDXcWkuLlCBhLckRmcxQ5lcoNmkSJuM2LgcsMFqO5g2l88ojAe5LY1DBcpK1FQtXLCWdUW0KUqd1ltzq1If3hvPicGEKTx0aaa9RR-Ijo0QJbj4eLokRbbTcFKDixKjsjhBQ12r5Jpr5daWfiODfy8tIAVdZ1ILj581sLgrsw/s4032/PXL_20220729_233800961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGns-YxKNppvVSUIb4mhDXcWkuLlCBhLckRmcxQ5lcoNmkSJuM2LgcsMFqO5g2l88ojAe5LY1DBcpK1FQtXLCWdUW0KUqd1ltzq1If3hvPicGEKTx0aaa9RR-Ijo0QJbj4eLokRbbTcFKDixKjsjhBQ12r5Jpr5daWfiODfy8tIAVdZ1ILj581sLgrsw/w480-h640/PXL_20220729_233800961.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Week 2 and 4- Dennis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And then it was over!</p><p>I gave my graduation speech. Instead of only speaking in front of eachother, as all the other graduates had done we invited our host families so there would be a bit more of an audience. It was a very special night.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCr6VHv3RKJXZa_eod_NKcCvMw9B0fGDY0_egI5f_b0B9MxyWpwixyV3sBDXFbghO_4QvJV7gGhEr4ZU77OrhO_5Drli-DfDed-AciX-Otkotyuy0V1AgdQMrntuWgwcMFr2CNI1DCpPRzyqRLPT79GsilBjDl7JyPNxVqkPm8ethLu10KoB2knzOCA/s4032/PXL_20220729_233948672.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCr6VHv3RKJXZa_eod_NKcCvMw9B0fGDY0_egI5f_b0B9MxyWpwixyV3sBDXFbghO_4QvJV7gGhEr4ZU77OrhO_5Drli-DfDed-AciX-Otkotyuy0V1AgdQMrntuWgwcMFr2CNI1DCpPRzyqRLPT79GsilBjDl7JyPNxVqkPm8ethLu10KoB2knzOCA/w480-h640/PXL_20220729_233948672.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Marino joined us later to take us to the "fiestas" or fair. He claimed that all of Santo Domingo was celebrating my graduation (really, it was to celebrate the anniversary of the city) but we had a GREAT time.</p><p>That night, dinner was Tamales wrapped in banana leaves (SO SO GOOD!) and ALL the fried food my heart could desire! One fact that was proving hard to forget was that there was only 1 week until I got on a plane back to the states...</p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-1447192677220185072022-08-03T14:16:00.003-07:002022-08-03T14:16:41.896-07:00FloresMy first day in Costa Rica, I was on a tour through the school to learn about Costa Rica and the town we were living in, Santo Domingo de Heredia. And we learned the 3 reasons Heredia is associated with Flores: 1. The first president was from Heredia, with the last name, Flores. 2. there are LOTS of flowers in this region, and 3. The people of Heredia are beautiful as flowers. Yes, these are all very true facts.<div><br /></div><div>That afternoon, I went for a walk with Dinia and Seidy, which began a month and a half long addiction to stopping somewhere and snapping a photo of a plant or flower. I have SO MANY MORE than these, but a few to share:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDNQBLru0Kzuix6NVJxAJlP4x1wBiLsSGvGTP_EjE8s9hsPgR_m2XlP4hdDHeDhXv3VZNeGN9dCM4jIgV8Z3r_h26XYhAw7Yqj2sY0yM-TjfimOp8SvfU5iDz7wz5hEI0C0erecbQE1k_j4mKe3AMwYeOaGTOFQTCH26MuCmEUVMBwvULF09DNzpUCA/s4032/PXL_20220626_202437810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPDNQBLru0Kzuix6NVJxAJlP4x1wBiLsSGvGTP_EjE8s9hsPgR_m2XlP4hdDHeDhXv3VZNeGN9dCM4jIgV8Z3r_h26XYhAw7Yqj2sY0yM-TjfimOp8SvfU5iDz7wz5hEI0C0erecbQE1k_j4mKe3AMwYeOaGTOFQTCH26MuCmEUVMBwvULF09DNzpUCA/w240-h320/PXL_20220626_202437810.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I NOW know that Bougainvilleas are everywhere, but I fell in LOVE with this one<br />taking over a tree in Santo Domingo. I have SO MANY photos of this one, but this was the 1st.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaS95h1Ahp_d3l1LzbrWlykWHbsmAgP_gW5GfzEuYMl06tlu8jobUQNabuKYfiW6bIhAGm1SEJ0padMKeJHWGh7DKgdEUHp7fv8yVjYqM4bOMEsISPBRiRBRtV92avoFZ2VEAndugVXAX4RBx6E551XhrWQIUN4CX2-iRR1INLPDbAExxPvYbYatQsw/s4032/PXL_20220626_203157336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhaS95h1Ahp_d3l1LzbrWlykWHbsmAgP_gW5GfzEuYMl06tlu8jobUQNabuKYfiW6bIhAGm1SEJ0padMKeJHWGh7DKgdEUHp7fv8yVjYqM4bOMEsISPBRiRBRtV92avoFZ2VEAndugVXAX4RBx6E551XhrWQIUN4CX2-iRR1INLPDbAExxPvYbYatQsw/s320/PXL_20220626_203157336.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also love, the way you see so much green, and then POP of flowers against the green,<br />So beautiful.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVhCxYTewl3G37UHh-8zgbOVb69Xz6O7vkOcJMnH_qla9e3VdkpNOwEAHKw5KFa-NmDL-MlaiC8g9m5bsO-5U63hb3jNoGDws5pd7kpBURk-swD2o8LJF4v1jmbRrCzLok_e4tQQ9ngEcd9wOfXMDS216HVa6rPqVoKjJ10sJ_nYd80Zj9KzknWnXSA/s4032/PXL_20220627_031348029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVhCxYTewl3G37UHh-8zgbOVb69Xz6O7vkOcJMnH_qla9e3VdkpNOwEAHKw5KFa-NmDL-MlaiC8g9m5bsO-5U63hb3jNoGDws5pd7kpBURk-swD2o8LJF4v1jmbRrCzLok_e4tQQ9ngEcd9wOfXMDS216HVa6rPqVoKjJ10sJ_nYd80Zj9KzknWnXSA/s320/PXL_20220627_031348029.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Seidy's house these beauties only open up at night. I didn't know flowers other than<br />Jasmine did that.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1eJeNQihx3S95cE_XIe-100dnr2PnLXmNemwfHBUpAnlon9QK87yPjXJkaaP-EVBfSoGgIoYMZ01527iuCJIVw_brqfjathw6V7kIjJD3oEte407iwdel7ucaH829neBGSrJbJNnmoFzKHalUlIwL0FpusXYotVHFt_JmJUmjlH2OF00ryZCyIDL8g/s4032/PXL_20220703_190142124.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1eJeNQihx3S95cE_XIe-100dnr2PnLXmNemwfHBUpAnlon9QK87yPjXJkaaP-EVBfSoGgIoYMZ01527iuCJIVw_brqfjathw6V7kIjJD3oEte407iwdel7ucaH829neBGSrJbJNnmoFzKHalUlIwL0FpusXYotVHFt_JmJUmjlH2OF00ryZCyIDL8g/s320/PXL_20220703_190142124.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have MANY photos of these flowers but this one is my favorite.<br />It looks just like a snail!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIluhJRpbauKFiRYQEuhwjmYPs9He_ng7RCput-26f_qk6ASZ9pmC0nAmJGoEQHtDmkjHrRFQmfzqTgP053xMobw3ghjHgDcy9oqBgOBf_ZIGJ864jjja6UBam8m7ivOH2_hgRsWGf-UBUQs2T_DfF-U2b3FgERxmiuSkNEdTvj_SWxvu2EozduCM4nw/s4032/PXL_20220703_190439679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIluhJRpbauKFiRYQEuhwjmYPs9He_ng7RCput-26f_qk6ASZ9pmC0nAmJGoEQHtDmkjHrRFQmfzqTgP053xMobw3ghjHgDcy9oqBgOBf_ZIGJ864jjja6UBam8m7ivOH2_hgRsWGf-UBUQs2T_DfF-U2b3FgERxmiuSkNEdTvj_SWxvu2EozduCM4nw/s320/PXL_20220703_190439679.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ran into these ones at the zoo. they're like WAX!<br />So cool!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8m8ETnPm5zIgfpg1n22Sv1EoLnSQ0oz1QwLlWzkIhXdVhUlKpQaT23IjIcwDCx96ZM1SMUo0ZetRJO4QUMtpw9aEeSvNcpqXt72AzdnqcMuMvlMUoRCS32t1-Q6JNIS7J_JyUhv5JlNHdIDtnJKjtIb4rVH504CKFZVOp4pMG4q_uFPWTmq-6mFDNA/s4032/PXL_20220703_191010705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8m8ETnPm5zIgfpg1n22Sv1EoLnSQ0oz1QwLlWzkIhXdVhUlKpQaT23IjIcwDCx96ZM1SMUo0ZetRJO4QUMtpw9aEeSvNcpqXt72AzdnqcMuMvlMUoRCS32t1-Q6JNIS7J_JyUhv5JlNHdIDtnJKjtIb4rVH504CKFZVOp4pMG4q_uFPWTmq-6mFDNA/s320/PXL_20220703_191010705.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another that can be found everywhere, but NEVER<br />failed to make me gasp. I love them so much!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSY-dHm3U1faJKG08jHVQbHHvArzRfvjQcQljCeQVDN9YbtGnfDkAlChksu_QOJhjY3xRAUmXq6h92JNgyrgOe9_6YnOYyDPboPKVMtBAfn1ErhZ_HYMI3lqOVO90jKqKsOWbpsPqLm3YS3OTyejbA0r0u-dbVP9gERapW_pHjxg10-uwec4xlOpsoQ/s4032/IMG_5291.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSY-dHm3U1faJKG08jHVQbHHvArzRfvjQcQljCeQVDN9YbtGnfDkAlChksu_QOJhjY3xRAUmXq6h92JNgyrgOe9_6YnOYyDPboPKVMtBAfn1ErhZ_HYMI3lqOVO90jKqKsOWbpsPqLm3YS3OTyejbA0r0u-dbVP9gERapW_pHjxg10-uwec4xlOpsoQ/s320/IMG_5291.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are some of my buddies as I walked to school.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SpsVkxasMSTbxPa-5h7zudd4-MLhIjpxs_b8kW0ZjTKCWK63ICUl0U2QYk4c7Kv9bX145k-k32mnLg-KrTRb8PSyEzRaUgLK1B8dfDk-zJgIblwOObu1oYnHlHkpEEP2eVPzup_9QWEKUTyx_dTFiDQflJyAK8320ZV47AC6S7MZ1aaa3vlg0qGf4w/s4032/IMG_5292.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SpsVkxasMSTbxPa-5h7zudd4-MLhIjpxs_b8kW0ZjTKCWK63ICUl0U2QYk4c7Kv9bX145k-k32mnLg-KrTRb8PSyEzRaUgLK1B8dfDk-zJgIblwOObu1oYnHlHkpEEP2eVPzup_9QWEKUTyx_dTFiDQflJyAK8320ZV47AC6S7MZ1aaa3vlg0qGf4w/s320/IMG_5292.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the contrasting colors! Just LOOK!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K8jymEPYLlOppLGe7yn55fUCDhBBNZgp3StbOGhN2ifUZhIMLte9AKEoRNS0T7zX9_9EM79kHoT-8_D7Ed0c_YHUaxTijnBJ88m0QboFji3ksbkBCoZxxHJykulnJ82dpNjOcLxGR6fWWoqTmz8tPKkFklS7QbUHihRKLnBmFFWg2Ef-lsIKvNVRBw/s4032/IMG_5839.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-K8jymEPYLlOppLGe7yn55fUCDhBBNZgp3StbOGhN2ifUZhIMLte9AKEoRNS0T7zX9_9EM79kHoT-8_D7Ed0c_YHUaxTijnBJ88m0QboFji3ksbkBCoZxxHJykulnJ82dpNjOcLxGR6fWWoqTmz8tPKkFklS7QbUHihRKLnBmFFWg2Ef-lsIKvNVRBw/s320/IMG_5839.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire, it's actual fire in the form of a plant!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnLx2RRcpEjS5oFKikE-qNn2YdwBD6WWEVOJoBDiz2iUFikWPG34dAIb-a9DDxFiywlT_EvkbiuorOphyiV8Hoy5M4pzSTMSHgAqYHIPkDe1X4tFrH91OXHlEjRAt1gaIVXzMFtJEb5M6kHCIaWSFYL6RK5EDg-cMA8TBPr1mMNOWb1NFdM0pkvYG2g/s4032/original_35e2f679-2356-458a-8410-559ebc50f5a1_PXL_20220709_210353250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2569" data-original-width="4032" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnLx2RRcpEjS5oFKikE-qNn2YdwBD6WWEVOJoBDiz2iUFikWPG34dAIb-a9DDxFiywlT_EvkbiuorOphyiV8Hoy5M4pzSTMSHgAqYHIPkDe1X4tFrH91OXHlEjRAt1gaIVXzMFtJEb5M6kHCIaWSFYL6RK5EDg-cMA8TBPr1mMNOWb1NFdM0pkvYG2g/s320/original_35e2f679-2356-458a-8410-559ebc50f5a1_PXL_20220709_210353250.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our hotel in La Fortuna, those not fortunate enough to be spatially efficient<br />knocked into these a bit. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ1fFhr1UqtICVoMSg0BWiHLmylLo7x452DmJEF8ntz8B2v3jVMQsCGQ9OjtF4j5Kc6frE4tqzAPUJRV_cpLvAVx6COHpaOYN_Q_5EsjRi0WZjNPhWioDCseve5WlUvMwjFyeWbxXdG5N-5qchvJZnLp5XTBtdsL19pXCatxaD_yNi3OFezX_clibBQ/s4032/PXL_20220709_210438685_exported_1068_1657414818087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ1fFhr1UqtICVoMSg0BWiHLmylLo7x452DmJEF8ntz8B2v3jVMQsCGQ9OjtF4j5Kc6frE4tqzAPUJRV_cpLvAVx6COHpaOYN_Q_5EsjRi0WZjNPhWioDCseve5WlUvMwjFyeWbxXdG5N-5qchvJZnLp5XTBtdsL19pXCatxaD_yNi3OFezX_clibBQ/s320/PXL_20220709_210438685_exported_1068_1657414818087.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But look how PRETTY they are!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMptAnW3hECP9qtfQNKO5zyhqO5W5FeefpRQAaxSei-F51DSVOsAq8bkSZt4iRhnBLZNk3XRJ0yrKVWkJnQuMcl2KrvRGPLuyEiQ5OU4QEedFHPDdqTR6k7E3oQgVvB-xMAYStFGf_u_lRmyiihIw0pGF5tKyCtM07fxFiz_RA6W89t2ypAaPiMmNlBg/s4032/IMG_5341.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMptAnW3hECP9qtfQNKO5zyhqO5W5FeefpRQAaxSei-F51DSVOsAq8bkSZt4iRhnBLZNk3XRJ0yrKVWkJnQuMcl2KrvRGPLuyEiQ5OU4QEedFHPDdqTR6k7E3oQgVvB-xMAYStFGf_u_lRmyiihIw0pGF5tKyCtM07fxFiz_RA6W89t2ypAaPiMmNlBg/s320/IMG_5341.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FINALLY the sun was shining on these friend.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2dGVAaO32QqUSztsM9WCgN9tkNlHdD4-tFkR5rknSSp_S1uhzSM7ogtIqXxB029ZJwV9NDI_LlYpLh4FByqkWNHX96YDdhngPUPUWZQ6u3oA8wORPMBKr9GLyd7Mq1bNmnTMIRYvyAr9CtV6AtqeKdOCSIlCHzbWLQ0Fdf0y_BOUFj-i7DXtFwbRlQ/s4032/PXL_20220712_151738960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2dGVAaO32QqUSztsM9WCgN9tkNlHdD4-tFkR5rknSSp_S1uhzSM7ogtIqXxB029ZJwV9NDI_LlYpLh4FByqkWNHX96YDdhngPUPUWZQ6u3oA8wORPMBKr9GLyd7Mq1bNmnTMIRYvyAr9CtV6AtqeKdOCSIlCHzbWLQ0Fdf0y_BOUFj-i7DXtFwbRlQ/s320/PXL_20220712_151738960.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never realized HOW much they looked like the birds till I saw this one<br />on my walk.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZb3VdocTJRa5m85dXcvomYhMtpntwSEuLN9e0lSL8FrMTsnA6SW35bT813jeqpFPzodE21MTgzl6pgNJUNoNDyv8g1i_ksLC-OEUtBuOqrRViAMSBCj8K9XIaehPUGvOi_tEr_Qg9b37bSqs73vNO2FYqTKqTH-qRNZ2ChjTjnTvdjuasL0gdEjUUw/s4032/PXL_20220713_000235943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZb3VdocTJRa5m85dXcvomYhMtpntwSEuLN9e0lSL8FrMTsnA6SW35bT813jeqpFPzodE21MTgzl6pgNJUNoNDyv8g1i_ksLC-OEUtBuOqrRViAMSBCj8K9XIaehPUGvOi_tEr_Qg9b37bSqs73vNO2FYqTKqTH-qRNZ2ChjTjnTvdjuasL0gdEjUUw/s320/PXL_20220713_000235943.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I usually say hi to these on my walk home from school and think,<br />"mom would LOVE these"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_XCZ9YyBF51c39qB4A0L6iXIfLeRH6BTi_p5kMqb1akfDVWprEsvajPSqG22OVxANYI7XywMr5IE-pdJxoIVfSenKMEcg2Pa10Z8nKyUifdzIC63cY17_wF41RFD7F_OLhnEGB7x_d4MlVqZrVhnG_uiQrMavt7WKdveU9A9AhORscYn0Ziy5gCB4w/s4032/PXL_20220715_193029182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig_XCZ9YyBF51c39qB4A0L6iXIfLeRH6BTi_p5kMqb1akfDVWprEsvajPSqG22OVxANYI7XywMr5IE-pdJxoIVfSenKMEcg2Pa10Z8nKyUifdzIC63cY17_wF41RFD7F_OLhnEGB7x_d4MlVqZrVhnG_uiQrMavt7WKdveU9A9AhORscYn0Ziy5gCB4w/s320/PXL_20220715_193029182.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met this friend in Tortuguero just before a basalisk came RUNNING at me from<br />this direction. and I met this BEAUTY. The pole holds the flower up, and I have SO many questions.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_SeRUi8cT4zgNnU0a3PFvQeF7_Hn7ExYszKWH4pTBqCzlIUdF9GU4E1wZamYuVsSp6MiVvdYZwVRugBzKnSrWn20NMfa33cs7oPZGbiKmukag7siG40NztkToIQDYv37TSNn1bfos2w7uy8LQ7qpwrsV-OWIjr4WHQ3IiAz1dnRlE58hqwivoO_oiQ/s4032/PXL_20220716_194113186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_SeRUi8cT4zgNnU0a3PFvQeF7_Hn7ExYszKWH4pTBqCzlIUdF9GU4E1wZamYuVsSp6MiVvdYZwVRugBzKnSrWn20NMfa33cs7oPZGbiKmukag7siG40NztkToIQDYv37TSNn1bfos2w7uy8LQ7qpwrsV-OWIjr4WHQ3IiAz1dnRlE58hqwivoO_oiQ/s320/PXL_20220716_194113186.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mentioned these fuzzy guys in my tortuguero post, but they <br />needed to be seen in all their glory!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bfSnLHvenrrpGFbCKvxtKocVZ7wzq-6L8kW_Qz0G8kVkdtDhdanoztYYb6JL-IvGnKhDqar55t5aLEQJQargmUTIVuax84avABS2cMKLVQpdZcMKZzNY-ENPBxzlRTEDV1nLjmW7i11PVBwTIKhgnlO9sdaIo3_Z7P67HwIAKtJFdxGHKTi98fcNZg/s4032/PXL_20220718_233226128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bfSnLHvenrrpGFbCKvxtKocVZ7wzq-6L8kW_Qz0G8kVkdtDhdanoztYYb6JL-IvGnKhDqar55t5aLEQJQargmUTIVuax84avABS2cMKLVQpdZcMKZzNY-ENPBxzlRTEDV1nLjmW7i11PVBwTIKhgnlO9sdaIo3_Z7P67HwIAKtJFdxGHKTi98fcNZg/s320/PXL_20220718_233226128.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those flowers are PURPLE AND ORANGE!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-qITuL8oW5feDNdp8liEDLWcV961-kJO2EiRE32mJkkfiEupltN_gP7TAAfgxnwpTGETPzavCorFP65muRkF6IAWo9D0kRsJehEKhzR1GzqWGz6yainTNAKoXuvCdRMsBdWjmpqLeIwSmQ_Twk9DoKCSDux1oNyzZJ_3FCSBHatT8OrQgeDcL_t-Eg/s4032/PXL_20220720_180157063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-qITuL8oW5feDNdp8liEDLWcV961-kJO2EiRE32mJkkfiEupltN_gP7TAAfgxnwpTGETPzavCorFP65muRkF6IAWo9D0kRsJehEKhzR1GzqWGz6yainTNAKoXuvCdRMsBdWjmpqLeIwSmQ_Twk9DoKCSDux1oNyzZJ_3FCSBHatT8OrQgeDcL_t-Eg/s320/PXL_20220720_180157063.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hola purple my love.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNJ9gyG85IkSviKQzFiUGOOXPbShdslPv1FoWilJnxhCldfDJ9vrHncOaJNtSTVRZMJvCd5EIacBuQ_ErHVhjzNId1o0BfG-SlP_3tHBEgRT-U2zfCFQ3w2x78blCi6ZqQ3tVostLdAErKA5H-O1B5AuVDjHXh5ideiVridne_zPt_ST3w1SW7F1uWw/s4032/PXL_20220720_180333730.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNJ9gyG85IkSviKQzFiUGOOXPbShdslPv1FoWilJnxhCldfDJ9vrHncOaJNtSTVRZMJvCd5EIacBuQ_ErHVhjzNId1o0BfG-SlP_3tHBEgRT-U2zfCFQ3w2x78blCi6ZqQ3tVostLdAErKA5H-O1B5AuVDjHXh5ideiVridne_zPt_ST3w1SW7F1uWw/s320/PXL_20220720_180333730.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many colors</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz6vd1y0qvv0UVOgvq8-XCNidj3PSu6ffXeICypHav_cq7GoDWM-fcV4PmdjAtp5vTR-wzIASUGKkhQ9WmnlSlNXtiREmx2pSb0Ls6WEUDM6cyG80gP0uB6aVvemOQsm3qmE9-mQSpVdFYmOhxnLgi52EzuKIsNOfY2k_bB4fZK_sbOR299Cg85fjTg/s4032/PXL_20220720_180402643.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUz6vd1y0qvv0UVOgvq8-XCNidj3PSu6ffXeICypHav_cq7GoDWM-fcV4PmdjAtp5vTR-wzIASUGKkhQ9WmnlSlNXtiREmx2pSb0Ls6WEUDM6cyG80gP0uB6aVvemOQsm3qmE9-mQSpVdFYmOhxnLgi52EzuKIsNOfY2k_bB4fZK_sbOR299Cg85fjTg/s320/PXL_20220720_180402643.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many pictures</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEya-2XLO7P7YHqkxgM-jhdwpAjJIV83O33pWE_4qcBDM8l7h2bHVIp8wymRgkQhoCb9-PDVG185DTsvkjtd4vNTjJV4RVnJU8Ps3HtQFnVobqldJbRjfC5P1Vh4SaVfmXnvMcCeH3fRO-pKXUYm02Fznk4E9XQvaBFivEiOmpp2yMX7icM725rLBetg/s4032/PXL_20220723_185442823.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEya-2XLO7P7YHqkxgM-jhdwpAjJIV83O33pWE_4qcBDM8l7h2bHVIp8wymRgkQhoCb9-PDVG185DTsvkjtd4vNTjJV4RVnJU8Ps3HtQFnVobqldJbRjfC5P1Vh4SaVfmXnvMcCeH3fRO-pKXUYm02Fznk4E9XQvaBFivEiOmpp2yMX7icM725rLBetg/s320/PXL_20220723_185442823.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtG8XQ2xVfRypLUFIG6zJevMl5-qdAMZo3AzmIXvRQxoaqpvtaR9exIRWNQbghkK6CA0kB5ySNBnDhrpyJcnULKVi57L9fhF-hy97MPUWZnKWNhxtgBAhmUgpefySziKQtatrWapuHNI6I-uXJRcybiPhED1gO93sysAeuIk5h8k1XQ5QjeGCFL1Rg/s4032/PXL_20220726_180800628.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCtG8XQ2xVfRypLUFIG6zJevMl5-qdAMZo3AzmIXvRQxoaqpvtaR9exIRWNQbghkK6CA0kB5ySNBnDhrpyJcnULKVi57L9fhF-hy97MPUWZnKWNhxtgBAhmUgpefySziKQtatrWapuHNI6I-uXJRcybiPhED1gO93sysAeuIk5h8k1XQ5QjeGCFL1Rg/s320/PXL_20220726_180800628.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMT2LPqtqJ3u_guzp9sUpS02uitnq0LITplTUTBg0JwSCPz5WBAiBgxJJUGczXF2_fKShSMbYVrkq_QLtLH_2OrdVFqaiytQyLfzdBdKfq0qQviUFcWlQxbIUR3xgahloWHrIf9jDQLdJ_7z8EmzFDbe-UsqK03JsMR6Ro6DTiyQ6PCad7siXubgk5w/s4032/PXL_20220727_161331679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMT2LPqtqJ3u_guzp9sUpS02uitnq0LITplTUTBg0JwSCPz5WBAiBgxJJUGczXF2_fKShSMbYVrkq_QLtLH_2OrdVFqaiytQyLfzdBdKfq0qQviUFcWlQxbIUR3xgahloWHrIf9jDQLdJ_7z8EmzFDbe-UsqK03JsMR6Ro6DTiyQ6PCad7siXubgk5w/s320/PXL_20220727_161331679.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawj8tkGPS-DXkayTaRvIJzDIzhzl--OMehT--REJXIn21OPu6i3Mbc6Lo8jl0BrF4MHmmuh2qXY_8n4TSk3nff-b7LxKZGjUG09NCqF1O1zIx4Tf2O3tkaB8ildgy6FoO7e0y1m0l2xady1W8BPTsVC7onRNWvSz8jPvKCUtd1YsApmd2GGRgaiap_w/s4032/PXL_20220727_162911896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB5X4191Ej-bJC35KyVj1DUA0WUiNMOGWIE0Nn5u-XtnvebyQYwzNN0Z8jM-H0Ot0cYVA7i5AZxyBU7wNyFd34pwYzkRfdtbnNT1LucBCRqGwSMklBduav3NA_CEJ8ZTidh6u-FzjU4FB4EyFGmQpbnj6Wj0OzesOhxItAyXfhOGhLANhdwEs5pofkg/s4032/PXL_20220803_003755356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZB5X4191Ej-bJC35KyVj1DUA0WUiNMOGWIE0Nn5u-XtnvebyQYwzNN0Z8jM-H0Ot0cYVA7i5AZxyBU7wNyFd34pwYzkRfdtbnNT1LucBCRqGwSMklBduav3NA_CEJ8ZTidh6u-FzjU4FB4EyFGmQpbnj6Wj0OzesOhxItAyXfhOGhLANhdwEs5pofkg/s320/PXL_20220803_003755356.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKBwsAx8DX6PXgJdYhxc3HfVyXntp5-bUQRbvC1hBuUr9jewXOft98ZPmzhjMBNQpQQNKcIa1GE5w6ang9_FHvUg0zzdnvQjAGMmHBNIh5V0W02Qyc1MKnThMEd_12huwj6w0RiGGKlf_Uc2KHseGoO_T--Mg_GObEy-L_y2Y3ZfJLP18CSPmibu7rw/s4032/PXL_20220803_014107395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKBwsAx8DX6PXgJdYhxc3HfVyXntp5-bUQRbvC1hBuUr9jewXOft98ZPmzhjMBNQpQQNKcIa1GE5w6ang9_FHvUg0zzdnvQjAGMmHBNIh5V0W02Qyc1MKnThMEd_12huwj6w0RiGGKlf_Uc2KHseGoO_T--Mg_GObEy-L_y2Y3ZfJLP18CSPmibu7rw/s320/PXL_20220803_014107395.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I have been SO happy here!</div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-67179506265724631102022-08-03T13:44:00.000-07:002022-08-03T13:44:56.200-07:00Cena a la PauliAs I have mentioned, Flory is an AMAZING baker. The day I got to their house after the long flight and customs processes, I was exhausted and hungry. I didn't know which was a stronger feeling. Flory pulled out some of her bread, and it was PERFECT. Sweet, but not too sweet, and light, so light. And there was a seed in it, but it wasn't overwhelming and it really added to the taste. I nearly fell out of my seat when they told me it was Anise. I HATE licorice tasting anything, and there I was ENJOYING anise! (Flory even cooked a zucchini dish I liked, though eggplant and tomato is still a no go.)<div><br /></div><div>From the moment I ate that bread, I knew I wanted to show Flory Challah. I just really wanted to bake with her. BUT with the classes in the afternoons, and my travelling on weekends, it was very hard to find a few hours needed to bake. Enter the Annexion de Nicoya. July 25th is a holiday in Costa Rica celebrating when the people took a vote and joined Costa Rica. AND there was no school that afternoon, so I could make bread.</div><div><br /></div><div>And IF I was making bread, I thought hey, why not make Brisket and make this a "Jewish Food" night. I found the butcher and ordered the brisket (pecho de res and falda de res, both names for Brisket). The plan was to make a dinner for the three usual dinner companions: Flory, Jose Luis, and me. Challah, Brisket, mashed potatoes and roasted vegetable of some kind. There were two issues with this plan. 1- No way was it ever only going to be the 3 of us (in the end, we were 9), and 2- I found Matzoh and Matzoh Mel at the store in the Jewish Center.