Day 1 -Left Baltimore on American Airlines on our way to Miami - transferred planes and on to San Jose, Costa Rica.Arrived about 1:00 p.m. and our Caravan driver met us at the airport. Our tour guide, Chris met us at the hotel with our room ready and waiting.We spent the afternoon exploring the city.Went to the National Museum and San Jose's Plaza de la Cultura Central Park, got lunch at a small taco shop - great burritos.

Back to the hotel for our orientation and dinner.Met seven couples of our prospective travelers- one couple from Canada, one from Maine, one from Reno, one from West Palm Beach, one from Tucson and two from Los Angeles

Day 2- Left San Jose to tour the Poas Volcano which is located in the cloud forest.And, it was definitely cloudy.The crater of the volcano was not visible at all - just clouds.There is really only a 30% or less chance of seeing the crater.Hiked through the Escalonia Could Forest.Back to San Jose for a tour of the Gold Museum.Very interesting - lots of gold figurines.

Day 3 -Left San Jose on our way to Braulio Carrillo National Park where we took the aerial tram through the rain forestLots of waterfalls - no big ones but gliding through the jungle canopy with a naturalist guide explaining all the different elements of the rain forest was very interesting.On to a butterfly garden and a banana plantation.Then, off on a river cruise to Tortuguero National Park where we would stay two nights

Day 4 -Woke up to hot chocolate being served to our cabin and the monkeys howling all around us.No phones, no TV, no air conditioning in the rooms - just surrounded by nature.There is one TV in the bar and of course everyone was glued there the night before for the Super Bowl.Paul and I explored the area

Day 5 -After a night of pouring rain, we woke up to cloudy but nice skies.The sun came out and we were able to take two cruises through the rivers with our guide explaining all about the natural habitat -Caimans, white face monkeys, squirrel monkeys, howling monkeys, river turtles, iquanas, the white and blue heron, egrets, otters, caimans, parrots and tucans were some of the animals that we saw along our route.

On to tour the beach where the green turtles migrate and hatch their eggs and then on to the small village of Tortuguero - very poor living conditions.

Day 6 - Back to the bus by boat and on to visit a pineapple plantation where the guide showed us how to pick a ripe pineapple.Next stop San Caros Valley.

During each day's ride, our guide explained about the culture, history, economics, politics and religion of Costa Rica.They grow Brahma bulls, pineapple, bananas, coffee, rice and have some sugar cane.One of their main dishes is rice and black beans which have to be imported because the country doesn't seem to be able to grow enough to satisfy the demand.

There is a 13% sales tax along with a 10% service tax at restaurants.The primary industry is tourism with Intel a close second.Costa Rica has a 97% literacy rate, the children must attend schoolbut they also must help their parents pick the crops.The children do wear uniforms so there is no distinction between the rich and the poor. Everyone pays 9% Social Security.People that make less than $500do not have to pay taxes.$500 - $700 is the typical monthly salary of anyone working on the banana plantation and it is very hard work.

Day 7 - Vist to the village of Fortuna and a little shopping.Very charming but it was raining.Our stay that night was high in the mountains at a beautiful resort.We then went on another river cruise the next day and off to the hanging suspension bridges.Very interesting hike through the rainforest (of course it was raining).Then, off on our drive to the central pacific coast for a two night stay. Atthe Double Tree Resort just in time to watch the sunset which was absolutely gorgeous.The hotel is located on the Dona Ana Beach - the sand here is volcanic and dark.

Lots of watermelon and cantelope fields in this area.

Coasta Rica means rich coast.Columbus discovered this country in 1502.They are still a very family oriented country with Sunday dinner gatherings.Schools are located in each small village with lunch provided by the government each day.Costa Rica has no army - they depend on other countries (mainly the United States) to protect them if they should have major problems.

Fruit is always served at each meal, watermelon, papaya, oranges, tangerines, pineapple, bananas, etc.Almost, all meals are very healthy.Not much desert.

Gas runs from $3.50 to $3.80 per gallon.Their money is the colones - about 2,000 colones to $1.00.

There are a lot of African Palm trees and teak trees along the roadway.Lots of coffee being grown all over the country.

Health care is provided by the government and everyone is covered. There are nursing homes for the elderly but it was my impression that families usually are the main caregivers.There are private health care facilities and an institution for the developmentally disabled.There is no unemployment insurance - if you don't work, you don't eat.

Costa Rica is a democracy with a president who can serve two terms.Fifty- seven elected delegates for the legislative branch from all of the provinces.There appears to be some corruption when awarding government contracts, seems to take forever to build bridges, roads, etc.

Costa Rica is in the process of developing better roads to encourage more tourism.There are a few condominiums being constructed on the pacific coast which is good for the economy but bad for the beautiful coastline.

Day 8 -Vist to the Carara Reserve Manuel Antonio National Park for a hike to a scenic lookout and a beautiful beach - this one with water so, so blue and the beaches were pristine.One of the most renowned beaches in the world, I hear.In this reserve, animals run freely - lots of monkeys, deer, raccoons, etc.

Day 9 -Up early for our drive through the Central Valley -Stopped at a small church, saw the largest oxcart and enjoyed the park.There was a small gathering where some of the men were trying to ride a small bike - of course, Paul had to try and won first place for his gallant efforts - was not successful in riding but gave the people a great deal of entertainment.

Visited a coffee plantation.This was an excellent tour and provided the group with an opportunity to try all types of coffee.

Completed a little shopping at one of the famous wood working shops and back to San Jose for our farewell dinner.

Day 10 -Up early, to the airport to catch our plane -Flight got cancelled and we had to re-claim our baggage, stand in line to get re-ticketed.We were transferred to another airline and another city but got home about the same time.

Overall, a wonderful time.The Caravan group was excellent,we had a variety of food along the wayand our guide and driver were great.The bus was a 40 passenger Mercedes.Very comfortable.

All of the lunches were great and we had dancers and dance demonstrations at several of the stops.