http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Just-Jen/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Just Jen en-us Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:58:51 +0000 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:58:51 +0000 WOW I had no idea people were still reading our travel blog. I was looking at the stats from our website and found several people had come from here. A quick check of the stats on this site shows people are indeed reading my posts even though I haven't posted here since July. It just goes to show you people are interested in Costa Rica. Thankyou to those who find and read my site. We haven't don http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-212392.html We headed to the beach on Tuesday to spend a couple of days with our beach buddies and check out their recently finished house. The house looked great. The two of them did a great job on everything from construction to decorating. We felt everything very well thought out and nicely done. It was good getting tips from them on do's don'ts in construction. We arrived early which left the day open http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Jaco/blog-178131.html It's been a long time since I posted on Travelblogs but we haven't been doing any traveling. We had a rather different adventure today so I thought I'd post it here. We went with a carpenter friend to look at wood he wanted to purchase. In Costa Rica carpenters don't run to Home Depot or Lowe's to buy wood to make projects. They go out and buy a tree trunk. Lumber yards are different here. You http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-173997.html On a recent trip to Alajuela we discovered Colinas Del Poas a beautiful place to enjoy a Canopy tourkayak fish for rainbow trout and have a delicious meal. We were doing Bill's favorite thing exploring different roads when we came across this place. If you're vacationing and don't have a lot of time I'd highly recommend a trip here as you can do the ziplines and visit Poas Volcano all in the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/blog-153820.html Today we went to a nearby Tilapia farm to fish ride horses and relax in beautiful surroundings. What a treat to have the entire place to ourselves. We arrived around 10am and left just after 5pm. We chose to go on Saturday as we know Sunday is typically a day local families go to such places together. With me still unsteady on my feet we figured it was better to go on a day likely to have less p http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-151121.html Ah we're well into our second year now and experiencing everything in a whole new light. We aren't new here anymore. Our routines and habits are more settled than last years time of travel. Easter this year isn't a big deal at all for us as we aren't religious. To the locals a predominately Catholic society Easter is not a commercial holiday like it is in the states. Easter is about Jesus not http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-146532.html San Ramon to Grecia up to Poas VolcanonbspCentral America Caribbean raquonbspCosta Rica raquonbspalajuela raquonbspGrecia By Just JenApril 5th 2007The SheridansI thought I'd post some of the photos from our drive thru Grecia last Monday on our way to Poas Volcano. We took the Auto Pista from San Ramon to Grecia and traveled the the towns of San Pedro Frijanes and Poasito. We coul http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Grecia/blog-145412.html Poas Volcano nbspCentral America Caribbean raquonbspCosta Rica By Just JenApril 3rd 2007The SheridansHola travelblog readers It's been awhile since I last posted here as we haven't been traveling. Callista is off school for Semana Santo this week so we've had a chance to get out of town if only for a day trip. Yesterday we went to see Volcan Poas. We visited the volcano last year but weren' http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-144701.html Reservations were made in December for the Feb 6th hike up Mt. Chirripo. Hiking alongside Bill would be our friends Edgar Solange and Terry. It was decided Callista I would drive down with the gang and wait at the hotel for them to return from the two day hike. With Terry and Bill speaking limited Spanish and Edgar and Solange limited English Callista and I were needed to interpret. Bear well http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/San-Gerado-de-Rivas/blog-131857.html For those waiting for the story of Bill's hike up Mt. Chirripo it's been preempted temporarily. Blogs will be few and far between for a few weeks now because while Bill neared the base camp of Chirripo I fell down the concrete steps near the pool at our hotel and instantly knew my leg was broken just my luck...I heard the two snaps. Callista and I were lucky enough to have the owners nearby to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/San-Pedro/blog-128737.html Travelblog is having issues with their email provider and as a result updates to blogs are not being sent out. We don't know when the issue will be resolved. As many of you already know we've started our own website anewlifeincostarica.comto view site click here Due to the issues with Travelblog I'm going to be transferring subscribers to the new site. Subscriptions are powered by a company cal http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-124930.html At the Palmares tope earlier in the month we learned about an upcoming Cabalgata in a neighboring town and made plans with friends to attend. Callista was invited to ride again with our neighbor and anxiously awaited the day. Cabalgata's are small topes generally a fundraiser for a local church or school today was a fund raiser for the school in Barranca. At 11am sharp Callista dragged us up to A http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/Baranca/blog-123820.html Callista went to parque de diversiones with friends the other day and left Bill and I with a day to kill in San Jose. We decided to head to avenida central and just wander. Bill does all the driving when we're in San Jose so he really doesn't get to see much. You have to keep your eyes on the road or the cars next to you when driving down town. He enjoys walking the streets and seeing what he miss http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/blog-121359.html Today was the perfect day at the beach we are the perfect shade of red well some of us. With the cooler packed with a picnic of sorts sandwich makings water and fresh fruits we headed out of the house at 820am arrived at the beach about 10ish and back home by 4pm. The day couldn't have been better. We left San Ramon in the clouds to find high clouds at the beach. We are not fans of sunny da http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-122594.html The annual fiesta began in Palmares yesterday January 10th. The festival is touted as one of the biggest in the country. FiestaPalmaresThe fiesta will continue until Jan 22 with concerts bull fights various races and a carnival. We're headed to the festival today for the big Tope or horse parade slated to begin at noon with plans to spend the day mixing in with the crowd and enjoying the fe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/Palmares/blog-118199.html Saturday we took the Tico Train Tour paseo en tren a la tica from Atenas to Caldera for approx. 11 each. What a wonderful experience wersquod recommend the trip. Wersquove seen a great deal of this country in our first year here but this was an opportunity to see it while leaving the driving to someone else. On the train we were able to see parts of Costa Rica we wouldnrsquot be able to b http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-116642.html We returned to the arts and crafts market yesterday while our friends were getting their drivers licenses. Well actually while they were waiting in line after line to get their licenses. It was Ruthrsquos first visit to the market. Shersquos planning to return with hubby and his wallet before they leave the country in a few weeks. Mola prices were negotiable 10 for 812 x 11 rectangles saw http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/San-Jose/blog-116099.html Our friends Will Mark and Ruth came to visit from Atenas so we could take them to the thermal waters with us. Callista and I've been anxious to get back for another volcanic mud mask and facial. We pass thru the town of Zarcero on the way to the hot springs so we stopped to stretch our legs. The last time our friends passed thru it was cloudy so they didn't get to see all the beautiful topiaries http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/blog-114916.html In Costa Rica we're preparing to blast in the New Year. The country doesn't ring in the coming year they use polvora fireworks to explode into the next year. Fireworks are legal even for purchase by children. I expect to hear the Red Cross ambulances along with the explosions tonight.As in the states our plan is to be safely in our home and off the streets before night fall. No parties or gues http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/San-Pedro/blog-114900.html As with everything else our first year here Christmas has been a time of learning. Old traditions have been challenged and new ones given the test. Our Christmas tree is adorned in the front yard. No tree inside this year nor stockings hung anywhere. It's another year in transition. Noticeable this year is Callista's maturity. Her path has started from innocence to young adulthood. The way sh http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-113288.html