Home again, home again...jiggity jig!

And so this is it...the end of the adventure. We are safely back at home except for one of our suitcases and transitioning well back into our regular lives. We live in the greatest country in the world, but you won't know that until you leave it for awhile. Our return home is bittersweet and it is hard to believe that yesterday we were in another country. The house and pets were well taken care of thanks to our house sitter extraordinaire...Michelle. My first to the supermarket really put things in perspective--we are blessed with so much here and everything is clean and bright, even when we think they are not. Never take for granted the gift that is the United States, God truly has shed His grace on thee. Love, Camie

Things You Need to Know Before You Go To Costa Rica

1. If you feel like something is crawling on you it probably is. If you don't feel like something is crawling on you, it probably is!

2. Beware of fast-talking Ticos. Whether in English or Spanish, they are trying to trick you somehow.

3. Don't drink the papaya milkshakes.

4. Your feet will never be clean, no matter how hard you try.

5. Don't scratch the bites, it only makes them itch worse.

6. Electric showers do not actually make the water warm, although the exposed wiring does add a certain excitement to your bathing experience.

7. Ticos make great pizza.

8. Fried plantains...they are not just for breakfast anymore. (And it's a good thing, they are mighty tasty!)

9. If you don't like the weather, wait thirty minutes.

10. Just because a road looks nice on a map, doesn't mean it isn't a narrow, muddy dirt path.

11. Stay out of Jaco...it is just plain icky there. Don't believe the photos.

12. It is bad manners to kill a tarantula in your room. You should actually use a glass and a magazine to capture it and return it to the outdoors.

13. When someone says "gracias," do not say "de nada." Here you say "con mucho gusto."

14. Your clothes will never air dry. Just accept it and look for laundromats.

15. Roadside sodas(restaurant) have the best food and the cheapest. Don't be afraid to try them just because they are attached to someone's house or a lean-to shack.

16. Public bathrooms have no paper towels to dry your hands. You just have to shake 'em off.

17. If souvenir prices are shown in dollars, you are probably getting ripped off.

18. Foreign ATM cards do not work well at Banco Nacional machines.

19. To eat a mamon chino, ripped open the red flower part, pull out the white pulpy thing and suck it off the seed in the middle.

20. God loves Costa Rica and really outdid Himself when He created it.

No Artificial Ingredients

Nuestros Amigos de Costa Rica

I have to say, my favorite part of the trip (besides the food) has been the people we have been meeting. It seems like when you are in a foreign country, it is easier to make friends. On horseback, we have Zulai (from Venezuela) and Guillermo (from Cuba) and one more shot of Lisa and Calla of Star Mountain because Calla looks so cute in the hat.

In the yellow shirt is Oliver, our Tico guide who gave us a very comprehensive tour of Rancho Margot. The dog with Jack is Ruby, one of the only dogs in Costa Rica on a chain but a super sweetie nonetheless.

In the red shirt is Leidi, who's husband is a biologist and runs the Butterfly Conservatory in El Castillo. She is originally from Colombia. Just like Ms. Claudia! She didn't speak English but her passion for what her and her husband were doing at this place was evident in spite of that.

The kids at the table are the guides at the Serpentarium. There is one Tico, two Canadians and a girl from France. The Tico is in the picture with Keith also, along with Victor's (owner of the Snake Zoo) son. They came up to the Hummingbird to collect an anole that Keith caught. He will now be on display up at the zoo. The anole is also in the picture...he's trapped in the bag!

Our fellow guests at the Hummingbird were the two Carmens from Spain. They are attorneys on vacation here. I called them Carmen Una y Carmen Dos. Also very sweet ladies!

One of our favorite friends was Pizza John. He left the corporate world of California to live his dream in Costa Rica. He serves pizza and homemade ice cream. The best ice cream we have ever had! A special thank you for sharing his private reserve Cinnamon Raisin with us. He is a friend to his Tico neighbors and he keeps his prices low for them. A pizza, two coffees and four ice creams cost us under $8!

There is much joy in Costa Rica. Maybe it's because Jesus es el Senor! That is a sign you see around that translates to Jesus is Lord. Some towns you enter have a sign that reads "Jesus es el Senor de _______." He has also been the Lord of this trip, with us every step. Thank you all at home for your prayers and you well wishes. We miss everyone so much and just want to bring you back with us so you can experience it too. Love, Camie

"I will praise You, oh Lord, among the peoples; I will
sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth." Psalm 57:9-11

High Speed Internet = Muchos Photos!

We have arrived safely at the Marriott in San Jose and are plugged in to High Speed! You might say we have returned to civilization, the last town we were in didn't even have phone service yet. It has been said that a picture is worth a 1000 words so I will let them do the talking for this post...