tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1744813083332427822024-03-19T02:54:26.245-07:003 Brasingtons & A Van3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-71731121388276805102011-03-31T22:06:00.000-07:002013-05-05T22:07:56.323-07:00Welcome Home!<div style="text-align: center;">
We had quite the family reunion when we reached South Carolina. </div>
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The grand-mamas were eagerly awaiting our arrival.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhltWIKaw0zfg2I-42xBrvdP7WZ0KK7amIPQz5dyw_22tsWkcrR6824hXcOA06CuFxqrxBHyL3aAXX1vQdFThorG4BWuwLpnSpmA08JZ_9R_uFHCsmeidj_x22412yM8qGfnoDXhD9QrWj/s1600/DSCN0873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhltWIKaw0zfg2I-42xBrvdP7WZ0KK7amIPQz5dyw_22tsWkcrR6824hXcOA06CuFxqrxBHyL3aAXX1vQdFThorG4BWuwLpnSpmA08JZ_9R_uFHCsmeidj_x22412yM8qGfnoDXhD9QrWj/s320/DSCN0873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grana and Lala, doing what they do best.</td></tr>
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We also saw many, many more cousins.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF6VfdUwVeXOcR1Hm5GwHmwD-285Sv1nh3XGY6PgZHXJss35yNWaqWz3gOQd6xQ-XR8PFg_fml4Wm1Zamy-KRAc4Cn5fEiSHymYeO7u20qgWo4710Gf0QzNsf32KMy1HdAYTQyHn3d1dK/s1600/DSCN0879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVF6VfdUwVeXOcR1Hm5GwHmwD-285Sv1nh3XGY6PgZHXJss35yNWaqWz3gOQd6xQ-XR8PFg_fml4Wm1Zamy-KRAc4Cn5fEiSHymYeO7u20qgWo4710Gf0QzNsf32KMy1HdAYTQyHn3d1dK/s320/DSCN0879.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth and her family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla8IlIJgkhtL_Ud7tnYwS16HC47PhKsHgNn1RS1dfXQxE_WkGXYAsBpnRCpi3cpeuIv9LKljNRbEE3E43_5eeIRM0dUenqsG5Q7c9d6TlGekusf6jgHEq_Ari83d7fIe-uzAXbOd3KHQ9/s1600/DSCN0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjla8IlIJgkhtL_Ud7tnYwS16HC47PhKsHgNn1RS1dfXQxE_WkGXYAsBpnRCpi3cpeuIv9LKljNRbEE3E43_5eeIRM0dUenqsG5Q7c9d6TlGekusf6jgHEq_Ari83d7fIe-uzAXbOd3KHQ9/s320/DSCN0924.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adalaya's 1st cousins in South Carolina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf9TkeibXSsqE_YkeIE8N1GN1OwllXDy9UBQXA-LWcOOkUrGjCZ9s0ThL9Y3Gxve8yxrlNu94LcHEcuZ7IHhnP5TxTYH69cxuIPromcmXV_Kd_bOBudnWCdGfZmlYxXnoVX1L0MR-zkCf/s1600/DSCN0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQf9TkeibXSsqE_YkeIE8N1GN1OwllXDy9UBQXA-LWcOOkUrGjCZ9s0ThL9Y3Gxve8yxrlNu94LcHEcuZ7IHhnP5TxTYH69cxuIPromcmXV_Kd_bOBudnWCdGfZmlYxXnoVX1L0MR-zkCf/s320/DSCN0143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They wanted to come live in the van with us!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Rosanne threw us a "Welcome Home" party.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwuxBTDUgksaixkOiKTJBMOx4W45N4pPMxprgbZstRfDeJDRuOGsweF0IFOAbvY0sBvhxVZMN8t55alRnIYsDsf2hQ4FVaRnc5R7XfeJ6VLtNxGbBLnGpYWJBHSp_8G0OX9i1EwBLvEZR/s1600/DSCN0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwuxBTDUgksaixkOiKTJBMOx4W45N4pPMxprgbZstRfDeJDRuOGsweF0IFOAbvY0sBvhxVZMN8t55alRnIYsDsf2hQ4FVaRnc5R7XfeJ6VLtNxGbBLnGpYWJBHSp_8G0OX9i1EwBLvEZR/s320/DSCN0040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We showed folks our route on the map...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkbc5D7YrHZLCAKpAR2CwjK4oeABlZ2b_5Va7sflHGRN-x6UqKJKm0GWIM-13J4dlETuRWdjRp2ImZ8ZT6oZcDB8HX-vCfCG0WPb6wpsa3yICapEIDOz4xluBlQs3_q-2YPvIlJGKPnYm/s1600/DSCN0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkbc5D7YrHZLCAKpAR2CwjK4oeABlZ2b_5Va7sflHGRN-x6UqKJKm0GWIM-13J4dlETuRWdjRp2ImZ8ZT6oZcDB8HX-vCfCG0WPb6wpsa3yICapEIDOz4xluBlQs3_q-2YPvIlJGKPnYm/s320/DSCN0013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and showed off the patch blanket.</td></tr>
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We saw more family when we finally made it to North Carolina.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SegFt2Dfw_rxaLBgvEUJbUypBR6rz7k8J0YhQYPIW5tFkRPnaaQdnW3yegOOSuEmvEtRttEOwpsNA6872hcDKcu0Cbn9n75XxYwwXnlpwookRGRFkZO1FoyHfdTYpqNHc7YpOVeM8U0N/s1600/DSCN0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SegFt2Dfw_rxaLBgvEUJbUypBR6rz7k8J0YhQYPIW5tFkRPnaaQdnW3yegOOSuEmvEtRttEOwpsNA6872hcDKcu0Cbn9n75XxYwwXnlpwookRGRFkZO1FoyHfdTYpqNHc7YpOVeM8U0N/s320/DSCN0932.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adalaya with more 1st cousins, Collin and Peyton</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjfSYLnVjF7xXyefW9Hc-JBAjwUZU57cqd-lYz5IWS8BsOEDKjz4iZPylDhcf0acgOlvDz_CPtnKUTauvN8hCrYKHOTbK05JmfRbcnXumTLgO0-_618KkIDfcX1OrN7CX_dqqpsOUTOuh/s1600/DSCN0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjfSYLnVjF7xXyefW9Hc-JBAjwUZU57cqd-lYz5IWS8BsOEDKjz4iZPylDhcf0acgOlvDz_CPtnKUTauvN8hCrYKHOTbK05JmfRbcnXumTLgO0-_618KkIDfcX1OrN7CX_dqqpsOUTOuh/s320/DSCN0933.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">The Tipps'</td></tr>
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We made one more stop before heading back home. For my 36th birthday, I wanted to spend a few days in Hot Springs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-vU3ipOzJIhpBWH6y-XxTTITsbVuyN_u_Jgjoz_ABeCM09E3qSGtXcv0ZpKbH9_AC-bd3gULaIes8a2U68Os16lf_hkY3BDa4bAmY03B-cwr0f98o3WKf8CNMgbuq0Xgc2zEJQkTYcuj/s1600/DSCN0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-vU3ipOzJIhpBWH6y-XxTTITsbVuyN_u_Jgjoz_ABeCM09E3qSGtXcv0ZpKbH9_AC-bd3gULaIes8a2U68Os16lf_hkY3BDa4bAmY03B-cwr0f98o3WKf8CNMgbuq0Xgc2zEJQkTYcuj/s320/DSCN0935.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We invited our wonderful friends from Celo, Jason and Stephanie, to join us. It was a great way to transition back to real life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPYwTaRJ9-xQlIu270OpI4zv87SWPc87LDaxfAFpLnLYoHgsf8hYYMwJf7IzUBhPhMIDSeiibeTe4XYH8TZo9_v-P5O4fN3-jbszrs2iXBhQ1DJe66CZzpXhpHGM8S1KsZY9tmeRt4L2a/s1600/Hot+Springs+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPYwTaRJ9-xQlIu270OpI4zv87SWPc87LDaxfAFpLnLYoHgsf8hYYMwJf7IzUBhPhMIDSeiibeTe4XYH8TZo9_v-P5O4fN3-jbszrs2iXBhQ1DJe66CZzpXhpHGM8S1KsZY9tmeRt4L2a/s320/Hot+Springs+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now we're home, and although I was ready to keep traveling, George and Adalaya are very happy to be home. It was an amazing trip, and we've made memories that we will cherish forever!</div>
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In total we visited:</div>
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4 Countries</div>
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21 National Parks</div>
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Many National Monuments, Seashores, Historic Sites, and State Parks</div>
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183 Laundromats</div>
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and Countless Cousins </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eOatTRjVZVULr9yKab2IE28GLUKaXsYT8emjjSNvh28csHmwdxS0FjSrbYOnoRa-DqjEZuITBLP85J1zTXrRvA1rmLA0qAX8JN9Y3PAtUeFwXip4a_IVQKTEVrZguWTtr0ljbZcIBy2Q/s1600/DSCN0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eOatTRjVZVULr9yKab2IE28GLUKaXsYT8emjjSNvh28csHmwdxS0FjSrbYOnoRa-DqjEZuITBLP85J1zTXrRvA1rmLA0qAX8JN9Y3PAtUeFwXip4a_IVQKTEVrZguWTtr0ljbZcIBy2Q/s400/DSCN0735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Love, 3 Brasingtons & A Van</td></tr>
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<br />3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-17305784554202536182011-03-24T21:09:00.000-07:002013-05-05T21:11:45.815-07:00Homeward Bound!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Part I : Natural Wonders</span></h3>
Well, we've made record travel time (for us) over the last couple of weeks. Last summer, at the beginning of this trip, we spent nearly 3 months traveling from South Carolina to the Pacific coast of Washington, and now it has taken us a mere 2 weeks to travel from Baja, California back to the South Carolina coast. The reason for the speed is threefold: there's been cold, wet weather blasting through the entire south (which always keeps us on the move); there are the dreaded business taxes to take care of; and (most importantly) we have a date with our daughter in SC.<br />
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After leaving Baja, and essentially coming back into America after 3 1/2 months in the Spanish speaking world, we headed east into Arizona and were greeted by the increasingly present signs of modern America: neon lights and big-box stores. We dodged these obstacles as best we could, and stumbled upon a collection of signs and evidence from an earlier time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXNZ2OQ53gI9NSpwri_Bx1pSg1hlPe1237eqid4FRE27kbPbatPu00HL6FeJoSJbAm96rH3ARldyWRDmpR-HwYpEYqwWjWJG1Ri99rXZrggQfZdrYc2Mk7EaQA_4hmAlZ_rwxgapC6sg/s1600/DSCN0653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXNZ2OQ53gI9NSpwri_Bx1pSg1hlPe1237eqid4FRE27kbPbatPu00HL6FeJoSJbAm96rH3ARldyWRDmpR-HwYpEYqwWjWJG1Ri99rXZrggQfZdrYc2Mk7EaQA_4hmAlZ_rwxgapC6sg/s400/DSCN0653.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site... </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefT5ZQ77VD0Xx9hSIGxwC4PGnkBnOZ0ss3FSKi4Y41Fc7C_9BAWL2UJymyXQcj-U_ykP5fD8R7QKIBjajyXXnAiIWC0mAwTyG25h-pL3mdfcEiYE7VvyAZXPwktc-E0nCxaPp9BrI5VQ/s1600/DSCN0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefT5ZQ77VD0Xx9hSIGxwC4PGnkBnOZ0ss3FSKi4Y41Fc7C_9BAWL2UJymyXQcj-U_ykP5fD8R7QKIBjajyXXnAiIWC0mAwTyG25h-pL3mdfcEiYE7VvyAZXPwktc-E0nCxaPp9BrI5VQ/s400/DSCN0645.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">where the rocks are littered with drawings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZk0U2IsSG5hUHkV03ZzfT4MPpEE7827NseAlhadDagbua3MC_liDRBcsOSHmJajaq30J8fawrfC2HtymcL-8Uq4OTELfX-qZ9XCoDKCCJ4BRWktCRpLJNCQeVViYEnwGI8RUAZdrr_U/s1600/DSCN0761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZk0U2IsSG5hUHkV03ZzfT4MPpEE7827NseAlhadDagbua3MC_liDRBcsOSHmJajaq30J8fawrfC2HtymcL-8Uq4OTELfX-qZ9XCoDKCCJ4BRWktCRpLJNCQeVViYEnwGI8RUAZdrr_U/s400/DSCN0761.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a nice collection of Native American arrowheads and spearpoints.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5siPHyIiTOo7m9sywhxYJKP9lcWDx_O6HR6By2W6n4CyjH1ZSFfgYZswWC4-JYj_sonD1NuDiLpIdNFAtDPnWghUCOwjGggvhihzNC6PdZpzcYJk3e-YG02NBvh9dOH0adYOBVmOdbCs/s1600/DSCN0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5siPHyIiTOo7m9sywhxYJKP9lcWDx_O6HR6By2W6n4CyjH1ZSFfgYZswWC4-JYj_sonD1NuDiLpIdNFAtDPnWghUCOwjGggvhihzNC6PdZpzcYJk3e-YG02NBvh9dOH0adYOBVmOdbCs/s400/DSCN0661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The eroding ruins of Casa Grande National Historic Site.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We found ourselves in Dateland, AZ which consists of date plantations and one gas station/convenient store which also has a gift store devoted to dates. Our dinner that night consisted of nothing but dates: about a dozen different varieties that were available to sample, plus coconut covered dates, nut covered dates, and (for dessert) chocolate covered dates. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMRqiKEEOEr0TkgkJEPl8gg8GZ8BgNL-tdsff3kQjwQEyomK6YpA8PV_i92YPJ8OrP4TWUdE593GXUpEfoI35I-sGLc5VR-_k2YZ7WsCrZ_xfm31fsa-iSlU_gZTQ27b5z_n1MhKUQUE/s1600/dateland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603812496613636466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMRqiKEEOEr0TkgkJEPl8gg8GZ8BgNL-tdsff3kQjwQEyomK6YpA8PV_i92YPJ8OrP4TWUdE593GXUpEfoI35I-sGLc5VR-_k2YZ7WsCrZ_xfm31fsa-iSlU_gZTQ27b5z_n1MhKUQUE/s400/dateland.jpg" style="height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dateland - A Great "Pit-Stop"</td></tr>
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We enjoyed exploring the strange landscape of Saguaro National Park. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPKFPF3_kVqmtogCPjQPyuW8AwYoVA0cSBEc_Xjj9tLEOmvW4YICa-PqZNINgrixpsqsZMuhOob2iayHtUB1JjcbzNJywZMkuPsODowt4Uyu6LEwRaPvazaEzhfmNghgAgCCQsA0GVyA/s400/DSCN0685.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one had a lot of personality!</td></tr>
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We also explored the curious formations in Carlsbad Caverns.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9ZlTtCb9c2J2t3iLclitIt1KMP7Jw1tWnPH1oJi88ImZLJOy4BpUPQaziuuVRQuzZOn5zZJ4ICX2tepz-vvogn3SHmKs7zrlMsYTcf70b3yZxMwLJeqWsK2mnanw9MvWix9wlQfhCVg/s1600/DSCN0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9ZlTtCb9c2J2t3iLclitIt1KMP7Jw1tWnPH1oJi88ImZLJOy4BpUPQaziuuVRQuzZOn5zZJ4ICX2tepz-vvogn3SHmKs7zrlMsYTcf70b3yZxMwLJeqWsK2mnanw9MvWix9wlQfhCVg/s320/DSCN0750.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was of the female persuasion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBIiJrRi2ZsK7G-l0rxqRq8VGFhNR3Mu3WC5RchLuCxseM1ZkjDwu-146Rl5OP2sxwn3PNwRnE6GgyhAcW8yyfvZMWinwMAp9pnIGPqu7747cdBk0ZIlChgZUO_zarDeoBRemE_b5Ihg/s1600/DSCN0748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBIiJrRi2ZsK7G-l0rxqRq8VGFhNR3Mu3WC5RchLuCxseM1ZkjDwu-146Rl5OP2sxwn3PNwRnE6GgyhAcW8yyfvZMWinwMAp9pnIGPqu7747cdBk0ZIlChgZUO_zarDeoBRemE_b5Ihg/s400/DSCN0748.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While this one was distinctly male.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Part II : People </span></h3>
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We've been traveling without Adalaya for several weeks now, and our
journey has definitely taken on a different pace and flavor. We've been
driving longer hours, cooking less, and partying more. In addition to seeing the amazing
scenery, we've been
visiting some wonderful friends and family.</div>
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We spent a weekend in the "metropoasis" of Phoenix visiting my long-time friend, Katie.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXYfNQxj0WS6TQqxQtUC5Z5QW5evzuT3V8C_y06OFYfvrB0ph1h5Sxt6dZV9-5nii9L17X72RYj9j3RQhNe0p5-py5nRV2IUO7A6mLAtDZTVA8cqAEK5V9fq5s4fuJaGxQJwKFI2Ngd0/s1600/DSCN0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXYfNQxj0WS6TQqxQtUC5Z5QW5evzuT3V8C_y06OFYfvrB0ph1h5Sxt6dZV9-5nii9L17X72RYj9j3RQhNe0p5-py5nRV2IUO7A6mLAtDZTVA8cqAEK5V9fq5s4fuJaGxQJwKFI2Ngd0/s400/DSCN0659.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7UhZL5orUDXjngyFzLU4c58H8UzaLM7WlefFuBGaEavd4bU4lgh6YoqxcWG69LdslmKGvie5d9EL17eV8u204RoDhWmZJdVbKaKt_5KMtARFkk747YGz4_fOPS7eop3n0TRSv-saUzA/s1600/DSCN0655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7UhZL5orUDXjngyFzLU4c58H8UzaLM7WlefFuBGaEavd4bU4lgh6YoqxcWG69LdslmKGvie5d9EL17eV8u204RoDhWmZJdVbKaKt_5KMtARFkk747YGz4_fOPS7eop3n0TRSv-saUzA/s320/DSCN0655.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2vy57RLs4Ri2mvBQPGf4LD1i1c4y_jA411orz7UgjbGs847Ip7dQ0pDsTDvIjADh_-qr-eq1i0ofeztirk8EV4XEgkN_8XAjED50EF5FAtTf1ujyB7FWPlSMrA9jFCTvIL2X9sy3cQw/s1600/DSCN0658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2vy57RLs4Ri2mvBQPGf4LD1i1c4y_jA411orz7UgjbGs847Ip7dQ0pDsTDvIjADh_-qr-eq1i0ofeztirk8EV4XEgkN_8XAjED50EF5FAtTf1ujyB7FWPlSMrA9jFCTvIL2X9sy3cQw/s200/DSCN0658.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor George!</td></tr>
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She and her boyfriend took us out to several of their favorite places
to eat and drink, including their local bar, Dos Amigos. George got a
little (or maybe a lot) looped one night, and had his first experience
of the not-so-fun after-effects of excess alcohol. Check that one off
the life-list! <br />
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With that experience behind him, George was primed for more partying as we continued our journey east.<br />
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Next we visited our friends, Pace and Laura, in Austin, Texas. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6FKvMBnaLY0OAGZv99GZ2uDdBHfxJRnfA6WofMj8npXCrdRNqFAO4lpkYbT7reH0J_9dIzau9HrgOK3AmZFOrCazJiR6pzHcmcB9B6gcFb5ybx52YPZANnapk5ZhdsKSFJNZDsWWU4A/s1600/DSCN0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6FKvMBnaLY0OAGZv99GZ2uDdBHfxJRnfA6WofMj8npXCrdRNqFAO4lpkYbT7reH0J_9dIzau9HrgOK3AmZFOrCazJiR6pzHcmcB9B6gcFb5ybx52YPZANnapk5ZhdsKSFJNZDsWWU4A/s320/DSCN0778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We biked downtown to check out 6th Street (Austin's Bourbon Street) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to get a little dinner.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsbF0oUCuXFEMZztk6xqLtF4FhwlxaibH3B9UvZ5whZxJhFfj2PxT0xFej3mI4JmjDCryYc0gafB5cY4lWlGJCxEe1yuLGQKRQxhm_AbLw5aQFoIYSO7bQasNze8nOwqpTieMpmbg0sE/s1600/DSCN0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsbF0oUCuXFEMZztk6xqLtF4FhwlxaibH3B9UvZ5whZxJhFfj2PxT0xFej3mI4JmjDCryYc0gafB5cY4lWlGJCxEe1yuLGQKRQxhm_AbLw5aQFoIYSO7bQasNze8nOwqpTieMpmbg0sE/s320/DSCN0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Korean BBQ Tacos - Yum!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
The mayhem of 6th Street was good preparation for our next stop: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
New Orleans during Mardi Gras - debauchery on a grand scale!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2h0CyMVOHaB-yb8tLWD_9EPyars2OlBQueuiF4a1_1za66Z1DDGfTKTH5mWY0kbJhAnpbfOzngA9GVNXNP1cKTJzg_O5Y17S2D7-zLVZxKNOPdVLPK11GkwGO8hp80T3_Zc6nkn37DI/s1600/DSCN0792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2h0CyMVOHaB-yb8tLWD_9EPyars2OlBQueuiF4a1_1za66Z1DDGfTKTH5mWY0kbJhAnpbfOzngA9GVNXNP1cKTJzg_O5Y17S2D7-zLVZxKNOPdVLPK11GkwGO8hp80T3_Zc6nkn37DI/s320/DSCN0792.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bourbon Street was full of bead throwing maniacs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DMvdl2PGeaoZcfjKPD2F5AisCWDqNgmHxykVyeeTRBdYmrQSuVxN3F7HZhEeOfVczRtfoN7ZrxOlVtNkal26kQas0E11c3uD8hhH9seiNIixXUsQaLJb7vXIudzYImxB3k-_64-bcK8/s1600/DSCN0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DMvdl2PGeaoZcfjKPD2F5AisCWDqNgmHxykVyeeTRBdYmrQSuVxN3F7HZhEeOfVczRtfoN7ZrxOlVtNkal26kQas0E11c3uD8hhH9seiNIixXUsQaLJb7vXIudzYImxB3k-_64-bcK8/s320/DSCN0786.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some locals </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivj435ak7tvnkfu1Rjl3uxRzI2_0yF17ypBNTMCiHhl4Ve0hs0dBL-w4m9K0s7Uyb1TSI3tDbzopAVEkVuZBT9A2YV9ECOHmqFKCSUkYdaOOCr2YJjkuC3IJNQAPYr8-6XWq8mB2eNxY/s1600/DSCN0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivj435ak7tvnkfu1Rjl3uxRzI2_0yF17ypBNTMCiHhl4Ve0hs0dBL-w4m9K0s7Uyb1TSI3tDbzopAVEkVuZBT9A2YV9ECOHmqFKCSUkYdaOOCr2YJjkuC3IJNQAPYr8-6XWq8mB2eNxY/s320/DSCN0794.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who's that hemp-head?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UqYMfpR93M6kcyspeR13eqk1N8oIMLbyTSR_w_Wyfbyum4lTzPI-S36xUxmA8r26HXuxWp6l9vv2JAxKneQgs3_7mJj1IT76ovijFoG53oin9rEV93kQCEd9_q1DghUYaK-P6Smgb7I/s1600/DSCN0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UqYMfpR93M6kcyspeR13eqk1N8oIMLbyTSR_w_Wyfbyum4lTzPI-S36xUxmA8r26HXuxWp6l9vv2JAxKneQgs3_7mJj1IT76ovijFoG53oin9rEV93kQCEd9_q1DghUYaK-P6Smgb7I/s320/DSCN0813.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my favorite of the official parades.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplIR5rJvw7zqKOLWlBp4RE-u3JDaYmp9EjYjfRBWlfX_NpxAsGhhDI9XxATmaRtpHycIaVx_pz-B6DhmCFuj9T8HZAnQScR48AMBMiXqpT041vE7ybcpD7Pnbvj4HOB05-7_ANpzXMxw/s1600/DSCN0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplIR5rJvw7zqKOLWlBp4RE-u3JDaYmp9EjYjfRBWlfX_NpxAsGhhDI9XxATmaRtpHycIaVx_pz-B6DhmCFuj9T8HZAnQScR48AMBMiXqpT041vE7ybcpD7Pnbvj4HOB05-7_ANpzXMxw/s320/DSCN0836.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With cousins Eliza and Benh before the unofficial parade.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FGv21Obl3liBGtMes2mvSp7IjkpsVc3A-5u81DNGVS1-oYC4ImG7TqGFes8VX0ePGyUpJ3876CR70ZDpuelfq-7yxf9mcti4muJYj9M1N8qNJlCblBmbRBDHbtxKWEWKJmni9pITWq8/s1600/DSCN0827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6FGv21Obl3liBGtMes2mvSp7IjkpsVc3A-5u81DNGVS1-oYC4ImG7TqGFes8VX0ePGyUpJ3876CR70ZDpuelfq-7yxf9mcti4muJYj9M1N8qNJlCblBmbRBDHbtxKWEWKJmni9pITWq8/s320/DSCN0827.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The secret parade got pretty wild!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Next we stopped in Athens, GA where we saw our friend, Robert Tate.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXtRPwnoo3mJWhCJOUZeWse-aU1h2oSb_ubev4ZvhfJmgS-KdkHJbInewFnR0SqA40smKDnRnvOZet3i_cGEVO6GRAu5c5evgCrn4TMenreJWImEEBLfa-DGNRk3XnUni3K-NtYYv3Z4/s1600/DSCN0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXtRPwnoo3mJWhCJOUZeWse-aU1h2oSb_ubev4ZvhfJmgS-KdkHJbInewFnR0SqA40smKDnRnvOZet3i_cGEVO6GRAu5c5evgCrn4TMenreJWImEEBLfa-DGNRk3XnUni3K-NtYYv3Z4/s320/DSCN0846.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talkin' trash and eating tasty tacos.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c;">Part III : The Last Day </span></h3>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just a few hours from our final destination, we blew a tire! It was our first and only flat tire during the whole trip.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZXF1GKRQRgMzu-Z3D28sv_QJiOyA4EzVS4jjpecvzUQA-Ty74o4Zt6QuXlTodwi5d-vDW1xzp7suLPiTEAoo-pqMZM7OhIhHYmS0BTmeQFfoqK0ypal6YysgcnkuDtydMCkI1I4vwCU/s1600/DSCN0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZXF1GKRQRgMzu-Z3D28sv_QJiOyA4EzVS4jjpecvzUQA-Ty74o4Zt6QuXlTodwi5d-vDW1xzp7suLPiTEAoo-pqMZM7OhIhHYmS0BTmeQFfoqK0ypal6YysgcnkuDtydMCkI1I4vwCU/s320/DSCN0856.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first flat tire on our last day.</td></tr>
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We crossed the bridge over the South Carolina inland waterway at sunset. It felt like a miracle to be back on the east coast, exactly where we had started from 10 months earlier!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHgpKqJOUM-PIspgHBdFLd889SuKrGUzWUVT-q1mqhojrVoY47LJAHjvdSKBQ2xVUZ-9-Ytp1iDb7-0BUgEqIj0VkE0dp-tya57nPvK_RA4vNMTojMzD5VTEvFsiKXJoW-3_V0TrwmqE/s1600/DSCN0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHgpKqJOUM-PIspgHBdFLd889SuKrGUzWUVT-q1mqhojrVoY47LJAHjvdSKBQ2xVUZ-9-Ytp1iDb7-0BUgEqIj0VkE0dp-tya57nPvK_RA4vNMTojMzD5VTEvFsiKXJoW-3_V0TrwmqE/s320/DSCN0859.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It feels wonderful to be a family again!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjwrOr84pbCWttxCoB3tQhBB89AMwGxqQq3iqmpq1d1RzjIw8YpeKN846_bWz5YubOMXN86LLVS3DSsRm2m3wXGTP_iTH4MaMWHlpxfFNJFcJtGoxf_bOYQRjbzMjY1Y_l8b2FEx9H3w/s1600/DSCN0876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjwrOr84pbCWttxCoB3tQhBB89AMwGxqQq3iqmpq1d1RzjIw8YpeKN846_bWz5YubOMXN86LLVS3DSsRm2m3wXGTP_iTH4MaMWHlpxfFNJFcJtGoxf_bOYQRjbzMjY1Y_l8b2FEx9H3w/s400/DSCN0876.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 Brasingtons - Together Again!</td></tr>
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3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0Litchfield Beach, South Carolina 29585, USA33.4693199 -79.0956631000000247.9472854000000019 -120.40425710000002 58.991354400000006 -37.787069100000025tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-87945881296375081652011-02-26T17:43:00.000-08:002013-05-05T21:13:24.686-07:00Baja, More Than Just Whales(Warning: this post is long and rambling with no focused direction; kind of like our road-trip.)<br />
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Although our whale adventure was the reason we came to Baja, we have thoroughly enjoyed many other aspects of this part of Mexico. We've spent a total of 2 weeks exploring this peninsula, and it's been so nice to use the Spanish that we learned in Costa Rica. Everyone here has been very friendly, and we've made several new friends.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6Mo8CSBI0YoxG8PCcZ5EQgMFROZI46H9rzoeyExrsPITfIiFPkXXbM3qPXbGB87rxcGkRWy3tDSKyHw01XO65f021SXOtT0pYR3Z92JIMcPcUr_Tb30LqNs91xd_ZnUJLxbMHcTEoRo/s1600/DSCN0225.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580046704917687282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6Mo8CSBI0YoxG8PCcZ5EQgMFROZI46H9rzoeyExrsPITfIiFPkXXbM3qPXbGB87rxcGkRWy3tDSKyHw01XO65f021SXOtT0pYR3Z92JIMcPcUr_Tb30LqNs91xd_ZnUJLxbMHcTEoRo/s400/DSCN0225.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Even though everyone said to avoid border-towns such as Tijuana, we crossed the border there on I-5 and (besides a little construction traffic) made it to Ensenada safely and quickly for our first night in Mexico. Here's George watching our first sunset in Mexico.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1vQFLektg160np0D0lIBXUW7huO_6d-L6EgAUvcPHvt10sSTCpPTyEdt8ZC1jVn4_8xV4OeyoIQyt75P0JC3mBh4TZ_c8q3pcZJovFr4Duzm_-lqy1Fh79mhug8IB2VDq2OsQXpSxb8/s1600/DSCN0226.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580046712747051250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1vQFLektg160np0D0lIBXUW7huO_6d-L6EgAUvcPHvt10sSTCpPTyEdt8ZC1jVn4_8xV4OeyoIQyt75P0JC3mBh4TZ_c8q3pcZJovFr4Duzm_-lqy1Fh79mhug8IB2VDq2OsQXpSxb8/s400/DSCN0226.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 281px;" /></a><br />
We met a nice couple, Don and Kim, who have been traveling in their rig all over the world. Among other adventures, they have driven to the tip of South America and written a book about it. They gave us lots of tips about Baja, and inspired me to do more traveling in Central and South America. They also used to own a laundromat in Arizona, and even though they sent their computer boards to our major competitor, we still had a great time talking to them.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ExNNABh3aQVjTnQ-UkkoH_knkdKpGnowPUlaA759p4S0kFambH4i2ruV_YURbqqu_LFmA0esnvpXSiuS9xwpdjENjO-u0mpYb17jCPDcZVUfZEJstizLEicHc3z3KEfgUyX9Fh3AlIE/s1600/DSCN0228.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580046706765882466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ExNNABh3aQVjTnQ-UkkoH_knkdKpGnowPUlaA759p4S0kFambH4i2ruV_YURbqqu_LFmA0esnvpXSiuS9xwpdjENjO-u0mpYb17jCPDcZVUfZEJstizLEicHc3z3KEfgUyX9Fh3AlIE/s400/DSCN0228.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
They also recommended that we hit the Ensenada Fish Market, which we did the next morning.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw6YuxkVfvA4enwXEqu6ZhqcmoqnZ3uIxW8Sl3R-2XmHea5wfWyJK-rJCIHlRGfbrk4SjWmwFYszCFfsrIo8Exc9r6o5vfJq33A7MKBgmcYZl4cUYOTBTbrMpeZ1nLx5NuMlvRGdYQRE/s1600/DSCN0233.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580047795920187026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw6YuxkVfvA4enwXEqu6ZhqcmoqnZ3uIxW8Sl3R-2XmHea5wfWyJK-rJCIHlRGfbrk4SjWmwFYszCFfsrIo8Exc9r6o5vfJq33A7MKBgmcYZl4cUYOTBTbrMpeZ1nLx5NuMlvRGdYQRE/s400/DSCN0233.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIDt6WddhkUdr9-eO2Ba6AguwPdnZKnn78VDciiB8-1HFyFbKSky93s-QzucsSScqlvnTNhXdSj4nsHNUPcSRsJ9aippCRiEk9sEV1Nnwakkr3x8MkE_d2KF4pODZNf7wuDlOvhqNQZw/s1600/DSCN0229.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580047781544352930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIDt6WddhkUdr9-eO2Ba6AguwPdnZKnn78VDciiB8-1HFyFbKSky93s-QzucsSScqlvnTNhXdSj4nsHNUPcSRsJ9aippCRiEk9sEV1Nnwakkr3x8MkE_d2KF4pODZNf7wuDlOvhqNQZw/s400/DSCN0229.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 399px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH79dFlHS7VI1yrIrHKy75c3QLWddb-NOC7SnqKLpqxzcKU-fh3DPuHZHD2nPn__f6oN4ZaX4cVBGwGcxvC5dpE7HYgF-uTwyHkr50AZ-EAAQjH7yvwO9wtBYUMe_2zodC9mE8OCZCr4/s1600/DSCN0230.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580047788131054098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRH79dFlHS7VI1yrIrHKy75c3QLWddb-NOC7SnqKLpqxzcKU-fh3DPuHZHD2nPn__f6oN4ZaX4cVBGwGcxvC5dpE7HYgF-uTwyHkr50AZ-EAAQjH7yvwO9wtBYUMe_2zodC9mE8OCZCr4/s400/DSCN0230.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We decided to get breakfast at a nearby taco stand, and there were many to choose from. This one had a beautiful display of hot sauces, and we were sold.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoP0smU5x4g_lVIQ-8HMfd3vkeY3POrQXm6nB_lEG3Ylj7-lAPmDY2eTzuHED83DEGG8awTMrzxr8vF8GRlQeINjg6GLXpumsJCauEPH4A0KNkb_fjCMTAtw8E0fhsPfoodzy84RnMV4/s1600/DSCN0237.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580048643015189746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoP0smU5x4g_lVIQ-8HMfd3vkeY3POrQXm6nB_lEG3Ylj7-lAPmDY2eTzuHED83DEGG8awTMrzxr8vF8GRlQeINjg6GLXpumsJCauEPH4A0KNkb_fjCMTAtw8E0fhsPfoodzy84RnMV4/s400/DSCN0237.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
You know you're in Mexico when you're having fish tacos with a selection of 4 different hot sauces at 9 in the morning! Yum!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhap8x4YUmixjzo-6qSISOUtuUcR7w3yQPusZ_xf5gP-yh0Z7MZDWD5yMg5VwrfiFWgT35h2P-xWkUibfUK52VyT5hG2qhj0_oTVgMRC1L17BV8ENa1tX603sE56FNpZ1AD6d4jzomsY/s1600/DSCN0240.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580048649241245986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhap8x4YUmixjzo-6qSISOUtuUcR7w3yQPusZ_xf5gP-yh0Z7MZDWD5yMg5VwrfiFWgT35h2P-xWkUibfUK52VyT5hG2qhj0_oTVgMRC1L17BV8ENa1tX603sE56FNpZ1AD6d4jzomsY/s400/DSCN0240.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 306px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Besides whale-watching, we had several other adventures while visiting Heather and Michael in Loreto, Baja Sur. We would stop at beautiful beaches like these to have lunch when we were on the water.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOOdbFHGHRnS6BmBHiq58XNoKi9Ao7WXH0i1cmARW2i_35Wz9KfgF8Xm9bniSpxaDG2_pEHfmdW6h4OUKff_EK0VOUTTua3nnO8Fs9qYxRIwRKYWL_CssRxudxFd71g5eZjaFZVWzbrY/s1600/DSC_0606.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580050286603176018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOOdbFHGHRnS6BmBHiq58XNoKi9Ao7WXH0i1cmARW2i_35Wz9KfgF8Xm9bniSpxaDG2_pEHfmdW6h4OUKff_EK0VOUTTua3nnO8Fs9qYxRIwRKYWL_CssRxudxFd71g5eZjaFZVWzbrY/s400/DSC_0606.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX3QNjHJvSle4TCing9aHZyZh8ooWHxTg8-seXjpmXe1GCri5t4LgDFU4_xZrXk8Qv-E2tgQ7ZHnt6UDSwAwo0pg9r_b13YemZ7pgPsV4F1w_0zXmso5AL5YPcIK-zoDuN6T-D1uUSdU/s1600/DSCN0359.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580050275379772658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX3QNjHJvSle4TCing9aHZyZh8ooWHxTg8-seXjpmXe1GCri5t4LgDFU4_xZrXk8Qv-E2tgQ7ZHnt6UDSwAwo0pg9r_b13YemZ7pgPsV4F1w_0zXmso5AL5YPcIK-zoDuN6T-D1uUSdU/s400/DSCN0359.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Here's George snorkeling in the cold, clear water that's so rich with life. There was so much krill in the water, that I felt like I was swimming through a cloud of tiny shrimp. No wonder the whales love it here.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDmLed-Nb99F7eO9KeKINlxupaFz6y1JKJqOc61PUJwXdaD4Izvli5Ycz9OQloMpU4jL5TISe8ARCXUsyMAbFFET1pxS6IQnlNWjiEcFQuMwV5PHNCpPvqgCy8jiX_xAwGRUz-UtbUoI/s1600/DSCN0360.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580052621659847970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDmLed-Nb99F7eO9KeKINlxupaFz6y1JKJqOc61PUJwXdaD4Izvli5Ycz9OQloMpU4jL5TISe8ARCXUsyMAbFFET1pxS6IQnlNWjiEcFQuMwV5PHNCpPvqgCy8jiX_xAwGRUz-UtbUoI/s400/DSCN0360.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Loreto is also the home of the first Catholic Mission on the Baja peninsula. It marks the beginning of the historic <span style="font-style: italic;">El Camino Real</span>, the path of Catholic expansion and missions which extended into California as far north as San Francisco in the 1700's.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-d_WNsNy5oeSuFXSIRU_bbkhr5oLpmGfgGLl6OVZU4x_jqPykDJ0gEOLLUZspXvz32O_7ZaMweShq9NgyjpmFlFYGB2zTyVrNmI6WncDXSo6xrkIRFPLTDi_SEmwINxj-JxqhBdphLA/s1600/DSCN0505.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580052623755754370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-d_WNsNy5oeSuFXSIRU_bbkhr5oLpmGfgGLl6OVZU4x_jqPykDJ0gEOLLUZspXvz32O_7ZaMweShq9NgyjpmFlFYGB2zTyVrNmI6WncDXSo6xrkIRFPLTDi_SEmwINxj-JxqhBdphLA/s400/DSCN0505.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Throughout our travels in California, we kept crossing the <span style="font-style: italic;">El Camino Real</span> and had <a href="http://3brasingtonsandvan.blogspot.com/2010/10/crusin-central-california.html">visited the Mission of Santa Barbara</a>, so it was interesting to come to the beginning of this historical route of religious conquest.<br />
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"The Head and Mother of the Missions" was built in Loreto in 1697, and still stands strong as the center of this beautiful Mexican town.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow01iGLPOi3kI8KDeCHRbYozKGH0t59kd-WLw8uT-alPb0o0MC1vj-9GaaZYJqwjBzZdK9yeCMfkaBMCuu61X0u1TygM5kCYX6h2Kg0JsSa2JEF2T3A_L0eHsDHzpDZFk7RcA3WQc-rA/s1600/DSCN0503.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580054631992373378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiow01iGLPOi3kI8KDeCHRbYozKGH0t59kd-WLw8uT-alPb0o0MC1vj-9GaaZYJqwjBzZdK9yeCMfkaBMCuu61X0u1TygM5kCYX6h2Kg0JsSa2JEF2T3A_L0eHsDHzpDZFk7RcA3WQc-rA/s400/DSCN0503.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Heather and Michael took us up into the mountains to the small isolated village of San Javier, where the 2nd mission in Baja was built.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepBdxoFNkga5rgWfLfFgZm1pT-x5oLp_-lFwbdsEaA0wk1Sv1yKcO_ivjoxrnGM4AKYRk0pzd_i6V7-_V4fYBe0wilEV1_Tz_qrErJvI2HjV_gvUzzyNb_X7cHAmL26RyF14Vob9USTc/s1600/DSCN0384.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580052639691152818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepBdxoFNkga5rgWfLfFgZm1pT-x5oLp_-lFwbdsEaA0wk1Sv1yKcO_ivjoxrnGM4AKYRk0pzd_i6V7-_V4fYBe0wilEV1_Tz_qrErJvI2HjV_gvUzzyNb_X7cHAmL26RyF14Vob9USTc/s400/DSCN0384.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVj9M8-WnUp_YNxRmfLPHSzlt4PdbejwIhOaOGAJLvSbibse_jPXvbMNhTMDYhppQIczVkrjtqVHhcpQkUmjNtOGrAiKbMMH74-snPgD6VYELlqsGUCgyzdpjYevv59gFkjnLRZmnRug/s1600/DSCN0386.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580054616710618562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVj9M8-WnUp_YNxRmfLPHSzlt4PdbejwIhOaOGAJLvSbibse_jPXvbMNhTMDYhppQIczVkrjtqVHhcpQkUmjNtOGrAiKbMMH74-snPgD6VYELlqsGUCgyzdpjYevv59gFkjnLRZmnRug/s400/DSCN0386.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
San Javier is located along an oasis, and there are fields and fruit trees growing around the mission.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKc1QlDg-Nka7dl3Hy4oHj_V1ihmOaMFpKUUjTmOz1IKCP7BCzaQHCnAkG_CoV1xiDXSTeP19KG7jCBDxUXtflRHKM85otySIxdLn_sqZE2sSUp_5-xhAkFtq-Z9VWCMHjm6MikUx-xY/s1600/DSCN0396.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580056070056869842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKc1QlDg-Nka7dl3Hy4oHj_V1ihmOaMFpKUUjTmOz1IKCP7BCzaQHCnAkG_CoV1xiDXSTeP19KG7jCBDxUXtflRHKM85otySIxdLn_sqZE2sSUp_5-xhAkFtq-Z9VWCMHjm6MikUx-xY/s400/DSCN0396.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
There is a magical, twisted, old olive tree which grows behind the mission. It was planted here originally when the missionaries first came to this area, over 300 years ago. Gaelan loved playing in it's limbs!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgfZ_K4PgWM5yNa-haYMgq9WvqMmJ3LCvnq-Gg6hJbU5hLO8a22IKvhOgt0gR_R8q8s493iHSeMbsOC-h2b5DM6ffl_agCzr8NCOZ9oJIP3FBMEzoBIvLKv14BJfsjnDR2l3dK5y5IN4/s1600/DSC_0427.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580056064731940354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgfZ_K4PgWM5yNa-haYMgq9WvqMmJ3LCvnq-Gg6hJbU5hLO8a22IKvhOgt0gR_R8q8s493iHSeMbsOC-h2b5DM6ffl_agCzr8NCOZ9oJIP3FBMEzoBIvLKv14BJfsjnDR2l3dK5y5IN4/s400/DSC_0427.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 267px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We took a beautiful hike which followed the oasis and meandered through an old orchard of citrus trees and grape vines. Here's a perfectly ripe bergamot orange.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4mLXJvUFH4GA-2q_aXiEtJZ7qcckDd4e-0gVdWInppg9toBM-pusWortkVWx-P8lJkNa_U_gL7d0dOTbAJ7UlxnfuLZIWeZ9Jz0HqXz1MTKRLNYYqB9tjlpm4rDxj1_q6dDeYxR4fxw/s1600/DSCN0416.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580056077595535506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4mLXJvUFH4GA-2q_aXiEtJZ7qcckDd4e-0gVdWInppg9toBM-pusWortkVWx-P8lJkNa_U_gL7d0dOTbAJ7UlxnfuLZIWeZ9Jz0HqXz1MTKRLNYYqB9tjlpm4rDxj1_q6dDeYxR4fxw/s400/DSCN0416.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
This is a species of fig tree that is endemic to Baja. These trees cling to the rocks with their entangled roots.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Oprt0vGo6IC-Bj5-cInlYnO-DECljG2bh7lXkfw2ewGG9FmTomg_l8mq8FE_MBx0rtflelmwhV0cAlRzl5k6fdCYH1PjHQX471t-ohoxvhfKcN4vmDdIEdSKQl5bEiVxqzPbzFBQeGc/s1600/DSCN0425.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580061243728371298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Oprt0vGo6IC-Bj5-cInlYnO-DECljG2bh7lXkfw2ewGG9FmTomg_l8mq8FE_MBx0rtflelmwhV0cAlRzl5k6fdCYH1PjHQX471t-ohoxvhfKcN4vmDdIEdSKQl5bEiVxqzPbzFBQeGc/s400/DSCN0425.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Here's a few other photos from that hike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj2qWuWREwr8YG4WWsQRfm6ThrXnp2Nbx6R0fvLb0S1m_INupU0Ra7RyfUVgSISHGga7qK0B_4IrOJsUbigo2c2BfUDAULL9LK38gZ66NJIzqvNG1Bvu0ivtcWu23bicPtTzC3NEHMh0/s1600/DSCN0435.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580060888471006386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRj2qWuWREwr8YG4WWsQRfm6ThrXnp2Nbx6R0fvLb0S1m_INupU0Ra7RyfUVgSISHGga7qK0B_4IrOJsUbigo2c2BfUDAULL9LK38gZ66NJIzqvNG1Bvu0ivtcWu23bicPtTzC3NEHMh0/s400/DSCN0435.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqVzKUknizbmaWfUgjITwptAxLMg4hfY95tydVXd0YLZ6fzaicPNWKcYfPmMUH7jhQUSChCnnYhcqKLRvYshcFJUf6iJ-CtLi-nYjNuH217aky_uJi8TOG-jnjqbDOYmDhJ6ykkcld_g/s1600/DSCN0437.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580062847146942946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqVzKUknizbmaWfUgjITwptAxLMg4hfY95tydVXd0YLZ6fzaicPNWKcYfPmMUH7jhQUSChCnnYhcqKLRvYshcFJUf6iJ-CtLi-nYjNuH217aky_uJi8TOG-jnjqbDOYmDhJ6ykkcld_g/s400/DSCN0437.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 400px; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
