Ekorres travels in USA & Costa Rica

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Saturday 11 December
Saturday we started to make our way down to Los Angeles. The weather beautiful and we truelly enjoyed the sights. A magical
place is the city of Monterey, the author John Steinbecks home town. Set right along the coast line, and has lately become
a haven for rich retired people (se photo) So has Pebbles beach, and it is not hard to understand why...
In tine for sunset we reached Restaurant Nepenthe, Johns favorite along Highway 1, and sure it lived up to John's description. We drank a wine from the Pablo Robles wine region,so delisiouc it made us change our planes for the following day.

Sunday 12 December
Next day we headed for the Pablo Robles wine yards, this time our expectations was exceeded. After having visited six different wineries this is how we ended up (see photo), and we still had one to go...

Monday 13 December
Next stop Los Angeles {the city of angels?!). Santa Monica beach, known as the "muscle beach" was empty on the monday morning. We walked on to Venice beach to meet up with Alide and Steve, old friends of John (see photo). Enjoyed the scenery and
creative atmosphere. Had to make a run in order to catch our touristic bus tour of LA. It took us to all the well-known places;
Pacifico hights, Brenton, walk of fame and Beverly Hills. In Beverly Hills we caught up with the latest gossip, Nicole Kidman
had a party the previous day and was still sleeping. Thought of stopping by at Arnold Schwartzenegger for a power drink, but changed our mind when we heard that upon entering his property without an official
invitation you risk up to two years in prison.

Tuesday 14 December
Now we were in for something totaly different: Costa Rica
We felt right at home at the Spanish School and with our host family. Our host family, (we stay with Maria and Jesus Delgado
and will do so until Christmas: ), take good care of us (see photo).
Imagine to wake up every morning with the smell of Costa Rican coffee, being served sunripen fresh fruits, eggs fried over
easy. After a "hard" day at the Spanish School, come home to yet another wonderful meal.

Weekend Friday 17-19 December
After three days of hard studying we decided to take a weekendtrip to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast, known for its animal life and beautiful beaches.
Friday evening we made friends with a three toed Sloth (see photo). These animals are extremely slow, and so their digestion. Once a week they make the journey down the tree to conjugate (or a more familiar word: to shit). We were told that we were extremely lucky to have vittnesed this. It was actually rather funny to see this creature and its slow movements, and they have the cutest face.

The rest of our stay we enjoyed hiking in the national park, meeting white faced monkeys, a lot of lizzards, butterflies and eagles. Last but not least we enyojed the sun and the ocean. It is a perfect place to body surf, the waves are regular and ca. 2meters high.

In the taxi on the way back to our "casa" we ended up in a football fiesta. It was the last minutes of an important derby. The friendly Costa Ricans (or as they call them selves; Ticos) are crazy about their football, it seems to be the most important event, next to the weekly lottery.

Monday 20 - Friday 24 December 2004
After a good night sleep we were ready for a week of studying and fiesta. Monday evening Carolina (daughter in our Tico family)
celebrated her 19 birthday. We enyojed ourselves, and our spanish improved after a Imperal (or Agila) as the beer is called here.

The week has gone by extremely fast and tomorrow it is Navidad, and our last day at school. Saturday morning we head for the Puerto Viejo on the Carribien cost. Our time here at the school and at our Tica family has been great. We will treasure the memories.

To all of you from the two of us: Felice Navidad y Prospero Ano Nueve! God Jul och Gott Nytt 2005, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Prettige Kerstdagen en Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar
Lena 😊 & Marcel 😊
Hasta la Vista!

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