Costa Rica, November 2007, Day 1 and Day 2

Geethu arrived to take me to the airport. Thanks for the ride!

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:56:52 -0800

Sean Leather
Geethu arrived to take me to the airport. Thanks for the ride!

I arrived at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and found an interesting art piece by Christopher Janney. The instructions say: Begin North, walk the Westward path between III and ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:57:56 -0800

Sean Leather
I arrived at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and found an interesting art piece by Christopher Janney. The instructions say: Begin North, walk the Westward path between III and ...

Soon after, I found Elizabeth wandering around the same a-maze-ing sculpture.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:58:12 -0800

Sean Leather
Soon after, I found Elizabeth wandering around the same a-maze-ing sculpture.

Elizabeth passed time as we awaited our flight to San Jose by reading the Let's Go Costa Rica on a Budget book. This guide served us very well during the trip.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:58:36 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth passed time as we awaited our flight to San Jose by reading the Let's Go Costa Rica on a Budget book. This guide served us very well during the trip.

We arrived at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela and catch a taxi to Kelly's and Maurice's place in Ciudad Colón. Both towns are on the outskirts on San José. We were t ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:13:52 -0800

Sean Leather
We arrived at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela and catch a taxi to Kelly's and Maurice's place in Ciudad Colón. Both towns are on the outskirts on San José. We were t ...

The apartment behind the green corrugated metal fence.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:59:48 -0800

Sean Leather
The apartment behind the green corrugated metal fence.

Their apartment is small. This is the kitchen.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:07:35 -0800

Sean Leather
Their apartment is small. This is the kitchen.

This is the other room: serves as the living room and bedroom. We slept on the mat and the couch (not shown).

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:07:48 -0800

Sean Leather
This is the other room: serves as the living room and bedroom. We slept on the mat and the couch (not shown).

On the next day, we accompanied Kelly to school, the University for Peace. This is a typical street in Ciudad Colón.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:19:34 -0800

Sean Leather
On the next day, we accompanied Kelly to school, the University for Peace. This is a typical street in Ciudad Colón.

A boy sitting outside his home. I'm not sure what he was doing.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:33:55 -0800

Sean Leather
A boy sitting outside his home. I'm not sure what he was doing.

Fruits and vegetables at a streetside market in Ciudad Colón. All of the fruit that I had in Costa Rica was much better than its analogue in the US. I especially miss the oranges (bottom le ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:34:23 -0800

Sean Leather
Fruits and vegetables at a streetside market in Ciudad Colón. All of the fruit that I had in Costa Rica was much better than its analogue in the US. I especially miss the oranges (bottom le ...

Map of Mora, the 7th canton in the province of San José, Costa Rica. Ciudad Colón is the capital.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:35:10 -0800

Sean Leather
Map of Mora, the 7th canton in the province of San José, Costa Rica. Ciudad Colón is the capital.

One of the famous stone spheres found in Costa Rica.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:36:17 -0800

Sean Leather
One of the famous stone spheres found in Costa Rica.

From the University for Peace charter [PDF]: "The University is established with a clear determination to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:02:27 -0800

Sean Leather
From the University for Peace charter [PDF]: "The University is established with a clear determination to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and ...

View from University for Peace. These poles usually have flags on them.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:14:48 -0800

Sean Leather
View from University for Peace. These poles usually have flags on them.

Inside the university. Everything was open, except for the classrooms and cafeteria.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:14:58 -0800

Sean Leather
Inside the university. Everything was open, except for the classrooms and cafeteria.

A very nice garden surrounded by the buildings of the university with a peace pole in the middle.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:15:31 -0800

Sean Leather
A very nice garden surrounded by the buildings of the university with a peace pole in the middle.

A mural on a wall at the university.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:07:57 -0800

Sean Leather
A mural on a wall at the university.

University buildings from uphill. As you can see, the sky is very pretty. Kelly said this was the first day in many in which it didn't rain.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:08:10 -0800

Sean Leather
University buildings from uphill. As you can see, the sky is very pretty. Kelly said this was the first day in many in which it didn't rain.