We visited another oasis-mission town on our journey back north. We camped beside this beautiful oasis in San Ignacio for one night and enjoyed the water-birds during the day and the frogs at night. An oasis is such a gem in the middle of the desert.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo8PGjFu2oBvz4xPp39TL-ZGIUWddMwG0a2eMaIHYe6MxV_e9SKRa_7gHUNEutD0q9i46P7HKTvnZarzenX5dow9luBcqFE3Dd_FebY2sFMWIOdvL_4rl2p4P2zaNrySRK4IPl18ChEQ/s1600/DSCN0521.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580063815915434066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVo8PGjFu2oBvz4xPp39TL-ZGIUWddMwG0a2eMaIHYe6MxV_e9SKRa_7gHUNEutD0q9i46P7HKTvnZarzenX5dow9luBcqFE3Dd_FebY2sFMWIOdvL_4rl2p4P2zaNrySRK4IPl18ChEQ/s400/DSCN0521.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Ixf84pMlc0olto0fXkL2oi4oJpLwmCL19CMQXgrk40Ul-kA8NMc30Dfhigo51SBdEpmLxT8Oe4Af_w7OBlfLpAboCskg8qLxLGpDNjUScjJaSuzg6ki87sFvuHCo_Yy-Rj_B5Q6C4o/s1600/DSCN0519.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580067609646168962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge6Ixf84pMlc0olto0fXkL2oi4oJpLwmCL19CMQXgrk40Ul-kA8NMc30Dfhigo51SBdEpmLxT8Oe4Af_w7OBlfLpAboCskg8qLxLGpDNjUScjJaSuzg6ki87sFvuHCo_Yy-Rj_B5Q6C4o/s400/DSCN0519.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Here is the San Ignacio Mission. The missions get more ornate as the missionaries moved north.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i7SSYnI0UwpS2AlrNpbi1BLI9gnnCPy58JKr1U2p5BOkq3Kr9LLVhrlQpIIADOqa-x42DhpzNutthp2MS9QDsPX38yuP40uIXsyhpFQdINf1_lnrTtFdLhXx1W7seh5CehJhxsvtQDM/s1600/DSCN0514.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580054623054628802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1i7SSYnI0UwpS2AlrNpbi1BLI9gnnCPy58JKr1U2p5BOkq3Kr9LLVhrlQpIIADOqa-x42DhpzNutthp2MS9QDsPX38yuP40uIXsyhpFQdINf1_lnrTtFdLhXx1W7seh5CehJhxsvtQDM/s400/DSCN0514.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Baja has a salt factory around Guerro Negro, and we drove through the saltworks on the way to the lagoon where we watched the <a href="http://3brasingtonsandvan.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html">gray whales</a>. Here's a few of the "salt fields".<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BJGbN6ORTRrpYjq0j4ln72PTsDgRGd5_GcW4u8MeHufxVc4sskx1apnnGx49uNtfH0HpIyjpjHZO-7Emnw_nnIgHm21NKFbjKefS7OuDuHLez6KcsETfXAWswTsXPN92co8IeAIQ3YI/s1600/DSCN0525.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580067307267862498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BJGbN6ORTRrpYjq0j4ln72PTsDgRGd5_GcW4u8MeHufxVc4sskx1apnnGx49uNtfH0HpIyjpjHZO-7Emnw_nnIgHm21NKFbjKefS7OuDuHLez6KcsETfXAWswTsXPN92co8IeAIQ3YI/s400/DSCN0525.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMRpSKtzPtV8gYtVel6Aqejahs1xPx7Fv-1-mxw8J987MbdLiDROjpX3oWMeC4RrAIBKZx238h5SA6Ud9g5piwwiP3hNDpEczGRsckJXY78l5SjnFv6TEHuiL2Kaf6vDLtrv7jguefSc/s1600/DSCN0528.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580067301341157250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMRpSKtzPtV8gYtVel6Aqejahs1xPx7Fv-1-mxw8J987MbdLiDROjpX3oWMeC4RrAIBKZx238h5SA6Ud9g5piwwiP3hNDpEczGRsckJXY78l5SjnFv6TEHuiL2Kaf6vDLtrv7jguefSc/s400/DSCN0528.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We came upon this tarantula nearby, as well.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOF2K_rGV4J5NIj_19aFLCWbnwXSwg5e5aGDkH4hzPYnhvlxVgX0291vj7gTpaztgDbBxMHzlZJcLMJO8Jd_uOdvvWHYEAvinefx7jj_F0vsDbvX1zYQLfM3cALWFcoathLueoXMsiiU/s1600/DSCN0530.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580067310660663602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsOF2K_rGV4J5NIj_19aFLCWbnwXSwg5e5aGDkH4hzPYnhvlxVgX0291vj7gTpaztgDbBxMHzlZJcLMJO8Jd_uOdvvWHYEAvinefx7jj_F0vsDbvX1zYQLfM3cALWFcoathLueoXMsiiU/s400/DSCN0530.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Our adventures continued as we headed north. We cut across the width of the peninsula via a very long and rough sand road.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4Y229-SVaOlIjb4WbjqUfqSqhlth7KNJlQD1FF1FpRaYjuOnAj4-gQGoxaqQqyvXAPvjHYnVHiGCsYvdIlleZvaAGmH04gr2fcI6ZkB74lgMoJu8e7auHPsDuWq0PB1H1ONhwSM5vUM/s1600/DSCN0618.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580071076931395090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4Y229-SVaOlIjb4WbjqUfqSqhlth7KNJlQD1FF1FpRaYjuOnAj4-gQGoxaqQqyvXAPvjHYnVHiGCsYvdIlleZvaAGmH04gr2fcI6ZkB74lgMoJu8e7auHPsDuWq0PB1H1ONhwSM5vUM/s400/DSCN0618.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We passed by "Coco's Corner", home of Coco who was unfortunately in the hospital when we passed by. It is a favorite stop for the Baja 1000 racers. We signed the guest book and were offered our choice of either Coca-cola or a can of beer. George got a beer, which seems to be the best seller, judging by the decor of hundreds of beer cans which surround this place and make up the "Coco's Corner" sign.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6nS7NgIE1bT7wXLkLjeJicApnI7ul5OEsSZ-RrELaeHH_X0K9026j45H0ixZNbteVMrlb_GN9_kPim5DLX5XNkjYooq_8vwUv3dRm0EJv_JmeckwMiaApMKMQ6Kg4jKz-OJOXmlPc9I/s1600/DSCN0616.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580071104613476610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6nS7NgIE1bT7wXLkLjeJicApnI7ul5OEsSZ-RrELaeHH_X0K9026j45H0ixZNbteVMrlb_GN9_kPim5DLX5XNkjYooq_8vwUv3dRm0EJv_JmeckwMiaApMKMQ6Kg4jKz-OJOXmlPc9I/s400/DSCN0616.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Our next destination was Gonzaga Bay, on the Sea of Cortez in Northern Baja.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiXxIuS04XDQRDdXdGepFaa6UJJyhdrpkRPUsKY2Y-mjoMA6A8Qn9h9EGHeYea-96Y3zXzIMkKSPTtrjtC_GwSdgJMNsXzhAVKaFanXkU714UL7WGeXTWo5GJGN97xofhSl-mQCGaGQg/s1600/DSCN0622.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580081349695613682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPiXxIuS04XDQRDdXdGepFaa6UJJyhdrpkRPUsKY2Y-mjoMA6A8Qn9h9EGHeYea-96Y3zXzIMkKSPTtrjtC_GwSdgJMNsXzhAVKaFanXkU714UL7WGeXTWo5GJGN97xofhSl-mQCGaGQg/s400/DSCN0622.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
Two weeks earlier, a woman named Jane had flagged us down at a stop-light in California to compliment us on our van. It turns out that she and her husband, Sam, were heading to their house in Baja on the Gonzaga Bay the next day, and she invited us to come stay a night with them.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMV4iXw6x9XGdx7fUN-j0n2JMM3egozm_rye6H0o2CYhtgG_kGDk9T2ZQSibhBgsnVl2KP0sNpVxeq2ABVoCVUpFv_JSw673T6KNtlgqctyHDvVA4uWCaHaEQaFOPQ9VNSnqpEcFywaU/s1600/DSCN0621.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580071098251496930" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMV4iXw6x9XGdx7fUN-j0n2JMM3egozm_rye6H0o2CYhtgG_kGDk9T2ZQSibhBgsnVl2KP0sNpVxeq2ABVoCVUpFv_JSw673T6KNtlgqctyHDvVA4uWCaHaEQaFOPQ9VNSnqpEcFywaU/s400/DSCN0621.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
We took her up on her sweet offer, and had a great time exploring their unique "campo" on the beach. Most of the "beach shacks" were old trailers with new additions. Except for the desert and the sea, this place reminded me of home!<br />
<br />
This village is many hours away from a paved road, and most of the folks here have dune buggies. Sam and Jane used to drive down here in their early 1970's VW van, back in the day when it was a LONG 12 hour drive from the nearest paved road to the north. They are still Volkswagen enthusiasts, and Sam took George for a ride in his VW Thing through the dunes and on the beach. Now George is hooked and wants to trade in the van for a Thing!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TEu9hyfds5MMb1ta5b0oIf3o629Wx7k6RkaN3DQW8RsMeVgMrrpbVugF0SSIViYOtDZUMpFcgoig5nKmQ3cxZSdBcL0nA7l0ov48YMNf3ny60czCUj3GLgh-k5HQYuelXMDIM7vBrtY/s1600/DSCN0620.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580071090476161682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TEu9hyfds5MMb1ta5b0oIf3o629Wx7k6RkaN3DQW8RsMeVgMrrpbVugF0SSIViYOtDZUMpFcgoig5nKmQ3cxZSdBcL0nA7l0ov48YMNf3ny60czCUj3GLgh-k5HQYuelXMDIM7vBrtY/s400/DSCN0620.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
The next day we continued our bumpy ride heading north through "back Baja".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofzRVYJKctAX5ok00n6p8alO3LFykeZBGDAMhYk53IpSlmkY2jGDNQtjlUMy-e-QMlTdDEbFgQC16WylArf8TSCdmmuGencxaVZthdawRnarLT-o-kSSYuTy9FGqFNBcH0XHHzZjeeXo/s1600/DSCN0628.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580078489973122658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofzRVYJKctAX5ok00n6p8alO3LFykeZBGDAMhYk53IpSlmkY2jGDNQtjlUMy-e-QMlTdDEbFgQC16WylArf8TSCdmmuGencxaVZthdawRnarLT-o-kSSYuTy9FGqFNBcH0XHHzZjeeXo/s400/DSCN0628.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYug7KVgsnmFdSyTKj31YdqO1jGehdqZXqvnM2dNrYLGQVK6wtW1LutZ11ORkMJyDns1-jQqxbLCfODURxhTm8U1xBBPR5DLWzpGIqKFrhhe0i-QdJWuTksLIGXFhYNoghjyxMM3njVHE/s1600/DSCN0627.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580078486878622450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYug7KVgsnmFdSyTKj31YdqO1jGehdqZXqvnM2dNrYLGQVK6wtW1LutZ11ORkMJyDns1-jQqxbLCfODURxhTm8U1xBBPR5DLWzpGIqKFrhhe0i-QdJWuTksLIGXFhYNoghjyxMM3njVHE/s400/DSCN0627.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
At the northern edge of the Sea of Cortez, where the once wide delta of the Colorado River meets the Gulf of California, we came upon this extremely barren landscape.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejUK_Cq7VrjidZb8F-IPsnJdpe5EeCyo63oDYAslwOb1VKcBBPgo7RFI80swNks6Ndev7AIAKbNbjwXPelltrA22syrFQA_mZNpQ37I5-zvhS29yxz33jolc8_s-Q4WbomI-etlG24ik/s1600/DSCN0631.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580081359520928610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejUK_Cq7VrjidZb8F-IPsnJdpe5EeCyo63oDYAslwOb1VKcBBPgo7RFI80swNks6Ndev7AIAKbNbjwXPelltrA22syrFQA_mZNpQ37I5-zvhS29yxz33jolc8_s-Q4WbomI-etlG24ik/s400/DSCN0631.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
I can only imagine that this was once a fertile river delta which was teeming with life. Now it's the most lifeless landscape I've ever seen, except for this monkey.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKMxNBpMBTmmwiTIDpo6XldawBaMaVGqsM2r4fraPLAPyBIiakF7Zfc5FQEO6dW-gexgPz9sBp9Jm2cnbQJMSsiQt2L6EcClCNLj42AyQa0s0u5NnHh28ncEysSggRVbN1P5Y40naqwU/s1600/DSCN0630.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580081353263449154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKMxNBpMBTmmwiTIDpo6XldawBaMaVGqsM2r4fraPLAPyBIiakF7Zfc5FQEO6dW-gexgPz9sBp9Jm2cnbQJMSsiQt2L6EcClCNLj42AyQa0s0u5NnHh28ncEysSggRVbN1P5Y40naqwU/s400/DSCN0630.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
As we continued northward beyond the nearly dry river bed of the Colorado, the landscape changed dramatically. The Colorado was an actual river once again, and we had entered the verdant "sponge" of the Colorado.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYpNswPOh_CZ4DZITWGYqeSKOTAtX-_c2pBVnypmESmt4j0luMhHR5ouOlciEpB7Zmw6Trq4hm_0lzpLnko4A3SnZomVdx9rYRaZwLRrLN74Ft5AF81uq09eD33jOCPZnrnObjNW_Jsk/s1600/DSCN0632.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580081363913161234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYpNswPOh_CZ4DZITWGYqeSKOTAtX-_c2pBVnypmESmt4j0luMhHR5ouOlciEpB7Zmw6Trq4hm_0lzpLnko4A3SnZomVdx9rYRaZwLRrLN74Ft5AF81uq09eD33jOCPZnrnObjNW_Jsk/s400/DSCN0632.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
What a difference water can make!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAZ24G8r2AnNSrCRqUZUMuEsyM983-0QvrSgMMMB9y3kSamJNWZh_iJwV9G2QmgVupMt2ErjRt-B3qalZp0Osin5Z-PLy3cr7hMOveTuWymHqHxNsT8XZba9Js7_jYSsf5w3hPz297mE/s1600/DSCN0634.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580091738587494274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirAZ24G8r2AnNSrCRqUZUMuEsyM983-0QvrSgMMMB9y3kSamJNWZh_iJwV9G2QmgVupMt2ErjRt-B3qalZp0Osin5Z-PLy3cr7hMOveTuWymHqHxNsT8XZba9Js7_jYSsf5w3hPz297mE/s400/DSCN0634.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 300px; width: 400px;" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0Universidad Autonóma de Baja California Sur, Pedro de Ugarte Sn, Centro, 23880 Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico26.0117564 -111.3477530999999826.0108619 -111.34901359999998 26.0126509 -111.34649259999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-82557747324624118142011-02-23T15:43:00.000-08:002011-03-03T20:47:09.712-08:00Whale Tales Part 3: Friendly Gray WhalesOne would think that we would have had our fill of whales after a week in the Sea of Cortez. This was not the case, however, and we could not pass up the opportunity to see the gray whales when we arrived at the west side of the Baja peninsula. There are 2 major lagoons on the Pacific side of Baja where the gray whales spend the winters, mate, and give birth. In the spring, the whales migrate north to their feeding grounds in the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea around Alaska. As a species, the gray whales have the longest migration route of any mammal.<br /><br />Gray whales are also unique because they are bottom-feeding baleen whales; they scrape the sea floor searching for small crustaceans. They are covered in barnacles, and have an interesting habit of bringing their heads straight out of the water until their eyes are exposed, and looking around above the surface.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGHj09AYlFQ2yYO3UrErWj7hdHFDO04FK4qeHxQgGLGiwK42-gvD-acevj2qq2HWYY0i-saQXm9a6u1hfM0N7qI5NqMLcKJs5J6MigmtPhUFmxC_gPeGZ2U6xR5E0q0uJTQl8AidCo8I/s1600/DSCN0543.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGHj09AYlFQ2yYO3UrErWj7hdHFDO04FK4qeHxQgGLGiwK42-gvD-acevj2qq2HWYY0i-saQXm9a6u1hfM0N7qI5NqMLcKJs5J6MigmtPhUFmxC_gPeGZ2U6xR5E0q0uJTQl8AidCo8I/s400/DSCN0543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580015717875656354" border="0" /></a><br />When we first went out into the<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>lagoon this morning, we saw many whales looking around like this. We also saw tons of spouts and a few breaching whales in the distance. George described the lagoon as "whale soup" because there were so many whales in the lagoon. Our guide said that there are around 1600 whales in this lagoon. We could see many pairs of mamas and calves swimming nearby. Gray whales are considered "friendly whales", and the mama whales will often bring their babies up to the boats. We did not have this experience, but we did find 2 very friendly adult whales who took a shine to our boat. They frolicked and wallowed under and around us for about 40 minutes, until it was time to go. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj49aExd_98">Click here</a> to see the video I took of the whales when they first joined our boat. <br /><br />Here's a few other short videos of our experience.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfPYjlP8JCaYQ_ycI5xssiIokGNGYWiFUSpOI1_BpTXV3zU7V1dZ1UZyAQtP5xjaAlIClUNyTNw_JXAAcCKg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVU1CbJOYVfAfq85t1ZGuw2dzj2lnoL3PKuKXRNd9H7IZEFElPU4wikKSMTHiyERW3gPRYhavjTjFZJkDBsA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxx6StYYrSm7XqSD4ayFrebHIN1w5Gg1PDvpETHcEMInstBPu84-yw_yJH5dI7zGYwgLbDKNg7x4qRhMB2OyA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcfEmN9klQHMcFgk8cbtyaw7CQ-gXsQjbDcyBqZx3WLdNyQ2BaWwEnm0xTqI9OWNzu6xdNn1LmyOBbJcQb42UiBFAPjNXIUhXn-FOBboEmJQEP7ekEMSbBeHLTm2rTkDPIxlsl42KO84/s1600/DSCN0575.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcfEmN9klQHMcFgk8cbtyaw7CQ-gXsQjbDcyBqZx3WLdNyQ2BaWwEnm0xTqI9OWNzu6xdNn1LmyOBbJcQb42UiBFAPjNXIUhXn-FOBboEmJQEP7ekEMSbBeHLTm2rTkDPIxlsl42KO84/s400/DSCN0575.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580016808335601634" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXY3dsMOLkOmYQK5kVlEoYs0wXAbCbMjDryQK8AEzBtGpzhkwENhxNpGAjxp-fYMisjWVxUHGlktqubRO7_fAstl_ENEbnuukoa7xzOrryekymlYS1AVY8ER_rTPwNxNmiNsCEe2vAxI/s1600/DSCN0562.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXY3dsMOLkOmYQK5kVlEoYs0wXAbCbMjDryQK8AEzBtGpzhkwENhxNpGAjxp-fYMisjWVxUHGlktqubRO7_fAstl_ENEbnuukoa7xzOrryekymlYS1AVY8ER_rTPwNxNmiNsCEe2vAxI/s400/DSCN0562.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580015734504530130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKOU-y78puzh77wkWBZhirvNpTumSPmPr00vYob1c5cC9H6ymO3BkyHCzQfp7jVwmCLY0G1HZiyZTW4sSLd4tO-0T_Ff_vHQ8SVrVRNXfmY7EaJRzT4WnlYKNvfwNZ_dwKy_szcv_SGI/s1600/DSCN0556.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKOU-y78puzh77wkWBZhirvNpTumSPmPr00vYob1c5cC9H6ymO3BkyHCzQfp7jVwmCLY0G1HZiyZTW4sSLd4tO-0T_Ff_vHQ8SVrVRNXfmY7EaJRzT4WnlYKNvfwNZ_dwKy_szcv_SGI/s400/DSCN0556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580015728675237138" border="0" /></a><br />We even got to touch these whales. They brought their heads up right by the boat, and would stay still for us to "pet" them for several seconds. They seemed to love the attention.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYyUxq1WsDxnfOet5h0gGy-v6iFRP_1M7uXHlqZgmXYBiobNodE0pOgo5keyW1Vafyy1nrgV86tm2XNgbCzSeiQZcsYRROl2GUU78rCMf-wvC5G_IjZqah4amW68B8Dg3YBS7xG4GpzY/s1600/DSCN0600.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYyUxq1WsDxnfOet5h0gGy-v6iFRP_1M7uXHlqZgmXYBiobNodE0pOgo5keyW1Vafyy1nrgV86tm2XNgbCzSeiQZcsYRROl2GUU78rCMf-wvC5G_IjZqah4amW68B8Dg3YBS7xG4GpzY/s400/DSCN0600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580016801552352994" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some good shots of the whale's eye as they would look right at us.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-7cKnnx9ARVk1qbCGKOddR-aUnkQq4r8DQ4zOn5KUohBm9FZ5PnbQ-b1wJfzNtkkB_91slJ8UDtnsXzNs2VqP1PVil_CjDb1kk122IdCDJyaCo6AIW598Njb1XM0NebW-eFWRL_MzQU/s1600/DSCN0583.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-7cKnnx9ARVk1qbCGKOddR-aUnkQq4r8DQ4zOn5KUohBm9FZ5PnbQ-b1wJfzNtkkB_91slJ8UDtnsXzNs2VqP1PVil_CjDb1kk122IdCDJyaCo6AIW598Njb1XM0NebW-eFWRL_MzQU/s400/DSCN0583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580017524500713074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecvulqQ2k1D36r5Ccp4vpJQ3a3vSmK7i-DIEvr0abkgTygiAX5Fa_wNGFjc6ijuMYutJfBVna7QVBxCi5RZRMbfl7lJcDX8EFdm8nFm8ubURnJ88fXx6_18OwTe9-lFhlCJaInodU5GY/s1600/DSCN0584.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecvulqQ2k1D36r5Ccp4vpJQ3a3vSmK7i-DIEvr0abkgTygiAX5Fa_wNGFjc6ijuMYutJfBVna7QVBxCi5RZRMbfl7lJcDX8EFdm8nFm8ubURnJ88fXx6_18OwTe9-lFhlCJaInodU5GY/s400/DSCN0584.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580016804458053778" border="0" /></a><br />These whales are so friendly that it's hard to imagine that they were once called "devil-fish". However, these amazing animals were hunted to near extinction. In the late 1850's, an American whaler named Charles Scammon found this lagoon and the one just south of here, which were the last refuges of the gray whales. In just a few short seasons, he killed nearly all the whales here, and they named this lagoon "Scammon's Lagoon". (I call it it's Spanish name: <span style="font-style: italic;">Ojo de Liebre</span>: Eye of the Jack-Rabbit.) When hunted, these whales become very aggressive and have been known to attack whaling boats; the only other species of whale known to do this is the sperm whale.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERaNlbP0Ljb5sl8Yb479qjJqt0IYlCH-QW3eX7PQmFqNsOfvYnL_9yec5aT6Ozk1SnxxZaCAypoez4oSHT2cPniumCzosV1Z1O4a41knZlwd8igZwtd4lC7IuAJwBy57CRU3e2nrNXHA/s1600/DSCN0540.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERaNlbP0Ljb5sl8Yb479qjJqt0IYlCH-QW3eX7PQmFqNsOfvYnL_9yec5aT6Ozk1SnxxZaCAypoez4oSHT2cPniumCzosV1Z1O4a41knZlwd8igZwtd4lC7IuAJwBy57CRU3e2nrNXHA/s400/DSCN0540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580079335016065170" border="0" /></a><br />The gray whales have made an amazing come-back now that most countries, besides Japan and Iceland, have ceased commercial whaling. Their increase in numbers is obvious in this "whale soup", but this Pacific population of gray whales is still considered "critically endangered". I'm hoping that these endearing mammals continue to be fertile and well fed until they regain their proper numbers. Let's wish them well!3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-74471993625369055252011-02-20T11:41:00.000-08:002011-03-03T15:43:37.420-08:00Whale Tales Part 2: Fins and BluesThis week in Loreto (Baja, Mexico) was a major highlight of our trip. We spent 6 full and exciting days out on the Sea of Cortez where we were awed by the largest animals on earth. Heather and Michael Fishbach, our friends from Celo, have been our hosts and tour-guides for the week, and we have had unforgettable experiences with them. Thank you so much, Michael and Heather, for showing us such an incredible time, preparing such delicious meals, and teaching us about the whales - I am enchanted by these amazing creatures! I also want to thank Michael for sharing with me his amazing photos that he took throughout the week. His camera and timing are much better than mine, and I was able to fully enjoy my experience without always having a camera between me and the whales. Many of the photos below were taken by Michael.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxbihkCLzNKssJ5sB92ssdLz583_Z81byx9V3F_Iho-y9LzJuQmzgssEjwcApXyM50eRBUuBAOAqRgXvnDSosgsDWo8fObgXWtG1GpAJe_MFaw8IEoB2d4XEIqxL_r8zCJWAQJ9SGSHA/s1600/DSCN0504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxbihkCLzNKssJ5sB92ssdLz583_Z81byx9V3F_Iho-y9LzJuQmzgssEjwcApXyM50eRBUuBAOAqRgXvnDSosgsDWo8fObgXWtG1GpAJe_MFaw8IEoB2d4XEIqxL_r8zCJWAQJ9SGSHA/s400/DSCN0504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579953128855259746" border="0" /></a><br />Throughout the week, we were blessed with good weather, still waters, a breathtaking full moon, and many close encounters with whales. Always eager to get an early start, we were out on the water before sunrise, where we were able to behold the magical transition of night into day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpj52OwU3Z_zWlUSAN_95bBHDoDtMPBhbldlQ3GqDq2A4buxYGdP2ZZK2L_0eRMpiofYoBOgJPMPj6QTgcKFW6i1t6nNg76ZdhFAszOFNApKxawcMlP51hfrgiEE_wDBa8BtYhWKkxDNk/s1600/DSCN0470.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpj52OwU3Z_zWlUSAN_95bBHDoDtMPBhbldlQ3GqDq2A4buxYGdP2ZZK2L_0eRMpiofYoBOgJPMPj6QTgcKFW6i1t6nNg76ZdhFAszOFNApKxawcMlP51hfrgiEE_wDBa8BtYhWKkxDNk/s400/DSCN0470.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579955003205377474" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the oasis town of Loreto in the early-morning sun.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp70zqJ8iv_oh21P-XoMHo6bje5HhEh9ictgvWuSFF__BHaYHJehWIOFxRkDivspig1vioZ2TpbIKB4vOrf2x07_ZzMF9jKPrS2QZvX0yWX5OfSS9NOveVLqOmbPVxT6wX5vPHL43hNs/s1600/DSCN0261.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbp70zqJ8iv_oh21P-XoMHo6bje5HhEh9ictgvWuSFF__BHaYHJehWIOFxRkDivspig1vioZ2TpbIKB4vOrf2x07_ZzMF9jKPrS2QZvX0yWX5OfSS9NOveVLqOmbPVxT6wX5vPHL43hNs/s400/DSCN0261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579963339692236402" border="0" /></a><br />We would pause in the middle of the bay, turn the motor off, and enjoy the sunrise as we looked and listened for the breathing of the whales.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K98deUqeb7k5fFgcvRZ9jNILYitiVT_RDHo7jPk0qYzL1eGiajI4-UAGbKrhXt2LMUY9nmnoROAUJtgOfPVG1YtJYs5os8d69nMKSf7GmJzAn8JEjOHUg-asw03cVFh93dCdNvi6Dgg/s1600/DSC_0512.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K98deUqeb7k5fFgcvRZ9jNILYitiVT_RDHo7jPk0qYzL1eGiajI4-UAGbKrhXt2LMUY9nmnoROAUJtgOfPVG1YtJYs5os8d69nMKSf7GmJzAn8JEjOHUg-asw03cVFh93dCdNvi6Dgg/s400/DSC_0512.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579949490736563250" border="0" /></a><br />When the light was just right, their spouts would glow.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEYTGodt1HwPs950VdIS3pyNMA7MoCyABqqJnyWMReXrA69FTEp7hY8qswub46OI-0TMZb16dSP_47Q9AN6PlTvcyB7ewXLR5_IpNLh6PcCcRsIAubUGiV-FT0uYfd55_NsUU2W_7tuw/s1600/DSC_0572.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEYTGodt1HwPs950VdIS3pyNMA7MoCyABqqJnyWMReXrA69FTEp7hY8qswub46OI-0TMZb16dSP_47Q9AN6PlTvcyB7ewXLR5_IpNLh6PcCcRsIAubUGiV-FT0uYfd55_NsUU2W_7tuw/s400/DSC_0572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579949499321671986" border="0" /></a><br />To the west, we could see the full moon set over the mountains. Michael arranged the boat perfectly for this shot of a fin whale with this amazing backdrop.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxrT-qGvYXrrfPhHw3h2Zpy3hB0OtObjDkGUwiiqPda8MpsKHTy747jXQLAseswXmwpXJtqTwsA3YIRD3dE7AaiMez-CQQT8aPXy5VBDwscmIYuvOpK0seSvsQiuK9RuPiPwd1Fw7y40/s1600/DSC_0622.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxrT-qGvYXrrfPhHw3h2Zpy3hB0OtObjDkGUwiiqPda8MpsKHTy747jXQLAseswXmwpXJtqTwsA3YIRD3dE7AaiMez-CQQT8aPXy5VBDwscmIYuvOpK0seSvsQiuK9RuPiPwd1Fw7y40/s400/DSC_0622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579950579148783282" border="0" /></a><br />We saw a total of 4 kinds of baylene whales while we were on the Sea of Cortez: blue whales, fin whales, humpback whales, and bryde's whales (pronounced "brude-ess"). By far, we saw more blues and fins than any other kind, and Michael taught us how to tell the difference between these whales.<br /><br />The finbacks are the fastest whales, and they are a dark, nearly black color with a relatively large dorsal fin. They also never "fluke", or bring their tails out of the water. Here's a few photos of fin whales.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmZxivor4-_JtyPtAtePdiPCbTBy83Tw4Gt_YvuAOM1Icy14r4xgb9Nb1Lgldi46HPPLSAo11Fu98sqJntnyuv2KKUzIWeBzCht6JJVyI5Lsc4BPRaSf-KN3Aqp-N-umcACvkdFJwEyw/s1600/DSC_0516.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmZxivor4-_JtyPtAtePdiPCbTBy83Tw4Gt_YvuAOM1Icy14r4xgb9Nb1Lgldi46HPPLSAo11Fu98sqJntnyuv2KKUzIWeBzCht6JJVyI5Lsc4BPRaSf-KN3Aqp-N-umcACvkdFJwEyw/s400/DSC_0516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579960194751310194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJvLvJ50alyOZMTNZR3MUYpJZucq3uUS0mnovno0NjlAqhTpO2BYZ3qvyVX1lkfEe0W0qDN5v4qgrXnTLnqSiY5NK1BChTadMriUVcb3ZWeFQBCgfoZeLVyTgO2HO0oo9gLbmJnTVQPI/s1600/DSCN0310.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJvLvJ50alyOZMTNZR3MUYpJZucq3uUS0mnovno0NjlAqhTpO2BYZ3qvyVX1lkfEe0W0qDN5v4qgrXnTLnqSiY5NK1BChTadMriUVcb3ZWeFQBCgfoZeLVyTgO2HO0oo9gLbmJnTVQPI/s400/DSCN0310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579960182064656594" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxOes5IASNAgh7eYc6JJ9B5kwTTEUaMEAtTvvycXHUFfrXbtuTymoX8w7N1uwnXxUa4P3GY25pSHodygpvWkFyofElgbQQt3Wbf93gdvSpZRDGKj8uo1fqKWoLB7rZ_o1Gtv4vhgIFZM/s1600/DSCN0309.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxOes5IASNAgh7eYc6JJ9B5kwTTEUaMEAtTvvycXHUFfrXbtuTymoX8w7N1uwnXxUa4P3GY25pSHodygpvWkFyofElgbQQt3Wbf93gdvSpZRDGKj8uo1fqKWoLB7rZ_o1Gtv4vhgIFZM/s400/DSCN0309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579963342764219826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX89N-0bQoIL6gLSbNJVgvYczuWsHedJwBUiAFbGYPvtRjkYI8twgR0WEvTX23WmiscfmIlRQD3l5-KGXN6Ez_u52uZn_3V0BR2ivxU1jojA3ebfw0vI7atFjo1i8MtJjpmgRdT0nMhnM/s1600/DSCN0307.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX89N-0bQoIL6gLSbNJVgvYczuWsHedJwBUiAFbGYPvtRjkYI8twgR0WEvTX23WmiscfmIlRQD3l5-KGXN6Ez_u52uZn_3V0BR2ivxU1jojA3ebfw0vI7atFjo1i8MtJjpmgRdT0nMhnM/s400/DSCN0307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579969263462401330" border="0" /></a><br />Blue whales are the Earth's largest creatures. The individuals are identifiable by the pigmentation on their backs, which can vary greatly as you can see in the following photos.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x_sWASrDkcPcubJGw5FNfMJ1k7VpJeVKszINxIK3rT9GpZ4UZirT1W9xghihobUyO0uimsg8Na2y_b4_5rOkbUCkWLuhw5XTrYE6aAGTEXjWizNQnM0xaaDZdgExfXJO-gyZBRHKm08/s1600/DSC_0475.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x_sWASrDkcPcubJGw5FNfMJ1k7VpJeVKszINxIK3rT9GpZ4UZirT1W9xghihobUyO0uimsg8Na2y_b4_5rOkbUCkWLuhw5XTrYE6aAGTEXjWizNQnM0xaaDZdgExfXJO-gyZBRHKm08/s400/DSC_0475.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579969270334756418" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAzW-QXZ_tm5XIsn9sAx1R6CKetRuzF1A7hZ4iK1PyjQQ78e94oGK66RxTIFhhiMtgyvjLiY1Txn-cSVWX9QAWm3OPn6M_AxMgiO1VLf1HsaV8pSAc5xcnhIn4_4ZVphMv2yYcBKxH4U/s1600/DSC_0568.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAzW-QXZ_tm5XIsn9sAx1R6CKetRuzF1A7hZ4iK1PyjQQ78e94oGK66RxTIFhhiMtgyvjLiY1Txn-cSVWX9QAWm3OPn6M_AxMgiO1VLf1HsaV8pSAc5xcnhIn4_4ZVphMv2yYcBKxH4U/s400/DSC_0568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579970158545055842" border="0" /></a><br />Blue whales will occasionally fluke, and we were lucky enough to follow a very mellow "fluker" blue whale the last day we were on the water. She was actually quite a ham; twice she surfaced right beside our boat, took a few breaths, dove, fluked, and pooped right in front of us. (She was a logger, fluker, pooper!) Here she is surfacing right by our boat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQpNtLM3bdqVBw9mCsrP4XsEZ9vtDwV3YODVmcxvpzEmciKV3Wy2CTCfHfTVcEUi3iMV4EVmUKTWeiVpHbYIaPGRkYLHLSYfuoUIs0YCJ9PUYCmbqB6K_coXyzCjRy3xeH-P_DlbA62M/s1600/DSC_0678.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQpNtLM3bdqVBw9mCsrP4XsEZ9vtDwV3YODVmcxvpzEmciKV3Wy2CTCfHfTVcEUi3iMV4EVmUKTWeiVpHbYIaPGRkYLHLSYfuoUIs0YCJ9PUYCmbqB6K_coXyzCjRy3xeH-P_DlbA62M/s400/DSC_0678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579963348706010642" border="0" /></a><br />And look at this amazing fluke sequence that Michael captured.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1I4unWsT29EqW8i5VpuuGIXQgor_5qt_HWG2C4kstvML1ePUcPgkWhCUj6YhGkn81xwdS8ABpwPgGpqPf7naD-tupUiP7EZs9yehs2xJaEQ4xZAJt2oIpuOfUXs2jpihc-24cYlPYj_8/s1600/DSC_0693.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1I4unWsT29EqW8i5VpuuGIXQgor_5qt_HWG2C4kstvML1ePUcPgkWhCUj6YhGkn81xwdS8ABpwPgGpqPf7naD-tupUiP7EZs9yehs2xJaEQ4xZAJt2oIpuOfUXs2jpihc-24cYlPYj_8/s400/DSC_0693.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579966694760860562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sczBOmqv7XcvS8tcf234OuSdFSNxdT1rJQk_hAzBgDtfMiDtmiAErqvVG8HDca3rmTBVigIT6eUVffJMdtSO47dk-rM-KvgJIzSyNKtQxDzWp_H6bH1aPJFY9MQDeaG4nrZ0JhIOw6I/s1600/DSC_0694.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sczBOmqv7XcvS8tcf234OuSdFSNxdT1rJQk_hAzBgDtfMiDtmiAErqvVG8HDca3rmTBVigIT6eUVffJMdtSO47dk-rM-KvgJIzSyNKtQxDzWp_H6bH1aPJFY9MQDeaG4nrZ0JhIOw6I/s400/DSC_0694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579966699513223010" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h5blfh5EAnZf-vJ1LB8g0diqeT6rlll9b4SkXJzR1RI67nVGQIegkyAa2vxHuQO8ktjc4R910TRMUzX_0SSlaChBXmbs3ZKnTNmMiWtryND-4IU7YBX4J6nLPonieBG6Yj1HlMQb8GQ/s1600/DSC_0695.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2h5blfh5EAnZf-vJ1LB8g0diqeT6rlll9b4SkXJzR1RI67nVGQIegkyAa2vxHuQO8ktjc4R910TRMUzX_0SSlaChBXmbs3ZKnTNmMiWtryND-4IU7YBX4J6nLPonieBG6Yj1HlMQb8GQ/s400/DSC_0695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579973797577004690" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq_1MqKpL6z49YmJHffSQBUSXK54d-EJTA9-26S50vpWxntVerfWNUOhszu9hWmrSeZtXgmic5WqcoKGWyN7BsAnGRELUVnyzHYEEspuAfKt-iF-v_AXdnPdmTI1jWgNSfB4j5kxev5Y/s1600/DSC_0696.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJq_1MqKpL6z49YmJHffSQBUSXK54d-EJTA9-26S50vpWxntVerfWNUOhszu9hWmrSeZtXgmic5WqcoKGWyN7BsAnGRELUVnyzHYEEspuAfKt-iF-v_AXdnPdmTI1jWgNSfB4j5kxev5Y/s400/DSC_0696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579973799220855186" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw51E5m8E7vnR_H78ReXxG6I7hVcCeIph9vwAQEj0lBRxy74nc9oEsyzgI4VRmHR9kPasvSeD5A1Qre1Wpt0a4CK1-z4Wc6Q2Nu5KYSN-IKow7tZTUUm6gmNwjZsbrr8zios5S7KEPt0s/s1600/DSC_0697.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw51E5m8E7vnR_H78ReXxG6I7hVcCeIph9vwAQEj0lBRxy74nc9oEsyzgI4VRmHR9kPasvSeD5A1Qre1Wpt0a4CK1-z4Wc6Q2Nu5KYSN-IKow7tZTUUm6gmNwjZsbrr8zios5S7KEPt0s/s400/DSC_0697.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579960189949056946" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUepffgrJ3YJJ_HnTgyDnyLrbMrx6Lfd7K4Zq5X10vkRsBOAOsxZkgbZL7KkvPcKExWviwJ9fp3G-J2ah_DJc2RjBVqKpLH7sZeVxPhPhQOT4-jsXuneWoHrTfSVccKDpbxvBVrxkNnY/s1600/DSC_0698.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUepffgrJ3YJJ_HnTgyDnyLrbMrx6Lfd7K4Zq5X10vkRsBOAOsxZkgbZL7KkvPcKExWviwJ9fp3G-J2ah_DJc2RjBVqKpLH7sZeVxPhPhQOT4-jsXuneWoHrTfSVccKDpbxvBVrxkNnY/s400/DSC_0698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579966709085121714" border="0" /></a><br />Even though blue whales and fin whales are different species, they have been known to mate and produce young. Michael told us that there are 4 known individuals which are genetic crosses of blue and fin whales. There may be a 5th individual this time next year in the Sea of Cortez. We came upon a finback, presumably a male, who was following a blue whale who we assumed to be female. At one point, the leading blue whale got excited and "head-lunged" out of the water and started speed-swimming. The finback was right on her tail, and he would dive only after she dove. We came upon these lovebirds three times, on three different days. It was the week of Valentine's Day, and love was in the air (or shall we say, the water).<br /><br />Here's the frisky finback who likes big blues. He has a very unique dorsal fin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFFz5-HRdMzcmtjqViTRfbC4OnrvB4Fs9r8Jnh-iOiZf8QtTB_l4aoxzJU9os0J0Hp6yA0yVOCoqm4VSdmR1SlrJwfR9OSFnMzjmOtW0vPcPWO0BA3TK1P3rSTWQnqpo72JW1A7opqA4/s1600/DSC_0525.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFFz5-HRdMzcmtjqViTRfbC4OnrvB4Fs9r8Jnh-iOiZf8QtTB_l4aoxzJU9os0J0Hp6yA0yVOCoqm4VSdmR1SlrJwfR9OSFnMzjmOtW0vPcPWO0BA3TK1P3rSTWQnqpo72JW1A7opqA4/s400/DSC_0525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579969284030047490" border="0" /></a><br />And here's the blue whale, reflecting the early morning light off her back and dorsal fin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcdS43PIiuAEB2uJwRkA9Fx2y4XQajgejtIcMvlIu_oZs-ProrcSV8OkB6I8ek9QMw0ZUt8MVX2e80Q45WcFy09ufRCQ7Fx7sS1OffSCgIK3IQDjQC0vo_EarIKtohMe96H-ElPs3V6s/s1600/DSC_0518.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcdS43PIiuAEB2uJwRkA9Fx2y4XQajgejtIcMvlIu_oZs-ProrcSV8OkB6I8ek9QMw0ZUt8MVX2e80Q45WcFy09ufRCQ7Fx7sS1OffSCgIK3IQDjQC0vo_EarIKtohMe96H-ElPs3V6s/s400/DSC_0518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579950565667951074" border="0" /></a><br />I was able to get a little video of this pair. The leading whale is the blue whale, and the fin whale is following her. Notice that you can only hear the exhalation of the blue whale, but when the finback breathes, you can hear his exhalation and a wheezing inhalation. This is another way to differentiate the two species. This also gives you an idea of how incredibly peaceful our time on the water was.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwg7ykxjQ3b_4FOZ4ydD7HHhK2DYc4BLs2w00zoGm1maYaH9sEmgFssKpZsg6dfjFtBAYUjQfIZC-dQOrtCoQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Because the water was so clear and still, when the sun was over-head and a whale was just under the surface of the water, we were able to see its entire massive form. It was a staggering experience, and I nearly fell over every time I saw how huge these whales actually are. Blue whales are not only the biggest animals alive today, they are the biggest animals ever known to exist - way bigger than dinosaurs! Michael put it in perspective when he compared the size of a blue whale to 4 school buses parked 2 behind 2. Here's the head of a blue whale; we estimate this part of the whale to be about 20 feet of it's total length, which averages about 80 -100 feet long.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01qSHXfUesXpwO7oKNvE5FGYmI2cBMwFRruhmnUaN85xmPnHpr5lJezoR3El_U1Ztp47hvWyEYizQ0BX-Qz7p7sUce8AmasaYUt29CIHWFoXpBwQNzFMTb4bpR-7hnw6Rx0L8hW0vEE4/s1600/DSC_0676.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01qSHXfUesXpwO7oKNvE5FGYmI2cBMwFRruhmnUaN85xmPnHpr5lJezoR3El_U1Ztp47hvWyEYizQ0BX-Qz7p7sUce8AmasaYUt29CIHWFoXpBwQNzFMTb4bpR-7hnw6Rx0L8hW0vEE4/s400/DSC_0676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579981284157308594" border="0" /></a><br />Whales are not the only sea mammals we enjoyed seeing this week. We had several opportunities to see both common dolphins and bottle-nosed dolphins as they would join us to "bough-ride" our boat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaXRWIyaqmcm2XHepuaoOwjagiJCAnmF-TcDZZTWCM0jYlnD9yn8uiAyxdfTcHu55W-66x2WcsbYERoL_VLTfKqFcPe0CxVV79pUM6ojUUanxUV8QIcO5nB4-KKiB8qUIpAzvtVT_ZpI/s1600/DSC_0503.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaXRWIyaqmcm2XHepuaoOwjagiJCAnmF-TcDZZTWCM0jYlnD9yn8uiAyxdfTcHu55W-66x2WcsbYERoL_VLTfKqFcPe0CxVV79pUM6ojUUanxUV8QIcO5nB4-KKiB8qUIpAzvtVT_ZpI/s400/DSC_0503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579955003658564898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoHyi-E-EGpvteWErJ4QsBCz2vSK3D27DrE3KRgOiI9-yQs1p0483Jkp0-U9XEGWETS-kEYoGkCU_Y6lr8iSTeAPyOrWoEFOCId390hR3P-hgl2y9U78UFRNXkNoT_AL_X0FR4zmhmPw/s1600/DSCN0270.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoHyi-E-EGpvteWErJ4QsBCz2vSK3D27DrE3KRgOiI9-yQs1p0483Jkp0-U9XEGWETS-kEYoGkCU_Y6lr8iSTeAPyOrWoEFOCId390hR3P-hgl2y9U78UFRNXkNoT_AL_X0FR4zmhmPw/s400/DSCN0270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579982188296539826" border="0" /></a><br />We even saw a couple of dolphins "bough-ride" this blue whale. What fun!