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was ON!</div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday, when I called the butcher to deliver the brisket, I added a chicken to the mix. I wanted a quarter or half, but they only had full. Ok, fine. A whole chicken for chicken soup. Then Dinia, Carolina and I hit the stores to find ingredients with Marino as our chauffer. I had created a google sheet with every ingredient in the rows and dishes in the columns so that I would know how many eggs I needed, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>We started with the brisket. Bubbe's recipe calls for LOTS of garlic (duh) turned into a paste with other spices. When I asked for a garlic press, I found an outlet for stress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOX6SK11jTVXzZQlYBBuWCEz2xjBY9LvqcyolgS5cViVy4jW1IHhij7s-56KPAYO8f2gtz2aKCPXfIHFlmNa3NZmqKiuGdCODFU3fXIvtE8Vb14Karv6lK8CYUXcJS_WubSN8YJde70ujDigO2dEGpfrP1JiZDUhSduutkACX1vsnwfe2Pa09xAZj4Q/s4032/PXL_20220724_213427219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOX6SK11jTVXzZQlYBBuWCEz2xjBY9LvqcyolgS5cViVy4jW1IHhij7s-56KPAYO8f2gtz2aKCPXfIHFlmNa3NZmqKiuGdCODFU3fXIvtE8Vb14Karv6lK8CYUXcJS_WubSN8YJde70ujDigO2dEGpfrP1JiZDUhSduutkACX1vsnwfe2Pa09xAZj4Q/w300-h400/PXL_20220724_213427219.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Eventually, I gave up and used a blender. That blender would be used MANY times before this dinner was done :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the brisket was doing it's thing, it was time to make the soup. Flory convinced me to use the slow cooker (I have never used one before. It freaked me out just as much as having a gas stove would freak Flory out. We both thought the other was too dangerous.) So, we put the whole chicken in with a bunch of vegetables, some traditional to ashkenazi chicken soup, others, definitely not. Dinia is an EXPERT chopper, so she handled the veggies while Caro and I got to work on the kharoysis. Yeah, I was staring at the box of Matzoh and decided why not, and made some. We couldn't find horseradish ANYWHERE, but thank goodness for the international love of sushu, we COULD find Wasabi. Caro had a BLAST using the blender as a food processor for the apples and walnuts, and Dinia helped out with the wine (I had the chance to get sweet Jewish wine at the Jewish Center, but couldn't do it.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltIK-6UGimlCYAauW9FPR72_tY7FDwdV311gdcZshSwRtT_cIu-69xrTFz7NFB25MJpCqcq8tyYE5kTv-C3TGUB-B5BYcWmZEfC6brX-4swPn9rnsgRMkV8Z-ypfWo219ZcyXsM4l4595-eULUsBN_R5QYKUc8CnLRAN7xDfTOoMryGVxBpSkAlYh_g/s4032/PXL_20220725_000048145.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltIK-6UGimlCYAauW9FPR72_tY7FDwdV311gdcZshSwRtT_cIu-69xrTFz7NFB25MJpCqcq8tyYE5kTv-C3TGUB-B5BYcWmZEfC6brX-4swPn9rnsgRMkV8Z-ypfWo219ZcyXsM4l4595-eULUsBN_R5QYKUc8CnLRAN7xDfTOoMryGVxBpSkAlYh_g/s320/PXL_20220725_000048145.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>When the brisket was ready, I put the meat in the fridge and set up with the pot, a strainer and a spoon. And developed an IMPRESSIVLY huge blister on the side of my finger from mushing the onion into the liquid, but OH was it worth it. SO good.</div><div><br /></div><div>Monday morning I got up early to make the Homentashn dough that I was too tired to make the night before. I had promised Caro that I wouldn't actually make the hamantaschen until they were there, so Flory and I started up on the Challah. She watched the whole process, but, when it came to kneading (I usually use the dough hook on my mixer) she swept in and zip zap zop the sticky sticky why won't you come off my fingers dough looked like perfect bread dough. A miracle worker, that Flory. While letting the dough rise, I holed up in my room and finished the presents I was making for folks in the family. FAR too quickly, it was time to get back to cooking. First up, braiding the Challah. I had made a double batch, so I did one full loaf of a 6 braided challah, a half loaf of a flat(ter) 4 braided challah, and a 4 strand circular Challah. Flory and I had a blast making them. Caro came back from work and our hamantaschen factory was in business. We had strawberry and blackberry jelly from the regular supermarket, but two special fillings as well. For me, it was the jam Flory made in my second week out of Cas. The whole house smelled like Cas for 2 days, my nose was in heaven! The other special was a special for my host family. I found Bonne Maman at the "American" Supermarket. It was the first time my host family had tried it, and they were as obsessed as I am.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0yR0F_Zpiu6WBRsApXogeca-byX_uFHMCyDqDoPwFmxqzYfsRDHY3FWGf7c40MC0xqiM9FwFVqx4g1kgbPgdfc1t_IHpunFOO6Gt2jfjv6KOHvuwboBCB1_OPZuXYnCgOuNcOAjvHbfOlOTnwDQZYcbBaya5Mm6d0jXgHHgsobg44artpmd9W4SJxA/s4032/PXL_20220726_002522260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0yR0F_Zpiu6WBRsApXogeca-byX_uFHMCyDqDoPwFmxqzYfsRDHY3FWGf7c40MC0xqiM9FwFVqx4g1kgbPgdfc1t_IHpunFOO6Gt2jfjv6KOHvuwboBCB1_OPZuXYnCgOuNcOAjvHbfOlOTnwDQZYcbBaya5Mm6d0jXgHHgsobg44artpmd9W4SJxA/w300-h400/PXL_20220726_002522260.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_SXpqliZdFbrL3BaF0krKeMZZOimyKiheWDZcpNFex9lPyPGNELiHigqUuKgCO_4-gHg2wwteta5h2RAtfwImOvVEl7PfuxR6LWyUkIj98DDjFuw9E0F8q1vDinrcMbJILh6kX4ekPtBiFmkUMuJC9WXsEZJU3mtzcp02c5jtko36N_dzN0dENlh7g/s4032/PXL_20220726_002608183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_SXpqliZdFbrL3BaF0krKeMZZOimyKiheWDZcpNFex9lPyPGNELiHigqUuKgCO_4-gHg2wwteta5h2RAtfwImOvVEl7PfuxR6LWyUkIj98DDjFuw9E0F8q1vDinrcMbJILh6kX4ekPtBiFmkUMuJC9WXsEZJU3mtzcp02c5jtko36N_dzN0dENlh7g/w300-h400/PXL_20220726_002608183.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And a HUGE shout out to Jose Luis who made freshly squeezed orange juice for the hamantaschen. It made ALL the difference.</div><div><br /></div><div>Flory took me to the back of the house, one part lines for drying clothing when it is raining out, one part bakery and showed me her ovens.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VaIVfaxbgZTUZysOp95WvAztE0NOIKJ-aI7C6XnLv1HPfaHdpT0_jegvJbyvdpVHT8yL0vfzHUf59L5Cc0i0pIAdBadwdTSV8383urUtehst9sUHsOz0fvKA-KulUnTfCvOjodlelHgetlgO3ORQD-YvRHZiPq7zneJkAl9jXckS9ftfIi6y9KBN-w/s4032/PXL_20220725_235303134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VaIVfaxbgZTUZysOp95WvAztE0NOIKJ-aI7C6XnLv1HPfaHdpT0_jegvJbyvdpVHT8yL0vfzHUf59L5Cc0i0pIAdBadwdTSV8383urUtehst9sUHsOz0fvKA-KulUnTfCvOjodlelHgetlgO3ORQD-YvRHZiPq7zneJkAl9jXckS9ftfIi6y9KBN-w/w400-h300/PXL_20220725_235303134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much yummy!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>They came out WONDERFULLY! As did the Hamantaschen.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbAtTPVx3Pr-YD2J0yovy4_WzbmqSnnbMNAG-j4XDpFzxEJ7X8rZ7cAt7c9AyKbskmDX_L4KtZYPC7G-AQhsX9MIOzB3O3OiObFxFj-5Fdfwzz1khN8XHmpp91PV3dRAzjq9cwpPeRKtbGN5mVhPbRteiQu_rTZSiPT7E9jKBuxp2ff5BejlQjrVRXw/s4032/PXL_20220726_003304044.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbAtTPVx3Pr-YD2J0yovy4_WzbmqSnnbMNAG-j4XDpFzxEJ7X8rZ7cAt7c9AyKbskmDX_L4KtZYPC7G-AQhsX9MIOzB3O3OiObFxFj-5Fdfwzz1khN8XHmpp91PV3dRAzjq9cwpPeRKtbGN5mVhPbRteiQu_rTZSiPT7E9jKBuxp2ff5BejlQjrVRXw/w400-h300/PXL_20220726_003304044.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Kh1pCEQZUKokS3MCiO728sSS_Z6kE8hqqrvW4HPM0KUlUxl-Xe05YdNihCTK-16_oWsywTE2dyZJqkrq5rrbQ0cIUGhGe-el-LgEMqv6A2oKfn5O5KCRNJLxaJnC_S04Wo7R21NvA4aEktLpuubnrFLIHKIC9lP76WyIteYeVrUCuFVM4jaCEYEufg/s1040/IMG-20220726-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Kh1pCEQZUKokS3MCiO728sSS_Z6kE8hqqrvW4HPM0KUlUxl-Xe05YdNihCTK-16_oWsywTE2dyZJqkrq5rrbQ0cIUGhGe-el-LgEMqv6A2oKfn5O5KCRNJLxaJnC_S04Wo7R21NvA4aEktLpuubnrFLIHKIC9lP76WyIteYeVrUCuFVM4jaCEYEufg/s320/IMG-20220726-WA0001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I made the matzohballs for the soup, and they ACTUALLY HELD SHAPE when I dropped them into the soup. Flory whipped up the eggwhite, and she must have done some kind of magic. It's the only explanation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLto2tr1_YMnNxiQ_miDEOlEF76xdp8PFo8b_ZZUxWGtoD4oEDWJX9qlSytpY6MlYnjqJ1FEfWSniFUPLTjdm9-QucMSDoDXmO-y8LSupnzIIm0dJE9WFDnXl_3IDKhhK7fJbC485DVG77H-Wsy-iS3faZPmMQJ1r5XgK-Zbn6MJA6gAtBPLn7qCUaAQ/s4032/PXL_20220726_001728521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLto2tr1_YMnNxiQ_miDEOlEF76xdp8PFo8b_ZZUxWGtoD4oEDWJX9qlSytpY6MlYnjqJ1FEfWSniFUPLTjdm9-QucMSDoDXmO-y8LSupnzIIm0dJE9WFDnXl_3IDKhhK7fJbC485DVG77H-Wsy-iS3faZPmMQJ1r5XgK-Zbn6MJA6gAtBPLn7qCUaAQ/w300-h400/PXL_20220726_001728521.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div>In the end, it was Challah, Matzoh, Kharoyis, Matzohball soup, brisket, and Hamantaschen, and Dinia made VERY yummy cheesy mashed potatoes and vegetables. Only Flory and Jose Luis's youngest and his family wasn't there. It was a FANTASTIC night to get to share my culture with this family who has been SO sharing of theirs.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I get it Bubbe, when you spend 2 days cooking for family, the sound of them happily eating is one of the best sounds in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf96_9OHzaROtaWYHCO15QCQ-e6l2c48hf8aFI-zDBCWSL0uAzZhOGr7jMPaqxPk_crSZR1h7jF7IouC5KvIldEWaZ14y4_GRVwVfZ-ODrhnJCLR1cwHM06CO2xvP3sUgjIsOq3HdpRBnBz-S2gZAVzYmNCOfZCyX0twQoNTsn3wtPNZcINFDffc8yQ/s1152/IMG-20220726-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf96_9OHzaROtaWYHCO15QCQ-e6l2c48hf8aFI-zDBCWSL0uAzZhOGr7jMPaqxPk_crSZR1h7jF7IouC5KvIldEWaZ14y4_GRVwVfZ-ODrhnJCLR1cwHM06CO2xvP3sUgjIsOq3HdpRBnBz-S2gZAVzYmNCOfZCyX0twQoNTsn3wtPNZcINFDffc8yQ/w640-h480/IMG-20220726-WA0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnTJ_bVWwXVCWVL8jaQrv2MebqnTEtS5cTUeLEs_2UYXenOMwsADCkhJOTwZElOiQFCwP0zX7fxrJvb1vU0rM2wxpTZQWlIZxX-aeETtRXuRRhkEY1UxiNTHG3rwRFXKaeLgCDeUlKOBbg8zkfCAXaO_abZlqQ_KWBPJ4Th8MB8QWdJERgczHY-DXzQ/s1040/IMG-20220726-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnTJ_bVWwXVCWVL8jaQrv2MebqnTEtS5cTUeLEs_2UYXenOMwsADCkhJOTwZElOiQFCwP0zX7fxrJvb1vU0rM2wxpTZQWlIZxX-aeETtRXuRRhkEY1UxiNTHG3rwRFXKaeLgCDeUlKOBbg8zkfCAXaO_abZlqQ_KWBPJ4Th8MB8QWdJERgczHY-DXzQ/w480-h640/IMG-20220726-WA0000.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-20251812111779067622022-08-01T16:38:00.001-07:002022-08-01T16:38:20.964-07:00San Jose con Perlas de Costa Rica Tours<p> I wish someone had been there when Milena, the granddaughter who lives in the bedroom next to mine, told me the name of her tour company. PERLAS!</p><p>So Mile didn't take me on an official Perlas de Costa Rica Tours tour, but it sure felt like it. She followed my lead on what I was interested in seeing, based on her Grandfather, Jose Luis's recommendations, but also inserted some of her own favorite must sees (this AWESOME tree). I had such a great day with her! Here are some highlights (as she is also an AVID photographer.)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6LQYyhiKHVW5vYxWd1i7B1S8wZB-SX5DAXkbKbM6QbFzfFDL9el9aaVFTa-NqcMWmSO1_e8sOy8wN3xlg64kGzZkgj363lReCIjXsSYlL3zr2EWaK90DUjaSLR-ev3PeJQ_qQIS5apHEUGG5WrTNI_I-3L1p5xu-VdEh8MGPjv3y-DbAYcVcd8WcIQ/s1870/original_394eba2f-f873-4d77-a496-8ac31faad429_PXL_20220723_164741763.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="1870" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6LQYyhiKHVW5vYxWd1i7B1S8wZB-SX5DAXkbKbM6QbFzfFDL9el9aaVFTa-NqcMWmSO1_e8sOy8wN3xlg64kGzZkgj363lReCIjXsSYlL3zr2EWaK90DUjaSLR-ev3PeJQ_qQIS5apHEUGG5WrTNI_I-3L1p5xu-VdEh8MGPjv3y-DbAYcVcd8WcIQ/w400-h345/original_394eba2f-f873-4d77-a496-8ac31faad429_PXL_20220723_164741763.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, this one is a Pauli original. I just couldn't get past the size of the leaf<br />and the size of the ant!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhZiVvVMDYO5mb-40cn4wG0qGHW981qIDnOvhYzcUuCqJonoZVDqROJucxtwVGMPJUuDQW8yqxVturHZLRsiTfBKq82EBB0V8olut_C6yZ90HQKf9u4RfLjPo0VfELVhtpYxzc-GmHoCZW960A0S1I4wzBlIKooItHnx4ptEn91asBD83IZHgIo8KXA/s4032/PXL_20220723_170246386.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhZiVvVMDYO5mb-40cn4wG0qGHW981qIDnOvhYzcUuCqJonoZVDqROJucxtwVGMPJUuDQW8yqxVturHZLRsiTfBKq82EBB0V8olut_C6yZ90HQKf9u4RfLjPo0VfELVhtpYxzc-GmHoCZW960A0S1I4wzBlIKooItHnx4ptEn91asBD83IZHgIo8KXA/w300-h400/PXL_20220723_170246386.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The museo de arte costarricense is actually housed in the first<br />airport in San Jose. The art was VERY impactful. The museum is<br />filled with contemporary art that really called out the world.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshNOocUSbuxDnrUYgoCC_0_i9-0T87J3rCg4zgkiNetBiKCRvpy2alhEIsOZfi69_Rdo_HOuIPjlk2dyNwcfGh98wmxA_t-D3-XN3EyMoFcD11v72DYddmGq9VX2JvBXLf1Abj4kM5IJFRDIuOIEf1UMbrSt4E1rDN3wAicK6B9BtZ1tCNBPFQ_1acA/s4032/PXL_20220723_184026638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshNOocUSbuxDnrUYgoCC_0_i9-0T87J3rCg4zgkiNetBiKCRvpy2alhEIsOZfi69_Rdo_HOuIPjlk2dyNwcfGh98wmxA_t-D3-XN3EyMoFcD11v72DYddmGq9VX2JvBXLf1Abj4kM5IJFRDIuOIEf1UMbrSt4E1rDN3wAicK6B9BtZ1tCNBPFQ_1acA/w400-h300/PXL_20220723_184026638.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We left, and I saw this dude posing for me, so I needed to snap a photo.<br />This is in Sabana, which Mile explained is one of the "lungs of San Jose"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBJyIQv7KqYrP-_UAy2wDnqgUqygooihAj5NqJVyc4wzgxo73lqqtDJykNh9_Vgat3lmjJQfmNOSN1bEDMRxDofscBbO7NwINTICrKe5TXUp4piBsYH2DiwGMon7igCq7BbOTMDGm19qsyHacdIs1WbBFHwbUtORL-7eevlORZX8vbVv-MATv4b0xQg/s4032/original_a1c05a78-ff5b-476a-957f-e7662b7a69a9_PXL_20220723_184403865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2619" data-original-width="4032" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBJyIQv7KqYrP-_UAy2wDnqgUqygooihAj5NqJVyc4wzgxo73lqqtDJykNh9_Vgat3lmjJQfmNOSN1bEDMRxDofscBbO7NwINTICrKe5TXUp4piBsYH2DiwGMon7igCq7BbOTMDGm19qsyHacdIs1WbBFHwbUtORL-7eevlORZX8vbVv-MATv4b0xQg/w640-h416/original_a1c05a78-ff5b-476a-957f-e7662b7a69a9_PXL_20220723_184403865.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, as lungs go, it is a pretty great one.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzq6Axugw6i19_Q4bdqiK1EL-XY3Vo0weToQjBY0XFRUEURB-r5VQiRFxKuWotJD63rYAENvfK5AkN0C4K4bLiR0QvPVxIj9NLKaFvUcwVW8G1l9NTXy6ocvTVn2JJsreZCBNLULSJ-TsCZAyQb-eW52Ev1KOjHSyEMNvtLJ4ANp8T14Bko4_jWh7dg/s4032/PXL_20220723_184642289.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzq6Axugw6i19_Q4bdqiK1EL-XY3Vo0weToQjBY0XFRUEURB-r5VQiRFxKuWotJD63rYAENvfK5AkN0C4K4bLiR0QvPVxIj9NLKaFvUcwVW8G1l9NTXy6ocvTVn2JJsreZCBNLULSJ-TsCZAyQb-eW52Ev1KOjHSyEMNvtLJ4ANp8T14Bko4_jWh7dg/w300-h400/PXL_20220723_184642289.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile and I started having fun with different poses for photos.<br />"The Thinker" for banboo.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRj_4NOT5kvj4y2riQclnTqjMZxzzxXpHFu9LynqkK2n7dKO5gIl6eVG8dzOkfSlmv_tNmCg3EjQxpvyYQfYBySmVhLis465cfg7NDmy5zILdFB55mjHXzSs9ppGL_mIL38U2YnbtDhw-m-K3mG1ZtVmZGLdv69rV5WYLm2et2GO-T6fSLRP-YZpdnw/s4032/PXL_20220723_185123985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRj_4NOT5kvj4y2riQclnTqjMZxzzxXpHFu9LynqkK2n7dKO5gIl6eVG8dzOkfSlmv_tNmCg3EjQxpvyYQfYBySmVhLis465cfg7NDmy5zILdFB55mjHXzSs9ppGL_mIL38U2YnbtDhw-m-K3mG1ZtVmZGLdv69rV5WYLm2et2GO-T6fSLRP-YZpdnw/w640-h480/PXL_20220723_185123985.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were going to do posed, and then a bird kept chirping in the tree and I was trying to find it.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKNF4kBWKqenlE08LYu8AtOOPqgzbi8wp2ELmUrfnZ3S-ks8h16y7f8kbplwdcAS2jjHBLJtyPUuq5LrpRw9KZK1gXPARdP694JVLoX5LOy_fOxE5i0Zuiqz_9jmvfcUsEIjJS0pQkktnM4O24FTQJ4nV4DNp8ykS1RGmrf6oB87QmMcPkUgyjx-YSA/s4032/PXL_20220723_191946184.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKNF4kBWKqenlE08LYu8AtOOPqgzbi8wp2ELmUrfnZ3S-ks8h16y7f8kbplwdcAS2jjHBLJtyPUuq5LrpRw9KZK1gXPARdP694JVLoX5LOy_fOxE5i0Zuiqz_9jmvfcUsEIjJS0pQkktnM4O24FTQJ4nV4DNp8ykS1RGmrf6oB87QmMcPkUgyjx-YSA/w400-h300/PXL_20220723_191946184.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWAf7cXzuZbGKwyU0HCIKeh7Y4BQfdltlhS15FbWtrK_PlAY1uzINAE2W6qkd6KqIqjVVLToDN12J4vyBcOId74rhXdQDOk6OrgvR4iOt9dheYBQPYBUHdTM-Zzaqj0mKVGcOUTs8bY0mQLKpxUkHLZVzGVFw8objF3-b4xztiKN2xAmQvP6OQqC4Mg/s4032/PXL_20220723_191547159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWAf7cXzuZbGKwyU0HCIKeh7Y4BQfdltlhS15FbWtrK_PlAY1uzINAE2W6qkd6KqIqjVVLToDN12J4vyBcOId74rhXdQDOk6OrgvR4iOt9dheYBQPYBUHdTM-Zzaqj0mKVGcOUTs8bY0mQLKpxUkHLZVzGVFw8objF3-b4xztiKN2xAmQvP6OQqC4Mg/w300-h400/PXL_20220723_191547159.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Stadium in a football country like Costa Rica, is a pretty big deal.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AkrrHUYnBwIXjB5HroFXfW04dvnJ2FI4POSkom5z-Md_fH5918Y_I43MtCJweCX0e0u7aFQw01azM7e-vQBUlC2YSKKFFwiEgirP0y-YcH0iIXdMl3yg5rFy-kXJA-yapQOJf3P6d5t8id0vMzVd_Xgr7RWEtiDaFee8cHLZ1GeufamGuE8-lC8Fxw/s4032/PXL_20220723_192806690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AkrrHUYnBwIXjB5HroFXfW04dvnJ2FI4POSkom5z-Md_fH5918Y_I43MtCJweCX0e0u7aFQw01azM7e-vQBUlC2YSKKFFwiEgirP0y-YcH0iIXdMl3yg5rFy-kXJA-yapQOJf3P6d5t8id0vMzVd_Xgr7RWEtiDaFee8cHLZ1GeufamGuE8-lC8Fxw/w400-h300/PXL_20220723_192806690.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;">I even got to go in a bit to see it.</td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR2Ym4TmaS1rHpqFTTffmZAD5ykpCsJTCcHRSzQX_cZ96s089CJDw6AjG-KDqjqHeiKdQldH6FWrc-rpcZub70wjmuvH-cnLrFHL4tfP3Bd-tb1fbphxUVS_On25XMOZSCgUnTd2K_nRQc7334oCjYtJirgnHpFaKOU7lus7Wzvkd3BRK7LPWOQcrOA/s1600/IMG-20220723-WA0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR2Ym4TmaS1rHpqFTTffmZAD5ykpCsJTCcHRSzQX_cZ96s089CJDw6AjG-KDqjqHeiKdQldH6FWrc-rpcZub70wjmuvH-cnLrFHL4tfP3Bd-tb1fbphxUVS_On25XMOZSCgUnTd2K_nRQc7334oCjYtJirgnHpFaKOU7lus7Wzvkd3BRK7LPWOQcrOA/s320/IMG-20220723-WA0048.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did not catch them all, these are <br />EVERYWHERE in San Jose.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLbZJJi6yIJnHOIP0wk1fU_dgx3waylg6MtsN6QTWA9w_5iT5rLO-txaOeBouO_dIwU4bDIawMUwwcXB62SMKyUrbGa0IrGTSNSzyckI-geXW2eCc8V3s1xMtQxmgGD0f3HDHPD5U-BrQO3Wmk8vqi_R3lsmyROGt4juGvmhA6CvmsXqhFuqcUekOYg/s4032/PXL_20220723_194357434.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLbZJJi6yIJnHOIP0wk1fU_dgx3waylg6MtsN6QTWA9w_5iT5rLO-txaOeBouO_dIwU4bDIawMUwwcXB62SMKyUrbGa0IrGTSNSzyckI-geXW2eCc8V3s1xMtQxmgGD0f3HDHPD5U-BrQO3Wmk8vqi_R3lsmyROGt4juGvmhA6CvmsXqhFuqcUekOYg/w480-h640/PXL_20220723_194357434.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this was the tree. Yeah, I am SO happy I got to meet this tree!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-83059500795640103312022-08-01T16:16:00.002-07:002022-08-01T16:16:33.100-07:00The epic of getting into a Museum<p> One week into the program, I typed "Jewish" and "Costa Rica" into google. I wanted to know what kind of community there is here. I found the Center, which had both a Synagogue and a Museum, so I went, hey, let's check it out on a free morning. I emailed, and am told, yes, I could visit, when would I like to? Great, and hey, other folks in the program might want to join, so I asked if anyone else wanted to join me. I emailed back that we were figuring out if later that week or early next week was better, and that's when the confusion began. Every visitor would need to send a photo of their passport and made an appointment "dentro de dos semanas."</p><p>So at this point, I am using google only for words I don't know. I understand "de dos semanas" but dentro, nope, so into translate it goes- Within. Hmm, make an appointment within 2 weeks? So I put the whole phrase into translate and now it is "in two weeks." So I asked Dinia what she thinks it means, and while she was trying to decode it, I was back on the website, this time in English, trying to see what it said. By the time I found "at least 15 days in advance" Dina had called Jose Luis over to read the email, and he said it was definitely "in the next 2 weeks." I emailed back and explained that I was learning Spanish, and very confused by this wording (I wrote every email in spanish, which I am VERY proud of myself for), could he please clarify. The next day, we learn, it is in fact, an appointment after 2 weeks. I let the other students know, they were all leaving in the next week, so I sent the asked for photo of my passport, explaining that the other students couldn't come, but now members of my host family are interested in joining. This brings me to my other favorite apparent miscommunication.