Late additions

Just received the pics of the white water rafting from our last day.  I am quite prominent in the pictures since I had the front row seat!

Final adventure

Today was our journey over the continental divide toward the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. We went 6 people per raft down the rapids. The river is fairly low this time of year so we only encountered easy rapids but it sure was fun. Since we couldn't take our cameras without risking losing them, I don't have pictures of it. We bought a CD with pictures the raft company took and I will get them later. Meanwhile, enjoy these.

Winding down the road - and the trip

Today we left the Pacific Coast to travel inland again to San Jose. No major activities but a few colorful stops. One place actually makes those painted carts and had a guy painting some really great murals. See pics.we also left a sign that we had been there.
Tomorrow is our last day and we are white water rafting. It will not be possible to take my camera. You may just have to imagine how great I will be at this! The student groups on our EF tour are all leaving tomorrow and so it will be only us older folks. Hope we return in one piece.

The most beautiful day yet

Today we traveled to Manuel Antonio National Park. That was after the bus got dug out from the sand he backed into. See pics

A bit of explanation

I have been using email to post and the pictures are small and text has to be separate so today I am going to try and do better. We started in San Jose and the city is not much to speak of but then we headed to the arenal volcano area and it was there we went kayaking. Lucky me. My roommate Jan is experienced so we stayed right on course. Later we went to the hot springs which ranged from blistering to tolerable. It was great for soothing the muscles from kayaking, hiking, and zip-lining. I do not have any pics of zip-lining yet since you have to hang on and no hands for cameras. It wasn't really scary except for my inability to master the art of stopping!

Follow the path through the jungle

Rainforest View

My roomie takes a break at our hotel

Just a pretty picture - what else can I say?

Family outing

Little dancer

Fwd: Everybody wants a picture

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Cheryl <csturgeo@neo.rr.com>
Date: June 16, 2012 6:24:54 PM CST
To: csturgeo@neo.rr.com
Subject: Everybody wants a picture

Sent from my iPad

Fwd: My favorite - It was 400 rocky steps down, then 400 back UP!

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Cheryl <csturgeo@neo.rr.com>
Date: June 16, 2012 6:26:11 PM CST
To: csturgeo@neo.rr.com
Subject: My favorite - It was 400 rocky steps down, then 400 back UP!

Sent from my iPad

Fwd: Sloth in a tree -where he always is

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Cheryl <csturgeo@neo.rr.com>
Date: June 16, 2012 6:16:57 PM CST
To: csturgeo@neo.rr.com
Subject: Sloth in a tree -where he always is

Sent from my iPad

Fwd: La Fortuna waterfall - too tall to show all

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Cheryl <csturgeo@neo.rr.com>
Date: June 16, 2012 6:23:32 PM CST
To: csturgeo@neo.rr.com
Subject: La Fortuna waterfall - too tall to show all

Sent from my iPad

Volcano view from our hotel - it stopped erupting one year and 4 months before I got here!

Bathing beauty at waterfall

The symbol of Costa Rica - painted cart wheel

Our leader - Beth relaxes

Inbioparque -great looking trees

Wow

After 2 days of non-working Internet at our hotel we are finally way up in the mountains and connected again. I will have to recall what we did and we are so busy it is hard to remember so the pictures will help.

Volcano view

San Jose, Costa Rica

We arrived a bit after noon CR time in a cloudy overcast sky. By the time we set out for our only real time in this capital city the rain was pretty heavy. A short stop is all that is needed because the city has little of note. The fumes of exhaust in the streets make my eyes burn. For a country that is supposed to be so into ecology and environment it hasn't really taken a hold right here. Tomorrow starts the real adventure. Is this picture reminiscent of Venice?

Pic

Off to a new adventure - Costa Rica

I am in countdown mode for an really early departure. Tomorrow we are to be at Cleveland airport at 4 AM for a 6 AM flight.  We are only to take carry-on luggage so packing is a challenge for 10 days in high humidity. Hope to have a few followers who will keep in contact.