July 3 - Goodbye Costa Rica!

It has been a wonderful trip. Toyota treated us very well. I learned a lot about how complicated it is to try and live in a sustainable way. Costa Rica has a lot to teach us but it also has a lot to learn. We all have to work hard to secure a healthy environment for ourselves and our children.

July 2 Final Group Dinner at La Verbena Restaurant

We returned to the Hotel Aurola in San Jose today for our final night in Costa Rica. We did our presentations and then had a farewell dinner at La Verbena Restaurant. They grow all the food for their restaurant on their farm. We had a wonderful dinner and said our sad farewells.

Our wonderful guides...Isa and Julio.

July 1 Arenal Hanging Bridges, Hotel Kioro & Arenal Volcano

What a way to end our fabulous trip! A hike through the Arena Hanging Bridges Rain Forest was the highlight of the day. We saw three poisonous eyelash vipers. Then we relaxed in the hot springs and enjoyed the view from our hotel room.

June 30, 2010 Home Stay

We stayed overnight at Finca Maria Jose, named for the youngest daughter. Quite an operation. They raise their own pigs, ducks, chickens, rabbits, talapia and a few cows and sheep. They also grow a variety of herbs and vegetables. A small biodigester turns the manure into gas for cooking. As a sideline they make soap and host ecotourists. This is a side of Costa Rica that few tourist ever see.

July 29 Touring EARTH'S Sustainable Farm

Earth Universities sustainable banana plantation. Banana's grown here show up on the shelves of Whole Food markets. Watch out for the banana train!

July 29 Touring EARTH'S Sustainable Farm

Sustainable agriculture....It can be done! This is the biodigester turning manure into methane gas that is captured and used to run the electricity.

July 28 Costa Flores Garden

After a busy day visiting the school, we had a BBQ with Cimarrona and Mascarada at the Costa Flores Garden. Pretty incredible!

June 28 School Visit

Today we visited the Colegio Tecnico Profesional de Guacimo. We had an interesting tour. I gave the science teacher some information on horseshoe crabs and red knots.

June 28 Rain Forest Walk on the School Visit

(above) A two toed beauty of a sloth! (below) The BlueJean Poison Dart Frog. I feel so lucky!

June 27 - Earth University

Arrived today at an amazing place....Earth University. Why didn't I get to go to college here?

June 26 - Planting Mangroves in the Gulfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf)

Restoring a section of mangrove trees on the coast of Gulfo Dulce. I planted 60 trees with my partner, Norm and our group planted 1000 in all...yeah!

June 25 - Mangroves along the Pacific Coast.

Another day of pouring rain while out on the river in a leaky boat with a dysfunctional motor. We kept bailing and after a brief tow got the second motor running and arrived back at shore safe and sound in a torrential downpour.

June 24 - Hike in the Rainforest

Waterfall on the hike where we saw a poison dart tree frog. The path was wet and slippery. It started out raining and then it poured. Hey, we were in the rainforest. It was great!

June 24 - Osa

A once in a lifetime experience...a sighting of a three-toed sloth on the ground...something they do only on occasion. Luck is with us!















Entrance of the Corcovado National Park.

June 22 - San Jose

Nature air is the first carbon neutral airline in the world. We will fly from San Jose to Osa tomorrow. Today we toured the facility and learned more about bio-diesel.

June 21 - Miami to Costa Rica

Dr. Pedro Leon Azofeifa from the Peace with Nature initiative introduces us to history and current state of conservation efforts in Costa Rica.

June 19, 2010 - Miami

The Florida Everglades....River of Grass.

Endangered Wood Stork.

Miami boat tour.

Hello World, This is my Costa Rica Travel Blog!