</p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Every other email started with "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">Por este medio le saludo muy respetuosamente,..." This one began differently: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">Le saludo nuevamente, a la vez que ruego disculpas porque creí que usted era hombre, pero veo en su pasaporte que usted es mujer."</span></p><p>That's when I looked back, and sure enough, the emails had begun with "Estimado Sr. Katz" and this one was "<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Estimada Sra. Katz." I was laughing until I saw ALL the information that was requested of Dinia to visit with me. Her full name, her cell number, her ID number (social security number), her age, her address, the phone number of the house. She was happy to send it, I was aghast, and we scheduled for exactly 15 days later. Then, radio silence. Nothing. Finally Dinia called to ask what was going on, and we learned yes, we have an appointment for Friday.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">A group of us were talking about it and my teacher, who happened to be close with a few families that attend Shul there, explained it was because so many people wanted to visit the museum that they needed to do it in advance. I said ok, that is possible, but I didn't buy it. I shared that I thought it was about Anti-Semitism and that they were running a background check on us, but every non-Jewish American and Costa Rican I shared this theory with could not believe it. Spoiler Alert, I asked after the tour, and yup, it was a "proactive measure" against any Anti-Semitic attacks.</span></span></p><p>Anyway, after 3 weeks of miscommunication, we are on our way. After asking around, we learn that the property with high walls and a totally unlabeled security gate is the Center. The security guard asks us for our IDs, tells us to wait outside the gate, and comes back to take us through security. He points to the lockers for our stuff. Everything needs to stay in there. I start to take out my wallet and phone, and he says no, no phones. Wow. Ok, Dinia needs her phone for work, he says fine, but NO PHOTOS. We go through the metal detector and head out of the security space and into a BEAUTIFUL complex. Before going in the Museum, we walked through the outside with beautiful art about the holocaust which lead to a park with beautiful art that celebrated life.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKH_vPlPVgx_-fVoXfC0olv_d209S0FlavcdIwSOaWxAq_jLLZT_2XbBCr9CTNfvyAMqAzGafgt1y4vinG3fEVjN0aO1ytkH7rMzOANbASoH4bnj2HOzCL1_thJ6pKLZio3ToGnakUWHq50kKR9Jxl8IUy5fEJNq23IFRIhHvtCfdY1qpg1V9F7WoYg/s1040/IMG-20220722-WA0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKH_vPlPVgx_-fVoXfC0olv_d209S0FlavcdIwSOaWxAq_jLLZT_2XbBCr9CTNfvyAMqAzGafgt1y4vinG3fEVjN0aO1ytkH7rMzOANbASoH4bnj2HOzCL1_thJ6pKLZio3ToGnakUWHq50kKR9Jxl8IUy5fEJNq23IFRIhHvtCfdY1qpg1V9F7WoYg/w640-h480/IMG-20220722-WA0017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This statue hit me hard. There is a tattoo on the big arms, and I explained to Dinia that the arms<br />are of a survivor who is carrying the memories of those who did not survive, and passing them <br />to a younger generation. It was an intense and incredible piece.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We finally went into the museum, where Randall had just begun a tour. I learned that this museum was for Ashkenazi Jewry as the Sephardi Jews of Costa Rica had assimilated and converted. I have since searched for ANY museums or spaces that tell their story, but nothing. This museum was the story of the Jews who came mostly after WWII. Many came from the same area in Poland, not far from Warsaw. There's actually a verb in Costa Rican Spanish, "polaquear" which means to sell door to door. The Jews would come, door to door, selling on credit, clothing, shoes, anything that folks might need was in their suitcases. And since they were from Poland, polaquear stuck and, even though folks who sell door to door are no longer Jews or Poles, but mostly Costa Ricans, the name has stuck. Everyone on the tour recognized the piece of paper that was used to show how much was owed and how much was paid off. The rest of the Museum was interesting for the lens of this community sharing "what is Jewish." There was a "record player" with a rotation of Yiddish songs. There were religious and cultural objects explained. The best was a pretty great video that starts with the Rosh Hashanah and explains a bit about each holiday of the Jewish Calendar. Finally, I was blown away by a video of Oral History Interviews with older folks who had been children who survived the Holocaust and immigrated to Costa Rica. I could not understand all of it, but it was a MOVING piece. It ended with Zog Nit Keynmol, and, as the credits were rolling and we were waiting for our tour guide to come back, I spoke up in my broken Spanish to explain what that song was and means. At the end, Dinia asked if she could take some photos, and was told, OF COURSE, so she did a quick run getting all the photos she had wanted to before. (the statue above was taken while we were with Randall, our guide who didn't understand why we were asking if we COULD take photos)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50tHK4J5WVk0LfrGU62hz08aHIS7nd_NnOltrcPxVx9n9yHzXlGPAiUEJAaKhK1vQSA5KAdKnbvEcFB7dW6Fy_SccErNbO6xx8YsPuFZg9rEa2wtHknGQutwDxPQ-zoWOnqoWoQvnhjwrNFLVs_DRHmL9TtVKp_s6Va5WbTG55EOmCQC4eWVUWVnAbw/s1040/IMG-20220722-WA0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg50tHK4J5WVk0LfrGU62hz08aHIS7nd_NnOltrcPxVx9n9yHzXlGPAiUEJAaKhK1vQSA5KAdKnbvEcFB7dW6Fy_SccErNbO6xx8YsPuFZg9rEa2wtHknGQutwDxPQ-zoWOnqoWoQvnhjwrNFLVs_DRHmL9TtVKp_s6Va5WbTG55EOmCQC4eWVUWVnAbw/w400-h300/IMG-20220722-WA0033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHrxS6E8pF_FpVPNcAjZ9Op1TWZsKWoV4SkZ0k0u3o_qCzxxj7y1j86mIWOxB0uxCQIPufnGSYIiS62mz8z8TWqxY8p3cHS1yxsl3EzM5Xrqg5RjioUinfpy8FVIOTfS1l7XHFgu5WJjzfhv4BAqbUdABXaB08tYd12bJ4qnRjwEhRnxVgAbsJJRBCQ/s1040/IMG-20220722-WA0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1040" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHrxS6E8pF_FpVPNcAjZ9Op1TWZsKWoV4SkZ0k0u3o_qCzxxj7y1j86mIWOxB0uxCQIPufnGSYIiS62mz8z8TWqxY8p3cHS1yxsl3EzM5Xrqg5RjioUinfpy8FVIOTfS1l7XHFgu5WJjzfhv4BAqbUdABXaB08tYd12bJ4qnRjwEhRnxVgAbsJJRBCQ/w400-h300/IMG-20220722-WA0035.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scrolls are blank, so visitors can learn about the Torah and touch or carry it.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After the tour and the other group (a book club that hadn't actually read a book about Jews, just sometimes did cultural activities) had moved on to get lunch, Dinia and I stayed to talk with Randall. I asked about Yiddish, and he said no, no one speaks it in the community anymore, but they have Yiddish books in the library. When my lack of a poker face expressed extreme interest in checking it out, he took us to the center's library. So many books and no one reading them is rough, but I have hope that Ashkenazi Costa Rican Jews will do as so many diasporic Jews are doing, and work to reclaim their heritage. And these books will be here when they do.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MHsfFrns_yxgMZ3jnhmYqZyhVHWM0xqTcfkIsZLfp6149tdH24g_8jDIkSdceLaMPQSXmAAu-AWMswo1MGeNw8tqxyuAELqlThldkxqVIy5xypzPbObdEnMDFnp2aAPGbysULgrvLS3ebOoZOAp0BAbXeuOARVfyZwyM9QMcWEtdQO1iBkMAktGYGQ/s1040/IMG-20220722-WA0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MHsfFrns_yxgMZ3jnhmYqZyhVHWM0xqTcfkIsZLfp6149tdH24g_8jDIkSdceLaMPQSXmAAu-AWMswo1MGeNw8tqxyuAELqlThldkxqVIy5xypzPbObdEnMDFnp2aAPGbysULgrvLS3ebOoZOAp0BAbXeuOARVfyZwyM9QMcWEtdQO1iBkMAktGYGQ/w300-h400/IMG-20220722-WA0013.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From birth, I was taught to get a picture of myself with Yiddish Books<br />It's a thing.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Now for a preview of the next day: Milena (granddaughter that lives in the house) and I walked all over San Jose and discovered this piece next to the Museo de Arte Costarricense (I will gush in the next post). It was a menorah, out of no where. The plaque didn't really explain much either.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vlTtByE3BylWutHTHd2obLhK7MKl2gi2UAZYmWmJDL6pU1hGy9Zxkzumid0njtHHf6ch5bhtvmcoL03U-7PpGLOnMc5lKLvTc6O_P1XsiHQhPKB6JM5tEn5XVBEBd9fcHHkSaevuc74ZPLdTOn3fdmiolgR4U3JDPXsbOADNzKzjINYcdP0nd301mg/s718/Screenshot%202022-08-01%20165051.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="718" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vlTtByE3BylWutHTHd2obLhK7MKl2gi2UAZYmWmJDL6pU1hGy9Zxkzumid0njtHHf6ch5bhtvmcoL03U-7PpGLOnMc5lKLvTc6O_P1XsiHQhPKB6JM5tEn5XVBEBd9fcHHkSaevuc74ZPLdTOn3fdmiolgR4U3JDPXsbOADNzKzjINYcdP0nd301mg/s320/Screenshot%202022-08-01%20165051.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I read it, for the thousands of citizens around the world who take our home <br />as theirs to have the peace and liberty that their own countries denied them.<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I keep meaning to double check that, but I can't find my phone to translate it right now)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NmTMPH6k1BR2Xy0DUAeYvZ3j4DGvE7AXKzGoKpXm_VNbJH30rxNWIU24vwH7WAeUsmUot47lcP-kvo3iffhX6A4Z6bVk-B3y1QI-zQX-20Y8xQmuUwsmRBPh00N9M2IOWFBh6evjReernvlRCgSH0oyDE90Al4Evggk6tyMGT3Z1-6M5aUUsIlLoIQ/s1600/IMG-20220723-WA0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NmTMPH6k1BR2Xy0DUAeYvZ3j4DGvE7AXKzGoKpXm_VNbJH30rxNWIU24vwH7WAeUsmUot47lcP-kvo3iffhX6A4Z6bVk-B3y1QI-zQX-20Y8xQmuUwsmRBPh00N9M2IOWFBh6evjReernvlRCgSH0oyDE90Al4Evggk6tyMGT3Z1-6M5aUUsIlLoIQ/s320/IMG-20220723-WA0059.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile and I took a few photos and moved on.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When I got back to Lapa Verde, and told my teacher what I had been up to that weekend, he told me there is a statue of a symbol in Sabana, he can't remember what it is called, it is an important Jewish Symbol, so I found this photo and asked if the word he was looking for was Menorah. YES!<div><br /></div><div>There is a STORY behind this menorah and it being placed EXACTLY where it is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEpAs5YeDJPZqpgaZmJv58acvk8bJLY5pq90N5eY8VkbdL7AQMWI6oWyZqgDSM7MnRc8g721t1q5DXZiRGz8HwI8Ca2sk9IurKyS11HboBfhfHadApZ8BtiLTwr2ryp7XEKcehMFpACYxY5hnDR-8McZidffuEKnrII9t2u6WV1UHN2IeGe-Kga6vfw/s4032/PXL_20220723_171228237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEpAs5YeDJPZqpgaZmJv58acvk8bJLY5pq90N5eY8VkbdL7AQMWI6oWyZqgDSM7MnRc8g721t1q5DXZiRGz8HwI8Ca2sk9IurKyS11HboBfhfHadApZ8BtiLTwr2ryp7XEKcehMFpACYxY5hnDR-8McZidffuEKnrII9t2u6WV1UHN2IeGe-Kga6vfw/w480-h640/PXL_20220723_171228237.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Between the Shames and the pole to the left of it, you can see a statue. That is a statue of an intensely Anti-Semitic Costa Rican leader who was adamant about keeping Jews out of Costa Rica. They built the menorah to tell him, HA, we are HERE. I am generally more in favor of tearing down the statue, or building a gigger menorah in front of him for him to be in the shadow of, but my teacher assured me that the Jewish Community is on record that this is how they want to address the statue.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8DyTHdn8rti7nl1ruK5jUwS05-rdjzhhwVhY8rGCLVCMGnAh5Z0jkNIzykoRA37gV7-DnBr3RD8Z9HooCGYtqinYy5nZ13aubsEXnASaeE5nQRRfRp6F_mJ0rYKOek8RLEILZTSk5SmDiqb7Mo-96MbU4nITRVjjKicqMHb5kiA9Nf_gISvSLS9hbw/s1600/IMG-20220723-WA0058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8DyTHdn8rti7nl1ruK5jUwS05-rdjzhhwVhY8rGCLVCMGnAh5Z0jkNIzykoRA37gV7-DnBr3RD8Z9HooCGYtqinYy5nZ13aubsEXnASaeE5nQRRfRp6F_mJ0rYKOek8RLEILZTSk5SmDiqb7Mo-96MbU4nITRVjjKicqMHb5kiA9Nf_gISvSLS9hbw/w300-h400/IMG-20220723-WA0058.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I am personally VERY happy I didn't bother posing with him<br />but had fun with the lion part of the statue to him.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-18157301958976765272022-07-26T20:53:00.020-07:002022-08-01T16:21:33.579-07:00Classrooms!<p> Por fin! The chance to get into the schools and see what is going on in education in Costa Rica! Half of our volunteer mornings were running 3 ish hour activities while the kids were on vacation and their parents were working. I ran Summer Camp games with two other fantastic educators who were both in the higher levels of Spanish classes in the afternoons. I would explain a game with A LOT of infinitives and miming, and if the kids were TOTALLY confused, one of them would help me out with a few correctly conjugated verbs. It was so much fun. BUT not really what I was hoping to see.</p><p>Finally, school vacation was over and we got to get into classrooms! I was assigned a 10th grade Social Studies class, a 9th Grade Spanish "public speaking" class and that same 9th grade class's Social Studies class. Important to know- 11th grade is "Senior Year" and is the 3rd and final "cycle" of typical schooling. So I have written and erased my attempts to explain the system, and decided, if you're interested, follow <a href="https://www.costaricaexplorations.org/costa-rica-education-system/">this link</a> to the first post I found in a google search.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>Anyway I had a great time working with these kids! The first group was doing a project that I don't FULLY understand how it related to the historical content, but it was very interesting. At the end, each group "taught" the rest of the class on their theme. One group was about empathy and why empathy is important. Another group spoke about time, and the time they should spend with their older family members because they won't be around forever. But also the time they as a class have left, since it's only one more year before they graduate. The third group continued that theme by making an activity where they wrote one line about a person in the class on a piece of paper, and teams needed to guess who it was about, to show how well they know each other after all these years. The last group went in a different direction and wanted to speak about the importance of remembering the ongoing effects of the Russian Invasion on the Ukrainian people when you want to complain about rising gas prices. It was a VERY interesting mix of kids in that class and I wish I got to spend more time with them.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_saB-wNjbddKXTQaTNuh890LGcG1T4IaOxqaIYc3sjLfICGS-2bwjdHqdik-ppgZFzeuYmTCNyYaid88eVs88zs2qjCHlIe35G7Helrs0EAYjSzP4nSH7xUyAC5rxYTNZGqZ9p3VXlpercwIeAqOtlGO4_UwzM2uj98f-BW2DFtw97tWYZtSNYuN7cA/s1600/IMG-20220722-WA0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_saB-wNjbddKXTQaTNuh890LGcG1T4IaOxqaIYc3sjLfICGS-2bwjdHqdik-ppgZFzeuYmTCNyYaid88eVs88zs2qjCHlIe35G7Helrs0EAYjSzP4nSH7xUyAC5rxYTNZGqZ9p3VXlpercwIeAqOtlGO4_UwzM2uj98f-BW2DFtw97tWYZtSNYuN7cA/s320/IMG-20220722-WA0066.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I enjoyed my time with all 3 teachers I got to work with, but the Spanish teacher and I had a BLAST together. She and I had VERY similar teaching styles, but she had the freedom to implement in ways I never have. On the first day, she started class by explaining the project and used a really neat web program to present the information in an interesting format (we agreed that formatting is MOST of teaching). The presentation included where students should be in their process each day and the "characteristics" of each part of the project which felt like a translation of my "what this project requires" speeches.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0C6EyYFqmtan48ctsAlrwGyYUb1KMHaeJ7LWyl7vDLgJKkOWH_nagyCM7Cf2Ny5NAjIzCQFZPmuLOcC2lyTH1JtZtQSrITPwfMstlXesd6HQllWElowX8SRR9XUPqjcOjVOX7g0umRtxJJturXRPeIAD1MVrlqN4ZPpc0PMcut1SXlbKKUMeSd5CAQ/s4032/PXL_20220721_150642255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0C6EyYFqmtan48ctsAlrwGyYUb1KMHaeJ7LWyl7vDLgJKkOWH_nagyCM7Cf2Ny5NAjIzCQFZPmuLOcC2lyTH1JtZtQSrITPwfMstlXesd6HQllWElowX8SRR9XUPqjcOjVOX7g0umRtxJJturXRPeIAD1MVrlqN4ZPpc0PMcut1SXlbKKUMeSd5CAQ/s320/PXL_20220721_150642255.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>But the part I was SO jealous of was the way that, through the whole project, she would share what they needed to do that day, and then she SENT THEM OFF TO DO IT. They went outside (when it wasn't raining) and worked at the picnic tables set up around campus. Or they worked in the main covered courtyard. Or just outside the classroom. Or on the carpeted floor in one section of the classroom. Or from their desks in the classroom. Seriously, it was what I have DREAMED of. Letting students go where they fell most able to do their work and being able to trust them to do it. We communicated only in Spanish, but it was so much fun talking shop with another teacher with the same kind of teaching philosophies.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA71l-KHOWHtkSYuFuZDjzHwuD_ChCJqeerxmrPiYi3R1HZ5otvo8hg09_UEI8LWPGVy20hzsMh7JNBNC9vOE-Ukfy6K1YHMBxT5B08WSkBC0oYguUF0qsuY8PQPUfR-ocSwaXoS5nNY2ccJqKxPuEqH5YFoj7a-a3B-Z9xsi536prop2lXmqM8ZsoFw/s4032/PXL_20220721_155210997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA71l-KHOWHtkSYuFuZDjzHwuD_ChCJqeerxmrPiYi3R1HZ5otvo8hg09_UEI8LWPGVy20hzsMh7JNBNC9vOE-Ukfy6K1YHMBxT5B08WSkBC0oYguUF0qsuY8PQPUfR-ocSwaXoS5nNY2ccJqKxPuEqH5YFoj7a-a3B-Z9xsi536prop2lXmqM8ZsoFw/s320/PXL_20220721_155210997.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also a shared love of Don Quixote</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>In the last class, the focus was on moving from the middle ages to the age of enlightenment. It was also taught by a "same wave length" teacher. At every step that I would pause to ask a question, either to confirm understanding or to force students to think beyond the facts presented, she did the same. It was the hardest class to assist in because it was mostly lecture in Spanish but it was great to see how other teachers work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJkMcFPDg3CFZzZG4WuQx2NKqerkiI_uJFkEc4vwV5KUy5Xm0u20vjvxjsRUz-MSEcEeQ-CknfhdX7QJNdiDB0FmrRe8P-OOSlVdsChJbNwbjXywhYcPPz6cn0NPJv70CiLfXqy-twkGiQzyeK5RcFnoQm2L-P4fshBC_ktaZqRwlclWWHwq6Mz5u3A/s4032/PXL_20220721_170232300.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJkMcFPDg3CFZzZG4WuQx2NKqerkiI_uJFkEc4vwV5KUy5Xm0u20vjvxjsRUz-MSEcEeQ-CknfhdX7QJNdiDB0FmrRe8P-OOSlVdsChJbNwbjXywhYcPPz6cn0NPJv70CiLfXqy-twkGiQzyeK5RcFnoQm2L-P4fshBC_ktaZqRwlclWWHwq6Mz5u3A/s320/PXL_20220721_170232300.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So when I started this program, it was to learn spanish to communicate with the families of many of my students. However 3 days before I took off for Costa Rica, I landed a new job, and for the first time in my career, I am NOT going to work exclusively with English Learners. Spanish language or Spanish educational language is no longer the pressing aim of my time in the program. Which I am actually a bit thankful for. I have definitely focused on my listening skills and on the kinds of issues parents might bring up and how to respond. But for each part of the program, I am able to take a step back and enjoy the process, rather than focus entirely on how I need to use what I am learning. I felt that especially at the school. I am so happy I was able to see more than what my specific goals would have been.</div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-87620526328623844352022-07-26T19:06:00.000-07:002022-07-26T19:06:31.544-07:00Museo de Oro<p>Costa Rica has some pretty incredible museums. In my first week, I visited the Jade Museum and was rushed through the Museum of Popular Culture with the group when we visited Heredia (I really wanted to get back there, but my remaining time is disappearing fast.) I was a bit disappointed about my trip to the Jade Museum because it was very general. I mentioned this to my host family, and later to my Spanish teacher, and they both said, of course, and told me the Jade Museum is about Mexico to Northwestern Costa Rica. The more specific Museums are the Museo de Oro and the Museo Nacional.</p><p>So, one free morning, I set out to the Museo de Oro, which DID have MUCH more of what I was looking for. There were similar explanations about the use of gold as the Jade Museum had about the uses of Jade. But, at the Gold Museum, they explained where the artifacts came from as well as specifically WHO used them and how, which was often missing from the Jade. It also gave a beginners summary of the "world view" of the indigenous peoples of Costa Rica.