Costa Rica photos 8

Last bunch

Costa Rica photos 7

Photos 6

Costa Rica photos part cinco

Mas photos

and more...

Even more Costa Rica Photos!

We are having to upload them in small chunks...

More Costa Rica Photos!

Internet Cafe In the Jungle

As you can see Michael posted some pictures in the post below for our intermittent internet cut out. The whole family and Michael's mom and step dad went for a zip line tour on Saturday. It was pretty much the coolest thing ever. We zipped across the jungle taking in all the sights, smells and sounds. Our guides were fantastic. And we had quite an age range going from Amira's age 6 all the way up John and Susan whose ages will not be disclosed here!

Also, upon the arrival of the grandparents we spotted some howler monkeys. Now, we've heard them at night and in the wee hours of the morning before. But I tell you, they are hard to spot!! Although much larger than the squirrel monkeys that come crashing through the jungle (you can hear them coming), the howler monkeys are pretty quiet and lounge up in the tree tops walking quietly or hanging from their tails while they eat the leaves. They were pretty cool.

On Saturday night, after a day of zip lining, the bird show came to the house. We saw tons of toucans and macaws and green parrots all over the place. They were so close to the house. We also have Jesus Christ lizards running across and around the pool. We get toads and a bat that visit at night. When I went downstairs to read to the kids before bed, Susan, John and Michael sat and watched the grand finale of the day: an amazing lightening and thunder show. It was pretty spectacular. They had the chairs all pointed out looking out across the Gulfo Dulce and Michael even had his sunglasses on.

Today we were back at the ocean at Playa Preciosia. It's an amazing beach not far from here with aqua azul waters and gentle surf. There is a hotel with a bar and restaurant near by. Susan and John sat and had drinks under the palapas while the kids and Michael played like otters in the surf. We had a great lunch consisting of such things as empanadas, cadado with mahi mahi and fried platains. We're getting it all while we can.

Well, as we have had to rely on the internet cafe for the update, it may be a while until we have internet access again. But, when we do, Michael will attempt to put up some more videos.

Did I mention we saw a three toed sloth? Plenty of time to get the camera out. He didn't run away as quickly as those other critters. Little known fact that they only come down the tree once a week to poop. Thought you'd like to know that. Probably takes him all week to get down the tree.

Pura Vida (as they say here).

Pictures from Costa Rica!

Below are some photos from Costa Rica. Because of intermittent internet, we haven't been able to post before.

Hola from Costa Rica!

We are taking a stop in town to check our mail, send post cards and have a look around. Today and tomorrow are our last days in the tree house. It´s pretty amazing. We have taken lots of pictures and videos. Unfortunately our camera card cannot be read by the computers at the Surf Dog Internet Cafe.

We are visited daily by monkeys. They crash through the trees right at our level. They make a chittering sound and the mothers carry their babies on their backs. Whatever we are doing, we stop to watch los manos. Extremely cute and very free. The zoo comes to us here!! We also have noisy macaws fly by many times a day. Their colors are fantastic. They always fly in pairs and we hear them coming before we see them.

Toucans also visit us in the branches near the tree house. They have a beautiful call to each other and look so funny with their giant beaks.

We have seen poison dart frogs, iguanas, bats, parrots, lizzards, plenty of mosquitos and the world´s largest cockroach. I still say the one I saw in Greece is a rival to this one! But Michael insists this is really the biggest.

Last week we drove over bumpy roads, across broken bridges and through rivers without bridges to get to Drake Bay at the North part of the peninsula. There we stayed at Pirate Cove and played on the beach, went snorkeling and a boat ride to Cano Island -- where they filmed part of Jurassic Park -- and saw pods of dolphins.

We drink fresh coconut water from pipos cut from the trees. Bananas, pineapples, papayas, coconuts all grow around us. Also tons of beautiful tropical flowers jumping out of the rain forest.

It rains often but in short bursts. It is like a visit to the old Tonga Room in San Francisco.

Well, my time is almost up! We will have many stories and pictures upon our return. The kids are great travelers and really working on their Spanish. My French is not doing me much good here. But Michael and I are getting by ... we know how to say the ignition on the oven is not working or that we´d like a bottle of wine or the all important -- Where is the bathroom

As they say here, Pura Vida!

From Costa Rica!

