The Book

Day 1   Day 2   Day 3   Day 4   Day 5   Day 6   Day 7   Day 8   Day 9

We shared the following in the Miami airport waiting area, during our delay.

John:

"Costa Rica may be the only country in the world to have so many bird species and habitats accessible within such a small area. No larger than West Virginia, Costa Rica boasts an avifauna of more than 830 species, more than in all of North America north of Mexico. Habitats include two quite different seacoasts, highland and lowland forests, subalpine páramos, marshes, rivers, lagoons, and forested swamps as well as a wide variety of altered or man-made habitats, including coffee and cacao plantations, pastures and savannas, rice paddies, and areas of secondary growth. Within two hours' drive of San José, one can watch quetzals in highland forests, antbirds in lowland forests, shorebirds and ibises in mangrove swamps. A magnificent system of national parks strives to protect this natural wealth against the ever-increasing pressures of deforestation and other forms of exploitation."

-- Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch)

"In fact, a total of about 75 protected areas cover more than 1.1 million hectares (2.7 million acres), fully a quarter of the national territory."

-- The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide, Costa Rica (Beletsky)

Jamie:

(All first lines from hymns in the Christian Science Hymnal.)

Come gracious Spirit, heavenly Love,
   With light and comfort from above
O Love, our Mother, ever near, to thee we
   turn from doubt and fear!
Sometimes a light surprises the Christian
   while he sings
The Lord is in his holy place, Let all
   the earth be still
All power is given unto our Lord, On
   Him we place reliance.

Rouse ye, rouse ye, face the foe, Rise
   to conquer death and sin
I walk with Love along the way,
   and, O, it is a holy day
Call the Lord thy sure salvation, Rest
   beneath th'Almighty's shade
Arise, arise and shine, On thee
   hath dawned the day.

Emma:

Costa Rica - Day 1

Dear Family,

I would like to start us off with three very important things easily spotted in Costa Rica. In no time we will know how to interpret a national anthem and know more about the flag and shiled than the natives themselves.

Enjoy,

Emma

(She attached to two sides of a card reproductions of the coat of arms, the flag, with explanations, along with the national anthem, in Spanish and in English translation ("May your people contented and peaceful, Unmolested continue their hard work."))

Joy:

Joy included a long excerpt (too long to reproduce here) from a collection of stories from Central and South America - her selection from "Tap-Taps to Trinidad" by Zenga Longmore. It was about a frightening encounter with a voodoo devil-woman.

"...But the power of the woman had a lasting effect on me . I was haunted by abysmal dreams of her for many nights afterwards, and, if truth be known, it took me a very long time to get back into my right mind after seeing that spectre of Satan."

Alexis:

"Costa Rica has been referred to as the 'Switzerland of the Americas' for many reasons. It has been noted for its friendliness and preoccupation with peace and for its contineud dedication to environmental protection. 'Ticos' have a strong national character as a result of their distinct national ideals of democracy and peace. Its policy of active neutrality has twice earned it the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1987 it was awarded to the then-president of the Republic, Dr. Oscar Arias. The contry's continued interest in these ideals is evident still in daily Costa Rican life."

(Source unknown.)