What an adventure ! You guys really are having quite a time in Costa Rica. It is nice some of your family members are able to travel there to see all the beautiful scenery. Keep the blogs coming. We enjoy reading about your adventure.
What he said! Ron, your blog sums up Samara and our feelings perfectly! I think the pictures are a perfect complement to your eloquent summary. You're making me cry, remembering what a special time it was and how sad we all were to leave and how sad some of us were for days (weeks!) after we came home. We've been reliving the trip through your blog entries and now that our part in your adventure is over and documented, I feel sad all over again.
We look forward to reading about the next guests' adventures. I know they have excellent hosts and tour guides in you, Nataghia, Benjamin and Owen.
send some warmth! Greetings from the cold north! We are enjoying reading about your adventures in tropical paradise. Whatever it is that you are putting in Benjamin's water, I need you to send some immediately to us here. We are on day 6 of a nasty deep freeze. Monday's HIGH was - 45 with the wind chill!! Needless to say the "kids" have not been able to go out for their excersize and the house is paying the price. We are also up on Skype every evening around 6 our time. Just look for us under our kennel name. Enjoy the warm weather and send some up our way!!
Dale, Sandra and all Diogi's relatives
Nervous? Me? Well, yeah! It wasn't until the third, really long cable that I stopped feeling nervous and started loving it. I love that picture, because I went first on that one and got to watch everyone pull themselves in or, in the case of our smallest guys, get pulled in by the guide. It's nice to see it from the other side.
Busy Busy Busy Looks like there is no end to the adventures, looking forward to that. It just so happens I do know the name of that little beastie. It is rightly named ' Horny Armpiticious Kling-on' or in Costa Rica the 'Guanacaste Stick Insect'. Kind of resembles our 3 and 4 inch locusts we have in Yemen. The beastie was probably looking for a room for the night in Lach's armpit.
Sounds and looks like we may be in for a few surprises, but that is OK, I am getting used to that.
Take it easy and save some of that energy.
Great reading Your dad, Roger, told me about your blog and sent some copies to Dolly, which she passed on to me. it's an interesting if rather unusual way to get to know one of my nephews and his family. It sounds as if you're all having a great adventure which I'm enjoying vicariously. I'll keep on checking in to follow along.
Happy New Year Happy New Year Nolans! I can't believe Santa found the boys. Your excursions sound so great and a lot of fun. The boys will be able to write some interesting stories when they get home plus tell their friends all about their experiences.
You will have a difficult time adjusting to the old routine when you get back.
Today we had a slight blizzard, the first one this year. Not cold but the wind chill makes it worse of course.
Happy to hear you had a good Christmas with family. Looking forward to hearing about the next escapade. Have fun.
Feeling the Love! Yes, it was definitely not a traditional Christmas, but we were feeling the love on our vacation with all of you. We had such great experiences with you and made memories to last a lifetime! I can't wait to read about it! We're anxiously awaiting to find out if we can visit you again in the next year. Oh yeah!
Feo Americano Ben- Yes, the people I refer to in this blog as "feo americanos" were all verified as Americans prior to publishing. I did in fact see all of their passports except the surfer dude who did tell me he was an American. If you have ever traveled by bus across the Nicaraguan border you would know that they collect all the passports to be processed and then distribute them by calling out the names of the people and hold the passports up for all to see. I also realized that there are many people from many nationalities who display ugly behavior while traveling including myself. I didn't create the term I have only observed the behavior during my trip...as I stated in the blog we have met many terrific American people during our travels. "So let's try to be a little less judgmental next time."
Feo Americanos? Are you sure every one of the "feo gringo's" you encountered were from the U.S.? I know I've seen canadians causing more than their fair share of trouble from Panama to Mexico, on more than a few occasions. Let's try to be a little less judgemental next time, as I'm quite sure you didnt check their passports.
Merry Christmas!! Hey Tagh, Ron, and family,
Merry Christmas from Graham and I (and the pets too)! We're in Vancouver visiting G's family until the 26th, then home to Edmonton! Are you missing the snow yet?? ;)
M. and G.
Do you miss the snow yet? Nice lid! Hey there Nataghia, Owen, Benjamin and Ron. Here's to you on a wild and exciting adventure for Christmas 2007 and a great new beginning in 2008. A tropical Christmas sounds cool but we know where your hearts are. I'll give everyone I can a hug for you when I get to Saskatoon on the 27th. We will all be thinking about you and wishing we were there. Merry Christmas R N O B !!!!!!