These flowers around the edges of the building are called kitten tails and attract many butterflies and humming birds. Can you spot the butterfly?

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:08:24 -0800

Sean Leather
These flowers around the edges of the building are called kitten tails and attract many butterflies and humming birds. Can you spot the butterfly?

A small lake in Peace Park adjoining the university campus.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:09:26 -0800

Sean Leather
A small lake in Peace Park adjoining the university campus.

The view from the cafeteria. With such scenery, wouldn't it just be horrible to attend this school?

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:10:05 -0800

Sean Leather
The view from the cafeteria. With such scenery, wouldn't it just be horrible to attend this school?

I'm watching a couple of dogs that came over to say hi. We're getting breakfast in the cafeteria.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:10:22 -0800

Sean Leather
I'm watching a couple of dogs that came over to say hi. We're getting breakfast in the cafeteria.

The puppies were putting on a show: biting each other and growling a lot.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:10:35 -0800

Sean Leather
The puppies were putting on a show: biting each other and growling a lot.

Elizabeth in the university cafeteria.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:11:17 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth in the university cafeteria.

Statue of Ryoichi Sasakawa, notable benefactor of the university and respected War Criminal.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:14:43 -0800

Sean Leather
Statue of Ryoichi Sasakawa, notable benefactor of the university and respected War Criminal.

St. Francis of Assisi: His plaque reads (translated): "Señor, hazme instrumento de tu paz" ("Lord, make me an instrument of your peace").

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:14:51 -0800

Sean Leather
St. Francis of Assisi: His plaque reads (translated): "Señor, hazme instrumento de tu paz" ("Lord, make me an instrument of your peace").

Another great view, this one from the point of view of a university sculpture.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:58:07 -0800

Sean Leather
Another great view, this one from the point of view of a university sculpture.

Elizabeth is enjoying the view.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:58:19 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth is enjoying the view.

Some Muscovy ducks taking a break on the shore of the lake. The one in the middle is giving us the wary-but-lazy eye.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:58:31 -0800

Sean Leather
Some Muscovy ducks taking a break on the shore of the lake. The one in the middle is giving us the wary-but-lazy eye.

Another view of the small lake. We started off on a walk up to a viewpoint that Kelly told us about.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:59:24 -0800

Sean Leather
Another view of the small lake. We started off on a walk up to a viewpoint that Kelly told us about.

It was interesting to see the contrast between a well manicured park and disregard for tracks that left scars on the land. In a way, this typified a lot of Costa Rica's attitude, a bipolar a ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:00:33 -0800

Sean Leather
It was interesting to see the contrast between a well manicured park and disregard for tracks that left scars on the land. In a way, this typified a lot of Costa Rica's attitude, a bipolar a ...

A waterfall that we passed along the way. Elizabeth revealed that her two favorite objects to photograph are waterfalls and flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:01:39 -0800

Sean Leather
A waterfall that we passed along the way. Elizabeth revealed that her two favorite objects to photograph are waterfalls and flowers.

Elizabeth is standing on the road that we follow for a ways. The two dogs ahead were our companions, guides, and guardians all the way to the top. Elizabeth named them Rex and Rocky (left to ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:02:27 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth is standing on the road that we follow for a ways. The two dogs ahead were our companions, guides, and guardians all the way to the top. Elizabeth named them Rex and Rocky (left to ...

Elizabeth found a certain fascination with photographing these flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:03:09 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth found a certain fascination with photographing these flowers.

More of the same flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:04:44 -0800

Sean Leather
More of the same flowers.

I'm trying to figure out what's so fascinating with these flowers.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:04:14 -0800

Sean Leather
I'm trying to figure out what's so fascinating with these flowers.

At the end of the trail and the top of the mountain, Elizabeth, the dogs, and I came upon this little shelter.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:09:44 -0800

Sean Leather
At the end of the trail and the top of the mountain, Elizabeth, the dogs, and I came upon this little shelter.