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z-VyCY2M57UKp7oh7OHL15jyx5Hy2Ah-KtB87Ytb7VG-ovNqCekyjxrIrkoGDYXGglqb4BSR2RXbaU40X3P_o6Mm67Z2k2sJ-qzjmbf1iEJA5mqDNlMBFfH8CK-52vuSwa3yXlFu4io/s1600/DSC_0660.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z-VyCY2M57UKp7oh7OHL15jyx5Hy2Ah-KtB87Ytb7VG-ovNqCekyjxrIrkoGDYXGglqb4BSR2RXbaU40X3P_o6Mm67Z2k2sJ-qzjmbf1iEJA5mqDNlMBFfH8CK-52vuSwa3yXlFu4io/s400/DSC_0660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579970164854306562" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some common dolphins with a spouting blue whale in the distance.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR48n1He8WUBEJRRInLDhu8DYhMc-jFGmaUr9r4H-GRyXexxvnvugMUBszYlXPpshE8NHvS0XrtkNL9z71xZtIoxu6S7RHi7fDIHO0ScR-JKmT5FDZd80QP3JJPewBHOu1RBXrQFn1wQQ/s1600/DSC_0497.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR48n1He8WUBEJRRInLDhu8DYhMc-jFGmaUr9r4H-GRyXexxvnvugMUBszYlXPpshE8NHvS0XrtkNL9z71xZtIoxu6S7RHi7fDIHO0ScR-JKmT5FDZd80QP3JJPewBHOu1RBXrQFn1wQQ/s400/DSC_0497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579969273096710530" border="0" /></a><br />And let's not forget the California Sea Lions.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNseaTPJGQshQkJom2rfpf5o6bgl7qo__UX8KJHtt_SxnabLMgKgy1mlCZr9jHYF8ylErfw2vNoG-Qk4NeZsS0ZfvT2ZWrTRSlKSIVsKPO26VBtFwFIHTCuBYhdqCDK-xlemoNjB3YXCE/s1600/DSC_0459.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNseaTPJGQshQkJom2rfpf5o6bgl7qo__UX8KJHtt_SxnabLMgKgy1mlCZr9jHYF8ylErfw2vNoG-Qk4NeZsS0ZfvT2ZWrTRSlKSIVsKPO26VBtFwFIHTCuBYhdqCDK-xlemoNjB3YXCE/s400/DSC_0459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579955015705170722" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE97R3EOhO29_zRhdobikdyB1lMPdvTTc_qU9K84aKiEOyeG03EYHcGCKznE2K2s-fypJ5KKi3El6MKxa54HX0gNVzIoyiA9R5vFo9i6QsDzxXfxUZj9bkpj_hocAYTxC0Un7oCYc3eQ/s1600/DSC_0452.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisE97R3EOhO29_zRhdobikdyB1lMPdvTTc_qU9K84aKiEOyeG03EYHcGCKznE2K2s-fypJ5KKi3El6MKxa54HX0gNVzIoyiA9R5vFo9i6QsDzxXfxUZj9bkpj_hocAYTxC0Un7oCYc3eQ/s400/DSC_0452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579958701634178194" border="0" /></a><br />All this amazing wildlife, beautiful scenery, time with friends, and lots of delicious food made for some very happy gringos.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD-Avm5dd7NtvbGKrcC-QeFvyU10v4qZ8O25nep1KTcYdvZkUmVmFfyvwZpLpEBVGayje6iEwVptqAlIvJLg43hunOeKLLELegKNi5d1-MGKKxRu4fCbZGdHaE8Bjg1Lz_lQ-1xrfDho/s1600/DSCN0458.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD-Avm5dd7NtvbGKrcC-QeFvyU10v4qZ8O25nep1KTcYdvZkUmVmFfyvwZpLpEBVGayje6iEwVptqAlIvJLg43hunOeKLLELegKNi5d1-MGKKxRu4fCbZGdHaE8Bjg1Lz_lQ-1xrfDho/s400/DSCN0458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579950570616038338" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgRfvv7JTf5seSgwMQ_P4NQ8el9jal-3QZe-UNfaThNs_o9qVTuveF3vWZPBVuSRCim1F_dpqVKbHqRz6Qgjnx7umPs83Q_s0fkPo7H3kZoD4Oz1W1bB4sJ_Ls84BYBOuuNvXgEn7pcs/s1600/DSC_0613.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqgRfvv7JTf5seSgwMQ_P4NQ8el9jal-3QZe-UNfaThNs_o9qVTuveF3vWZPBVuSRCim1F_dpqVKbHqRz6Qgjnx7umPs83Q_s0fkPo7H3kZoD4Oz1W1bB4sJ_Ls84BYBOuuNvXgEn7pcs/s400/DSC_0613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579953120882279378" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-45514330840169003242011-02-14T22:03:00.000-08:002011-03-03T21:58:14.732-08:00Whale Tales Part I: Ballena ValentinaThis has been a Valentine's Day to remember, and I don't think the Humpback whale we named "Valentina" will forget this day either.<br /><br />Today was our first day out on water with our friends Heather and Michael Fishbach, and their son, Gaelan. We are staying with them in the town of Loreto in Baja, Mexico, and partaking in a week-long whale tour that they host out in the Sea of Cortez. Today was a beautiful day; the perfect day to be on the water. The sun was shining, the water was like glass, and we had already seen several whales when Michael spotted something that looked like a log floating out in the water. This seemed strange since we are in the middle of the desert and there's not a tree in sight, so we drove closer to investigate. We soon realized that it was a humpback whale trapped in a fishing net.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEHCG7Q3zh_gW59vwP442UItT4FPjnDT2N6SLbC6K-j8Ep1zvwuqKuZNTTGrfBO7fs3N9txSt2-ST8XlzZlTtAuTd3pZqnrFbCIxuFVNpaSm43R1m6mXDKqD-Q-Kmjk5G6BOZqr5NrlU/s1600/DSCN0312.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEHCG7Q3zh_gW59vwP442UItT4FPjnDT2N6SLbC6K-j8Ep1zvwuqKuZNTTGrfBO7fs3N9txSt2-ST8XlzZlTtAuTd3pZqnrFbCIxuFVNpaSm43R1m6mXDKqD-Q-Kmjk5G6BOZqr5NrlU/s400/DSCN0312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577507392689450610" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf8yPDZIxBaNKXBzmnmNqtjvq9qFGYCGge4xFLz2JY2smhT4sv1eFDpRvyXX39KFxKSMg1s3tnGf6q6chBye0xAjgM9A_Q9XNgu-HQqHj5jdALyqnphPJgU-MAcykqEZKnHT_rHehItE/s1600/DSC_0300.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRf8yPDZIxBaNKXBzmnmNqtjvq9qFGYCGge4xFLz2JY2smhT4sv1eFDpRvyXX39KFxKSMg1s3tnGf6q6chBye0xAjgM9A_Q9XNgu-HQqHj5jdALyqnphPJgU-MAcykqEZKnHT_rHehItE/s400/DSC_0300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579985790025772914" border="0" /></a><br />We first thought that it was dead because it was not moving, but after a few long moments it took a breath, and we knew that we had to try and save this whale's life.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46Fn4d0TOgVrAVY7ssMr7eyvTWxYlr1W7QQbw9KloYdqmA6NQ97ftbbkqGfvous1ErCYZB05myQCSmJGAXCMkYZSO5pFJgLt4x617ECBm5s1Amt2atu-TSaLp_WJ8NUrmCAdNxmZwZmc/s1600/DSCN0319.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46Fn4d0TOgVrAVY7ssMr7eyvTWxYlr1W7QQbw9KloYdqmA6NQ97ftbbkqGfvous1ErCYZB05myQCSmJGAXCMkYZSO5pFJgLt4x617ECBm5s1Amt2atu-TSaLp_WJ8NUrmCAdNxmZwZmc/s400/DSCN0319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577507405972047042" border="0" /></a><br />Michael radioed for backup, and proceeded to get into the frigid water with a snorkel and George's pocketknife (the only knife on the boat - go Boy Scout training!)<br /><br />From that vantage point, Michael was able to assess the severity of the entanglement better, and he determined that the situation was very grim. The whale's pectoral fins were pinned to her side, her dorsal fin was cut from the net, and her tail was also entangled; thus she was barely able to stay afloat and breathe.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVof9UcosTgeW6CKzpH20AT9DdiwrC4kDR8gOdc4HlvxMmnklyl3tD1AQkfMuGo1oeMHShmTth6uhH06DN10xQ6GFSm98cwnkYKiIwdpt8h7tru25vYKBrpXb1nnxPnpaciNAYV1lJcY/s1600/DSCN0316.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVof9UcosTgeW6CKzpH20AT9DdiwrC4kDR8gOdc4HlvxMmnklyl3tD1AQkfMuGo1oeMHShmTth6uhH06DN10xQ6GFSm98cwnkYKiIwdpt8h7tru25vYKBrpXb1nnxPnpaciNAYV1lJcY/s400/DSCN0316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577666100346287874" border="0" /></a><br />He tried to communicate that he was there to help, but she was very distressed and fully immobilized. Michael was able to successfully cut the net off her dorsal fin, which allowed the whale a little more movement.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVCBUFIVAh2Qhc4pavYmwd9al7x7GOusEM_5z5LW9QO17Rf76pXuLGFyTzRm6VbDDBGvtH-KyeaEmqFo_PJJ4LFG9BB1POJlp5AaCkLIgOd4tjWE4GWt4uwlNlN2L2vziX5EA-Rkt8ak/s1600/DSCN0317.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVCBUFIVAh2Qhc4pavYmwd9al7x7GOusEM_5z5LW9QO17Rf76pXuLGFyTzRm6VbDDBGvtH-KyeaEmqFo_PJJ4LFG9BB1POJlp5AaCkLIgOd4tjWE4GWt4uwlNlN2L2vziX5EA-Rkt8ak/s400/DSCN0317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577666107576396690" border="0" /></a><br />The whale's improved movement enabled her to come closer to our boat, and at one point she lifted the boat a few inches as she took a breath right under us. George and Alberto (our wonderful boat-driver) grabbed the net from the whale's back and started pulling and cutting it off her. Thus pulling and cutting went on for about 30 minutes, and as the whale was gainging more freedom, she was able to swim better and dive deeper. When she would surface for a breath, "Slasher George" would quickly slash the net while Michael and Alberto pulled it. After taking a breath, the whale would attempt to div, and the guys held onto the net with all their strength. We were pulled on a true "Nantucket Sleigh Ride", but this time we were trying to save a whale rather than kill one.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyY4s6F_wai-mMJVnYLoCQPpSoB07uHzFrzpMjKOzR6BkAlMURQRRXCjJI9d7OJrBwxESJ18ugtpIHatuTdJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuFb6cDRHuFc5EEYP-06bPfWuHQ9f6jXUAi3UqXIGP9AS8L-tvVCHrPraxyUV2VlNZZT33MrK40Hzq-IusKA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />Finally, the last of the net was cut away, and "Valentina" swam free. Click here to see the 4 minute video of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zls7IEpMo9Q">"final cut"</a>. Our heroic efforts were rewarded with an unbelievable display of full-body breaching.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHtQ8i4Qi4gWnpTEsqHMqA1pSo_BjTjimN8EIXo9pi0thO3SYUNlvyz0dC6LzdMITEUN9ujd2XIAPYNDu3JWYVWgcUKPDVX0myPBvou9g52sMPTxEmFp56vZVP44bZlGIcu9HrsedtnA/s1600/DSC_0342.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHtQ8i4Qi4gWnpTEsqHMqA1pSo_BjTjimN8EIXo9pi0thO3SYUNlvyz0dC6LzdMITEUN9ujd2XIAPYNDu3JWYVWgcUKPDVX0myPBvou9g52sMPTxEmFp56vZVP44bZlGIcu9HrsedtnA/s400/DSC_0342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577666113922379970" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh79fss7PwnR2snK_keO_TGjQtTkQ63NqljctFhpCuB7QeI492JJWxbVS5eJoOp7Ew0Xr6sWEFNnzPxh33JvcBDoD8_CMNDFu4QVoi8bE-q6FnshHqpqqc82Jgmlsm74O9gHaG57Wvyw/s1600/CSC_0431.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPh79fss7PwnR2snK_keO_TGjQtTkQ63NqljctFhpCuB7QeI492JJWxbVS5eJoOp7Ew0Xr6sWEFNnzPxh33JvcBDoD8_CMNDFu4QVoi8bE-q6FnshHqpqqc82Jgmlsm74O9gHaG57Wvyw/s400/CSC_0431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577666110103413090" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uW_A0dl6p7zUA65F9Sk_KvdzIvgVhWZ-S1l-BrKu3WU3dGrfKW2qM1sDf714jUUp4Rn4Km98ZRXhP3WTZ4YfW-uHkYbnkaxL_Ft0ewwXfyYYY_V2eI_-qKoXDeXZDbVRiwy46fOf0Ic/s1600/DSC_0347.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uW_A0dl6p7zUA65F9Sk_KvdzIvgVhWZ-S1l-BrKu3WU3dGrfKW2qM1sDf714jUUp4Rn4Km98ZRXhP3WTZ4YfW-uHkYbnkaxL_Ft0ewwXfyYYY_V2eI_-qKoXDeXZDbVRiwy46fOf0Ic/s400/DSC_0347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577666119831746050" border="0" /></a><br />After about a half-hour of breaching, she started to writhe and roll around on the surface of the water, flapping her huge pectoral fins in the air and slapping them on the surface of the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQqDMtedfn-G3fBhpnbDvDFsPt0S1xduWIb4SYAkOgIvWUgeDITl8HmjuE1APOEtimnHyRYD0pi-WB_v7ScKGG1LZ9L6152DFe_3FswUNRj7AuSE0-2G4Vy90RKB6BbZmAnWcCjBpeBE/s1600/DSC_0351.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQqDMtedfn-G3fBhpnbDvDFsPt0S1xduWIb4SYAkOgIvWUgeDITl8HmjuE1APOEtimnHyRYD0pi-WB_v7ScKGG1LZ9L6152DFe_3FswUNRj7AuSE0-2G4Vy90RKB6BbZmAnWcCjBpeBE/s400/DSC_0351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577674105140934562" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2_dwqRw4v3bGwMqZgvKO_irB3vjvC3Xk685bcmzUhJMe-QALJjj8b6ceRaNRRzKAT3026nHs2WfFbGxXlsmb1qawZ0jgZ3QBZvrxqQV9SlUESik09rkPKGiOW2LDT1_pMrzNSs0Bi10/s1600/DSC_0349.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2_dwqRw4v3bGwMqZgvKO_irB3vjvC3Xk685bcmzUhJMe-QALJjj8b6ceRaNRRzKAT3026nHs2WfFbGxXlsmb1qawZ0jgZ3QBZvrxqQV9SlUESik09rkPKGiOW2LDT1_pMrzNSs0Bi10/s400/DSC_0349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577674099605301906" border="0" /></a><br />After awhile, we decided to leave her in peace and started to drive away; but then she started "tail lobbing", and we quickly returned to watch the next act. She would raise her fluke (tail) high above the water and repeatedly splash the water with powerful strength. She would do this in a belly-down position and then spin around and repeat her tail lobbing while in a belly-up position. In this short video, her back is toward the surface.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWe0pyFT90tu7E34-50ne6KEnU6JFVPYZ484-3ScTsecjbQFwHnPqVkUTPaP8CHhWR3jecC35_ihcW6w2pSQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Now she is tail-lobbing while belly-up.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyCfFgWGx2GN_peeHXthQorHiIIr9OuKxf_plp2fhqvaPbeAElsjbr5vsy8ELFHdQmKI-JY3MgTyuBuzlzG' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyfarPn2XH1CG_m-4Qd2qVRRhqai4ZQzXEX1nVnk-msc5pVqmL0ENM0kb8tfolEnNpQBsryAsxVBY8-HVEv5Aj9fvVbKAq3u4A0jqt8_V7EXqarUd83TmrJ6W4ySwpyi0gQu5tnkaYPI/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyfarPn2XH1CG_m-4Qd2qVRRhqai4ZQzXEX1nVnk-msc5pVqmL0ENM0kb8tfolEnNpQBsryAsxVBY8-HVEv5Aj9fvVbKAq3u4A0jqt8_V7EXqarUd83TmrJ6W4ySwpyi0gQu5tnkaYPI/s400/DSC_0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577677901491547746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFBDHFdQOvAz6V9JVZPi00V6feNkCpGrdT2kguC-EcDdvyT-nXvABTv4HSzomWoLQtY6XDHyxWRAkvUN-xOnU1AeOm6SMkRRBgw6YadJq1N-LyKV1Lg6NX6gjwr5zotQrNnnCjWsbd3E/s1600/DSC_0366.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFBDHFdQOvAz6V9JVZPi00V6feNkCpGrdT2kguC-EcDdvyT-nXvABTv4HSzomWoLQtY6XDHyxWRAkvUN-xOnU1AeOm6SMkRRBgw6YadJq1N-LyKV1Lg6NX6gjwr5zotQrNnnCjWsbd3E/s400/DSC_0366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577679342397182338" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SeIkKBvA9uOUnbyM9ktQUdn5Isbm4-684eaiUiYW5xdlHJrgqolMgvwoZhKFM5UmH2CDoYL7kOtJhyphenhyphen86Fa7XZxKhm9lGzdf0n04n6OLvJGCCZT0eQHeBARX1mn0F0VhHNaAEc_t_Kig/s1600/DSC_0368.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SeIkKBvA9uOUnbyM9ktQUdn5Isbm4-684eaiUiYW5xdlHJrgqolMgvwoZhKFM5UmH2CDoYL7kOtJhyphenhyphen86Fa7XZxKhm9lGzdf0n04n6OLvJGCCZT0eQHeBARX1mn0F0VhHNaAEc_t_Kig/s400/DSC_0368.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577679348030121378" border="0" /></a><br />This part of the show was most curious to me, and I'm not sure exactly why she was doing it. I can only take her actions to be ones of joy and freedom. I think little Gaelan described it best when he said, "I know what she's doing! She's showing us how happy she is to be free!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdy5Ey04pgKslN5qeBRueOMnHzPOTADF0A2Nf9Kb4zfs4ocBwfW395OcA3ToGf7g2uskNunkpqTT_oQy84HcBxM6mSQJTsqnG2eLR2VpG9jsggUm-seNHzhxpE99xZxSUR1ZsCysOyBo/s1600/CSC_0432.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCdy5Ey04pgKslN5qeBRueOMnHzPOTADF0A2Nf9Kb4zfs4ocBwfW395OcA3ToGf7g2uskNunkpqTT_oQy84HcBxM6mSQJTsqnG2eLR2VpG9jsggUm-seNHzhxpE99xZxSUR1ZsCysOyBo/s400/CSC_0432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577680715045917906" border="0" /></a><br />It was an incredible and unforgettable experience, one that I will treasure in my memories. It is also deeply disturbing to think about how many nets are lurking in our seas and oceans, killing innumerable whales and other marine mammals and sea-creatures who are not the targets for our dinner plates. It's enough to make any seafood lover want to sacrifice her taste-buds for the good of the sea, which is an especially hard thing to do in the land of fish tacos.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuGgYB2ZUwXxWP-dzqLqZeU3uA9M-KSrTzpjxfS0uN_RtmMkDZuoZVS8jvpMZYHwtTkCNScSoJw-W2jokywpAUzcQJdaSsUbBvpR9OMK07hACM3176xbyN3KiJCC-OwAactfUJbSuQRM/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuGgYB2ZUwXxWP-dzqLqZeU3uA9M-KSrTzpjxfS0uN_RtmMkDZuoZVS8jvpMZYHwtTkCNScSoJw-W2jokywpAUzcQJdaSsUbBvpR9OMK07hACM3176xbyN3KiJCC-OwAactfUJbSuQRM/s400/DSCN0380.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577680724198521346" border="0" /></a><br />The net that entangled "Valentina" was actually a shark net, illegally placed in the National Marine Park which "protects" the sea around Loreto. It measured 12 x 200 feet. It lacerated the skin on her tail and removed a chunk of her dorsal fin. She will be scarred for life, but she is among the lucky few of her kind that have escaped the full wrath of our nets. I wish her many more safe and successful trips to Alaska and back!<br /><br /><br /><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to Michael Fishbach for sharing his photos and tail-lobbing videos!<br /></p>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-24974666933827782712011-02-02T12:45:00.000-08:002011-02-24T22:03:32.221-08:00Going Bananas!For a few years now, George and I have hosted a "Local Foods Feast" in early February as part of "Cabin Fever University", a calendar of various social events that take place throughout the winter in Celo. George, especially, is passionate about local food, and loves nothing better than to sit down at the table and appreciate a delicious, home-grown meal. This potluck event, purposely timed in the heart of winter, is a great creative experiment to see what kinds of local foods (grown in our valley) are still holding strong in peoples' root-cellars, green-houses, and cold-frames. There are always the hardy standbys (potatoes and winter squash), but there are always some exotic surprises that show up on the table, such as fresh cheeses, custard, preserved fruit treats, maple syrup, and local meat (wild or domestic). One year, a friend brought fresh lemonade made from lemons off her potted plant and her bees' honey. It's always a delicious event!<br /><br />The first "Local Foods Feast" we hosted fell on Groundhog's Day, which I thought was appropriate; so when I realized that today is Groundhog's Day, I decided to do some documentation on my favorite subject: food. I thought it would be a good opportunity to see what local foods we're enjoying here. Please don't hate me!<br /><br />First of all, the inspiration for this post: Bananas. When we moved into this house nearly 3 months ago, there was a small banana tree in our backyard with a lovely bunch of small, green bananas developing beautifully from their dramatic curved stem. If you have never seen a banana tree in flower, like I had not, let me show you a close-up photo of a banana flower. Unfolding from under every magenta "petal" of this banana "flower", are a row of chartreuse baby bananas that flower from their ends. Amazingly beautiful, I think.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkymbmJkayh9raC-ssC76gzXn-klAqNKHpNFpPxsSXQlvPHr2mw50G3Vpa4SAsxzbFTYu2zHQp2MuXoGR_oAM0vEdpXiQA6GtLAFqzAalUZwV7uH5zWrwkOCYnE63HVcHN82xo_-gei64/s1600/DSCN0109.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkymbmJkayh9raC-ssC76gzXn-klAqNKHpNFpPxsSXQlvPHr2mw50G3Vpa4SAsxzbFTYu2zHQp2MuXoGR_oAM0vEdpXiQA6GtLAFqzAalUZwV7uH5zWrwkOCYnE63HVcHN82xo_-gei64/s400/DSCN0109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570694370918865362" border="0" /></a><br />The bunch of bananas in our yard was more developed than this flower when we moved in, and I would eagerly check on "my babies" often. The top layer of bananas started yellowing earlier this week, and after I saw the Costa Rican equivalent of a robin dining on one of them, I took that as a sign that they were ripe and ready to harvest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoZ8bmb_xDlp1SxN_-lV6wbcyQefJWmfpqqgos4qn1iFc9ODY5lMaS3toelxW591fePWIeI_-QmvPss0Th54LV5ujWTSKpCYhbDrCzL7InIVj7BePooj0Ex1IxLsCXqCBGJg1eD1m8wY/s1600/DSCN0181.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSoZ8bmb_xDlp1SxN_-lV6wbcyQefJWmfpqqgos4qn1iFc9ODY5lMaS3toelxW591fePWIeI_-QmvPss0Th54LV5ujWTSKpCYhbDrCzL7InIVj7BePooj0Ex1IxLsCXqCBGJg1eD1m8wY/s400/DSCN0181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570694377707003602" border="0" /></a><br />We harvested the bounty and gave thanks to the Banana God, and now this huge bunch of bananas sits in my kitchen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW9V6a_SMyGipIKIrShtwupjDizahnx2kjCex6RnUWu4VJQaI0zPhwVnAeavxUi5Kyr2DnmyBeqMspGLJ-SRnhubr7iBV9wxvAcUqaki95UsaSlFFyYML0vx2b_eVISAuqV_Fd1vsErY/s1600/DSCN0188.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipW9V6a_SMyGipIKIrShtwupjDizahnx2kjCex6RnUWu4VJQaI0zPhwVnAeavxUi5Kyr2DnmyBeqMspGLJ-SRnhubr7iBV9wxvAcUqaki95UsaSlFFyYML0vx2b_eVISAuqV_Fd1vsErY/s400/DSCN0188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570694381174758834" border="0" /></a><br />I have always been a banana fan, but I am used to grocery store bananas, and these bananas were still a bit on the green side for my visual concept of a "ripe banana", so I planned to let them ripen for another day or 2. Later in the day however, I noticed a small dinosaur-like shape sneaking it's way across the kitchen floor, toward the bananas. I grabbed by camera, always on the ready for unusual animal encounters, and snuck into the kitchen to capture the kodak moment. The iguana saw me, however, and ran it's fastest (which is not very fast when it's trying to run on tiled floors - in fact it's more cartoon-like and quite hilarious) away from me and into one of the bedrooms.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtidX8t8JEpxp9hvUuL2ypVrqZjNahMG9j1bmVLqNp_xO6-YxlqaVatYvDMehinN-XuQeShZgF0O6urqIg4CmqRAfyj6gSQwGmPe1PKgXxm3QS9LKIB-umrrk1c5dnCwV_nqhsLUaVKwA/s1600/DSCN0198.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtidX8t8JEpxp9hvUuL2ypVrqZjNahMG9j1bmVLqNp_xO6-YxlqaVatYvDMehinN-XuQeShZgF0O6urqIg4CmqRAfyj6gSQwGmPe1PKgXxm3QS9LKIB-umrrk1c5dnCwV_nqhsLUaVKwA/s400/DSCN0198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570696915746899810" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_hyJWSAwPJzcnGCR0lQMRXMtxzbSJaiihUXmWy0ANCHVCvsA_3GHilYQKM7y4Iq2-bkkEw1Y36skOmLeFCESBBVRMBm5hbF0aOjTA3OAepsmQ9rLtQ9oToijOH7I_dfaopEcKiCXCvk/s1600/DSCN0200.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_hyJWSAwPJzcnGCR0lQMRXMtxzbSJaiihUXmWy0ANCHVCvsA_3GHilYQKM7y4Iq2-bkkEw1Y36skOmLeFCESBBVRMBm5hbF0aOjTA3OAepsmQ9rLtQ9oToijOH7I_dfaopEcKiCXCvk/s400/DSCN0200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570696901565186946" border="0" /></a><br />Eventually, George was able to capture the hungry iguana and take it outside. George held it, and we admired it for awhile.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmtC6r3bdW0twq2r87CxgRgHuaLpt7PVzvbnGNWBBNvMjExFTdJzVut3RSzqvjTPElgXlcK2B9uYfFZzPMRkiyYXhBYvoHxNF84sw0IIfSgPUi2po6EB_VBskXUZYdJGcx1kf7OxspvQ/s1600/DSCN0205.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmtC6r3bdW0twq2r87CxgRgHuaLpt7PVzvbnGNWBBNvMjExFTdJzVut3RSzqvjTPElgXlcK2B9uYfFZzPMRkiyYXhBYvoHxNF84sw0IIfSgPUi2po6EB_VBskXUZYdJGcx1kf7OxspvQ/s400/DSCN0205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570696905486912242" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEn00WADCBLSbu5B8PiPblddjvCNBl9WrLsJy2j5flBYZzoXUjh2Vf-vPhohljwiOcYN12Z6-aRzcCRo72mEaE3QrPvOrfcnchI__7FEoZUwhTwx_rIqWhEwtFNww7JTvZDtYPtd32u2w/s1600/DSCN0206.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEn00WADCBLSbu5B8PiPblddjvCNBl9WrLsJy2j5flBYZzoXUjh2Vf-vPhohljwiOcYN12Z6-aRzcCRo72mEaE3QrPvOrfcnchI__7FEoZUwhTwx_rIqWhEwtFNww7JTvZDtYPtd32u2w/s400/DSCN0206.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570696912643597186" border="0" /></a><br />I felt bad for hogging all the bananas, so I peeled a couple and put them out on our bird / iguana feeder in the yard. In so doing, I realized that these greenish bananas were perfectly ripe (as the robin and iguana already knew), and when I say "perfectly ripe", that's just what I mean. I have never had so sweet a banana! The taste is almost unrecognizable from a grocery store banana!<br /><br />Needless to say, I have been eating bananas every day and sharing them with others (human and animal alike). Today I added one to my breakfast of other local foods: mangoes, papaya, and yogurt I made from some local milk. It was so beautiful I had to take a picture! Even the accompanying coffee (made with the same local milk and Costa Rican grown and processed sugar) was grown just over the mountain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnQ7Z7lS7SVjUNO9l2P_NNIKyMwK7Vd1_3cg-NIAlrOOrGDW06gFLrSF-EQ3lDGA6iARC38wqvG1etftv0q86kPaY9dGXIrhQTR2W3ruE40yI6r9EHOBxdwsRB45ejBe4A0BCCwB2cQQ/s1600/DSCN0193.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnQ7Z7lS7SVjUNO9l2P_NNIKyMwK7Vd1_3cg-NIAlrOOrGDW06gFLrSF-EQ3lDGA6iARC38wqvG1etftv0q86kPaY9dGXIrhQTR2W3ruE40yI6r9EHOBxdwsRB45ejBe4A0BCCwB2cQQ/s400/DSCN0193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570694384628749442" border="0" /></a><br />There is a bountiful amount of local food to choose from down here. Besides our banana tree, we had a pineapple growing in our yard, as well as a cinnamon tree. Our neighbors have an orange tree, a huge mango tree with baby mangoes on it, and a coconut palm that regularly drops its ripened fruit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYgtgshlINVVd0zvq6JbJ8qLIL1aNfMXoYkPoa2prASWrm_hBKMEWY9HkBBHJ4TBi2eZC1lMpbEZlfIzAAV0U5wpXAzY88lAGJZjFiI33cVWVb8C5yX92P2aqpcmS5Z4va-3Q5PUypo8/s1600/DSCN0214.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmYgtgshlINVVd0zvq6JbJ8qLIL1aNfMXoYkPoa2prASWrm_hBKMEWY9HkBBHJ4TBi2eZC1lMpbEZlfIzAAV0U5wpXAzY88lAGJZjFiI33cVWVb8C5yX92P2aqpcmS5Z4va-3Q5PUypo8/s400/DSCN0214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570727172580835250" border="0" /></a><br />There are even cocoa trees bearing fruit right down the road! The shiny whitish pod hanging from the tree in the middle of the photo is a developing cocoa pod. Chocolate trees!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_pZyUfvX2X-qaQqSXBvE_XkNQVlFrkxaxSuJZTCSiGO_Uvv-HVWGaL_OKWWpsmwOLep34VNYj-p3gPhOOpPjHMJIpPoxS-G7eH9rRu6l4RGfWJwbRInIoXp-Nu4scT_Kzp5GSueEz8o/s1600/DSCN9909.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_pZyUfvX2X-qaQqSXBvE_XkNQVlFrkxaxSuJZTCSiGO_Uvv-HVWGaL_OKWWpsmwOLep34VNYj-p3gPhOOpPjHMJIpPoxS-G7eH9rRu6l4RGfWJwbRInIoXp-Nu4scT_Kzp5GSueEz8o/s400/DSCN9909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570712283171187522" border="0" /></a><br />Every Saturday, I go to our local farmer's market where they have local fruits and veggies, honey, spices, eggs, chicken, and fish.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIA2i73QrylB7CmugRgweYUbKuP5B0VnSw5zqpffsnQmO798J-y2-3yK_G4trRk3MemUQFZ4Y3FvtJ5x1WX7XqX0q-7rk3v4BGFRT5l759BUxtq069V0MkPfoLAVCdxtczLQ2c7Ckzug/s1600/DSCN9929.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIA2i73QrylB7CmugRgweYUbKuP5B0VnSw5zqpffsnQmO798J-y2-3yK_G4trRk3MemUQFZ4Y3FvtJ5x1WX7XqX0q-7rk3v4BGFRT5l759BUxtq069V0MkPfoLAVCdxtczLQ2c7Ckzug/s400/DSCN9929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570703021842433058" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVxyhx3GZXhiEEeCBJ657AEwYpO9InlVLeG2Erlvfa5H2fIMRrnz9bZw-3xdat3kIBVKUA5TEvR9sEye0dKByv9gdnGwu0AZx2fm_x3Sco-f28G0M2g13YT71BHDNOYAUtxbesy3BlxE/s1600/DSCN9931.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVxyhx3GZXhiEEeCBJ657AEwYpO9InlVLeG2Erlvfa5H2fIMRrnz9bZw-3xdat3kIBVKUA5TEvR9sEye0dKByv9gdnGwu0AZx2fm_x3Sco-f28G0M2g13YT71BHDNOYAUtxbesy3BlxE/s400/DSCN9931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570703033318249858" border="0" /></a><br />We've been making delicious salads made exclusively from locally grown food. Even the fresh pepper, and the coconut oil and <span style="font-style: italic;">mandarina</span> limes used to dress the salad are local.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTBUAZxgJToZYqAiVBmxugYkh8jnDA85IxphLTKaj_jEOiO7NWdP-au5eQ8_nXIkUOGKojtmzOnn2hsS2Xv2HnfNWIYhSdqvIWcxJSTZdnT4MGsuEqE1rxufKW2JIHZCdC8ignOhqc9k/s1600/DSCN0210.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 330px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTBUAZxgJToZYqAiVBmxugYkh8jnDA85IxphLTKaj_jEOiO7NWdP-au5eQ8_nXIkUOGKojtmzOnn2hsS2Xv2HnfNWIYhSdqvIWcxJSTZdnT4MGsuEqE1rxufKW2JIHZCdC8ignOhqc9k/s400/DSCN0210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570721619044588722" border="0" /></a><br />The tortillas and black beans in this scrumptious quesadilla are "imported", but every other ingredient is local, including the cheese which was made north of here in Monteverde, Costa Rica. Too beautiful to be excluded from the photo-food-documentary, I thought.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hKqIpDYQnkns4muFSRaVV9buW4pVIfBwyUZbT-6VvGrFE2Ke60RMns5Bq_pbutgnrOiqX6IsOofq-PtYLIl3IFR7bSmGe82pA8fQk96RsfPNnLKlaIPHJ1BGVGkvDjbHngsbJe7wTlc/s1600/DSCN0196.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hKqIpDYQnkns4muFSRaVV9buW4pVIfBwyUZbT-6VvGrFE2Ke60RMns5Bq_pbutgnrOiqX6IsOofq-PtYLIl3IFR7bSmGe82pA8fQk96RsfPNnLKlaIPHJ1BGVGkvDjbHngsbJe7wTlc/s400/DSCN0196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570721612378255634" border="0" /></a><br />So Happy Groundhog's Day to everyone! I hope that (whether or not your neighborhood groundhog saw it's shadow) the rest of the winter brings joy and good food to each of your tables. And by the way, according to the shadow of the iguana that is currently eating bananas off of my "bird feeder", it looks like Costa Rica's definitely going to have 6 more weeks of summer, even though the children go back to school this week after their summer vacation.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Buen Provecho!</span>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-78196511091435398512011-02-01T17:26:00.000-08:002011-02-06T19:25:04.909-08:00Feliz Cumpleanos Cecelia!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDb8ZJfCSBxn7iUO528bqf15b9dtayXvUICsW6DDuJf90jgkbs_Rs0IIsM_-Dg-uBf2jmCjGSzPafpV6I3rZU5Nt7Rmow2c5cT5iZIIKYZN2h4dHDzVIKn2l6-5Xu1rvULHWkSpdZ1sbc/s1600/DSCN0021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDb8ZJfCSBxn7iUO528bqf15b9dtayXvUICsW6DDuJf90jgkbs_Rs0IIsM_-Dg-uBf2jmCjGSzPafpV6I3rZU5Nt7Rmow2c5cT5iZIIKYZN2h4dHDzVIKn2l6-5Xu1rvULHWkSpdZ1sbc/s400/DSCN0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570755050736219858" border="0" /></a><br />We just spent a wonderful week with my mom and niece, Cecelia, who celebrated her 12th birthday with us. Adalaya was especially ecstatic to have Cecelia visit since she's been deprived of hanging out with girls her age who speak English for way too long. Conveniently, Cecelia is also fluent in Spanish and helped us many times with our broken Spanish and aided in translation. During their visit we had many adventures, but the best day (according to the girls) was Cecelia's birthday. First, we went to Dominical, a touristy surfing town about 30 minutes away. There we watched some surfers and supported the beach-front vendors; we needed to get birthday presents for Cecelia, after all (and the rest of us found some presents for ourselves as well).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce_Log1hpzOdCLz9YgopLmYT9ojJZr8ffEOSrFKKzgbc5udS3vOvB98LreRvnV_qWwZrvz4tBo4iTGTiXHiCpCdXvnPbeUpGBfo1nJlCGBGM7wT9pcIZ5LGEre_HAT8hKyrQT3OHHpHE/s1600/DSCN3756.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce_Log1hpzOdCLz9YgopLmYT9ojJZr8ffEOSrFKKzgbc5udS3vOvB98LreRvnV_qWwZrvz4tBo4iTGTiXHiCpCdXvnPbeUpGBfo1nJlCGBGM7wT9pcIZ5LGEre_HAT8hKyrQT3OHHpHE/s400/DSCN3756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570755059034201778" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMFXhmP8WdL2bnvT0A-tEz6NdBFJhF4RCm92KYJfN_jyGYLHA132oFMhNifq0eTk7xQJ3WEsXw3plJB4CH2XxwGfe6_Z8ZiOEikCdaWic0EhvVAAUlhxPutNGfInrsPla2Z1GFDnR3Zc/s1600/DSCN3757.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMFXhmP8WdL2bnvT0A-tEz6NdBFJhF4RCm92KYJfN_jyGYLHA132oFMhNifq0eTk7xQJ3WEsXw3plJB4CH2XxwGfe6_Z8ZiOEikCdaWic0EhvVAAUlhxPutNGfInrsPla2Z1GFDnR3Zc/s400/DSCN3757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570755067278521458" border="0" /></a><br />George volunteered to hold down the hammock while we shopped.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzCK6_j7-svXogxZqTVrgy3i6GFRKXIVvvAZYU5BhfU6acp7kWkEZx5Dwk4P3NFYcsEj18ccr-SUsQKwBMJoXlu50Cnk10TJ8NOZAPMiEfmUuYetOKMpPqLGxL9pNDsxECGOLqlR3E2c/s1600/DSCN0114.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzCK6_j7-svXogxZqTVrgy3i6GFRKXIVvvAZYU5BhfU6acp7kWkEZx5Dwk4P3NFYcsEj18ccr-SUsQKwBMJoXlu50Cnk10TJ8NOZAPMiEfmUuYetOKMpPqLGxL9pNDsxECGOLqlR3E2c/s400/DSCN0114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570755067496036514" border="0" /></a><br />Then we got lunch at a good gringo restaurant, Tortilla Flats.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtO0tVf99sfzGywNGutcdHHs0oYtnzZNIj732MhsdCC90LAJ30aBsXj3kScJNmvHXkiiIvg0hUpBjNFKd1RfZg7ABtlBsazSGdcNDkQdAQHsBKowcTQEuLsLCYf4PzLNuvMD6WHipAJk/s1600/DSCN3754.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtO0tVf99sfzGywNGutcdHHs0oYtnzZNIj732MhsdCC90LAJ30aBsXj3kScJNmvHXkiiIvg0hUpBjNFKd1RfZg7ABtlBsazSGdcNDkQdAQHsBKowcTQEuLsLCYf4PzLNuvMD6WHipAJk/s400/DSCN3754.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570755056141067938" border="0" /></a><br />After lunch, we headed to our final destination for the next couple of days, Hacienda Baru, a wildlife refuge and resort just north of Dominical. We rented a little cabin for 2 nights, and within walking distance there was an orchid garden, butterfly garden, restaurant, swimming pool, beach, lots of hiking trails, a bird-watching tower, and (the girls' favorite thing) a canopy zipline.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgee8GiZfkAJOO2U98K5Fb30Z3I8csy-7ix9MGZGfNOOE9mkzd6MRbKMmw4EfMCqEx7_OhAezarR6jjTG4fN13qQ8avhTGrzm8YHCbg-5mteWOdGubkVXR3yJbdfLw-eq0lRHXgpwvNFoU/s1600/DSCN0101.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgee8GiZfkAJOO2U98K5Fb30Z3I8csy-7ix9MGZGfNOOE9mkzd6MRbKMmw4EfMCqEx7_OhAezarR6jjTG4fN13qQ8avhTGrzm8YHCbg-5mteWOdGubkVXR3yJbdfLw-eq0lRHXgpwvNFoU/s400/DSCN0101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570774801071038594" border="0" /></a><br />We did the zipline tour that afternoon, which started out with a guided hike from a hilarious guide named Carlos, who found pleasure in torturing little girls, especially birthday girls. He caught an anole lizard (who played dead), and the girls each reluctantly held the "dead" lizard, until Carlos woke it up when it was in Adalaya's hand.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aqnfJ4vwwJxL63SZ3XQiJMxQWz92U-g2ZSGDOSuRD4Fm9yGjNHCfmnaynaE4p3RxVFRxyS9gTaf1ADTYvRSvqQKUTiclVDdJKddw59kb8-UrJm_i0DLLLShYVVRYC1pXH8KnRr7VKfc/s1600/DSCN0030.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aqnfJ4vwwJxL63SZ3XQiJMxQWz92U-g2ZSGDOSuRD4Fm9yGjNHCfmnaynaE4p3RxVFRxyS9gTaf1ADTYvRSvqQKUTiclVDdJKddw59kb8-UrJm_i0DLLLShYVVRYC1pXH8KnRr7VKfc/s400/DSCN0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570759155530797218" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKhF-_7QzNAMBmOY4eMLWf2-MIab00FvZ5Orp43AobhXHyXUGEjAA1QeguGNBlwR1rDTrRuBYi2b96dFbfn5q22Euaqms4ui8E600J8eFRPjSDEmrZTK16dFxsDTsnjLDxB3gTLGcVi4/s1600/DSCN0031.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKhF-_7QzNAMBmOY4eMLWf2-MIab00FvZ5Orp43AobhXHyXUGEjAA1QeguGNBlwR1rDTrRuBYi2b96dFbfn5q22Euaqms4ui8E600J8eFRPjSDEmrZTK16dFxsDTsnjLDxB3gTLGcVi4/s400/DSCN0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570759160218444226" border="0" /></a><br />We also spotted a lone male pizote along the trail. These animals, also called coatis, were everywhere around Hacienda Baru.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HK7y2yjEfcYttwiG_k8PoHeyAwQoREpeIJkI4lP1QSaOjJftoLr2CIBS90HIdqPfZcG7u0pAT_LUEtwGCgDsF1TLEvnrJ2uOUWItKsswGYworC5QhGAbqJA155VE3CoigIvrY7llxog/s1600/pizote.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HK7y2yjEfcYttwiG_k8PoHeyAwQoREpeIJkI4lP1QSaOjJftoLr2CIBS90HIdqPfZcG7u0pAT_LUEtwGCgDsF1TLEvnrJ2uOUWItKsswGYworC5QhGAbqJA155VE3CoigIvrY7llxog/s400/pizote.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570759170367821970" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw several sloths in the treetops. One was actually awake and we were able to watch it move at it's "top speed" (slow and methodical) up one tree and into the branches of another tree.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRPquGujwGQBR1Rs5YzklsBgFp_MNbqxWMCZul2q9dfwdI_I4i483QGanC4FOMjZ8-XEkpR8KUer5a3zCCVB-kdvSt9egttZvsNnCONLSMlGqZua2PwqgZ73Pn245oBS8aa_uyMZUKCA/s1600/DSCN0034.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRPquGujwGQBR1Rs5YzklsBgFp_MNbqxWMCZul2q9dfwdI_I4i483QGanC4FOMjZ8-XEkpR8KUer5a3zCCVB-kdvSt9egttZvsNnCONLSMlGqZua2PwqgZ73Pn245oBS8aa_uyMZUKCA/s400/DSCN0034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570759166223555666" border="0" /></a><br />But the most exciting part of the tour was the zipline, which consisted of 8 cables through the rainforest canopy. Here's the birthday girl getting hooked into the first cable.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv2xG0Kdf77DdR0HoHYLmn0tELl5FzAcrnZ-gxdA5eUK0FH5_kfhiYEYKSO_pAYUpTOxsniSOobET8QSeauAKVSDFarHxGe5G6Ir8oYEq5M9e7c3t8i6UDTVFC3Vq7q0Drz9SiTHMijY/s1600/DSCN0043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv2xG0Kdf77DdR0HoHYLmn0tELl5FzAcrnZ-gxdA5eUK0FH5_kfhiYEYKSO_pAYUpTOxsniSOobET8QSeauAKVSDFarHxGe5G6Ir8oYEq5M9e7c3t8i6UDTVFC3Vq7q0Drz9SiTHMijY/s400/DSCN0043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570762783941868946" border="0" /></a><br />And she's off!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8ZTQ1BPKhsehtXeZB9VdRvmfydtjncKM7O3e5vXrRCpLsl0pGAvBIGyS53h4_N0q_rtLu9poZhKy_zjQ9Wvkzb7M08qcaYXsKsLcwKYQR7ir6lPsGPBq2zFFkmQPd_nm-fnJwb5DEK4/s1600/DSCN0054.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8ZTQ1BPKhsehtXeZB9VdRvmfydtjncKM7O3e5vXrRCpLsl0pGAvBIGyS53h4_N0q_rtLu9poZhKy_zjQ9Wvkzb7M08qcaYXsKsLcwKYQR7ir6lPsGPBq2zFFkmQPd_nm-fnJwb5DEK4/s400/DSCN0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570762796056198722" border="0" /></a><br />Here goes George of the Jungle!