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_rkhxO6rWvvnR1siG_GA0zmh0OD0GhybEAosLrDnQWs0r0Q_a8ePx-nbHZ2lvjP-0xewo7j62zrTGi4JiTo_zFNoUBDlVHotwlPTiwlCeWGBQAYoCWUZdkv0ZHkVAb7thuymbv6lzNciSZxmWmhoF46DgbBHZ3rHPNR5iKJMXFM8lI5ldFBWOdPD8A/s2887/PXL_20220719_161208067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="2887" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN_rkhxO6rWvvnR1siG_GA0zmh0OD0GhybEAosLrDnQWs0r0Q_a8ePx-nbHZ2lvjP-0xewo7j62zrTGi4JiTo_zFNoUBDlVHotwlPTiwlCeWGBQAYoCWUZdkv0ZHkVAb7thuymbv6lzNciSZxmWmhoF46DgbBHZ3rHPNR5iKJMXFM8lI5ldFBWOdPD8A/w640-h512/PXL_20220719_161208067.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The next thing that I LOVED was the bookshelves of more resources to learn more at the base of the staircase to move to the next level of the museum (there were 3 floors, and you start at the bottom and work your way up. Up to the street level because the whole museum is under the Plaza de Culture) I picked out a few books I would like to find to continue my Spanish learning, and my learning about indigenous peoples of this continent. I was hoping they sold them at the gift shop, but alas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v7ggS9iwJ_b3RP3YC_Ocnn6blQgf-rgIIYgfsg5Eh8sEp9i3A07Xtz9be6JiclYtuosELNHfzA99LAf1pyXaysP3nElt444xvrIwBTj9rArCgravC5eToJNOHe-UlOjkix5Fo0HkAq9qAhKtJsq0NGMEoe-r23Sdtld4Ci-6CY3PiRbhb9iHafoHpA/s4032/PXL_20220719_163627976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v7ggS9iwJ_b3RP3YC_Ocnn6blQgf-rgIIYgfsg5Eh8sEp9i3A07Xtz9be6JiclYtuosELNHfzA99LAf1pyXaysP3nElt444xvrIwBTj9rArCgravC5eToJNOHe-UlOjkix5Fo0HkAq9qAhKtJsq0NGMEoe-r23Sdtld4Ci-6CY3PiRbhb9iHafoHpA/s320/PXL_20220719_163627976.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWGeF7Izee2bkpFe0LX0XXPa3foPJKqtHJ0MHMhPLvOABcHPl4Y_cvBRqv9njFOsu1SqLzqKktv6ciYrVURWVDrtEVo54quGcFliubnDsboYxxiAUPBo_uLZ91N_ubkSq_1fxMGci8orZjYJZWFiLDG92T_0NoQxrlgSBDk7QJwpehiCPMrGh1eBQiA/s4032/PXL_20220719_163653221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWGeF7Izee2bkpFe0LX0XXPa3foPJKqtHJ0MHMhPLvOABcHPl4Y_cvBRqv9njFOsu1SqLzqKktv6ciYrVURWVDrtEVo54quGcFliubnDsboYxxiAUPBo_uLZ91N_ubkSq_1fxMGci8orZjYJZWFiLDG92T_0NoQxrlgSBDk7QJwpehiCPMrGh1eBQiA/s320/PXL_20220719_163653221.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The second floor moved from pre-Columbian Costa Rica to Contemporary Costa Rica, shared in the voices of indigenous peoples who explained in Oral History Videos the ways their culture was practiced/is practiced today. There was a video that I really want to find somewhere online to watch again (more slowly) to better understand what was being said. There were subtitles, but I was looking at this map with the colored lights and trying to listen in Spanish more than read in English.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GxYU-4SAnwGgtSAxR7RqSJ16DJnII_Hmiabyp0_B3lmD-UZcTpE5dFeOoDQ7yIXkHE9cJ67FhtxXdAXZudAQw8Y-GDNBusYTBES809TR75bahDxvCmaGao1PwUvE5ydj3-uruoQWJeAlKw3DqQhyZOme-irM4cDC6lT7UAWFg3iEm8yYJ3aak-VkgA/s4032/PXL_20220719_165958049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GxYU-4SAnwGgtSAxR7RqSJ16DJnII_Hmiabyp0_B3lmD-UZcTpE5dFeOoDQ7yIXkHE9cJ67FhtxXdAXZudAQw8Y-GDNBusYTBES809TR75bahDxvCmaGao1PwUvE5ydj3-uruoQWJeAlKw3DqQhyZOme-irM4cDC6lT7UAWFg3iEm8yYJ3aak-VkgA/s320/PXL_20220719_165958049.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The colored lights are the reservations today, but, at various points in the video, the sizes of the colors would change to show territory. Other times, one area would be highlighted, the area the speaker at that moment in the film came from. It really forced me, as the watcher, to understand that LAND is a very large part of the struggle to retain language and culture. You can and should say, yes, of course it is, but something about the way the lights grew and shrank next to the stories I was hearing hit me in a deeper place. I also found myself relating in a big way to the piece about language. Of the 8 tribes that still exist today, 4 still speak their native language, 2 languages are considered gone, and 2 are "in process of revitalization." One of the women spoke about having a hard time being indigenous in a colonial language. It made me think a lot about Yiddish and how my Jewish Culture and Heritage is so entwined with my Jewish Language.</p><p>The second half of the second floor was being renovated for an art exhibit that looked incredible from what I saw, but it is opening as I am leaving. I was going to skip the third floor, which was all about the Bank of Costa Rica. I am glad I didn't as there was SO MUCH to learn about the way money changed over the history of the territory of Costa Rica. The latest change was to different sizes of the money and to colors of the rainbow, with contrasting colors representing 1 and 10, 2 and 20, and 5 and 50. There are 5 men and 1 woman honored on the money, but much bigger than the people are the climates represented on the money. My favorite (the purple, which NEVER is in my wallet, because it's like the $100 bill, and I have only had one of those in my wallet once) is for the cloud forests and has a giant butterfly on it. The 5 mil colones bill is yellow with a monkey for the mongroves. It is a really cool way to create money.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFW7ixqVPZwWaKQjtwSi-SZPMeAf0UjQ-KCI7qzkBUU6na7jcVmkJ4HglVlwYOeo3weswcEHONLAISzcT5jLVj0G2BrozHhof1UBHKZv7UCi2zWseZAFderkP6MDLLxJP_NoJGRSj52NEtZ6hx82ZkX8KK3HjnBCOcN2xUdo0mTT23nzBoK1_MqLLYYw/s3500/PXL_20220719_172352514.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="3500" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFW7ixqVPZwWaKQjtwSi-SZPMeAf0UjQ-KCI7qzkBUU6na7jcVmkJ4HglVlwYOeo3weswcEHONLAISzcT5jLVj0G2BrozHhof1UBHKZv7UCi2zWseZAFderkP6MDLLxJP_NoJGRSj52NEtZ6hx82ZkX8KK3HjnBCOcN2xUdo0mTT23nzBoK1_MqLLYYw/w400-h330/PXL_20220719_172352514.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I DO wish that they'd just announced that Costa Rica was going back down to using 1s and 10s, and not operating in the THOUSANDS anymore, but, I am getting better at -miliones vs -cientos vs -entas... Kinda.</p></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-29821508862151146772022-07-24T12:01:00.001-07:002022-07-24T12:01:27.776-07:00So, that was kinda incredible!<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf2V6ckd4c7hoc5h1dKd_6fG9PhvRVgpQ0auwiv7fGoXQs6vPJmppLvw1GoqVG5bviWOtCrdlMj_P6OE74f_NodEbHBUtlLaoH7itzo3fh9K2abZUwUHX8hogMWTswu7gBUIGpB5im8ld6SGzzfD9kQZVEc_6FcTtIJpGy24VsPjGmOhvhbyYxi1TAQ/s4032/PXL_20220715_154505034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkf2V6ckd4c7hoc5h1dKd_6fG9PhvRVgpQ0auwiv7fGoXQs6vPJmppLvw1GoqVG5bviWOtCrdlMj_P6OE74f_NodEbHBUtlLaoH7itzo3fh9K2abZUwUHX8hogMWTswu7gBUIGpB5im8ld6SGzzfD9kQZVEc_6FcTtIJpGy24VsPjGmOhvhbyYxi1TAQ/w320-h240/PXL_20220715_154505034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This spring, a week or two after typing "summer spanish immersion" into google, I called one of the directors of Common Ground International to find out more about the extra travel around Costa Rica opportunities. It was kind of a "how much money am I really willing/able to spend this summer" phone call. The trip most difficult to plan out on my own would be the trip to Tortuguero. I had already written off since it was on the Atlantic side of the country. But as he described it, I realized, yeah, a bus to a boat to a peninsula with no cars and a chance to MAYBE see a sea turtle, ok, that sounds cool.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator">It was!</div></div></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BRrv_uu0EUlNd0SE5T5o9pE24Lu871qc1EE4mbSf1Fey6n2GTjEJGnsRBvcaep-VSrYC2eAXHAPzaEI7iDHYvbREJ_GF8qk32PrP9Agc4yhM6rS05lZDk1ZPZJyJAXC0DrQH-iEydSDsHBqqsfe5K5JbiACjZzBuh_xznJa9f0rosdwm0bEKlVrKEg/s4032/PXL_20220715_170649284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BRrv_uu0EUlNd0SE5T5o9pE24Lu871qc1EE4mbSf1Fey6n2GTjEJGnsRBvcaep-VSrYC2eAXHAPzaEI7iDHYvbREJ_GF8qk32PrP9Agc4yhM6rS05lZDk1ZPZJyJAXC0DrQH-iEydSDsHBqqsfe5K5JbiACjZzBuh_xznJa9f0rosdwm0bEKlVrKEg/s320/PXL_20220715_170649284.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Travelling through the canals</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWpU3L3TrhjQV4kvfZGoaE0IzKinzBn6XZdnS_i8hP0qLw7sFMhO2_tUwUC53Yp_xtOpi6LLuKMXTDqonbKmO3eJt9hMQwX1gRXIOJLDXVFw4ZoxFb8ZFOOtP-nxNCdQpyFAvuLf9lTncx1SVVd2Wlh6oEFovefAD3arfq1kS29KIdWlDjCf7una9hQ/s4032/PXL_20220715_180201783.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWpU3L3TrhjQV4kvfZGoaE0IzKinzBn6XZdnS_i8hP0qLw7sFMhO2_tUwUC53Yp_xtOpi6LLuKMXTDqonbKmO3eJt9hMQwX1gRXIOJLDXVFw4ZoxFb8ZFOOtP-nxNCdQpyFAvuLf9lTncx1SVVd2Wlh6oEFovefAD3arfq1kS29KIdWlDjCf7una9hQ/s320/PXL_20220715_180201783.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The estuary had some INCREDIBLE views</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We got to our hotel in time for Lunch at the Hotel. When I say it was hot, I mean it was GEVALD THIS IS HOT! And of course, me with my "NorthEast" brain, heard that we were going to do hiking, so what have I packed? Long pants and tops, my wool socks and my hiking shoes. I had packed my sandals in my backpack with my bathing suit, but my shorts were in my closet back in Santo Domingo. We got to our rooms after lunch, and I was in my bathing suit in record time!<div><br /></div><div>There was a BEAUTIFUL pool right in front of our row of hotel rooms, but it was under renovation. No worries, I will walk across the whole complex to get to the shallow pool, I just needed COLD. The water, like the ocean at Isla Tortuga was NOT cold, but the water for the rinse before getting in was wonderfully cold. We had a blast in the pool creating different kinds of races. I am NOT good at "walking" races. ANY TIME the race involved using your feet on the bottom of the pool, I was less than successful. BUT, the see how far you can float race was my jam! Just push off the wall and let the current created by all the other pool users to push me the rest of the way across the pool. Stay still and hold my breath. Ok, I can do that.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4B1_FLvuPONDs1VM-ZXesjpVTJCNirsfJd2hMm8g5Sdue1u6l5238EDxiVixf98GSpTP7vAC1Vtw6fi6q8jLu6NBN0CrJDgrZLa1lXR4He-21iKMPNc2v3v_XSIC0BY5FZgzZnNomAFPTkh_mcI5DEMht88Z1KqyXMlpIIgTmUCkaJ1VT4aQewXJWQ/s4032/20220715_165426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4B1_FLvuPONDs1VM-ZXesjpVTJCNirsfJd2hMm8g5Sdue1u6l5238EDxiVixf98GSpTP7vAC1Vtw6fi6q8jLu6NBN0CrJDgrZLa1lXR4He-21iKMPNc2v3v_XSIC0BY5FZgzZnNomAFPTkh_mcI5DEMht88Z1KqyXMlpIIgTmUCkaJ1VT4aQewXJWQ/s320/20220715_165426.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Before heading back in to change and get ready for our night activity (!!!!!!!!!!) the "swim in the pool" crew saw the "took a walk on the beach" crew and found out that the beach was RIGHT behind our row of rooms. We were the last row before the opening to the beach. The beach was NOT for swimming (you know, sharks) but it was a beautiful place to sit and watch the waves. </div><div><br /></div><div>After dinner, we gathered at the reception area where other groups were getting ready for their night walks on the beach. It seems we are actually getting a guide NOT affiliated with the hotel, but with the beach sectors. The beach is split into sectors so that the beach isn't overrun with people as the guests of honor visit the beach. For the hotel tours, they can generally only visit section 2 which is next to the hotel. For OUR tour, if the special guests weren't visiting sector two after a while, our guide would be told which sector we could move to. So thanks CGI, for guaranteeing that we would see something really neat.</div><div><br /></div><div>It just so happened that sector two was where it was at. We arrived and immediately learned there was a GREEN TURTLE setting up her nest. Meaning she had found a site and had begun digging with her back flippers the hole she will lay her eggs in. While we were waiting (the small groups wait far a away from her with ABSOLUTLY no light) she decided, nope, she didn't like that spot. So we waited a bit more and watched the moon (a day or two after full) and the stars from a TOTALLY free of human made light and the clouds coming in and out. After about a half hour, our guide tells us it's begun. We spilt into two groups so we could all fit in two rows, one kneeling, one standing behind, directly behind the turtle to see her lay her eggs. IT WAS AMAZING! We watched her lay about 1-4 eggs at a time for a minute, and then it was the next group's turn. Our group went back to the end of the line of groups (from the hotel and other sector guides) and gasped at each other and generally freaked out, silently, over how amazing the experience was. We were lined up for our second turn when the guide with the turtle who was shining the red light so we could all see what was happening, suddenly backed up and told us to wait and watch. The turtle started filling the hole with her back flippers. When we went to the back of the line so others could see what she was doing next, I thought about the fact that this turtle traveled through miles of open ocean to find THIS beach (Green Turtles don't nest anywhere else) that she was born on to lay her eggs. She hauled herself onto land, she dug a whole with her back flippers that she NEVER looked at to see how deep or wide it was (it was deep and narrow) she laid about a hundred eggs, and she immediately covered them up with those same back flippers. But it was the last round the blew me away. In the last round, she used her front flippers to fling sand behind her. This time, our whole group got to line up next to her, half on one side half on the other. I am VERY glad I stood to the house left... the group on the other side got a face full of sand as they leaned down to watch. But it was WHAT she was doing that is incredible. She wasn't flinging sand at our group for fun. She was slowly moving herself forward, all the while creating a mound behind her as she inched her way forward. When we got off the beach, our guide explained that she would move about a meter forward, so the imprint of her body would not be in the exact location of the eggs, making it harder for predators to find her eggs. ALL of this is done by instinct. The hatchlings will be born in a few months and she will be LONG gone. She actually will have about 6 batches of nests over the course of the nesting season, and then head back out to sea to build up energy over the next few years to do it all over again!</div><div><br /></div><div>The beaches are closed to the public from 6 PM to 6 AM so the turtles can lay their eggs in regulated peace. I was waiting to head onto the beach at 5:50 AM so I could find the site she had laid her eggs the night before before it was trampled. She had laid her eggs VERY close to the tree line (which makes it likely the nest will be cooler and this batch will be male turtles) so I knew, find marker 13 as my beach entrance and walk along the tree line until I find it. In an bizzar twist for those who have read this blog for a while, this plan worked perfectly. I was able to easily find the imprint of where mama turtle had laid her eggs the night before.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfk81jONBBzcpK78c8Ak_-tuPPLlXt6INgGgccOBjwkz9DtI5OrTJqE-q0SagSNxqGSHLd3RaMynMJ4LDmpGm2mJB8lZl-61G-CuLER6hTfY0Lxt38SsHceeeByjrcFA2r7wpnoGzXfgf206nEuNQ-wLClPYxgrYHre-xdZ-cuBZ2SHHtpAmndM0dC8g/s4032/PXL_20220716_120853638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfk81jONBBzcpK78c8Ak_-tuPPLlXt6INgGgccOBjwkz9DtI5OrTJqE-q0SagSNxqGSHLd3RaMynMJ4LDmpGm2mJB8lZl-61G-CuLER6hTfY0Lxt38SsHceeeByjrcFA2r7wpnoGzXfgf206nEuNQ-wLClPYxgrYHre-xdZ-cuBZ2SHHtpAmndM0dC8g/w640-h480/PXL_20220716_120853638.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The true nest, though her body imprint is about 3 ft in front of where <br />she was when she laid her eggs.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4SMCvyvJR7NBDedOjcBtSzWekk2MUWomVRqcRLcNuRv6gYvT-_3aVCgqRRAaEiblJbeKlChtzvTy4XvHbfctbqzayf-IGOGFZ460mln1p3yuNu-M1IcfZbD_Rhq9D0p8KwICk5GlYa_PMHT-v7A2CSOp8ULoIsOP3D1vz83RQutwb7MiaF7n0jSoYg/s2048/PXL_20220716_120926651_exported_929_1658009310203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4SMCvyvJR7NBDedOjcBtSzWekk2MUWomVRqcRLcNuRv6gYvT-_3aVCgqRRAaEiblJbeKlChtzvTy4XvHbfctbqzayf-IGOGFZ460mln1p3yuNu-M1IcfZbD_Rhq9D0p8KwICk5GlYa_PMHT-v7A2CSOp8ULoIsOP3D1vz83RQutwb7MiaF7n0jSoYg/w640-h480/PXL_20220716_120926651_exported_929_1658009310203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nest she started when we first got on the beach, and then decided on a new location.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPB8jxwYx-RmOtK7lfYJMh7Cy7iqQ3iFVVIGo4OJVjOK7WEB6sOqbbAgkd30F5haNKcPCEPfA_w-4m1mJtEdRQj57XePfyQsjlVPnp6weyZ1NRq04BdcJ1ZGvSMnMr5vycKKTE0OOYNlpDhd58hpOxPZEwN44OiHHLERTlhkSp0ASFuCToRmIEp0Ccw/s4032/PXL_20220716_120939720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPB8jxwYx-RmOtK7lfYJMh7Cy7iqQ3iFVVIGo4OJVjOK7WEB6sOqbbAgkd30F5haNKcPCEPfA_w-4m1mJtEdRQj57XePfyQsjlVPnp6weyZ1NRq04BdcJ1ZGvSMnMr5vycKKTE0OOYNlpDhd58hpOxPZEwN44OiHHLERTlhkSp0ASFuCToRmIEp0Ccw/w640-h480/PXL_20220716_120939720.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the right is the aborted nest and my finger is pointing the finished one.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I walked back to the hotel along the beach this time and enjoyed the idea of sunrise (it was blocked by many clouds), the waves, and the way the forest comes into the beach the way I have never seen before. So much growth on sand, and I love it. There were vines with flowers, there were patches of grass, and of course, my of the Atlantic ocean waves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back on the canal/estuary side of the peninsula I set up for an early breakfast and a buddy came to eat with me. RIGHT after breakfast, we (the humans I came with) got into a boat for a canal tour. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDns8D_xD-mynBAvhgY_QIL7E_L0QLjnwUgy6klrr2jyEyi8wUClyFn3Kd85ENewzjBy1yHWCpfn5meadGL-wgZBWCqGh6fMKUHoGd4Zm1juVBAmGxDrFoyNJ8Ede4uFIyHxWuS5eaXmE16DL8Fer-tJHl-qpviAGXl6nl0vAUixECjs8VjVHwGP2gfw/s4032/PXL_20220716_130352504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDns8D_xD-mynBAvhgY_QIL7E_L0QLjnwUgy6klrr2jyEyi8wUClyFn3Kd85ENewzjBy1yHWCpfn5meadGL-wgZBWCqGh6fMKUHoGd4Zm1juVBAmGxDrFoyNJ8Ede4uFIyHxWuS5eaXmE16DL8Fer-tJHl-qpviAGXl6nl0vAUixECjs8VjVHwGP2gfw/s320/PXL_20220716_130352504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Share with me, share with me! <br />(sorry buddy, the gallapinto isn't as good as it is at home, <br />but it's still ALL MINE!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp7oAjnhG8NL25n33_6_1M6wMFFFDWYQGzXref1OIDIxpUZeJ0DO6c24x0GQIJK68sajq9jg9JddUkrPOrRcHg_86uATBv6uZjfo8Zqr-OcMpDfTFsSqs0WWT0CBIPgni-cjUAE1cOduXXuMIx2DmxgO2Qm4H4hoKq8fXkimCsxS3Gjpn7WgHTuX86Q/s2590/original_68dddc17-5ae8-4505-baf6-12f3992d7d08_PXL_20220716_144727639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2590" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp7oAjnhG8NL25n33_6_1M6wMFFFDWYQGzXref1OIDIxpUZeJ0DO6c24x0GQIJK68sajq9jg9JddUkrPOrRcHg_86uATBv6uZjfo8Zqr-OcMpDfTFsSqs0WWT0CBIPgni-cjUAE1cOduXXuMIx2DmxgO2Qm4H4hoKq8fXkimCsxS3Gjpn7WgHTuX86Q/s320/original_68dddc17-5ae8-4505-baf6-12f3992d7d08_PXL_20220716_144727639.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank goodness for the boat captain and his green laser light. <br />I couldn't see most of the animals until he pointed them out.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-bsWs2NU4fbebsD_VOJghFqV5XJ_x4oz7I0ZD_tLR9qEaRzQ7c2q7EHmQhPcDTGq4s_Y7svFndSQwD5JJ9buwN8v3CYc49t9Hz1jnOtJ58hL0TcnJyI8E3pfde8OOkJoPywrGil128vDg4kY3kaCSp0IB1rvzD3blfeteqI8TBPFeBlE1zPslAVQdg/s1713/original_093d74e8-4c40-4bf1-a68d-664357f7474c_PXL_20220716_145046204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1713" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-bsWs2NU4fbebsD_VOJghFqV5XJ_x4oz7I0ZD_tLR9qEaRzQ7c2q7EHmQhPcDTGq4s_Y7svFndSQwD5JJ9buwN8v3CYc49t9Hz1jnOtJ58hL0TcnJyI8E3pfde8OOkJoPywrGil128vDg4kY3kaCSp0IB1rvzD3blfeteqI8TBPFeBlE1zPslAVQdg/s320/original_093d74e8-4c40-4bf1-a68d-664357f7474c_PXL_20220716_145046204.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A basilisk! A BASALISK! Seeing a few of these at the hotel<br />I have realized, yeah, dinosaurs DEFINITLY exist in our time.<br />Also SUPER fast.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQF_N7ncnhGtQTy3cv_Ft355fFm1SDicaiiX82fpu2GRdfxexL9MBJ_5sW9YBYKIorr2YVtUfv5IIzqnFMx_zCuei8jRWNshaFD4KjqjLcI7HpG84sjaQOTRn_NO1OtarL-ufpYUbhin43K6psiKDQoAitSkigY7x8jhf5hYsNiE-9JzmQHJ2KfRusw/s4032/PXL_20220716_152753153_exported_1102_1658010314609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQF_N7ncnhGtQTy3cv_Ft355fFm1SDicaiiX82fpu2GRdfxexL9MBJ_5sW9YBYKIorr2YVtUfv5IIzqnFMx_zCuei8jRWNshaFD4KjqjLcI7HpG84sjaQOTRn_NO1OtarL-ufpYUbhin43K6psiKDQoAitSkigY7x8jhf5hYsNiE-9JzmQHJ2KfRusw/w320-h240/PXL_20220716_152753153_exported_1102_1658010314609.