Sounds Awesome I am heading to SJDS on Saturday and your story has excited me even more. cam't wait to share some of the similar expierences. If you don't mind I would love some more dining recommnedations.
i love nicaragua omg i'm so excited that yall guys went to nicaragua thats awesome! my parents were born there and now they live in the us and i went there the past two summers ago!!!! and it was AMAZING i never thought that it was going to be like that... :D
Golden Opportunities OMG that is so cool about the baby turtles!! What a rare treat.
And Tagh when I started to read about the surfing spot I was like, this is it, she's going to do it!! Come on, join the club, it makes you cool!!
Enjoy the heat When I want to escape thinking about our cold winter I read your adventures and enjoy your beautiful pictures. Your blog is great! thanks for sharing with us. May you enjoy a Very Merry Christmas. Love lillian and alden
previous St. Patrick Teacher! Hi there,
I came across your blog and was somewhat excited.. I taught at St. Patrick for two years in 2003/2004, and just realized your husband must be teaching my class, they would just be finishing grade 6 this year. I have been trying to keep in touch with Bernie but he is a poor emailer. i would love to hear how the girls in grade 6 are doing, and Pablo and Luis, if they are still there.
Cheers,
Robyn Luff
Learning Patients Hello Dore-Nowlan Gang, what fun it is to read your blogs. I applaud your courage and envy your experiences, but not sure if i would have the patients to wait for everything. I think that being in that culture would be a true lesson in the Patients dept.
Thanks for the pictures, what beautiful country it is out there. And seeing Tasja in her tank top was a bit hard to bear seeing as how it dipped to a wind chill of -29c this morning when I was walking to work, burrrrrrr.....
Otherwise, all is well, Gaet is feeling great, he is back at work and loving it. We are pretty sure that he is in remission, so that is wonderful news, because we too have many travel plans yet to enjoy.
Denise and Leo left for Arizona yesterday and they only return in late March, then Annette leaves on Dec. 9th and she will not be home until April. I am so happy for both of them, it is nice to be able to get away from the cold.
Well I should get going, i want to start my Christmas baking. I already have the house all decorated and the carols blasting through the house, so "It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas"
What are you doing for Christmas, do they celebrate it out there?
Take care and again, thanks for keeping us posted.
Love Gaet and Rita
Tomorrow could be next week, too! I love the pictures. Owen and Benjamin are looking so much bigger already. Can't wait to see you guys! Only one month to Christmas.
Hope you're having a ball in Nicaragua, which will probably be another cultural learning experience with their very different recent history.
Thank You Hi Guys, Thanks so much for your weekly journals - I have enjoyed reading them and look forward to each and every one.
Dennis and I spent a very busy month on Wayne's Campaign and are looking forward to heading to Mexico on Thursday, November 29th for some rest and relaxation - also the cervaza! We will be away until March 15, 2008.
We, too, will take our lap-top with us as we can not go a day without our e-mail and internet.
Take care,
Dennis and Sherry Webster
Beach vs. snow Always fun to read your blog. Funny to think of it soon being summer there when we are just getting into winter here. Up here in Debden we have snow, snow and more snow. They say down in southern SK it's dry. But we have more snow here then we usually do at this time of year. It could be a very white winter in Northern SK. Enjoy the beaches and the warm weather, I will be thinking of you when I am shoveling yet again more snow. Love ya always!
Love the car! Seeing the pictures make us miss the boys even more, Happy to hear that all is going well. Diogi misses you too, but he is doing ok. Love to all. Mom
We are a Canadian family moving to Costa Rica for the 2007-2008 school year. We will be exploring discovering and understanding the Costa Rican culture, nature and how to surf! If you are wondering where in the world Nuevo Arenal is here is a link. Nuevo Arenal, Costa Rica http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_49b.html
... full info
Brian & Lois
non-member comment
What an adventure !
You guys really are having quite a time in Costa Rica. It is nice some of your family members are able to travel there to see all the beautiful scenery. Keep the blogs coming. We enjoy reading about your adventure.