Good Friends & Amazing Vistas in Costa Rica

New Group of Missionaries arrived on 4/29.
Foto also includes their trainers.



Friend Dave Crittenden came to visit and our first
stop was a temple session where one of
Melanie's friends, Marielas Gonzalez, from Flores & Rio Celeste,
was also attending.
She comes to the temple from Rio Celeste, which is quite a distance away & while
she's in town weekly, does at least 10 sessions.
We remember meeting her at the Ogden Temple back in 2002 or so.

Second stop of the Crittenden "Tour" was Poas Volcano. Hermana Pete
stayed home to finish Grandson Will's baby blanket.

Beautiful Badu Trail

Luckily la Laguna wasn't shrouded in mist that day.

Next stop, beautiful La Paz Waterfall Gardens and most
beautiful banos  in
the Country.

Also, my favorite, the Toucan encounter.

Butterflies

Poison Dart frogs

Waterfalls

Jaguars

More waterfalls

 & Scarlet Macaws





 

Next morning, the Tour continued as we traveled north east 2 hours
to speak in the Cariari Branch.

Fun to see out friend Vanessa with her family.  Husband Max was at work
but met her mom, sister and brother.(who'd just received his mission call)
The 2 cute chicas on the right are Vanessa's daughters. Vanessa is a
Perpetual Education Fund Participant & now a nurse : )

After church we left for a beautiful boat ride up river
to the canals of Tortuguero Ntl. Park, on the Atlantic Coast, close
to Nicaraguan border.

On the boat ride back to civilization, we saw some fun critters.
Here is a male, Jesus Christ lizard. Yes, it walks on water.

A young caiman.

Monday night we stayed at Tree House Hotel near
San Carlos.  Was really unique and fun.

And the breakfast next  morning was amazing Mango French toast ala Lucy

Tuesday was spent in Arenal area at Sky River Drift/Canopy
Mystic Hanging Bridges & Zacero Sculpted Gardens.

Wednesday we headed for Puntarenas & ferry to Nicoya to
snorkel at Isla Tortuga.  But a side trip to Crocodile Bridge made
us miss the ferry so ended up taking the later ferry to Naranjo and...
the singing Gauchos Kareoke.  And...

The snorkeling was canceled due to high waves, murky waters, and
minimal time before the last ferry back to Puntarenas!!!



 

 

Thursday we spent up in Los Santos hiking the
great Rio Savegre Trail




Thursday afternoon Dave met Rodrigo, our manager & Pablo,
our beloved Tico computer geek.

Touring the P.E.F. Self- Reliance Office, which is
housed in Capilla Don Bosco, not far from our apartment.

and the New Pavas Chapel

We ended with dinner at Princesa Marina for fish & the best fresh lemonade
around. The next morning we had to abandon our guest to take a flight to Washington DC and the
long-anticipated sealing of Grandson Will to his parents Melanie & Jeff. 
A Senior mission in today's church has so many advantages.

THANKS FOR VISITING DAVE!!