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a neat bird.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmGFsAiwM2ePFhMma3v3JMKio0p7hMhNg2KadLWiArsf3Cj6LietkRjcPvh5xj6tKktQyg6oHdehNADtnFbbI9DabXqiFBlEW_-nZnZvWA7IJNp0gMKhXDrHPfFTGupLrEGWFUECZ6469vq-xxnflmxmWKcxRQfRRNfFzZEtuzmy1UzZcaazrX004dw/s4032/PXL_20220716_152857341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmGFsAiwM2ePFhMma3v3JMKio0p7hMhNg2KadLWiArsf3Cj6LietkRjcPvh5xj6tKktQyg6oHdehNADtnFbbI9DabXqiFBlEW_-nZnZvWA7IJNp0gMKhXDrHPfFTGupLrEGWFUECZ6469vq-xxnflmxmWKcxRQfRRNfFzZEtuzmy1UzZcaazrX004dw/w320-h240/PXL_20220716_152857341.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHAT'S GOING ON WIHT THAT NECK??</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiSHY51RW-JjVUFZrlbbScj6cerAzRmfiorn0dAYJSpihnDdfovQaNqwP1KLDTMIAD2c2BJKJzuewQBs6HDbxsMbWlu9SFd810MnyC8sWfDQCFl2igG3zNloGJhRYb1IrNu2W-tuTSYcNJFr39LqwopXxyPkAI3anky2hHD1B6_U8m9qNDVMqH7KosQ/s1600/Caymon%20face.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiSHY51RW-JjVUFZrlbbScj6cerAzRmfiorn0dAYJSpihnDdfovQaNqwP1KLDTMIAD2c2BJKJzuewQBs6HDbxsMbWlu9SFd810MnyC8sWfDQCFl2igG3zNloGJhRYb1IrNu2W-tuTSYcNJFr39LqwopXxyPkAI3anky2hHD1B6_U8m9qNDVMqH7KosQ/s320/Caymon%20face.jpeg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I am close enough, thanks)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D4YpYByaI4nO-Yt6XYAWSdwMhx7T3hdPnMSeDeGUNpAbeNsyWrSn_gK6K2VjEPxYBE1A1-q0AYidGOeL1K3iFK-1g4CZ_FTVWD309jVh6NoY6Lq6pFIKGm_SkdvJ69MxoSZO4RR9AO870jKeXylCfl9NypU8-M38Yuy_gTa4Z4_O0XmruE2BMxjW4g/s1600/SLOTH.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7D4YpYByaI4nO-Yt6XYAWSdwMhx7T3hdPnMSeDeGUNpAbeNsyWrSn_gK6K2VjEPxYBE1A1-q0AYidGOeL1K3iFK-1g4CZ_FTVWD309jVh6NoY6Lq6pFIKGm_SkdvJ69MxoSZO4RR9AO870jKeXylCfl9NypU8-M38Yuy_gTa4Z4_O0XmruE2BMxjW4g/s320/SLOTH.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, I could watch this ALL day</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>I was hoping that someone who caught a picture of the DOLPHINS we saw in the estuary area at the start of our tour would have shared one to the shared album before I posted this, but seriously, it was SO SO COOL. Our guide kept taking about how lucky we were. Then, the dolphins went down and seemingly didn't come up, so the other boats moved on. Not our boat. Our captain is also an ocean fisherman who grew up on these canals. He takes us closer to the ocean, while our guide asks him if he's sure. We wait a bit, and sure enough, up pop the dolphins. It was magical.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our boat dropped us off so we could take a walk through the town of Tortuguero. This town is fully built around tourism. It was neat to speak with the vendors about bracelet making, lace work, and the different seeds they use in their designs. Costa Rica really isn't much of a fiber arts culture country, so it was really nice to see some of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>The nature didn't stop back when we got back to the hotel.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DCd-N791xvsFIzqlnlun5QJ6UA89QVHGv0mTLH7Zf_5ZPHhzZxgF7IIGmQJ8GfQghv-q9gTRnbBUinW_xL_LO-hxZAkMnUUzYEJYRlDpPzPIpykdGmZS0V1ZpdvovmBo8qMnJycp0uiN_baz8r3SXBu6PzrafX8NZc4gUYWwvGQ1RTCbduDYj33EpA/s4032/PXL_20220716_194147033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DCd-N791xvsFIzqlnlun5QJ6UA89QVHGv0mTLH7Zf_5ZPHhzZxgF7IIGmQJ8GfQghv-q9gTRnbBUinW_xL_LO-hxZAkMnUUzYEJYRlDpPzPIpykdGmZS0V1ZpdvovmBo8qMnJycp0uiN_baz8r3SXBu6PzrafX8NZc4gUYWwvGQ1RTCbduDYj33EpA/w480-h640/PXL_20220716_194147033.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVED this fuzzy flower each time I passed by one,<br />I wanted to touch it. One time, I found this one split to release it's seeds.<br />AFTER I took the photo I realized the other model of the photo shoot.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjWRdlEf2IaGy_5vBb_RjtuR_6c3GziOgNNdpF2rFCIu8FNMj3jtcnUW3PxoPeOzKGL46vPmWJ44R8gHm-198GUUT9Do_3eAJL-bIpRI1yRbFz_9IsNTsQIKo54snsROW_xnNvphsbDV4MnsxTEtJmNcUJVjVeRW-WCJfDWCcqyC6w4h1iYmazL2eWQ/s4032/PXL_20220716_232303357.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjWRdlEf2IaGy_5vBb_RjtuR_6c3GziOgNNdpF2rFCIu8FNMj3jtcnUW3PxoPeOzKGL46vPmWJ44R8gHm-198GUUT9Do_3eAJL-bIpRI1yRbFz_9IsNTsQIKo54snsROW_xnNvphsbDV4MnsxTEtJmNcUJVjVeRW-WCJfDWCcqyC6w4h1iYmazL2eWQ/s320/PXL_20220716_232303357.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a covered hammock area where I was going to read "the boxcar children" in spanish.<br />Instead, I watched a fly dig it's nest(s) for about 3 hours until some running kids scared it off.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJA3qBZtabiPJ3LPLRzpsCJMFyLpS1WbUsTL6yxnGVgj2-XR1py5vnJZkc9zjM_czyTh6SbaOSAD1cBv461KtNkXKhrDPr0tJa7guUDj_GMCr47r13UjclbBT5XVoeTkea8HdQRX6Vk84lVlYbcudjV_z314aH3T1DLDzY-IkydyhmXX3GZ4t1ySQQg/s4032/20220717_065522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJA3qBZtabiPJ3LPLRzpsCJMFyLpS1WbUsTL6yxnGVgj2-XR1py5vnJZkc9zjM_czyTh6SbaOSAD1cBv461KtNkXKhrDPr0tJa7guUDj_GMCr47r13UjclbBT5XVoeTkea8HdQRX6Vk84lVlYbcudjV_z314aH3T1DLDzY-IkydyhmXX3GZ4t1ySQQg/w640-h312/20220717_065522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I caught a small part of the arc, but a buddy photographed the whole thing.<br />Yeah, Torguguero was special.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had such an amazing time. On the morning of the 3rd day, we got back on to boat and back on the bus to head back to Santo Domingo. Well, one quick stop on the side of the road to check these guys out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgrxW3xqgafUdmq6C7x0_mvxYeOpbf1hsn2hj5efC6jaxEJmZ3H_qjF1uXPSnH5ZfulETn9J239ebhdtVJqRO-8Me3pI6wUqE1M823XQJDsGocgyOgeR_76h3E_9LaTd5jXyKaCeZ-fE3Luxb_Ivp279iOYd6YO_Sfg-Fjd5Fv6o9CbJ69vG7TmLxZw/s3267/PXL_20220717_162856027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2708" data-original-width="3267" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgrxW3xqgafUdmq6C7x0_mvxYeOpbf1hsn2hj5efC6jaxEJmZ3H_qjF1uXPSnH5ZfulETn9J239ebhdtVJqRO-8Me3pI6wUqE1M823XQJDsGocgyOgeR_76h3E_9LaTd5jXyKaCeZ-fE3Luxb_Ivp279iOYd6YO_Sfg-Fjd5Fv6o9CbJ69vG7TmLxZw/w640-h530/PXL_20220717_162856027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that's a baby on the back of the monkey on the far left.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVA8sqHXMXKRIobzMmUEc3d1eYHBf16-mUzbibTJr1m-7VSLXj3Rkr0J-mwb-S3UGhd44kU3FdNWYpcJK8D8GysoIytZHX2C3N1SNNzr-b96jM2e37xsirkiCwAgcJ_ieQ-6OncztA74w40C2q5fSmS6dir2DL8p7xkeJSuV2Z3zoxdICWOxliiIvhQ/s4032/PXL_20220717_162908307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVA8sqHXMXKRIobzMmUEc3d1eYHBf16-mUzbibTJr1m-7VSLXj3Rkr0J-mwb-S3UGhd44kU3FdNWYpcJK8D8GysoIytZHX2C3N1SNNzr-b96jM2e37xsirkiCwAgcJ_ieQ-6OncztA74w40C2q5fSmS6dir2DL8p7xkeJSuV2Z3zoxdICWOxliiIvhQ/w640-h480/PXL_20220717_162908307.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>In order to remember what I saw, I made a keep note was we went... It was pretty wild.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Road to Tortuguero-</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wild boars on the side of the road</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many cows and horses on farms</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 macaws- two couples and a baby</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally sheep (yes, I was just as excited about the sheep as the macaws)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oxen on the farm (no carritas)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chickens on road from the farm</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fields of papaya trees</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Miles of fields of banana trees!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>In Tortuguero</b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turtle laying eggs!!!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iguanas "chickens of Tortuguero"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Basilisks (super fast dinosaur like)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spiders HUGE</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sloths- Watch the baby scratch for EVERY</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cayman crocodiles small, but I am NOT getting in the water with them</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Road from Tortuguero</b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monkeys on the wire (sloths and monkeys prefer wire to trees...)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you VERY much Rory, I would have been so sad to miss this trip.</span></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-30454418100216972612022-07-18T08:21:00.000-07:002022-07-18T08:21:06.728-07:00Arenal Part 2Had I ziplined before? Yes. Had it been an incredible experience? Yes. Was ziplining with the volcano Arenal and lake Arenal (which happens to be where the old town of Arenal was flooded to create a hydro electric dam) in front of me seriously amazing? YES, yes it was!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7qFFJ8BXL7ASf2y4KHP1RuT2aq8LR-hdGE4D-Ua5SH5zKoNsxF1Kp1aYeXq0Qws_PTdcJlUTW4csgLB7Mgp2KcVnI2amiiyR0SKmpdCjsJRpEvOkmYSa_ofINKp-uu3AQkF3CN3IuXxM07HkflvUeXlkDiUymQV0d1JwKz9HIc7jZPjMOFxgCWIBtw/s1600/IMG-20220710-WA0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7qFFJ8BXL7ASf2y4KHP1RuT2aq8LR-hdGE4D-Ua5SH5zKoNsxF1Kp1aYeXq0Qws_PTdcJlUTW4csgLB7Mgp2KcVnI2amiiyR0SKmpdCjsJRpEvOkmYSa_ofINKp-uu3AQkF3CN3IuXxM07HkflvUeXlkDiUymQV0d1JwKz9HIc7jZPjMOFxgCWIBtw/w300-h400/IMG-20220710-WA0047.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Run!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlyFwUtxlthQKT2hchvfg1x72ecRHTHCnSNDmznKoeFhujDbfDQF-ditqCUc51Oh4Ro66VpHPKyemhKh9wnAT7BVnLEDNeebCpf_-t4SXZlZBKBc4T78L240sn3vLPJkF7ob3f_sCoJ1stAZXeR3KdVnmYKmsD0ivz6ur3uGUrmprOkwvccgffUCS1Q/s2784/SKY_3301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="1856" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlyFwUtxlthQKT2hchvfg1x72ecRHTHCnSNDmznKoeFhujDbfDQF-ditqCUc51Oh4Ro66VpHPKyemhKh9wnAT7BVnLEDNeebCpf_-t4SXZlZBKBc4T78L240sn3vLPJkF7ob3f_sCoJ1stAZXeR3KdVnmYKmsD0ivz6ur3uGUrmprOkwvccgffUCS1Q/w266-h400/SKY_3301.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWOxrHXQFrWmmWrnZF-EIYDxDa_BqHE3hJQmVpf0WOc4vt879CGJpdRGPPZpxIfFhdPZP4GJ00WgG9bMuT699tC9eTH4ggWCHekDWPYLk5BXV0gVkoEJ05aU8D2E6YCil4Ip__Ii1cXqsgLFylZtZXynBJELfusvZhHvNMewT5e34R5RuI_RwWm7TNw/s2784/SKY_3303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2784" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWOxrHXQFrWmmWrnZF-EIYDxDa_BqHE3hJQmVpf0WOc4vt879CGJpdRGPPZpxIfFhdPZP4GJ00WgG9bMuT699tC9eTH4ggWCHekDWPYLk5BXV0gVkoEJ05aU8D2E6YCil4Ip__Ii1cXqsgLFylZtZXynBJELfusvZhHvNMewT5e34R5RuI_RwWm7TNw/w400-h266/SKY_3303.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63EZmRCDNjn_9b3obcfIR0RmVSPgnffkmwZ0FW4UDl36njMICumUGP_xyU7p_VsyIsWaMy66MHbFy2-U3EaZN6tAXtnKpe_QbPG5VR7hu8LKYgSbxqLKOQYhdLwZeOxsn01kF3QhZ5n1sFAM3LJAMXZpqUIe4ZWJAmaQdKdCrBxG6Eja7LErPs2RVFA/s2784/SKY_3315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2784" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63EZmRCDNjn_9b3obcfIR0RmVSPgnffkmwZ0FW4UDl36njMICumUGP_xyU7p_VsyIsWaMy66MHbFy2-U3EaZN6tAXtnKpe_QbPG5VR7hu8LKYgSbxqLKOQYhdLwZeOxsn01kF3QhZ5n1sFAM3LJAMXZpqUIe4ZWJAmaQdKdCrBxG6Eja7LErPs2RVFA/w640-h426/SKY_3315.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecc0gZWGwRQWvkW7dPmf7Cs5Uscnsl2zVptUBqW1ZcRaQzErWCN-m24kwU6-S3BP4xqf7CNIeQ3cWIvIE5ua8OcRFXVvdeQ5IVUSA8knEDfxL2fg68vRHWdrGN1Xv2YeAvNQdSvAd_2RIPuTYCLCrUM6OlVc1A3a6dJjhZlSogyOoCFlNA_sRmSEOGQ/s2784/SKY_3322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="2784" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecc0gZWGwRQWvkW7dPmf7Cs5Uscnsl2zVptUBqW1ZcRaQzErWCN-m24kwU6-S3BP4xqf7CNIeQ3cWIvIE5ua8OcRFXVvdeQ5IVUSA8knEDfxL2fg68vRHWdrGN1Xv2YeAvNQdSvAd_2RIPuTYCLCrUM6OlVc1A3a6dJjhZlSogyOoCFlNA_sRmSEOGQ/w640-h426/SKY_3322.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And yeah, the volcano with whisps of clouds while I am in/above the canopy of the forest, I am in!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqgnj20z8KumvJIWkupZmWS9OT8AZtjnEfNT881YZYIFW9dsMbdDMAP-9uG8i_Hjl7ycVzeo2xflfXU0N7FuhXVxBTsTKgyvulPcFQqcuV_wXnEZTS7BP6Dv150jJbWlDpOSjFcZnccQOIHzg0Ixw3_Jv-zVRyNuhBkxiVzuqttw2PfxQTQVKVAj7Og/s4032/PXL_20220710_173333766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqgnj20z8KumvJIWkupZmWS9OT8AZtjnEfNT881YZYIFW9dsMbdDMAP-9uG8i_Hjl7ycVzeo2xflfXU0N7FuhXVxBTsTKgyvulPcFQqcuV_wXnEZTS7BP6Dv150jJbWlDpOSjFcZnccQOIHzg0Ixw3_Jv-zVRyNuhBkxiVzuqttw2PfxQTQVKVAj7Og/w400-h300/PXL_20220710_173333766.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTXWVhBIjW_bfNCqAaSCjZ0V3SXoF6GutIRjdlrCISrn-lQsqnLcVl9s_Z2gWS5mhj-eAsaaR5Ek0t57gEgu2izpHmQRdX9tqPSGdlBJdxZK5E1jpJ6EuH1oGH4NitU1liJjQlG2874I17Igq6o5MYhNM3_WfJ0_wYvJeVD07__wk-iF35PXp3hTbdg/s4032/PXL_20220710_173451270.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTXWVhBIjW_bfNCqAaSCjZ0V3SXoF6GutIRjdlrCISrn-lQsqnLcVl9s_Z2gWS5mhj-eAsaaR5Ek0t57gEgu2izpHmQRdX9tqPSGdlBJdxZK5E1jpJ6EuH1oGH4NitU1liJjQlG2874I17Igq6o5MYhNM3_WfJ0_wYvJeVD07__wk-iF35PXp3hTbdg/w400-h300/PXL_20220710_173451270.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloqTfkAfEMbKocjct-Pexuat2bJYuA0eOCTZNkCdi0j9vMcy5JS9lmbqU3ZIHg7-rFT28_kRSYyOdRqms5SvklF3GFK-9eZaUrWXaoBdVVgyYe10CmfGlu3He9QGC2CcjJsbZR4LsmqrjfyZxp2tSl7jAg799_YobYfv9KzqZMnLwRdnv7iVnwBVPcg/s4032/3BD081EA-061F-4E03-A9C4-A4ACB0CD0FE8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloqTfkAfEMbKocjct-Pexuat2bJYuA0eOCTZNkCdi0j9vMcy5JS9lmbqU3ZIHg7-rFT28_kRSYyOdRqms5SvklF3GFK-9eZaUrWXaoBdVVgyYe10CmfGlu3He9QGC2CcjJsbZR4LsmqrjfyZxp2tSl7jAg799_YobYfv9KzqZMnLwRdnv7iVnwBVPcg/w480-h640/3BD081EA-061F-4E03-A9C4-A4ACB0CD0FE8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey Pauli, is that a go pro on your head? Why yes, yes it is!<br />Do you know how to use it? Why no, no I do not!<br />Are you going to have massive fun with it anyway? Why yes I will :)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Sorry, until I remember how to upload videos, the blog will stay photos only. But I do have some pretty awesome videos, though they are not for those prone to motion sickness.</div><div><br /></div><div>After the canopy tour, we went on a walk to a waterfall nearby. In a stunning twist, I was encouraging the kids who were less than enthused about a hike and keeping them going. When did I become the cheerleader for hiking?! We did see some cool animals, have a lot of fun together, and see a neat waterfall, so I GUESS hiking is ok...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0h0PZPj82emQRURW98ZOxTVrnWtlDQDKed8oaFk2ROV6q0gamXv0e_S_-t9z2-6KyLTOs3bcqVdM0WlGw-y__OzcEmSluZnkg3b4gqr3BN47E7SapVNWCnzuebKPh66-IB3BU-0UUXZFAtTDN6mX_u5i9N3e4C-mW2MblAfpx2WYc4U0jaFK-SileA/s4032/PXL_20220710_191530130.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0h0PZPj82emQRURW98ZOxTVrnWtlDQDKed8oaFk2ROV6q0gamXv0e_S_-t9z2-6KyLTOs3bcqVdM0WlGw-y__OzcEmSluZnkg3b4gqr3BN47E7SapVNWCnzuebKPh66-IB3BU-0UUXZFAtTDN6mX_u5i9N3e4C-mW2MblAfpx2WYc4U0jaFK-SileA/w400-h300/PXL_20220710_191530130.MP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv6UucbElPZA7XK1Y04ALwXYYd_C9_FwY5jngslNZRJ7msSrpOB-8fzKioypWad3tt_5TnD6R9uVff8KqqRCkEt3lphnqnnRlTADp8AXY_2Ube6PzkTAJv_Rz3qwDg5j2ScidgGDXEg_uaSMAlUI2FcNMZaTpbDjLvinixY5HLtiZKxaQeT91cG-wpg/s4032/PXL_20220710_194149300.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv6UucbElPZA7XK1Y04ALwXYYd_C9_FwY5jngslNZRJ7msSrpOB-8fzKioypWad3tt_5TnD6R9uVff8KqqRCkEt3lphnqnnRlTADp8AXY_2Ube6PzkTAJv_Rz3qwDg5j2ScidgGDXEg_uaSMAlUI2FcNMZaTpbDjLvinixY5HLtiZKxaQeT91cG-wpg/w300-h400/PXL_20220710_194149300.MP.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9rmzyNEBDWeF3BpqbfqufTNZ5cmkHsJuMpfFxuiTnLJX1ijQ8r_zkW4vWKOxDg5ngzJYDvZLEFv3G6uecCq7B3t3VXdSNmb7ZAMnMBqQzy1UfnivW5YF-g-heQAFzAnh8xS77b2ak_58OgGJXUGinSbG33Z7b5et2fmJ9r-dPRd8G0FaerWgQVdlyg/s4032/PXL_20220710_194624003.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9rmzyNEBDWeF3BpqbfqufTNZ5cmkHsJuMpfFxuiTnLJX1ijQ8r_zkW4vWKOxDg5ngzJYDvZLEFv3G6uecCq7B3t3VXdSNmb7ZAMnMBqQzy1UfnivW5YF-g-heQAFzAnh8xS77b2ak_58OgGJXUGinSbG33Z7b5et2fmJ9r-dPRd8G0FaerWgQVdlyg/w480-h640/PXL_20220710_194624003.MP.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmZsoheJ6Kizs_S22iBw08Vr_HarwfOo8PIPcsYxL2Txr4EZCGRDeEHktN20yGpIglRvTz_rx66EXNGa8KmKJA9xGSIE_9Hf0IJJSklLQYsZB04Yho9zmYQir_p5pv85mtGwuOlhjqLXlWiVt3E6s1xBI3Wa3mbS6IgFKXweftau1TTXNQLueJmtsHg/s4032/PXL_20220710_195716286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmZsoheJ6Kizs_S22iBw08Vr_HarwfOo8PIPcsYxL2Txr4EZCGRDeEHktN20yGpIglRvTz_rx66EXNGa8KmKJA9xGSIE_9Hf0IJJSklLQYsZB04Yho9zmYQir_p5pv85mtGwuOlhjqLXlWiVt3E6s1xBI3Wa3mbS6IgFKXweftau1TTXNQLueJmtsHg/w300-h400/PXL_20220710_195716286.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div>After we got back to the hotel, we ran off to our next activity- Baldi. This is a pretty famous hot springs resort most often seen in American Culture on Wheel of Fortune when a contestant wins a trip to Costa Rica. And I don't know about the rest of the resort, but the hot springs were a lot of fun. Maybe I could have gone the relaxing hot springs route, but again, that would not be me. Instead, an 11 year old nominated me their adult so that they could leave their mom and younger siblings and explore hotter hot springs. We made our way up until we reached the top, but it was downright cold compared to the one before it. We realized it was the exit for 3 water slides. Well, duh we had to try them out!</div><div><br /></div><div>Slide 1- This slide was called the fastest by the staff member at the top of the structure. So of course we need to try it out first. The kid would like to go second, alright, I am first. First difference from water parks I remember in the States is hand placement. The last waterslide I was on was the Volcano (realizing now how funny that is) at Universal Studios. There, you cross your arms and drop. I feel like crossing your arms in fists toward the opposite shoulder is the way of the states. (Please correct me if I am wrong). Here in Costa Rica or at least at Baldi, you interlock your fingers behind your head with your elbows facing forward. This is important as it leads to difference number 2. When they say "this is the faster one" they fail to mention that safety regulations about how fast a body can move through the curves of these tunnels seems to be VERY different from any other water slide I have been on. Exhilarating is an understatement! After we were done with the slides, we were extremely entertained by the bewildered faces of everyone coming out of that slide. You don't know which way is what when you get out of that one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Slide 2- This slide was the other option for a closed tunnel experience. And while the staff member had indicated the other one was faster, I don't believe it was by a vast margin AT ALL. On this one, I had my arms crossed as I went in (another reason I believe that is more typical in the states, because it was what I naturally went to) and the staffer called out to put my arms around my head JUST in time for the first curve. By the 2nd curve I was VERY happy they'd reminded me. At the 3rd or 4th curve (they all blurred) I realized wait, my body has flipped over on it's side and I am now facedown in the water. I flipped myself back over on the last curve just in time to get spit out into the pool with the kid laughing hysterically at the look on my face.</div><div><br /></div><div>Slide 3- Now, the same structure had an open faced slide a level below the first two slides. We debated skipping it before heading over to the "kids" section of slides (kids is in quotes for a reason). Finally we decided, no, we want to do them all. We'd seen people going down that slide, but never really watched them. It was my turn to go first, so down I went thinking I would get a break from the adrenaline. NOPE. This one featured a small drop in the middle that caused my heart to freeze up in the slide while my body was sent by gravity to the pool. I had recovered by the time the kid came down and so I asked if they were as surprised as I was by the drop. "Nope," huge smile, "I watched you, saw you drop and heard you scream, so I knew it was coming."