![Judy among large friends.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142808803.1HP7FfHQ.jpg) Judy among large friends. |
![Statue in Alajuela to honor Juan Santamarķa, the national hero of Costa Rica.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807746.0fj1rbHG.jpg) Statue in Alajuela to honor Juan Santamarķa, the national hero of Costa Rica. |
![Judy at the Poas Volcano. Poas is an active volcano having erupted 39 times since 1828. Latest eruptive activity was in 2009.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807749.WkZaBrie.jpg) Judy at the Poas Volcano. Poas is an active volcano having erupted 39 times since 1828. Latest eruptive activity was in 2009. |
![The Poas Volcano: The crater is more than one mile across - second largest in the world. Steam is seen in this photo.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807748.H4qTMdHT.jpg) The Poas Volcano: The crater is more than one mile across - second largest in the world. Steam is seen in this photo. |
![Judy and Richard at the Poas Volcano. This volcano is active. Steam is seen in this photo.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807750.Uz1vKwCp.jpg) Judy and Richard at the Poas Volcano. This volcano is active. Steam is seen in this photo. |
![Doka Coffee Estate: Staff member explains how the coffee berries are picked & prepared for processing.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807751.v2DVnjAa.jpg) Doka Coffee Estate: Staff member explains how the coffee berries are picked & prepared for processing. |
![Doka Coffee Estate: In this initial process, bad berries float, & good, ripe berries sink & are further processed.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142903477.eOKa3R7U.jpg) Doka Coffee Estate: In this initial process, bad berries float, & good, ripe berries sink & are further processed. |
![Doka Coffee Estate: After the coffee berrries are processed, they are dried by the sun on this patio.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807753.xFY9AEFM.jpg) Doka Coffee Estate: After the coffee berrries are processed, they are dried by the sun on this patio. |
![Judy and her new Costa Rican friend](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807754.s7HLCuhl.jpg) Judy and her new Costa Rican friend |
![Judy on a trail in a lush forest typical of Costa Rica](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807757.EmeD1UQA.jpg) Judy on a trail in a lush forest typical of Costa Rica |
![Judy on a trail in a lush forest typical of Costa Rica](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807756.QH7CTZJQ.jpg) Judy on a trail in a lush forest typical of Costa Rica |
![Waterfall in a lush forest.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807758.exukdeaS.jpg) Waterfall in a lush forest. |
![Judy next to beautiful wild orchids](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807755.F0HZq3UM.jpg) Judy next to beautiful wild orchids |
![Houses in a rural area.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807759.s56M59fT.jpg) Houses in a rural area. |
![Judy with her new Costa Rican boyfriend - in the gardens behind the Hotel Bougainvillea where we stayed.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807760.eq2zepVx.jpg) Judy with her new Costa Rican boyfriend - in the gardens behind the Hotel Bougainvillea where we stayed. |
![Store in a small village.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807762.A3kdD2Dj.jpg) Store in a small village. |
![Judy surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807761.7zrUHtEx.jpg) Judy surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers. |
![In a small town](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807764.IsC3Llbo.jpg) In a small town |
![Many modest and upscale houses are surrounded by iron bars and circular barbed wire on top of the bars as seen here](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807765.twAkBJSI.jpg) Many modest and upscale houses are surrounded by iron bars and circular barbed wire on top of the bars as seen here |
![Judy next to Walking Palm trees: Walking Palms slowly walk toward sunlight by growing new roots - old roots die.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807766.h4iHNDLv.jpg) Judy next to "Walking Palm" trees: "Walking Palms" slowly "walk" toward sunlight by growing new roots - old roots die. |
![Pond in the Botanical Orchid Garden in the town of La Garita.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807769.iDmpXKmr.jpg) Pond in the Botanical Orchid Garden in the town of La Garita. |
