Welcome to my site. Here you'll find updates on my latest travel adventures, including pictures and stories. Visit regularly to see where I've been. Make sure you check out the following pages: INTERNATIONAL, DAY TRIPS, LOCAL TRIPS, PLACES, and MY FAVORITE PHOTOS (Located in the More page). You are also more than welcome to click on my photo books to view, and comment on them. Please make sure to sign my Guestbook in the What's New page!
I have been traveling every year since 1991. Although I have always loved to explore new places, in 1991 I took my first trip out of the state of California. I went to New York. I started at LAX and made my way to Rochester, NY, and then hit NY City. Some of the places I have been so blessed to visit besides New York are Yucatan, Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Nayarit, Zihuatanejo, Cabo San Lucas, Southern area of Spain starting in Madrid including Gibraltar, Northern Thailand starting in Bangkok including Laos, Guatemala and Honduras, Colorado from Manitou Springs to Vail, New Mexico from Socorro to Bandalier, Nevada, Chicago (drove cross country stopping in every state between Orange County and Chicago) Arizona, Hawaii (Big Island, Oahu, Kauai), Alaska (Inside Passage), Victoria, B.C., The Six New England States, and many others, including many places within California. . . this website will begin with my 2008 local trips, day trips, and international trips. Maybe someday I will add in my trips prior to 2008. I am so thankful to have seen all I have seen, to learn all I have learned, experience all I have experienced, and especially to have met so many beautiful people along the way. Traveling has made me appreciate all that I have even so much more. God has certainly created a beautiful world and I am looking forward to seeing more it!
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
– NATURAL PARADISE 2013
Most of you know that I do most of my traveling alone. This was going to be quite an experience for me as I would be traveling with 4 other people (my sister, my niece, my friend and my friend Renee). This would be Angie, Priscilla, and Renee’s first tour. and I have traveled together in the past.
March 5th - started my vacation with a terrible cold. We arrived at the airport parking a bit early and thank God we did because they were so unorganized. We waited over an hour for the shuttle to pick us up to take us to airport. We finally arrived at the airport, got on our plane and as we were beginning to leave the flight deck a man on the plane started to feel he was having a heart attack. We had to go back to the flight deck to get him off the plane, and ALL the luggage had to be taken out of the plane so his luggage could be found. After 30 mn. or so we were finally on our way. The entire flight was very bumpy.
March 6th - We arrived to a warm and humid . It was early morning. The shuttle picked us up. We drove about 40 mn from the airport to our hotel in . There was not much to see around here. We did walk to a supermarket at the mall across the street from the hotel. The mall was very modern. Most of the people of CR are very good looking. This stood out to many of us.
The next 10 days were all about being on the bus for hours, staying in the jungle, staying by the beach, and enjoying a lot of good organic food and fresh fruit drinks daily.
The first volcano we visited – Poas. We arrived in the early morning while it was raining so we did not get to see the crater as it was covered by clouds. We hiked a little around the Escalonia Cloud Forest. This volcano is 8,000 feet above sea level.
There is one Starbucks in CR – we saw it while on the bus, but the popular coffee in CR is Britt. We went to the coffee plantation.
We drove along the slopes of the extinct Barva Volcano – we saw beautiful waterfalls, many strawberry fields, and coffee plantations along the road side.
March 7th – This morning we left . We stopped at a butterfly garden – again, it was pouring rain so the butterflies were not as active. On our way to (Caribbean side of CR) – we drove past many banana plantations.
We arrived in Tortuguero. We had to leave our big suitcases on the bus and all we could bring on the boat was a small bag with clothes for two nights. We got to Tortuguero island by boat. Our hotel was a bit rustic. In the middle of the jungle/nowhere. Only saw 2 huge roaches in our room, but outside of the room we had blue crabs crawling around, geckos, huge spiders, frogs, sloths, many butterflies, birds, iguanas, fireflies. The sounds of the howler monkeys would wake us up at 5:30 a.m. It was amazing to hear the monkeys howl and then all of nature would wake up - the birds begin to sing after the howler monkeys howl. The jungle sounds are amazing. The mosquitoes had a great time with us.
We took a boat to the Green Turtle Research Station. We walked along the and saw many empty turtle eggs. It was not turtle nesting season. We walked into the small . It was very humid and it rained a bit. Many of the people here came from and . Very interesting place.
The next morning we cruised along the . We also cruised in the late afternoon. Both cruises were along the canals but in the morning we saw different wildlife than we did in the evening. We got to see 3 types of monkeys, red frogs, bats, many different birds, lizards, caimans, turtles, and many other wildlife, On our last night at this hotel – we danced to calypso music.
