Costa Rica. Fortuna

Hubby and I recently spent ten days in Costa Rica on a Caravan tour. Two of the nights were spent at a great location in Fortuna. I am going out of order these are days 5 and 6 of our ten day vacation. Our room had a great view of the Arenal Volcano. Of course most of the views were cloudy but it was still a beautiful view. I would wake during the night hoping to see the top of the volcano clear so I could see the red glow from the lava.

One night I woke to see a small cloud over the top of the volcano and an almost full moon. My picture does not come close to the actual sight.

Check out my Costa Rica birds at http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2010/04/costa-rica-birdpart-two.html

Thanks for visiting my blog and to see more wonderful scenic sights go and visit the Holleys at Scenic Sunday

Costa Rica

On the first day of our Costa Rica tour we were met at the airport for our transfer to the San Jose hotel. Our home for the first two nights of our tour was the San Jose Barcelo. At the welcome dinner and briefing, we met the rest our group of 42 nature lovers and our tour director. By this time, I was anxious to start the tour and to enjoy the wildlife and the beautiful Costa Rica paradise. Our nine night, ten day vacation included breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our tour director made sure everyone was happy and had a great time.

Sunrise on the second day, looks like a great start to the day.

Day two..Poas Volcano and the cloud forest. As you can see the clouds were there and we did not have a view of the crater.

The ferns that lined the walkway were just beautiful.

Lunch break included a nice view of the valley.

Sunset back at the San Jose Barcelo hotel.

I will be posting my Costa Rica bird photos at my blog http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/2010/04/costa-rica-birds.html

I hope you enjoyed my San Jose skywatch and you can see more skies from all over at Skywatch Friday

Thanks for visiting my blog and thanks to the hosting team of Skywatch Friday.

Weekend Reflections

These reflections are from my most recent visit to Atlantic City and the Jersey shore. I was up early for the sunrise (header shot) and we practically had the boardwalk to ourselves. Hard to believe this gorgeous sunrise and we were the only people there to enjoy it.

I think this is what they call the Steel Pier, not what it use to be years ago.

For more wonder reflections visit James at Weekend Reflections

Thanks for stopping by my blog and have a great weekend.

Weekend Reflections

These photos are from my archives and my last trip to Blackwater Wildlife refuge. On the wildlife drive I noticed the sky was reflecting on the ice and water.

I hope you enjoyed my reflections and to see more go and visit James at Weekend Reflections

Thanks for stopping by and thanks to James for hosting this fun meme.

Watery Wednesday..Seaweed Wrap

For my Watery Wednesday post I thought of the seaweed photo I took while at Barnaget beach last weekend. Weird, I know! But listen, what I did not know until my last cruise that the spa's use seaweed for body wraps. During the cruise the spa would send out flyers offering different treatments and the seaweed wrap was one of the specials. Apparently seaweed has many benefits. If you didn't know already seaweed can relax you, stimulate your circulation, it can be used as a body cleanser and detoxifier and best of all reduce cellulite. WOW, I am just amazed at all these benefits.


                              A gold mine, see all those dark spots in the water, yes that's seaweed!

This great hunk of seaweed was right on the beach, ripe for the taking.

Did I mention it also helps with joint pain, arthitis and aching bones?

It is rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are absorbed into your skin while having the seaweed wrap. It is also suppose to be wonderful on dry skin. I have read it can help to increase your metabolism. This just sounds wonderful, like a miracle cure? Now, I am just so sorry I didn't walk along the beach and pick up every piece of seaweed I saw and bring it home with me. I do think you have to be able to put up with the strong marine odor but with all these benefits what's wrong with a little stinky odor.

I could have asked these duckies to move so I could pickup the seaweed in the water under and all around  them.

I hope you know, I am just kidding about picking up this seaweed and taking it home with me. My Jeep would be smelling fishy for weeks, YUCK! I am not sure if the "mircle" seaweed is the same as NJ seaweed? Now I might have everyone going out to find their own seaweed to wrap their bodies in. If it really does have a few of the benefits I mentioned I could stop taking my Aleve, Advil and Tylenol.

To see more Wonderful Watery Wednesday photos click here: Watery Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks to 2sweetnsaxy for hosting Watery Wednesday.

Weekend reflections..

These shots go well with my sunrise photos on the post below. I woke up early and looking out our hotel window I notice the sunrise in the building across from ours.

 

To see more go and visit James and his  Weekend Reflections .

Thanks for stopping by my blog and thanks to James for hosting this fun meme.

Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey

 Last weekend we enjoyed a trip to the Barnegat Lighthouse and beach. My main reason was to see the birds and the Lighthouse and beach is the scenic post.

The beach is just lovely for a walk even in the winter.

The jetty along the pretty Barnegat beach is a perfect place to see the ducks in the winter months.


                        

Hubby and I counted 30-40  Harlequin ducks along the jetty.

These are Brants and there were many of them along the jetty.

Brant, Common Eider (lifer) and a Harlequin

There were numerous Ruddy Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers along the jetty.

Thank you for the visit, have a great day!