Costa Rica 2008

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0698dfc3.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06a8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Pam's Parrots</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pams Parrots"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mos Page"><U>Mo's Page</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="vacations"><U>vacations</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vacation 2 for 2004"><U>Vacation 2 for 2004</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="American and Proud"><U>American and Proud</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Friends and Relatives"><U>Friends and Relatives</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Holidays"><U>Holidays</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ITALY 2005"><U>ITALY 2005</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Liam James"><U>Liam James</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Latest News"><U>Latest News</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Evan"><U>Evan</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Evans postings"><U>Evan's postings</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Celebration of Evan"><U>Celebration of Evan</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Virginia trip April 2007"><U>Virginia trip April 2007</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In My Opinion"><U>In My Opinion</U></A>   |   <B>Costa Rica 2008</B>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Justice"><U>Justice</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christmas 2008"><U>Christmas 2008</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="06a8dfc3.jpg"> <bR> <div> Costa Rica trip with Joey</div> <div> January 2008</div> <bR> <bR> <div> I flew from Palm Beach to San Jose, Costa Rica to meet Joey. The flight was wonderful but very long.</div> <div> I arrived right after lunch and went directly to the hotel where Joey was at the check-in desk waiting for me.</div> <div> Our room had an elevated patio with table and chairs and steps leading down to the pool area with a fabulous view:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="34ba1390.jpg" border=0 width="417" height="313" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="3539d360.jpg" border=0 width="413" height="310" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Since Joey was in Costa Rica on business his fellow Caribou workers were still there and we all went out to dinner:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="34d31e50.jpg" border=0 width="305" height="229" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I am not in the picture....I took it !!</div> <div> During our next few days we did so much together. It really was a dream trip for mother and son.</div> <div> We visited Amigos de las Aves where we visited with the owners Margot and Richard then met their zoologist, Chris. What a great guy. He took Joey and I across the small street to their breeding facility where they breed, and release, Great Green (Buffon) macaws and Scarlet Macaws, into the wild to repopulate the Costa Rican rain forest with the Macaws that are native there.</div> <div> I brought them some hand feeding formula for the baby macaws. They were very grateful as supplies are very hard for them to come by and help from the government is not given. I am trying to get some government help and some corporate and private investors so......if you're interested get in touch with me  (LucieLady@aol.com) ...these folks could really use some help for an amazingly worthwile cause !!! Also, please check out their website at www.hatchedtoflyfree.org !!!</div> <div> Richard and Margot have many pet birds that are mostly rescues:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="38b71bd0.jpg" border=0 width="369" height="445" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is the delightful Margot and Richard. Owners and guardians to all the birds at Amigos de las Aves. It was a highlight of my life to meet this amazing couple !!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="34f3dee0.jpg" border=0 width="317" height="238" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is Richard with his Hyacinth Macaw, Mercedes.</div> <div> Their pets include varieties of Toucans, Amazons and, of course, Macaws.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="35527dd0.jpg" border=0 width="295" height="221" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="35718d20.jpg" border=0 width="280" height="210" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    <IMG SRC="38d38ea0.jpg" border=0 width="312" height="234" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <bR> <div> The breeding facility was incredible. Chris brought Joey and I right into the flight areas for the Buffon and Scarlets. Joey was overwhelmed and I was speechless to be around all the rare birds. Richard and Margot have the largest population of Great Green Macaws in the world. Chris can barely be seen walking through the Scarlet's....wish I had a better picture of him !  He is a very important part of this facility and does everything with all the birds. He even takes care of the garden there. This is one dedicated man !!!!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="35bbb4c0.jpg" border=0 width="443" height="332" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="35df3760.jpg" border=0 width="499" height="374" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="35fc5540.jpg" border=0 width="453" height="340" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="361df670.jpg" border=0 width="479" height="359" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="363f6790.jpg" border=0 width="502" height="377" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="365d8620.jpg" border=0 width="472" height="354" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="367d5600.jpg" border=0 width="469" height="352" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div> This was a once in a lifetime opportunity as they don't allow ANYONE into the cages with the birds and we were truly honored to have that opportunity.</div> <bR> <div> Our next adventure was to visit the Doka Plantation which is owned by the family of Joey's friend, Natalia Vargas.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="36ade670.jpg" border=0 width="478" height="359" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The estate is gorgeous and Natalia guided us, privately, through the operation there.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="36c8f2b0.jpg" border=0 width="399" height="299" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="36ec9570.jpg" border=0 width="457" height="343" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Joey and Natalia</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="37084230.jpg" border=0 width="388" height="291" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="3729f370.jpg" border=0 width="415" height="311" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Joey raking the coffee beans</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="374ef730.jpg" border=0 width="495" height="371" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Joey and me at the entrance to Doka Estates</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="376e66d0.jpg" border=0 width="486" height="365" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> The amazing Costa Rican mountains</div> <bR> <div> Joey then talked me into going into the Costa Rican rain forest and going on a zip line !!! I was petrified !! There were seven lines in all with the longest being a half mile long. After the first three I kind of got use to it and enjoyed it. But I wonder.......when you're more than 500 feet in the air.....why do they give you a helmet to wear? If you fall what is that helmet going to do ????</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="379d6610.jpg" border=0 width="470" height="353" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Joey geared up</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="37bfc7d0.jpg" border=0 width="508" height="381" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> One of the bridges we had to cross. It was horrifyingly scary !! Very high up and it moved with each step !!!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="37d17910.jpg" border=0 width="535" height="401" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Smiling but shaking we prepare to fly.....</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="37fe0680.jpg" border=0 width="480" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Joey on his way.........</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="381b1450.jpg" border=0 width="433" height="325" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Me....realizing how high up we'll be !!!!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="383e96f0.jpg" border=0 width="489" height="367" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Joey and I enjoying a horseback ride.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="385b84a0.jpg" border=0 width="440" height="330" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Joey had a great time riding like a pro !!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="387932e0.jpg" border=0 width="403" height="302" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> This picture didn't come out too good since we were in a vehicle moving but there are these boulders along the road that someone has painted scenes on that were just beautiful.</div> <div> Finally.....the volcano:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="389c5540.jpg" border=0 width="453" height="340" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> It was a wonderful trip and a great time together. What an experience. Joey got to see my world with the Macaws and I got to see his world with the coffee. Just perfect !!!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> c. 2008-2010</div> <div> February 15th, 2008</div> <div> all rights reserved</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>