We are finally here! It is wonderful here. Wanted yo upload photos, but can't seem to get them to upload properly. More to come later.

I'm Official!

For those of you waiting for news: the papers have arrived and are in order. It's a miracle.

Another Rant

I really love to use this blog to record fun stories that I hope to remember in the future. And, occasionally, I feel the need to record a rant. No, I don't really want to remember this incident in the future. But I need to spill my guts somewhere, and why not publicly?

So, this week I came across a situation. We have been planning a family vacation for some time. In March I got everyone's passports in order and then tucked them in the very safe place I use for such things.

On Tuesday (well a week before departing)I decided to photocopy the passports and give them to some friends and relatives to keep for us. Well, I opened up the "very special place" to find all three of the kids passports right where they were supposed to be. For some reason mine wasn't there. Michael's wasn't there either. Well, I looked again, And again, and again. Then I started to tear the house apart and panic. I called and e-mailed Michael to see if he had taken them. He had taken his own and had it on his person.

But where was mine????

Those new passports have more than RF tags ... apparently they have legs and a will of their own. Who knew?

After admitting to myself that I had done the unthinkable: lost my passport, I decided this called for quick action.

I quickly filled out the government form explaining that I'd lost my passport. (A humbling experience). I filled out a new application. I ran down to get new photos taken that night. The next morning I took my stack of papers, itinerary, birth certificate, checkbook and three kids down to the county clerks office and explained my situation.

She gave me a sort of baffled look as I spread all the papers across her desk and she proceeded to pull out a big binder. I stood there with my heart in my throat. Really? Am I missing something? Or do you just not know what you are doing?

She excused herself for a moment and came back to the desk and glanced at my documents again. Then she said, "You don't need a passport to go to Costa Rica." Honestly inspires confidence in our fine educational system and our public office holders. (I used to work at FedEx and actually heard employees tell customers they needed an International Airbill to ship to New Mexico. Astounding).

After I assured her that I did need a passport to go to Costa Rica, I explained I was working with a passport expediting agency. I needed to have her watch me sign some documents and seal most of them into a government sealed envelope. "Uh, okay."

On the inside, my heart was now corroding the inside of my throat as I hold back a string of expletives and I felt like I might pass out.

She had me sign a few places and managed to wrestle with the stapler to get my photos on the pages. Once she got everything signed and in a neat pile she excused herself from the desk again.

She came back with a manilla envelope full of my documents. She put a stamp and signature on it then scotch taped it shut. Then she decided it didn't look very official or something and put another seal on top of the tape. But she thought it might smudge so she tested it by poking it with her finger. I reached across the desk and grabbed her hand before she smudged anything, "Why don't you just seal the whole thing with packing tape so it doesn't smudge?" She laughs, "What a good idea! We can just keep taping and sealing the package!! Ha ha ha ha!"

I guess she had no idea I was one step away from having a complete aneurism in front of everyone. Ha ha ha.

I finally made it out of there and then took my package down to FedEx/Kinko's. I used to work at FedEx (way back in the 1980's). Things have definitely changed for that company. Not for the better. And I really don't find them all that reliable or willing to please their customers. In spite of this, I tendered my package and breathed a sigh of temporary relief.

This morning I anxiously tracked my package on line. The last scan was in Memphis, TN last night. But it was well after 10:30AM in New York. So, I called FedEx. The woman on the phone said the last scan she saw was in Memphis last night. I agreed that I could see the same thing. So, where is my package? She could not answer that question. I asked if the scanners in New York were not working? Was there some kind of weather delay? Is my package going to be delivered today? She had no #$#@! clue.

"I have no clue. I'm a complete idiot. You are screwed. Have a nice day."



Unbelievable. When I worked at FedEx, I could call the local destination office and check on a package. I could put someone on hold and check for delays or down scanners. Now days a simple, "I don't know where your package is or when it's going to be delivered." is an acceptable answer??? What kind of customer service is that?

I called the passport expediting agency (which I should have done in the first place). They had received my package. Thank goodness!!!!! They couldn't find the itinerary (because it was in the sealed envelope). So, I quickly e-mailed them a copy.

Hopefully they will get this processed today and it will arrive back at my house tomorrow. Although, they will be shipping this FedEx. So, again, I am not completely confident.

After all this stress, I really am going to need a vacation.