A BUSY MID-APRIL

One Saturday we stopped in Cartago to visit the ruins, Santiago Apostal.
So interesting.. 1600-1900, an earthquake destroyed it for a third time.
Till then, Cartago was the capitol of C.R. but the capitol was moved to San Jose,
 were the Coffee Barons controlled the country.
 

Cartago was on the way to Tapanti Ntl.Park (Orosi Valley). This hike was much
different than when Ryan came with me. Today, Hna.Pete was with me, so no bouldering
up the river was done & because of the obscure nature of the sky, we couldn't
even see the waterfall.

Tapanti from a distance, or so we thought. Upon closure inspection,
this was actually the trunk of a very tall tree.

Spoke in Escazu where 30% ward are U.S. foreigners who work here.

Celebrating with the Oportas,  Bismarcks new local job.

Good times with good friends.The Brenes.

VIP tour of new PAVAS WARD CHAPEL from Bishop Rivera.
A beautiful chapel & the only one of its kind in Costa Rica.

With our friend Cristina at her new Veggie Stand at the Mercado in
Cartago before touring ruins and seeingTapanti.

Cartago Ruins

"Extreme Hiker"/NOT, Hna Petersen on way to scenic lookout of Tapanti



Temple night with the Riveras (Rodrigo & Paola)

In office with friend Freddy Lopez Sr. from Gravilias

Costa Rican typical sunset

Spoke at San Rafael de Heredia Branch.  Had to translate for Hna Petersen
when she forgot to bring her written Spanish talk that she usually reads.
Her favorite part of that day, was that she was able to dog sit "Cookie"
in our air conditioned car for awhile,
 while her humans were inside attending Sunday School.

Price Smart (aka Costco South) started serving
hamburgers so Rodrigo wanted to try it out.



Our friend Freddy Lopez Jr got married to Monica en Escazu. 
Great match of 2 returned missionaries.  In Costa Rica you have to get married civilly
first, then be sealed in the temple
 the next day.

BARVA & OSA PENINSULA FROM 2 POINTS OF VIEW (Plus Mission Conference)

In late March, we hiked 3 km in, to a lake in the Crater of Volcon Barva.

One of the prettiest hikes so far, on our mission.

On March 20, Elders Maynes & Duncan of the 70's visited.
We had a "Mission Conference" &  all 240 missionaries
from the whole country participated. (This foto is only 1/2 the group)

Almost to Lago Barva...

 

This exposure of the temple at sunset was funky, but I like it.

Hermanas Petersen & Markle, orienting the newly arrived missionaries
on "How to Stay Healthy on Your Mission".

New Missionaries with their new trainers.

Hna Markles companion Hermana Flores, & Elder Pete
 at mission home.

Mission panoramic at Los Yoses Chapel
(almost got everyone in this shot).

Hermana Petersen's favorite "neighborhood" near Moravia.

 

Some of Familia Oporta (from Aserri)

Amazing sunsets just keep happening, lucky us!
This is taken out the window of the Central Self-Reliance/Family
History Office @ Capilla Don Bosco.

Training by Skype, with Guatemala (Elvis Gomez our Area Chief).
Hermanas seated are Autosuficiencia Especialistas, Rocio Soto & Ali Porras.
To the right of Elder Pete, is Rodrigo Rivera, who's the P.E.F.
Manager for Costa Rica & "our boss". We're so grateful for him!

Hermana Petersen got a parking ticket at Clinica Biblica Hospital.
Hard to believe when you see how the rest of the
country parks...anywhere & everywhere.

While speaking in Golfito & Rio Claro we decided to explore the Osa
Peninsula. Above is Drake Bay.
 

Beach @ Drake Bay

There was no road to the hotel we stayed at. 
Had to drive along the beach at low tide, thru these palms,
& then up a little distance on a dirt road. It reminded us of
4-wheeling, but in a car instead. Luckily our car does
have 4-wheel drive.

But that night, the view was spectacular.

Sister Petersen not too thrilled about these 183 steps
 up a mountain to our villa.

Had to take the car back across the beach at 5:30 am, during low-tide and then
bags by foot later at high- tide.

Some bridges on the dirt road to Drake, were...
interesting. Most of the time, we chose to
forge the river rather than fall into it.

Next day we drove to Corcovado National Park and Carate
This tiny town has an airstrip, a Rangers Station, a luckily a
teeny place to buy a cold drink or a snack.

Very hot 100.5 F

Rented home for Golfito Branch where church was held
out back on the patio. Hna. Pete almost attended church that
day, in our car with a/c. There was 1 small table fan, but
when we arrived a family was already huddled around it.

Hna. Pete giving a short talk in Espanol.

Cabina "Coloso del Mar" had no AC & Hna P almost refused to stay.
Luckily though, we'd brought 1 of our "Wind Machines" with us.

River near Syripe where tours are taken thru mangrove swamps.

Cool waterfall near Olajhal

This has become our favorite hotel so far on our mission, for the view.
"El Castillo". The bird-watching was muy tuanis!

Sunset at El Castillo.

Selfie...Dinner at poolside as sunset.

Thought of Stockton at Marino Ballena..>DANGER CROCS.
 

NOW SAME TRIP FROM THE EYES OF HERMANA P

We didn't see any monkeys here, BUT TOOK THIS
FOTO, BECAUSE WE ALL CALL OUR NIETA KALLY, MONKEY.

On the way to Carate (Corcovado NP). We saw some great wildlife.

Including this Scarlet Macaw.

Teaching a lesson about Self-Reliance & the P.E.Fund
(during Sunday School)
at the Golfito Branch.

Doing it again, the 3rd hour of same church block,
 at Rio Claro. (not far from Golfito)

Almost to Punto Banco & end of our trail



Hna. Pete's goal during this trip south, was a desire
to drive to the southern-most tip of Costa Rica. We reached
the end of drivable road, at least in our car, but
still had a great time.

One of the bridges we chose  NOT to use.

Sister Petersen's attempt to stay cool at Coloso del Mar

End of the road...again

Saw a lot of date palms being havested

The falls from Sister Petersen's camera

El Castillo

Upon arriving home, found this cockroach that'd hitched
a ride, only to be caught by...
 my senior companion.

We made in this far south

Another amazing sunset.  Try as we might we can't stop taking
pictures like these

View from Cartago of Volcon Turriabla...blowing smoke
and ash. This foto was taken by our friend Christina,
from her fruit stand.

On April 3rd (the day we got home from the Sur,
 we were Skyping with Brent & Jan/Elder y Soeur,
(From their mission in Canada) and figured that there was 100 F difference
today in our missions. Where we were this morning was 100.5 and Sherbrook...1 F!!!
We are happy we're here!

One last sunset from our balcony!