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjl6QoeffhvkCPM-OJQxZmAi_b7QEdGyBX301JjIRZ7tM__uBsjy_7_B8S7PQ-HtO4PErmFdin4cklx3B-XVuxX1_xTOFrhCG3z5yasDcrx2UebhHYZVA4oPK_Ach8l6kzXedZ-7ZdUE/s1600/DSCN0042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjl6QoeffhvkCPM-OJQxZmAi_b7QEdGyBX301JjIRZ7tM__uBsjy_7_B8S7PQ-HtO4PErmFdin4cklx3B-XVuxX1_xTOFrhCG3z5yasDcrx2UebhHYZVA4oPK_Ach8l6kzXedZ-7ZdUE/s400/DSCN0042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570759170247005122" border="0" /></a><br />Adalaya's a little nervous at first,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yr1ahN8noBPuDWX-L9VJSI9daSJQ9tl2f4YAhyphenhyphenuh9sKOILk0lcXuMR91_okjNF6xMJdhVMtcYlkNZ6A50JTHE-LBBhFINM9jGiIhtdWXyUCvfAfaKMFzPFOTpj7g6Zi1XY0ZHh3fhR8/s1600/DSCN0058.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yr1ahN8noBPuDWX-L9VJSI9daSJQ9tl2f4YAhyphenhyphenuh9sKOILk0lcXuMR91_okjNF6xMJdhVMtcYlkNZ6A50JTHE-LBBhFINM9jGiIhtdWXyUCvfAfaKMFzPFOTpj7g6Zi1XY0ZHh3fhR8/s400/DSCN0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570762800500924626" border="0" /></a><br />but she does great, except when Carlos makes the cable bounce!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFedpHFLm5fJ5tDVLCW3jdSXRF0Nqj1HfNmlGqv_yALXjdo91v-wZJfWqBNG9-NmXdvV4XXhcbggRCZAUFVJ-MU5IrgkqGgXpBNiHDCdaCneVSupNs4sROqVHPpSb_V9zPTu4sLClZlm0/s1600/DSCN0073.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFedpHFLm5fJ5tDVLCW3jdSXRF0Nqj1HfNmlGqv_yALXjdo91v-wZJfWqBNG9-NmXdvV4XXhcbggRCZAUFVJ-MU5IrgkqGgXpBNiHDCdaCneVSupNs4sROqVHPpSb_V9zPTu4sLClZlm0/s400/DSCN0073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570772436637723666" border="0" /></a><br />Here comes Lala!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qHnlB6B5xgpvdYIcdRTkwxOkg12UKxohd5iGfPeZq7SpbqLfoLXQST8nm-ahY96eSkUrO4uEDejhJu0kKp0Ls2y9iml5lZiMvgU5duqhoGsvzis_lzjJPICDv0hb_UQXUoYdjTzcc8M/s1600/DSCN0056.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qHnlB6B5xgpvdYIcdRTkwxOkg12UKxohd5iGfPeZq7SpbqLfoLXQST8nm-ahY96eSkUrO4uEDejhJu0kKp0Ls2y9iml5lZiMvgU5duqhoGsvzis_lzjJPICDv0hb_UQXUoYdjTzcc8M/s400/DSCN0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570771243811705634" border="0" /></a><br />Looks like she's enjoying herself.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa6fTlhAFxdU2-vecYV0qZFhdBl-rFNlByLzeZbNl2UFBhF8kvCJY797w82mhMUM6WQrzHT6o54LOwfaZ9Hv4QVCRpCAMdsD-3C5JTnax36EhdpcDaynjXkp-vESdgRUbttdFKHNokKg/s1600/DSCN0067.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOa6fTlhAFxdU2-vecYV0qZFhdBl-rFNlByLzeZbNl2UFBhF8kvCJY797w82mhMUM6WQrzHT6o54LOwfaZ9Hv4QVCRpCAMdsD-3C5JTnax36EhdpcDaynjXkp-vESdgRUbttdFKHNokKg/s400/DSCN0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570771900889246706" border="0" /></a><br />Watch out, here I come!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnhxynTfFEUefFTwc_s69d7Rt9ieng6YJHDRXXLaSizFjReVlO4mAzL78K4h56RzlgTfBRHn0L_8XMIVYc9Ksvg4Um1fOUj2bcdha-hMbN2CQb55td9_m7Jl_FrJm35uXBSDPgj1iPWw/s1600/DSCN0059.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnhxynTfFEUefFTwc_s69d7Rt9ieng6YJHDRXXLaSizFjReVlO4mAzL78K4h56RzlgTfBRHn0L_8XMIVYc9Ksvg4Um1fOUj2bcdha-hMbN2CQb55td9_m7Jl_FrJm35uXBSDPgj1iPWw/s400/DSCN0059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570771599773231474" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are in a huge tree near the top of the canopy, about 300 feet or so above the ground, about to go for another ride.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNI87CMgub1jz3jozmGLV7trcorWI9FDotb7pcNYPPbWW-DNN-YMV9TgOzZVy7juJhoNOCj3e6NsjNHl1MdRqGfAPeek31ms6JUd7RVmPrtDCwkb7jAnGCZq8NGFLZ6AEVSEABRuXqYk/s1600/DSCN0069.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNI87CMgub1jz3jozmGLV7trcorWI9FDotb7pcNYPPbWW-DNN-YMV9TgOzZVy7juJhoNOCj3e6NsjNHl1MdRqGfAPeek31ms6JUd7RVmPrtDCwkb7jAnGCZq8NGFLZ6AEVSEABRuXqYk/s400/DSCN0069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570772795092189650" border="0" /></a><br />Carlos declared that every birthday girl must have bunny ears!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVLWPmxMVTueOdac1y8Gm42ZG6cxF9qlLI3S2TsmRS1xCd35iQt7V_9hoXi8OyTIZr3c1aeCV-i-2Syla_7pWeubxcEekpILFS9zLF2817HXSjtZ8urCQFK0pveGGspu0dmo8p7sSdC0/s1600/DSCN0066.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVLWPmxMVTueOdac1y8Gm42ZG6cxF9qlLI3S2TsmRS1xCd35iQt7V_9hoXi8OyTIZr3c1aeCV-i-2Syla_7pWeubxcEekpILFS9zLF2817HXSjtZ8urCQFK0pveGGspu0dmo8p7sSdC0/s400/DSCN0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570762802954584514" border="0" /></a><br />For the last of the 8 cables, Carlos sent us <span style="font-style: italic;">backwards</span>, but not without a little bit of torturing the girls first.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToJ3m9PQ-TQHz4Kfl8yEWv3ksvbEvSGkINLwys59PgKKh2bIsafS7RBSZYbEk7ouXOcpGlUl1NUuFEYhq8NSwEdoNj7sXpAMZN_crOlOjU-CdKB0p5BamFA2Yw892TPsx4afER_6YTRs/s1600/DSCN0079.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToJ3m9PQ-TQHz4Kfl8yEWv3ksvbEvSGkINLwys59PgKKh2bIsafS7RBSZYbEk7ouXOcpGlUl1NUuFEYhq8NSwEdoNj7sXpAMZN_crOlOjU-CdKB0p5BamFA2Yw892TPsx4afER_6YTRs/s400/DSCN0079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570773331204862674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cb7LCxJHhUT5w9Vk7A1cDyRGVeUdKjZfh69wOEOu2lYYkv5mI_AegL2GvVm1U33jaGIE2TJkvSTwHTjuo1a7j3vmfR7eiWl8QibS4wFuH8E1XosUd10ZOEK-5pQqpb5KRO0MQsWWRIo/s1600/DSCN0083.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cb7LCxJHhUT5w9Vk7A1cDyRGVeUdKjZfh69wOEOu2lYYkv5mI_AegL2GvVm1U33jaGIE2TJkvSTwHTjuo1a7j3vmfR7eiWl8QibS4wFuH8E1XosUd10ZOEK-5pQqpb5KRO0MQsWWRIo/s400/DSCN0083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570773335388622962" border="0" /></a><br />For dinner, we ate under the palm thatched huts across from our cabin.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZj6hQjHiBSzzm932p4yQHaNIOUcqNE7vZm36wKoA6ucsMekiQJIP8D4s45Lcru4PMrR8pzfmNLcNZofryK9HjR6A_np71XQgQnea7BKK_9cs4Kxl2QvwQw-1ZzyYE4080H_9YeZzuqg/s1600/DSCN0088.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZj6hQjHiBSzzm932p4yQHaNIOUcqNE7vZm36wKoA6ucsMekiQJIP8D4s45Lcru4PMrR8pzfmNLcNZofryK9HjR6A_np71XQgQnea7BKK_9cs4Kxl2QvwQw-1ZzyYE4080H_9YeZzuqg/s400/DSCN0088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570773976919764082" border="0" /></a><br />Then we headed back to our bungalow for BIRTHDAY CAKE! <br />Feliz Cumpleanos Cecelia!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhLym6MfO63_Kfiyn8CpPZoYQIfhcy710kp0koTlV2ViXpR4EP4gDWZ24bBjCjJgq-xU0F9gZ6QlImXfTn_3AlbQ1tXv37BWS89R7_LHsILVtuGpZmOyoetB1guEuXh1EytnF0HftP3A/s1600/DSCN0096.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhLym6MfO63_Kfiyn8CpPZoYQIfhcy710kp0koTlV2ViXpR4EP4gDWZ24bBjCjJgq-xU0F9gZ6QlImXfTn_3AlbQ1tXv37BWS89R7_LHsILVtuGpZmOyoetB1guEuXh1EytnF0HftP3A/s400/DSCN0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570774791907932146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetChvL2YJF8NJei65rbDk8VtMhXNn8V1_kfUgnJSC83CJboilLAxd3FhUqsp4gfmlTGKbzE68k1eAe8JhVDnVT7yydYi4jcORDigZ9JgUgH8Iid43CiD0Gtk2DaLdQao-_uJCORRunCM/s1600/DSCN0098.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetChvL2YJF8NJei65rbDk8VtMhXNn8V1_kfUgnJSC83CJboilLAxd3FhUqsp4gfmlTGKbzE68k1eAe8JhVDnVT7yydYi4jcORDigZ9JgUgH8Iid43CiD0Gtk2DaLdQao-_uJCORRunCM/s400/DSCN0098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570774794404458370" border="0" /></a><br />It was a great day, and I think everyone had a great week. We got to explore this huge <span style="font-style: italic;">Chilemate </span>tree with it's massive buttressed root system.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPqEsq6WKPYiCje79XVEvEV9RsgYtqXurl5Z3_p7Q0uX8pJq2RhDfkKtPyhh7uda5GcZ_nZTHGB7QEjxYssOh_dcywDx7g4jgFpUQ3I57fkzFhnL-OwdrKMsW0LJS4zBGRXWliytlem4/s1600/DSCN0127.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivPqEsq6WKPYiCje79XVEvEV9RsgYtqXurl5Z3_p7Q0uX8pJq2RhDfkKtPyhh7uda5GcZ_nZTHGB7QEjxYssOh_dcywDx7g4jgFpUQ3I57fkzFhnL-OwdrKMsW0LJS4zBGRXWliytlem4/s400/DSCN0127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570776206649380274" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsi5cbFQFF8HH9T5cMNCNQ1dSclSDw23iAXuY6AH0Z3mQMPiIUgFOylDHYGhZ29n0s6OtGkd2Kkcq6nSlxaZLW_hoPvTYHyWGDcIZQQzyDpnu1R4-KNWysPQxFvy5FHxb6ZwIlM-gDKdk/s1600/DSCN0131.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsi5cbFQFF8HH9T5cMNCNQ1dSclSDw23iAXuY6AH0Z3mQMPiIUgFOylDHYGhZ29n0s6OtGkd2Kkcq6nSlxaZLW_hoPvTYHyWGDcIZQQzyDpnu1R4-KNWysPQxFvy5FHxb6ZwIlM-gDKdk/s400/DSCN0131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570776207659324114" border="0" /></a><br />George found more time to lay around in the hammock between heated games of gin with Lala.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFybjtTG4fKO36zIF-o8HL_19a9eRLQQQwFJDmb6B6bkg6sNRZtdJGajpQKPIlk5-soPeq0ZqJWqsnyh6W5Dm7z0J0RPPzPzi-L_TUKbc_ucAwuO_tZvBRvS72im_QStBq1cbRXZkn7Y8/s1600/DSCN0119.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFybjtTG4fKO36zIF-o8HL_19a9eRLQQQwFJDmb6B6bkg6sNRZtdJGajpQKPIlk5-soPeq0ZqJWqsnyh6W5Dm7z0J0RPPzPzi-L_TUKbc_ucAwuO_tZvBRvS72im_QStBq1cbRXZkn7Y8/s400/DSCN0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570776198763627138" border="0" /></a><br />And the girls had some good swimming time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc0pg_4bj04FYwpEB5sxS45dzAaI9qg3Lp_1UThQHgUoHuiibp4uxDy4Vc8SiWdivo7lpBO4UT1d52gzOeveYTS-VM_tD5HjydWUQQN5igdI5tsoXeQE_Bri42U-UxkUytg06vaPQ40k/s1600/DSCN0120.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc0pg_4bj04FYwpEB5sxS45dzAaI9qg3Lp_1UThQHgUoHuiibp4uxDy4Vc8SiWdivo7lpBO4UT1d52gzOeveYTS-VM_tD5HjydWUQQN5igdI5tsoXeQE_Bri42U-UxkUytg06vaPQ40k/s400/DSCN0120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570776214312399698" border="0" /></a><br />When Lala and Cece left, however, they took Adalaya with them because she couldn't bear the thought of traveling for 2 more months with her parents. I reluctantly let her go, knowing that she needs time with her friends in familiar territory. I hated to say goodbye, though, and for the first time on this trip I am feeling homesick now that my girl is back in North Carolina without me! I can't believe I let her go!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eFg_AjMR3vjG-t5wPiQ5DbC1Zbh4uFVeXyxsDfCGENbXV39AULLXzRKvsS955xW2mKWgdC1w-8MwpP9RraV4aCq8lnXWJnj2I91E_TM24BcbJcI1lghZpSJoGMiRav5F_pt7d-WIzHA/s1600/DSCN0171.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eFg_AjMR3vjG-t5wPiQ5DbC1Zbh4uFVeXyxsDfCGENbXV39AULLXzRKvsS955xW2mKWgdC1w-8MwpP9RraV4aCq8lnXWJnj2I91E_TM24BcbJcI1lghZpSJoGMiRav5F_pt7d-WIzHA/s400/DSCN0171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570776759481914242" border="0" /></a><br />But she's having a great time, and it's giving George and me some much needed time to ourselves.3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-13265323028668242702011-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:002011-02-06T17:25:55.215-08:00Beautiful ButterfliesMy mom visited us last week, and we visited 2 butterfly gardens while she was here. Here's a few of the magnificent creatures we saw.<br /><br />Costa Rica's most famous butterfly is the Blue Morpho, and there are actually several different species of them here, but they all have the distinctive electric blue color on the upper sides of their wings. We've seen several flying around since we've been in Costa Rica, but I've found it impossible to get a good photo of their blue flashes, and when they land they hide their blue and show their camouflage and "owl eyes". Here are mating morphos.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji80JxF44ZbErWVt9y2ql13LlaQaBoe-EfpYhuNZ5sptI8ui3xE64dEQEmw6rt10UxcnIkuok5R7xUP7tbGmIZ7q03U6jlDenFbyvrW_xjQ4-K60vYJ22LCWWJIsWY59loI0b2LnvVK20/s1600/DSCN0005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji80JxF44ZbErWVt9y2ql13LlaQaBoe-EfpYhuNZ5sptI8ui3xE64dEQEmw6rt10UxcnIkuok5R7xUP7tbGmIZ7q03U6jlDenFbyvrW_xjQ4-K60vYJ22LCWWJIsWY59loI0b2LnvVK20/s400/DSCN0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570747768689494578" border="0" /></a><br />And the owner of the first butterfly garden showed us the blue on the upper side of this morpho.<br />Some species are almost entirely blue on the tops of their wings, and it is a breathtaking sight to see them fly around you in the forest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqXYj5uGeht1zCB86cPxfIfpTxXmgtftNTTSy4XHxSAmlYsu0ke4uNftYCPAl7ui-Cb22Ic405Pt4P_XKsjaHyhMQUDdWVnOE1AZJNIRHzZyzO-WSPBpv9bYENqQ9Sf0klW8hV4fmOq4/s1600/DSCN9996.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqXYj5uGeht1zCB86cPxfIfpTxXmgtftNTTSy4XHxSAmlYsu0ke4uNftYCPAl7ui-Cb22Ic405Pt4P_XKsjaHyhMQUDdWVnOE1AZJNIRHzZyzO-WSPBpv9bYENqQ9Sf0klW8hV4fmOq4/s400/DSCN9996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570747763663237890" border="0" /></a><br />This beautiful butterfly looks just like a dried-up leaf when closed . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqq3Zep4GgdPFIpyJI-iRRFIa4U7xCRpTl_KPDBfI7CRd-B2uTmAK2RSewduaPADy_P9kE0QR3B3JEW8Z7lLICTI2L4Dvq3oQUBi-msbRxjyqQmw1pH2LzqLsIgqIk1MSlTbiOJBv4S0/s1600/DSCN0011.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqq3Zep4GgdPFIpyJI-iRRFIa4U7xCRpTl_KPDBfI7CRd-B2uTmAK2RSewduaPADy_P9kE0QR3B3JEW8Z7lLICTI2L4Dvq3oQUBi-msbRxjyqQmw1pH2LzqLsIgqIk1MSlTbiOJBv4S0/s400/DSCN0011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570747775850870274" border="0" /></a><br />but opens up to this beautiful spectacle of color!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NWsd6VXfaPn2oaG8VjFOEuLzqscGXjOW2PqAGZ2UaU5hXPU7gR4a2JylO0hGVDF9xv6ZvAX-fHya9sHkk7iyY3qtrFMeZfAATU1NAz6a4iUspRth41Agxvph7AzGHo5V_nWQMFlQ5fo/s1600/DSCN0009.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NWsd6VXfaPn2oaG8VjFOEuLzqscGXjOW2PqAGZ2UaU5hXPU7gR4a2JylO0hGVDF9xv6ZvAX-fHya9sHkk7iyY3qtrFMeZfAATU1NAz6a4iUspRth41Agxvph7AzGHo5V_nWQMFlQ5fo/s400/DSCN0009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570747773662220994" border="0" /></a><br />These Postman Butterflies had just hatched and were drying and pumping their wings before their first flight.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPmBppO4mpCk0ptEs2wqrXShsFzA1TCj7jgpU_NcJyo4eHydBxK5O-nVAok5vsS6VB0agMrT2tZS78kefNmcV7tT56zyWrl1obtFuXMakLbf7uqw10b7mF63uQ5Hnrv7IRH5-7rdCIec/s1600/DSCN0012.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPmBppO4mpCk0ptEs2wqrXShsFzA1TCj7jgpU_NcJyo4eHydBxK5O-nVAok5vsS6VB0agMrT2tZS78kefNmcV7tT56zyWrl1obtFuXMakLbf7uqw10b7mF63uQ5Hnrv7IRH5-7rdCIec/s400/DSCN0012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570747778476211650" border="0" /></a><br />Another favorite of mine is this large Banded Owl Butterfly. It measured about 6 inches in length, and when it flew, you could see patches of yellow and purple on the upper sides of it's wings. We even spotted one of these flying in the wild!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WCzh3aptaP7FnS_khIDWSDQsLg55RHA-agR1BSXCvrv0QArZLTkw5LKD6Q6tM3BiVio4y3zCqIEjAhC71_PMOZockneoPmYkitqr-gF7D7O3U3hjG4dO3vYWCU5B4UkfkPxsbkyGHb8/s1600/DSCN0019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WCzh3aptaP7FnS_khIDWSDQsLg55RHA-agR1BSXCvrv0QArZLTkw5LKD6Q6tM3BiVio4y3zCqIEjAhC71_PMOZockneoPmYkitqr-gF7D7O3U3hjG4dO3vYWCU5B4UkfkPxsbkyGHb8/s400/DSCN0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570750665561403314" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-75086544141097390012011-01-23T21:52:00.000-08:002011-02-06T14:57:46.366-08:00Super-Trooper, World Traveling Grana<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi4m_oCqvUvMZrL2SMaU_v9XFq2bwwxNeOjPnmmxzju68f8q_IxlcO1RsW9lpUHFbGxzb1JCpgIrJnBe2yobOuzPfd9zyNaxkoq_q-3CNgp7T9ovYGbcTlnd8C1NESfJHnlgJBApZhKE/s1600/DSCN9596.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHi4m_oCqvUvMZrL2SMaU_v9XFq2bwwxNeOjPnmmxzju68f8q_IxlcO1RsW9lpUHFbGxzb1JCpgIrJnBe2yobOuzPfd9zyNaxkoq_q-3CNgp7T9ovYGbcTlnd8C1NESfJHnlgJBApZhKE/s400/DSCN9596.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569158849162031026" border="0" /></a><br />George's mom, lovingly called Grana, is quite the adventure traveler. She travels the world with her sister, and they have visited such amazing places as China, Africa, New Zealand, Egypt; and now she can add Costa Rica to her list. She visited us for a week, and once again I marveled at how adventurous her spirit is. She wanted to go on an adventure with us while she was here, and we were happy to oblige. We wanted to visit Corcovado National Park, so we booked a stay at one of the Corcovado Ranger Stations, the Sirena Station, in the heart of the park.<br /><br />Our adventure started with a taxi ride at dawn to the town of Sierpe, and to a restaurant / tour outfit called Las Vegas, where we boarded our boat.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EVkm1jDEOnJF4Ek1ugyYkSGXcw7csIgoY_TZn9TVvXeQi_FDlTqrJe89BnEQSy_BHlAlnkS8LvW_LZUqkR3hfiLmSc9uUjuj2ShVad3o3E76MbQDpn3Q_JXgsB6RrMV_XjqB55wShy0/s1600/DSCN9865.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EVkm1jDEOnJF4Ek1ugyYkSGXcw7csIgoY_TZn9TVvXeQi_FDlTqrJe89BnEQSy_BHlAlnkS8LvW_LZUqkR3hfiLmSc9uUjuj2ShVad3o3E76MbQDpn3Q_JXgsB6RrMV_XjqB55wShy0/s400/DSCN9865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569162783198097554" border="0" /></a><br />We took a 2 1/2 hour boat ride which started out on the Sierpe River, through Costa Rica's largest mangrove forest.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQgu5f0BX2RpJN13uTrrt0O_81nWKjB0mEQT6i7yM7a-Jdqv0P9UjzanCaFHZ4z39hRlikRiBGgOSy8T88jVBuxgKwOyaUvQvcOGuTLVYPK0U-aDo9q9TM9An8MLIBqugnXhvYXDUIj0/s1600/DSCN4318.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQgu5f0BX2RpJN13uTrrt0O_81nWKjB0mEQT6i7yM7a-Jdqv0P9UjzanCaFHZ4z39hRlikRiBGgOSy8T88jVBuxgKwOyaUvQvcOGuTLVYPK0U-aDo9q9TM9An8MLIBqugnXhvYXDUIj0/s400/DSCN4318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569158829856039874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mp6G6xPYMTJT3n35HlC3-R6wcoMEDANo1Ks1hgIgvL79s5yZf2xW-4GsZOhU3MswZGkncOx_dTbC_vps9d-LI0UnwnCsRsCVBjQzxtTmOiZiTPaxGy6paagc3VSmIhVxz__mmy9KXHE/s1600/DSCN4453.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mp6G6xPYMTJT3n35HlC3-R6wcoMEDANo1Ks1hgIgvL79s5yZf2xW-4GsZOhU3MswZGkncOx_dTbC_vps9d-LI0UnwnCsRsCVBjQzxtTmOiZiTPaxGy6paagc3VSmIhVxz__mmy9KXHE/s400/DSCN4453.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569160904174736034" border="0" /></a><br />About 45 minutes into our boat ride, we came to the mouth of the river and ventured out into the ocean. For the rest of our journey to Sirena Station, we rode along the beautiful, rugged, rocky, jungley coast, and Grana and I were singing our praises to our sea-sickness medication!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI0P2uiWhf6uAazwKrx8Byd2uFXts3EGSzBjI6pgrA5ASSN7KMGy3L_2dIYan9MzyfxXdtqn8ds5ngUp81p941W3bYkBXPcWU7YZuywBmuMfF6Is8nHH9jpTbO1PEXuTq-OSr5suuoSs/s1600/DSCN4445.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKI0P2uiWhf6uAazwKrx8Byd2uFXts3EGSzBjI6pgrA5ASSN7KMGy3L_2dIYan9MzyfxXdtqn8ds5ngUp81p941W3bYkBXPcWU7YZuywBmuMfF6Is8nHH9jpTbO1PEXuTq-OSr5suuoSs/s400/DSCN4445.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569165691685471010" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdY-o0zSJfx7w8blTOgjuegxs7FrPwvVfV6ikBnldBwX-QuAU3OhMr0JJqe9z1oISXFDu2Z4v6BxR2jgut-fGwmVhyphenhyphenfpte0bGFIoAQZhW11qEOk8EpLjj4qe9aiYH0C2SG3nkkzrLgtg/s1600/DSCN4441.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdY-o0zSJfx7w8blTOgjuegxs7FrPwvVfV6ikBnldBwX-QuAU3OhMr0JJqe9z1oISXFDu2Z4v6BxR2jgut-fGwmVhyphenhyphenfpte0bGFIoAQZhW11qEOk8EpLjj4qe9aiYH0C2SG3nkkzrLgtg/s400/DSCN4441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569165687126590066" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fuNy7hIImtV2xoUxIlsUPC3FwSV0COiQ3Co7q_UiVoHDws-PBokzu-tStS9ULUktWNhcU03K4YTYXQpp_562Nvjhd6yrNdmqdpITfPua2EmXNXs_sQfxl5Jo8R3qr6h1fPs45EfBA7A/s1600/DSCN4449.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fuNy7hIImtV2xoUxIlsUPC3FwSV0COiQ3Co7q_UiVoHDws-PBokzu-tStS9ULUktWNhcU03K4YTYXQpp_562Nvjhd6yrNdmqdpITfPua2EmXNXs_sQfxl5Jo8R3qr6h1fPs45EfBA7A/s400/DSCN4449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200127830996450" border="0" /></a><br />We were dropped of in the waves near the beach, thrilled to be on terra firma once again.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen8OolqqLGZrqfT0vAc5Hx5hhGu-Pzyd67FF7yhMLpksWuNOPmwnpBZ3XFVmwBf0VXOQMJBYJ8YU4IPJ7QmOYLqUecX0mOKsmJEmWeMjpquFYTNIPFfNWICACG13oJfCqnPj46Vqv2KY/s1600/DSCN4319.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen8OolqqLGZrqfT0vAc5Hx5hhGu-Pzyd67FF7yhMLpksWuNOPmwnpBZ3XFVmwBf0VXOQMJBYJ8YU4IPJ7QmOYLqUecX0mOKsmJEmWeMjpquFYTNIPFfNWICACG13oJfCqnPj46Vqv2KY/s400/DSCN4319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569158831932761538" border="0" /></a><br />After unloading the boat and putting our shoes on, we were ready to explore the park.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoHym_qMr8-KTFlMQnO9wkXf0V4j_cs3j4_R-U6II1dXfrz7ivoXHX6uoRau9kOlBXsEfF9bU-bZ91k1Mzx664dnELF_IazmDJonyMg9_2Jtyid5cEbeOwN37aLY6OCE1N3fdqHAK3xU/s1600/DSCN9629.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoHym_qMr8-KTFlMQnO9wkXf0V4j_cs3j4_R-U6II1dXfrz7ivoXHX6uoRau9kOlBXsEfF9bU-bZ91k1Mzx664dnELF_IazmDJonyMg9_2Jtyid5cEbeOwN37aLY6OCE1N3fdqHAK3xU/s400/DSCN9629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569158834773947010" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzcPUETyioo3ttL8Il-G4KTpf5l5VDZmqjtzaovNM-0h8IhLIFj4_B6KZ9g2TzkvwNl63wIRSHuIP-Gui-8jVgak5qZ_445OU2nlt1aHu6DBb6kYeprt7IsePGU_AXAqutw9za7NJZaQ/s1600/DSCN9630.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzcPUETyioo3ttL8Il-G4KTpf5l5VDZmqjtzaovNM-0h8IhLIFj4_B6KZ9g2TzkvwNl63wIRSHuIP-Gui-8jVgak5qZ_445OU2nlt1aHu6DBb6kYeprt7IsePGU_AXAqutw9za7NJZaQ/s400/DSCN9630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569158846432758226" border="0" /></a><br />In the 24 hours that we were in Corcovado National Park, we saw an unbelievable amount of wildlife. There was something climbing or flying through the canopy, or strolling through the forest floor nearly everywhere we looked. We wouldn't have seen nearly as much as we did, however, without our amazing guide. His name is Fernando, but he told us to call him "Gato", meaning Cat. And just like a cat, he spotted animals when other guides passed them by. He also knew everything we could have wanted to know about any of the animals we saw.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnBejigghGSnGOCKaX6-2mbXyo-gu7PFaOyuM_0IwNojYbTrQ6jR9YMaknGic4HX1aOkoI1nEA04-q0KbCJzowiOkjbxJfzSTyvF9lIKdZ_mWLJuQxLF6trp2WL8INSePsF5wwqveaKs/s1600/DSCN9821.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnBejigghGSnGOCKaX6-2mbXyo-gu7PFaOyuM_0IwNojYbTrQ6jR9YMaknGic4HX1aOkoI1nEA04-q0KbCJzowiOkjbxJfzSTyvF9lIKdZ_mWLJuQxLF6trp2WL8INSePsF5wwqveaKs/s400/DSCN9821.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569165679179621570" border="0" /></a><br />Grana made a list of all the animals we saw on our multiple walks with Gato, and in 2 days she had written down over 30 different types of animals, including:<br /><br />Peccaries (We saw both species, the white-lipped and the collared peccaries.) Here's a group white-lipped peccaries, supposedly the most aggressive mammal in Costa Rica, but these barely seemed to notice our existence.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx5yfntkebz63nNM2V0YxlhMpqRBnBCgRPe7T5zaPnea5t6tIwITw-h8MubMODVwtftbBxgjvzIheDgz_PHOX3siSekfEaScQVtTWXYbAkqp_H7MNWsUi0kAlR9_9btfKapG4YiyLfSo/s1600/DSCN4369.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDx5yfntkebz63nNM2V0YxlhMpqRBnBCgRPe7T5zaPnea5t6tIwITw-h8MubMODVwtftbBxgjvzIheDgz_PHOX3siSekfEaScQVtTWXYbAkqp_H7MNWsUi0kAlR9_9btfKapG4YiyLfSo/s400/DSCN4369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569177234581875314" border="0" /></a><br />Grana got to see all 4 species of monkeys! You'll have to look in a previous post to see the howler monkeys, but here's photos of the other 3 kinds:<br />Spider monkeys have the strongest prehensile tails of any monkey, but have lost their thumbs throughout evolution.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNORHscO0uxoW9SIf1PIiCdPJvYxAlQLjMlnuElEzh9kDIkqOykj_d4VLJyKOCJgWZAvlYgF7GXgvqvVcwkZPceSjofnBKKoaPa-KJ8JfCT3E5k7_BVb86dsKwh_mpbjei8kQ2Zc63oic/s1600/DSCN4425.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNORHscO0uxoW9SIf1PIiCdPJvYxAlQLjMlnuElEzh9kDIkqOykj_d4VLJyKOCJgWZAvlYgF7GXgvqvVcwkZPceSjofnBKKoaPa-KJ8JfCT3E5k7_BVb86dsKwh_mpbjei8kQ2Zc63oic/s400/DSCN4425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569175714445263570" border="0" /></a><br />White-Faced Capuchin Monkeys are exceedingly smart and use tools like sticks to eat termites, and have also been known to tie 2 ears of corn together by their husks and wrap them around their necks so they can carry more when raiding a farmer's corn patch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJio-su4HWS4fkhL1FHSKcSbslfey0r2Neb5lgE_5xnFX0g3yZ0o6gfjaCLhClKp2ZlTc-UYT-y3S-7aDS2juD-MSTdnRwL0UzW3LI41D8Bf4r6_WlcDxo2VL1xUoL5gLmD9hrD0jlKp8/s1600/DSCN4355.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJio-su4HWS4fkhL1FHSKcSbslfey0r2Neb5lgE_5xnFX0g3yZ0o6gfjaCLhClKp2ZlTc-UYT-y3S-7aDS2juD-MSTdnRwL0UzW3LI41D8Bf4r6_WlcDxo2VL1xUoL5gLmD9hrD0jlKp8/s400/DSCN4355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569175710057518258" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw the Squirrel Monkeys, who are by far the smallest and cutest of them all. We even got to see a baby squirrel monkey - too cute!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4u3a7KroM2lxdQvVEHARFhhe_9grrXrwonvLmjoTu1PQMuS2eYld-kevAQY_VrWsBuGUigPciftFI1J1ylNcxSeuZHLTRr6b4Eb0gmilkW92lCB0Qyyu1T4G37F3-CzvqFjwkWy2y2c/s1600/DSCN4345.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4u3a7KroM2lxdQvVEHARFhhe_9grrXrwonvLmjoTu1PQMuS2eYld-kevAQY_VrWsBuGUigPciftFI1J1ylNcxSeuZHLTRr6b4Eb0gmilkW92lCB0Qyyu1T4G37F3-CzvqFjwkWy2y2c/s400/DSCN4345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569175708800333794" border="0" /></a><br />We also had the rare opportunity to see a Tapir, the largest land mammal in Costa Rica. It's the size of a small cow, and we caught a glimpse of it while it was napping.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-qNo4mD_2zgaUqV9317d11E1I7AOH9lXHw9_LJwkCV8aLhW-mG9gnDRj3kh0w2Z5ALPQjgKqjB5_VhQ4WCzonSkMq9x8zoYNeYtZeOMMZBX21uvXfO7BpkwpzujP9zG9PE4jyAyoKw4/s1600/DSCN9690.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-qNo4mD_2zgaUqV9317d11E1I7AOH9lXHw9_LJwkCV8aLhW-mG9gnDRj3kh0w2Z5ALPQjgKqjB5_VhQ4WCzonSkMq9x8zoYNeYtZeOMMZBX21uvXfO7BpkwpzujP9zG9PE4jyAyoKw4/s400/DSCN9690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569177246813302770" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw many 3-toed Tapir tracks in the mud, like this one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YSTzjTIYDD-J_GZDotRGuPt9eJIv_mC201OeHXb8BI2tjDjuR5C2Ue0hX55_FBCKurlT6E_esGiX9R3GMR5xcjKYXsDyAd_19Fdyue1zIgtIDE-SEWdAQb2ub4SXBY1u6LelXnks0ps/s1600/DSCN4398.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YSTzjTIYDD-J_GZDotRGuPt9eJIv_mC201OeHXb8BI2tjDjuR5C2Ue0hX55_FBCKurlT6E_esGiX9R3GMR5xcjKYXsDyAd_19Fdyue1zIgtIDE-SEWdAQb2ub4SXBY1u6LelXnks0ps/s400/DSCN4398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569177242158528866" border="0" /></a><br />Bull sharks also inhabit the waters in and around Corcovado. Bull sharks are able to tolerate both fresh water and salt water, and we saw several of them surfing in the waves at the mouth of the river. Here we are watching for them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW9p1Dre0hYuUUPWW8onTBFOalmI4i9CgVClVODcCHamDX19FlN9QKBdmjCbMZipZgqq_NJf9GMgznpYXZQayQC6zzOfYGZ8wUvPLxXDHW635wBrofzxzaF2knagQmKZD2A-8pS1gYfs/s1600/DSCN9687.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW9p1Dre0hYuUUPWW8onTBFOalmI4i9CgVClVODcCHamDX19FlN9QKBdmjCbMZipZgqq_NJf9GMgznpYXZQayQC6zzOfYGZ8wUvPLxXDHW635wBrofzxzaF2knagQmKZD2A-8pS1gYfs/s400/DSCN9687.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569178181678145122" border="0" /></a><br />And here is the fin of one Bull Shark.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPMpsOVBfEoF0kxT1sRW-Bf78s192lrJt9UqbO7KXMtmQCR3AotgM6fsupH9eCRDoeAtnwWBrBcyvinIEcvCm5qX7yH3-bf8iM_1hHa806hv_PKoGxw7ylF6XIB3F2REIYdYVjl4zdOE/s1600/DSCN9686.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPMpsOVBfEoF0kxT1sRW-Bf78s192lrJt9UqbO7KXMtmQCR3AotgM6fsupH9eCRDoeAtnwWBrBcyvinIEcvCm5qX7yH3-bf8iM_1hHa806hv_PKoGxw7ylF6XIB3F2REIYdYVjl4zdOE/s400/DSCN9686.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569178185294993762" border="0" /></a><br />We spent the night at the Sirena Ranger Station Dormitory, a pleasant (but very basic) hostel-style complex, where you have to hike in from the beach landing. If you ever decide to come here, which I highly recommend, be sure to bring your own sheet and pillow. Luckily, we asked about these things before we came, but we failed to ask about bringing toilet paper, and evidently this is a BYOTP kind of place.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpx43a8usVg1KovyUHbzWCeLmyUPmVxfoD6TVQbU2EfQ-kJ-6MFLs17cMCpRcJnWOYTW4M6CbP1D4jKGVV9THylUtePFZfrPUDzOV0gIIz_L2eeU64kbuTUE3uKK75Wdc1l6ETCCzhyphenhyphenI/s1600/DSCN9720.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpx43a8usVg1KovyUHbzWCeLmyUPmVxfoD6TVQbU2EfQ-kJ-6MFLs17cMCpRcJnWOYTW4M6CbP1D4jKGVV9THylUtePFZfrPUDzOV0gIIz_L2eeU64kbuTUE3uKK75Wdc1l6ETCCzhyphenhyphenI/s400/DSCN9720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569178201741434786" border="0" /></a><br />Luckily, Gato rounded some up for us. Like Grana said, "Bless his heart-strings!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVne57BSS9z3IGX38sJplv3kvQ49MYBsRpt4XrvV6EoCzEccFI48vq098TndB7aAaFIfYoMqsxH_fbx48ZvHCVrokWCS_y7t1jDDSQ6r4OFyvGRzkkJH8jE6ufqWD_F8z-uhVHScQCtk/s1600/DSCN9788.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVne57BSS9z3IGX38sJplv3kvQ49MYBsRpt4XrvV6EoCzEccFI48vq098TndB7aAaFIfYoMqsxH_fbx48ZvHCVrokWCS_y7t1jDDSQ6r4OFyvGRzkkJH8jE6ufqWD_F8z-uhVHScQCtk/s400/DSCN9788.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569165687542902674" border="0" /></a><br />The food here was very good and we enjoyed learning more about our guide while we shared meals.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuK6sC-8-q_qUTzE4U7iU0aUBhydPvEYhcylNgLuhGSjZR-o1elWmOzmp9bzCXVH4DLjBnb2ub5-VXz9z-aRQ_WGupML61xC23Z2C91gtCpGPghl2JQMurEkJ6vrGfExEEV3gFJThhh8/s1600/DSCN9718.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuK6sC-8-q_qUTzE4U7iU0aUBhydPvEYhcylNgLuhGSjZR-o1elWmOzmp9bzCXVH4DLjBnb2ub5-VXz9z-aRQ_WGupML61xC23Z2C91gtCpGPghl2JQMurEkJ6vrGfExEEV3gFJThhh8/s400/DSCN9718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569178196707586274" border="0" /></a><br />We awoke early the next morning for a sunrise / moonset walk, in hopes to see the tapirs come to the river to bathe. Unfortunately, we did not see any more tapirs, but we did enjoy a beautiful morning on the beach and the banks of the river.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_qdFa75cxUiDZaiTTPqpIvM34ll2NI-QX0vHyd0bYqawQMp85lE0X46yGgtoI0rh7A0H_UizQrfRY1vVkHXZ4nv6opdCS-rLq9Gfpg0Ez8FrCljEPXbWxCQfowJFsT_z9Cd41bbo8SQ/s1600/DSCN4385.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_qdFa75cxUiDZaiTTPqpIvM34ll2NI-QX0vHyd0bYqawQMp85lE0X46yGgtoI0rh7A0H_UizQrfRY1vVkHXZ4nv6opdCS-rLq9Gfpg0Ez8FrCljEPXbWxCQfowJFsT_z9Cd41bbo8SQ/s400/DSCN4385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569162790696768658" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCNRPmMdPvaVsqGXiwlxnynRjm14d5LJSh9Fys46Tc_lyl1fDSu_vDtNPFW8-1Q3-AErE_T-8AjKvzHc8TZxkkE2pIj_wXMAK7fGlL8HhyphenhyphenQXEHMsZ3bsKA6LaTbX9RvqMcG17Bi9AK7E/s1600/DSCN4392.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCNRPmMdPvaVsqGXiwlxnynRjm14d5LJSh9Fys46Tc_lyl1fDSu_vDtNPFW8-1Q3-AErE_T-8AjKvzHc8TZxkkE2pIj_wXMAK7fGlL8HhyphenhyphenQXEHMsZ3bsKA6LaTbX9RvqMcG17Bi9AK7E/s400/DSCN4392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569162799915353090" border="0" /></a><br />We also found a turtle-egg lying on the beach.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurj_NEqbZzEBStGpCdTxG8uH0BOMqeH_0d_DLCsChDhQuwLgK9-EItidQBSkwOu8nn__ch0epa7XJo0x2tMpeWLRYU6_dUyZwzMy3qjJuQBRQ5aKVgpqzM4kB6okXXdH-X9SO8uEeLio/s1600/DSCN4389.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurj_NEqbZzEBStGpCdTxG8uH0BOMqeH_0d_DLCsChDhQuwLgK9-EItidQBSkwOu8nn__ch0epa7XJo0x2tMpeWLRYU6_dUyZwzMy3qjJuQBRQ5aKVgpqzM4kB6okXXdH-X9SO8uEeLio/s400/DSCN4389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569162795054016930" border="0" /></a><br />We also saw many beautiful and fascinating plants while in Corcovado, like these 2 kinds of passion flowers:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXSO92PZxIA38KYqw1rfgLuahIGgWKzOOmNPoctmAFdUS-FaI6pn7J9smcd1Dse2hssGhuFk0FXywhd1pCzJBeE-f8RvZXlw2tZEPx3tQZzYdWTgNHUlwIjN5S2F-rvdHUIFDSEq_rjQ/s1600/DSCN4370.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXSO92PZxIA38KYqw1rfgLuahIGgWKzOOmNPoctmAFdUS-FaI6pn7J9smcd1Dse2hssGhuFk0FXywhd1pCzJBeE-f8RvZXlw2tZEPx3tQZzYdWTgNHUlwIjN5S2F-rvdHUIFDSEq_rjQ/s400/DSCN4370.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569162786628132354" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JQYGAasGfCK3WFYXkO0ALMowLLA_pyexriMO7rqafAXHXfEYiGOch7kCJrNWfbnBekm2CYrli_1QSlbUvipYeWx92GsDGCMlBCFhca7EJyJNc_w4F1vbljDcQMCxr81awT8HlYcMMAQ/s1600/DSCN9768.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JQYGAasGfCK3WFYXkO0ALMowLLA_pyexriMO7rqafAXHXfEYiGOch7kCJrNWfbnBekm2CYrli_1QSlbUvipYeWx92GsDGCMlBCFhca7EJyJNc_w4F1vbljDcQMCxr81awT8HlYcMMAQ/s400/DSCN9768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200113629249074" border="0" /></a><br />And the jungle is full of amazing trees.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxHimMJxJz3bAB3ABy8_xQtoCO0P1uXwTDbGZoo7gCCJIlXLUG4eiS1ggkcpsFvPqPVGKc0_Z1NKmlsYa-nYzOVZjR6JX3NdCDF67Za6Eu65hcm2e8PjVrvOxqE9RPVfrInLHukW0TTw/s1600/DSCN9639.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxHimMJxJz3bAB3ABy8_xQtoCO0P1uXwTDbGZoo7gCCJIlXLUG4eiS1ggkcpsFvPqPVGKc0_Z1NKmlsYa-nYzOVZjR6JX3NdCDF67Za6Eu65hcm2e8PjVrvOxqE9RPVfrInLHukW0TTw/s400/DSCN9639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200122608938834" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a huge wild cashew tree that supports a whole host of other plants.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspo0Y7RldHTtTuDsiFXbSSQbLY5QwAzC8DoLBrIXAOi-JTiBe2lGeGn0gM82RSibZU_uQMeB-TZbLc8ZgfrXCVgPGopq2pwbdgHpUEOpXbj7gH-eGWBR_yw9j6a8sP0ua0ztIbtZJx9Q/s1600/DSCN4423.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspo0Y7RldHTtTuDsiFXbSSQbLY5QwAzC8DoLBrIXAOi-JTiBe2lGeGn0gM82RSibZU_uQMeB-TZbLc8ZgfrXCVgPGopq2pwbdgHpUEOpXbj7gH-eGWBR_yw9j6a8sP0ua0ztIbtZJx9Q/s400/DSCN4423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569191243298577954" border="0" /></a><br />Another neat view into the canopy.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmh6T9YoGF088tMWly9JxymxptEvYFcTquzTB6QX1ipVdWqO_Y8-bDoxXbYm7feKtMQG0nyV8U7xBU8dQ5kRd2cmmpZusXnZ9TQzMCCz4U9SKPO2HD9g_BCQX6EsTzmBIBKSELuXMPD8/s1600/DSCN4426.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmh6T9YoGF088tMWly9JxymxptEvYFcTquzTB6QX1ipVdWqO_Y8-bDoxXbYm7feKtMQG0nyV8U7xBU8dQ5kRd2cmmpZusXnZ9TQzMCCz4U9SKPO2HD9g_BCQX6EsTzmBIBKSELuXMPD8/s400/DSCN4426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569191249634505890" border="0" /></a><br />And of course, there were strangler figs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLozHIGp9r8mlKvzmz2VZSRUnbkHkC-o4pwgqjzqcFDExoU4iIeKHEyxqajDuyfMXurNUe9H59LsQQSaJhqzhBY_-nv2iS4xu8x8QBjIA_TqJJkzc7a6pzbKRcdmdYaW5grKMp4B3KT1M/s1600/DSCN4427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLozHIGp9r8mlKvzmz2VZSRUnbkHkC-o4pwgqjzqcFDExoU4iIeKHEyxqajDuyfMXurNUe9H59LsQQSaJhqzhBY_-nv2iS4xu8x8QBjIA_TqJJkzc7a6pzbKRcdmdYaW5grKMp4B3KT1M/s400/DSCN4427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569191264707605986" border="0" /></a><br />We even found this bees' nest in the base of one tree. The bees had formed an interesting propolis entrance into their hive.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduTNayJS5eQwGwc5Ps5OiUAor2xcOvum1eq2bccxIDsZgUlbBzBa4cE3Tnn_FKBlDmcNmNilAgN5saXJ8_7uEnMecJZErCW8qC9tYZGK2TTmbVNVh3S3jTW3TcUdAQvcujf6mCP_iVfA/s1600/DSCN4419.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduTNayJS5eQwGwc5Ps5OiUAor2xcOvum1eq2bccxIDsZgUlbBzBa4cE3Tnn_FKBlDmcNmNilAgN5saXJ8_7uEnMecJZErCW8qC9tYZGK2TTmbVNVh3S3jTW3TcUdAQvcujf6mCP_iVfA/s400/DSCN4419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569191236377704226" border="0" /></a><br />Even after we left Corcovado, as we made our way back through the mangroves, we continued to see a lot of wildlife, including this boa constrictor<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrTdXKlFvvr7-uUMMtPpFS3Gzv6Um3pvDIXWfe6-o-Tv5OSokI3bTOeXZJurouXnj8aO2Y-PqzuF4vrIewk1XJjd3zHWCLNngFnHE5t6yfvfRtTdPpXsffzrtJU8_y8DmPlmDkBY8OuY/s1600/DSCN4459.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrTdXKlFvvr7-uUMMtPpFS3Gzv6Um3pvDIXWfe6-o-Tv5OSokI3bTOeXZJurouXnj8aO2Y-PqzuF4vrIewk1XJjd3zHWCLNngFnHE5t6yfvfRtTdPpXsffzrtJU8_y8DmPlmDkBY8OuY/s400/DSCN4459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200137536403042" border="0" /></a><br />and this neat "tiger-faced" crab.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4ZT4tNLO2NUdCGBKPxMRZcldsY4LeAp_ydecJMbQ4S4nB21nQg-3MpsRlSp2vTGdtw9npCpm-wLXkPKcpwY7obWrKSB8wa7-JxDH2M4QJVTkT8D4r2Bl7Y7l4eBFp9AHY1Ne5lE38cA/s1600/DSCN9846.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz4ZT4tNLO2NUdCGBKPxMRZcldsY4LeAp_ydecJMbQ4S4nB21nQg-3MpsRlSp2vTGdtw9npCpm-wLXkPKcpwY7obWrKSB8wa7-JxDH2M4QJVTkT8D4r2Bl7Y7l4eBFp9AHY1Ne5lE38cA/s400/DSCN9846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569202654628050258" border="0" /></a><br />Gato also spotted 3 Scarlet Macaws in a tree, thus completing Grana's wishlist of animals to see.