The next morning we had to pack our bags and head back to the main land. We made a stop at a pineapple plantation. We learned how to pick a pineapple, how to cut it, etc. The pineapple was very sweet.
We arrived at La Fortuna – our resort was amazing. We were right below Arenal Volcano. This resort had many . I could have stayed here forever. The activity director gave me a tour of the gardens. Everything that is cooked in the kitchen is grown at the gardens and picked fresh daily. I saw the cows and pigs they use for their meat. There are fruit trees everywhere. I got to make sugar cane juice here and try many fruits that are not sold in the Monkey, frog and strange bird sounds would wake me in the a.m. I was on a search for the Toucan and kept missing it.
The next day we took the bus about a 1-1/2 hour away from our resort to go on a cruise along Rio Frio. More wildlife spotting. We got to the border.
We left our resort in La Fortuna early morning the following day - and headed toward the . We enjoyed an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the rainforest at the Hanging Bridges. We hiked 6 suspension bridges here. I saw a green snake with a blue tongue, some wild mushrooms, and beautiful birds, and I think one monkey. The weather kept most of the wildlife hidden. Poo!!! I wanted to see more snakes and spiders.
As we drove around the on our way to – we saw many Coati’s off the side of the road. Our bus driver stopped the bus and fed them a banana. was a small town but is considered to be the future capital of CR. We stopped here for some shopping, and CR ice cream. Then off to Guanacaste – the .
We arrived at Hacienda Pinilla. This hotel has the largest infinity pool in . We strolled the beautiful beach, enjoyed our Jacuzzi in the evening as we watched a beautiful fireworks show. It was very hot here. Our room was very nice and we had a nice view of the dry forest. Here too, we were woken up by beautiful monkey and bird sounds. It was very windy here. We relaxed here.
When we left this hotel we headed to Tarcoles to jump on to another river cruise. Here we spotted crocodiles and many other birds. We finally arrived back in - our last hotel.
At every lunch stop through out the trip we had dance performances – each dance was a different type of dance of CR.
We stopped at many small villages for lunch and enjoyed a lot of beautiful scenery.
On March 15th I decided to not waste any time and gathered 9 people to enjoy a city tour on a mini bus. We were able to walk the city streets and visit some food markets.
We finally arrived at the airport to come home.
I have met many beautiful people on many of my travels. The CR people are very loving, affectionate, and hospitable.
The Lord answered our prayers – my sister’s health did not hinder her vacation. She did great and said she would love to do another tour. My niece enjoyed the trip very much and has decided she would love to continue traveling. Of course, I learned to keep my mouth quite and watch God work. It was an amazing experience. In spite of my terrible cold – I enjoyed every moment of this trip. I feel so blessed to have had experienced all that I did and meet so many wonderful people on this trip.
Photos to follow.
Well, I have booked the hotel, and Lord willing, my mom and I will be in San Fransico soon. It's been about 15 or 16 years since I have been there and my mom said she has not been there since before I was born over 100 years ago. We will stop, Lord wiling, at Hearst Castle among other places along beautiful Hwy 101 in CA. She really wants to see Alcatraz.
Ohhh - I am so thankful to My Lord for giving met yet another opportunity to see His beautiful creation. I am set to go to Ireland in June!! Counting down the days. I will see a lot of Ireland incluidng Northern Ireland. Maybe I will find a pot of gold and then I can take all my Shutterfly friends on a trip!
1 month to go!!! Ireland, here I come!!
Wow!! Once again, I am being blessed!!! Well, my trip is booked, and Lord willing I will be visiting the following areas in June of 2011.
Frankfurt; Berlin; Poznan; Warsaw; Czestochowa; Auschwitz; Krakow; Budapest; Gyor; Vienna; Tabor; Prague; Pilsen; Nuremberg
Anyone have any travel/photo tips for these areas?
Wow! I can't believe July is already here. Well, I am off on my Summer trip tomorrow. Who knew - but my Lord - He had it all planned out for me. Back in Feb. I still didn't know if I would be traveling this year. Well, here I go. It's not India, nor Malaysia, nor Israel, but it's a part of the United States that I have never been to. I have heard I am in for a treat! It's supposed to be absolutely picturesque. I hope I am able to get some good pics. I am excited!
Well, by now I normally would know where I will be traveling, but this year is a bit different. I have been traveling consistently since 1991. I am excited to see where God will send me this year.