TravelVirgins

Who says two months is a long time?? We felt that the time flew by and now we are back home in Ontario. Our last piece of luggage was finally delivered today (only 10 days after us so we're not sure what route it took-but it is lacking a few items!). I guess that means that the trip is officially over for this year. At least the weather wasn't as bad as we had anticipated and it is starting to look like spring once again. The daffodils are buddings and crocuses and snowdrops brighten up the landscape.

We are happy to be back home among family and friends and have had a great time catching up with everyone's news. We have three new great-neices or nephews on the way so I guess I'll have lots of quilts to make and keep busy. Summers in SWOntario are warm and sunny so therefore perfect for lots of summer activities.

Rob and I both agree that our experience of living in Costa Rica for two months was a highlight of our 32 years of marriage. We found the people to be happy and friendly, scenery gorgeous and pace and simplicity of life very appealing. We can't think of any negatives from our trip, in fact it seemed that when things didn't go as planned they turned out for the better. We also both pushed our comforts zones and did, ate and experienced things we would not normally consider. This is a big factor in our decision to return next year for three months and expand our horizons a little more.

We still have some more videos and snapshots to add so keep checking back. I'll keep on Rob's case to get them done!!

We returned to tour the inside of the National Theater in San Jose on Friday. We were both so tired from our trip to Arenal/Monteverde but we really wanted to see the. The bus from Santa Elena took us to San Jose and since our time here was quickly coming to an end we knew chances of getting back to San Jose were slim. We are both so glad that we put forth the effort. It is truly a gem and I think the most beautiful building I've ever seen.

As coffee plantations grew in the 1800's in Costa Rica so did the wealth of their owners. With this new found money they were able to send their children to school in Europe and thus were exposed to the beauty of the architecture there. Thus this theater is an exact replica of the Paris Opera House right down to the gold leaf covering almost everything and the marble floors and handrails. Original ornate oil paintings grace the ceilings. Leather and rich velvets and some of the nicest woods make up the balcony seating areas.

If you ever get to visit San Jose, CR please visit this majestic venue. Cost for the tour: $5.00 US per person

Rob came home from Alajuela a while ago with a gift for me - a gorgeous tri-coloured gold earrings, a cute butterfly with rhinestone accents. So cute and so loved by me. We returned just a few days ago to look around and took the owner's and staff's picture as well as the family pooch!!

Rob had taken pictures of the eclipse as seen from here at Norma's villas where we have been staying for the last two months. He had Richard back home in Canada put together a composite picture of all the phases and print up a 10" x 48" and ship it down to us here in Costa Rica. We had wanted to give it to Rick and Norma as a gift from the two of us.

When it arrived they were tickled pink with the print and the fact that we had done it for them. We knew that they were working on a Bar/Restaurant/Game Room for the guests and their friends back by the pools. It was near completion when they told us that after racking their brains for a name for the bar they came up with "Norma's Eclipse Bar and Grill" with our print proudly displayed. It's nice to know that we had a small part in their plans.

After seeing the print up, Rob has decided it needs to be bigger so when we get home a 2' x 8' print will be printed and shipped to them.

While walking down Avenida Central in San Jose on Friday we saw these beautifully and artfully decorated cows.  Flashbacks of Mel Lastman's Toronto moose went through our minds.  We couldn't resist taking their pictures.  The concept was much the same, each one sponsored by a local business and painted by a local artist.  Here are 7 of the more colourful ones we saw.

When we arrived in Santa Elena we were only going to stay for one night but we decided to stay for two nights when we found the Tree House Hotel conveniently located right in the heart of town. The bus stops right across the street and of much to my delight a coffee and ice cream shop was also there.

The building is built around a 60 year old fig tree with an open air lobby, internet cafe and tour offices occupying the main floor. The second floor restaurant is as close to being part of the tree as possible. Food was good, atmosphere is cozy and there was live music (flamenco guitar) when we were there. The rooms on the third floor are clean, spacious and have a hot water shower. Cost for 2: $45.00 US (taxes incl) They also have a room that will sleep 7 people for families or groups.

The village of Santa Elena is a treat in itself to visit. With it's cobblestone streets, cute shops, good food and of course any tour for the area available, it is well worth a couple of days stay. The only downfall (if you want to call it that) is that the streets all follow the ups and downs of the mountain side on which it is built. Only the one main street is on the level!!

There are endless hotels, B&B's and guest houses in town and along the road to the reserves.  The Monteverde Cheese Factory, Butterfly Gardens, Orchid Garden and the Frog Pond all can be found along the road to Monteverde.  There is also a museum showing the history and influence the Quakers had in developing this area.  Beware though only the roads actually in town are paved the rest are dirt, rock and bumpy!! 

So when you visit this part of Costa Rica by all means enjoy the natural beauty of the cloud forests but also take some time to enjoy the quaint town of Santa Elena.

We were told, by some people, when we are in Costa Rica not to expect to see a monkey in the wild. So we didn't really expect to see this fellow during our visit to the Cloud Forest at Monteverde. What a pleasant surprise to see him moving around up in the trees, jumping from one to the other.

This monkey is quite large and is often heard before he is seen. His howl can carry for over 1km, even with the denseness of the jungle. They don't travel a lot and prefer to live in groups of about 10 in a 10 hectare area. Leaves, fruits and flowers make up most of their diet. They weight between 5 and 8 kgs. and are approximately 1 -1.25 m. in length, half of which is a very strong tail. They like to be up in the tree tops, scurrying along the branches like trapeze artists.

In June of 1976, this monkey was placed on the endangered species list as a result of being threatened by habitat destruction, rainforest fragmentation and natural disasters. Apparently there are around 1300 individuals left of this legally protected tree dwelling Central and South American animal.