* After a few days of partying (what else do you do when you're the only Americans around to celebrate Thanksgiving?!), my parents arrived in Costa Rica; as a side-effect of the partying or perhaps to get them accustomed to "Tico Time", I showed up 2 hours late. We had dinner with my host mom, then the goodbye luncheon the next day in Cartago, and heading out early on the 5th for the beginning of our adventures.
* Our first place-of-interest was Playa Ostional where hundreds of turtles reportedly come to nest and at least one can be seen on almost any given day: except the day we went. Although we did see tons of turtle egg shells littering the beach, and some turtle flipper tracks, with a deeper groove in the middle where her tail dug into the sand as she pulled herself up the shore to lay her eggs in some grass. I wanted so badly to see some turtles, but I suppose it gives me a good reason to return :)
* Next was Cañas where I wanted my family to meet my 2nd host family (the ones who took me in after getting robbed) Although the town itself is fairly small and nondescript (and as we all know now, fairly dangerous), we had fun with the host family. If you ever find yourself in Cañas, stay at the Hotel Cañas--it was luxurious, at least by my standards, and had a nice restaurant on the first floor.
*After Wilbur (my Cañas host dad) gave us a tour of the countryside and dropped us off in Tilarán, we took a bus around Lake Arenal to the town of La Fortuna. I fell asleep on the sidewalk while mom and dad got ice cream, and in doing so got the first flip-flop tan line since I've been here. In La Fortuna we stayed at Cabinas Palmas (also very nice), and went on another nighttime lava tour. After a little while of standing in the drizzling rain with a couple who LOVED to complain, we saw some lava--what luck, again! It was beautiful, I only wish there was a way to photograph it on my camera... We also spent about an hour in a heated river, just relaxing and getting a "massage" from the small waterfall. The river is naturally heated by the volcano, which was a wild concept to grasp.
* We went horseback riding with the same company and (coincidentally) had the same tour guide, Carlos, who didn't remember me at first but ended up giving me a ring (yes, un anillo!) by the time we were done. The water was a lot stronger than the first time I came--the river was up to my chest and there was no way anyone was swimming around the base of the waterfall. Dad and I grabbed a few drinks and Mom joined in on some chicarrones, some ice cream, and then back to our room where I got bitten by the hotel owner's dog. Little jerk.
* The next day we took a Jeep Boat Jeep to Monteverde, which was a pretty interesting experience. The boat across Lake Arenal took about an hour, then the "Jeep" or 2 wheel drive minivan took about another hour, theoretically. The drive was straight uphill on some very steep gravel roads, and at one point everyone in the front few rows had to disembark in order to get it up one hill--though my parents and I were left in the back to weigh it down! Mom was terrified about rolling down the hill, which is a fairly valid fear, in retrospect. Dad and I were simply trying to figure out whether more weight was needed in front or rear, and I was communicating with the driver in my halting Spanish. EVENTUALLY we made it to Monteverde, checked into Sleepers' and went for a night hike (see previous post for the company name). We saw so much wildlife this time! A guatusa ran past as soon as we headed into the woods, odd because they are not nocturnal; we also saw sleeping birds, including a toucan, and several tarantulas, etc. Afterwards we met up with Chuck (after living in Costa Rica for 8 years he's never been to Monteverde--I guess it really is just a tourist destination) for dinner and drinks.
* Instead of touring the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, we opted for Santa Elena, a cloud forest that is bigger (in acreage,) has every species as Monteverde PLUS spider monkeys, and the proceeds of which go to benefit the local high school. Everything was very moist (they have rubber boots you can rent), and we saw all sorts of beautiful trees, hanging vines, and insects. We saw a quetzal nest and a hummingbird nest, and a coati at the visitors center licking up the sugar water spilled onto the ground from when a worker filled up the hummingbird feeder. Apparently they are considered pesky like raccoons.
* After our morning tour we went ziplining through the jungle again: I didn't pee myself on the Tarzan Swing this time, haha! Mom and Dad had a great time, and one of the handsome workers actually asked Chuck if he could marry me. HA!
* We shopped around a bit in the morning, then took the afternoon bus back to San José, where the Festival de la Luz (of the lights) was happening on 12/12, then a live reggae band at L Chicharronera, and finally--unfortunately--back home on the 13th.
*Though I've been gone home for 4 months, I'm not quite ready to return home. I want to explore and adventure some more, visit Nicaragua again, spend some more time with my host family, see more of this beautiful country I've come to love so much, learn more about its history and environmental policies---but, I'm glad to see my parents and I really miss my puppies and sister so I suppose it's time to go home (before I want to but can't!)
Our first Moroccan experience, Djemma el Fna (downtown square) at night. There are snake charmers with cobras, pickpocket monkeys, street vendors with food and lots of people.
Mom getting kohl (Berber eyeliner) at qn herb shop. This guy was really enthusiastic!
Dad got dressed up in a djellaba by a shop owner.
Mom getting fitted for pointy toe shoes.
The Saadien Tombs are beautiful...
Trying to keep away from the edge! This was during our first day drive with our guide Lahcen.
Beautiful view from VERY high.
We had a cooking class with Raja (yes, like Princess Jasmines tiger!!)
Sitting in the window in the bedroom of T'hami el Glaoui's "preferred wife" (he had 3 wives and each had their own gorgeous room in his kasbah)
The view from our drive through mountains and valleys.
The preferred wife's room in Glaoui Kasbah.
Mountains in the background of our lunch in Glaoui Kasbah. People have beehives set up to gather honey in the countryside.
Marrakesh from the air (sorry these are out of order)
The High Atlas mountains sticking up above the clouds as we flew in.
We got on this flight minutes before it left the ground (due to sitting on the Dallas runway for 90 minutes) But the point is we didn't miss it!! 
