Here is a video tour to start out with of our accomadations at Posada Mamosa where we stayed the last two nights of our trip. You will probably need a broad band connection. I dont know why but it took google almost all week to approve the video.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6847977282062191172
Cool video Jeff !!! Looks like a awful pretty place !!! You had some awesome
views !! 8) 8) 8)
thank you that was very nice
Thanks Jeff, I enjoyed that.
Pretty Nice setup
How big was the video? I tried to open the link in my download manager to see the file size, wouldn't work. Something up to 10 meg I could d/l and view in WMP, even in my GPS handheld computer. ;)
Thanks, Jeff 8) Beautiful spot ! Great to hear your voice ;D
Looks gorgeous.
Only mine didn't have any sound :(
And I tried another movie (norm and patty's silo massacre) But no sound there either.
:(
Still, great film!
I'll try it again after I reboot my puter, maybe there's a gremlin.
asy :D
Don't worry Azy, it was just my oscar nominated narration you missed. ;)
This picture is of our little friend Cileene. As soon as google approves the video I uploaded you can see her attempt to teach me to count in Spanish. Neither one of us knew each others language butt we got along fine. Cileene is pronounced "Sa-Lean-ee" Cileene is Martin's (prounouced "Mar-tean") youngest daughter. She is 5 and starts school soon. Martin is the Farm manager for Fred at the Finca Leola farm.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/cileene.jpg)
That Little girl is a real Doll !!! Kids are great !!! I got 5 Grand Children
now, ! 8) 8)
Jeff, she's GORGEOUS!
I sure hope there's sound with THAT video!
asy :D
Great movie. Now that is the closest to C.R that i will get.
You should narrate movies your voice would be great for it.
Thanks Alot Mr Mom
Absolutely spiffing old chap. Jolly good show. :D Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. 8) 8) It's worlds away from ours.
Mr Mom, I agree. Worthy of an 'Oscar nomination' any day. So clear and precise....and 8)
Jeff, out of curiosity, what is the brown patch within the expanse of green, below the pool, that looks like a log yard? Is it merely the river bank?
One is looking forward to seeing the 'language video'.
Cheers Tim
the brown patch is some huge escavation project. Looks like it may be some sort of large resort complex going in or something. Its actually very very big and a long ways down from where I was recording. Still waiting for approval from google on the other videos. :-\
How about some stills while we wait, Jeff ???
I'm waiting to see the cow that got hit by a tree :o
Ahhhhh, sure hope us poor folks with dial-up won't be forgotten. To paraphrase somewhat, "Da Boss and da Bossette went on a trip to Costa Rica, and all I got was this dang buffering...." Not much sense watching video on dial-up. And not much success either. candle_smiley
Norm
I'll second that!
I have been thinking the same thing for several days, but I didn't want to be the first to say anything. At 8 kbs video just doesn't work for me. ;D
Bob the slow one
Guess we all just gotta go get them from J&T personally! ;D ::)
O.K., tomorrow I'll do a series of stills on El Toro. :)
Some of Costa Rica is down right civilized. I has never seen topiaries like these that we discovered in a small town with a BIG church. The Church yard was quite full of well cared for shrubbery. Fred will have to tell you the name of the town as I don't recall.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/topiary_0.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/topiary_1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/topiary_2.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/topiary_3.jpg)
Here is a photo of the Brokaws and the Deadheaders followed by a picture of the brokaws and the treedudes. As I remember, Fred is telling me that "Honest, really, I'm telling you straight, it never rains this much in Costa Rica for this long" and is giving me details on the next days weather probabilities. ;)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/harold_rayna_tammy_jeff.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/jeff_tammy_amy_fred.jpg)
GREAT photos thanks!
Fantastic Topiary! I like Topiary, have no patience to do it myself, but I like to see it.
More photos please.
asy :D
Nice places, the last picture with your fellow weather interpretor reminds me of the 'Misty Isles'....If ya don't like the weather wait five minutes. ;D ;)
Thanks for the pics. I knew you would come through if we only asked. ;D I wonder what was so interesting to the side that Fred could not look at the camera?
Thanks, Jeff for the pictures. Since we were on your trip vicariously, we have been waiting patiently for the results. They're great, and it's nice to see Harold and Fred, and spouses, along with the B's. We need to know more about C.R. I think Fred is sponsored by the toruist bureau, and I'm not quite sure I can believe him about life in C.R. ;D
I didn't mean to imply that you should give up on the videos. Certainly those that have broadband access should be able enjoy to enjoy your efforts. If ya got em, smoke em, so to speak.
