Costa Rica - Natural Beauty

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So Evi and I went to Costa Rica, only 8 days... it's not enough... but we got a taste of the country. Stayed in the central valley area (outside of San Jose) for 4 days... took tours to coffee plantations, Poas Volcano, waterfalls... saw natural beauty, flora, fauna... Then we went to the Pacific Coast, Quepos and Manuel Antonio Park for 3 days ... it's a rain forest, and sooo beautiful. Here are some photos.

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Photos

In our B&B
Casa Lima B&B in San Jose. Nice hotel with a jungle in the courtyard!

At an art gallery in San Jose
Actually it was a jewelry shop that our tour guide brought us to... of course... to get his commission.

Poas Volcano
Erupted the day before we got there, and the tourists had to run back to their vehicles and get out.

Poor Man's Umbrella
These large leaves near the Poas Volcano can be used as a very big hat if necessary.

Coffee Beans
Fruity on the outside, nutty on the inside (like humans)

Ox Cart
Like this was made in the town of Sarchi, the ox cart capital of Costa Rica.

Evi catches two butterflies
And they were mating (the butterflies, not Evi).

Colorful Restaurant
Our bus from San Jose to Quepos stopped there for a break

Ice Cream Man
In Quepos town.

Fisherman return
In the port of Quepos

Colorful house
In Quepos

Mangroves
Trees with many roots that grow in the salty-fresh water.

In the estuary
Where the Pacific water runs inland to fill the canals where the mangrove trees grow.

Monkey on our boat
Jumps just behind the driver

Comments

[Stephanie Sena]

Wishing I were there...
Hi Uncle Howard and Aunt Evi! Your pictures are beautiful. They are making me irritated that I am not there with you. WHY DID I NOT GO WITH YOU??? It has been a cruel and miserable week in Philly. Windchills in the teens or something. Anyway- your trip looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing! Miss you and love you! Stephanie

[Howie]

Costa Rica Beauty
Stephanie: You are a cruel person because you did not come with us to visit the monkeys in the trees and talk to the butterflies mating on Evi's hand. Next time you shall come, and we'll repeat our successful times in Ireland. Here's what we're considering for next summer, in July. Paris (we'll stay with my cousin Claude Rachelson and his family in Paris) and then Romania and Bulgaria. Thanks for the holiday greetings and photos of your growing kids. Why do parents neglect to put their own photos on the greeting cards? We want to see what you and Tiger (I mean Carlo) look like these days, also. Love, Howie and Evi

[cousin joelie]

Great Photos
I loved your photos.It was hard to tell which ones were the monkeys.

[Edi]

a little bit of philosophy
What a beautifull world we live in. And actually we have no other. But this only world would be enough, when ................. when our politicians would or could improve their work, an when no meteorit will destroy our earth. Fortunately the probability of No. 2 is very low but whether our politicians are clever enough ??? Who knows ? Therefore : carpe diem like the Rachelsons are doing ! Love Edi

[Howie]

Thank you for the comments and I'm happy you enjoy my photos and our travels.

[Howie]

The monkeys had no money in their pockets. The humans had little money in their pockets.

[Linda Alm]

Dear Howard, You are quite gifted at capturing the beauty and magnificence of the moment. Thank you for sharing your marvelous photos. Best to you and Evi always.

[Howie]

Costa Rica photos
Hi Linda, Thank you so much for your kind comments on our photos.

[Jeff Lerman]

Great Pix!
Howie--You should be a travel writer, not a math teacher. Great pix! Great blog entries!

[Howie]

Travel Writer
Sounds like a good idea to me.