![Judy with a few of the many orchids at the Botanical Orchid Garden](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807767.NmdjptbH.jpg) Judy with a few of the many orchids at the Botanical Orchid Garden |
![Randall with orchids at the Botanical Orchid Garden. Randall is an award winning orchid grower and a nice guy.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807768.GgMzWqzS.jpg) Randall with orchids at the Botanical Orchid Garden. Randall is an award winning orchid grower and a nice guy. |
![Countryside](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807770.dH5SNnAm.jpg) Countryside |
![We stopped at this restaurant owned by expatriate Israelis who live nearby. Hebrew words are on the sign.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807771.bRvLuQBM.jpg) We stopped at this restaurant owned by expatriate Israelis who live nearby. Hebrew words are on the sign. |
![Store in a small town](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807775.U1e5E1KD.jpg) Store in a small town |
![House in a rural village.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807773.QMhzVBEy.jpg) House in a rural village. |
![The Arenal Volcano (on the right: tip of it covered by clouds). It erupted in 1968 and has remained active ever since.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807774.J0n4vD9o.jpg) The Arenal Volcano (on the right: tip of it covered by clouds). It erupted in 1968 and has remained active ever since. |
![Students at a small, rural school. The teacher is wearing an orange blouse. The parents are sitting in the background.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807777.F9PNrJ4B.jpg) Students at a small, rural school. The teacher is wearing an orange blouse. The parents are sitting in the background. |
![Students dancing at a small, rural school. The teacher (orange blouse) is playing music on a boombox.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807778.1Y5dE4a0.jpg) Students dancing at a small, rural school. The teacher (orange blouse) is playing music on a boombox. |
![Judy dancing with students at a small, rural school.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807780.61u2sGnA.jpg) Judy dancing with students at a small, rural school. |
![Students dancing at a small, rural school. The teacher is playing music on a boombox. The parents are in the background.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807779.XemRveHo.jpg) Students dancing at a small, rural school. The teacher is playing music on a boombox. The parents are in the background. |
![Judy and Richard with the student dancers at a small, rural school.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807781.qFM4zcio.jpg) Judy and Richard with the student dancers at a small, rural school. |
![Two students in a classroom at a small, rural school.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807782.cByPl7WQ.jpg) Two students in a classroom at a small, rural school. |
![A well camouflaged sloth (center-slightly to the right) at the Luna Nueva Rain Forest Reserve. (See next photo for close-up.)](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807783.zoMXtK6B.jpg) A well camouflaged sloth (center-slightly to the right) at the Luna Nueva Rain Forest Reserve. (See next photo for close-up.) |
![Close-up of a sloth at the Luna Nueva Rain Forest Reserve](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807784.0AUsbGaa.jpg) Close-up of a sloth at the Luna Nueva Rain Forest Reserve |
![Brilliant Forest frog - blends perfectly with ground cover in rain forests. Photo taken at the Luna Nueva Rain Forest Reserve.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807785.HAFmc9xZ.jpg) "Brilliant Forest" frog - blends perfectly with ground cover in rain forests. Photo taken at the Luna Nueva Rain Forest Reserve. |
![The Arenal Volcano as seen from the small farming town of La Fortuna. The volacano is active.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807786.7AzIAnNj.jpg) The Arenal Volcano as seen from the small farming town of La Fortuna. The volacano is active. |
![The central park plaza in La Fortuna & La Fortuna Iglesia de Cristo (Church of Christ). Arenal Volcano is in the background.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807787.MoaBEEcj.jpg) The central park plaza in La Fortuna & La Fortuna Iglesia de Cristo (Church of Christ). Arenal Volcano is in the background. |
![Judy outside our unit (room) at Hotel Arenal Manoa. The nearby active Arenal Volcano can be seen as a reflection in the window.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807788.7nku0peT.jpg) Judy outside our unit (room) at Hotel Arenal Manoa. The nearby active Arenal Volcano can be seen as a reflection in the window. |