Keep the pics coming, though, if you would. They're great. smiley_curtain_peek
Norm
Here are some photos of typical Scenery of deforested areas of Costa Rica. They're beautiful, but in most cases less then 40 years ago this land was all rain forest. Much of the land is being used for alternative use, namely raising cattle for our cheap American hamburgs. I swear the grass probably grows as the cow eats it. Coming out of San Jose, we saw miles of nurseries growing the tropical plants such as you see in Home Depot. Its funny to see those plants that you recognize only down there they are as big as trees. Its obvious as you drive the climbing, dipping, winding, twisting, bumpy and at times treacherous roads of Costa Rica that the people use the land and the land provides. The first picture is in some of the higher elevations where much of the coffee is grown. This coffee was just growing along the road. Later I'll show you a few photos of the results of deforestation in such terrain. When the rain falls, so does the land.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_scenery_1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_scenery_2.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_scenery_3.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_scenery_4.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_scenery_5.jpg)
I can see how you can loose weight fast down there farming those side hills coupled with the heat. Farming is hard enough on relatively flat ground in moderate heat. I think if I lived there I'de make my mode of transportation a horse or mule and forget about autos unless I was in need of city transit. Hard to do that around here because over time everything has become centralized and it's long distance for some to get there. Years ago everything you needed was in your local small town or village within 5 miles and things came in by train. I've been on some roads here I think were nothing but cow paths a few years ago. ;D
Let see - answers to questions....
1. The name of the town was Zarcero. It is cold there! (might have to wear a sweater at times)
2. What was I looking at? There was a bug in Jeff's hair... ;D
3. Do I work for the Tourism industry? Nah -.
Bugs aint no Problem! Nothing like a little protein courtesy of a rhinosourous beetle to help a guy back to his feet after an afternoon of Howler Monkey hunting in the jungles of Costa Rica.
(No monkeys were harmed during the hunt, It was a photo expedition that liked to kill yours truly) :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Beetle.jpg)
You missed all the landslides. The road from here to Muelle, that's the crossroad where you turn right to go into San Carlos, had 4 slides on it Wednesday morning, before 8:00 AM. ::) ::) ::)
Rivers are running real muddy. Nicaragua SUX.
Teach ya to go off gallivanting in central american. ;D :D
Nope didnt miss all the land slides. We saw several, but mostly just after the roads were dozed out, trees removed but the workers were still there.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/landslide_1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/landslide_2.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/landslide_3.jpg)
Finally! Tammy and my favorite little Costa Rican girl's video has been approved by google. Celeene trys to teach Jeff to count in spanish. :)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3682722095163917546
Cileene IS very cute !!!
The background noise sounds suspiciously like the RedGreen show, though :D ( Minus the gun shots )
What a cutie! :)
I only got to five before I needed help. :D
Don't feel bad, Norm. I STILL need help ::) ::) ::) :D :D
She's very cute!
I'm still not getting any sound on my puter, seems a gremlin got in. :'(
asy :D
Turn the speakers ON, Asy. ::) ::) ::) ::) :D :D
Now why didn't I think of that??? ::)
They're built in speakers, on the laptop, and the mute isn't on, so they should be working. I don't know why they aren't.
I may have a little time to load the thread up on the desktop and see if those speakers still work.
asy :D
Geeze, sure is taking a LOOONNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time to get more photos up. ??????????????????????? ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
I got a 10 day pile of web customer updates and issues plus the new ones that come in, so I been a little bit pre-occupied. I'll see what I caan do. :)
Gracias, Senor. Muuchas Gracias. ;D ;D ;D
So, what do you want a diet of tonight? Vegetable or meat? ;D
Doesn't matter to me, I'm Bi-comiderous. ;) :) ;D
I see you blew yer Super Diet, when you and Wildflower were left alone for 2 lousy days . ;D :D :D
I'll have you know we came home and bought beans and rice and rice and beans and fresh (fresh for here) fruit, and all kinds of good stuff to restock the empty food bins here.
Yeah, BUT, what were yer losses HERE, and what did you weigh when you got home ????????????????
