CATARATAS EXPERIENCIA COSTARICENSE (RYAN''S VISIT) PART 1

 

Ry called the week before, to announce that he had time off &
could visit us in Costa Rica.

We've explored all four corners of Costa Rica and a lot in between!
So Ryan had his pick of what to see!  He chose mostly waterfalls and a
couple of volcanos...Surprise, surprise.



The view from the top of Torre Paseo Colon was in the mist.



Day One (October 7) was extreme. Hikes to two of my favorite waterfalls.

Hna.Pete stayed home while the guys went to Rio Savegre (Zona Los Santos) and Santo Cristo

(near San Isidro). To Hna Pete's credit, she's hiked & survived both these hikes

....been there done that. 



Day two (Wednesday, October 8).  We thought it was great to see this
ad for Sky River Drift (Our destination on Thursday Morning) as we left San Jose.

Wednesday was a visit to the iconic, Volcan Poas and the always remarkable

"La Paz Waterfall Gardens" nearby.

 

Volcon Poas is part of the "Pacific Ring of Fire"

The cameras were kept busy until Ryan lost his in the river on

Thursday morning.  Poas was amazing.  It actually erupted four

days later.

Poas Crater was completely in the fog as we arrived

The hike to the lake was surreal,like in the

Babes in Toyland forest.

Hna.Pete as always, found animal friends to photograph.

From Poas, we went to LaPaz which has to be one of

our favorite places in Costa Rica. It has toucans...

 waterfalls and trout fishing,

Hummingbirds

Pumas, monkeys, birds...

frogs, beautiful flora, 

and (muchos) waterfalls

 

 

 

 Next stop Volcon Arenal and the Sky Adventures River "Drift"
 

 

Three carbon-fiber zip-lines

150 ft drop into the river

 Into tubes and life jackets ("the calm before the storm"-dice Hna Petersen)

for a three mile two hour, adrenaline rush.
There would be more fotos, but Hna.Pete had our camera,
& she had a death grip on her innertube, AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Inside the waterfall where Ryan lost his camera

Next stop was the Rio Celeste (Sky Blue River)but the

trail to Falls closed at 2p and we arrived at 3:10, so...

We went and saw the famous river and it WAS

 

Sky Blue (Celeste)

The drive to Guanacaste was really beautiful.

  

Including the sunset

 

 

Dinner in Liberia was at Pizza Hut.  Only had thin crust

and Ry's 9cent tip to the parking guy was hilarious.  Ask him.

Friday morning we took the backroads into "Patey Falls"

 That's what we call it now, Presidente Patey.

Well worth the discovery as new trail behind the falls

made for a great memory

 

 

Next was a stop at one of our favorite falls,

Cortez

This must've been been before Ryan gashed his leg on a rock...
I don't see any blood.

 

A stop at Pops is all but mandatory.

 

 

The Taiwan Amistad Bridge to Nicoya

Sunset at Playa Puntarenas

Dinner with Maria Ester and Anita Gomez. Anita joined the church when
Melanie & her companion taught her the gospel, in 2001.

 

Beautiful Hotel Vista Golfo with Nicoya Peninsula in distance

 



Yeah, finally a post from Hermana Petersen herself : )

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED HAVING OUR 2 NIETOS

 (GRAND-SONS) COME TO VISIT US IN COSTA RICA !!!

Septiembre Despues de la Visita de Familia

Elder Coleman makes a new, coati friend.

Teaching Self- Reliance Workshop in Sunday School, at Barancas Branch.

Recently released District President Ricarado Solis in Puntarenas
with family.  Melanie taught them, in 2001.

Melanie asked us to try to find Anita & Maria Ester in Barancas, but
the pulperia, that we thought was theirs, was
locked tight!

But the tender mercies of Lord had her come, just as we were leaving.
This is Maria Ester, her sister Anita lives a
short distance away.

Our friend Aida (Vanessa) in Cariari is studying to be a nurse.

Celebrating in Limon, their successful completion of
The Career Workshop.

A day at the office in Don Bosco

The Branch President's family in front of Pueblo Nuevo Limon Branch Chapel

On Caribe (Punta Uva Beach) looking for the alleged best snorkeling
in Costa Rica

If this isn't "Paraiso" (paradise) I don't know where
you would find it.

We were within 10km of the Panama border when the road ended
at Playa Manzanillo, Limon.

Sister Petersen accompanied a Sister Missionary home to
 Reynosa, Mexico-health related.

Everyone happy we got our "Cedula" (Residency Documents) after
only 6 months in the country!!!  And a week later we got our Tico Drivers
Licenses!!!

Fifth Sunday Combined meeting workshop (on the 4th Sunday)
in San Isidro (Perez Zeledon)

Shortcut to Waterfall (Cataratas) Nauyaca (Santo Cristo)
Four Hour Hike was only
 "30 minutes down and 45 back up"

and the Falls were breathtaking

Our apartment, twin towers (Torre Paseo Colon) in the mist and daily rain.

Bishops and Wives dinner and Self- Reliance Training-Toyopan, Stake

Beautiful view of Nicoya Gulf above Puntarenas from our Hotel
"Vista Golfo" 

Sister Petersen discovered this SLOTH above us as we drove
from Dominical to San Isidro!  She was very excited!
We did not zoom in to get this foto,
that's actually how close it was!

A Toucan in the wild outside of Perez Zeledon.

Sister Petersen fell in love with this puppy (Perla) but what
would we do with it when we are on the road every week-end?

As we prepared to hike into Nauyaca these giant spiders almost
made us abandon our quest.

Plus we had to park the RAV4 in the Jungle when the dirt road ended.

They gave us a key to get through the private gate of the "shortcut"

The hike was pretty extreme!  Sister Petersen says she won't be going back
anytime soon.

But it was unbelievably beautiful

We helped the Rivera family move into their new house
one Monday and then had Family Night with them.  They are
dear friends! We have the privilege of working with
 Rodrigo (there in the back), our Center Manager,
 in the office every day.



This is Jeremy Boone from down the hall (14 mos) who we got to babysit
with his 4 yr. old brother Jon Barry

28 new missionaries arrived and got their assignments and companions
on Oct 1.  Sister Petersen gets to talk to the North Americans
 about how to stay healthy. the day after they arrive.

The skies over Costa Rica are enchanting

Alajuela Stake President Jose Babb and Familia, less a son serving in Mexico.
This other son is planning on a mission next February or so.

Training of the Liberia District Self- Reliance Committee

With the Colemans in Limon

Hermana Petersen arriving outside the Office at
Don Bosco.  All the Chapels have a lot of security here
in Costa Rica. Since this photo was taken, 2 rows
of spiraled barbed wire has been added on top
of this fence.