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zhSI7kWwF4JywXZcodr8wGraKPCtVmRBMaWnY6Q8X45LKde-20LTntJ2vXzPZM54H3OJuzT4smueAVmRMJtRt5XMZUC-F_CDwakM2z2BvO0pKzH1DPI0-dz2ea5Zp_qE-SMPziTBw1U/s1600/DSCN9856.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zhSI7kWwF4JywXZcodr8wGraKPCtVmRBMaWnY6Q8X45LKde-20LTntJ2vXzPZM54H3OJuzT4smueAVmRMJtRt5XMZUC-F_CDwakM2z2BvO0pKzH1DPI0-dz2ea5Zp_qE-SMPziTBw1U/s400/DSCN9856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200911946676034" border="0" /></a><br />During our car ride home, we stopped by a public park in the town of Palmar Norte to admire these <span style="font-style: italic;">bolas</span>, perfectly carved granite spheres which were made by the natives of this area thousands of years ago. No one knows how they made them, or how they used them. I love mysterious things like these!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdC7TgISAcOZteHlW1mkiM7RbZaaW929K6KuRdf8_Cxka957Axqkx7n-u85B_SfQ2fUDn76iJYUBS_-ecQ4sSH7GsgsaXStRRDw5HUDHeJSJU3pUW1JQAMfkNaIUrYn7D-i5cT0ppzww/s1600/DSCN9866.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdC7TgISAcOZteHlW1mkiM7RbZaaW929K6KuRdf8_Cxka957Axqkx7n-u85B_SfQ2fUDn76iJYUBS_-ecQ4sSH7GsgsaXStRRDw5HUDHeJSJU3pUW1JQAMfkNaIUrYn7D-i5cT0ppzww/s400/DSCN9866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200915417892434" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11fhzXh4FEYacom05RoKiojNq_imFFBwo0HzXqbcEkejWA7FpwEf9arv9Mfd-J8W8nTzIse6NdfbVyLUiMQRaJQDFBjE4ImwlpQ7LHdWkguvJ9xjdwezTBpNvYa73w4uj39i7cyNAYhI/s1600/DSCN4464.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11fhzXh4FEYacom05RoKiojNq_imFFBwo0HzXqbcEkejWA7FpwEf9arv9Mfd-J8W8nTzIse6NdfbVyLUiMQRaJQDFBjE4ImwlpQ7LHdWkguvJ9xjdwezTBpNvYa73w4uj39i7cyNAYhI/s400/DSCN4464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569200921577439922" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVg1Kch4K1CfyGEvqmxT1ld2MqcpbY_1vxY2ddrQ0Osa5z38WwXskY5q4gkc9Se8RfthsTG2F8ePVjncVC-g8mPBoH6zjGe4BAtIlGKIYtxZFi3CZXmq0VNdHQcIb_3-F5elt9-z0Dxc/s1600/DSCN4462.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVg1Kch4K1CfyGEvqmxT1ld2MqcpbY_1vxY2ddrQ0Osa5z38WwXskY5q4gkc9Se8RfthsTG2F8ePVjncVC-g8mPBoH6zjGe4BAtIlGKIYtxZFi3CZXmq0VNdHQcIb_3-F5elt9-z0Dxc/s400/DSCN4462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569201240060947474" border="0" /></a><br />Grana, you are quite a trooper, and we had a wonderful visit with you!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUT28XYv5rBISdTN9WRt6z6k6Quj3JznQI4FVMVrpgf6HOVyYaCmmJvYu3LAKkWjFL_D9mMNEQRVWawXztFxItJV_zDR_XPMFRawuC42cb7oqJ1Xoe73JJDmDUNcjPwwfd14EhzEZ2tc/s1600/DSCN9913.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKUT28XYv5rBISdTN9WRt6z6k6Quj3JznQI4FVMVrpgf6HOVyYaCmmJvYu3LAKkWjFL_D9mMNEQRVWawXztFxItJV_zDR_XPMFRawuC42cb7oqJ1Xoe73JJDmDUNcjPwwfd14EhzEZ2tc/s400/DSCN9913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570714116797526146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0syoSXymNsjgGcVot11-Ib-pW5gYBUqQmEHBLyu9TaoDej46zew1Lz1Qm8KtkHeJdcCCPr-NYe4L8pdl5FkQSrUOZEfutERqOSSsdBlZqcHgY1UIJcT73MuYb-s_WcJTp2SsjKmOy7Q/s1600/DSCN9919.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0syoSXymNsjgGcVot11-Ib-pW5gYBUqQmEHBLyu9TaoDej46zew1Lz1Qm8KtkHeJdcCCPr-NYe4L8pdl5FkQSrUOZEfutERqOSSsdBlZqcHgY1UIJcT73MuYb-s_WcJTp2SsjKmOy7Q/s400/DSCN9919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570714112876800290" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbjuaSd_WoSaKRqojq4lNtSGNyPrgqrtbn44bWBN36__ZZFmOGA35sMyvMXTXFtsAXJi9qVu6XTgRl52DIxLcfQ7dSIgZtqP34aRMBYqfy5oAu9aLJtZRFwRXsBgubkiYjNzTSbumNn4/s1600/DSCN9901.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbjuaSd_WoSaKRqojq4lNtSGNyPrgqrtbn44bWBN36__ZZFmOGA35sMyvMXTXFtsAXJi9qVu6XTgRl52DIxLcfQ7dSIgZtqP34aRMBYqfy5oAu9aLJtZRFwRXsBgubkiYjNzTSbumNn4/s400/DSCN9901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570714122794680338" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbTizagN9qiCZiT0M5JEKSCe0OQg0C97xAHMOvBvniwk7Og_S6lDQ9q2zTHsAL8sYOeZOOlPqdyk5pg2220-88snpdCWQbQG2os6nMAG4-vunLBVeMDzn4chO0hylUKMc9S_dzJ_aW8U/s1600/DSCN4303.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbTizagN9qiCZiT0M5JEKSCe0OQg0C97xAHMOvBvniwk7Og_S6lDQ9q2zTHsAL8sYOeZOOlPqdyk5pg2220-88snpdCWQbQG2os6nMAG4-vunLBVeMDzn4chO0hylUKMc9S_dzJ_aW8U/s400/DSCN4303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569160911156012834" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-62218810006762305112011-01-15T14:13:00.000-08:002011-02-02T13:42:00.052-08:00Adventures with Elvis, Part 3: A Scarlet Macaw Named TitoWe rode horses over the mountain to the town of Pejibaye, where Elvis' family lives. It has a different feel than Uvita which is more of a tourist town. We had a wonderful visit with Elvis' wife, Jenni, and their 6 children, Ramses (20), Samantha (18), Nicole and Elvis (11 year old twins), Rahid (4), and Naomi (18 mo). They are a sweet and beautiful family, and Naomi has adopted "Uncle George"!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIBcUgjsurhuo1aCbfok28QQdvqLbqlM7bebpiswlSupRlcZrljJcGJ74YV5ZHkOVQmg1etlXzQVioh3RrIKTOD1LRKjKNjl1CiqJzcsQRYGtrrYbE5pggqgR03pMD3V1XnrEvf0zlQE/s1600/DSCN4222.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIBcUgjsurhuo1aCbfok28QQdvqLbqlM7bebpiswlSupRlcZrljJcGJ74YV5ZHkOVQmg1etlXzQVioh3RrIKTOD1LRKjKNjl1CiqJzcsQRYGtrrYbE5pggqgR03pMD3V1XnrEvf0zlQE/s400/DSCN4222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566253468208217138" border="0" /></a><br />We all walked to their nearby swimming hole, and along the way we had a surprise visitor. This beautiful scarlet macaw flew into the tree right above where we were passing, and hung upside-down looking at us.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT_MFK-5Z9COrwj76slRkIATGvJF02FwknbiPR1FFXez5AUjJV73E1zdTQlXQ0PGGda7LNITj3a6qeCaknvi6NtD84xD1r6xCRmt3-JGXqGwlm2YSG9U_PxfWfN3qTZKcqILCYQCUpUk/s1600/DSCN4230.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaT_MFK-5Z9COrwj76slRkIATGvJF02FwknbiPR1FFXez5AUjJV73E1zdTQlXQ0PGGda7LNITj3a6qeCaknvi6NtD84xD1r6xCRmt3-JGXqGwlm2YSG9U_PxfWfN3qTZKcqILCYQCUpUk/s400/DSCN4230.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566254510419198722" border="0" /></a><br />This grand bird named "Tito" was a domesticated pet in his earlier years, but now lives "wild" around the town of Pejibaye. (Scarlet Macaws can live up to 80 years old.) He is very sociable, as you will see, and Elvis said he also loves to play soccer with the local kids. He also, evidently, loves chocolate, and he was lured down out of the tree by some chocolate-filled cookies that the kids were eating. Here, Tito is licking off the chocolate layer of the cookie before he spit out the rest of the cookie!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYtgf9_YESyWnhPAsq_ynjzkId44LVB_uW0RAzKCGNRNUYFgxReUV8lDnZu4-Zp70S6Z6qMunlxXxv00lCLVXQ4FWNOvVWqdRjLBs61cNfIivd8nJiDAGCvGuKCg1wMSYIx0Z8Nttm6I/s1600/DSCN4240.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYtgf9_YESyWnhPAsq_ynjzkId44LVB_uW0RAzKCGNRNUYFgxReUV8lDnZu4-Zp70S6Z6qMunlxXxv00lCLVXQ4FWNOvVWqdRjLBs61cNfIivd8nJiDAGCvGuKCg1wMSYIx0Z8Nttm6I/s400/DSCN4240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566256336324818146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciza2WYfGG_c3BHngW3rqlZ3T_qs0xHP7-821pS6oFD8AvDU0VAc7waBnZKx6Goh8YdMKY5d_dxX8H-mncHpDHJ13xt2CVfSpHcyfLSgQousJ3oGyWJFKB_-lVcN5kZ09VdTn0ntsQY8/s1600/DSCN4238.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciza2WYfGG_c3BHngW3rqlZ3T_qs0xHP7-821pS6oFD8AvDU0VAc7waBnZKx6Goh8YdMKY5d_dxX8H-mncHpDHJ13xt2CVfSpHcyfLSgQousJ3oGyWJFKB_-lVcN5kZ09VdTn0ntsQY8/s400/DSCN4238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566253500274516226" border="0" /></a><br />He was willing to take a turn with each of us.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6ImGCi_bvELD-FMYMewtvWyPeWJrY_TYNsOv7wCDDeMVQkmaTymAXv4a-re0_u4fPypYHNiplt5yR9zrSNa-0-d2qO71cPx__-JTcN0rkeQvC0EwpGBDYXXCOICn-w3ILbSQaBYQrOM/s1600/DSCN4257.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6ImGCi_bvELD-FMYMewtvWyPeWJrY_TYNsOv7wCDDeMVQkmaTymAXv4a-re0_u4fPypYHNiplt5yR9zrSNa-0-d2qO71cPx__-JTcN0rkeQvC0EwpGBDYXXCOICn-w3ILbSQaBYQrOM/s400/DSCN4257.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566254523725706914" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE_oxPRfDB7Z9a_Yg2G3r93xXls8YTf0LRKhJk6QNHJLaD_3KJXrba25sfPf4tBSNK6b_68XuVpZxgwWTHTtGpsQbe03wnkMyABUcFCYiQgIb821-3aQCBpt8dbA3pYm3amnV2Mf7OEc/s1600/DSCN4243.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkE_oxPRfDB7Z9a_Yg2G3r93xXls8YTf0LRKhJk6QNHJLaD_3KJXrba25sfPf4tBSNK6b_68XuVpZxgwWTHTtGpsQbe03wnkMyABUcFCYiQgIb821-3aQCBpt8dbA3pYm3amnV2Mf7OEc/s400/DSCN4243.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566253508721848242" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a good family portrait of us with Tito.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvFdUgt-mGx0V04vF7LMT8EkkNe16WWfysW82uEIz9eRtfc5X6Y4Or95E7-EfrYxGxCMxB84N0jxg5wPYgTZOtT09Pm_FT41jCfv7myFkkABNhEU-B_K7feMPZcIQfllilXJ-5ZrGCfU/s1600/DSCN4244.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvFdUgt-mGx0V04vF7LMT8EkkNe16WWfysW82uEIz9eRtfc5X6Y4Or95E7-EfrYxGxCMxB84N0jxg5wPYgTZOtT09Pm_FT41jCfv7myFkkABNhEU-B_K7feMPZcIQfllilXJ-5ZrGCfU/s400/DSCN4244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566254516354954290" border="0" /></a><br />Tito also really likes hats, and he quickly scrambled onto my head.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIeV1XwAnOUcxG7hoRCaZJoUfpZ0IrLyqAExVzF7upeHBgaPMwjKTF-oE8BtlD86BjaB3HMOkKBuJyvTjzE4iooI9Z2ON9dB31-2vT57JZGBowJqRjO140SWrevccgSK4ir_E2HzW79o/s1600/DSCN4247.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIeV1XwAnOUcxG7hoRCaZJoUfpZ0IrLyqAExVzF7upeHBgaPMwjKTF-oE8BtlD86BjaB3HMOkKBuJyvTjzE4iooI9Z2ON9dB31-2vT57JZGBowJqRjO140SWrevccgSK4ir_E2HzW79o/s400/DSCN4247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566254519647836082" border="0" /></a><br />Tito caught rides with all of us while we went to the river. Once in sight of the river, Tito flew off, only to land in the tree right above the swimming hole. Evidently he's done this before! He's the red spot in the tree.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7BNY1DHXxW8PoJ_hJ89Qx-jS31XOSkeyZQ4OIJ4JesmQpK7NCSbhG3lZMBbfv8jm9_y-gf1QUXTxV6IphMxpvPwvz5T68s4gTywOJY87godtynRWfe07BBQK6nFFSYHWsTGJFQALUak/s1600/DSCN4264.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7BNY1DHXxW8PoJ_hJ89Qx-jS31XOSkeyZQ4OIJ4JesmQpK7NCSbhG3lZMBbfv8jm9_y-gf1QUXTxV6IphMxpvPwvz5T68s4gTywOJY87godtynRWfe07BBQK6nFFSYHWsTGJFQALUak/s400/DSCN4264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566256344223004994" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2JbozsZfex_kiXe6ixLmJHFvy-FOJnBJQ8pvUBqhv_o8Rq8km2jLTTbgIq4Rq09s5dFwou-LvsNn5YZPM_Diemjuz-hGEDYfKYGQKoPWbNlhvUg2JA2cXqjxxwBFu0BPlFQUeh9_btc/s1600/DSCN4260.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2JbozsZfex_kiXe6ixLmJHFvy-FOJnBJQ8pvUBqhv_o8Rq8km2jLTTbgIq4Rq09s5dFwou-LvsNn5YZPM_Diemjuz-hGEDYfKYGQKoPWbNlhvUg2JA2cXqjxxwBFu0BPlFQUeh9_btc/s400/DSCN4260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566256340437317154" border="0" /></a><br />We had a good dip and cooled off in the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0H2zcG2z6ipCw3ujmqJkzPLNeTLbRDGlg2wVxDb6aT5plQY8X654M5aFhGLmK2rFqcK8IvU1ubsQKbMs6VA8Cn0q81L50NokG2Q6c9didFjf01t72ugNv3tgkkPSvkbOwmuy_6h0p2M/s1600/DSCN4267.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0H2zcG2z6ipCw3ujmqJkzPLNeTLbRDGlg2wVxDb6aT5plQY8X654M5aFhGLmK2rFqcK8IvU1ubsQKbMs6VA8Cn0q81L50NokG2Q6c9didFjf01t72ugNv3tgkkPSvkbOwmuy_6h0p2M/s400/DSCN4267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566258614724047842" border="0" /></a><br />George soaked his saddle-sore bum and back in the waterfall.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbztImGwEGDvOom_lB2Y8wqDQtZwUH1REHw9hMsYHixiA-uo88Id_Fj2wfQRqQ_KAWm2t-1xdmHKgt3lTeAEBoo_iOzZSu0a5HH22PwgXqrhqF8euQpfJJ-bK9i1XirmKuKT9-mwHqz_4/s1600/DSCN4268.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbztImGwEGDvOom_lB2Y8wqDQtZwUH1REHw9hMsYHixiA-uo88Id_Fj2wfQRqQ_KAWm2t-1xdmHKgt3lTeAEBoo_iOzZSu0a5HH22PwgXqrhqF8euQpfJJ-bK9i1XirmKuKT9-mwHqz_4/s400/DSCN4268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566258627831575794" border="0" /></a><br />Then, as we headed back to town, Tito caught a free ride back on our heads.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZZar_bfmmzsU6nj0yw7yv6EYyAs0Arn5TKXKiXTkXPm7zUxuX71jUx9N7pvGrFWK50kjL6n5os_ZnrefoGq5i4yKVNus3g7g3Wlnf1e0lbC6qxSRuZZAhYMX6Uirhh7Rq-v5j7gbLgw/s1600/DSCN4269.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZZar_bfmmzsU6nj0yw7yv6EYyAs0Arn5TKXKiXTkXPm7zUxuX71jUx9N7pvGrFWK50kjL6n5os_ZnrefoGq5i4yKVNus3g7g3Wlnf1e0lbC6qxSRuZZAhYMX6Uirhh7Rq-v5j7gbLgw/s400/DSCN4269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566256353089208610" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG_u0PY-6jMOfLLB8WEjjRXiqHD3OUS_ncs7_vryn_cykRhzN1s7ZuFwWeLAt6xMn8NnsvvEIhv0xEomseAFqjtBdP0tFGZ_JsH7FYZ2cD_Y1193PV07AKtJWVTro3oLqfY36Owxt3eA/s1600/DSCN4273.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcG_u0PY-6jMOfLLB8WEjjRXiqHD3OUS_ncs7_vryn_cykRhzN1s7ZuFwWeLAt6xMn8NnsvvEIhv0xEomseAFqjtBdP0tFGZ_JsH7FYZ2cD_Y1193PV07AKtJWVTro3oLqfY36Owxt3eA/s400/DSCN4273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566259714804804738" border="0" /></a><br />When we reached his "stop" he flew off for his next adventure.3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-11671095545950898842011-01-14T12:28:00.000-08:002011-02-02T13:42:42.384-08:00Adventures with Elvis, Part 2: Coffee and a Sore BumWe are now recovering from another adventure with Elvis, our new <span style="font-style: italic;">amigo</span>. Elvis works (sometimes) around Uvita, the town where we live, but his wife and 6 children live over the mountain in a town called Pejibaye. Earlier in the week, George had walked over the mountain with Elvis to meet his family and see a more traditional side of Costa Rica. While in Pehibaye, George and Elvis arranged for all of us to go on a horse-back adventure over the mountain. So a few days later, they arrived in our front yard with Arturo (Elvis' friend) and 4 horses.<br /><br />Arturo and Elvis spent the night with us, and serenaded us with traditional Costa Rican songs, popular tunes, and Catholic Nativity melodies.<br /><br />The next morning, after breakfast and strong coffee, we saddled up the horses and headed up the mountain. In this photo, George and Arturo are saddling up my horse, a slow and steady mare who had a very mild temper except when around George's young stallion!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgc37OqTl0oe7lpjE-HW9nv0JffSgkJwsjEVyMka9nOxaBUsJVmVj2ZYkg6Sjb5eRHTMPC1vmBX_fPe-gjg0XRb7Nr9n6lx-JjFPMKtnk2G59F0llX9ZIiFigmHO8jJg2vy1dLLtHgHA/s1600/DSCN4138.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgc37OqTl0oe7lpjE-HW9nv0JffSgkJwsjEVyMka9nOxaBUsJVmVj2ZYkg6Sjb5eRHTMPC1vmBX_fPe-gjg0XRb7Nr9n6lx-JjFPMKtnk2G59F0llX9ZIiFigmHO8jJg2vy1dLLtHgHA/s400/DSCN4138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566235095942387730" border="0" /></a><br />And we're off! Arturo and Elvis traded off walking and riding, but our horses were not in any hurry, and usually the person walking passed those of us who were riding!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Jr0El-S0Vs9mXflvJ4e3HHV7zobeVxrOstJ1cLu0sSHd-Zx3xJFoaCCdRtSQg1ZNyZWMYh8AePFWfViZROKXPU5Myrv_QpEMFGyxmMp7rfJJ75HeApIU_EOUMiMyvGH2TRpt9NfXMMs/s1600/DSCN4141.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Jr0El-S0Vs9mXflvJ4e3HHV7zobeVxrOstJ1cLu0sSHd-Zx3xJFoaCCdRtSQg1ZNyZWMYh8AePFWfViZROKXPU5Myrv_QpEMFGyxmMp7rfJJ75HeApIU_EOUMiMyvGH2TRpt9NfXMMs/s400/DSCN4141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566236138995397954" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are with our horses in the bamboo forest. This was the first time Adalaya had ever ridden a horse without being led, and it took a little getting used to, but she figured it out quickly.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisplwa4Vv4EEiPyC0GwvLEMEtuYMURwKUO2rUbYdr821u7Fo-32sh-LmpjDYgKViT6yrxrBPV1beD2HdRxwtwm2H5xCOpgz40eLSKSff0uj0CdBvgtvG8UOjMtOL4Z8sscIGIhvcBVpQI/s1600/DSCN4143.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisplwa4Vv4EEiPyC0GwvLEMEtuYMURwKUO2rUbYdr821u7Fo-32sh-LmpjDYgKViT6yrxrBPV1beD2HdRxwtwm2H5xCOpgz40eLSKSff0uj0CdBvgtvG8UOjMtOL4Z8sscIGIhvcBVpQI/s400/DSCN4143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566236146829421138" border="0" /></a><br />We had to go up, up, up, and from the first ridge we had a great view of the "whale's tail".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPISK9dm_Nf0n4ULZbT2gKvfHAXljzBwW2XOYKlYSRGfgzRKMlSghYhX5AZG98yNunYUrWSWN6u3cdxizQlrKLTV6RD0Y8QO2iAEVtcdKl7ixh30EIhSzr3UvGq1MkEf-f88p2srHkfk/s1600/DSCN4181.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPISK9dm_Nf0n4ULZbT2gKvfHAXljzBwW2XOYKlYSRGfgzRKMlSghYhX5AZG98yNunYUrWSWN6u3cdxizQlrKLTV6RD0Y8QO2iAEVtcdKl7ixh30EIhSzr3UvGq1MkEf-f88p2srHkfk/s400/DSCN4181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566237408059490274" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqSzRDYdlyv5e8EYNjjEGx0mDv0iIBAX4eVQNuV4rXRFgXxEMz2pkBbsVcT75NXz0jIYJmGVOa9ULsl1gvx9WXkO-bZY8ACeIhXqzh-0YATD880v7CNIxbZTrfT8lTcHaWEPetv41L1A/s1600/DSCN4167.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqSzRDYdlyv5e8EYNjjEGx0mDv0iIBAX4eVQNuV4rXRFgXxEMz2pkBbsVcT75NXz0jIYJmGVOa9ULsl1gvx9WXkO-bZY8ACeIhXqzh-0YATD880v7CNIxbZTrfT8lTcHaWEPetv41L1A/s400/DSCN4167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566236150463289106" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped here to rest and feed the horses.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRn5jnJaHwv8HeqHSeqsRhA2jE4k3M-v_IpfRNP7gEiijRsEOtX55OwlW4TfMRan3v8R20mOt4W697zpdGAHx_sXJl0T6uPA-IMLjP9AOF3cJ-zXk0F3T5wBfBe3M45Vt1AKsOw0cA6Y/s1600/DSCN4173.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRn5jnJaHwv8HeqHSeqsRhA2jE4k3M-v_IpfRNP7gEiijRsEOtX55OwlW4TfMRan3v8R20mOt4W697zpdGAHx_sXJl0T6uPA-IMLjP9AOF3cJ-zXk0F3T5wBfBe3M45Vt1AKsOw0cA6Y/s400/DSCN4173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566237401160675826" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgd-c60leyh6X3ABmgq8q5XxsLda2puHebfWxqJp7PvAnvM7LyI4WBSaxJtEsv7L1tfEJElHaUM1jMGhEMoad8UJ4cKwppgQ0eS6m6e80W84g5m2OtIBL4-wGRFoiOW6C1hvbIUb9RwA/s1600/DSCN4169.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgd-c60leyh6X3ABmgq8q5XxsLda2puHebfWxqJp7PvAnvM7LyI4WBSaxJtEsv7L1tfEJElHaUM1jMGhEMoad8UJ4cKwppgQ0eS6m6e80W84g5m2OtIBL4-wGRFoiOW6C1hvbIUb9RwA/s400/DSCN4169.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566237393463739186" border="0" /></a><br />Here's George on his horse, which we named Gris (pronounced "grease" but meaning "grey") Lightning, trying out his cowboy skills. Actually, my horse had just bitten his horse's butt, and he nearly got bucked!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGgVGCn6-zfm-TtMMIXqgjMooxC9iVjHfXUDJAYfaLVHR9FnvgUsfTQmUxptQ346LIQQDI5k_DZ5D3pf-e1bFJpUrFe4ccszNux9_GsblAvyfo7b36sm4LWsthTrZWZR39VbV9hcJFuY/s1600/DSCN4185.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGgVGCn6-zfm-TtMMIXqgjMooxC9iVjHfXUDJAYfaLVHR9FnvgUsfTQmUxptQ346LIQQDI5k_DZ5D3pf-e1bFJpUrFe4ccszNux9_GsblAvyfo7b36sm4LWsthTrZWZR39VbV9hcJFuY/s400/DSCN4185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566237411297914434" border="0" /></a><br />This cute calf seemed interested in all the antics!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigil16H-qsIxzeHRKrsgTwtF7ptMZwdXqnIZjPFWoAPrS6u8SrLlnbKWbzg68G6WGSpJWf-anOQwLaWiE-71aSRTIshpVGQ1AMhTWFl9kooNby9Wf3Sat42IUVEOE_XUwWykdWfThrMg/s1600/DSCN4187.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigil16H-qsIxzeHRKrsgTwtF7ptMZwdXqnIZjPFWoAPrS6u8SrLlnbKWbzg68G6WGSpJWf-anOQwLaWiE-71aSRTIshpVGQ1AMhTWFl9kooNby9Wf3Sat42IUVEOE_XUwWykdWfThrMg/s400/DSCN4187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566237425524902322" border="0" /></a><br />As we crossed the mountain, the jungle gave way to farms, mostly coffee and banana plantations, and pasture-land carved out of the hillsides.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy3ccW0KphN7_Z-p0N3qqNrcz4TKTEMQSY95HhwxtRGAJ7hYiU6p16afSrAyRiH06cUqYO68dgRqTuMs23k0KLP1ymWanuOSpcMrwVaHp3HGWRrdKYgJkTOIXrM08wIPGbfcNvbvxRII/s1600/DSCN4198.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdy3ccW0KphN7_Z-p0N3qqNrcz4TKTEMQSY95HhwxtRGAJ7hYiU6p16afSrAyRiH06cUqYO68dgRqTuMs23k0KLP1ymWanuOSpcMrwVaHp3HGWRrdKYgJkTOIXrM08wIPGbfcNvbvxRII/s400/DSCN4198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566239177384560450" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlLPs9K4yJwaHISkjHZCtehozpsXUpHrqzW64Jkz1nKyG8ZJVb8Y12n1B_-Mh138HLUw1PB2J3mLxVbPMZyd97cchzDCxiEGOggbG14jQvEtSrjzD7zqNZRjh4WEmlW0P0y_LWUErL7I/s1600/DSCN4180.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlLPs9K4yJwaHISkjHZCtehozpsXUpHrqzW64Jkz1nKyG8ZJVb8Y12n1B_-Mh138HLUw1PB2J3mLxVbPMZyd97cchzDCxiEGOggbG14jQvEtSrjzD7zqNZRjh4WEmlW0P0y_LWUErL7I/s400/DSCN4180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566239172751293698" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6xDf6laXabjarv47jackg44KTLJAy_AbP4UZ72F5MtyPyWpK5biFpuHXe7DfpXUEJN1gF-xwZzfuhmx3Yc2lDMicLX8K0_99pLSpTb43A8cABw4VOclpZ3D_Qzlf5jAvP1fgyKujURw/s1600/DSCN4196.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6xDf6laXabjarv47jackg44KTLJAy_AbP4UZ72F5MtyPyWpK5biFpuHXe7DfpXUEJN1gF-xwZzfuhmx3Yc2lDMicLX8K0_99pLSpTb43A8cABw4VOclpZ3D_Qzlf5jAvP1fgyKujURw/s400/DSCN4196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566242265655109666" border="0" /></a><br />We stopped for lunch, and Arturo (who owns a coffee plantation of his own) demonstrated the art of harvesting coffee beans. He is an exceptionally fast picker, evidently, and can harvest an average of 30 bags (sand-bag size) of coffee per day!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLuX2M4FDAFs9a8vWN1i0eoWxlC6eLc6IJS-LOdO_fQpvKXqzEgbh7Kngz1cSmfDQlO1EHnioAC_BKvAZHTlRc_UOxjPxufDUapPkXKmDwq2KxWkjxXo_oq6Gay4qFFch1g-SnchVXTY/s1600/DSCN4200.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLuX2M4FDAFs9a8vWN1i0eoWxlC6eLc6IJS-LOdO_fQpvKXqzEgbh7Kngz1cSmfDQlO1EHnioAC_BKvAZHTlRc_UOxjPxufDUapPkXKmDwq2KxWkjxXo_oq6Gay4qFFch1g-SnchVXTY/s400/DSCN4200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566239180320628738" border="0" /></a><br />It is definitely harvest time for the coffee right now. On our journey through remote mountain villages, we passed horses carrying bags of coffee, and trucks full of the beautiful red and green coffee berries.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ETewwsTFK33Il6JQJ_GEZlZgJTmk-nSz9N09y5xCTaOiEnafh0zMdv_asCJhIyz_gWCjFf2noer_lb9qKzS2EuJo1qB3bIydnOOvpxYu8q_xUvC2btveL1G3mTNqyiCP98lr3xqejx0/s1600/DSCN4202.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ETewwsTFK33Il6JQJ_GEZlZgJTmk-nSz9N09y5xCTaOiEnafh0zMdv_asCJhIyz_gWCjFf2noer_lb9qKzS2EuJo1qB3bIydnOOvpxYu8q_xUvC2btveL1G3mTNqyiCP98lr3xqejx0/s400/DSCN4202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566239187326295282" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh1ANU2Ova2H6CKikWd_1_O2WUMCGiKYGwpt-P_qsNHfjqgkE8ZHjq0_82ZxwXvlg8TMF613dj1vXmJbq8F3pavcUiniJ0fp18ki5N2uaBqckEhmcyNktDFk-44RUrVlczy0CZ2D0DGc/s1600/DSCN4208.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh1ANU2Ova2H6CKikWd_1_O2WUMCGiKYGwpt-P_qsNHfjqgkE8ZHjq0_82ZxwXvlg8TMF613dj1vXmJbq8F3pavcUiniJ0fp18ki5N2uaBqckEhmcyNktDFk-44RUrVlczy0CZ2D0DGc/s400/DSCN4208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566241931257739458" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a close-up of some coffee berries.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSVebtFft7jVVVw1D8CpEtphJNeNOZtNfXKpa5T5qykKIa4pa2QHzviXc5tvyl2CkupBJun87i3_gpg1MQ1xih3RmMvBF_irP2oX22fwz42vDm5XGefLvRwA9PT3MGX4KWdOJGH89K3M/s1600/DSCN4205.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSVebtFft7jVVVw1D8CpEtphJNeNOZtNfXKpa5T5qykKIa4pa2QHzviXc5tvyl2CkupBJun87i3_gpg1MQ1xih3RmMvBF_irP2oX22fwz42vDm5XGefLvRwA9PT3MGX4KWdOJGH89K3M/s400/DSCN4205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566241928162702610" border="0" /></a><br />Dusk settled upon us as we came into view of Pejibaye in the valley. By this time we were all very saddle-sore and frequently alternated between riding and walking.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zWv1dxTg38tgcSDddEOXyo39mrMoHzpSxuJRDVGwZe9kqonNpDDRtPyitVzt33eucu7Rv2it_zfZJZOiNqnEhudSbV3HaKMup7NAzSoHrwe57Mzugm7Vhk6S5Zz_Da84FlnLvLUhQgY/s1600/DSCN4217.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zWv1dxTg38tgcSDddEOXyo39mrMoHzpSxuJRDVGwZe9kqonNpDDRtPyitVzt33eucu7Rv2it_zfZJZOiNqnEhudSbV3HaKMup7NAzSoHrwe57Mzugm7Vhk6S5Zz_Da84FlnLvLUhQgY/s400/DSCN4217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566241936967397218" border="0" /></a><br />We arrived at Elvis' house a good 10 hours after we had departed that morning. We were all exhausted and sore and stinky, but we were welcomed by his family, and fed an amazing dinner that included <span style="font-style: italic;">papaya verde picadillo</span> (a delicious, finely chopped and cooked green papaya dish) and "chicken from the yard".<br /><br />That night, we stayed in Arturo's mother's house, a spry little woman with lots of spunk! Arturo and his family are very religious, and his mother had a beautiful Nativity Scene set up in the living room that took up about a 1/4 of the room. This is the Nativity time of year, honoring the time when the Wise Men made their journeys to see baby Jesus. Evidently at this time of year, the Virgin Mary visits all the houses to admire the Nativity Scenes, and we have seen many large Nativity Scenes inside and outside houses and businesses. Note the coffee berries and traditional coffee grinder on the right side of this Nativity Scene, and the offerings of tamales to the left of the holy family. I assume that tamales and coffee are to the Virgin Mary what cookies and milk are to Santa Claus.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfxUE0EzPHPPclU0mnN0L41672h2voIPI4SNPuMhyphenhyphenEJEqLoV6SSnED_HkJdbSQSKI7RINSCjYq0F8aTZkj_wMc2zmv4yXDj_-TeVRBEV8kG11Nct-Ovg_4AVJ79qbcCICOupo3h7xxbI/s1600/DSCN4219.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfxUE0EzPHPPclU0mnN0L41672h2voIPI4SNPuMhyphenhyphenEJEqLoV6SSnED_HkJdbSQSKI7RINSCjYq0F8aTZkj_wMc2zmv4yXDj_-TeVRBEV8kG11Nct-Ovg_4AVJ79qbcCICOupo3h7xxbI/s400/DSCN4219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566241940391246738" border="0" /></a><br />We popped an Aspirin and went to bed. In the morning, we were awakened by the smell of home-grown, hand-ground, 100% <span style="font-style: italic;">cafe puro</span>! Wow, now that's good stuff! (Don't worry Jason and Stephanie, I'm bringing some home for you!) I am not usually a coffee drinker, but after being around Elvis and Arturo for several days, and traveling through coffee country, we find ourselves (Adalaya included) drinking coffee everyday, sometimes even twice a day. Ticos usually have coffee in the morning <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> in the afternoon (accompanied by sweet breads) around 4pm which is "coffee-time" here, just like the English have "tea-time". And as the saying goes, "When in Costa Rica, do as the ticos do!"3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-1517457886602219592011-01-08T12:13:00.000-08:002011-01-25T11:09:20.575-08:00A Great Start to a New Year!I sit here in my casa alone, for the whole day; a much needed respite after not having a day to myself in nearly 8 months. My family, including my mom and niece who are visiting, have gone on a full day snorkeling adventure to Cano Island National Park. I wish them many exciting sightings of the fishy kind, but meanwhile I'm am immensely enjoying my quiet day alone. I hope to stay in my PJ's all day long, catch up on some blogging, and definitely take a nap!<br /><br />So, to catch up on our adventures . . .<br /><br />As previously mentioned in my last post, our friends from Celo (Tal, Jess, Isaac, and Micah) visited us over New Years. They wanted to have some hot, sunny beach time, and we were happy to oblige (although the sun did get overshadowed by rain clouds a couple of times). Here's the happy family after a bit of sun and surfing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJcLSrMfPiG9rQhhc5oEzedg4IvbTYFa-wWNKSQpJ-GO_04mJYEjmYJBhdHI83QFJx8IEDvlnmJolq7YpR4m6h3ap9n9Ks7aqZUBXuZtSdwmf2wA5xiywAg3T9QuyZu8EaHmcojtYKG0/s1600/DSCN4095.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJcLSrMfPiG9rQhhc5oEzedg4IvbTYFa-wWNKSQpJ-GO_04mJYEjmYJBhdHI83QFJx8IEDvlnmJolq7YpR4m6h3ap9n9Ks7aqZUBXuZtSdwmf2wA5xiywAg3T9QuyZu8EaHmcojtYKG0/s400/DSCN4095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566169969826579458" border="0" /></a><br />Here's Tal soaking up his tropical vacation. Hopefully, they all got enough warmth to see them through the rest of the cold, snowy winter in the mountains.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UBhzt1mQcOMyXbwCmq2LjwQ9MnWCe7wIwaYqUZ4_mVjtdK-IHG6UfPyLXy0yTGr9wTAzTqhywySP4yAfu6WHhOW9DZXcN667X9numULJBa9XOfMHyGkaTLEEwB_-N1XBQYXp3BkliCo/s1600/DSCN4082.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UBhzt1mQcOMyXbwCmq2LjwQ9MnWCe7wIwaYqUZ4_mVjtdK-IHG6UfPyLXy0yTGr9wTAzTqhywySP4yAfu6WHhOW9DZXcN667X9numULJBa9XOfMHyGkaTLEEwB_-N1XBQYXp3BkliCo/s400/DSCN4082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566169957519513442" border="0" /></a><br />We made our little beach camp under these coconuts palms, though we were well positioned in order to avoid any ripe coconuts which might drop. Ah, the hazards of tropical vacations.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNxUkF5A6L1tIi2SNdvG1X4aMEqsR8976cdRUv47uZiNhsB70ewbyn5u6d9RzaCY52KIg4s3VXJ03h4yA2ZmN0MMCNhYUsNPKXZCrQhSSyNPRhqk6u_lqaplNv-VS7jncl8JWB0RiDAE/s1600/DSCN4085.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNxUkF5A6L1tIi2SNdvG1X4aMEqsR8976cdRUv47uZiNhsB70ewbyn5u6d9RzaCY52KIg4s3VXJ03h4yA2ZmN0MMCNhYUsNPKXZCrQhSSyNPRhqk6u_lqaplNv-VS7jncl8JWB0RiDAE/s400/DSCN4085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566169958595730050" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a shot of all the beach-bums.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYaIS3rUZRmGSRjXjpkvkTJIcxOPcn5IuPddfu27r7HSY-ZbF3Xui2Y_CLCAikRObep4KQJ9vQFEXBLVZIamHGuTNM8tra6Eyl9MNn6JGWCaBfWtQbo0h_4YJg3rVIf3CDyOOPhSO70k/s1600/DSCN4092.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYaIS3rUZRmGSRjXjpkvkTJIcxOPcn5IuPddfu27r7HSY-ZbF3Xui2Y_CLCAikRObep4KQJ9vQFEXBLVZIamHGuTNM8tra6Eyl9MNn6JGWCaBfWtQbo0h_4YJg3rVIf3CDyOOPhSO70k/s400/DSCN4092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566169962874259874" border="0" /></a><br />On New Year's Eve, we went out to the "whale's-tail" for a bit of snorkeling off the rocks, and we enjoyed a great sunset . . . the perfect way to say farewell to a fun-filled year. Note the frigatebird that was also enjoying the show.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFLBq0yldV0OZOjl6crPLgCl9WlfNYOXEmREp4n8Eo3E5B3rRhiYVmN3c1Ug-Z84ffEet487zkosgRuBL0OsdlR1W9CHh5vEvDDDSBbU00Y51V-kbEUJCrglHCAyf11i2AGbzC8fZ35s/s1600/DSCN4043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFLBq0yldV0OZOjl6crPLgCl9WlfNYOXEmREp4n8Eo3E5B3rRhiYVmN3c1Ug-Z84ffEet487zkosgRuBL0OsdlR1W9CHh5vEvDDDSBbU00Y51V-kbEUJCrglHCAyf11i2AGbzC8fZ35s/s400/DSCN4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562840724452198306" border="0" /></a><br />The next morning, New Years Day, we took a boat tour into the waters of the Ballena (Whale) National Marine Park, which surrounds the "whale's tail" rock formation. Appropriately enough, we saw humpback whales! Here are the kids watching intently for the spray of the whales, in hopes of seeing the whales' tails emerge as they dive back under the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwDZf7zyi1zKpa2qf7jo5pHudRjTBTvjIzrrqVdXttQy5y95WVX3GrSJEU4nDNpydBhfURGrrlakAYEtsv_Lumh66R4zRHnUC7mnek3-0noge_VvSYcnGtn6Yfxxh8Ff3nCnnZzoFG3Y/s1600/DSCN4059.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwDZf7zyi1zKpa2qf7jo5pHudRjTBTvjIzrrqVdXttQy5y95WVX3GrSJEU4nDNpydBhfURGrrlakAYEtsv_Lumh66R4zRHnUC7mnek3-0noge_VvSYcnGtn6Yfxxh8Ff3nCnnZzoFG3Y/s400/DSCN4059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566174543179614098" border="0" /></a><br />Our boat captain took us to Playa Ventana (Window Beach) where he drove us through this sea grotto.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLX7_562oDnXdlG-qCzYxxM8tpd0CLyaLzMvNm-ZBBK5YTrbBtLyOWNAYqdxUK9gc4Y8KuZTBtqetHKRXI-VWJCWpVw_LpL2laiCJwGbh6YqAkt52pgp_KPQqRedHXdOitDExH5A0iAU/s1600/DSCN4067.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLX7_562oDnXdlG-qCzYxxM8tpd0CLyaLzMvNm-ZBBK5YTrbBtLyOWNAYqdxUK9gc4Y8KuZTBtqetHKRXI-VWJCWpVw_LpL2laiCJwGbh6YqAkt52pgp_KPQqRedHXdOitDExH5A0iAU/s400/DSCN4067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562865281126502146" border="0" /></a><br />Nearby the windows we saw two green sea turtles swimming. I didn't get photos, unfortunately, but they are such beautiful creatures! We also did some snorkeling around Isla Ballena (Whale Island).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdly-96NRG0dj4IADVVl2uWNE7Ap8NS4mgeclC_0MLJ4r6EMr7I5boRPj570nSiXfKToChm6jGGWYvDmkI-Dk0pCrY9uLT7-yX6DycuGosoaGd5pXqQundlmbICMu9IwhBTe5abZ8uhiI/s1600/DSCN4063.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdly-96NRG0dj4IADVVl2uWNE7Ap8NS4mgeclC_0MLJ4r6EMr7I5boRPj570nSiXfKToChm6jGGWYvDmkI-Dk0pCrY9uLT7-yX6DycuGosoaGd5pXqQundlmbICMu9IwhBTe5abZ8uhiI/s400/DSCN4063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562865264576352930" border="0" /></a><br />Here are the sea-monkeys ready to go!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8rlbmC16UbeHVCWOMXKClJdtK7G5ESrwFybTXj6njSpD0r-j-1JfOHfXT0N-TCGwe6kEX6kyDtnxl8jmoSANv1enj56BPbT66NlVjRyXnwenl3cPslrXdIt0cvda2hcOxvfhggWkJXk/s1600/DSCN4064.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8rlbmC16UbeHVCWOMXKClJdtK7G5ESrwFybTXj6njSpD0r-j-1JfOHfXT0N-TCGwe6kEX6kyDtnxl8jmoSANv1enj56BPbT66NlVjRyXnwenl3cPslrXdIt0cvda2hcOxvfhggWkJXk/s400/DSCN4064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562865276595485970" border="0" /></a><br />We saw some cool fish, and our guide found an amazing spider-like sea-star that I let crawl around on my hand for a long time. Unfortunately, the sea sickness which had been building up all morning came to a climax when a huge fish that I had been following pooped in my face, and I realized that I was swimming in a bunch of whale and fish poop! I added my breakfast to the array of aquatic excrement and was done for the day! It's because of this experience (which was somewhat unpleasant at the time, but stands out as a wonderful morning in my memory) that I've chosen to be a land-lubber today while my family explores the high seas.<br /><br />That nap is starting to sound good . . .3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-65436160266569786752011-01-01T21:37:00.000-08:002011-01-16T12:17:57.106-08:00Friends and FirecrackersAs many of you know (especially those who live on our road), George really enjoys fireworks. He has passed on this love to Adalaya, who was thrilled to receive lots of fireworks from her daddy for Christmas. While procuring these presents, George met a big Tico (Costa Rican) on the street corner who had a black suitcase full of firecrackers. Well, little did we know that this guy also made house calls, and a few days before New Year's Eve he arrived at our door on his small moped, with his black suitcase loaded with explosives. Here's a glimpse into the "black suitcase".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9bTol73g6urROfHySzGnFviKWe9d76akr_KcgeCXllYnaV2RXRrgUMwDs7K2hXfScalSHJvRO2gO5-zlYrwwXcTFVksHgeRkpSVpZKTOAwOZ3NR8Vq5KiGT0tYHHt4fdjkYf0VUALdc/s1600/DSCN4029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9bTol73g6urROfHySzGnFviKWe9d76akr_KcgeCXllYnaV2RXRrgUMwDs7K2hXfScalSHJvRO2gO5-zlYrwwXcTFVksHgeRkpSVpZKTOAwOZ3NR8Vq5KiGT0tYHHt4fdjkYf0VUALdc/s400/DSCN4029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562866431099742962" border="0" /></a><br />George was like a kid in a candy store as he picked out his choice fireworks. His favorites, by far, were the "Dadi-Crackers" - all bang and no beauty, essentially a bomb. George had unwittingly blown off part of a wooden bench with a "Dadi-Cracker" earlier in the week, and "needed" more!<br /><br />Closer to New Year's Eve, some friends came to visit us from Celo. Tal and Jess, and their boys, Isaac and Micah, were in Costa Rica for their Christmas break, and we were thrilled to have them stay with us for a few days. George and Micah are kindred spirits in the explosive realm, and, between the two of them, took pirotechnics to new levels of creativity. Their favorite, I think, was when they placed a "Dadi-Cracker" inside a coconut. The explosion sent a shock wave through the air and ground, and sent bits of coconut raining down on the roof, while the scent of burnt coconut and explosives hung in the air.<br /><br />On New Year's Eve, Micah and Adalaya were wanting more fireworks for that night, so we stopped by the fireworks tent on our way to the beach, and the kids bought some of their own explosives.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBMcAFCd0WeXxXhHFKf9p67y0Tv1CurOJYuVIa-dmvvSxqWUw5SDYqNZydctq-GaBmLlBvT7761NRQwbcVSiXQKEjljwfrHtxDElrl2sifEMBPtidNdGfbjRFgGOSLvTnXp7r0nqK0hI/s1600/DSCN4037.