ex·trav·a·sa·tion... to cause molten lava to pour forth from a volcanic vent

While living in Costa Rica I had the opportunity to have the most active volcano in my front yard! The Arenal Volcano. Not only is it spectacular to look at, it is to listen to as well. It's not every day that you can hear a volcano erupt every 30 minutes. Sometimes it would freak Shanae and I out and wake us up at night because it sounded a lot like thunder. And if you are lucky, the locals know just the right places to take you to see the bright red and orange lava explode out of the top. It's like your very own free firework show. My favorite part of the volcano was the many natural hot springs all around it. They are AMAZING!

However, this Volcano being as active as it is, has to be constantly monitored. In 1968 eruption wiped out area towns, including Tabacon and the original Arenal. Today, they lie flooded beneath Lake Arenal. Volcanologists warn that the volcano could have a major eruption in the future as well. The biggest threats are pyroclastic flows, a mixture of hot rocks and gases that can travel up to extravagant speeds, destroying everything in their path.

This was taken on our drive to Arenal from San Jose.

A picture of the Volcano from our house.

We went for a hike that day, and I caught this shot.



Tica.

A few years ago, my really good friend Shanae and I decided to study abroad for 10 weeks in the beautiful country Costa Rica. We got the opportunity to be completely immersed in an entire different culture. It was amazing. We lived with our very own "tico familia" and built relationships I never thought I would build in another country. The locals are called ticos and ticas, and Shanae and I became known as the "munecas." That means "the dolls" in English, everyone in the small town of La Fortuna knew who we were and we knew them. I love the people there, I love the animals there. Even the obnoxious birds that would wake us up REALLY early each morning. I love the green trees and grass, and the rain. Especially the rain. I love the Arenal Volcano, I love the rivers and waterfalls. I miss the home cooked Costa Rican meals from our tica mom, the Sodas (the small local cafes on every corner). I love Tabacon and the hot springs, having slumber parties with Yaudieth and Christopher. I miss running, hiking, biking, and four wheeling in the beautiful rain forest. The 3 o'clock in the morning bus rides to the beach with our family, Marcus our cute neighbor that would get all the bugs and and even bats out of our room. I miss the discoteque, and our dance classes with Grego. Me and Shanae became true Ticas during this experience, spending every minute together (LITERALLY, our bathroom was even inside our tiny bedroom, at the end of my bed to be exact). You get to know someone really well when you spend that much time with them, especially that far away from home. Costa Rica will always feel like my second home, and I thoroughly plan on going back regularly.

I love you Shanae, my Tica Amiga!

My FAVORITE Place On Earth...

If I could choose one place to travel to and one place only I would choose LAKE POWELL.  I could go on and on about its incredible scenery, the clear blue water, amazing red cliffs, nice sandy beaches, but my favorite part is getting together with my closest friends and spending a week (maybe even two) away from reality in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  Every summer for the last 4 years my friends and I all pitch in and rent a house boat and hit the waves of Lake Powell.  Not only has this experience opened my eyes to the beauty of Gods creations but it has helped my friends and I build lasting friendships and create good memories!  

Cliff jumping is one of our favorites every year, although some prefer watching from the boat, we can usually find a spot that has enough variety of heights for everyone.  The highest peak anyone has ever jumped from in our group is close to 100 feet, we know this because we measure it with our wake boarding ropes.
  

Right before we took a leap of faith together.

Wake boarding is what we spend the majority of our time doing. I wish we could wake board 365 days a year!

During the hours when the water isn't as calm, we like to take out the tubes and go crazy!

The boys love to "try" and scare the girls.

Wake surfing is always a good time.

Wild card games while taking it easy on the house boat.

The next pics are of a good friend of mine jumping off a cliff in our private cove where we always park the house boat...

Jumping...

falling..

diving...

splash!

Our famous slip 'n slide :) We'd always have an audience of other Lake Powellers watching us do our dangerous tricks. Everyone could make it down this slide except for Sandra. It didn't matter how many times she tried, she could not do it!

This post is dedicated to our Lake Powell trip of 2008. Best trip yet! Can't be beat!



I HEART NY

My first trip to New York City definitely started out as an interesting one. I lucked out on the 4 and a half hour flight and got to sit next to a hottie (who we hung out with in NY a couple times) and after flying for the first time alone I made it to the shuttle outside JFK with the help of a nice tourist. I also got yelled at on the shuttle because I was talking on the phone too loud, oops. It was an amazing feeling coming out of that 15 minute long tunnel ride into Manhattan and viewing the city for the very first time. I found my way to Grand Central Station and on my first subway ride with a very large suitcase and two bags all by myself. It wasn't until I got off the subway and walked a couple blocks till I got to see Sandy who was there for the Summer, nannying. It was so good to see her we and see what her new life in the city was like. Her bellman opened the door for us and we headed up the tiny elevator to her apartment. In the apartment lived the two kids she nannied and their mother. I immediately realized the chaos she dealt with on a regular basis. Brandon, the 4 year old, jumped out of the bath tub to greet me running around like a wild Indian. And Ranae, the mom was holding a crying baby, Maddy. After we got my things settled I was ready to get out on the town...  

Central Park is AMAZING!!! Especially when you are there with your best friend and you rent a tandem bike. The huge park, 843 acres large, is located in the center of Manhattan. Its design is an example for city parks around the world.

Here is a smitten image of what our ride was like...

No one understands this but her and I. Love you girl.

Times Square really is the most crowded place on Earth. This place proved to me that New York really is the city that never sleeps. We saw the Broadway show, "Lion King" and both cried because it was so great. When we got out at 11:00 PM, I was so confused because my mind literally thought it was day light it was so bright because of all the lights and billboards lit up. It was in sane.

The Top of the Rock is better than the Empire State building in my opinion. Mainly because we didn't have to wait in line for a million hours to get to the top and we got an extraordinary view of the City. The Rockefeller Center's archutecture, art, and history in itself was very interesting. 

Thanks for the good memories NY :)