Panoramic view (6 photos combined) from the top of the mountain above the University for Peace.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:10:44 -0800

Sean Leather
Panoramic view (6 photos combined) from the top of the mountain above the University for Peace.

Flower and landscape: art by Elizabeth.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:13:06 -0800

Sean Leather
Flower and landscape: art by Elizabeth.

An interesting star-shaped flower.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:13:12 -0800

Sean Leather
An interesting star-shaped flower.

Rex, so named by Elizabeth. He had a very kingly demeanor.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:13:26 -0800

Sean Leather
Rex, so named by Elizabeth. He had a very kingly demeanor.

Rocky, also named by Elizabeth. He liked to climb around.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:13:40 -0800

Sean Leather
Rocky, also named by Elizabeth. He liked to climb around.

A bright orange flower.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:13:46 -0800

Sean Leather
A bright orange flower.

Close-up of a home from the top of the mountain.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:14:26 -0800

Sean Leather
Close-up of a home from the top of the mountain.

Indiana "Elizabeth" Jones.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:14:58 -0800

Sean Leather
Indiana "Elizabeth" Jones.

A butterfly on the mountaintop.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:15:14 -0800

Sean Leather
A butterfly on the mountaintop.

An insect on my umbrella.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:15:57 -0800

Sean Leather
An insect on my umbrella.

Rocky on a tree.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:16:59 -0800

Sean Leather
Rocky on a tree.

Close-up of a butterfly on a flower.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:17:49 -0800

Sean Leather
Close-up of a butterfly on a flower.

Rex sits in a royal manner, watching Rocky climb around.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:18:57 -0800

Sean Leather
Rex sits in a royal manner, watching Rocky climb around.

Here I am climbing over the gate that separates the road from campus and the trail leading back up the mountain. According to Kelly, students do this all the time.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:08:22 -0800

Sean Leather
Here I am climbing over the gate that separates the road from campus and the trail leading back up the mountain. According to Kelly, students do this all the time.

Here Elizabeth is climbing over the same gate, though of course with more grace and poise than I.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:08:37 -0800

Sean Leather
Here Elizabeth is climbing over the same gate, though of course with more grace and poise than I.

Bougainvilleas and some kind of web (top left).

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:08:49 -0800

Sean Leather
Bougainvilleas and some kind of web (top left).

The University for Peace symbol painted on a wall.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:09:15 -0800

Sean Leather
The University for Peace symbol painted on a wall.

Some kind of fruit on a tree (baby coconut?) in the campus gardens.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:09:40 -0800

Sean Leather
Some kind of fruit on a tree (baby coconut?) in the campus gardens.

An interesting array of plants in the campus gardens.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:25:11 -0800

Sean Leather
An interesting array of plants in the campus gardens.

We're on the bus to San José with Kelly and Emily, her friend and classmate from UPeace.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:25:19 -0800

Sean Leather
We're on the bus to San José with Kelly and Emily, her friend and classmate from UPeace.

Once we arrived in San José, we went to the Mercado Central ("Central Market"). It was founded in 1880.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:19:57 -0800

Sean Leather
Once we arrived in San José, we went to the Mercado Central ("Central Market"). It was founded in 1880.

Emily bought a little lamb from the Mercado.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:00:07 -0800

Sean Leather
Emily bought a little lamb from the Mercado.

A lady gave Elizabeth a flower which she stuck in her backpack. The Mercado Central holds a wide variety of stuff.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:00:23 -0800

Sean Leather
A lady gave Elizabeth a flower which she stuck in her backpack. The Mercado Central holds a wide variety of stuff.

These animal figures are some of the things you can find at the Mercado.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:00:32 -0800

Sean Leather
These animal figures are some of the things you can find at the Mercado.

In San José, we often saw construction occurring in the middle of road. Notice how the pedestrian traffic is still pretty heavy and there's no barrier between people and the work.This is a ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:19:23 -0800

Sean Leather
In San José, we often saw construction occurring in the middle of road. Notice how the pedestrian traffic is still pretty heavy and there's no barrier between people and the work.This is a ...