</div><div><br /></div><div>Slide 4- We moved into the "kids park." One half was the kind of kid's structures you see at a playground, but with water, and the giant bucket that fills up with water and dumps it onto a roof and splashes anyone standing below. The OTHER half was our slide number four, a closed tunnel slide with a few twists and then you come shooting out the toilet bowl spin around a bit and drop a few feet into the pool below. Everyone else called it the toilet bowl, but I didn't like to think what that made me as I swirled around, so I preferred to call it the marble exhibit from the science museum. So somehow by kid logic, it was my turn to go first, and off I went. Swirling around the marble bowl was actually really fun, but then I realized, wait, how do I go into the pool at least somewhat gracefully. I discovered the answer very quickly: Graceful wasn't in the cards for my exit. My whole body flopped sideways and I side body flopped into the pool below. It was quite funny and luckily only witnessed by a few.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Slides 5-?- By the time my buddy had decided that we needed to ride EVERY slide in the park. This included the kids' slides in the playground structure. And this is where I found some major flaws in this plan. 1, I had a bit more mass than the folks who normally go down these slides and acquired a bit more speed. But that the bottom was an inch maybe two of water, and a stone floor. It was either an abrupt stop with my feet and use my momentum to stand up, or skid on the stone bottom. I opted for the first, but it was definitely and adrenaline filled moment! The next slides were slightly more difficult for other reasons. On one, I was able to fit if I turned sideways. On another I could barely squish into the frogs head to get down it's slide tongue. But in the end, we conquered every slide in the park. After going back to the fast slide pool and watching friends and strangers come out of the slides, we reconnected with their family. After we were dry and getting ready for dinner, it became clear that the younger siblings needed a more calm environment stat, but the oldest wanted to stay with the rest of our group for dinner at Baldi. I was happy to continue hanging out with them, so mom set off. </div><div><br /></div><div>As we started off to find the restaurant, it started pouring. And that was when we realized that the bag with all their rain stuff had gone back to hotel with their family.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And this is yet another reason that ponchos are the greatest!</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87JWmU-7iGpBYhqXpLuPgqG7UEG81agK3MUH1JjuyavlomUc-h3pBqRuYf3q0245bUSJqjTZnBFfPMtEwBpVI23Qp-TiE7U8wP1R7rvHZN_znZqJLIqCC_z4wSNKdmNYXRLFpdr3BCOmXWn1aqxEoQtTWsKs9gK_vlkMnDIUeowrksu2ClP5ARbLW4Q/s4032/20220710_202606~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="4032" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87JWmU-7iGpBYhqXpLuPgqG7UEG81agK3MUH1JjuyavlomUc-h3pBqRuYf3q0245bUSJqjTZnBFfPMtEwBpVI23Qp-TiE7U8wP1R7rvHZN_znZqJLIqCC_z4wSNKdmNYXRLFpdr3BCOmXWn1aqxEoQtTWsKs9gK_vlkMnDIUeowrksu2ClP5ARbLW4Q/w640-h312/20220710_202606~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, the 11 year old is taller than I am. I am spatially efficient!</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>My other favorite moment of the night occurred when I got up to get a salad after the rest of my meal. The kid followed me saying they needed to stick to me since I was their Mom for the night. We both stopped for a second, they looked at me and said, "no, cool aunt." I accepted that, and we continued to have a great time. That included seconds and maybe thirds of dessert (after having a bit of dessert before the meal, JUST as a taste test. I am a cool aunt :)<div><br /></div><div>PS, for those worried about my corruption of the youth, a few days later during the coffee break, I watched the younger ones "sneakily" getting some coffee followed by MASSIVE amounts of sugar, and saw their mom watching. She shrugged and said "pura vida. They won't get any at home, so it won't hurt them too much to play around here." That totally sent me back to memories of my brother and me and our friends running around Klezkamp/Workmen's Circle Convention/Yiddish Vokh/Any conference I am forgetting, and trying out "the forbidden" THINKING we were being sneaky while every single adult watched and went, yeah, ok.</div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-67004345775914457622022-07-17T17:26:00.002-07:002022-07-17T17:26:39.269-07:00Arenal Part 1<p> Waking up to catch the bus at 7 AM feels amazing when you needed to catch it at 5 AM the day before. After breakfast with my host family (they were SHOCKED that I had left the house without waking them up on Friday. They saw my closed door and worried I had slept in, because NO WAY could I have left without waking anyone up. But, hey, I grew up with shared shared living space every summer. I know how to pack, clean up, and leave without a sound, even in a panicked rush- see earlier post.)</p><p>On the way to Arenal, we stopped in Sarchi, a region known for their art and for their carretas- carts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGmvYFTwsLiCNJfvJnrGOaTS1Ds6ArVtiU7aZS3QIAfLaJ9dNxRiVYz4-1gRV4MamEmgKndR4kzMEBgb61LRjw6ll5q2or99qK616w85i1NYYuoyY4nX5E7rK4uJfpnuHDLSlalOeiJNKNusnQ0YqcWprEaTUvjr6t31uRPLbP3qTIiVce_xJXTopHw/s4032/PXL_20220709_141600064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGmvYFTwsLiCNJfvJnrGOaTS1Ds6ArVtiU7aZS3QIAfLaJ9dNxRiVYz4-1gRV4MamEmgKndR4kzMEBgb61LRjw6ll5q2or99qK616w85i1NYYuoyY4nX5E7rK4uJfpnuHDLSlalOeiJNKNusnQ0YqcWprEaTUvjr6t31uRPLbP3qTIiVce_xJXTopHw/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_141600064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjXJDHF7CcfzCOSFkeS8m2XGyYKTkjpcc_TcwUsEnH9M0ZHwaYrcJv0slcbdpdob8QGhfdFdD627LDsMwHyW96thtQ9z8uujaFBoxkHddWgXGgyZdrLoCCTtEQTl3m_tlxCRX07Ie3Qvzh0DXNsAdEis9DuBzPyYUhW6y1FdL9pyKZ3slbgvm0DXgLQ/s4032/PXL_20220709_142228472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjXJDHF7CcfzCOSFkeS8m2XGyYKTkjpcc_TcwUsEnH9M0ZHwaYrcJv0slcbdpdob8QGhfdFdD627LDsMwHyW96thtQ9z8uujaFBoxkHddWgXGgyZdrLoCCTtEQTl3m_tlxCRX07Ie3Qvzh0DXNsAdEis9DuBzPyYUhW6y1FdL9pyKZ3slbgvm0DXgLQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_142228472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCcOyqyGCJD84a3HcAnc7gJnBESKkdgYBNhi5QgoZP-jiKori8w7w19T2NFGe69ZRfEDulCBPJcveAQVftFTsgJhT5k9lFWktlbkxj7PLmxowFI5_5NIJzUlKeFcd_A5xtQAwrUzo1XJLXME7bQw2ujGCIvK9yfOaiFGr63C4qJ2so-vK31-aoe75_w/s4032/PXL_20220709_142239771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCcOyqyGCJD84a3HcAnc7gJnBESKkdgYBNhi5QgoZP-jiKori8w7w19T2NFGe69ZRfEDulCBPJcveAQVftFTsgJhT5k9lFWktlbkxj7PLmxowFI5_5NIJzUlKeFcd_A5xtQAwrUzo1XJLXME7bQw2ujGCIvK9yfOaiFGr63C4qJ2so-vK31-aoe75_w/w480-h640/PXL_20220709_142239771.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYHqCDJJSi9FQ8WlzjcfN1mXnAUdTz7adYK8gWk2Jn2WRSzhX796Yh1BdcY2HlTLWxtcCEolw4hQhqQ_23onqq5wyuzIUAfTmFdcUJWjAKydweLiaeXCnaGAg89R30ALB3MQv9Vd2g1AyLrmbVzvNKRVGEgP7gTryraZfCEt_2ClS9m3sq1VOuMuy5g/s4032/IMG_0626.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYHqCDJJSi9FQ8WlzjcfN1mXnAUdTz7adYK8gWk2Jn2WRSzhX796Yh1BdcY2HlTLWxtcCEolw4hQhqQ_23onqq5wyuzIUAfTmFdcUJWjAKydweLiaeXCnaGAg89R30ALB3MQv9Vd2g1AyLrmbVzvNKRVGEgP7gTryraZfCEt_2ClS9m3sq1VOuMuy5g/w300-h400/IMG_0626.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarchi Artist and their Muse</td></tr></tbody></table><p>After visiting the park that housed the biggest carreta in the world, we went to visit the factory where this particular form of cart was invented. And it is still used for farming in Costa Rica today. The tour guide explained that carretas break far less than the machines do, and so the farmers still use the oxen cart to farm as it's much cheaper in the long run. But it isn't only about the cart itself. Folks study for YEARS to be a recognized artist in Sarchi. One tin cup takes HOURS (a lot of it waiting for the layer to dry before moving onto the next layer.) We watched an artist go from tin cups to a wheel, to umbrellas and back to cups in the span of our tour.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsa9LdKWLcJBQfgEBA2z2JUWbQpjskj0wuQ1q_Ukz5CoBBk2_QenQ6HL4LxcsnIXEcjs6Kzl3UqWBWwUOyEyCNNBEyO3ZFJiIQ9DUT_3cE-ldjvbqcuCWsvWI7gioogX1w_T3mnIl4eCKXSBl9w__zMqyQZnaY3xGSRa2xu5ixQfFOff3SK9QaL5EPw/s3631/PXL_20220709_150508099_exported_1009_1657416292270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3631" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQsa9LdKWLcJBQfgEBA2z2JUWbQpjskj0wuQ1q_Ukz5CoBBk2_QenQ6HL4LxcsnIXEcjs6Kzl3UqWBWwUOyEyCNNBEyO3ZFJiIQ9DUT_3cE-ldjvbqcuCWsvWI7gioogX1w_T3mnIl4eCKXSBl9w__zMqyQZnaY3xGSRa2xu5ixQfFOff3SK9QaL5EPw/s320/PXL_20220709_150508099_exported_1009_1657416292270.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After a visit to the gift shop (I MAY have spent too much money on an umbrella that Elizabeth, the artist in the photo painted) We were back on our way.<br /><p>The road to Volcan Arenal took us through so many curves and switchbacks to go through, above, and around the mountains. And the clouds were constant friends, wisping in and out. Do you have any idea HOW HARD it was to decide which photos to share here? I have about a thousand more, and a few million that I deleted because I didn't need my photos to be ONLY photos of the mountain passes. So, a few:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHce4bTkZm5mQsr4o9-aNfk4yMGOTVUNUqpQ7D906m7OlNw4-gW2jP5hGLe3xd2f3AkolGZEzt4lPWRiS4wuWANLVKfSdUmN7KMEGJ-QcXy5VZRK1o4vcjnpktYvrqbJDTOnB3gCw64ZmO3NC54OtAF8yoPdZQ1mAdkKofd7fyeEAiQ0D2wQGndAGURg/s1024/PXL_20220709_170137566_exported_1829_1657416065147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHce4bTkZm5mQsr4o9-aNfk4yMGOTVUNUqpQ7D906m7OlNw4-gW2jP5hGLe3xd2f3AkolGZEzt4lPWRiS4wuWANLVKfSdUmN7KMEGJ-QcXy5VZRK1o4vcjnpktYvrqbJDTOnB3gCw64ZmO3NC54OtAF8yoPdZQ1mAdkKofd7fyeEAiQ0D2wQGndAGURg/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_170137566_exported_1829_1657416065147.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMlZvQqocdjvwIrp5quPTn-4dCtJequ4nXp50_7LiIEEtvsrAU0hrmsSQDLJwY3cLFFvLG4yNyEMZhxVW0NPUXfxx_ycfOpX-L_azxsY6EBzStFtbvpc6vMIKt729u6RvQDm--lcM7JiZtkFiBO-2XGPlEVQF7VLs1pxtcPwxv_zWN6QXsIk3i2g1zg/s4032/PXL_20220709_170147094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMlZvQqocdjvwIrp5quPTn-4dCtJequ4nXp50_7LiIEEtvsrAU0hrmsSQDLJwY3cLFFvLG4yNyEMZhxVW0NPUXfxx_ycfOpX-L_azxsY6EBzStFtbvpc6vMIKt729u6RvQDm--lcM7JiZtkFiBO-2XGPlEVQF7VLs1pxtcPwxv_zWN6QXsIk3i2g1zg/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_170147094.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWA4Y1kCHlNLcK05nQzacS2acwQ2hEjCEWIJWMi_dQlXa1BNlDni_fIdiGrvq2_jtgAidilI_SBmxw3EkmPG8xKUCjILpl8KEpholuBLVOfDtBNAawuI8TLTfxR7G-vfFq-W9VHzm4aQ-Eu0L_guh7Cgc3T3z2luNff0OmkV2Pyd_HuyDfJpfBP3BUA/s4032/PXL_20220709_170152486.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWA4Y1kCHlNLcK05nQzacS2acwQ2hEjCEWIJWMi_dQlXa1BNlDni_fIdiGrvq2_jtgAidilI_SBmxw3EkmPG8xKUCjILpl8KEpholuBLVOfDtBNAawuI8TLTfxR7G-vfFq-W9VHzm4aQ-Eu0L_guh7Cgc3T3z2luNff0OmkV2Pyd_HuyDfJpfBP3BUA/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_170152486.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2_QBpoHyvBwRELFiKO6jnP-pYmYaQUpDuj43O5TO_iCWgl7Au_vfyTAXMl20UX8u_Z96OsZIxXqAr4AsY-Iu-A0qrO3pPlNsOclPRK9TBmYw8MJtMZ11cXvCIo6uf1ir6m0kPwocBzBh2UL8StuXNRorgkIXbqFBj18X183UqWodVpndtOEwZ_oUwg/s4032/PXL_20220709_170159178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2_QBpoHyvBwRELFiKO6jnP-pYmYaQUpDuj43O5TO_iCWgl7Au_vfyTAXMl20UX8u_Z96OsZIxXqAr4AsY-Iu-A0qrO3pPlNsOclPRK9TBmYw8MJtMZ11cXvCIo6uf1ir6m0kPwocBzBh2UL8StuXNRorgkIXbqFBj18X183UqWodVpndtOEwZ_oUwg/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_170159178.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDriksOgkaOrwV6P15ahe_Xcvgosd40ev4-7WPZm_stFaLtJ2R-guYvUL0RKk_JcNdj_nx7p6lzy2bbk18H8O-B69eFa1u_5Fv7oTPdMq9S3YI9SykmGj2K9mQxsbkdLNeMVcqNmTN0JZf_yt3RFNsPutrw-0GZcOTfM2G4vclNFZscWRkqSFhy4ZQQ/s1024/PXL_20220709_170853611_exported_466_1657386584281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDriksOgkaOrwV6P15ahe_Xcvgosd40ev4-7WPZm_stFaLtJ2R-guYvUL0RKk_JcNdj_nx7p6lzy2bbk18H8O-B69eFa1u_5Fv7oTPdMq9S3YI9SykmGj2K9mQxsbkdLNeMVcqNmTN0JZf_yt3RFNsPutrw-0GZcOTfM2G4vclNFZscWRkqSFhy4ZQQ/w400-h300/PXL_20220709_170853611_exported_466_1657386584281.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yeah, to give you an idea of how unbelievably beautiful it was, I PUT MY KNITTING DOWN and just stared out the window. It was truly breathtaking.</p><p>After we left the REALLY mountainous area for the normally mountainous area and I had taken up my knititng again, our director shouted PEREZOSO!</p><p>The driver saw that there were no other cars around and backed the whole bus up so we could see the Perezosos (sloths). Yes, two, hanging out (literally) on the powerlines.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8a3dMRd76iSFqtmHJS1StVX3qVSreZV-djbQ3WFNED9h8ngvRRZf-rS1yRJOMj2miSW0t44OffU0DVOT2KTc2I6K1jhuBO8D2Q7Vd_Gw_8xRxWcTcUz6TYkE437e_u1fBaSOVKKUTwlre4GNBGOc5cE8U7l-4cKREqOnkwK66VP1wsdEmloTLeZ2qw/s4032/PXL_20220709_180024101.NIGHT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8a3dMRd76iSFqtmHJS1StVX3qVSreZV-djbQ3WFNED9h8ngvRRZf-rS1yRJOMj2miSW0t44OffU0DVOT2KTc2I6K1jhuBO8D2Q7Vd_Gw_8xRxWcTcUz6TYkE437e_u1fBaSOVKKUTwlre4GNBGOc5cE8U7l-4cKREqOnkwK66VP1wsdEmloTLeZ2qw/s320/PXL_20220709_180024101.NIGHT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you find the two?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i545i3ZrrYjlsBlNzr9n9nzEu2fItjvL5EDC2P7nzj58VlBobYz8NggfeiNinIjZDvuA4G1CiWqGCFrAiei85_ACEgdn-SnuCPO15G4X0YMZeFNkGf_trMbRaJ2aldB44fF-Tw9fOYAKzq69dwKLMSaEmghaparjXy0tcSGYm1MuYVVR-2dIosemVw/s4032/PXL_20220709_180214168.PORTRAIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6i545i3ZrrYjlsBlNzr9n9nzEu2fItjvL5EDC2P7nzj58VlBobYz8NggfeiNinIjZDvuA4G1CiWqGCFrAiei85_ACEgdn-SnuCPO15G4X0YMZeFNkGf_trMbRaJ2aldB44fF-Tw9fOYAKzq69dwKLMSaEmghaparjXy0tcSGYm1MuYVVR-2dIosemVw/w300-h400/PXL_20220709_180214168.PORTRAIT.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Shortly after the Oso Perezoso siting, it started pouring. I am not talking about your typical Costa Rican wet season rain- This was a DOWNPOUR. It cancelled our visit to a waterfall, but by getting to the hotel we were staying at a bit early, I got to spend HOURS in water heated by a volcano. It was perfect. Especially when it was raining and the world was both cold and hot in the best kind of mix. Yes, I was a happy camper.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNNu5p4UCTLQFN7eExeC8pQcYMrxIHvOkm9uTJz8dhuuUJixwoieKDXOyPH_DxFjdhoFOaoLmZP8El9aWPuYsZXqb4N1SQxuGtIBTPeTT39PLXnJ6GSVA8RRx-eILCVxew9EQDgngfYmvyTbCIktOapkzE8dsDg5QS4wQ98f8UMKaiTT6PA2fvKhCaQ/s4032/IMG_5345.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNNu5p4UCTLQFN7eExeC8pQcYMrxIHvOkm9uTJz8dhuuUJixwoieKDXOyPH_DxFjdhoFOaoLmZP8El9aWPuYsZXqb4N1SQxuGtIBTPeTT39PLXnJ6GSVA8RRx-eILCVxew9EQDgngfYmvyTbCIktOapkzE8dsDg5QS4wQ98f8UMKaiTT6PA2fvKhCaQ/s320/IMG_5345.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>So it seems Arenal was JUST ahead of us, but there were too many clouds to see it. Heads up, in Costa Rica during the rainy season, it pays to be an early bird. When I saw it was sunny out when I woke up, I ran out to see the volcano, and honestly, everything else that was waking up too (SO MANY plants photos). About a half hour later, the mountain was totally obscured again, though it cleared up a bit later that morning. Yeah, I get why folks are obsessed with volcanoes (even when they aren't active)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecwAo7J3vE32kEBHO87hEtrdw4jTpK91KmOj4SeTb0eZDqDmJX2C0vtF91gzQK-etJhK15IoIeCuLmAZypVSvkDj3_yepiWFaAhcZBHKwDw6NjbMeq9GDHDqtGxRLZC02Kgc4zq9UXmbSmsrUn5U0OjuvZwxT9GGuj7dtj1IilZrTUYfbMe2Y7sTdbQ/s4032/PXL_20220710_131311896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2989" data-original-width="4032" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecwAo7J3vE32kEBHO87hEtrdw4jTpK91KmOj4SeTb0eZDqDmJX2C0vtF91gzQK-etJhK15IoIeCuLmAZypVSvkDj3_yepiWFaAhcZBHKwDw6NjbMeq9GDHDqtGxRLZC02Kgc4zq9UXmbSmsrUn5U0OjuvZwxT9GGuj7dtj1IilZrTUYfbMe2Y7sTdbQ/w640-h474/PXL_20220710_131311896.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-4332254872981274222022-07-17T15:58:00.005-07:002022-07-17T15:59:11.393-07:00Tolinga (Isla Tortuga)<p>So we should always stick to indigenous names of the land. Yes, to honor and recognize the people who lived on these lands and who have been fighting to be seen and heard for centuries. And also because colonial powers totally suck at naming things. There are no turtles on Isla Tortuga, it seems it was named that because the island is- shaped like a turtle? Nope. Neither from the boat nor from the sky view on Google maps. We couldn't see it at all. And we looked.</p><p>But I'm skipping ahead.</p><p>The day started with my alarm at 4:15 am. I looked at it in confusion, remembered I was going on a trip, but I must have set the alarm too soon, and put my head back down (without resetting the alarm) at 4:40, I realized, NO, I had set it for 4:15 because at 4:45 I needed to be at the gate of another student's house so her Mama Tica (Costa Rican mother) could give us both a ride to the park, where we were meeting the 3 other students going with us and our ride to the island. Luckily, I am my parent's child and everything I needed was packed and ready to go. I was a few minutes late, but luckily, Pura Vida, so were they. Also, the grandfather of the house was shocked that I'd left without waking anyone up. He saw my closed door and panicked, thinking I was late to the park. I'm very very proud of that exit from the house, in a rush, before 5 am making a minimum of noise.</p><p>We got in our minivan with our friends at the park at 5, picked up a few couples in San Jose, and met with the bigger bus that took us to the pier. Then it was a catamaran to the island. We arrived at the island around 11 am. Yes, that's right, we left the house at 3:45 and arrived at our destination at 11 am. The mini van to the bus was, you know, travel, but, late into it, we passed a whole lot of coast where I got to see the PACIFIC OCEAN for the first time!! It was everything I'd imagined it to be! And the boat ride was a lot of fun, getting to know the other students and explore the boat together.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_F9UCs6u3sWpzI4hwd1mOPjgZsmro56WDoHM9WxbSPGpJCdI9RYfdeCdt46DjT1ealMZzysCY_Vjq-gr_dVqUKdw-t1omtWFyuS7DPtk1nrMgKVkDP8rx3_HmDI3wMkkWnZIchcEHFg3hYwY_roheEzjpP-ReWZVXSXBjy9vJYrBWg4zkkrq4iClTHg/s4032/PXL_20220708_153209184.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_F9UCs6u3sWpzI4hwd1mOPjgZsmro56WDoHM9WxbSPGpJCdI9RYfdeCdt46DjT1ealMZzysCY_Vjq-gr_dVqUKdw-t1omtWFyuS7DPtk1nrMgKVkDP8rx3_HmDI3wMkkWnZIchcEHFg3hYwY_roheEzjpP-ReWZVXSXBjy9vJYrBWg4zkkrq4iClTHg/s320/PXL_20220708_153209184.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx8xx07ZfpuBS62TK-bir3oF4mV2FM58AUr9W_ovuumnD4Tz6UvCY1dErYQjDRWbVbNRZ9vP9gTEaxw9lO_D8fRJJ5nhSk5bfKw91yzn4hOgEKztOjSuBQ1hdcJp7pcKFkCbIpt047H3QLORwSpLU1HgnIZSYqx1xS3b5IlFObdSPU-vKp6JM9VA5Iw/s4032/PXL_20220708_154357036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx8xx07ZfpuBS62TK-bir3oF4mV2FM58AUr9W_ovuumnD4Tz6UvCY1dErYQjDRWbVbNRZ9vP9gTEaxw9lO_D8fRJJ5nhSk5bfKw91yzn4hOgEKztOjSuBQ1hdcJp7pcKFkCbIpt047H3QLORwSpLU1HgnIZSYqx1xS3b5IlFObdSPU-vKp6JM9VA5Iw/s320/PXL_20220708_154357036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Tolinga, but on the way.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>After getting settled on the island, we took a boat out to a rock structure to snorkel. I'd chosen the "free dive" life vest that could inflate if you blew into it, but allowed you to swim around underwater and check things out. One of my friends saw a ray, which I really wanted to see, but it swam away too quickly. But they're were millions of fish with all kinds of colors and sizes and they came right over to you. And I learned I am much braver than I was when I went snorkeling last (I think sting ray city when I was 12?) and this time, I actually dove into the water to see more. SO MANY neat things under the sea :) No photos because, well, I was in the water the whole time.<p>We came back to the beach for a great lunch and some lying on the beach.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfF5NCZt1_tARv8GcjO05-ap4uPcByBIrzRvfBX3vTXZCYBAMQPg7obB9zEyUeTtX9IpJ0cXggHdy5x4lPelA2-NZ-HidW_Qo2To4ySoXC2ZZmzSGYeaMUk9VqC5wZi7-48k5aIcLAXVpL81fmZmB1e_jIolxzZqZQZTnqauL8GyNZcURUHBBxMeeRVQ/s2872/20220708_134028.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="2592" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfF5NCZt1_tARv8GcjO05-ap4uPcByBIrzRvfBX3vTXZCYBAMQPg7obB9zEyUeTtX9IpJ0cXggHdy5x4lPelA2-NZ-HidW_Qo2To4ySoXC2ZZmzSGYeaMUk9VqC5wZi7-48k5aIcLAXVpL81fmZmB1e_jIolxzZqZQZTnqauL8GyNZcURUHBBxMeeRVQ/s320/20220708_134028.