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBMcAFCd0WeXxXhHFKf9p67y0Tv1CurOJYuVIa-dmvvSxqWUw5SDYqNZydctq-GaBmLlBvT7761NRQwbcVSiXQKEjljwfrHtxDElrl2sifEMBPtidNdGfbjRFgGOSLvTnXp7r0nqK0hI/s400/DSCN4037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562840722248188818" border="0" /></a><br />Micah was hoping to buy a "Dadi-Cracker" with his own money, but this vendor didn't have any, so George tried to relay his desire for a similar explosive devise in broken Spanish. Micah wanted to build a sandcastle at the beach and then blow it up. Good dad's that Tal and George are, they were willing to help with the project, but it ended up in disappointment when the firecracker merely sent colorful sparks shooting out of the side of the sandcastle that Micah and Adalaya built.<br /><br />With a full array of fireworks lined up on our doorstep for the New Year's Eve display, George gave a lesson in "Fireworks 101" to 3 eager students. Here George is demonstrating the correct crouching position for lighting a firecracker.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZs0OydOio1VeEqpOA0xgg-3t0b63zTMuXQrw3yfbzdzwmZogL5qHo1JjNLOzcMrD00LgkX6j5ebdPEOkmXXqLi1jH9uS9D10pbCm05xoGoUyb8UEINpZOxhN10H8whPk-GfPwXbL2S8/s1600/DSCN4054.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZs0OydOio1VeEqpOA0xgg-3t0b63zTMuXQrw3yfbzdzwmZogL5qHo1JjNLOzcMrD00LgkX6j5ebdPEOkmXXqLi1jH9uS9D10pbCm05xoGoUyb8UEINpZOxhN10H8whPk-GfPwXbL2S8/s400/DSCN4054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562840729949037234" border="0" /></a><br />And here is one of his apprentices in training, lighting her own firecracker.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MdUdoDUmcT4H3aJ8TNmQyBKdG77xAbHTPVdAUu_fuuQY4HmYIUTinNATAj-Akhb5f1G-XWS91wGq_-rUP30chxByna9sysQ2A-1refZHmdNWFv-qcn0zp5_6RB8L07goYSvrHiJPEN4/s1600/DSCN4055.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MdUdoDUmcT4H3aJ8TNmQyBKdG77xAbHTPVdAUu_fuuQY4HmYIUTinNATAj-Akhb5f1G-XWS91wGq_-rUP30chxByna9sysQ2A-1refZHmdNWFv-qcn0zp5_6RB8L07goYSvrHiJPEN4/s400/DSCN4055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562840737684504914" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-5425684109337117472010-12-26T15:28:00.001-08:002011-01-16T17:13:33.497-08:00Feliz Navidad!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgsfAypuuflI1JbtBeGgbUWHw58MZeggFhlBh9DvNeiECn0IlPg5BYAdpV-MvqzMaaH6oAMwIy9nR_fV_xG1VEMehkFvkA8PBfS9if1ffbzkyYeO7bu0tIO2EoqHxli6MW6ZEd3BZI2g/s1600/DSCN3758.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgsfAypuuflI1JbtBeGgbUWHw58MZeggFhlBh9DvNeiECn0IlPg5BYAdpV-MvqzMaaH6oAMwIy9nR_fV_xG1VEMehkFvkA8PBfS9if1ffbzkyYeO7bu0tIO2EoqHxli6MW6ZEd3BZI2g/s400/DSCN3758.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555138422745473746" border="0" /></a><br />We've been hearing how cold and snowy it's been at home lately. We hear it was even a white Christmas! Sounds like this year will be a repeat of last year's never-ending winter, which is exactly what we are trying to avoid.<br /><br />It's summertime down here - literally! The schools here just finished for the year, and the kids are now on their 3 month summer vacation. Summer also corresponds to the dry season down here, when the rain stops for a few months and it gets HOT! It's a strange sensation to have Christmas in the summer!<br /><br />I have not been my usual festive self this year, and consequently George has not been nearly as Grinch-like. Adalaya has tried to keep the Christmas spirit alive by making decorations for the house. The most creative, I think, is this tiny Nativity Scene that she made out of soap shavings.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaozJmoctTmtAtIxVPJTL880iPLX30UknWWnuBT2GvE5VQigV9B6-lHRKkW_pkG6dxfPrBXhyphenhypheneVYWauw5_qE7hXz8mxDaUsgnm5l8-7tpho1CxZ2EY9tljdSCYnwtJq8CIBAQ7Z-dhZ10/s1600/DSCN3899.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaozJmoctTmtAtIxVPJTL880iPLX30UknWWnuBT2GvE5VQigV9B6-lHRKkW_pkG6dxfPrBXhyphenhypheneVYWauw5_qE7hXz8mxDaUsgnm5l8-7tpho1CxZ2EY9tljdSCYnwtJq8CIBAQ7Z-dhZ10/s400/DSCN3899.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555138427823150146" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClB5St03VLDv8mhxY-tvxIP4Ws-uD2hq03mwRPSKCkfg0CcsrScgwsY6qNvwuJd9A4UHoDEmxiSuOvSTiHFVEUnvpeu8Ij03IAi_kRS88kWWGc1mjED4n39o_3PWa7UC2AdjrCNyWm64/s1600/DSCN3903.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClB5St03VLDv8mhxY-tvxIP4Ws-uD2hq03mwRPSKCkfg0CcsrScgwsY6qNvwuJd9A4UHoDEmxiSuOvSTiHFVEUnvpeu8Ij03IAi_kRS88kWWGc1mjED4n39o_3PWa7UC2AdjrCNyWm64/s400/DSCN3903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555138438464899778" border="0" /></a><br />As an early Christmas present to my friend-deprived child, we decided to "foster" a kitten while we are here. There is an organization in town who brings in stray animals, in order to spay / neuter them and then find homes for them. This particular kitten has a home arranged at the end of January, but until then it needed a foster home. Adalaya and I brought it home, much to George's dismay. But, who could resist this little playful ball of fur!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbogCBZ9aN98u3yf6chljyF9P6VbL-zRxJYsVZD4vWKoYXolVlyigamjU03zzc_V0tNgfDg0IhKQhS7E5kzMwwGV0FoEZmKGbfvVqeITdEHGnH3ptnfmwp12pi66D1W7d738a3JO38V8o/s1600/DSCN3817.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbogCBZ9aN98u3yf6chljyF9P6VbL-zRxJYsVZD4vWKoYXolVlyigamjU03zzc_V0tNgfDg0IhKQhS7E5kzMwwGV0FoEZmKGbfvVqeITdEHGnH3ptnfmwp12pi66D1W7d738a3JO38V8o/s400/DSCN3817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555140122826320402" border="0" /></a><br />Not us!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jt6KEIBSXaDrzgcKX2t4PU1rwBf4g6H5g7pG6Ii0qimJW16u6ubyu-BANWSI3Au08Zz12f05E7k0v6Qv1WcSoMVCFEGdYkgEnqYqXZO9ZA5u-o0-WDgWOvs1y5AP5KfRS_E38YMFlWs/s1600/DSCN3820.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jt6KEIBSXaDrzgcKX2t4PU1rwBf4g6H5g7pG6Ii0qimJW16u6ubyu-BANWSI3Au08Zz12f05E7k0v6Qv1WcSoMVCFEGdYkgEnqYqXZO9ZA5u-o0-WDgWOvs1y5AP5KfRS_E38YMFlWs/s400/DSCN3820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555140127586767090" border="0" /></a><br />We are thoroughly spoiling the kitten, but also trying to teach it good kitty manners. Adalaya named her "Elsie" because she looks similar to our black-and-white cat at home, named Elsa, but is also quite the meower and a little naughty like our other cat, Mitzie. She's very smart too, and likes to help Adalaya with her homework. Here she is telling Adalaya the answer to this math question.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx5GGhubU7VeOA1AuVdzNbu2faNTW-pAHtcIghoWwzHaXl8loD74uaDYnLHIZ9qwPAJWHtwY4qxuLaRI_CN0RSEPCH3cBywS983GkxfGTCdAJZgayymIxaGfuIa-RbNr7uT2fDdwltzs/s1600/DSCN3908.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx5GGhubU7VeOA1AuVdzNbu2faNTW-pAHtcIghoWwzHaXl8loD74uaDYnLHIZ9qwPAJWHtwY4qxuLaRI_CN0RSEPCH3cBywS983GkxfGTCdAJZgayymIxaGfuIa-RbNr7uT2fDdwltzs/s400/DSCN3908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555140137627636690" border="0" /></a><br />We were invited to come to a Christmas play put on by the children of a local church. A guy dropped by our house with this invitation, and invited us to come to the performance at their church "down the road".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUlKVAk53bwmLmyI211s0FXr2RQcR2k0Y_J5PlfAv1DcURq9e2Xi4kVWMa37rRMh7uvKt4ISk4LlTZ-XJHEsWgHPijdR9CaGECpJt-QWu_6gGKNdtDby4SbNm4WuIX0TVjp8eouT3jJQ/s1600/DSCN3900.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUlKVAk53bwmLmyI211s0FXr2RQcR2k0Y_J5PlfAv1DcURq9e2Xi4kVWMa37rRMh7uvKt4ISk4LlTZ-XJHEsWgHPijdR9CaGECpJt-QWu_6gGKNdtDby4SbNm4WuIX0TVjp8eouT3jJQ/s400/DSCN3900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555138430808102802" border="0" /></a><br />It sounded like a great thing to do, so that evening we walked to the church "right down the road", which is the only church we knew of. We walked in and seated ourselves and listened to a woman preach for about a half hour. She spoke with the fullness and intensity of the Spirit, and George thought she was talking in tongues, but I'm pretty sure it was just Spanish. Next, we thought for sure, it was time for the Navidad children's play to begin. Much to our surprise, the next act was a trio of Tico (Costa Rican) teenagers that came out dressed in full rapper regalia. With their baggy pants, over-sized hoodies, gold chains, bandannas, and sun-glasses (even though it was already dark outside) they commenced to rapping Spanish Catholic rhymes! It was at this time that we looked at one another and realized that we were in the wrong church! Although it was not the traditional Christmas event we expected, we were nonetheless moved by the power of the spirit.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi3e1QnGd75WtzhVRFcC-Zq2zMWmmVasiLY1FYX8eiC-XtDG6ZGAWVfz-gKDCPsE90o_DKqlLkgrgj0ChxDF9wAnXmZPFlqF6yHw458f4gRgNNQXNiyVHkeo569-x0nViXFpznNZEunU/s1600/DSCN4004.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLi3e1QnGd75WtzhVRFcC-Zq2zMWmmVasiLY1FYX8eiC-XtDG6ZGAWVfz-gKDCPsE90o_DKqlLkgrgj0ChxDF9wAnXmZPFlqF6yHw458f4gRgNNQXNiyVHkeo569-x0nViXFpznNZEunU/s400/DSCN4004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555147853052053378" border="0" /></a><br />On Christmas day, we did the usual opening of presents. This year most of the presents were consumable goods, such as chocolate and fireworks, with a few other small gifts - after all, we have to think about how we're going to get these things home with another month of van living in our future!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_FBkWjIyy4EnDGeyuHaCwWuC5izc9SaiqzbLrB6xCi2qn1HLC1_tJNDHAD9O5tHOmsBuO8f2cMvU2tFcp_Fp4f-j7cX8KevN9FsA8T8zVVFfKqF4wo0wx7VuWilPxRIMSf4UPTe88OQ/s1600/DSCN3989.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_FBkWjIyy4EnDGeyuHaCwWuC5izc9SaiqzbLrB6xCi2qn1HLC1_tJNDHAD9O5tHOmsBuO8f2cMvU2tFcp_Fp4f-j7cX8KevN9FsA8T8zVVFfKqF4wo0wx7VuWilPxRIMSf4UPTe88OQ/s400/DSCN3989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555167602980778162" border="0" /></a><br />Another consumable present that we got for ourselves was this yummy chocolate cake from a local bakery. Great idea, George!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LycuCZD_2Pd3Qs-ZK_mZ1AXq48c_WNCrtkwAfCVf_4YQsqCjNAIcY8jGC0o-Xo4yKlhvCnkzWaFmMOjlrwLNMKKzEJ8w8VV8V5DYLl3p2897L64tXJn6BltZU6FKbRvoftQt6qoiSFY/s1600/DSCN3963.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4LycuCZD_2Pd3Qs-ZK_mZ1AXq48c_WNCrtkwAfCVf_4YQsqCjNAIcY8jGC0o-Xo4yKlhvCnkzWaFmMOjlrwLNMKKzEJ8w8VV8V5DYLl3p2897L64tXJn6BltZU6FKbRvoftQt6qoiSFY/s400/DSCN3963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555167587201495138" border="0" /></a><br />Here he is slicing it with our machete-of-a-kitchen-knife!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1VDjwuQyngQwa5RUO1UErmfSwL-o-IeIPVkigiXyNZ3IGSC0zfEWV2qhOIWN0Yb1AH0-LX7rf03O7HK1SGiS4EolWwmvdU11FRjlDf7NK332EtoIgYOgFn1DCdLQyvYBskcbBv3EDq0/s1600/DSCN3967.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1VDjwuQyngQwa5RUO1UErmfSwL-o-IeIPVkigiXyNZ3IGSC0zfEWV2qhOIWN0Yb1AH0-LX7rf03O7HK1SGiS4EolWwmvdU11FRjlDf7NK332EtoIgYOgFn1DCdLQyvYBskcbBv3EDq0/s400/DSCN3967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555167595999393138" border="0" /></a><br />Christmas day was the most beautiful day we've had yet in Costa Rica; it was HOT and there was a beautiful blue sky, so we headed to the beach.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJha2Hj2vsjF-_OSfUIlD7h83oc9GRfJOjDYc8Y35TbiF7RnXKp3CvEIV0V2dV6sQmKbKJkE5n_KGR0Dm03D6yhq79jISjomy4hyphenhyphen3OzUn7NfeTvLaflFbzkwmuOWs0IzIVuODAgYIe_M/s1600/DSCN4008.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJha2Hj2vsjF-_OSfUIlD7h83oc9GRfJOjDYc8Y35TbiF7RnXKp3CvEIV0V2dV6sQmKbKJkE5n_KGR0Dm03D6yhq79jISjomy4hyphenhyphen3OzUn7NfeTvLaflFbzkwmuOWs0IzIVuODAgYIe_M/s400/DSCN4008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555168875035240434" border="0" /></a><br />It was low tide, and we found this sprouted coconut on the wide swath of sand that leads out to the "whale-tail".<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKo7irNGvSwoXkL5CKKlONDSaKqbymfxNGB_uLzXZfrfFtpqD9cKVcaKR_DXmFlR9NBv91ZMa2WVPWdtIdEKxT6F960Soh2h-3uLH8ZMpTMv6ZrtTAzf87czzJBpJ3NKwxP4kEFiDWIM/s1600/DSCN4005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKo7irNGvSwoXkL5CKKlONDSaKqbymfxNGB_uLzXZfrfFtpqD9cKVcaKR_DXmFlR9NBv91ZMa2WVPWdtIdEKxT6F960Soh2h-3uLH8ZMpTMv6ZrtTAzf87czzJBpJ3NKwxP4kEFiDWIM/s400/DSCN4005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555168855345019074" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the "whale-tail" formation as seen from above.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84Vfy4BGeBYWjDWP2BwLimYF4sEEQswSYWd3a3RCNNXDt80p-NORWeOE7PwYZK-v3BB9H3HkKH3R2vORcVdq42-zBCqPIg3-B5YJKnRnLOqODusoZyweHdW3WlMNObbiFB6XtFjPPtBM/s1600/whale-tail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84Vfy4BGeBYWjDWP2BwLimYF4sEEQswSYWd3a3RCNNXDt80p-NORWeOE7PwYZK-v3BB9H3HkKH3R2vORcVdq42-zBCqPIg3-B5YJKnRnLOqODusoZyweHdW3WlMNObbiFB6XtFjPPtBM/s400/whale-tail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555168865402665218" border="0" /></a><br />The rocky outcrop at the end of the tail is exposed during low tide, and many tidal pools are created which make for some easy snorkeling. It was Adalaya's first time snorkeling in the ocean, and she loved it! Here's the cute sea monster entering the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n6n2gdxlXah14YdEYZThaGbU3DdWwK8oZ7vLmW8gakfnxPxLTDZyZQTtVgx9WsVMTb_DMgRlgBtf-jYzeULjv74jFh7TVIVhhdrt621FDIA793h3DL7Z1s-smWmUj3dhUY8e57SdDzc/s1600/DSCN4010.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n6n2gdxlXah14YdEYZThaGbU3DdWwK8oZ7vLmW8gakfnxPxLTDZyZQTtVgx9WsVMTb_DMgRlgBtf-jYzeULjv74jFh7TVIVhhdrt621FDIA793h3DL7Z1s-smWmUj3dhUY8e57SdDzc/s400/DSCN4010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555179058392830578" border="0" /></a><br />And here she is with George, exploring the treasures in the protected rocky pools.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtojQI_TnDYtnfVTbVXbsr62Tx8rSjuS4d-z-_Xo4LYLNpbr5lYAbXpImCS9QRHQbHLpfDSsSJvzARM245x7oMP644Nt_3-PiIr-LSw1C9zp3KYJhdzpAYj8ofPefjvMqNQJpw5LTVKg/s1600/DSCN4014.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtojQI_TnDYtnfVTbVXbsr62Tx8rSjuS4d-z-_Xo4LYLNpbr5lYAbXpImCS9QRHQbHLpfDSsSJvzARM245x7oMP644Nt_3-PiIr-LSw1C9zp3KYJhdzpAYj8ofPefjvMqNQJpw5LTVKg/s400/DSCN4014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555168861893624290" border="0" /></a><br />We saw some amazing iridescent fish, urchins, and a lobster hiding in a rock crevice. Here they are again, searching among the rocks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBMmQ6bdh2sU0zROnvza8qo3UIhNnHZQ6MY_BaNh2ygYtOywTPhzltjFRmwmeIbxIszzZmp-F22neZvUFfUtG1z3BcpGsUo9XAod8PnmyLtJasGp1K4Sv9u1j9_zuNtqmH3iyg8x6jLM/s1600/DSCN4018.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBMmQ6bdh2sU0zROnvza8qo3UIhNnHZQ6MY_BaNh2ygYtOywTPhzltjFRmwmeIbxIszzZmp-F22neZvUFfUtG1z3BcpGsUo9XAod8PnmyLtJasGp1K4Sv9u1j9_zuNtqmH3iyg8x6jLM/s400/DSCN4018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555168870180955170" border="0" /></a><br />After a long walk home, a shower, a nap, and a little more of that chocolate cake, we joined a new Tico friend of ours for a lovely pizza dinner and a bottle of wine.<br /><br />All told, it's been an unforgettable Christmas, although we have greatly missed our friends and family. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad!<br /><br />PS: Don't worry too much about George and the cat; they're bonding quickly. I was shocked to see this scene not long after we brought "Elsie" home.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvTROcmk8cdE7lK28kpt3cPoYOE7Joi4aS8j4goL2ggicG1DVqsU7vhx3iAB7yDPYcEdU7lxqssm8-ZNDY0cMhHiugr9VSoPgchicXlpUuzhqfGVi9Ympq51WrV_CAh_bwYUpdr0mFDI/s1600/DSCN3818.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvTROcmk8cdE7lK28kpt3cPoYOE7Joi4aS8j4goL2ggicG1DVqsU7vhx3iAB7yDPYcEdU7lxqssm8-ZNDY0cMhHiugr9VSoPgchicXlpUuzhqfGVi9Ympq51WrV_CAh_bwYUpdr0mFDI/s400/DSCN3818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556350151761798066" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-30489160856481333192010-12-22T22:07:00.000-08:002011-02-24T22:02:40.933-08:00Adventures with Elvis, Part I: Cookoo for CoconutsGeorge has befriended a "tico" named Elvis. Elvis is great! He lived in New Jersey with his wife and children for 9 years, so his English is great. He has taught us a lot about the ways of Costa Rica. He and George make good comrades because they are both very social and adventurous. Having Elvis around has eliminated most of George's pacing, and his regular need to be a "wild-man" has been fulfilled for the moment. Our first adventure with Elvis was in the comfort of our back-yard and kitchen, where he taught us to make coconut oil.<br /><br />When George first met Elvis, he was peddling his wares: Costa Rica key-chains and coconut oil. We really enjoy local food, so we bought some of his coconut oil, which will cure anything that ails you, according to Elvis. We quickly became fans of his coconut oil, frying plantains in it, drizzling it over chicken and rice, burritos, etc. We showed so much interest that Elvis volunteered to show us how to make the magical oil.<br /><br />We sequestered ten ripe coconuts from our neighbors tree (which regularly fall to the ground, never to be used by them), and started the lengthy process of making coconut oil.<br /><br />First, George and Elvis had to make a tool for grating the coconut flesh. So, using a file and a piece of scrap-metal from an old machete, they put their tico and hillbilly ingenuity to work and created two coconut <span style="font-style: italic;">rayadores.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGblp0u8WzGTuWHfv38SKNQCHL_AvQTAM717XEAOGq2tNY3dBMBEA_E65ag6aFtXGiPnDnSTBNgUfO9IEG5c9KZ3jqk40mzrdZacs6VQpzYNFYc4o4c5du2NXEF5ywQl_kgi6c3-yRiY/s1600/DSCN3925.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGblp0u8WzGTuWHfv38SKNQCHL_AvQTAM717XEAOGq2tNY3dBMBEA_E65ag6aFtXGiPnDnSTBNgUfO9IEG5c9KZ3jqk40mzrdZacs6VQpzYNFYc4o4c5du2NXEF5ywQl_kgi6c3-yRiY/s400/DSCN3925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566206025121977218" border="0" /></a><br />Next, Elvis demonstrated how to remove the coconut husk . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8ZEcJ0h1fioK_1i-VxI6lJnwZ_Q84985tC71zndZgZkcy6GyEP0h20r6tu0TDwkb4AVctGTMZ_YmGC6Svp982ygkcIf0QgHaO4HPlKJImPxvZaAsUnu1jbM6N1xNnRFRW0rx5Fj1xUg/s1600/DSCN3926.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8ZEcJ0h1fioK_1i-VxI6lJnwZ_Q84985tC71zndZgZkcy6GyEP0h20r6tu0TDwkb4AVctGTMZ_YmGC6Svp982ygkcIf0QgHaO4HPlKJImPxvZaAsUnu1jbM6N1xNnRFRW0rx5Fj1xUg/s400/DSCN3926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566206030470267330" border="0" /></a><br />Then he showed us how to hack open the shell with our kitchen knife / machete.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjc1iJUOAU-b_ptDZphucjvRHuD0c7_mfagrQnnbqMQQujxrhZHm8h2RdRnR0XCGe_fyPT-kJK9KuFb_A88m0w5xwv_4Q8ifIelWVX9z6gNClZjsllUhQZvfGw-OBcsuXXwY1NRN3-vs/s1600/DSCN3930.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjc1iJUOAU-b_ptDZphucjvRHuD0c7_mfagrQnnbqMQQujxrhZHm8h2RdRnR0XCGe_fyPT-kJK9KuFb_A88m0w5xwv_4Q8ifIelWVX9z6gNClZjsllUhQZvfGw-OBcsuXXwY1NRN3-vs/s400/DSCN3930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566207863288332050" border="0" /></a><br />Here he's collecting the <span style="font-style: italic;">agua de coco</span> for drinking.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Bltkzqho_zDBRk8aGH4YYAGuqleoThFac_EVQj8d2Of5SbKLOeRbwGdIgfx26sP4WjjNWA9Kfv-n3YKKxTLPj6gjZv12_g5Nnscvp0Aa_tzkewwnbMv3SnMMvZNDB4GYPr9xwFc1eMg/s1600/DSCN3929.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Bltkzqho_zDBRk8aGH4YYAGuqleoThFac_EVQj8d2Of5SbKLOeRbwGdIgfx26sP4WjjNWA9Kfv-n3YKKxTLPj6gjZv12_g5Nnscvp0Aa_tzkewwnbMv3SnMMvZNDB4GYPr9xwFc1eMg/s400/DSCN3929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566206043281617810" border="0" /></a><br />And the beautiful white, oily flesh is exposed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkOkNrt4C5aAO05sJ8XydLFlUqSkz4LNp2pcwzGPVNtq8G8LIrcHmEt9zRZ_GYz75ApcNYLSTYyh7xQJ6B2uTZZ8WC32CBQHkidwID06AYuJkHXHVI3Or1eZS3YQwAn8lsjQE4cE_sIw/s1600/DSCN3927.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkOkNrt4C5aAO05sJ8XydLFlUqSkz4LNp2pcwzGPVNtq8G8LIrcHmEt9zRZ_GYz75ApcNYLSTYyh7xQJ6B2uTZZ8WC32CBQHkidwID06AYuJkHXHVI3Or1eZS3YQwAn8lsjQE4cE_sIw/s400/DSCN3927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566206039307448530" border="0" /></a><br />Next, you have to start grating the flesh, like so.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI69Ii-ZZzxiDHRPuya6yRpIqri6IqB8PYWQgzWKdkJqKKclW5-Khm4X1lD-sfjbB4HknwgY1NyywalgjI8vncMr1YtZW_jwXE8_h0tqgtPwJctP45GgwDeeObMlF4ZFP70h1OkI5JTU/s1600/DSCN3924.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI69Ii-ZZzxiDHRPuya6yRpIqri6IqB8PYWQgzWKdkJqKKclW5-Khm4X1lD-sfjbB4HknwgY1NyywalgjI8vncMr1YtZW_jwXE8_h0tqgtPwJctP45GgwDeeObMlF4ZFP70h1OkI5JTU/s400/DSCN3924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566206022032444898" border="0" /></a><br />Here, we're getting into the groove of coconut grating.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmnQiqONenN7R0LPns7-ekwWT9W9NLE2UleIrFN13_jyVsIy0xdbWVHpAfT2IJQwrsEplu2BjduTdeNAC-VQgr2pQEK-HwHiO9VyfgGWQpyNVdFYuhiQP2GGCHLiCHQDB4AMtTL7N7XE/s1600/DSCN3935.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmnQiqONenN7R0LPns7-ekwWT9W9NLE2UleIrFN13_jyVsIy0xdbWVHpAfT2IJQwrsEplu2BjduTdeNAC-VQgr2pQEK-HwHiO9VyfgGWQpyNVdFYuhiQP2GGCHLiCHQDB4AMtTL7N7XE/s400/DSCN3935.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566207865711293266" border="0" /></a><br />Adalaya grated a coconut too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaKhd6iEJNK6sKSweGc29RMN0fPv9nzulRS2oBoo4PmSN-SylkIu2EqhbABQKzKcyCF_MCv59odowxYMDXbnoXMUbuyXNvprLMhSYVmvBhOm04SMTFbzeOcWCtalejNF2astZZOgckMw/s1600/DSCN3937.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaKhd6iEJNK6sKSweGc29RMN0fPv9nzulRS2oBoo4PmSN-SylkIu2EqhbABQKzKcyCF_MCv59odowxYMDXbnoXMUbuyXNvprLMhSYVmvBhOm04SMTFbzeOcWCtalejNF2astZZOgckMw/s400/DSCN3937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566207874427888434" border="0" /></a><br />It's tiring work! Elvis says he can do about 100 coconuts per day, but we were plenty happy just processing 10!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeez1kMBc8fygJ-7HMg6dRW68vlCRI0rJgkDmZHIYUd0CqQzyr2KpCwPjqL3trllO704e_elU8JGwI0GlTMa8AijqzVjEaQ4CylbSlb_-vlaotxbvtEYFVmCkac_u9owzY1wKth8V4MU/s1600/DSCN3936.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeez1kMBc8fygJ-7HMg6dRW68vlCRI0rJgkDmZHIYUd0CqQzyr2KpCwPjqL3trllO704e_elU8JGwI0GlTMa8AijqzVjEaQ4CylbSlb_-vlaotxbvtEYFVmCkac_u9owzY1wKth8V4MU/s400/DSCN3936.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566207867157531554" border="0" /></a><br />Next we soaked the grated coconut in water, then squeezed it out the milk through a handkerchief. This was repeated two more times for a total of 4 gallons of coconut milk, which is also very yummy in it's own right. At this point I wanted to take a bath in the milk, it was so lovely and creamy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq2LXFFX-yKAeB1gaH4WuJMvEDiZ1SriF2UiMcfoNwTGQszSfQnTmh8TBAs5zjkNEc0hMXrQ8YDvKYMDTsimw7_fyiXmM44fdhmWnMHS-u9RcFNmcTdWyMlavJTHnxzlCYJBOIn8A23g/s1600/DSCN3946.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwq2LXFFX-yKAeB1gaH4WuJMvEDiZ1SriF2UiMcfoNwTGQszSfQnTmh8TBAs5zjkNEc0hMXrQ8YDvKYMDTsimw7_fyiXmM44fdhmWnMHS-u9RcFNmcTdWyMlavJTHnxzlCYJBOIn8A23g/s400/DSCN3946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566208893936917762" border="0" /></a><br />We let the coconut cream rise to the top over a period of several hours, then proceeded to skim off the cream and cook it down.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MLku2NEKNGlXGv0H30v9Ua0j21ozJRiQk2qhurcFPDaY8acC1KfqJ3rsUmy4ZYLm5lw0MiMQ336dYXZKcbevh9dzhfrf33OAjOapF-iMZlx4qsRNOhu0VfZIy0lC-Dujsi8tYJPqz7k/s1600/DSCN3951.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MLku2NEKNGlXGv0H30v9Ua0j21ozJRiQk2qhurcFPDaY8acC1KfqJ3rsUmy4ZYLm5lw0MiMQ336dYXZKcbevh9dzhfrf33OAjOapF-iMZlx4qsRNOhu0VfZIy0lC-Dujsi8tYJPqz7k/s400/DSCN3951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566208899935551874" border="0" /></a><br />The cream separates into coconut curds and oil, and the whole kitchen smells rich and delicious.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBSMm_b6_BK3b0I6FlWKTSD8Rg4Mx5muYBOO3BlF_VZyyZ8v0O1tA6-NsT-2b0XD9NZKotRlpigfcGpTlZYkLnHCXlvdv_T7wILrRpyWbmg5KkUHI9sC4u6wEMCGqlUIQModan5OJbo4/s1600/DSCN3952.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBSMm_b6_BK3b0I6FlWKTSD8Rg4Mx5muYBOO3BlF_VZyyZ8v0O1tA6-NsT-2b0XD9NZKotRlpigfcGpTlZYkLnHCXlvdv_T7wILrRpyWbmg5KkUHI9sC4u6wEMCGqlUIQModan5OJbo4/s400/DSCN3952.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566208899611858834" border="0" /></a><br />At the end of the process, we made about 16 oz of oil from the 10 coconuts. Cooking with the oil adds a delicious new tropical flare to many of our old standby meals. I've also started using the oil on my skin after bathing. I think I must have been coconut deprived!<br /><br />Elvis is currently taking orders for coconut oil if anyone wants to try this magical panacea! Here's bottles of different batches currently in our kitchen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v-s1YxMqEfq-GfmTdDrfBVSox8t9Ezhb-nOQRkjmh8zrzHBTxG6OCU6qzKddRW1moO1-wkPdiQzZ2b9BC9pmqzm_12Ukb0L9lwbGKyC3X2NLAHYTeuEq96X2-eSk9l_2jUD8itM8jL0/s1600/DSCN0172.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2v-s1YxMqEfq-GfmTdDrfBVSox8t9Ezhb-nOQRkjmh8zrzHBTxG6OCU6qzKddRW1moO1-wkPdiQzZ2b9BC9pmqzm_12Ukb0L9lwbGKyC3X2NLAHYTeuEq96X2-eSk9l_2jUD8itM8jL0/s400/DSCN0172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569268029660026258" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-51487795951887152192010-12-18T19:48:00.000-08:002010-12-29T21:44:39.225-08:00Friends on the FincaOne reason that we chose to come to Uvita, of all the places in Central America, is that we have friends here who run a farm / biological field study center. The road up to their "finca" has been destroyed by this year's unusually rainy season, so we haven't been able to spend much time up there until recently. Finally we went up to Finca Carolina this week and spent a night in the jungle.<br /><br />The adventure began with the ride up the aforementioned road. George had already dubbed Andrew's trusty Subaru "The Ghetto Blaster" because we could always hear him coming to visit us way before he arrived. So, now we were to ride up an extremely steep, muddy, and washed-out road in his car which had the entire exhaust system "wired" onto the chassis of the car. Well, about half-way up the road, the wires broke, and the exhaust system was dragging the ground. Classic photo below, I think.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR0_Ift2b86GOL2_2oImB9eGUOxR7bm5RU0p_c_VNheZetvMNigCAoKujSm52m4RaKibycEo2p08hKhEoh_GQpVyTi5PIYlTUMa8BFfQ56Bsf3bsJ3GqGxZLgqeSdNUs0T9s261qaNxI/s1600/DSCN3857.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR0_Ift2b86GOL2_2oImB9eGUOxR7bm5RU0p_c_VNheZetvMNigCAoKujSm52m4RaKibycEo2p08hKhEoh_GQpVyTi5PIYlTUMa8BFfQ56Bsf3bsJ3GqGxZLgqeSdNUs0T9s261qaNxI/s400/DSCN3857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556325901239718034" border="0" /></a><br />After assessing the situation, they decided to tie the pipes back under the car in order to get it up the hill. George's boy scout training comes in handy once again! Note the lack of a muffler in the photo below.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fi763itvP4B4zG_QISrCY3rrWSdfJww5kmVDpVENQaUvkTlkv1pXeSncr_mOkNxG5Pi_uph8Kg-jPq_Gs0RX-X2pcCx1SEccM1Y2-mQzTqzZG3dNTizclgJEJ8Jhan48ng7OQeFhsrg/s1600/DSCN3856.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Fi763itvP4B4zG_QISrCY3rrWSdfJww5kmVDpVENQaUvkTlkv1pXeSncr_mOkNxG5Pi_uph8Kg-jPq_Gs0RX-X2pcCx1SEccM1Y2-mQzTqzZG3dNTizclgJEJ8Jhan48ng7OQeFhsrg/s400/DSCN3856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556325894704790834" border="0" /></a><br />The boy-scout knots held, and we were able to resume our uphill adventure.<br /><br />Here's the Subie clearing one of the last mud pits. Ah, if only photographs could capture sound, this image would be complete.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnmoCaU_a_uyennIjtb0JjXLFsKc8XR4toU6v82sMbF9MspOmj-z2ynJp0xOLxscsj5rtX94Y-lMpDGROdqb2Ixd0OkUvZ9cZx1rYUbO-Jr4RHshiiEBSSvL3GZTGOjfcAjSrlN2yQYs/s1600/DSCN3858.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpnmoCaU_a_uyennIjtb0JjXLFsKc8XR4toU6v82sMbF9MspOmj-z2ynJp0xOLxscsj5rtX94Y-lMpDGROdqb2Ixd0OkUvZ9cZx1rYUbO-Jr4RHshiiEBSSvL3GZTGOjfcAjSrlN2yQYs/s400/DSCN3858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556325904265295378" border="0" /></a><br />Having successfully arrived at the finca, we were treated to our favorite dinner: homemade wood-fired pizza. Noah fired up their cob oven and fixed tons of delicious pizza with our favorite toppings. In this photo, the fire is still heating the oven and the pot of tomato sauce is cooking in front of the fire.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECPtQggHfZUTBjn5cUpgPhL47jW9hmjoTwIyGia_c2G32uPD15BWHDHjipai4ScOy0lH37Oq-Jpt3ZfnAUF0wZgLEqoM7YEsEGNIOSHq2xGh-tLqRrvehbYuJlsAgvGbVd42EsFEggEE/s1600/DSCN3860.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECPtQggHfZUTBjn5cUpgPhL47jW9hmjoTwIyGia_c2G32uPD15BWHDHjipai4ScOy0lH37Oq-Jpt3ZfnAUF0wZgLEqoM7YEsEGNIOSHq2xGh-tLqRrvehbYuJlsAgvGbVd42EsFEggEE/s400/DSCN3860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556325904433887602" border="0" /></a><br />George, who loves pizza and cob ovens, was inspired by their cooking technique. Noah slid the pizzas into the oven on banana leaves rather than using a pizza peel and cornmeal. Then he turned the pizzas with a machete, and toward the end he removed the banana leaf in order to crisp the crust a little. What talent! Here's Andrew cutting the pizza with the ever-useful machete.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJo3An83Pi2GH1o_EY0-027OsmhUlGaZXOWhcv6qcmWdNYBH9nLvecb_fdaaQqKVQS0kmLJJ76nYHkdMpjmTHr2sNDR9Ir_9CX4XA9tbfNLJeT3-jlCY2aBhVekVQa4cimYwKRfUZor8/s1600/DSCN3865.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJo3An83Pi2GH1o_EY0-027OsmhUlGaZXOWhcv6qcmWdNYBH9nLvecb_fdaaQqKVQS0kmLJJ76nYHkdMpjmTHr2sNDR9Ir_9CX4XA9tbfNLJeT3-jlCY2aBhVekVQa4cimYwKRfUZor8/s400/DSCN3865.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556330514912013666" border="0" /></a><br />We voted it the best pizza on our trip! It was also the first pizza we've had that was served on banana leaves! YUM!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8dGtvvMDCCuFuTFjq8YK4aQQ8oP68USRdX8KePX9U9veL445q7bLo2srWEwPEFOjx2v4LnIqOpS3LPx9bvpV5T7ITbU0-ivMuBXFDDqEqwq2AELhTZFfWjIr10DuAeqxJrYsWya6_QI/s1600/DSCN3863.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8dGtvvMDCCuFuTFjq8YK4aQQ8oP68USRdX8KePX9U9veL445q7bLo2srWEwPEFOjx2v4LnIqOpS3LPx9bvpV5T7ITbU0-ivMuBXFDDqEqwq2AELhTZFfWjIr10DuAeqxJrYsWya6_QI/s400/DSCN3863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556325912816986850" border="0" /></a><br />We headed back to our screened bunk-house with full bellies and let the sounds of the jungle sing us to sleep. In a seemingly short period of time, we were awakened by the early morning sounds of the jungle. In particular, howler monkeys that start their howling at the crack of dawn, followed closely by the roosters.<br /><br />We had some fresh juice and pineapple slices, then Andrew took us on a hike through the jungle, where he shared some interesting jungle facts with us. Nicholas was quite the guide too, as he found several tiny frogs for us to see.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N30n9VZSquYps1X9ysD4dwGwHqqodhKMNdklUiynlXoRT5TY52I4el373xGTqXnY2vLcYHK-xLXRyuRjTecs2fQ67PTN3V8SWMe8x8D-LjB_n_5_P78T0shl_4OM1AyLw_UtK2nZJrc/s1600/DSCN3867.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9N30n9VZSquYps1X9ysD4dwGwHqqodhKMNdklUiynlXoRT5TY52I4el373xGTqXnY2vLcYHK-xLXRyuRjTecs2fQ67PTN3V8SWMe8x8D-LjB_n_5_P78T0shl_4OM1AyLw_UtK2nZJrc/s400/DSCN3867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556330521220090594" border="0" /></a><br />We also found an amazing tree with huge buttressed roots. In this photo, Adalaya is standing in front of one of the massive meandering roots, and her hand is on another.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRMWn_L-qZEKLgS3JOMGNQVOY52e0sE-LYbqlm1nEI8Cee75q3DuWC2Wi_Qr8k4jbivhHcn4-HvlQXU3c-uf8qHFASSQ6viKc0lwRgUID5FBuYuTievAbQzkkrMhZqgiC2dJmyW7YbdE/s1600/DSCN3868.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRMWn_L-qZEKLgS3JOMGNQVOY52e0sE-LYbqlm1nEI8Cee75q3DuWC2Wi_Qr8k4jbivhHcn4-HvlQXU3c-uf8qHFASSQ6viKc0lwRgUID5FBuYuTievAbQzkkrMhZqgiC2dJmyW7YbdE/s400/DSCN3868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556330519808261970" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are, happy in the jungle!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnavgVkbwmhAZKS5HeBLzCLnS6S7NCb6EVlK4Q2jlvNqLnIfgTZ84NjFuJDjnkK_ls3nAGkjapYOCN_gGqTTMpBsgB0A2zJVGtAu5oE2EL68Yhe3ckGLlWz6E2-aQhEjQUpFVXMgxn9E/s1600/DSCN3869.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnavgVkbwmhAZKS5HeBLzCLnS6S7NCb6EVlK4Q2jlvNqLnIfgTZ84NjFuJDjnkK_ls3nAGkjapYOCN_gGqTTMpBsgB0A2zJVGtAu5oE2EL68Yhe3ckGLlWz6E2-aQhEjQUpFVXMgxn9E/s400/DSCN3869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556330526358706770" border="0" /></a><br />We hiked down to the river, and their gorgeous waterfall, where the sun was just starting to light up the water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0Zgs-RtpAq6DoNu-9aUYG2Hee5LjVnvLhwrD7UQ7Kf0uswLKiihLlKLHvywzbKTVUTlb1FJLg5MVaT0_dakw_dkPFhPYzA2SIIEw5lu0mGxDtGl68CQcnFlCE4fHzgDp4sXi6dBtyn4/s1600/DSCN3873.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0Zgs-RtpAq6DoNu-9aUYG2Hee5LjVnvLhwrD7UQ7Kf0uswLKiihLlKLHvywzbKTVUTlb1FJLg5MVaT0_dakw_dkPFhPYzA2SIIEw5lu0mGxDtGl68CQcnFlCE4fHzgDp4sXi6dBtyn4/s400/DSCN3873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556330529777276978" border="0" /></a><br />It was a good time for a swim!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgHEPM8ZbMe8vjk-xKoUuYk5H1qJp4qE-ZIUvg9_MBJKJXZprMGASXqWIxbGqso1RpJCX5rhLHo_zyo3yFOOHaOQ7W7jCUfCjKR2c-kRlskq2t2MrPaNp5c07qmYaxu_BKDHkQvdsLNE/s1600/DSCN3879.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgHEPM8ZbMe8vjk-xKoUuYk5H1qJp4qE-ZIUvg9_MBJKJXZprMGASXqWIxbGqso1RpJCX5rhLHo_zyo3yFOOHaOQ7W7jCUfCjKR2c-kRlskq2t2MrPaNp5c07qmYaxu_BKDHkQvdsLNE/s400/DSCN3879.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556334715480996002" border="0" /></a><br />Andrew swam with the kids up to to waterfall,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC-MBqb3WtnnCkd8FMA0Lma8HyoqgXCQALiCf8Y9VWI9PRtnjfHVAOEhnql9Ygpg48ZLf-ejiwlW3I-OQFdly4usbhYuPzBtaYpFV97FZl-suOCKSZYy1Ni1qo2DOMXBrHA8EnOFCiTk/s1600/DSCN3885.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPC-MBqb3WtnnCkd8FMA0Lma8HyoqgXCQALiCf8Y9VWI9PRtnjfHVAOEhnql9Ygpg48ZLf-ejiwlW3I-OQFdly4usbhYuPzBtaYpFV97FZl-suOCKSZYy1Ni1qo2DOMXBrHA8EnOFCiTk/s400/DSCN3885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556334720906645538" border="0" /></a><br />and then they let the current carry them back down-stream.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprCPZ6n_AeLpKKiymEy3KADATjvWTtsj0BMqhYY24wMPVQNXq74CwKk88mpSWT8qmu_rqxPZB7UFtPNc7gnuYhmGCpdBmxfLnXC7uqtsXotZlLV0GIC6yLaTN5iZmPgHnWnS8SftJQ3w/s1600/DSCN3888.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprCPZ6n_AeLpKKiymEy3KADATjvWTtsj0BMqhYY24wMPVQNXq74CwKk88mpSWT8qmu_rqxPZB7UFtPNc7gnuYhmGCpdBmxfLnXC7uqtsXotZlLV0GIC6yLaTN5iZmPgHnWnS8SftJQ3w/s400/DSCN3888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556334724690912386" border="0" /></a><br />Such a beautiful place, and so nice to be with friends.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMQ4ytc3ZMJAKATXyzelfESRE6bp8V8HAIyNyOEpT9-wWHgSv5y1l8MtoCN0Mik6SpzntO0pJFKO9Cm-hMaq3H3-LljC3_82B_oP3yvSpfcxSZaXGsjcVwRNbWlXjx1KSX49kjHgkl6I/s1600/DSCN3890.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMQ4ytc3ZMJAKATXyzelfESRE6bp8V8HAIyNyOEpT9-wWHgSv5y1l8MtoCN0Mik6SpzntO0pJFKO9Cm-hMaq3H3-LljC3_82B_oP3yvSpfcxSZaXGsjcVwRNbWlXjx1KSX49kjHgkl6I/s400/DSCN3890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556334730346699346" border="0" /></a><br />When we returned to the farm, Daniella had prepared an amazing "typico" breakfast for us of gallo pinto, home-made tortillas, fried cheese, and scrambled eggs. We were treated like royalty!<br /><br />We walked around the farm after breakfast, and it was so fun to see what luscious food will grow in such a warm and wet place: coconuts, bananas, cashews, vanilla, pineapples, and so much more!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uoC1OftODIm25TRETT29ywcxyQaMQN_XDjH09LV4BBO4Pbxn8T8Adq4x9JnNNF5Vu0UbTTFqvrJixFQsYsOlsofVfpc011VPvxBddqZlCCPHfzO9AQ7FRNg1QOgLzwUf9CJqDQoZ31w/s1600/DSCN3892.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uoC1OftODIm25TRETT29ywcxyQaMQN_XDjH09LV4BBO4Pbxn8T8Adq4x9JnNNF5Vu0UbTTFqvrJixFQsYsOlsofVfpc011VPvxBddqZlCCPHfzO9AQ7FRNg1QOgLzwUf9CJqDQoZ31w/s400/DSCN3892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556334735064969554" border="0" /></a><br />We had a great time at the finca!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PKHEcz3QmXIXHS3Sy-4bH5hU_OwFONdEQJov-gmoAGlm4j_K3mgd1CGfJ3kJmFn1rBwPxTsxNsvLm8QRSu6sdIE68Y5hsUpdd5dnw8RbBuk_AovSLyaoTc3cb71uhirQxtWgwFprsNA/s1600/DSCN3893.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PKHEcz3QmXIXHS3Sy-4bH5hU_OwFONdEQJov-gmoAGlm4j_K3mgd1CGfJ3kJmFn1rBwPxTsxNsvLm8QRSu6sdIE68Y5hsUpdd5dnw8RbBuk_AovSLyaoTc3cb71uhirQxtWgwFprsNA/s400/DSCN3893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556338985216437586" border="0" /></a><br />Andrew, Daniella, and Nicholas are off to San Jose in a few days, and Andrew will be heading back to the States. We've had a lot of fun with them and hate to see them go (although we did get to see them go, in the fully-packed Subaru with the exhaust system strapped to the top - I wish I had a picture of that!). We will miss you guys, and we wish you all the best in the upcoming year!