Kelly: Woman vs. Machine. Who will reign supreme?

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:19:44 -0800

Sean Leather
Kelly: Woman vs. Machine. Who will reign supreme?

The imported version of Elizabeth.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:29:59 -0800

Sean Leather
The imported version of Elizabeth.

Bust of Jose M. Castro Madriz, former President of Costa Rica.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:06:38 -0800

Sean Leather
Bust of Jose M. Castro Madriz, former President of Costa Rica.

Facade over the entrance to the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theatre of Costa Rica).

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:06:47 -0800

Sean Leather
Facade over the entrance to the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica (National Theatre of Costa Rica).

This interesting tree/bush in front of the Teatro Nacional has its trunk woven in with itself.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:07:23 -0800

Sean Leather
This interesting tree/bush in front of the Teatro Nacional has its trunk woven in with itself.

There were many statues inside the Teatro Nacional. Each one had a particularly intense or delightful expression, so much so that I felt compelled to capture it. This guy wins every staring ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:08:02 -0800

Sean Leather
There were many statues inside the Teatro Nacional. Each one had a particularly intense or delightful expression, so much so that I felt compelled to capture it. This guy wins every staring ...

Confused? Just smile and everything will turn out okay. This is another statue inside the lobby of the Teatro Nacional.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:08:39 -0800

Sean Leather
Confused? Just smile and everything will turn out okay. This is another statue inside the lobby of the Teatro Nacional.

Dreamy. Deep in thought... Another statue inside the Teatro Nacional.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:09:18 -0800

Sean Leather
Dreamy. Deep in thought... Another statue inside the Teatro Nacional.

"This is quite the good book. It takes my breath away!" quoth the Teatro Nacional statue.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:10:00 -0800

Sean Leather
"This is quite the good book. It takes my breath away!" quoth the Teatro Nacional statue.

The following paintings are in the Galería Enrique Echandi in the Teatro Nacional. According to the plaque, Enrique Echandi "was born and died in San José, Costa Rica (1866 - 1959). He stu ...

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:26:12 -0800

Sean Leather
The following paintings are in the Galería Enrique Echandi in the Teatro Nacional. According to the plaque, Enrique Echandi "was born and died in San José, Costa Rica (1866 - 1959). He stu ...

Unknown painting in the Galería Enrique Echandi.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:26:17 -0800

Sean Leather
Unknown painting in the Galería Enrique Echandi.

Unknown painting in the Galería Enrique Echandi.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:26:25 -0800

Sean Leather
Unknown painting in the Galería Enrique Echandi.

Unknown painting in the Galería Enrique Echandi.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:26:35 -0800

Sean Leather
Unknown painting in the Galería Enrique Echandi.

Elizabeth, Kelly, and Emily as we're leaving the Teatro Nacional.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:31:44 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth, Kelly, and Emily as we're leaving the Teatro Nacional.

Kelly taking a break among some hammocks.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:32:00 -0800

Sean Leather
Kelly taking a break among some hammocks.

Emily and Kelly took us to several nice urban parks in San José.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:32:43 -0800

Sean Leather
Emily and Kelly took us to several nice urban parks in San José.

Elizabeth and I in one of the San José parks.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:33:52 -0800

Sean Leather
Elizabeth and I in one of the San José parks.

Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica (translated). More on Costa Rican politics.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:34:39 -0800

Sean Leather
Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica (translated). More on Costa Rican politics.

The Plaza de la Libertad Electoral in front of the Tribunal building. It has the Epítome del Vuelo sculpture (Epitome of Flight) by José Sancho Benito (translation).

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:35:15 -0800

Sean Leather
The Plaza de la Libertad Electoral in front of the Tribunal building. It has the Epítome del Vuelo sculpture (Epitome of Flight) by José Sancho Benito (translation).

I thought this was a very nicely tiled mosaic.

nobody@smugmug.com (Sean Leather) — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:36:03 -0800

Sean Leather
I thought this was a very nicely tiled mosaic.