david holmes

My trip to Costa Rica was a lot of fun and I would like to repeat it when I have the use of all my limbs. There were so many things - like swim - that I just could not do. I didn’t think it was safe for me to do the zip-line canopy tours and most of the fun required hiking. There are no elevators anywhere in Costa Rica as far as I could tell. Living on the 2nd floor at the resort was a challenge, as was almost everything else I did, but it was all worth it. I’m very thankful to all of my friends around me who helped me do things I had a hard time doing - like carrying my luggage… Costa Rica should be on your list of destinations if ... read more

Tuesday I went on a combined tour of a national park and then a coffee plantation. In a small country that is home to more bird species than all of the United States and Canada combined, I assumed I would see some birds on this tour, but so much of what I saw - birds and more - was because we had a good guide. We drove about an hour and a half from the resort while our tour guide, Manuel, talked to us about the history of Costa Rica and about the tour we were taking. Along the way, the driver noticed a house along the side of the road that was selling some of the local moonshine that Manuel had talked about, so he stopped and picked up a bottle for us. I wish ... read more

Last night I and several others had a nice dinner at the resort French restaurant. I guess I should say now that "all-inclusive" is more of a temptation that I am capable of resisting. I have consumed and consumed ever since I've been here. The food is great and it is available 24 hours a day. The only limitation I've discovered is that room service will only bring four beers to your room at a time. Do they not realize how much time they could save themselves if they lifted this restriction - if even for this bunch of Texans I'm here with? This morning I got up early and after breakfast in the room, took a jeep tour with a couple friends. Let me back up a sec. - the staple of nearly every traditional ... read more

I made it to Costa Rica and I have seen no Mariachis; in case you remember my last out-of-country experience. This place is beautiful. I am here just after the wet season ended, so everything is beginning to bloom. We're staying at the Playa Conchal Resort in Guanacaste which is the Northwest section of the country. There is no cell phone service and it is not easy to get on the internet, so you will not likely get too frequent of updates from me - and it may take until after the trip to post the pictures. I'll have more interesting stories for you later; I just wanted to let you first know the basics. Today I'm pretty much just taking it easy. Tomorrow a couple of us will be taking a jeep out who-knows-where for ... read more

I want to summarize my trip to Taiwan, but I don't know where to begin. First, I want to thank all of you for reading what I wrote. I had hoped a few friends and family would read the blog but had no idea how many people would read it and who those people would be. url="http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/legislature/entries/2007/06/25/legislative_aide_reaches_taiwan_sees_mariachis.html" target="_blank"Gardner Selby and Robyn Hadley had something to do with that; thank ya'll. I also had readers among those we met and visited in Taiwan. I did not expect that. Second, I want to thank those who were on the trip with me. They made what could not help being a memorable trip become an opportunity for the establishment of new lifelong friendships and made the t... read more