Geo: 40.3927, -105.074You faithful readers of our traveling blogs (you know who you are) know that almost all of our trips start with our good friend Tom Delaney taking us to the airport, and this trip is no exception. But this time there is a big difference, when we got to DIA ((Denver International Airport), Tom parked the car, grabbed his suitcases and joined us!About six weeks ago when the three of us were out to dinner together Tom was telling us about an Icelandic author he was enjoying reading. "I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights," I sighed. "Wanna go to Iceland?" "Yes!" said Jeff. "YES!" said Tom. And there is the start of this adventure.Naturally, being frugal travelers, we did some Internet researching and found a great deal on Travelzoo...airfare from Denver and ... read more

Geo: 10.0333, -84.1833Today is our last full day in Costa Rica...this visit was much too short. Because it is our last day, I, wanting to make the most of it, get up around 6am, make myself some coffee and sit out on the rancho listening to and watching the birds. A little while later Jeff gets up and we start putzing around: strip the bed, washing the bedding and towels, wash, dry and put away the dishes in the kitchen, we want to leave the casita spotless - who knows, the renters, Kyle and Diane, might need housesitters sometime.We don't have breakfast because Annie is taking us to the "gringo breakfast" this morning. The Gringo Breakfast is a weekly gathering of ex-pats at a restaurant in San Ramon. This will be a good opportunity for Jeff ... read more

Geo: 10.3916, -84.4383Today Annie has offered to take us to a little town, Zarcero, up in the mountains. Jeff and I debate what to wear - jeans or shorts - because this place is up in the hills and may be chilly. A quick text to our super dooper tour guide brings the response that shorts should be fine.The drive to Zarcero was gorgeous, hilly, windy and steep in some places. The views on both sides of the road were breathtakingly beautiful - really. Terraced hillsides with coffee and some bright green plants in orderly rows that we decided were cabbages. As we went higher the landscape changed to lodgepole pine and fir trees. I found this really disorienting because next to some of those pines were palm trees!When we arrived in town the first thing ... read more

Geo: 9.98102, -84.8392Today we are going sightseeing, but you know the routine by now, first breakfast! Fresh squeezed orange juice, by yours truly, granola with yogurt and, of course, coffee.On our agenda is a visit to Puntarenas (Sandy Point), a nearby port town. In January, 2017 this is one of the ports our cruise ship will visit. We think it will be fun to check out the town ahead of time. Our first stop, however, should be a lot of fun (and it is one of the excursions listed on our upcoming cruise). We are going to visit to Sanctuario Lapas - a macaw sanctuary.Loaded down with cameras, hats, water bottles, my phone (in case we get lost and need GPS) and snacks of carrot sticks and cucumbers, swimsuits and towels we start out.The drive is ... read more

Geo: 9.9869, -84.407First of all, I don't think I've ever seen so many hummingbirds in my life. These little flittery birds are everywhere - well, there are flowers everywhere and there is a hummingbird feeder by the front door. It is so neat to see them. The number of hummingbirds is second to the number of butterflies! Last night when we were visiting Norman and Annie, she and I saw a blue Morpho butterfly go by. She was very excited because blue Morpho's are not commonly seem in this area. She said it was a sign that Jeff and I belong here. There are roughly a bazillon butterflies here at our casita.We woke up this morning to birdsong - what a racket!! There are singing, chirping, squaking, and cooing birds in all the trees around us. ... read more