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">HAHA, nope, those are NOT my feet, (but they are my friends'). There was far too much to see! After lunch I went on my first Banana Boat Ride. We were dragged behind by the motor boat over waves which was pretty fun. Then the motor boat made sharp turn and just waited for us. And I got to experience the life of a very clumsy seagull crash landing on the water. Thanks to circus classes, I was able to haul myself back onto the banana boat and help everyone else up, and we were off to the races. And by races, I mean another unplanned attempt at learning to fly (if at first you don't succeed?) This time, after helping everyone up, I ended up in the front of the boat. As we came back to the beach, I saw the boat driver was setting us up for one last dump and I was ready! I didn't go in this time. Neither did my friend behind me. But when I jumped in to swim to shore I realized everyone else in the boat had been dumped. It seems that if someone falls in in front of you, you are going down.. Apparently I could be good at riding horses (I was told they're similar skill sets, but um, no, a boat is inanimate, a horse has a mind of it's own) because I was able to stay on.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVF-hN6NRnDSGUXfphRvXhrcdcl4bwnnRNsjva7_TUhblOm_Gg1vdwQN7O9FR5z_US9pp-etjifZwC9p2uY8U7-1wa0HKvsqQ0SFsaSHwuj4VwuMj4lyMllXKiKj1zSIMCN8p7mdILwLAIjhkgPmZ8zAuQpkFy5LCuXBEB0YNfT8gay3tw80hHVNj2g/s1600/IMG-20220708-WA0007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVF-hN6NRnDSGUXfphRvXhrcdcl4bwnnRNsjva7_TUhblOm_Gg1vdwQN7O9FR5z_US9pp-etjifZwC9p2uY8U7-1wa0HKvsqQ0SFsaSHwuj4VwuMj4lyMllXKiKj1zSIMCN8p7mdILwLAIjhkgPmZ8zAuQpkFy5LCuXBEB0YNfT8gay3tw80hHVNj2g/w640-h360/IMG-20220708-WA0007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We got back on the boat, 4 hours after getting off, and started the long trip back to Santo Domingo. I got home around 8:30 walked into my room to flop on my bed and realized, tomorrow, I will be back at the park, this time at 7 AM for the next trip!</p></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-61567202448365052742022-07-14T11:11:00.000-07:002022-07-14T11:11:33.230-07:00Domingo<p> I realized Saturday was a post all to itself. So, what happened to my lazy Sunday?</p><p>I have made friends with a pretty awesome 7 year old and her Mom who are in the Families program.</p><p>She mentioned going to the children's museum, and I agreed it sounds awesome, so Sunday morning, the 3 of us went into San Jose. This time, I was very ready and I knew EXACTLY where we were going when it came to getting on and off the bus (turns out I just got lucky and the bus company we happened to take happened to take was the one that ends up at the same station I'd finally found the day before...) After a quick stop outside the Starbucks from Saturday (same internet password) we started off to the Children's Museum. It was a bit of a walk, and the little one was getting a bit antsy, but finally we see a building the shape of a castle in front of us. There's a HUGE line, so she and I grabbed a stop online while her Mom went to make sure this was the line we needed to be on.</p><p><br /></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoTFmUMMExZASqDLHn8OCXHY8G2Y6AUBykIQ3cWeCGAVE0swPhb9prq-rWCsu781GeiQMCqsO_-Zhq3wpytcMEJ9VeB3p3Sa6fGOFiPhMwK8ht568yNI8FmTsguln0iSCDvvqxY2DQ62JEz95IFm1A3gKJZEjC0jUOqPaNhiQ0KudPgsYuiZotyCXTg/s4032/PXL_20220703_181612415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoTFmUMMExZASqDLHn8OCXHY8G2Y6AUBykIQ3cWeCGAVE0swPhb9prq-rWCsu781GeiQMCqsO_-Zhq3wpytcMEJ9VeB3p3Sa6fGOFiPhMwK8ht568yNI8FmTsguln0iSCDvvqxY2DQ62JEz95IFm1A3gKJZEjC0jUOqPaNhiQ0KudPgsYuiZotyCXTg/s320/PXL_20220703_181612415.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The GIANT cactus on other side of the street <br />from the botanical garden</td></tr></tbody></table>It wasn't. It turns out folks reserve tickets well in advance for specific hours to visit the museum. And that day was sold out for the rest of the day. Woops. We start discussing where else we can go. My "San Jose list" of things to see were all museums but the boring ones I'd have hated as a kid. I remembered I'd seen a botanical garden when I was staring at maps of San Jose in an attempt to minimize my total cluelessness in this foreign city, so off we went. I led us to, what looked like, the nearest entrance, and you know what that "looked like" means.</p><p>In my defense, it was an entrance, but it was locked. There was a path along the fence so we started walking to the right. The walk just OUTSIDE the fence was a botanical garden in itself. Honestly all of Costa Rica is nothing but incredible plants and flowers everywhere.</p><p> Anyway, we keep walking the path until it looks like it peels away from the park entirely. We find some folks hanging out outside their house and, in our strongest 5 days of 4 hour Spanish classes and Spanish with host families on top is that, ask about getting into the park. In flawless English, they tell us to walk to the left.</p><p>I'm telling you, I leaned it at camp when we were lost, when in doubt always go left!</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3qrd35s1-j6_LKXqYLgCkiR1i-G_H9IqFrKmtbqVf_qE6Du4SY3vUEbSlOxsago6gzJJ8nktaTPr7wf_ofDfvsprmNliu2E6BwjF7KCPWy5_QO6XhCyQCWsvLCD-WKaC8rG45ELgSabBTW-nZigdLSnUuKQBKHsd2jycLE6P2wBtDeNa5dPWNzXzsw/s4032/PXL_20220703_190758009.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3qrd35s1-j6_LKXqYLgCkiR1i-G_H9IqFrKmtbqVf_qE6Du4SY3vUEbSlOxsago6gzJJ8nktaTPr7wf_ofDfvsprmNliu2E6BwjF7KCPWy5_QO6XhCyQCWsvLCD-WKaC8rG45ELgSabBTW-nZigdLSnUuKQBKHsd2jycLE6P2wBtDeNa5dPWNzXzsw/w150-h200/PXL_20220703_190758009.MP.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the actual exhibit! </td></tr></tbody></table>We FINALLY reach the park, yes of course we can come in and that's when we find out it's actually a zoo. I really enjoyed seeing a raccoon as one of the exhibit animals as that is one animal I definitely don't need a zoo to see. We saw all kinds of animals, monkeys and such, but my favorites were the birds. So so many birds with so so many colors. One bird looked a bit familiar so I went to read what it was: LAPA VERDE! Lapa Verde is the name of our Spanish school. And sure there's a green bird as part of the logo of the school, but there's an animal as part of a million other logos here. I was very excited to discover that the school was named after the bird. I got to speak with the school founder and ask about it, and she shared that both Lapa Verde and Lapa Roja were endangered and all the focus was going to the Lapa Roja so she wanted to name her school after the other. </p><p>One of the birds was eating but I noticed another animal "just hanging around"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E7Khy_3609hv6j_C_uqD0N8OW8i16V6BG4Q-fXfOWVbdJlx3E2vgs15MUNfEYynCsMNhb2lPU1G82J5ClOxjPfLNIyqTaIf-1ragqEMTygzEkHjcj_kv0uPcG-yy2448WOVC1rKgBZJc442_PfX6O-LTUZTM1TsfmmPbL4Bxh-lX0V5L_KqBQw9Eog/s4032/PXL_20220703_192410593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-E7Khy_3609hv6j_C_uqD0N8OW8i16V6BG4Q-fXfOWVbdJlx3E2vgs15MUNfEYynCsMNhb2lPU1G82J5ClOxjPfLNIyqTaIf-1ragqEMTygzEkHjcj_kv0uPcG-yy2448WOVC1rKgBZJc442_PfX6O-LTUZTM1TsfmmPbL4Bxh-lX0V5L_KqBQw9Eog/s320/PXL_20220703_192410593.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn't belong.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>When I got back to the other side of the exhibit I saw that it's patience had paid off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQQ1Qz1X-k_QGCW-id5YXyYD3WjBrzy3gA458PsYvEeCdjxWPwoRtzjQeRBJwQHxrBsComTD0l2PxGxKElmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Finally we reached a bridge over water that was BRIGHT green from the pollen of the trees surrounding it. On one side of the bridge we saw turtles sunning themselves but there was a crowd of folks looking at something on the other side.</p><p>Ok, y'all, I thought I had a handle on the different animals of the world.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLac5jtCiqmy5p0RTnO1S5eyTdjYkQN3elMY8T6nvxKXG245cvKvW_1MNSkosGLah-dRXEvvZ2S9NTUsPmtm42o5wZxXCbkYEZXcfTu23yc7a9bGNiw0h2vEFYzlxTdRtJo2DxObnyv6cHdrtdgylaBaTqcvyEfrWu0cIHvdfqgXSwSQgYYbente2kg/s4032/PXL_20220703_195017033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLac5jtCiqmy5p0RTnO1S5eyTdjYkQN3elMY8T6nvxKXG245cvKvW_1MNSkosGLah-dRXEvvZ2S9NTUsPmtm42o5wZxXCbkYEZXcfTu23yc7a9bGNiw0h2vEFYzlxTdRtJo2DxObnyv6cHdrtdgylaBaTqcvyEfrWu0cIHvdfqgXSwSQgYYbente2kg/s320/PXL_20220703_195017033.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p>What?!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWX9b0NrcLf6_NaD4d1uE5q5tTOeBvvFUjS95EqfetpHll672hMc46FT4KXp7y5ukXtReDpezChz0nX6MKlYzm20dMhacut97ns7LFcOeNn8nQVRkUAH2obfpk6pj2S_ykXwIbuBEcl41sVS8rBQgCcKcM1BpVOYffDGAXZ43mbkdlaebf8rJNh_yIg/s4032/PXL_20220703_194330438.MP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWX9b0NrcLf6_NaD4d1uE5q5tTOeBvvFUjS95EqfetpHll672hMc46FT4KXp7y5ukXtReDpezChz0nX6MKlYzm20dMhacut97ns7LFcOeNn8nQVRkUAH2obfpk6pj2S_ykXwIbuBEcl41sVS8rBQgCcKcM1BpVOYffDGAXZ43mbkdlaebf8rJNh_yIg/s320/PXL_20220703_194330438.MP.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p>We had a great time, AND I paid attention and saw when we got to Santo Domingo and got off at the right place. It helped that when I realized where we were, I looked up at the driver, who I'd previously asked to help make sure we ended up at the park, and he smiled and nodded.</p><p><br /></p><p>I really love this country.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-59170092483838855952022-07-04T20:03:00.003-07:002022-07-05T06:25:16.885-07:00The first Fin de Semana<div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">El Fin de Semana, the end of the week (aka, weekend). In my head this would be a chill weekend during which I would lazily get to know Santo Domingo better, and maybe try to take the bus into San Jose or Heredia one afternoon or something. NOPE. I am having a VERY hard time being lazy here…</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">On Saturday, I head into San Jose to check out the Jade Museum. It was definitely worth it. I know so little about pre (or post for that matter) colombian history and culture of Central America and the museum was a great place to build a foundation, though I left with MANY more questions than I’d had when I entered. Today, I asked my Spanish teacher about where to learn more, and now have 3 more museums, very close to the Jade Museum, to check out. I spent hours on the first 3 floors. The first was a traveling exhibit of Costa Rican art that was stunning. The 2nd floor is ALL jade and the 3rd floor is called “night and day.” There were children’s videos (that I FULLY took advantage of watching) that taught about why Jade was such a big deal in mesoamerica. The exhibits included tools and methods of working Jade, as well as the beliefs and uses of and for Jade. It was all very general, which is why I have SO MANY more questions, and I hope I have time to dive into more specific histories soon.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hours after I entered, I noticed that it was pouring outside. Luckily, I have my capa (poncho) and the rain is no hay problema para mi. I explored the various markets, from the old market, inside a building with stalls for each tienda to the new markets, such as a pedestrian street full of modern stores and loud music and even louder workers in the stores with microphones telling you there is a sale for this hour only, you better come in and get xxx. It was a lot of fun, but I was still trying to find the theater my host family suggested I check out. After discovering that the beautiful building I had passed 3 times was the National Theater (not the theater they had directed me to, but also very beautiful)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ6dnwEkz5_zRJEhNFr4LOJMwhV6XVRMaewlwGkOtI2PTmalcs7aufmpfViccLXkpXbcT67AtjqjYgRRvGBGGq3m2hSQwdRe7xlY4dHNHvH6dqfGdIpEc81_3m40R-3ALE-DMlkNPMpvT7CoZ3KCDUKw5MPGr1lHDbTYm_1OxH-lLKvKiM5qWiMPBcw/s4032/PXL_20220702_192551068.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQ6dnwEkz5_zRJEhNFr4LOJMwhV6XVRMaewlwGkOtI2PTmalcs7aufmpfViccLXkpXbcT67AtjqjYgRRvGBGGq3m2hSQwdRe7xlY4dHNHvH6dqfGdIpEc81_3m40R-3ALE-DMlkNPMpvT7CoZ3KCDUKw5MPGr1lHDbTYm_1OxH-lLKvKiM5qWiMPBcw/s320/PXL_20220702_192551068.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I needed internet to figure out WHERE ON EARTH I was and find the bus back to Santo Domingo, so I ducked into a starbucks. My body is anti-caffeine so when in starbucks, I order a hot chocolate. The cashier was very confused by my “chocolate caliente” so I showed him the order from the app. He was still confused and had his manager come in to show him what to do. She showed him the button on the computer for it, and I was set, or so I thought. My drink comes in, and I get the password for the internet and settle in to sit, drink and stare at google maps. One sip, and yup, this has coffee in it. I go back, and ask for just the hot chocolate. The manager apologizes and has them make me a new cup. I sip it at the counter and laugh as I have just received another mocha. She needed to tell them, no, seriously, NO COFFEE, just the chocolate. It was very good, once they figured it out.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After setting my phone in two apps to show me where I needed to catch the bus from (yes, I have a map of the area offline, but the GPS is not so accurate without wifi and street names are more suggestions than reality here) I set out to find the stop. First I went a street too far, and then went back too far, until I finally figured out it was the thing that kinda looked like an abandoned parking lot. I asked a few hundred people a few thousand times if this was the stop for the bus to Santo Domingo, and yes, I am in the right place. I get on the bus, settle in knitting, people watching, and seeing the country pass by. Eventually the bus is full enough that a woman sits next to me, and we engage in conversion. All of a sudden the driver shouts back to us and pulls over. Something is apparently wrong with the stick, and we are going to wait on the bus for the next bus to come and pick us up. I pull out my phone to see if I can figure out where we are and how far away I am from Santo Domingo. “Santo Domingo!” the woman exclaims. It seems we passed it a WHILE ago. Everyone on the bus then engages in RAPID spanish thinking what is the best way for me to get back to Santo Domingo. Eventually, it is agreed that I should continue on to Heredia, and get on a bus back to Santo Domingo. The next bus picks us up, we go the last few stops to Heredia, and the bus that is headed back to San Jose (which will pass through Santo Domingo) is right in front of where our bus stopped. The woman in front of me on the first bus walked me to the bus, and shouted from the Street up to the driver that I do not speak spanish, and I am need to get off at the park in Santo Domingo. Then the woman I sat next to stops by and tells the driver the same thing. Finally, the man that was across the bus is on the driver’s side window, telling him to make sure I get off in the right place.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got off in the right place :)</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-67712689190066027702022-07-04T19:22:00.000-07:002022-07-04T19:22:18.601-07:00Paloma LadyGevald, am I behind on posting!
Last post was supposed to be about my adventures in Heredia last Wednesday, but turned into a run down of the family I was living with instead. And as is usual when exploring another country, A LOT has happened since, and, with much more to come, I will try to be better about posting as it's happening (if you have been reading this since I started, yes, I ALWAYS say that, but this time I really mean it. no, really, I will. Try...) <div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhkcPJZ9Bwb26XlPLQ13wtTtfEb_dfTG1DUZrXinPmFHYP23gUKqnKxFh7A38uni_Zx7CEwwbWeuRIvuthkoWnnPXyJnZIk1dri8SmPaaBgdJK8wfJppO7eMEwJy0o1LX7IkcGtfBip8lEA9B2KkVOv8Vp9kdGOgW8QqJOX6TKwUvxcOBBEW8hdOMXg/s927/Costa%20Rica%20Map.png" style="clear: left; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="927" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhkcPJZ9Bwb26XlPLQ13wtTtfEb_dfTG1DUZrXinPmFHYP23gUKqnKxFh7A38uni_Zx7CEwwbWeuRIvuthkoWnnPXyJnZIk1dri8SmPaaBgdJK8wfJppO7eMEwJy0o1LX7IkcGtfBip8lEA9B2KkVOv8Vp9kdGOgW8QqJOX6TKwUvxcOBBEW8hdOMXg/s320/Costa%20Rica%20Map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
So, Wednesday morning there was an optional trip to Heredia, the capital city of the Provincia Heredia. Santo Domingo de Heredia, where I live, is just over the border of San Jose and Heredia and perfectly between the two capital cities. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I was planning to sleep in, as I had been going going going since the moment I landed in Costa Rica Saturday evening, but realized it was the perfect opportunity to learn the bus system. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Very important information I learned that day, and since:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. There is NO centralized bus system in Costa Rica. There are many bus companies and they set up all over the place. There are signs that tell you that this is a bus stop, but nothing to tell you which company or where the bus is headed.</div><div> </div><div>2. When you get on the bus, you need to get on quickly, and stand behind the driver to give them money and get your change if necessary. Have a question (for example, does this bus go where I want to go) don't ask while standing next to the driver, you need to ask from behind the driver. The drivers get very upset when you stand next to them. I NOW know that there are motion detectors, and when you stand between them, they pick you up several times. Since you are only paying once, the bus driver may get in trouble for the "extra" person on the bus who didn't pay. But my first few bus rides were very confusing with drivers insisting I "pasa, pasa"</div><div><br /></div><div>3. This is a big one. When I am headed from Santo Domingo to Heredia or San Jose, it is very easy, I get off at the last stop. BUT if I miss the stop at Santo Domingo, well, I am probably taking the bus to its final destination, because for most of the lines, the bus does not take the same path in both directions... </div><div><br /></div><div> Armed with NONE of this knowledge, I was very happy to be headed out with a group and leaders of the program letting us know where to go. </div><div>In Heredia, we wandered around the old market, where I got ice cream, though I still don't quite understand what I ate (but it was mas rica)</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA6rvKpWlRL65FdCltLbthBryNqT_vYMA0HK3zb6qQG8ozTCps8PHIWuBXYLk22wFv9KOT8nMW4zGFk5X24b2Ly6tawVDtSnzl2PZSDMYkLJSQw3mulW5Wh5oYNX_tJnYqCaCB92Z4vP94CiO9WukfVGkdew35Wkc8xt7k115bd8_cQJ-lPSUMPheLw/s290/helado.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="65" data-original-width="290" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA6rvKpWlRL65FdCltLbthBryNqT_vYMA0HK3zb6qQG8ozTCps8PHIWuBXYLk22wFv9KOT8nMW4zGFk5X24b2Ly6tawVDtSnzl2PZSDMYkLJSQw3mulW5Wh5oYNX_tJnYqCaCB92Z4vP94CiO9WukfVGkdew35Wkc8xt7k115bd8_cQJ-lPSUMPheLw/s1600/helado.png" width="290" /></a></div><br /> and candied grapefruit, which was delicious, but again, couldn't quite place what on earth I was eating until one of our local leaders let us know. </div><div><br /></div><div>We went to the park, and that was where I fully embraced the I'm-in-another-country-and-do-things-I-would-never-even-consider-back-home lifestyle.
I first grabbed a handful of corn and threw them in the general direction of the palomas (pigeons). Then, I knelt down and let them eat from my hands. Finally, in a total break from the child who hated petting zoos and hand feeding animals, as well as the adult who usually sees pigeons as pests, I held out my hands and let them perch all over me to get the corn. I had a blast. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFGNi7Vmyw1dpJkO-Czd6l-LNlVMwdhGYeYxRColFb40E-XkfAXN4xkdnwCHpMPUcBx8dA65uKnULAb3kxtLLhVplDlDB6NfQdnfAaSztmuhc23Y4nLRdQ1zArAoEmNoFIJNSYHvFzbxi_s-R1Og5-uruLSvBM7swVdaYdYBdTPp4g1njiNtXGi-TJA/s4032/PXL_20220629_171320818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFGNi7Vmyw1dpJkO-Czd6l-LNlVMwdhGYeYxRColFb40E-XkfAXN4xkdnwCHpMPUcBx8dA65uKnULAb3kxtLLhVplDlDB6NfQdnfAaSztmuhc23Y4nLRdQ1zArAoEmNoFIJNSYHvFzbxi_s-R1Og5-uruLSvBM7swVdaYdYBdTPp4g1njiNtXGi-TJA/w480-h640/PXL_20220629_171320818.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> I did it once, and I never need to do it again.