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qaM1bSFFQ6_TMyXpaixuTJZAmOsjp5SINufGKcb6_4Hqfv9I8Odbo3gtSkvGFbKfwNB-zxUGMyXTMriC-lIVulbeO_ri-yLiFS7yvbOjrNoXrxrIZX9-J01iB6yWFeGcadJLiKZS4Ac/s1600/DSCN3796.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qaM1bSFFQ6_TMyXpaixuTJZAmOsjp5SINufGKcb6_4Hqfv9I8Odbo3gtSkvGFbKfwNB-zxUGMyXTMriC-lIVulbeO_ri-yLiFS7yvbOjrNoXrxrIZX9-J01iB6yWFeGcadJLiKZS4Ac/s400/DSCN3796.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556338978928379666" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-10919119956292672852010-12-14T18:14:00.000-08:002010-12-26T18:30:25.470-08:00Lag TimeOK, I'm back to bloggin' finally! George and I are sitting here in our <span style="font-style: italic;">casa rosada</span>, George sitting at the desk in the kitchen doing the last of his Spanish homework and I'm in a whole other room (although I can still see him, Hi George!). This is quite a change from van life where we could be seated in the various "rooms" of the van, and still touch each other. But life with George, as always, involves extremes, and we have made an extremely welcomed jump from living in our vehicle and shivering many a night since August, to living in a 4 bedroom/<span style="font-weight: bold;">3 bathroom</span> house in the tropics, with no vehicle. We're in Costa Rica for 3 months, thoroughly enjoying the warmth and wildlife while we've been hearing about the ice and snow from friends at home.<br /><br />We've been here for a month now, and we're finally set up with high-speed internet, so I'm going to do some back-tracking and back-dating to catch up on what we've been doing for the past month and a half. Now, where were we . . . ?3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-90965129119541172412010-12-05T19:39:00.000-08:002010-12-29T21:46:38.657-08:00The FeriaWe had a fun outing today! We went to a local feria (fair) where folks were selling their wares and spreading the word about their local services. Our friends Andrew, Daniella, and Nicholas had a booth there, too, where they displayed Andrew's hand-made African drums and information about his farm, Daniella's beautiful metal-engraving, and Nicholas' drawings of local birds.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZgrKPzdeBylXsHZ4nYNtuaNEIIUDnebYodViYQTkb3jnvsCqpqByjvt8rVyd41oixlTeYVegSmyIbbgTU31XiCwKuWryQm6mPyPRjyHq-3l2nkC8CW7Y8kiuP71vfW7V3_DHLaqO3fs/s1600/DSCN3700.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZgrKPzdeBylXsHZ4nYNtuaNEIIUDnebYodViYQTkb3jnvsCqpqByjvt8rVyd41oixlTeYVegSmyIbbgTU31XiCwKuWryQm6mPyPRjyHq-3l2nkC8CW7Y8kiuP71vfW7V3_DHLaqO3fs/s400/DSCN3700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556316981514808066" border="0" /></a><br />I also met a woman I call "The Tamale Lady", who was very sweet and explained to me in great detail (entirely in Spanish) all about her tamales, her hot pepper sauces and relishes, and her hand-embroidered clothing. I really enjoyed her tamales and hot pepper sauce, not to mention her conversation, of which I only understood a fraction.<br /><br />During the fair there was some entertainment. The first act was this beautiful and colorful group of children dancing traditional Spanish dances. It's the Costa Rican version of clogging, without which no Burnsville fair is complete.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcjkFDFKAm3U-eEm1chmu4NsRRpV12LNkEbdLzy2zPUDd3sS6U6oFzBct94iz_bP-UkUgRLhtVfMhGtIxIxGmGbAOT3P6gEq9berceafetjtxYMjtwFl1ijAhZjS8ZbY9G8F7ffhCHCI/s1600/DSCN3679.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcjkFDFKAm3U-eEm1chmu4NsRRpV12LNkEbdLzy2zPUDd3sS6U6oFzBct94iz_bP-UkUgRLhtVfMhGtIxIxGmGbAOT3P6gEq9berceafetjtxYMjtwFl1ijAhZjS8ZbY9G8F7ffhCHCI/s400/DSCN3679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556316968736281410" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4p2B37GPevq1MHSsfXgOrVBC1TkzpX131emi2fzGAjp2citR5oeesZ3SJWf8LLtkstcg-BhG4pO3TeTEMbx3h6WHqR5bNNVQS8QnAql7f3640KUxumF_TeYoJ0V8YIXhcJbWsLSJsGE/s1600/DSCN3683.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4p2B37GPevq1MHSsfXgOrVBC1TkzpX131emi2fzGAjp2citR5oeesZ3SJWf8LLtkstcg-BhG4pO3TeTEMbx3h6WHqR5bNNVQS8QnAql7f3640KUxumF_TeYoJ0V8YIXhcJbWsLSJsGE/s400/DSCN3683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556316978101217314" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh34t26J7Oo96ef4fAV2YxI_CltMlhwi06Y8Fcn52Fgh1uvI-h6hvRFyekWdfmis9cm3gikFO7HBR_zXtaAZHw0FfRFocDun0Io-hhae5JpzZlLhzkjZV-Vs6guZmrcWzpWDW1XnnO3eU/s1600/DSCN3685.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh34t26J7Oo96ef4fAV2YxI_CltMlhwi06Y8Fcn52Fgh1uvI-h6hvRFyekWdfmis9cm3gikFO7HBR_zXtaAZHw0FfRFocDun0Io-hhae5JpzZlLhzkjZV-Vs6guZmrcWzpWDW1XnnO3eU/s400/DSCN3685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556316975521697010" border="0" /></a><br />You may recognize the dynamic duo in the next act. George and Andrew pounded out African rhythms for all the fair to hear.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHOmV-Z15ZZM_zRFiTBPHnghwg_oIz4-e3rXQYaTeTB61ZoWQmEL-2z1emzcBQ_Zfx1oGOHUmUi7ovUlx8TFpqASrr5Vbc3khlHkGnxFFmUvsH5C3C6luKrZHz4MpD_2PQAG5xb079HI/s1600/DSCN3696.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHOmV-Z15ZZM_zRFiTBPHnghwg_oIz4-e3rXQYaTeTB61ZoWQmEL-2z1emzcBQ_Zfx1oGOHUmUi7ovUlx8TFpqASrr5Vbc3khlHkGnxFFmUvsH5C3C6luKrZHz4MpD_2PQAG5xb079HI/s400/DSCN3696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556316963759877794" border="0" /></a><br />And now they have fans of all ages!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd0aNLNWp2pGE_OA_2MaRbEqS7qLMkMRSZy0YCNtbXBU4MDP4oLslzcaNTE9SMi8zra-3Pa7gsAwC3L-5X_nOXrrKKAPzdBitkpH3VkeKz7PebK4-_JAuyFpCZ-MUMCl-pAWG2vwi5fw/s1600/DSCN3698.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd0aNLNWp2pGE_OA_2MaRbEqS7qLMkMRSZy0YCNtbXBU4MDP4oLslzcaNTE9SMi8zra-3Pa7gsAwC3L-5X_nOXrrKKAPzdBitkpH3VkeKz7PebK4-_JAuyFpCZ-MUMCl-pAWG2vwi5fw/s400/DSCN3698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556320999086616258" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-18521076513156033072010-12-02T11:32:00.000-08:002011-01-16T17:12:02.980-08:00Costa Rica at last!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90WI6uCjbDQ-_ZY91rHRLmpjzehh8kuxmOz-cANY37vIHDjD7Q5SjSriX_aheGyIFo721ubjjjCrnvCa16zal21jdpzGn37aF1XxNUDDCOx_it5_KJGTfH6U80KEFiQErh3g1E6o57F4/s1600/DSCN3578.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi90WI6uCjbDQ-_ZY91rHRLmpjzehh8kuxmOz-cANY37vIHDjD7Q5SjSriX_aheGyIFo721ubjjjCrnvCa16zal21jdpzGn37aF1XxNUDDCOx_it5_KJGTfH6U80KEFiQErh3g1E6o57F4/s400/DSCN3578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555078097629762482" border="0" /></a><br />For months, we had planned on driving through Mexico and Central America in order to eventually reach our final southern destination of Costa Rica, where we wanted to spend the winter. For months, we had also been feeling pressure from my family to AVOID driving through Mexico because of the many publicized dangers currently associated with the drug cartels there. As we got closer to Mexico, we did more research and talked to more people who used to travel frequently south of the border. Much of what we heard sounded dangerous and not worth the risk, especially since we didn't speak Spanish. So when my mom offered to let us use some of her frequent flier points in order to bypass Mexico and fly directly to Costa Rica, we could not refuse. Thank you, Mom and Scott!!<br /><br />We flew into San Jose on November 12th, spent one night at a funky little hotel in San Jose, then got a taxi to Uvita, on the south pacific coast of Costa Rica. We chose Uvita because we have friends who have a farm here, and George had visited them once before and really liked the area. Indeed, it is a beautiful place. The nearby beach is a national park, Merino Ballena, which protects miles of pristine beaches and this amazing "whale-tail" formation which is visible at low tide.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUP0qtiFimTd_-LHyYiZlIwIAMWX_Rn38HQVpBpuPNlmTk_uWIEli_sgsYA_rOoslKu9opHkzobEVgYeAmHLRfQFXU4qx7i45k2S583Db7ejlnrT69AUuIecKYB4-NpFZxYMNoHKLUYg/s1600/costa-rica-beach-whaletail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUP0qtiFimTd_-LHyYiZlIwIAMWX_Rn38HQVpBpuPNlmTk_uWIEli_sgsYA_rOoslKu9opHkzobEVgYeAmHLRfQFXU4qx7i45k2S583Db7ejlnrT69AUuIecKYB4-NpFZxYMNoHKLUYg/s400/costa-rica-beach-whaletail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555078081671604722" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br />We stayed in 2 different "cabinas" during our first week in Uvita while we found a house to live in for the rest of our stay. Our favorite of these cabinas was a place called "Pequena Luna", or Little Moon. The folks there were very nice but they spoke no English, so our Spanish dictionary and phrase books were quickly broken in. This establishment also had a "Soda" attached, which is a small, open-air restaurant that serves simple, local food. A woman named Xiomara was the chef, and we all fell in love with her cooking; gallo pinto (beans & rice), pescado (fish), and platanos fritos (fried plantains) were among our favorites.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YKgEPDLzYdo_hf1r3fPw2-R5E6eDG_sWsIez5PEH-l7mgmWH0oYuJfJe_ymgishpo8kCEE5O6qEYYD5dkiscdmbYLhQJmT0XGiLRlFS8hVcNHjjvqqbgaDNo2sBc131AR5tv_YTmfF0/s1600/DSCN3779.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YKgEPDLzYdo_hf1r3fPw2-R5E6eDG_sWsIez5PEH-l7mgmWH0oYuJfJe_ymgishpo8kCEE5O6qEYYD5dkiscdmbYLhQJmT0XGiLRlFS8hVcNHjjvqqbgaDNo2sBc131AR5tv_YTmfF0/s400/DSCN3779.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555119091170608082" border="0" /></a><br />Finally we found a great house to rent for the next 3 months! It's right in the the town of Uvita, on the main dirt road. We needed something centrally located because we were not going to be renting a car. From our house, we can walk to the beach, 2 supermarkets, several restaurants and bars, and our Spanish school. It is exactly what we've been needing after 6 months of living in a van: a big house with multiple bedrooms and a large outdoor kitchen, located where we are able to walk to everything we need! This is our "casa rosada" for the next few months.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EHD0L2TcwzwVBJg2cB24kJvgIf8y5R4r9cOQxOmewnjChPTCsKgHH4683hh8q1F0PctLgnzsIyDznNkSyec-4LGvYSMOT8iVUADMncH0pCIJW0N4jNDOkHP3x_dIghwaZUdAjvSnCTk/s1600/DSCN4024.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2EHD0L2TcwzwVBJg2cB24kJvgIf8y5R4r9cOQxOmewnjChPTCsKgHH4683hh8q1F0PctLgnzsIyDznNkSyec-4LGvYSMOT8iVUADMncH0pCIJW0N4jNDOkHP3x_dIghwaZUdAjvSnCTk/s400/DSCN4024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555122219694123762" border="0" /></a><br />I love this view from our kitchen window out into the front yard:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv97ZKBDZ6ahwYZkjUAr7Oru_O-4Eqt4g1zkT-u7N560BqMMZdrlvQ9bSMlwEx0EOe7B-vNsYo94LwIxkvWKbHbjCmkETzBFe3p6nFbCWfnJJMKd6o23K1zkhvXiXfg5wOr0XqGeoD21k/s1600/DSCN3590.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv97ZKBDZ6ahwYZkjUAr7Oru_O-4Eqt4g1zkT-u7N560BqMMZdrlvQ9bSMlwEx0EOe7B-vNsYo94LwIxkvWKbHbjCmkETzBFe3p6nFbCWfnJJMKd6o23K1zkhvXiXfg5wOr0XqGeoD21k/s400/DSCN3590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555080994476334354" border="0" /></a><br />We even had a little welcoming pineapple growing in the front yard!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2buGaAv2ImfJKLIXZkjbi0eMATFSUuQDtStHTRv-qYmxBiWC_UY47Oi3MJp6N7Ziz7PhRW7llkPhfvS8y7jszZOClONX_MhMwq_m8VaOlL43QWy1kc-LQPsjrFMhLilp14cYXEgeeD4/s1600/DSCN3627.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2buGaAv2ImfJKLIXZkjbi0eMATFSUuQDtStHTRv-qYmxBiWC_UY47Oi3MJp6N7Ziz7PhRW7llkPhfvS8y7jszZOClONX_MhMwq_m8VaOlL43QWy1kc-LQPsjrFMhLilp14cYXEgeeD4/s400/DSCN3627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555078090467348162" border="0" /></a><br />Another reason we wanted to rent us this house was that it has a little pool. We all enjoy it on hot days, and Adalaya's swimming has already greatly improved!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hjBaCDrddFW30dKv25G-mPAXTBn65Blr-GqBILDpRzsW1FXL4OETPJKFd58mliFikJIF4j3pcb3PMqgiPzDgBNQ6o4SL3F-qaN66XpAtfOLyV1ygqrNITTHS3QOn5WnJEIlXhvEDrt0/s1600/DSCN3644.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hjBaCDrddFW30dKv25G-mPAXTBn65Blr-GqBILDpRzsW1FXL4OETPJKFd58mliFikJIF4j3pcb3PMqgiPzDgBNQ6o4SL3F-qaN66XpAtfOLyV1ygqrNITTHS3QOn5WnJEIlXhvEDrt0/s400/DSCN3644.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555080992263195970" border="0" /></a><br />But what I like best about this house is it's outdoor kitchen! It is so nice to be able to live somewhere where it's warm enough to cook, clean and eat outdoors all year long! It's also very nice to have a large covered area so that we can be outside even when it's raining. Here's "Jorge" fixing a feast in our outdoor kitchen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32wnSoFepoSA_aC72-wcf5q6GJ0Aor4P2sePKdQuG4pMJ9eQaY5lrCocr6XdboMIPxvxvLdgCbFGhpiGcQTSkf9SC1DJQ0upCwRSabfg2KnUBtPfxhyphenhyphenC8LCCyska0xYuF_HUKxdg-kBw/s1600/DSCN4032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32wnSoFepoSA_aC72-wcf5q6GJ0Aor4P2sePKdQuG4pMJ9eQaY5lrCocr6XdboMIPxvxvLdgCbFGhpiGcQTSkf9SC1DJQ0upCwRSabfg2KnUBtPfxhyphenhyphenC8LCCyska0xYuF_HUKxdg-kBw/s400/DSCN4032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556313179489880658" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJOSKhF7UBsoeTStn68ZiHHLKeKpGN7mIw0AXV6lUtIK-yFM1FbSQTJK6NwWWyRzWt-JPOv1gCZsIoNhOA_6MbAE-TOgLAErV3kH7J7xbaf2eTEyLrq4wYI9GGJaWC2dGoZ1AT6fnvEI/s1600/DSCN4033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJOSKhF7UBsoeTStn68ZiHHLKeKpGN7mIw0AXV6lUtIK-yFM1FbSQTJK6NwWWyRzWt-JPOv1gCZsIoNhOA_6MbAE-TOgLAErV3kH7J7xbaf2eTEyLrq4wYI9GGJaWC2dGoZ1AT6fnvEI/s400/DSCN4033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556313177660942978" border="0" /></a><br />It was still the height of the rainy season when we arrived in mid-November. The rainy season begins in May and ends (hopefully) in mid-December, with the rainiest months being September, October, and November. This place is rightfully named a rain forest! It rained nearly every day and night for the first month we were here, often in downpours. We are so thankful that we have a nice house to live in, and do not live here in the van where we would have definitely killed each other by now!<br /><br />We have frequent tropical visitors to our backyard. We've seen iguanas and lizards of many colors and sizes, blue morpho butterflies (which I would love to get a photo of), and a rainbow collection of birds. We've started putting out over-ripe bananas and papayas for the birds, and we've seen Kiskadees . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwznGeICGUEh2roDuVromh9Yu0HR5yBVQH11lSLebYx3yjCRtBVSx73wOPmCDQs8rllBAKtQ-J571PNfBVe-d6qEBD7VbYqJH9uOYEkEVe13VZ9V_We54fa0vDMgIRcmF9viRDw6Psio/s1600/DSCN3705.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwznGeICGUEh2roDuVromh9Yu0HR5yBVQH11lSLebYx3yjCRtBVSx73wOPmCDQs8rllBAKtQ-J571PNfBVe-d6qEBD7VbYqJH9uOYEkEVe13VZ9V_We54fa0vDMgIRcmF9viRDw6Psio/s400/DSCN3705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555130504625789394" border="0" /></a><br />Baltimore Orioles . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxfEfN66H5_ml3B7eaKCkdb4b00rLNTTXkaFtZxJ5_GWxowUO6EyxClShN0G6ck1gKapQyfuv-dna5BDObPwK56jHkPzr0WZmnN7KpPf3WlSIYoMLSLe5RNWDp9_fbTqRqhDur8efekE/s1600/DSCN3787.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxfEfN66H5_ml3B7eaKCkdb4b00rLNTTXkaFtZxJ5_GWxowUO6EyxClShN0G6ck1gKapQyfuv-dna5BDObPwK56jHkPzr0WZmnN7KpPf3WlSIYoMLSLe5RNWDp9_fbTqRqhDur8efekE/s400/DSCN3787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555130509114410722" border="0" /></a><br />Cherrie's Tanagers . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5aA3elcpjDciBXbcfMxjpOBsqQ1WetO0_UpMPW8-7dc5E1thRxD1AcCp5OJemqRT3yb3JOa1p6BJaXiNUL4zhdj_Y851w1X44aGTFs2U6NvhHRQh-4vYW2YWSXNCetuLky0_aEGY1wA/s1600/DSCN3784.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5aA3elcpjDciBXbcfMxjpOBsqQ1WetO0_UpMPW8-7dc5E1thRxD1AcCp5OJemqRT3yb3JOa1p6BJaXiNUL4zhdj_Y851w1X44aGTFs2U6NvhHRQh-4vYW2YWSXNCetuLky0_aEGY1wA/s400/DSCN3784.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112312040344226" border="0" /></a><br />and this cool Blue-Crowned Motmot.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgr6gX3nsvbzKlqiIfpl_uJcaXVgZAFIwY0MFeWsJDmiNpuluzJ6yKZVJhaicYaQISpWf0rGo6TtwFJIAWa43t0w-dYcinjZOFzzg2GsEWly8O9u7DO31lVoNNhrbnZPYY13uDS-0eos/s1600/DSCN4136.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgr6gX3nsvbzKlqiIfpl_uJcaXVgZAFIwY0MFeWsJDmiNpuluzJ6yKZVJhaicYaQISpWf0rGo6TtwFJIAWa43t0w-dYcinjZOFzzg2GsEWly8O9u7DO31lVoNNhrbnZPYY13uDS-0eos/s400/DSCN4136.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562955313703810338" border="0" /></a><br />Our most common dining guests, however, are the Chestnut-Mandibled Toucans.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WYLCFCZ2IJrNqI-RS4tp6dfdT8cX9bwPnjWy8DAQGvzDJ5pYEgDUc0jZxGYB4cjo9AdU-gU4-E2M4Wi5cwBxXI7P6nEAx_Tnpqk9y-V4t-8YD5TKUhyA6VdkwZxBzfUFB3-QYa0iYPA/s1600/DSCN3573.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WYLCFCZ2IJrNqI-RS4tp6dfdT8cX9bwPnjWy8DAQGvzDJ5pYEgDUc0jZxGYB4cjo9AdU-gU4-E2M4Wi5cwBxXI7P6nEAx_Tnpqk9y-V4t-8YD5TKUhyA6VdkwZxBzfUFB3-QYa0iYPA/s400/DSCN3573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555081004155309074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4yPHaQ29ykNURll7DSkyCHaGTB3qEsTbqLiNWEQ7qbYGIjWT71AJXAfi7XB6DGMkDWzJvKKc9YLK25JtIt37zgVH0bmR8QN-rK-2SdgDTX2C7R46D4T7Polt-VUQXaqP4dMqy0AvafQ/s1600/DSCN3806.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4yPHaQ29ykNURll7DSkyCHaGTB3qEsTbqLiNWEQ7qbYGIjWT71AJXAfi7XB6DGMkDWzJvKKc9YLK25JtIt37zgVH0bmR8QN-rK-2SdgDTX2C7R46D4T7Polt-VUQXaqP4dMqy0AvafQ/s400/DSCN3806.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112301255637842" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGVfSrnV4wjf6ExeYK6d6pLQh3w2fmcH_YIYvNAOXynimwagJEQHuvtZ4Zp3nMWoahps8vlxr04V2p3sJyj3TYzphbCsM0Rxqn6BVu080g4cxr0OpeBXs3PEY-v3afC2BxY-ff-tD4-A/s1600/DSCN3783.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGVfSrnV4wjf6ExeYK6d6pLQh3w2fmcH_YIYvNAOXynimwagJEQHuvtZ4Zp3nMWoahps8vlxr04V2p3sJyj3TYzphbCsM0Rxqn6BVu080g4cxr0OpeBXs3PEY-v3afC2BxY-ff-tD4-A/s400/DSCN3783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555130529149270002" border="0" /></a><br />Sometimes we even see several at a time, like the 3 in this photo who all came for their lunch.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5M3R647c60_fzFeenirdyDuYLM2cwPRdYrmK_1-7VAGivuPs-OOI44JTWjkZhKH1CE2Fauh85l876D8yaKJA9ATv63RKfldS-SzA27cckxAbe5ixgI371Q_HNCKFrBnJBSX9YBjcbYg/s1600/DSCN3765.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5M3R647c60_fzFeenirdyDuYLM2cwPRdYrmK_1-7VAGivuPs-OOI44JTWjkZhKH1CE2Fauh85l876D8yaKJA9ATv63RKfldS-SzA27cckxAbe5ixgI371Q_HNCKFrBnJBSX9YBjcbYg/s400/DSCN3765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555130519151275378" border="0" /></a><br />We've also had a troop of 3 howler monkeys come to feed in the trees in our back yard. While I was taking this photo, Adalaya went and put her arms around the base of the tree they were in, thrilled that she was touching the same tree that held 3 monkeys. Well, the monkeys were not at all happy about their tree being "threatened" and they started howling at Adalaya. I thought it was pretty comical!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCkhpw3v1GtVHI7WhFIlVIVwuBBk5vLb8yN8OvXUFjqul9tqk7zM8HWgOHNi2uRrObDtVR62whQGoDLW1Jgidyg7FYbJk4hT5IWlnwLlc3CSRsuUEMp1Hd9y7fX9tl1IU7hybcj7mUnk/s1600/DSCN3845.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghCkhpw3v1GtVHI7WhFIlVIVwuBBk5vLb8yN8OvXUFjqul9tqk7zM8HWgOHNi2uRrObDtVR62whQGoDLW1Jgidyg7FYbJk4hT5IWlnwLlc3CSRsuUEMp1Hd9y7fX9tl1IU7hybcj7mUnk/s400/DSCN3845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555112303474553506" border="0" /></a><br />We also have this lovely pair of parrots living in this hollow palm tree in our back yard. I'm hoping we'll get to see some parrot chicks while we're here!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcuDjoAEMHmFEjgEX46MpxDMCm_BUFrRD0PRUJINU9zuTMDjNlkBaBX_1o4u7gjb_9SAmPg9QiURw1L9uMXLRhJDxP8u3c9FmFiZPVsXo9_NIa9CuKcrJ6DzH0-gBnPdujiunZs8i2bk/s1600/P1040166.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcuDjoAEMHmFEjgEX46MpxDMCm_BUFrRD0PRUJINU9zuTMDjNlkBaBX_1o4u7gjb_9SAmPg9QiURw1L9uMXLRhJDxP8u3c9FmFiZPVsXo9_NIa9CuKcrJ6DzH0-gBnPdujiunZs8i2bk/s400/P1040166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556313948895008338" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-12596787204925999072010-11-10T22:19:00.000-08:002010-12-21T20:37:23.807-08:00Palm Springs and Palm SpringsAfter 5 days in the natural beauty of Joshua Tree National Park, we decided to fully immerse ourselves in the opposite extreme of desert life: we headed into Palm Springs, CA. We passed giant fields of windmills which provide some electricity to Palm Springs and surrounding desert cities.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI-U9SEibwC55ltFv_yjk-NTwpfaGMQ6j5Ij-itRI2HaWrVOzX4XcU_9yLeG5ESRNUd6k3FyGN2_4kkZLGHXWGB3U1D72cOXgI1GT3Vm9lhy0G4j8SbqD1xCDWFU-U6VC921Efl6A4E4/s1600/DSCN3393.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI-U9SEibwC55ltFv_yjk-NTwpfaGMQ6j5Ij-itRI2HaWrVOzX4XcU_9yLeG5ESRNUd6k3FyGN2_4kkZLGHXWGB3U1D72cOXgI1GT3Vm9lhy0G4j8SbqD1xCDWFU-U6VC921Efl6A4E4/s400/DSCN3393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553021169370241202" border="0" /></a><br />Cities require both energy and water, and Palm Springs uses copious amounts of H2O to transform the desert into a verdant valley. There are green golf courses (one after another) and fountains and pools everywhere in this urban oasis. The streets are lined with bright green grass and beautiful flowers.<br /><br />The valley which cradles Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and other towns is also home to (and created by) the San Andreas Fault. This fact, coupled with the high water demand in the middle of the desert, makes this area seem very precarious to me. Nonetheless, we indulged in a night at the Spa Casino Resort.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-TcZtAjBr8oiZeL8672ndz2v9oL4a-K58tvYbQnj1_5j_dZSFfZLYZI03xn2S8BY8PiiPWzua7EyrQDnHYb_E6Jh_rY0zJezHrVV3Q7q_5b8byeq3COv3xUmdM_6m0SoLaQN8lzFvw4/s1600/Spa+Casino-2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-TcZtAjBr8oiZeL8672ndz2v9oL4a-K58tvYbQnj1_5j_dZSFfZLYZI03xn2S8BY8PiiPWzua7EyrQDnHYb_E6Jh_rY0zJezHrVV3Q7q_5b8byeq3COv3xUmdM_6m0SoLaQN8lzFvw4/s400/Spa+Casino-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553021165918154834" border="0" /></a><br />We didn't do any gambling during our brief stay, but we did enjoy a nice soak in their huge hot tubs, which are fed by natural underground hot springs.<br /><br />The next morning, we headed to the botanical garden and "cactarium" that was down the road. This place was really neat, and we all had a great time finding spiny surprises around each bend. It reminded me of a desert version of "Mountain Gardens" in Celo, or the "Gulf Specimen Marine Lab" in Panacea, FL that we visited last spring. It was not real fancy, but it had a huge variety of life that you could get up close to and touch - if you dare!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kut7jPPAfIX7ilYTe9KkW4MH6RoFUOOYaJyI3P6uavX1foKqd51Cm3S84YpBHQgjeryq2KI20VCBc78iSiPagEzKCL642_PIpC1Rs97MvGWbjfSyAA59Vv9U6FSnuY-laZRPqhKeN_E/s1600/DSCN3471.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kut7jPPAfIX7ilYTe9KkW4MH6RoFUOOYaJyI3P6uavX1foKqd51Cm3S84YpBHQgjeryq2KI20VCBc78iSiPagEzKCL642_PIpC1Rs97MvGWbjfSyAA59Vv9U6FSnuY-laZRPqhKeN_E/s400/DSCN3471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553021177171826786" border="0" /></a><br />This cactus "touched" Adalaya back!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYkteh1FyAgACRI1tb6SeM_zxi7KzWNtlud_l0WeVjuBf8u9DdAeBIsLDVX3UO1WqIf59uEVL4s-bobjHRCHD7-SEYa4dggsCq1zDYGgsa_QqWG7NbiMH-pmzk0R8RdStkV0ymuQr7tE/s1600/DSCN3476.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYkteh1FyAgACRI1tb6SeM_zxi7KzWNtlud_l0WeVjuBf8u9DdAeBIsLDVX3UO1WqIf59uEVL4s-bobjHRCHD7-SEYa4dggsCq1zDYGgsa_QqWG7NbiMH-pmzk0R8RdStkV0ymuQr7tE/s400/DSCN3476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553021177648398482" border="0" /></a><br />The botanical garden was arranged around a winding pathway, and exhibited various desert ecosystems from around the world.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx7DDZXOsaPHXv5YkX4x-oRGMzsYtT6FqlxOE2E3xVchA6BBHaDnRS-iHojR0Wp4P1Dej0QmURdSKgvLGqxdvArOMwg3ugwG0RrcFBu4OI1zEC9vuXOADmZGBPAB8Nn5krdlDoHC403k/s1600/DSCN3478.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixx7DDZXOsaPHXv5YkX4x-oRGMzsYtT6FqlxOE2E3xVchA6BBHaDnRS-iHojR0Wp4P1Dej0QmURdSKgvLGqxdvArOMwg3ugwG0RrcFBu4OI1zEC9vuXOADmZGBPAB8Nn5krdlDoHC403k/s400/DSCN3478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553025875545315474" border="0" /></a><br />There were all kinds of desert treats to behold.<br />The world's first cactarium . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo7BImRyML4e-Um3MvOOCSxg_bB5l7dy5ejKbu760CoKFN2VzS6RxV-b4o8wFwuOHxMuzbJPTk3yVDj2HfysbeYyl8rpf7f0qAgH0buBuHyQR_uhliuNSLWbb9VrLRCiSx8K6o5fbXVU/s1600/DSCN3482.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo7BImRyML4e-Um3MvOOCSxg_bB5l7dy5ejKbu760CoKFN2VzS6RxV-b4o8wFwuOHxMuzbJPTk3yVDj2HfysbeYyl8rpf7f0qAgH0buBuHyQR_uhliuNSLWbb9VrLRCiSx8K6o5fbXVU/s400/DSCN3482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553025876644702866" border="0" /></a><br />desert tortises . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAH44LpvZjgDOKvo7WcUdL_ADPLlaMxxwZUSZLMLx4ea-02eN-rsHV8meSOt9H2DrVq41aKtiVFT24O67ZHQUldS08mq85HVHTsqSwA_Gs0dase0xBhkxv5_Ik3y7gf62LjLN7XdEilQ/s1600/DSCN3499.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAH44LpvZjgDOKvo7WcUdL_ADPLlaMxxwZUSZLMLx4ea-02eN-rsHV8meSOt9H2DrVq41aKtiVFT24O67ZHQUldS08mq85HVHTsqSwA_Gs0dase0xBhkxv5_Ik3y7gf62LjLN7XdEilQ/s400/DSCN3499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553025884098542098" border="0" /></a><br />and even a fossilized dinosaur footprint?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96VL8cGswu8uCcb8_QnkMUpkwZ1baC7hCQWB3oNHfUxlSznfwhBtF_Ifmf0lEiMbiIf7t1ZBa5w_BKXOX4Oi23R3Gd6E0n2Sv86EVznWG9ReYPTBEVcU7TNkMqqiIJxg16NJS69PSuYU/s1600/DSCN3485.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96VL8cGswu8uCcb8_QnkMUpkwZ1baC7hCQWB3oNHfUxlSznfwhBtF_Ifmf0lEiMbiIf7t1ZBa5w_BKXOX4Oi23R3Gd6E0n2Sv86EVznWG9ReYPTBEVcU7TNkMqqiIJxg16NJS69PSuYU/s400/DSCN3485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553025886427836578" border="0" /></a><br />We continued south for a few more miles and entered the Agua Caliente Reservation, home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. They are named after the hot springs which are now located under the Spa Casino Resort, whereas the city of Palm Springs is named after the several palm-oases that are now contained in the reservation. At the heart of the reservation is the largest "California-Palm" oasis on earth, appropriately named Palm Canyon Oasis. This is not the best photo, but it will give you an idea of the size of this oasis.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0baI8cihf-TPYfG5593MFtuE5Zw_ceKQbGhxBH5RePl8PsfN_5vjqoU14CkbiW0TYXK_pbKPdt2DraiLkvZpaMZHz2vLoXJjPsOXZDm97Dd0RmEioNKJIPU9VIIbvyhA_F78TMqYafm4/s1600/DSCN3524.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0baI8cihf-TPYfG5593MFtuE5Zw_ceKQbGhxBH5RePl8PsfN_5vjqoU14CkbiW0TYXK_pbKPdt2DraiLkvZpaMZHz2vLoXJjPsOXZDm97Dd0RmEioNKJIPU9VIIbvyhA_F78TMqYafm4/s400/DSCN3524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553034561479054450" border="0" /></a><br />We spent most of our time exploring another canyon oasis which has a more consistent flow of water from the mountains during this time of year. Andreas Canyon Oasis is a palm-lined stream located behind an uplifted wall of red rock.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtF3IdN8UErcxuKE5t_ps04JzQ_i2HbMYiW9CjDc5OwUA4W1IkRdBPyWquAVVundLzm1gpo9w7vbaWVmpQjLW0MkywcI-VOkssFq5dudADCPodO2rBDhtv8mB6__WWYFvGUkJHVcxMR0/s1600/DSCN3522.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtF3IdN8UErcxuKE5t_ps04JzQ_i2HbMYiW9CjDc5OwUA4W1IkRdBPyWquAVVundLzm1gpo9w7vbaWVmpQjLW0MkywcI-VOkssFq5dudADCPodO2rBDhtv8mB6__WWYFvGUkJHVcxMR0/s400/DSCN3522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553039854207414194" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7zKpns9oA8TKNS0yq6zgdggv8wFJq6by1JRiozVRBBj57ewlLfwZXVO682cRyAPYq7_60iywCD27eGbFtiATPr0jp96lYbGHmlFtdU2SJsCqSSR-xDB8NHSD61AUwoy5GQ6fWFnOpGg/s1600/DSCN3511.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7zKpns9oA8TKNS0yq6zgdggv8wFJq6by1JRiozVRBBj57ewlLfwZXVO682cRyAPYq7_60iywCD27eGbFtiATPr0jp96lYbGHmlFtdU2SJsCqSSR-xDB8NHSD61AUwoy5GQ6fWFnOpGg/s400/DSCN3511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553037307951181826" border="0" /></a><br />It felt amazing to be walking along a cold, clear, bubbling mountain stream, surrounded by massive palm trees, in the midst of the desert. It made Adalaya and me feel quite energetic and bubbly too!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjucl6Q3hvTRnVyF_6ia53eLJ2J7RU5-eKCEK_8iS1JEnFeiqti255dRKARIulD9O43JdryKpNDTc4Odxl7CGtLXSw9ng6m9-PFrx4EussEAmYlbdY47HIAyjNxnLDvPIn0CKhmb4Cp4/s1600/DSCN3514.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjucl6Q3hvTRnVyF_6ia53eLJ2J7RU5-eKCEK_8iS1JEnFeiqti255dRKARIulD9O43JdryKpNDTc4Odxl7CGtLXSw9ng6m9-PFrx4EussEAmYlbdY47HIAyjNxnLDvPIn0CKhmb4Cp4/s400/DSCN3514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553037311711130386" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fALkqdGXmqp4RoOtRny4nlDnFP8GGXl7PVYmMo9F8jajCTOTyf5OMC730Hkct1D40Wxz37Q9iKOeQnb7NlSJ87kmnFKEf2QmlYdgbNwNUWtUXmVQtLqWbO01lcY6MqjNwGoFSnHxBwo/s1600/DSCN3508.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fALkqdGXmqp4RoOtRny4nlDnFP8GGXl7PVYmMo9F8jajCTOTyf5OMC730Hkct1D40Wxz37Q9iKOeQnb7NlSJ87kmnFKEf2QmlYdgbNwNUWtUXmVQtLqWbO01lcY6MqjNwGoFSnHxBwo/s400/DSCN3508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553034567434053970" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some neat stone houses built above this "Palm Spring", as seen from the farthest point we were allowed to venture on the trail.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk3Uebi65lc9qyUK3CTje7MAbq-v_ah8Ecyfi3_5_uSB9kIh_fDvDYW5eEFobf4iN5iFU1Btvgzy8dTAyz308Hkc3T7_gCoAJMeErQUZVjZ3LqwIWCfnwV0slQeQ8cXBzdSRfrY7RJJw/s1600/DSCN3515.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk3Uebi65lc9qyUK3CTje7MAbq-v_ah8Ecyfi3_5_uSB9kIh_fDvDYW5eEFobf4iN5iFU1Btvgzy8dTAyz308Hkc3T7_gCoAJMeErQUZVjZ3LqwIWCfnwV0slQeQ8cXBzdSRfrY7RJJw/s400/DSCN3515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553037318804109362" border="0" /></a><br />There is also a huge slab of rock at the base of the trail, and scattered on its surface are many ancient mortars for pounding grain.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGuc5CKB2pLGgW8uI2R0N9RoPT4QQwWc3hvv-8w2au0FM1Nd1Y5tQixXuiwIJ4ano5ZqLS2-_EcR5HhtB4J8LpNOnW0HKIgqfAG77VxQdfSfEw_pIUClz3jwTgw5t2ZeJQCmmSIzuJMM/s1600/DSCN3502.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGuc5CKB2pLGgW8uI2R0N9RoPT4QQwWc3hvv-8w2au0FM1Nd1Y5tQixXuiwIJ4ano5ZqLS2-_EcR5HhtB4J8LpNOnW0HKIgqfAG77VxQdfSfEw_pIUClz3jwTgw5t2ZeJQCmmSIzuJMM/s400/DSCN3502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553034560557402658" border="0" /></a><br />What an extraordinary and magical place!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVfi0OYfoYrKzur27jYOLX6V1l7pcF_8QWqiET0r6dnAS6YOMoUKiaXAm8R4Z4htQ2gJuDOjIM6lGCuW2XjGOHxaOvaL64h6VkG0-Zvi-b9x4VdTMOCvSpsBTYtLC9vZo56oegt5dkt8/s1600/DSCN3517.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVfi0OYfoYrKzur27jYOLX6V1l7pcF_8QWqiET0r6dnAS6YOMoUKiaXAm8R4Z4htQ2gJuDOjIM6lGCuW2XjGOHxaOvaL64h6VkG0-Zvi-b9x4VdTMOCvSpsBTYtLC9vZo56oegt5dkt8/s400/DSCN3517.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553037324293998546" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-41192360124792334882010-11-08T23:34:00.000-08:002010-12-21T19:54:50.696-08:00Joshua TreeWe recently spent a wonderful week exploring the desert of Southern California. First, we headed up to Joshua Tree National Park, a park that I've wanted to visit for a long time. There is no running water in the northern part of the park, where we planned to spend the first 3 nights, so we filled the van's reservoir and extra water tanks and headed into this amazing desert landscape.<br /><br />There is something very special about this desert. I felt a pull to live there, at least for a while, amid these trees that are so full of personality.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEW1QaosOES_b58Jo4kDcX2raamiFp-lE-fQLvv5GRI_trAYDzgQXhOtJnuKk65drngB5-sIkK0d3sl2Q8AmYW3gsEHS51IjA6TiBH-GggbQ8bx4nP4gpLCXPuJEs_QBT3zTeq0Tnc0Q/s1600/DSCN3416.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEW1QaosOES_b58Jo4kDcX2raamiFp-lE-fQLvv5GRI_trAYDzgQXhOtJnuKk65drngB5-sIkK0d3sl2Q8AmYW3gsEHS51IjA6TiBH-GggbQ8bx4nP4gpLCXPuJEs_QBT3zTeq0Tnc0Q/s400/DSCN3416.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552994122263624962" border="0" /></a><br />And these rocks just beckon me to explore their secrets . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBirpvKzUeJHU7af1mB1qs1O1Lx2pRfR6yzEcEEaIcSNvFK6x8TEDnZMJjLCkOpD2W8BzviycqVo4ibCK5njbBLzhyphenhyphenG2Zx2ChdWMAwyTYlz8SRjy5sCq_8-OdOrjOfvTtG3TviETd9kg/s1600/DSCN3425.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBirpvKzUeJHU7af1mB1qs1O1Lx2pRfR6yzEcEEaIcSNvFK6x8TEDnZMJjLCkOpD2W8BzviycqVo4ibCK5njbBLzhyphenhyphenG2Zx2ChdWMAwyTYlz8SRjy5sCq_8-OdOrjOfvTtG3TviETd9kg/s400/DSCN3425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552932492222748290" border="0" /></a><br />Our first night in Joshua Tree, we slept outside under the starry light of the new moon. We camped beside this beautiful collection of boulders,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXYNMs7vR1C7QAKU9DrtXLgJ_7YHAkI01_HTLIeI5x9fDRpYf_ZDsJRfX1Jhajd7AeUjIUCkuUK7bunjErFN_mvgW-H3A-p_56hAlZTFB6GDBlyaIzJqRZy5plxewQwrfpGGPzZEMLl0/s1600/DSCN3403.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXYNMs7vR1C7QAKU9DrtXLgJ_7YHAkI01_HTLIeI5x9fDRpYf_ZDsJRfX1Jhajd7AeUjIUCkuUK7bunjErFN_mvgW-H3A-p_56hAlZTFB6GDBlyaIzJqRZy5plxewQwrfpGGPzZEMLl0/s400/DSCN3403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552441594451235042" border="0" /></a><br />and Adalaya slept at the base of the concave rock-face, which had been charged by the day's warmth and, to Adalaya's delight, radiated heat all night long.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1IG7D9YVOjajG73FcMpLZj4lkOhf2BGOvHX252m4zBH_oYF5yPtnQD-oAKQ4QBMbYst4LLQ5qwggoNhiS89IWqb33aEkAvGOWxiZ94Y9bJV0DLSuEFthPF0j9INpCTCon4uaMlRMWZw/s1600/DSCN3406.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1IG7D9YVOjajG73FcMpLZj4lkOhf2BGOvHX252m4zBH_oYF5yPtnQD-oAKQ4QBMbYst4LLQ5qwggoNhiS89IWqb33aEkAvGOWxiZ94Y9bJV0DLSuEFthPF0j9INpCTCon4uaMlRMWZw/s400/DSCN3406.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552441599285896834" border="0" /></a><br />Here's another cozy camper.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVTiiQtwIR5-qTtqFgrTZ5kGkCGLRERF3j6o7gIs0DYBzaf1NrItUfI_mDJvhpYPQ27mn0B4QyQMHOJK9KpDsfkNc_huZ8PbJfyvzGKBlGJShxrrMfhNzsgVWJPDoX8DVWyMImsONhnc/s1600/DSCN3409.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVTiiQtwIR5-qTtqFgrTZ5kGkCGLRERF3j6o7gIs0DYBzaf1NrItUfI_mDJvhpYPQ27mn0B4QyQMHOJK9KpDsfkNc_huZ8PbJfyvzGKBlGJShxrrMfhNzsgVWJPDoX8DVWyMImsONhnc/s400/DSCN3409.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552441601852686386" border="0" /></a><br />After an invigorating night's sleep under the (often shooting) stars, we were ready to explore the park. Adalaya and I biked to White Tank Campground, which is the most interior campground in the park and only has a dozen or so campsites.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki5o3s81sMF3Guo0O2bI4aFCKTuEALNw3qDm6Vfze5f3PqSpUQFpaUVnYEchTjVSafXAYs8u6IlM8YWzANSrOLeNTFOWKKGbsPngbOg_UMiXFHZ4p2AF8pyk5xQYdoFGyHevHN-ES-Bo/s1600/DSCN3413.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgki5o3s81sMF3Guo0O2bI4aFCKTuEALNw3qDm6Vfze5f3PqSpUQFpaUVnYEchTjVSafXAYs8u6IlM8YWzANSrOLeNTFOWKKGbsPngbOg_UMiXFHZ4p2AF8pyk5xQYdoFGyHevHN-ES-Bo/s400/DSCN3413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552932484851092354" border="0" /></a><br />We wanted to find the perfect campsite to share with our friends, Susan and Jonah and their boys, for the weekend. They had warned us that campgrounds fill up quickly on the weekends, and indeed they did. By 5pm that afternoon (Friday) all of the northern campgrounds were full. Luckily, we had found a huge campsite that wrapped around some boulders, so there was plenty of space and shade for everyone.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WFI3S9zxXKBTAeMT94R9AjZx3LafK_8aGcCgzl1DSuLeE4tNLOnWJ3LqZ1Z1_6fuDPNzBhO2tIfwnjoQJQpWLeXAJNbx27BTjSpWrc4tKygu8_e6_s45J2JZnLBtSgyigdvfGatyziE/s1600/DSCN3427.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WFI3S9zxXKBTAeMT94R9AjZx3LafK_8aGcCgzl1DSuLeE4tNLOnWJ3LqZ1Z1_6fuDPNzBhO2tIfwnjoQJQpWLeXAJNbx27BTjSpWrc4tKygu8_e6_s45J2JZnLBtSgyigdvfGatyziE/s400/DSCN3427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552944990444021538" border="0" /></a><br />Then we were off on foot to explore this geologic playground while we waited for our friends to arrive. We found arches,<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkhNbMFHu_4wG04bIHb4fXILOMxjFBl8tQYE8VDB3ANhBjt3fIsHGjGUAuureCJXT6opEBdb5bmLwRQJ_h8olANHfko2afER9s8MrXesOkBPELqwUPOAaNRd7tGXUheLpdsLtNdjl_tU/s1600/DSCN3435.