I honestly dont know about me, cause I dont weigh myself. Dont get to the elevator often enough. Tammy lost 7 lbs while we were gone.
Late the last afternoon we were in Costa Rica, Tammy and I took a stroll around the grounds of Posada Mimso to see what we could find. We just happeded to find a lucious looking orange tree in the midst of a bunch of other lucious looking fruit trees.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/orange_1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/orange_2.jpg)
Well, Later that evening, in the cover of darkness, someone crept from his room.... ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/orange_3.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/orange_4.jpg)
Oh Lordy. You talk about sweet. Aint ever had an orange like that. Maybe cause I lifted it, but I went and asked permission to steal the next one and they said sure, but they were not going to be real good as they were not quite ripe. Not very sweet yet! I swear, if that was my tree, an orange would NEVER get ripe. :D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/orange_5.jpg)
:D :D :D Them poor malnurished Ticos. ;)
I was walking Silky (new Cocker Spaniel puppy) around the property and saw a mango on the ground - MANGOS ARE RIPE! 8)
and, many of the oranges are almost there. Last night I grabbed about 3 limes and made a fresco - hmmm - great.
Yep, we are suffering down here.
We stopped at a small store one afternoon to grab a COCA-Cola lite. When I came out of the store I spotted something really strange that made me smile. When I looked up I saw these two Costa Rican ladies sitting on the bench in front of the store waiting for the bus. In my limited ways of expressing myself, I asked if I might take a picture of this strange site before me, It wasn't of the ladies, but of what they had laying at thier feet. The lady in the foreground understood me to want to take a picture of her, so I changed gears and said Sei! Por favor! She stood and smiled and looked to her friend. I motioned to her to stand and be in the photo as well. She pointed at herself as to say, "You mean you want to take a picture of ME?" I say Sei! Anyhow, I got a picture of these happy Costa Rican Ladies. I believe they were probably from the indigenous population as they have rather different features to the majority of the Costa Rican women we met or observed. They seemed to pleased to have me take thier picture and I was honored that they gave me permission.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_ladies.jpg)
Now, the thing that I noticed that I first asked about taking a photo of. I snapped a photo but just my luck, it didnt turn out well at all. It was a small feed bag with a live rooster head sticking out of it, looking all around. These ladies were waiting for the bus and were taking this rooster with them. It was stuffed in a bag and the bag knotted with just the Rooster's head sticking out. Quite a site laying there. Anyhow, he seemed to be quite content to be in that bag. I got an idea that his future was a little dimmer then just getting a ride on a bus. :)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_chicken_head.jpg)
Cool photo!
Sure brings a new meaning to the words "Fresh dinner"... :D
Also I love the colour of the building!
Is that a painting of a Macaw on the building?
asy :D
Costa Rica is a colorful country. There are murals in or on almost every soda (café), store or restaurant you see. Most are vivid natural settings containing birds and animals and other jungle scenes. We didn't see any Macaws as I think they are from another part of the country and endangered. Tammy saw some bay Toucans. We saw a few exotic looking birds, but they are tough getting photos of. Here are a couple instances of murals.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_mural_1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/costa_rica_mural_2.jpg)
Just GORGEOUS!
I want to paint one of those on the side of my shipping container/shed, but I won't let myself till I finish clearing out downstairs, otherwise I'll never get it done!
I love the Catalina Macaws in the second shot.
asy :D
Great pictures and telling of the trip of a lifetime . It sounds to me like I would get along very well with the people and fit right in . The more I think about it maybe I have to pay Harold a visit if I could ever shake my fear of flying .
Fred sounds like a great host and Harold too.
That chicken in the sack is how we use to and still transport chickens,ducks,geese etc.. I kind of think that chicken had his last bus ride ;D
My grandmother told me a story about the chicken in the sac deal. My grandparents had sporting camps deep in the bush and they hired guides. Well the wife of one of the guides sometimes came to help out. ::) She was to bring chicken to the camp this one instance. Well she brought it live on the hoof, I don't know if it was in a sac though. Seems this was a typical stunt, as grandmother had to do it in and clean it herself. You might think this was her contribution for having chicken dinner. Well, the chicken was suppose to be cleaned and wrapped at home, not at the camp. My grandmother did most all the cooking and cleaning at the camps and sometimes my uncle was volentered to help her during the hunting season. I think this other lady was along for company more than anything. ::)
Your friendly narrator here - They appear to be indigineous alright. 80+ percent of Costa Rica is more european than indigineous. This is because when the europeans arrived, there were almost no one here. This caused everyone who came to have to work - not order slaves around. Because of this, Costa Rica is very, very different from most Latin American countries.