</div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-6822843058357270442022-06-30T11:16:00.045-07:002022-06-30T22:18:27.113-07:00They weren't kidding<p> So, they say "pura vida" in Costa Rica, about Costa Rica, when someone even THINKS Costa Rica, and I thought it was just a job well done by the tourist department. But, um, yeah, I really feel I am living the "pura vida" here. MUCH of that has to do with the freedom of getting to be a new version of myself, with none of the history of who I am at home, or the responsibilities I have weighing me down. But I am on vacation. Folks who live here also revel in Pura Vida. The grandfather of the house, Jose Luis, just brought me and the grandmother of the house, Rosa, but everyone calls her Flory, freshly squeezed orange juice from an orange that was on the tree this morning. Flory is in the kitchen singing while making "torta peresosa de manzanas." Last night during dinner, we had a great chat about my style of cooking being "peresoso" or lazy. Cooking ever part of dinner in the same pot so I don't have to wash more than one, or microwaving tostito scoops with cheese and calling it lazy nachos. </p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZQszlqacc8wZU31MBc2xIGke0RWe7rXpX7EHtYV4y-ngihy7xWFrNbO21YIQ3t1zbm72cxPkDZQMKQ4f04uypQNX1PSJ7nSBDlzB5xbRywxcFQUFO35NfXS7aIY1Pt7GrY4iToK0yFtVqFzfrHX6jQvzAKN796oktks7vDcvBzntbWRmTJoJ-osC0A/s4032/PXL_20220630_161253484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZQszlqacc8wZU31MBc2xIGke0RWe7rXpX7EHtYV4y-ngihy7xWFrNbO21YIQ3t1zbm72cxPkDZQMKQ4f04uypQNX1PSJ7nSBDlzB5xbRywxcFQUFO35NfXS7aIY1Pt7GrY4iToK0yFtVqFzfrHX6jQvzAKN796oktks7vDcvBzntbWRmTJoJ-osC0A/w150-h200/PXL_20220630_161253484.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">harina de trigo, polvo para hornear y <br />azúcar sobre manzanas con canela</td></tr></tbody></table>So far, NOTHING I have seen is lazy about this dish, except that it is all made in one dish, layer by layer. Peeling and coring the apples is NOT an easy or non messy task... I didn't catch a photo of the apples covered in cinnamon as the first layer, but I was able to snap a photo of the "dry" layer going in: a mix of wheat flour, baking powder, and sugar was the next layer:</p>Next came spooning butter over everything into little ponds of butter. Last she added the beaten eggs, turning the butter ponds in to egg and butter lakes. She poked everything with a fork to give the liquid layer some support to seep into the dry layer and put the whole dish to the side to allow the whole thing to mix.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6otbJ3_8aWm6nHXPmoiut1ifm4mCjn5TC-AHQa8XHCCpdrV-9a6XfvE4PaMvNzCOhFcDn_GssRYWV5M56QQtWZMv_RlU8W_TqwEl1PdxZJQbpRxPY0dQ0WljtNUyAHep8LK8UtukCc4tNqxL2bhQBBb8Bb29lAjWBnMnvXlHvIZqTvQ4h44ADkAt6xg/s4032/PXL_20220630_161454134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6otbJ3_8aWm6nHXPmoiut1ifm4mCjn5TC-AHQa8XHCCpdrV-9a6XfvE4PaMvNzCOhFcDn_GssRYWV5M56QQtWZMv_RlU8W_TqwEl1PdxZJQbpRxPY0dQ0WljtNUyAHep8LK8UtukCc4tNqxL2bhQBBb8Bb29lAjWBnMnvXlHvIZqTvQ4h44ADkAt6xg/w150-h200/PXL_20220630_161454134.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">capa de mantequilla seguida de huevo </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>Now she is preparing a puree of cas with banana and we're listening to bolero music and dancing in the kitchen. Seriously, life is good in Costa Rica!</p><p><br /></p><p>So, with my first free morning I was going to catch you all up on the various actividades (I wrote that instead of activites and decided to keep it), but clearly this has turned into a post about the family that has taken me in here in Costa Rica. I have been VERY lucky in Host Families. I had the BEST family in Georgia, who I miss so much every day. And now, I am going to have another family I will think of ALL the time when I get back to the states. It has been less than a week, but I love them all so much.</p><p>So from the top: Jose Luis and Flory (Rosa). They have a small garage/store in the front of the house. Flory is KNOWN for her incredible pan (bread) and if their store had any kind of internet presence, I would give 100 stars. Every morning the two of them prepare breakfast. It has been different every day, and they introduce something new for me every time. Today it was gallo pinto (spotted rooster, AKA rice and beans), huevos (eggs), and miel (honey) on my pan (bread). Along with various fruits it was a perfect breakfast. As every breakfast has been. They are both so welcoming and so happy in the morning, it is impossible to stay sleepy for long. Their happiness is infections, and they passed it along to their kids.</p><p>They have four children: Seidy, Marino, Dinia, y Rolando. I have not met Rolando yet, but I have seen photos of his VERY cute children with their Abuela Flory. Seidy doesn't live in the same house I am in, she lives a whole block away! I went over to her place one night to see the lights of San Jose and the surrounding mountains and it took my breath away. She lives in a block of her husband's family, as I live surrounded by houses of Flory's family. Seidy's husband's family owns an events and parties space, filled with incredible plants, flowers and trees. I keep meaning to go back and see the flowers by day, but there is always so much to see and do, I keep missing my chance. But she has promised when it comes time to harvest the mangos, she will let me know to come and help. Her daughter Milena actually is living in this house with her grandparents. Milena is in her 20s and teaches Portuguese. After my first VERY long Monday, which included an hour speaking Yiddish followed by four hours of Spanish class, she greeted me at the house in Portuguese. I am telling you, my mind about exploded from different language overload. I first met her briefly on Sunday because she was headed to the San Jose Pride March. Like I said, this is my kind of family.</p><p>Mirano and Dinia are the siblings that live in the house. Marino was the first person in the family I saw when he and Jose Luis and Flory picked me up from the airport. He is very funny. He doesn't speak much English, but he is good at modifying his Spanish to help me understand. Dinia lived in the United States for 8 years and has the strongest English in the family, but when I am confused by a word or have clearly not understood, she never reverts to English until she has tried to describe what is going on in words I am more likely to understand at least 3 or more times. I am VERY happy here.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, I had finished writing all that and was starting to get ready to head out to the school for an afternoon of class (every school-day 1pm-5pm). I mentioned leaving around noon, and suddenly there was rapid spanish and all kinds of activity around me, which I was oblivious to until later events made me remember. Jose Luis went out, I hung out with Dinia and read her poetry in Spanish and English, and Jose Luis came back from his shopping trip. He took out cheese, tortillas, and a few dozen eggs (there are a lot of people in this house and we all love eggs, nevermind the eggs needed for Flory's bread and other wonderful creations. Then, he looked at me, and, with a HUGE grin on his face, pulled out white bread. I finally figured out WHY they wanted me to stay for lunch. As part of the program, I get breakfast and dinner from the host family, but am responsible for my own lunch. But today, we were going to have the food I had brought from my home. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1I2BkNfsfJbhPVuDBqpyj1tLadvoSoHEciWKTOnjxdayL-xGz65iKPmhOWOxsfcPTy7RA7hatKUhEf1c-G8eI2MLuZaNTl3hhX8p_pRkbfoqXyqh9KZ1zrEms38pwj1QTfYRkpcAjp44K5RDMX0JE39gDnWWlkkSjw3oE1dBQIC57RFy9fg9OIgMwA/s4032/PXL_20220630_172342104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1I2BkNfsfJbhPVuDBqpyj1tLadvoSoHEciWKTOnjxdayL-xGz65iKPmhOWOxsfcPTy7RA7hatKUhEf1c-G8eI2MLuZaNTl3hhX8p_pRkbfoqXyqh9KZ1zrEms38pwj1QTfYRkpcAjp44K5RDMX0JE39gDnWWlkkSjw3oE1dBQIC57RFy9fg9OIgMwA/s320/PXL_20220630_172342104.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold, the Fluffernutter</td></tr></tbody></table>Fluffernutters went over VERY well. There was MUCH unhappiness when they discovered that the store that imports a lot of food from the United States, doesn't import Fluff. I guess I am just going to have to come back sometime with a few jars of fluff, the same way I did this time: the jars all wrapped in 2 layers of ziplock bags and one plastic bag to be SURE any expansion does not result in a fluff filled suitcase.</p>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-82300608689505171642022-06-26T21:57:00.003-07:002022-06-26T22:02:24.730-07:00Bailando con las EstrellasDancing with the Stars has the exact same set in every country I have been to. Just needed to take a moment to comment on that hilarity. But actually, it is really neat that countries like Georgia and Costa Rica, which have a strong dance culture, include those styles of dance in the show.<div><br /></div><div>So to catch up. I had a wonderful time in New York, though I am still firmly on the side of "I can visit, but never live here." Seeing Bubbe up and walking and spending time with her after a not so minor battle with Covid was HUGE. Also awesome, was seeing my siblings, and getting to spend time, though less time than I intended when I got buses and trains a bit confused and ended up who knows where... One of my favorite parts was (prepare to be SHOCKED) the Museum of Math, or MO MATH as it says above the door. Mi hermano marveloso and I had a blast exploring. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwaJL-T3zS8IHwrRbH_pgjiaihW1v_TcCraOIMiiZtSpo-NmQXpcs7_gyj4kGUS4KEnVDQJAvvVvkwIGcBZng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Velocity was MUCH harder than distance</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqMtFrQBLJscWKiXGCrip5sIjYe15cmibQjkXjgN7RhqMlrFvYkGhLufu2LNcKPVMFfcASbXt-IVhyRg75XecKg8-7ebCYl9zaWIgGkq-Qh1HLTpLjqaELQipKvNakh7B49xQ4Jwt3ADZ4GXY-fyPb1Zhmyf3fARvmld9aDCfPwi1fHKQwkvhvZ2yPg/s4032/PXL_20220626_002513059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqMtFrQBLJscWKiXGCrip5sIjYe15cmibQjkXjgN7RhqMlrFvYkGhLufu2LNcKPVMFfcASbXt-IVhyRg75XecKg8-7ebCYl9zaWIgGkq-Qh1HLTpLjqaELQipKvNakh7B49xQ4Jwt3ADZ4GXY-fyPb1Zhmyf3fARvmld9aDCfPwi1fHKQwkvhvZ2yPg/w200-h150/PXL_20220626_002513059.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE flying at sunset</td></tr></tbody></table></div>Sof-kl-sof, it was time to get to JFK from lower Manhattan on the Hudson. Not an easy process. But I am my father's daughter and always aim to get to the airport absurdly early so all was well. I got there with my limbs and bags intact. The flight was easy and beautiful.<br /><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I arrived in Costa Rica, got my first stamp in my new passport, and was met by the grandparents of my host family as well as one of the sons. None of them had a lot of English, so I started my immersion in the Spanish Language IMMEDIATLY. When we got home, it was clear that these folks were my kind of people. We talked and talked and talked, and FINALLY went to bed around 11:30 PM, which to my body was actually 1:30 AM... To say waking up ready for spanish world this morning is to lie.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9jp8vgNTv3iAnixqmldU-HBbaYnKDHspeL5lNtWUDwjOwRt9le9lrjBeJVHE2l39KgIBMLSWg6oYKONOYO42Dyw6YjoHRSgzyJNNDIfm_0c2b3q9SHVxRro6T8koMMhk0Citi7-EZmvw9knR51SaXnQNCSF3ym8z1M-9HLkJqy8AByfwY9sHyZs_LA/s4032/PXL_20220626_202437810.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9jp8vgNTv3iAnixqmldU-HBbaYnKDHspeL5lNtWUDwjOwRt9le9lrjBeJVHE2l39KgIBMLSWg6oYKONOYO42Dyw6YjoHRSgzyJNNDIfm_0c2b3q9SHVxRro6T8koMMhk0Citi7-EZmvw9knR51SaXnQNCSF3ym8z1M-9HLkJqy8AByfwY9sHyZs_LA/s320/PXL_20220626_202437810.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>But ready or not, today's orientation was a great time. First, I got to feel a little less badly about missing the Equator trip of the last two weeks. But also, I had an amazing time meeting the other teachers in the program's week 1 in Costa Rica. I also got to explore Santo Domingo de Heredia a bit, first with the program and then on a walk with my host family. When they say Heredia is the provincia de flores, they aren't kidding. They are EVERYWHERE in every color. Here are some of my favorites from today:</div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXYG0k94owuvt4fJtDcK1AAs4qv2oQ4i1GoSBFACS8GJdiH_Egf7nLeW3x0X_Ewa2fK6fexHu6KO9s1S6hD0V65sA3C7hiMFFQKURp3e6C469gU7shQpu6G8qyHnBqCXpgt07S_MmYNjZgcCxEE_Zk3BdPo4xEiMhDjEiGFgWfSfryqwRtN1RjIPNAA/s4032/PXL_20220626_202703522.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFXYG0k94owuvt4fJtDcK1AAs4qv2oQ4i1GoSBFACS8GJdiH_Egf7nLeW3x0X_Ewa2fK6fexHu6KO9s1S6hD0V65sA3C7hiMFFQKURp3e6C469gU7shQpu6G8qyHnBqCXpgt07S_MmYNjZgcCxEE_Zk3BdPo4xEiMhDjEiGFgWfSfryqwRtN1RjIPNAA/w240-h320/PXL_20220626_202703522.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A LOT of coffee here.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsapFuramCu86ZZ_t9nf5A6KUJxuT5XW1fwmbwObN2tl2YRVV3N9K2RmGLeuz1uEBJVfdysyQlrmS4H2CXbh_VTnqQxgjBZDrS7OYRiJgZpHBBad8G1TQblqY2_HCYKunEefRbsdcseT15rEWJv5Ec1OJ2hskRu3tgxJwjxjeyWYgS9JWzzmQYERYjA/s4032/PXL_20220627_031348029.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYsapFuramCu86ZZ_t9nf5A6KUJxuT5XW1fwmbwObN2tl2YRVV3N9K2RmGLeuz1uEBJVfdysyQlrmS4H2CXbh_VTnqQxgjBZDrS7OYRiJgZpHBBad8G1TQblqY2_HCYKunEefRbsdcseT15rEWJv5Ec1OJ2hskRu3tgxJwjxjeyWYgS9JWzzmQYERYjA/s320/PXL_20220627_031348029.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this Jasmine? It blooms at night.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> On the walk with my family, I learned that just about every house on the block belonged to someone related to the Grandmother of the house. Later when one of the daughters </div><div style="text-align: left;"> invited me to see her house she showed me a block that is mostly her husband's family. But that was ABSOLUTLY not all that we saw at her house. We went over after the sun set so that I could see the place all lit up. And it was BEAUTIFUL. The family hosts events on the property, and there is a great indoor eating/dance space, a covered outdoor dance/eating space, an outdoor open dance eating space SURROUNDED by beautiful plants and trees. She took me around to the different trees and showed me fruits I never even knew existed. I am so excited to go back in the day time to see the flowers and fruits more clearly. But the best was last, a trip to a family art space which had a 3rd floor from which you not only see San Jose very clearly lit up, but also what seemed like a crown in the mountains, which were mostly the lit up churches and basilicas all along the mountain paths. I didn't take a picture of that (Honestly a picture would not have done it justice) but I did manage to snap this one on our walk.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z9QKmMqLMG3oP-OtDbWSec89eu6FtsnqQkT4Phk6H5DrsdP4sabx6CiIdoNjMqa2gkQdjP-Pey64U89KwiYFqJGQtXgoUmPjBVQrfRfccA8-17bz2R-wb5Hm2ADkDdSKhOJI6R1lLx9dzgyYwggb7_X4WEhf-_S_IWqaR8vF9nHTMt8SrH_9ivK8LQ/s4032/PXL_20220626_202346362.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Z9QKmMqLMG3oP-OtDbWSec89eu6FtsnqQkT4Phk6H5DrsdP4sabx6CiIdoNjMqa2gkQdjP-Pey64U89KwiYFqJGQtXgoUmPjBVQrfRfccA8-17bz2R-wb5Hm2ADkDdSKhOJI6R1lLx9dzgyYwggb7_X4WEhf-_S_IWqaR8vF9nHTMt8SrH_9ivK8LQ/s320/PXL_20220626_202346362.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Jose and the Mountains beyond</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow is the first day of classes. Normally on Mondays, the mornings are our own, but to start us off, we are going to have another full day together. I already have my lunch, the second half of the GIANT burrito one of the daughters made me for dinner (everyone else got a half, I got a whole one. Between the Grandmother's delicious bread (and food in general), the daughter's delicious food and sweets, and the brother bringing me more of everything, I am not going to have a difficult time eating here :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In another post, I will introduce the family, but I want to check in with them about how first. Now, it is PAST my bedtime, but I knew if I didn't get this in now, I would miss it, once the whirlwind of classes begin.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hasta Luego</div>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-81285126851158558542022-06-22T11:40:00.000-07:002022-06-22T11:40:06.741-07:00Do people even blog anymore?10 Years... TEN YEARS!<div><br /></div><div>I can't believe it's been 10 years since I came home from Georgia. That was the last time I lived outside the United States (living = a month or more). I had all these plans when I got home. I was going to do City Year for a year, and then maybe a teacher residency in DC. From there I would look into non-traditional classroom work (with a traveling circus or TV or Movie on set education. There were some really cool options I was looking into.</div><div><br /></div><div>Instead I spent two years of AmeriCorps in Boston, got my Masters in Cambridge, and spent the last 7 years at Chelsea and Revere High Schools teaching History (and English) to students who are learning English. PS, thank you Georgia, because when I was first hired, it was my teaching English in another country that made my resume stand out. I got back to the Boston area and I couldn't leave.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd really loved bouncing around before I came back to Boston after Georgia, but I was blown away by how incredible it felt to return to my <a href="https://circleboston.org/" target="_blank">childhood community</a> as an adult. I got to teach at the Shule I'd been a student in. I got to lead the singing at Workers Circle events where I'd always been a participant before. I am so happy I came to back and tangled my roots more deeply into Somerville, but I sometimes wonder about that alternate universe Pauli, teacher to the stars.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfYdx6iCxBLbfY28rNoCoUb8qBPz-gI7ztkmc_xsvGJkktfh4pEZFdrjNLk7C548CaZMbbN4Kuqb2GD6JEPz7PGwd2TV5jSQCgypWA-GHatiWnXaAfB3RWMwcYmvoP8Vaqb6juMZcg32uvYIyzNhAMaL23Yx30BS4N1-o0x4MqgomOUD7KeQl1xtIzg/s5248/IMG_20151021_143153869_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5248" data-original-width="2952" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfYdx6iCxBLbfY28rNoCoUb8qBPz-gI7ztkmc_xsvGJkktfh4pEZFdrjNLk7C548CaZMbbN4Kuqb2GD6JEPz7PGwd2TV5jSQCgypWA-GHatiWnXaAfB3RWMwcYmvoP8Vaqb6juMZcg32uvYIyzNhAMaL23Yx30BS4N1-o0x4MqgomOUD7KeQl1xtIzg/s320/IMG_20151021_143153869_HDR.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She'd look a lot like this I think</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Anyway, after a world wide traumatic event cancelled my Summer of 2020 trip to Spain, I now FINALLY have the chance to travel to a new country. After hanging around New York for a couple days with my siblings and Bubbe (National Museum of Mathematics, here I come!) I will head off to COSTA RICA for the next 6 weeks as part of a Spanish Language Immersion program for Educators with <a href="https://commongroundinternational.com/" target="_blank">Common Ground International.</a> My high school students have been teaching me Spanish since I started (my very first phrase was "escribe en sus propias palabras" and it is likely my most used phrase of my teaching career). I like having a very beginner level spanish when I speak with them because it models learning, and speaking even when you're not sure of the whole sentence (or of any forms of grammar). But speaking with their families is another story. My main goal out of this experience is that I will be able to speak with students' families and know that we have both understood one another. It is one of my greatest fears as an educator that someone will tell me something important and I don't have enough language to understand and consequently do nothing. I know something like that could happen with any family in any language, but I am absolutely going to take this chance to minimize the risk. And hey, tri-lingual sounds pretty cool :)</div><div><br /></div><div>About updating the blog:</div><div>When I get to Costa Rica, reality will likely alter the system I have in my head, but I am PLANNING to devote only 1 hour every few days to anything English. So if you want to see/hear what I am up to, sign up to get an email when I post, because it might not be so regular (not that I was EVER a regular writer)</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLZNUL7jsUaSTrkgx28PVGfyFXONbLkOHepB08bsuXhJk2yk_lDih1Nfnvue9d_piZNKvszMBMc4O5U-M4uj3uvul4n7xFtHL4CtXyqrgi4-4307Fwi1CN4QAPb0AjVGSJy6OOFHPPBl5dtupGCa_zZHchboEPfyWAZEU4AtC7U6LAXv_nk7MTlfRkw/s4032/PXL_20220331_112234594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLZNUL7jsUaSTrkgx28PVGfyFXONbLkOHepB08bsuXhJk2yk_lDih1Nfnvue9d_piZNKvszMBMc4O5U-M4uj3uvul4n7xFtHL4CtXyqrgi4-4307Fwi1CN4QAPb0AjVGSJy6OOFHPPBl5dtupGCa_zZHchboEPfyWAZEU4AtC7U6LAXv_nk7MTlfRkw/s320/PXL_20220331_112234594.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Here we go!</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-990872545151797827.post-42505510622572725732017-04-25T08:02:00.000-07:002017-04-25T08:02:26.064-07:00Life gets BUSY!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, I promised that I would share the rest of my travels and I will, but first, an apology for not being able to keep up while in Georgia. Once I saw my students, each day became a year (not because it was long, but because of everything I was doing!)<br />
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That first day back at Pirveli Skola ( for those of you just joining, it means the "1st school", basically PS 1 for you New Yorkers or others with numbers based school systems) was amazing. As I walked in the building, I had a moment of anxiety about trying to remember where the teachers' room was. Luckily I walked up the stairs next to a teacher I remembered, so I just moved closer to her and said "Gamajorba" (hello), She said hello back, and started to keep walking. Then came the double take that I WISH I had filmed, especially since it was the reaction EVERY teacher gave me. What came next was also the same from each one: a hug or holding of hands, and a kiss on the cheek. Lots of exclaiming, and another hand squeeze or kiss. I asked Nana and Nino (my co-teachers from before) if they had not told everyone I was coming. They explained it's our first day back after Easter and everyone forgot. The Pascal came out (So much yummy) and the questions. EVERY teacher wanted to know if I was married.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">When the bell rang, I went to one of the first grade English classes. It was like I had not been away. They were using the same books that had been introduced when I was there. The classroom was a brightly colored green and the students were in the same outfits. Listen and repeat, stand up when answering a question, and even the same student notebooks with the same types of homework assignments (write the alphabet this time).</span></div>
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Since there were so few students (side note, their new secretary of Education had changed the school calendar in January, so they had a spring break, but not an Easter break. This meant kids were kind of trickling in throughout the week as they returned from wherever they had spent their Easter). that teachers in all the rest of the classes I visited through out the lesson plan, and the day was about speaking and listening. AKA ask me any questions and I will answer. It was 5 classes before the first student (a 9th grader) asked me if I was married. I had joked JUST before this class that it's the first question a teacher asked and not a single student had. We had even wondered if it was a generational thing. But then he came along and asked and ruined the whole thought excessive. The poor boy was so confused when his question was met with me throwing up my hands and saying "oh well" and Nino laughing so hard she could not stop.<br />
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It was VERY good to see my old students. 5 years is a LONG time especially for Kindergarten- Sixth Graders. They are all now in 5th Grade- 11th Grade. They remembered me INSTANTLY, but it took me some time to begin to sort out who was who. One time, I felt TERRIBLE I could not remember a girl (I had assumed she was new, and she was sad I didn't recognize her.) Luckily I was redeemed when, after I heard her laugh, I remembered not only what street she lived on, but her NAME (something I could not remember for the vast majority of my students).<br />
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It was amazing to see them all again, and they invited me out to MANY events (and I was able to accept most of them!)<br />
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More to come later.</div>
Paulihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00267586525309335189noreply@blogger.com0