What you do when it rains in Costa Rica?

What do you in the rain in Costs Rica?
  Today we had showers off & on all day. What the rains gave us was a chance to see some amphibians that live in these parts. It seems after each rain shower the dart frogs come out. We got to see both the Strawberry poison dart frog & the green & black poison dart frog.

The black & green poison dart frog

Villa Tucan a hidden Gem in the rainforest

Our arrival at Villa Tucan was not at all what I had expected. Instead of being excited to be here I was feeling completely on edge and questioning why we choose this place.

It didn't help that George had just voiced his opinion as we drove up 2 very steep hills which are the drive way to the house. But in all fairness to him he was the driver on the 4 hour ride from Santa Barbara to Puerto Viejo which is not an easy one.

Happy to be back in Costa Rica

We are very happy to be back in Costa Rica. Our first stop was Payless to pick our Suzuki Jimny, that will get us around for the next 2 weeks. Our 2 large bags took up the whole back.
Now it was time to find our hotel. We are staying at Finca Rosa Blanca located in Santa Barbara which is right outside San Jose

Directions are make a left at the Y right at the fork

A bit of Spain in Newark

Sometimes you don't have to leave the country to feel like you are in a foreign destination.  Today we were just coming to Newark to over night before our early morning flight to Costa Rica. What we found was a  bit of Spanish culture.  The girl who checked us in at the hotel was from Costa Rica which was a nice surprise & great to talk to. We then went to the Spanish Tavern for some Sangria &an appetizer. We got both along with a complimentary bowl of vegetable soup. Everything was good the place is lovely inside and we would have stayed for dinner but really wanted to try another  place, Casa Vasca. Casa Vasca is a small cozy family restaurant hidden in the Ironbound section of Newark,severing  Spanish-Basque cuisine. I had  read you get a lot of food & they weren't kidding. Instead of salad you get soup, it was included &now our second bowl.   Both places bring it out in a pot & serve it to you at the table. It was homemade black bean soup which looked great making it hard to pass up. I am glad I didn't as it was very tasty. For dinner I had Scallops stuffed with crab meat which was very good. George had the veal in a sherry & Cognac sauce with mushrooms & peppers which was the best veal we have ever had,so tender you could cut it with a fork.  We were also served rice & home made potato chips. Everything was wonderful & we will come back again. Sometimes you don't have to travel far to feel like you are in another place. 

Does Size Matter?

Big or small, carry on, or checked, does size really matter? In the new world of travel it has become very important what size luggage we use. 

   On a trip to New Orleans I was determined to carry on and not pay the $25.00 check bag fee. I went to the airlines site and got the correct size bag to fit in the overhead.  I limited all my liquid items to 3oz or less; put them neatly in a zip lock bag ready to be pulled out to be scanned at security check point. I thought I was doing great until I checked in. I was told my bag was still too large for this commuter flight and forced to pay the fee to check my bag. What really got me, friends on the same flight got their carry on past check in then at the gate they were told it wouldn’t fit and the gate agent checked it for free. Since then I noticed this is a new game played at the airport to get by without paying the fee.

Getting ready for Costa Rica

For some reason this trip the girl scout in me is coming out and I am getting prepared for all situations. One might think there are no stores in Costa Rica but in my defense we are a bit more remote than a phone call to the front desk. Better to have & not use then to need & not have.

In a Costa Rica state of Mind

I have been in a Costa Rica state of mind now for the last couple of months and it’s only getting greater. Maybe its the excitement of our upcoming trip. This morning while sipping my cup of Costa Rican coffee I was going through some of the pictures from previous trips and figured it’s time to share some more of them. 

Our last trip to Costa Rica was short only a couple of days but good. We flew into San Jose and made the 3 ½ hour drive to Arenal which is an adventure in itself. Roads here tend to be narrow with lots of potholes and the road to Arenal twists and turns while truck drivers tend to speed right pass you. The good part is the scenery is beautiful and it was truly a spectacular site as we got closer to see Volcano Arenal smoking right there in front of us. This is as close as I have ever been to active Volcano and it is really something to see.

Arenal Volcano is Costa Rica's youngest & most active volcano.

It is estimated to be around 4,000 years old & been dormant for at least 400 years until 1968

We spent 2 nights at Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort, which is located right at the base of the Volcano.
It’s a wonderful resort with lush gardens full of flora & fauna, hot springs, and amazing views of the volcano. 

   At night if its clear you can see the volcano flow.  After a long day of travel we spend some time in the hot spring before having a delicious meal at the resorts restaurant, Los Tucanes.

 Tabocon Lodge is a great choice when visiting this area.

View from our room

The front of our room

Flyers Alumni Winter Classic

 Some pictures from the Flyers / Rangers Alumni Winter Classic at Citizen's Bank Park.


45,000 Flyer's fans came to see their favorite players play one last time together. Wow.

Warm ups

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

What are everyone’s plans to say goodbye to 2011 and ring in 2012?

 For me this afternoon is going to be spent at Citizens Bank Park for the Flyers/Rangers alumni winter classic game. I have been a Flyers fan for as long as I can remember so a chance to go watch some of the players that have made this team great over the years is very exciting.  I am looking forward to seeing Bernie Parent back in net one more time. The LCB line will be skating together again.  Eric Lindros is back for a day wearing Orange & Black, along with John LeClair. One of my favorite players, Rick Tocchet will be playing.  It should be a fun day in Philly.

Sloths

 Last night on Animal Planet the show was "Too Cute! Baby Sloths". It was filmed at the  Aviaros del Caribe Sloth Sanctuary in Cahuita Costa Rica.
 It really was too cute and got me wanting to be back in Costa Rica watching the sloths. When we were there in 2006 we got to see many 3 toed sloths. One afternoon in Manuel Antonio National Park we got to watch a sloth make its way down a tree to go to the bathroom. Sloths only go to the bathroom once a week so its a big event for them. They are also extremely slow moving, the whole process took about an hour. It was amazing to be that close and watch.

Here are the pictures of the big event for Mr. Sloth

Another day we got to watch one switch from one tree to another.