A new (and definitely the best) addition to the usual Guelph group is Luscious Lara. We've been dating since February 2006. She's part of the reason why the website is so slow to be updated...I'd rather be spending time with her than in front of a computer. We managed to get away on a trip to Costa Rica in August for a few weeks. It was our first big getaway together...it won't be the last.

Knowing that we weren't likely to remember where we parked, we took these memory-jogging pictures.

The rain started on the way to Manuel Antonio. It was the rainy season, so it was expected.

Enjoying some fancy drinks.
One thing I've learned about Lara is that her eyes are bigger than her stomach - by a large margin. Our first evening, she ordered an entire rack of ribs. She looked pretty happy when they arrived, but three ribs in, she was done.

Before

After

  

Enjoying breakfast at a roadside cafe.

We were very happy to see the ocean.

Lara waves back as she relieves herself in the ocean.

The closest we got to wildlife was this sloth making its way along the powerlines. I spent a week in the jungle in Peru and never got this close.

This cargo plane was a relic from the Iran Contra scandal which was made into a bar.

Getting hooked up for some ziplining.

I seem to be enjoying having a man's hands near my crotch.

We're both hardheaded people, and I'm not just talking about the helmets.

"Hey everybody!  Look at my crotch!!!"

As we walked along the jungle paths, this tapir kept rubbing up against us.  Cute except for its skunk-like stench.

This tree actually walks!  As new leg-like roots grow, the old ones die off, giving it some mobility. Don't worry, though . It's not nearly fast enough to chase down a snail.

Lara looks like she's enjoying the rappel, but her teeth are actually clenched in fear.

Lara loves to hang around Ken.

Lara bravely prepares for another zip.

Pretty!  No not you, Lara...the flowers.

Gotta love the towel sculptures.

Relaxing at the airplane bar.

Lara and Ken looking nice together.

Chillaxing on the hammock.

The next day we took a boat tour on...

...this boat right here.

A panorama of the waters around Manuel Antonio.

Snacking on the bus to Matapolo.

Relaxing in the sun in Matapolo.

The view from our chairs.

Pondering getting on the boogie board.

Sure it was cute until you realize it's just Costa Rica's version of a raccoon.

Waiting for the bus.

Arenal volcano. You could regularly hear explosions coming from this active volcano. You could also see lava...if the freakin' clouds ever lifted!

Found this neat camouflage coloured tree on the way up to the volcano lodge.

Don't look down, Lara!

A nice waterfall near the volcano.

Cute couple.

Dangerous, smangerous.

Our last few days were spent at a resort overlooking the volcano. Here I am outside our room waiting to see some freakin' magma. 

More towel sculptures.
Our last few days were spent in San Jose.  We ate at some good restaurants, but on a whole, San Jose wasn't much to write home about.
 

Tired after the flight home, Lara still looks lovely as we wait for our luggage.