![Orange-Barred Sulfur butterfly. Costa Rica is home to an estimated 10 per cent of the world's butterfly species.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807790.A5klzlD4.jpg) "Orange-Barred Sulfur" butterfly. Costa Rica is home to an estimated 10 per cent of the world's butterfly species. |
![The Arenal Volcano as seen from the grounds of the Hotel Arenal Manoa where we stayed. The building is the hotel's restaurant.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807792.PLFM6qDN.jpg) The Arenal Volcano as seen from the grounds of the Hotel Arenal Manoa where we stayed. The building is the hotel's restaurant. |
![Judy outside our unit (room) at the Hotel Arenal Manoa watching the Arenal Volcano nearby.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807791.MWMrHOp1.jpg) Judy outside our unit (room) at the Hotel Arenal Manoa watching the Arenal Volcano nearby. |
![Lake Arenal - the largest lake in Costa Rica](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807794.gN7OMVth.jpg) Lake Arenal - the largest lake in Costa Rica |
![Judy eating lunch at Tom's Pan German Bakery in the village of Nueva Arenal. German expatriates live in the area.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807796.tD7nClXN.jpg) Judy eating lunch at Tom's Pan German Bakery in the village of Nueva Arenal. German expatriates live in the area. |
![g4/24/22224/3/142807793.MEO2SwMR.jpg](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807793.MEO2SwMR.jpg) |
![Rural houses](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807797.eSUbKtdO.jpg) Rural houses |
![A wild monkey (black) in a tree at the side of a road. (See next photo for close-up.)](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807799.WHByyOuX.jpg) A wild monkey (black) in a tree at the side of a road. (See next photo for close-up.) |
![Close-up: A wild monkey in a tree at the side of a road.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807798.MFhs8m09.jpg) Close-up: A wild monkey in a tree at the side of a road. |
![Judy at a crafts stand beside Lake Arenal - the largest lake in Costa Rica](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807800.Fx3p3ex7.jpg) Judy at a crafts stand beside Lake Arenal - the largest lake in Costa Rica |
![Countryside](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807801.U6jHjxlS.jpg) Countryside |
![A machine to extract juice from sugar cane. As part of a demo, Judy pushed the wood board in a circle to extract the juice.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807802.f9ah16pm.jpg) A machine to extract juice from sugar cane. As part of a demo, Judy pushed the wood board in a circle to extract the juice. |
![Judy waiting for lunch at the restaurant beside the demonstration of how to extract juice from sugar cane.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807803.HgnLIhBX.jpg) Judy waiting for lunch at the restaurant beside the demonstration of how to extract juice from sugar cane. |
![Sunset over the Pacific Ocean. View from our patio at the Hotel El Establo in Monteverde - high in the mountains.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807804.zBWYh4KW.jpg) Sunset over the Pacific Ocean. View from our patio at the Hotel El Establo in Monteverde - high in the mountains. |
![Judy was admitted to this hospital (CIMA) in San Jose 5 days into our trip - our trip was scheduled for 13 days.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807806.k34unY28.jpg) Judy was admitted to this hospital (CIMA) in San Jose 5 days into our trip - our trip was scheduled for 13 days. |
![Staff on Judy's ward at CIMA Hospital. The doctors and nurses who cared for Judy were compassionate and competent.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807807.bABT6Ryo.jpg) Staff on Judy's ward at CIMA Hospital. The doctors and nurses who cared for Judy were compassionate and competent. |
![The view from Judy's hospital room. San Jose is in the valley in the background. Judy was in the hospital 8 days.](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142807808.3xVTgo5o.jpg) The view from Judy's hospital room. San Jose is in the valley in the background. Judy was in the hospital 8 days. |
![Judy passing a street security guard after she was released from the hospital. The guard stares. Does she look suspicious?](https://a4.pbase.com/g4/24/22224/3/142809348.eDa2pyf8.jpg) Judy passing a street security guard after she was released from the hospital. The guard stares. Does she look suspicious? |