Days 19, 20, 21: Kim is Not Allowed to Have a Camera

Yep. I did it again.* I lost my camera in a foreign country. Well, lost isn't quite the right word. I know exactly where it is, it is just not in my current possession. I like to give my camera extended stays. I will meet up with it again in Panama. However, due to my mishap, this post will be lacking pictures for a bit.

Speaking of posts... I've been terrible at posting during my last days in Costa Rica. I can give two explanations:

1. I often blog when I am riding in a car. There is absolutely no way I could possibly even attempt to type on highways here. I can barely keep myself upright.
2. I have a pretty incredible host family. So when I do have some free time, I'm hanging out with them. A gigantic thank you again to Olga and Eduardo for welcoming me into their home. If I have gained nothing else from this journey, I met two pretty incredible and sweet people whom I adore and can not wait to see again.

Now... onward with the very brief post of highlights from the past few days:

Friday: I saw a sloth. Kind of. I kind of saw a ball of fur that they told me was a sloth.

A picture of a picture of a sloth

We went to the Organization of Tropical Studies (i.e., the jungle). We had an amazing morning walking around checking out monkeys, tons of frogs and other critters, including (to Jimmy's dismay), a snake.

Saturday: The Heredia Rotary Club (who we met with on Thursday night and they saw our exhaustion) were gratious enough to give us a relaxing day. We went to the Castillo Country Club and had a great afternoon BBQ-ing, walking and even drinking a few adult beverages. It is at this point I left my camera in the car of a Rotarian (hence the lack of pictures).

My key to my house was made in the ol' US. A fact I enjoyed since I could not find a place in the US to make a copy of my house key before I left

Below is a billboard I saw while we were driving home. I do want to note that I think we spent no less than 6 hours in a car most days in San José. People must really love their cars here... or it just takes hours to get anywhere.

Saturday night Jimmy and I went to our hosts' cabin in the mountain for dinner. It was a perfect evening of wine, cheese, bread, and salad.

Until this dude showed up. I thought I was pretty brave to even get that close. No good.

Sunday we went with members of Rotary Club Cartago to Volcán Irazú. The volcano is about 11,000 ft. high (maybe?)

The fog/clouds and rain rolled in almost immediately and soon you couldn't see 10 feet in front of you.

In the cloud

Another brave(ish) moment... getting with 5 feet of absolute volcano crater abyss:

After we left the volcano, we took a two hour drive down the most curvy and hilly roads laced with potholes and speed bumps. This is how Jimmy and I felt for most of this car ride. Miserable.

But, it was all worth it to have a late lunch at this location.

 

And that's a wrap for Costa Rica. I will add more pics once I get my camera back.

Tomorrow we have a super early flight to Panama City for the District Conference. We start our week in Panama almost as soon as we land. It's crazy to think that we are in our last week. We all have mixed feelings regarding the beginning of the end but are very excited to explore another city and get to reunite with so many people we have met along the way.

Another important note about week 3 and 4: I knew this was coming, but I am so sad to have missed Rock'n Ribs and the 20 Under 30 party this week. I mean, I think of it and then realize where I am and that feeling dissipates immediately. I have a part in my presentation about Rock'n Ribs and this week our audiences were especially interested in the event, which made my heart happy.

 

*So one time I left the same camera in my hotel room in Playa del Carmen. I realized my mistake almost immediately and the hotel was awesome enough to mail me back my camera (a few months later). These things happen.

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