Saturday, December 6, 2014

Quick Review: September-October 2014

I'm so behind on all my pictures it's embarrassing! Well I did have a birthday in September and it was nice the friends had a little cake for me after meeting on Sunday. It was so nice to be with everyone and celebrate another year in Costa Rica. That makes 2 Costa Rican birthdays for me!




Another rain picture, because everytime it's amazing!



Rosmy & Eladio came and stayed a few days with us!


Siany was having a birthday so I decided to make a cake to celebrate :)


Kind of looks like a little kids art project but she loved it so that's all that matters!


Six years old!


Landon is her best friend!


Butterflies around here are incredible!



Shopping for paint for house projects at the local hardware store


That's what I call a good nap! She sure knows how to do it! Landon is learning from her hehe :)


Really neat central park and church


The workers had fun running through the arches


Landon's college buddy Ben and his girlfriend Shizue were in Costa Rica for a few months so we hung out for a day and went to see some waterfalls! 



These "crying" rocks are amazing!




Waterfall chairs!


We also went to the same falls with Rosmy & Eladio!


Gorilla man!



Picnic time!


On our way home one day we were in a terrible rainstorm! It was raining so hard we had to pull over. Costa Rican drivers are very respectful of the rain and most everyone was pulling over or only going 10 miles an hour. It was the most rain we have ever seen on a freeway!




Landon's cool bug he found!


Trip to Nicaragua in August


We headed to Nicaragua for a visit in August and were able to do a bit of sight seeing too! We LOVE Nicaragua and always have an adventure! 
The bus ride can be long but we took the 4:30am bus from San Jose and arrived in Rivas about 1:00 It's so cold in the buses from the A.C I thought I was going to die! Brr!!



Dragon Fruit at the grocery store.


We got off the bus in Rivas and took another bus down to the ferry that was headed to Isla Ometepe. It was a nice ride! We of course were studying a map to find a hotel. We decided to look at one called Pirates Treasure.



Once we got off the ferry we took a bus to the hotel. We accidently got off too early and had to walk about 5km! No fun with bags and rain! But we made it just fine! 



Walking, walking, walking...


We made it! Not like we would have missed the sign or anything..


Our adorable little cabina right by the water! 


Well after all that walking, the next morning we had to walk back out and trying to explore was a joke so we did what anyone would do if they want to explore and island. Rent a motorcycle! The dirt roads were so rocky it was kind of scary but luckily Landon had it all under control!



A view of the volcano.


A beautiful view of Lake Omeptepe.


We did a 3-4 hour hike up to this waterfall. It was beautiful!




The next morning as we were eating breakfast, I could see this little family fishing with their nets. I went over and started talking to them. Landon came with his camera later and they told us all about their net fishing business. It was so neat. The family was so adorable and even invited us over later that night to visit. She said her dad played guitar. We later found out once we arrived to their home that they were a family of 15! 13 kids, can you believe it! We had so much fun with them! 







The older kids gave the little one and teeny tiny fish to hold. She was so happy to have it that she even bent down and gave it a kiss! Haha! So adorable!





Enjoying a meal at a cute little restaurant along the coast of the island.


After leaving the island we headed to Niquiohomo for a Wed night bible study. It was so nice to meet the friends there! Later, Ruth and Vilma gave us a little tour around Granada!




Local taxi


The colonial style buildings are amazing!


Howler monkeys at one of the homes we stayed at. 



I got to help cook dinner in the kitchen on the wood burning stove. Talk about having black dishes and ceiling!


Sweet friends! Siblings to some others in our meeting in Costa Rica!


Little chicks under their mothers wings.


This monkey was trying to cross over to another batch of trees but needed to get down to do so and the owners dog started attacking it. They got into a horrible fight but the owner was able to break them up. Those monkeys can be aggressive! 


Love these colorful buildings!



We were eating at a restaurant when this guy walked by wearing a shirt that said Landon. And with a bear on it. Just perfect! 


We spent our remaining days in Laguna de Apoyo and just fell in love with this place. Our hotel was amazing and we took kayaks out every morning around 5:30am and just reveled in the quietness and beauty of this lake! It is a volcano crater so the water so clear and warm!





In line at the border!