Costa Rica, Part 1 July 2009 By Edson Waite Music: Born to be Alive by Patrick Hernandez

Hotel La Condesa near San Jose, Costa Rica

Atrium and dining area of La Condesa

National Theater of Costa Rica in San Jose

Pre Columbian gold at the National Museum

Pre Columbian gold at the National Museum

The President of Costa Rica, center

Botanical Gardens of the University of Costa Rica

Beautiful orchids grown at the gardens

Beautiful orchids grown at the gardens

More beautiful orchids grown at the gardens

Another beautiful tropical plant

A very large Flycatcher, ready to close on its prey

A large tree wrapped by vines

A unique flowering plant

A Bottle Brush plant

A small clothing shop along our way

We have stopped here for lunch, what a view of the valley and mountains

The coffee plantation we visited

Awesome Hydrangeas

Cindy, the Coffee plantation guide

Coffee beans

Cindy demonstrates the coffee bean drying process

Our tour guide Edgar Cortes awaits our group

A variety of Dutchman’s Pipe, I have these at home, much smaller however.

Gigantic ferns are seen everywhere, these are about 8 feet wide

These are also gigantic!

See what I mean, at least 5 feet across!

We have to climb over a recently fallen tree!

Poas Volcano

Some of our group waiting for the clouds to drift from the crater

Six of our group standing in the mist

The bus died 2/3rds of the way up hill #3. It was fatal!

We had to walk to the top, yes, it was very steep!!!

Another guest at the ticket booth along with our guide and bus driver

Ever wonder how you get into the treetops? Just walk off the edge!

Pam along a rainforest trail

Jungle, Rain Forest, whatever, dense growth for sure!

Pam & I along the trail

More jungle

Posing by a waterfall in the jungle

Fellow travelers, Kristen & Jessica

Pausing for a water break along the trail

Isn’t this unique!

Pam standing on one of the hanging bridges of the treetop walk.

High in the canopy

Pam on one of the “Hanging Bridges” of the Treetop Walk

On a hanging bridge along the Treetop Walk on Monday

A pair of moths, (About 9 inches across) procreating.

A small pit viper (poisonous) along the trail of the Treetop Walk

One very fuzzy caterpillar (about 3 inches long)

Arenal Volcano as seen from La Fortuna

The peak of Arenal Volcano shrouded in clouds

An interstate highway created by “Leaf Cutter Ants” from leaf source to hill

Hotel El Tucano in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Pam at the end near our room at El Tucano

Very hot river flowing by the hotel El Tucano (122 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit)

The “Hot” river at El Tucano

One big Iguana (about 5 feet long)

A very handsome Iguana, one of many we saw

This fellow visits daily for an ice cream cone

Several Iguana resting in a nearby tree

Our first and only sighting of a “Two Toed Sloth”

Movin’ on down the line

A tree possessed of parasitic plants

This little fellow visited us one morning by our room. (about 9 inches)

Pam among the flowers at Tilajari Resort Hotel

A small “Leaf Cutter colony”

The lower level rooms of Tilajari Resort

Just across the river from the hotel was this 9 foot crock!!!

Bird feeding time was at breakfast, one specie at a time visited the feeder it seemed

A dragonfly

These lovely little ferns would quickly close up when touched

Coming out of the jungle, one more time

Ending another adventure

End of Part 1 See Part 2 for Conclusion Presentation by Edson Waite