Quote from: crtreedude on July 19, 2006, 11:37:20 AMThis caused everyone who came to have to work - not order slaves around
Geezr Fred. you're lucky that got fixed before you got there :D :D :D
When Friends like this.... Sigh. Are you implying I just order people around? Nah, that is Amy.
And I am one who gets ordered around! After all Finca Leola really means Amy's farm - Leola is her middle name.
very nice place
i m sure you had enjoy costa rica
you must thing visit our country too
gustavo from san antonio argentina
My 7th Grade Spanish teacher was from Costa Rica.
She used to teach us to cook, too.
OK, Great stuff.
Now, If'in I wanted to travel to, say,........Costa Rica would May-July be a good time? My wife is looking for a bit of a travel treat for us and our soon to be 5 year old son. I am thinking that CR would be better than say Mexico or Peru where I have travelled before (we love South and Central America and I can get by with limited language skills) We have talked about getting there for years and we are looking to get a trip in before we have another younger child running about (international adoption) in late 2007/ early 2008.
Any input Fred or FlaDH? Thanks, some mornings things are a little fuzzy, just not this fuzzy!!!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11262/sonporch.jpg)
Reid, Beth and Ethan
Hi Reid,
May - July is right at the beginning of the rainy season. Early May (in our zone) is dry - very dry but the later part of May until about the second week in June can make you wonder about the meaning of cubits. (as in you might have to build an ark or something)
However, around July to August is a mini dry season often.
All of this is up to the weather of course, but it is a rough idea. I personally prefer the rainy season over the dry season, which is a good thing since it is 8 months! It doesn't rain all the time, just usually part of the day - often only an hour.
Being cloudy is a positive thing in the tropics. If you want to see Arenal Volcano, the rainy season is the time, the dry season is the worst time to see the cone. (I know that doesn't sound right - but it is)
If you in up in our neck of the jungle, we will expect a visit.
Fred's the resident expert on Costa Rica. He's been here much longer than I. ;D
Yeah - but you look older than me...
Reid - depending what you are after, I can point you toward a part of Costa Rica you would never see otherwise - so of "Undeveloped" Costa Rica. You might really like that. Can't help much with the beach - but in the Northern Zone, I have tons of places that I know about.
If you are into wild animals, you are much more likely to see them away from the crowds.
Fred,
Thanks for your response. The rainy season sounds like what I expereinced while stationed in Hawaii. We would prefer a vacation away from the crowds and I would even be interested in some potential camping. I would be interested to talk about some sort of work for lodging or the like. I enjoy getting an indepth experience. I have had some great experiences over the years doing this. Keep this in mind if there is a senario which this could serve your interest (or a local good cause) and ours. We would probaby want some exposure to the beach but generally that isn't the main intent. I would love to discuss some more options as this develops.
Reid
Reid, the time frame that we went was pretty decent, we did his an unexpected front but the resort we stayed the last couple days was awesome to say the least and at that time of year, its off season, and you get the place almost to yourself and Gracia is a great town for exploring and getting around in. I'll bet Fred will trade some lodging for P.R. for the fincas. ;) Fred is flat out growing trees and you should get in there and see what they are accomplishing.
Jeff,
Thanks for the input. We are trying to decide on a good trip for our family. We don't get away enough (been a few years!!) and we need something interesting. I would love a Canadian trip but timing is always bad with black flies and skeeters (5 year olds don't do well with the scratching). We want something unusual and Ethan is of the age things will begin to create long term memories. Anyway, the trip should be unique and we're not real compelled to go to Europe and Costa Rica seems a resonably safe bet for something unusual, affordable and close.
Reid
One thing, now that you mention it that I was very surprised about was the lack of flying insects to pester you in the evening. I dont know if it was our timing or the fact that they have so many other things to eat them. Most places didnt have even screens in the windows, but almost always bars to keep the stuff bigger then bugs out. Its pretty nifty when the line between inside and outside is blurred to the point that you dont mind. Like haveing a tree from or a lizard in the shower. Just seems perfectly normal. :)