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkhNbMFHu_4wG04bIHb4fXILOMxjFBl8tQYE8VDB3ANhBjt3fIsHGjGUAuureCJXT6opEBdb5bmLwRQJ_h8olANHfko2afER9s8MrXesOkBPELqwUPOAaNRd7tGXUheLpdsLtNdjl_tU/s400/DSCN3435.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552944997004972658" border="0" /></a><br />peaks and valleys (Hello, George!),<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qleaxbykOb16piTgVq2X0h7YwNNIOwSn5tTAJvj4I6kZQsd-CKridi-M30iiRJ6VxMXoBW-mRnIBN2JOH-uat4w_Nwg3Ku5tGj0D9W0EDAQudsZ3L5ljep1xDUy-M3-gRHL7q9-J3Ss/s1600/DSCN3429.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qleaxbykOb16piTgVq2X0h7YwNNIOwSn5tTAJvj4I6kZQsd-CKridi-M30iiRJ6VxMXoBW-mRnIBN2JOH-uat4w_Nwg3Ku5tGj0D9W0EDAQudsZ3L5ljep1xDUy-M3-gRHL7q9-J3Ss/s400/DSCN3429.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552932498508169634" border="0" /></a><br />and more of these beautiful trees . . . Joshua trees, the namesake of this park and the key species of the Mojave Desert. They're not considered to be real "trees" biologically, but these yucca relatives are very important to their ecosystem. They share a symbiotic relationship with the yucca moths, who are their sole pollinators. In return, the yucca moth lays it's eggs in the ovaries of the flowers, where it's larvae develop and eat some of the developing seeds. There is also a bird, the loggerhead shrike, who kills its prey (lizards and such) by impaling them on the needle-sharp leaves of the Joshua Tree. Ouch! It's prickly business around here!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnWyLpRjNeiiDs7hsxZj2RNYrvomdeXwBeemzX4flZCAGz29nGmmm28Hi0JTTptyl4OGLa2nlMrGDGIfsNeGFoAL2bqfwDxLpsbkHm0IvgRkNwsyT6305APQApPi11jE8mqVXBYlisWs/s1600/DSCN3415.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnWyLpRjNeiiDs7hsxZj2RNYrvomdeXwBeemzX4flZCAGz29nGmmm28Hi0JTTptyl4OGLa2nlMrGDGIfsNeGFoAL2bqfwDxLpsbkHm0IvgRkNwsyT6305APQApPi11jE8mqVXBYlisWs/s400/DSCN3415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552932490037837314" border="0" /></a><br />I love desert ecology. You've got to be either tough or clever to live here!<br /><br />Susan, Jonah, and their boys joined us for the weekend, and we all had a great time exploring the rocks together!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9_tSGgzEiIPT5w5NNv5lC9xMp7rpwh__-vqi3Pz0TonRq1HkRvFHnwta5j9c9t5KX3BkM47-axR7R1J0f_WyphyRW1bp2AYQTkDkhvSXtnF3C7zRAvdkIGwxsF8JI3-jeqF5lEQj-eU/s1600/DSCN3439.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9_tSGgzEiIPT5w5NNv5lC9xMp7rpwh__-vqi3Pz0TonRq1HkRvFHnwta5j9c9t5KX3BkM47-axR7R1J0f_WyphyRW1bp2AYQTkDkhvSXtnF3C7zRAvdkIGwxsF8JI3-jeqF5lEQj-eU/s400/DSCN3439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552945001768465554" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS2-vO0ysqoA-rlDSYszTXFNLmTZZLH-gTfNMcwtrKrOeuhb7aPJKbVjfmwEIM1KPaF7it_-hDxWFOWdD4k_Ms4R7dGSi0phZDJJKiLtiCzBJDoNq9pCpRmJrQpJBuBrV2RgsbxukPmM/s1600/DSCN3442.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOS2-vO0ysqoA-rlDSYszTXFNLmTZZLH-gTfNMcwtrKrOeuhb7aPJKbVjfmwEIM1KPaF7it_-hDxWFOWdD4k_Ms4R7dGSi0phZDJJKiLtiCzBJDoNq9pCpRmJrQpJBuBrV2RgsbxukPmM/s400/DSCN3442.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552945008972404018" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_rC_CrA0KK-KRzqEplw6lkPqjZv1HLOL-k0_yFD8PocSCPRy9nZrZXDtOG_Cag8N6upJ7mWxMW80_dkNKFrks6zgl09dDE7WKrFGO4dWWQX-5NoHxGXZH0rUNvVPBRsEqjUX4PsJtXc/s1600/DSCN3446.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_rC_CrA0KK-KRzqEplw6lkPqjZv1HLOL-k0_yFD8PocSCPRy9nZrZXDtOG_Cag8N6upJ7mWxMW80_dkNKFrks6zgl09dDE7WKrFGO4dWWQX-5NoHxGXZH0rUNvVPBRsEqjUX4PsJtXc/s400/DSCN3446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552945011275555314" border="0" /></a><br />By the end of the weekend, we had found both elusive "tanks", after which this campground was named. There are 2 old dams located amongst the rocks, which used to serve as watering troughs for cattle. How anyone could raise cattle in this dry, desolate, rocky place is beyond me! In this photo, you can see the dam and the high-water mark where the cattle ranchers used to flood this narrow valley.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVRicvsVcLbx0f-O_zHK2dTQT-qqAz15CCAooUlakAaL3aKan-0ppDHv1YQ3hd2OddqjH1oYyzi8JNDhI5bk9U1fnLy39raGlDUVSAYaYkHebp23aIbThd9W5VrXtiehoGRazVfKiMao/s1600/DSCN3448.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVRicvsVcLbx0f-O_zHK2dTQT-qqAz15CCAooUlakAaL3aKan-0ppDHv1YQ3hd2OddqjH1oYyzi8JNDhI5bk9U1fnLy39raGlDUVSAYaYkHebp23aIbThd9W5VrXtiehoGRazVfKiMao/s400/DSCN3448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552992139929307858" border="0" /></a><br />Susan and I found both of these hard-to-find "tanks" in our explorations together. One tank we found with the whole family (as seen above) and the other we found during our fun "mommy's only hike". There were no "trails" to these tanks, just vague directions on the campground map noting their locations to be south and southeast (respectively) of the campground. We were very proud of ourselves for finding them!<br /><br />I want to take a moment to thank Susan and Jonah for helping us organize this trip to the desert and bringing their telescope! Adalaya is still talking about seeing 4 of Jupiter's moons all lined up. Most of all, we send you an IMMENSE THANK YOU for letting us crash in your driveway for so long and for van-sitting while we're in Costa Rica!<br /><br />Most folks left Joshua Tree on Sunday, and once again we seemed to have the place to ourselves. We headed into the southern part of the park, which is lower in elevation and generally warmer. The ecosystem shifted from Mojave Desert to Colorado Desert, which is part of the greater Sonoran Desert. No longer did we see Joshua trees; as the ground descended into an open valley surrounded with jagged, arid mountains, we came upon the "Cholla Cactus Garden" area of the park. Here at the transition zone between the 2 desert ecosystems, there is a large patch of these "teddy-bear" cacti. But don't go hugging these bristly bears!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlG6FsE0dk1CJYjNDfx4vO9CaOZ4sU9VQFF6YTKl5g9q7SEKs59f5Uw7w5PQMpCpUBtFPy8TdoDDyW0pV4E-us8chvNW0x196wJoO5ICW3LseWMr_5jjCxvj63ysHPlaPrwkYkD9WhiSQ/s1600/DSCN3454.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlG6FsE0dk1CJYjNDfx4vO9CaOZ4sU9VQFF6YTKl5g9q7SEKs59f5Uw7w5PQMpCpUBtFPy8TdoDDyW0pV4E-us8chvNW0x196wJoO5ICW3LseWMr_5jjCxvj63ysHPlaPrwkYkD9WhiSQ/s400/DSCN3454.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552992146486003858" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJgWArvm_HPSE9q4PHuiB2-wa-l7IA64tuQKtBDQ8UtI9lIqtL-EWEYUZ97ixNZwuUozpj3kZed0YiJzCCpvV_QC2IHryMOZMygv8bPc8bCPkCSnu0NA4-Nh0b5mN1NvbGB7mOkfof-g/s1600/DSCN3456.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJgWArvm_HPSE9q4PHuiB2-wa-l7IA64tuQKtBDQ8UtI9lIqtL-EWEYUZ97ixNZwuUozpj3kZed0YiJzCCpvV_QC2IHryMOZMygv8bPc8bCPkCSnu0NA4-Nh0b5mN1NvbGB7mOkfof-g/s400/DSCN3456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552992150936044706" border="0" /></a><br />This is what happens when you misbehave on this trip!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1e13_ZbNdXZwmkgWKRPEfpYWz-nSuxc2ERV1hicIN9fzungrndF_OFOJGqZGFYMy9903mZ2qVFbkjKFToJTv1bWlTY3aV9Uh-b6ltLgZLRGBTOF33qFrhWb02gAXUFBC8UoiE84qsIw/s1600/DSCN3458.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1e13_ZbNdXZwmkgWKRPEfpYWz-nSuxc2ERV1hicIN9fzungrndF_OFOJGqZGFYMy9903mZ2qVFbkjKFToJTv1bWlTY3aV9Uh-b6ltLgZLRGBTOF33qFrhWb02gAXUFBC8UoiE84qsIw/s400/DSCN3458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552992154747989154" border="0" /></a><br />And look at this well protected home of a cactus wren!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdgISH_jW4bFkTYf4B4fuyF39vouhh1NLUeHwdyvk3NVrhoofTM9XJi1dLq2xJc8sbKf4zbjwXD6VpNIksxXWny9H7-ECQSkwr49av-RliAU5L2382ki-ljqbEYkkEn8cNFpU02c-PKA/s1600/DSCN3460.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdgISH_jW4bFkTYf4B4fuyF39vouhh1NLUeHwdyvk3NVrhoofTM9XJi1dLq2xJc8sbKf4zbjwXD6VpNIksxXWny9H7-ECQSkwr49av-RliAU5L2382ki-ljqbEYkkEn8cNFpU02c-PKA/s400/DSCN3460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552993149484698642" border="0" /></a><br />We spent our last night in Joshua Tree in the Cottonwood Campground, not too far away from a natural palm oasis, which undoubtedly leads to the existence of other human oases (aka bathrooms with flush toilets). <br /><br />We enjoyed a beautiful desert sunset accented by a sliver of the moon that evening.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxpqVRWn7uVV3XIPM5ETGqE9Pcgx43VEc7o5xFkYsiNaaSUgG2JbuAnmTAYHOH0Vge9Cp_q3F31KWjaSDshcWDSt551GxJMKV-hB9-7gGljnf6Pe8eDOBGJIwMtKz9xK_VRHo_Zi19hs/s1600/DSCN3461.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxpqVRWn7uVV3XIPM5ETGqE9Pcgx43VEc7o5xFkYsiNaaSUgG2JbuAnmTAYHOH0Vge9Cp_q3F31KWjaSDshcWDSt551GxJMKV-hB9-7gGljnf6Pe8eDOBGJIwMtKz9xK_VRHo_Zi19hs/s400/DSCN3461.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552993155958071090" border="0" /></a><br />Then we got cozy in our little home and did a little reading before bed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1teJ0KlbC90OE82vzxtT3rZ6fBq1Q1zIHE7sPK7aRixwVfRn9deEdIOTkEPPH2Z8XTmkTKV2TJzx3RtoqKHR0PNh5_nwuSENLzuScUqk057cpbKcBl0ODRs6KTUtOA8xI8WC5Z2wlSHk/s1600/DSCN3468.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1teJ0KlbC90OE82vzxtT3rZ6fBq1Q1zIHE7sPK7aRixwVfRn9deEdIOTkEPPH2Z8XTmkTKV2TJzx3RtoqKHR0PNh5_nwuSENLzuScUqk057cpbKcBl0ODRs6KTUtOA8xI8WC5Z2wlSHk/s400/DSCN3468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552993157677349442" border="0" /></a>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-75311314054486926612010-11-04T22:17:00.000-07:002010-12-15T08:57:07.816-08:00Friends in FallbrookFor 2 weeks, we set up camp in my dear friend's driveway. Long ago, Susan and I spent a summer camping together on Roan Mountain, where we released and monitored 5 fledgling Peregrine Falcons. She and her family now live in a beautiful little house in Fallbrook, CA. It was a real treat to spend some good time with her and meet her cute little boys. We arrived in time for some fun Halloween festivities: a great Halloween party with crafts for the kids at a friend's house one night, and Halloween games at the Fallbrook Community Center, followed by trick-or-treating. Here we are dressed-up for Halloween. Adalaya is a gypsy, and looks like she fits right in with Susan's pirate family. I should have been a parrot instead of an owl!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTKr8Bqvop6OQie8-GAjy_zbyK54miqoXR13yZk8YG2rBmSLl84TAlrwQ-x74N70IIEm9tMp8Frf8aGwqL-_1OAc_adylm0fMUbXy7bIMpEzWoC8Pp81G_mWGdbg1kVcuxatFOuHQ79M/s1600/DSCN3318.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTKr8Bqvop6OQie8-GAjy_zbyK54miqoXR13yZk8YG2rBmSLl84TAlrwQ-x74N70IIEm9tMp8Frf8aGwqL-_1OAc_adylm0fMUbXy7bIMpEzWoC8Pp81G_mWGdbg1kVcuxatFOuHQ79M/s400/DSCN3318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550792530195433618" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO_1RjFqyxXH6n5eOJS5O9fITMrPM4YNqOUH8aIpr-jsbWSa1rIO6c6A28kgK-EQiqgPahXapc7TkEowryd5P7ri7TqMIR5iYvRpCzrUml1VsmIidFxiQBInKkVD_s7iYyXvi9R0m0O4/s1600/DSCN3320.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioO_1RjFqyxXH6n5eOJS5O9fITMrPM4YNqOUH8aIpr-jsbWSa1rIO6c6A28kgK-EQiqgPahXapc7TkEowryd5P7ri7TqMIR5iYvRpCzrUml1VsmIidFxiQBInKkVD_s7iYyXvi9R0m0O4/s400/DSCN3320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550792534672325314" border="0" /></a><br />It was Jackson's first time trick-or-treating, and Adalaya showed him the ropes. They would hold-hands while they walked up to a door, and Jackson would yell "Trick-or-Treat" and Adalaya would say "Thank you". Jackson was quite a trooper, because the neighborhood that we picked to trick-or-treat in took Halloween very seriously! Adalaya and I are used to the mellow Celo Halloween hay-ride scene, but this one involved chain-saws, mangled mannequins, and actively scaring kids. But together they braved all for the ultimate loot! Arrgh, sugar!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9MJEcMGlrFHXdVXHVNnt4s02omPlQ3xL5mapPD5o6zZYJmB2WzhazGubotEks0zZgakr3WENrBI_2eNAmGW88k9dDhrG5BORMASYMVO7I10dGcBICRULAd-WDa_l0JL6DV5ZNFLq3yE/s1600/DSCN3330.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq9MJEcMGlrFHXdVXHVNnt4s02omPlQ3xL5mapPD5o6zZYJmB2WzhazGubotEks0zZgakr3WENrBI_2eNAmGW88k9dDhrG5BORMASYMVO7I10dGcBICRULAd-WDa_l0JL6DV5ZNFLq3yE/s400/DSCN3330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550792536950475186" border="0" /></a><br />We took a few side trips during our stay in Fallbrook. We drove back to the coast for a night in Carlsbad, CA, the city where George came a year ago to buy our van (remember it's VW central around here). We paid an all new-high of $50 for a campsite in the South Carlsbad State Beach Campground. But we did have a nice ocean-side view!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkDUwl3XI9wT78lihiHyZUE9djG4c4mP3XlGHfMT23ea-5Ue-tzOkOqjNx1SymE4okUZ0WcDWVW-rsDUdldKWytTyTTJrQccK4R4FPsu53n3M3Qm5P_Zk8c4Ivg6jlM8D67w7ZRYYt8I/s1600/DSCN3351.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkDUwl3XI9wT78lihiHyZUE9djG4c4mP3XlGHfMT23ea-5Ue-tzOkOqjNx1SymE4okUZ0WcDWVW-rsDUdldKWytTyTTJrQccK4R4FPsu53n3M3Qm5P_Zk8c4Ivg6jlM8D67w7ZRYYt8I/s400/DSCN3351.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550801579477589618" border="0" /></a><br />We biked into downtown Carlsbad and went to a great pizza and brewery place - The Pizza Port.<br />Here's George sampling some of the micro-brews on tap.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOwSlHq4ahfAhvMXwCRp_RRMlUB-kRBCiXhTKT920T_Q5Wiu1cCQXplf90X_urgCnQrFGfSbVq-7DHkUOZZao8t0K9uUeV-NUd7hWs1s48304LESS7Duqc6iXOJ7ljaBD7WAIUJv_DCo/s1600/DSCN3359.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOwSlHq4ahfAhvMXwCRp_RRMlUB-kRBCiXhTKT920T_Q5Wiu1cCQXplf90X_urgCnQrFGfSbVq-7DHkUOZZao8t0K9uUeV-NUd7hWs1s48304LESS7Duqc6iXOJ7ljaBD7WAIUJv_DCo/s400/DSCN3359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550801588184117698" border="0" /></a><br />The pizza was delicious and we were happy to be biking home at sunset!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP5uNZAhoSqHMpCAFtRIZEXyaZXgAmOtwLfJePseD97W2zVwJBCEnHYHJhaA9YtNpWCytRJLK7-a82MxbqTqCxlOqunpEaoXw8EzraoWhRJfexkgFLpDbYr5UlHsskyGprRbnnxb3OmU/s1600/DSCN3360.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEP5uNZAhoSqHMpCAFtRIZEXyaZXgAmOtwLfJePseD97W2zVwJBCEnHYHJhaA9YtNpWCytRJLK7-a82MxbqTqCxlOqunpEaoXw8EzraoWhRJfexkgFLpDbYr5UlHsskyGprRbnnxb3OmU/s400/DSCN3360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550802833084011698" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSVNcFXZ9JXWPQLSWsjylE3P5B1R5qkPRw9PmEVXb_OyXaI65b9WJBbKT3mAiNWcTRnZllsCzWO2n9d6n6RnM2LIsgGgm8YOfAC7OuEsqf3HULMHqh5XP2wG-rEuEpuyRgUlgc8kG7q8/s1600/DSCN3361.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSVNcFXZ9JXWPQLSWsjylE3P5B1R5qkPRw9PmEVXb_OyXaI65b9WJBbKT3mAiNWcTRnZllsCzWO2n9d6n6RnM2LIsgGgm8YOfAC7OuEsqf3HULMHqh5XP2wG-rEuEpuyRgUlgc8kG7q8/s400/DSCN3361.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550801597012954498" border="0" /></a><br />Susan and her boys met us at the beach the next morning for some wave-dodging and pond-digging in the sand.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiZvdl6Lvzd2mk5XEvWt3ADun72kb78JiBXlAmftLbt6BlHmO06j-pGQSKiAh1sJt1y9D6IeBha_OCCS6WXuRUDsLltGwhaX4Ne1uGk_vLu2bbQ-P-DrYLVgsY236ejMrsIWrIHaw4D8/s1600/DSCN3371.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiZvdl6Lvzd2mk5XEvWt3ADun72kb78JiBXlAmftLbt6BlHmO06j-pGQSKiAh1sJt1y9D6IeBha_OCCS6WXuRUDsLltGwhaX4Ne1uGk_vLu2bbQ-P-DrYLVgsY236ejMrsIWrIHaw4D8/s400/DSCN3371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550804058493922530" border="0" /></a><br />Adalaya is really good at entertaining the boys, and today was no exception.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nHgRLcTLOnYAS3UO5JXfgJbbQrlys6QG9c7KKdrWJLIjWSEBDYYpNyTzO4_bxv1-NIJ_o_WyO204D6l5YfnpEJg_JMDqruTu33brxNJD3UOWXBdGoQmvJmU6YVxh8JOdtq0_04Dr9jE/s1600/DSCN3379.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nHgRLcTLOnYAS3UO5JXfgJbbQrlys6QG9c7KKdrWJLIjWSEBDYYpNyTzO4_bxv1-NIJ_o_WyO204D6l5YfnpEJg_JMDqruTu33brxNJD3UOWXBdGoQmvJmU6YVxh8JOdtq0_04Dr9jE/s400/DSCN3379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550802838362369954" border="0" /></a><br />Another day, we went into San Diego for a morning at the zoo. Among our favorites were the Koala Bears and Giant Pandas, neither of which I had seen before.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZTCySgXZlRS-6GIBshJlG85jTShVT9ZvtV4Y8faGflUWptvCM_dn1DSg8al23jmt_UpkuCH4N8E0DXJeNH1lvnCRO4hm9LfPejFJ-bkMCGdow3LNH8UaXgp1Ow1B1BqebQpUE_AQTOM/s1600/DSCN3531.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZTCySgXZlRS-6GIBshJlG85jTShVT9ZvtV4Y8faGflUWptvCM_dn1DSg8al23jmt_UpkuCH4N8E0DXJeNH1lvnCRO4hm9LfPejFJ-bkMCGdow3LNH8UaXgp1Ow1B1BqebQpUE_AQTOM/s400/DSCN3531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550805260351087874" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefTlMbm7XtjwwJqN-K_7SqCGfsPRqX2U4tb5-aTVmkw876JAPL8whv9-gJmK1CuEPc-RoXgoYEcIavUZIPdVYiuYyHBHDPETs7xRS-1QDR91B0IQasb4sJz3qJK0LNaJOHmqP0A_tUEM/s1600/DSCN3554.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefTlMbm7XtjwwJqN-K_7SqCGfsPRqX2U4tb5-aTVmkw876JAPL8whv9-gJmK1CuEPc-RoXgoYEcIavUZIPdVYiuYyHBHDPETs7xRS-1QDR91B0IQasb4sJz3qJK0LNaJOHmqP0A_tUEM/s400/DSCN3554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550805269105933970" border="0" /></a><br />The "Skyfari" was a fun way to travel over the zoo.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGANjsS3MV_KXgzMi9L1MBP6BBU0uvFBiZywcfpmlrLOdNDhWojVZuLhkHdh690xQLSqvOcoYYdufqJUCGzRm5df7EqjelpDBOOjXjtOKZ0gQvrZYXZHaJx7viXrPmdQrZWKfKHdXV1lU/s1600/DSCN3545.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGANjsS3MV_KXgzMi9L1MBP6BBU0uvFBiZywcfpmlrLOdNDhWojVZuLhkHdh690xQLSqvOcoYYdufqJUCGzRm5df7EqjelpDBOOjXjtOKZ0gQvrZYXZHaJx7viXrPmdQrZWKfKHdXV1lU/s400/DSCN3545.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550805264457614802" border="0" /></a><br />We had other adventures with Susan's family, but that will have to wait for another blog entry.3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-55492109112997478562010-10-29T22:52:00.000-07:002010-12-15T00:43:52.745-08:00Friendly CompetitionThere are only a handful of businesses in the country that do what we do at Mountain Electronics: fix computer boards from coin-laundry machines. Three of our competitors are located in California, and upon examination of that 2 page Rand-McNally map of LA that I mentioned earlier, we realized that all three of these repair outfits are located in and around Los Angeles. So we decided to spend a couple of days meeting our competition. We do business regularly with two of the businesses, so we called them to see if we could drop by.<br /><br />Jim and Shelly Stavros own and operate Super Computer Boards, based in Huntington Beach, CA. It was a lot of fun to finally meet "the man behind the voice" that I've talked to so often on the phone. Jim and Shelly were so sweet to us. They took us out for lunch at Duke's, a great fish restaurant with a Hawaiian surfer flare, named after the famous Hawaiian surfer, Duke Kahanamoku, who brought surfing to the mainland and made Huntington Beach the surfing capital of America.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9ujcC7-XLA0ioaHK_X0dysVti-Gbbt8IYVayKDp3eTh-aiIqBXdoEjDhlJPOddH1azyWdb7UsdF1SB4gwKzWVKkc5CGjhdq4NKorGrYLijWR0F1yRf8bTE_QNDrL4svG0xLuehMLfmw/s1600/DSCN3283.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9ujcC7-XLA0ioaHK_X0dysVti-Gbbt8IYVayKDp3eTh-aiIqBXdoEjDhlJPOddH1azyWdb7UsdF1SB4gwKzWVKkc5CGjhdq4NKorGrYLijWR0F1yRf8bTE_QNDrL4svG0xLuehMLfmw/s400/DSCN3283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550816137933047426" border="0" /></a><br />After lunch, we walked out on the Huntington Beach Pier.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJQ5etdwmQjE_qy5BWXGh2Sjav7IUwjE3U2sE67ZR5WXCsvAgCteOCu9qugnXPNcQCcdNKIiFvDvs-vCgQFw8CXV-elC-g2yPRkhyOBXsVtFdV_J0OgBhHjJaM8Rmgt-FGyukoN2KXE0/s1600/DSCN3279.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJQ5etdwmQjE_qy5BWXGh2Sjav7IUwjE3U2sE67ZR5WXCsvAgCteOCu9qugnXPNcQCcdNKIiFvDvs-vCgQFw8CXV-elC-g2yPRkhyOBXsVtFdV_J0OgBhHjJaM8Rmgt-FGyukoN2KXE0/s400/DSCN3279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550816128060981714" border="0" /></a><br />From the pier, we had a great view of all the surfers. Those dots in the water are surfer's heads, waiting for a good wave.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqTDAUG-Vtq8fdJP8aN1adm0PRDDKixIv1GSJQ83M2xNUtzKA7vnRYJLDWeGXDlG5ipGr5EUzbqva-j27e1e2F6_msidopQmHOQb1VyZek7ouV9CgVwAp72foW_WH915DBh2oPTh0hW0/s1600/DSCN3281.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqTDAUG-Vtq8fdJP8aN1adm0PRDDKixIv1GSJQ83M2xNUtzKA7vnRYJLDWeGXDlG5ipGr5EUzbqva-j27e1e2F6_msidopQmHOQb1VyZek7ouV9CgVwAp72foW_WH915DBh2oPTh0hW0/s400/DSCN3281.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550816133841312594" border="0" /></a><br />George catches a good wave . . .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEYDxgU0qoAaFJK6vAIOhsFG4ZSmfYobluSCfHFojWJPbH_q_oJBrHxss4zFyyn6XT_kmtL-pE9RQX2X3HpeynjV88jE314toguPM9ZDkANARd4mE8NB2BnBCZQizYZgkGw7_DPGlZkU/s1600/DSCN3275.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbEYDxgU0qoAaFJK6vAIOhsFG4ZSmfYobluSCfHFojWJPbH_q_oJBrHxss4zFyyn6XT_kmtL-pE9RQX2X3HpeynjV88jE314toguPM9ZDkANARd4mE8NB2BnBCZQizYZgkGw7_DPGlZkU/s400/DSCN3275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550816122346591922" border="0" /></a><br />. . . in his dreams!<br /><br />We spent a wonderful afternoon in Huntington Beach, and "Uncle Jim" even bought a Huntington Beach kitty-cat T-shirt for Adalaya, who shares her love of cats with Shelly. Thank you, Jim and Shelly, for lunch and showing us the highlights of your beautiful town!<br /><br />Next on the business agenda was a drive north to Venice Beach, where we stayed overnight in order to be near ALJ Electronics for tomorrow's meeting.<br /><br />We biked the beach strip between the Venice Beach Pier and the Santa Monica Pier, and saw many interesting sights.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXj2zIwKHjnYPrUxo3Ck9yQ3LsCArWlOMsWOm3lzXK16dJ9AaY_otF5HxAZ_0gmYqcGyN2pLEb57VwL1ow-Dr3NUcLMfhrm7r-hrr_ujA81VunvHNFp1mMTns1gkwkAGvrbZpcis7M0q0/s1600/DSCN3287.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXj2zIwKHjnYPrUxo3Ck9yQ3LsCArWlOMsWOm3lzXK16dJ9AaY_otF5HxAZ_0gmYqcGyN2pLEb57VwL1ow-Dr3NUcLMfhrm7r-hrr_ujA81VunvHNFp1mMTns1gkwkAGvrbZpcis7M0q0/s400/DSCN3287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550818194836401746" border="0" /></a><br />They have the nicest skate park I've ever seen there.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxal3JwqkG1mUr9NiqNKZoXc8ggh2ZxugFCcO9DLNb0dVUV-LBxXS8dTArNaRQJyVPBewG5v1Sd8oxUvl5lnWI5sIHB0yca7hhvmgVi41iVbXN-ZECqLAJjQ1KEe3yYYekszm8EAgvHw/s1600/DSCN3289.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxal3JwqkG1mUr9NiqNKZoXc8ggh2ZxugFCcO9DLNb0dVUV-LBxXS8dTArNaRQJyVPBewG5v1Sd8oxUvl5lnWI5sIHB0yca7hhvmgVi41iVbXN-ZECqLAJjQ1KEe3yYYekszm8EAgvHw/s400/DSCN3289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550818200409367362" border="0" /></a><br />I figured this was the "medical park" of the strip: medical marijuana and botox injections.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eQdOWjeRQKPKaCKdwmtdSE21hTbZWUse1CkYOwBQfvGXWFqtbmMqVtBBbwZqzWvD7FYhoV7atoLO_Juo7va4C8W8fM6MgNUOM597UTvWy3qx2dBT2LDEy8PSyx5ENonqsDmAes-TdeE/s1600/DSCN3294.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eQdOWjeRQKPKaCKdwmtdSE21hTbZWUse1CkYOwBQfvGXWFqtbmMqVtBBbwZqzWvD7FYhoV7atoLO_Juo7va4C8W8fM6MgNUOM597UTvWy3qx2dBT2LDEy8PSyx5ENonqsDmAes-TdeE/s400/DSCN3294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550820189041682722" border="0" /></a><br />And there were some fantastic birds posing for pictures on the pier.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0n4R55RqrIrxtRVwUkdqBYKS_MPq0gz1nmpbB9DTiKBy8Pb55_PGKbZyceG-0Q5v0bCgLwLCcpX6W_aKHIVtID3p6PpIQYerqvM5ZWbZLRmbWXU0wQ1G9wT-yECFzFa7VgB1Uj5C_0k/s1600/DSCN3301.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 387px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0n4R55RqrIrxtRVwUkdqBYKS_MPq0gz1nmpbB9DTiKBy8Pb55_PGKbZyceG-0Q5v0bCgLwLCcpX6W_aKHIVtID3p6PpIQYerqvM5ZWbZLRmbWXU0wQ1G9wT-yECFzFa7VgB1Uj5C_0k/s400/DSCN3301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550818211510622402" border="0" /></a><br />Our last, but certainly not least, stop in the LA area was a visit to ALJ Electronics in El Segundo. We met Carolyne and Darryl in person and, once again, it was great to put faces with familiar voices. We enjoyed sharing stories of our experiences in the laundry industry with each other.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVg9cWlBEBef4t-riLyFmzHdPvYOBNx54ulFjHMLDjTvh0WBPeqH7gCaUlD97QgDzHPghquWqIbkKDi3PhRodh8jjxrpu3-pUQ8ncXC2mUVLKFO53GD19RZt-AVdt9csVB1A8Pef7GJo/s1600/DSCN3308.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 383px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVg9cWlBEBef4t-riLyFmzHdPvYOBNx54ulFjHMLDjTvh0WBPeqH7gCaUlD97QgDzHPghquWqIbkKDi3PhRodh8jjxrpu3-pUQ8ncXC2mUVLKFO53GD19RZt-AVdt9csVB1A8Pef7GJo/s400/DSCN3308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550818206127581426" border="0" /></a><br />Now that business is taken care of, it's time for us to "boogie town," and after a few more hours of driving, we should be out of LA.3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174481308333242782.post-41327882608993116852010-10-27T19:54:00.000-07:002010-12-14T22:53:19.396-08:00LA and HollywoodLos Angeles: the city of angels and cars. We spent 5 beautiful days in this sunny Southern California metropolis. LA is really just a bunch of separate towns and cities which have sprawled together to form a large, intricately woven concrete jungle. There are highways and interstates spread over 2 whole pages of our large Rand McNally altas in order to cover LA. We got to experience this extremely car-centered city first hand. This was the traffic on a Sunday.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYO9jdKOQzvdOIw1s6zoLunpXG4j2ojRcLuu7xPgcOSs62CwpRTPn7c4pcffKX-PR6NRySaxIuCg_MSarmk2fdP0B1Q4Jks1lL_9d51emtdFEWKaJw2y9MzqRm8GKGXSbaeM2OIxOT4Y/s1600/DSCN3248.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYO9jdKOQzvdOIw1s6zoLunpXG4j2ojRcLuu7xPgcOSs62CwpRTPn7c4pcffKX-PR6NRySaxIuCg_MSarmk2fdP0B1Q4Jks1lL_9d51emtdFEWKaJw2y9MzqRm8GKGXSbaeM2OIxOT4Y/s400/DSCN3248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550754060057936802" border="0" /></a><br />LA felt dramatically different from other West Coast cities we've visited, especially San Francisco, because there was, obviously, no good public transportation.<br /><br />But not all cars are bad. We have become <span style="font-style: italic;">Farhrvergnugen </span>fans, and Southern California is a Mecca for these fun vehicles. Here's a few of our Volkswagen favorites, the Bug and the Carmen Ghia (my favorite). Maybe George will rebuild one for me one day! That's our van in the background, with another one pulling in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqpLzM3NrxLcJmkCDqKZAdjKD1j1cx9n1jjKA3x21nVYewwSA_I0QSbJgkwvb7EbJW8TdGd__mbr2lxlqtJkmAl4qrdQd8iIR4-uM3ART5ucn1aRnJPGg-I51Dx_uQ6oDCzfDgF5lH9U/s1600/DSCN3241.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqpLzM3NrxLcJmkCDqKZAdjKD1j1cx9n1jjKA3x21nVYewwSA_I0QSbJgkwvb7EbJW8TdGd__mbr2lxlqtJkmAl4qrdQd8iIR4-uM3ART5ucn1aRnJPGg-I51Dx_uQ6oDCzfDgF5lH9U/s400/DSCN3241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550754055387780306" border="0" /></a><br />And here's a classic beauty.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg32PCfpIKWtQHY2OQdjAhAIHIAhfC1gaEsM0yq6lAN90enNM9NBB7HhOamh4svxGc4xU2eZKCPEYEnM9BNpTQ-A8aSA72E-U7iTIQ7VJCyhHLd5SzZsrpt9fyoKHb4vVEiaudOr9Qs0/s1600/DSCN3357.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg32PCfpIKWtQHY2OQdjAhAIHIAhfC1gaEsM0yq6lAN90enNM9NBB7HhOamh4svxGc4xU2eZKCPEYEnM9BNpTQ-A8aSA72E-U7iTIQ7VJCyhHLd5SzZsrpt9fyoKHb4vVEiaudOr9Qs0/s400/DSCN3357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550794802856657938" border="0" /></a><br />Our first stop in Los Angeles was to visit one of the angels that lives there, Heather, my friend from Nepal. It was so fun to see her again after 15 years and to meet her beautiful family. After catching up and strolling down memory lane, we had a good time trying to track down other folks from our trip through the cyber web of Facebook. Here we are on her porch, and I still have my T-shirt from our trip to Nepal, which I now sleep in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu5f2CHfT1C0VWbM9POKIdv6L1_29zExN4evZkt034kS7mPwwPN16afOKELsk1x9IfrQLWwMg1JoMyAlLNhnluylwH8RXAPcB7p4QaTLUMUnjO0og4aofoC0thnlYXIP3aj1O376rcqI/s1600/DSCN3261.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu5f2CHfT1C0VWbM9POKIdv6L1_29zExN4evZkt034kS7mPwwPN16afOKELsk1x9IfrQLWwMg1JoMyAlLNhnluylwH8RXAPcB7p4QaTLUMUnjO0og4aofoC0thnlYXIP3aj1O376rcqI/s400/DSCN3261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550764579796097778" border="0" /></a><br />Like most folks these days, Heather and her family are busy people, so we spent a much needed respite from van life in their beautiful house while they were at work and school. We were able to catch up on some school & work of our own. Adalaya found a fluffy homework helper too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOU7FdD_ZTNhHDzipnhY7S3OjRDaOpbwo-uW-ISEpWT78svh-u66D69j1F1if4aa6eCPfjWoC9FFX8nLiKzAK56dv1ZjJHo6VgrCrDqxcazJ_54bvVqK-CPRniPBmBJQpchRHEOEuFwc/s1600/DSCN3250.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOU7FdD_ZTNhHDzipnhY7S3OjRDaOpbwo-uW-ISEpWT78svh-u66D69j1F1if4aa6eCPfjWoC9FFX8nLiKzAK56dv1ZjJHo6VgrCrDqxcazJ_54bvVqK-CPRniPBmBJQpchRHEOEuFwc/s400/DSCN3250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550754066112703410" border="0" /></a><br />We were, however, able to tear ourselves away from our studies to admire (and sample) their citrus trees. Here's an especially handsome cluster of lemons.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSxh6hEDVMPMQlGY9dSxsE1Sb5maiaImz6a7EReq7HUhJdS9Zwnne6OM8i4fhvK24DtERvjHOKra63C8hdhyphenhyphenhOgYos0Ey6ML1N-6Z_rqrYGEYQLCtwyuHU1C4Lp9udBN7tEQ1Qz1Xakw/s1600/DSCN3265.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSxh6hEDVMPMQlGY9dSxsE1Sb5maiaImz6a7EReq7HUhJdS9Zwnne6OM8i4fhvK24DtERvjHOKra63C8hdhyphenhyphenhOgYos0Ey6ML1N-6Z_rqrYGEYQLCtwyuHU1C4Lp9udBN7tEQ1Qz1Xakw/s400/DSCN3265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550766954592698354" border="0" /></a><br />And our first-ever lemon picking is documented, and that lemon was so good! Thanks for everything Heather and Michael!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE_ctHHdldIw7qPAtbQ1rB5iuLIv91Z5RukUl6WzgzA5jSOr90z2oOyPwksQV_dlNbb-F-TU5Wc16R__F_RV7f1p3Zxyj0ThJ5TD3uxSYJoURFawTa1W14tVnWzQZhpbd1qQLqmCuruE/s1600/DSCN3266.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE_ctHHdldIw7qPAtbQ1rB5iuLIv91Z5RukUl6WzgzA5jSOr90z2oOyPwksQV_dlNbb-F-TU5Wc16R__F_RV7f1p3Zxyj0ThJ5TD3uxSYJoURFawTa1W14tVnWzQZhpbd1qQLqmCuruE/s400/DSCN3266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550766958430695490" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFQUIe3-mvzYz-hq1XZkKpnhfDs2ayQpq7vw7dD3-UlXLkNplkOAa2MzKilwZ_2JdhVKUeUEBUAPRzhEdVyJUxMCwSlo8gEnV-BMBHAGZHsQ9yswhnnD5QjY0AHnAQlM-0Synx3jqpMA/s1600/DSCN3268.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFQUIe3-mvzYz-hq1XZkKpnhfDs2ayQpq7vw7dD3-UlXLkNplkOAa2MzKilwZ_2JdhVKUeUEBUAPRzhEdVyJUxMCwSlo8gEnV-BMBHAGZHsQ9yswhnnD5QjY0AHnAQlM-0Synx3jqpMA/s400/DSCN3268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550766967301100706" border="0" /></a><br />After spending a quiet day at Heather's home, we were ready to see this crazy city first-hand, but what to do in such a place with so much to do? We decided to go see a movie in Hollywood, of course! It was the week before Halloween, and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Nightmare Before Christmas</span> was playing in <span style="font-weight: bold;">4D</span> at the El Capitan Theatre on Hollywood Blvd.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8w2sx3cgKPPTE3DnVCIH5aYPDy2yZjMjAOGejOBi19Xsr7pplvqGj5SPvuwzod1mKxloVSOUNjTEtsRRM-zPDU6ly9-Nb4dKmS5ejH5yBtvUjU8ejIg5NwxRqC3_YeDbNI9s0uB-KDM/s1600/El+Cap.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8w2sx3cgKPPTE3DnVCIH5aYPDy2yZjMjAOGejOBi19Xsr7pplvqGj5SPvuwzod1mKxloVSOUNjTEtsRRM-zPDU6ly9-Nb4dKmS5ejH5yBtvUjU8ejIg5NwxRqC3_YeDbNI9s0uB-KDM/s400/El+Cap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550775474115706546" border="0" /></a><br />We were previously unaware of the existence of the 4D movie experience, but we became instant fans! The movie itself is in the new 3D format, with the funny over-sized glasses (have you ever tried looking at yourself in the mirror with those things on - it's pretty crazy!) But the 4th dimension takes the movie experience to a whole new level. To begin with, the whole theatre was decked out for Halloween with lights and jack-o-lanterns, and 5 different curtains opened (in various directions) to reveal the big-screen. Just below the screen was an LED sign, upon which directions for the audience would be written, such as "Bark with Zero". When Jack, the Pumpkin King, first goes to "Christmasland", the theatre emanated a gingerbread scent! When he was driving the sleigh, pretending to be "Sandy Claws", the fans in the theatre turned on, and we could feel the wind in our faces. Then we were instructed to "Jingle Bells", and about half of the viewers started jingling the bells they had brought along with Santa's reindeer. At one point, the room filled with fog from the fog-machine below the screen, and strobe lights flashed with the lightening in the movie. Another time, stage-lights spun snowflakes of light all over the theatre. Needless to say, we loved it. What a great way to experience Hollywood! Maybe the Yancey Theatre will go 4D in about 20 years.<br /><br />We then took a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard to experience the craziness of Hollywood. We saw Michael Jackson, back from the grave and doing the moonwalk, and Captain America who bummed a cigarette off a passer-by. I guess times are tough for heroes too. We also saw some stars who have been immortalized forever (or until the next big earthquake) in the sidewalks of Hollywood. George's mom has her own star, although they did spell her name wrong. She's definitely a star in our eyes!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5FThzIEaWsNgCCS5mvWq-tqnAVmyuHvGq3l7KN1ouK3E88ROXSeouUP7Scot6zdtOUjyj3ajBi-dSkn7BTkTrNzXQoEXEuyXzmYM-Cu5hO_zsLqwklkaIXrlLyA2LuY0z2Bi4MXWJc4/s1600/DSCN3252.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5FThzIEaWsNgCCS5mvWq-tqnAVmyuHvGq3l7KN1ouK3E88ROXSeouUP7Scot6zdtOUjyj3ajBi-dSkn7BTkTrNzXQoEXEuyXzmYM-Cu5hO_zsLqwklkaIXrlLyA2LuY0z2Bi4MXWJc4/s400/DSCN3252.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550754068030294210" border="0" /></a><br />And, alas, we found a memorial to a hero for young and old.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOqKn3ESRdgVBRiJZZRpI_3MIYX0t-QwAJFFGrE-xj6Z1He8FDF6FNLRDe0ElGLwhCyXtcLgm2yv7PK1czhFcwUw26tZ73Io6yoWcUAHdtbvTGBjP5A_LZ5zYjrae-PgH14tQiCIZW4U/s1600/DSCN3255.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOqKn3ESRdgVBRiJZZRpI_3MIYX0t-QwAJFFGrE-xj6Z1He8FDF6FNLRDe0ElGLwhCyXtcLgm2yv7PK1czhFcwUw26tZ73Io6yoWcUAHdtbvTGBjP5A_LZ5zYjrae-PgH14tQiCIZW4U/s400/DSCN3255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550754076690004354" border="0" /></a><br />Adalaya is a new Looney Tunes fan thanks to Damien who put the entire collection of Looney Tunes on our computer before we left. Great family entertainment!<br /><br />The next day we continued our adventures in Hollywood as we went to visit some of George's cousins (they're everywhere, I tell you) that are script-writers and movie producers in Hollywood.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb23xr-bn7sNeP057bRu4YQlClmEdaca841Mgi8FfzsTXdyLdJm2bxTAS0LB-nUW0QGzs8tPqp7xXVXQOoB6p77Ge_kHsKVs3koznrXesuCM2CuLgeskuVy1lsJCHKTSSh0OTDfVM_C5g/s1600/DSCN3271.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb23xr-bn7sNeP057bRu4YQlClmEdaca841Mgi8FfzsTXdyLdJm2bxTAS0LB-nUW0QGzs8tPqp7xXVXQOoB6p77Ge_kHsKVs3koznrXesuCM2CuLgeskuVy1lsJCHKTSSh0OTDfVM_C5g/s400/DSCN3271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550766971606529362" border="0" /></a><br />Ed and Jack showed us around their neat, old Hollywood home, then we walked to a great restaurant for some BBQ and half-chickens for lunch. As we walked, Ed and Jack pointed out Brad's and Angelina's cluster of houses. No sign of them home, but we did get a good view of this sign:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsipA1N4oJ3DBRR7aQ2yeimPTLgEGu5JDKpjIM-4CYWr_F37BJXC4lhkjdQTIrznKeWrJOfKKL_kT-fGOtvkmnbK_pGOABaj8ka6XhNH1rCcrs0c2p_7Vxa_cfht3JPzBPihIql0LtYw/s1600/DSCN3273.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsipA1N4oJ3DBRR7aQ2yeimPTLgEGu5JDKpjIM-4CYWr_F37BJXC4lhkjdQTIrznKeWrJOfKKL_kT-fGOtvkmnbK_pGOABaj8ka6XhNH1rCcrs0c2p_7Vxa_cfht3JPzBPihIql0LtYw/s400/DSCN3273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550761516324679010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>3 Brasingtons & A Vanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02089627979193838763noreply@blogger.com0