This is one of the spots we frequented most and was a long bus ride away from San Jose where we were staying. I can remember our first bus ride there; I looked at this older Costa Rican woman and wondered why she was wearing a scarf on her head (like we black women do back home). Once the ride got underway and the dust started kicking up on this non-airconditioned bus, I got it! When we arrived at our destination, I had a thick, white coat of dust covering my body, clothes and hair (after that I always wore my scarf during bus rides). It was an adventure. Along the way I spotted crocodiles and our bus drivers always drove fast and close to the outer edge of the mountains--without railing.
At certain points the elevation in Costa Rica is so high that you ride through and above the clouds. I actually had the privilege to have this experience and there aren't enough words for how I felt about being able to stick my hand outside and touch the clouds. Exhilarating. Here are some Costa Rican cloud pics (I have no idea who the people in the pics are):
The scary part is their long claws, and we all imagined how fast they'd actually move if they wanted to do us harm.
I hadn't known about sloths until venturing to Costa Rica, so when my friends first spotted them in a tree I looked up and jumped back and said, "What the fuck!?" I promise, those were my exact words.
Erica and Maria, remember Quepos?
Quepos was a bus stop on our way to Manuel Antonio. Speaking of bus rides... It's a long ride to Manuel Antonio and there's no access to a bathroom--not to mention that it's so hot that you MUST drink lots of WATER along the way. One trip I'd found myself on the verge of tears because I had to pee so bad. And if you do get to a bathroom folks can, and do, charge for tissue and bathroom usage.
This volcano is still active and its lava can be seen at night.
Well, mom and I thought this was a squash plant, but overnight it blossomed into these enormous leaves and giant balls. Um, pardon our ignorance, but this is actually a pumpkin patch growing in my father's garden from the pumpkin we threw out last fall! Here's what it looks like today...
If you look closely at the bottom pic, to the left you'll see a second pumpkin.
Although it is not widely known in developed countries, women who have never been pregnant are sometimes able to stimulate lactation sufficient to breastfeed. This is called "induced lactation", while a woman who has lactated before and re-starts is said to "relactate". If the nipples are stimulated as in breastfeeding for a while (such as by a breast pump or actual suckling), eventually the breasts will begin to produce milk which can be used to feed a baby. Once established, lactation adjusts to demand. For this reason, adoptive mothers, usually initially in conjunction with some form of supplementation, such as a supplemental nursing system, are able to breastfeed their infants and young children [29]. There is thought to be little or no difference in milk composition whether lactation is induced or a result of pregnancy. Rare accounts of male lactation (as distinct from galactorrhea) exist in the medical literature.
Some couples may choose to induce lactation as a solely sexual practice.
Additionally, some drugs, primarily atypical antipsychotics such as Risperdal, may cause lactation in both women and men.
--The information was copied from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breastfeeding
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And although we American women get stares for breastfeeding our children beyond one year, historically, women in other countries breastfed for long periods of time. I'd read how in one African tribe women breastfed their adolescent children. I always found this information to be extraordinary. And then I read this bit of information about Japanese women from the above article which read: Traditionally, Japanese babies were born at home and breastfed with the help of breast massage. Weaning was often late, with breastfeeding in rare cases continuing until early adolescence.
(Picture removed for safety reasons.
It was a photo of a mother nursing her toddler and newborn at the sametime)
Now this is a woman dedicated to breastfeeding! A newborn and a toddler? She didn't even wait to leave the daggone hospital. You go girl!
--Tidbit of info: No, I don't know this woman!
Have you had a fresh piece of fruit today? If not, why not take a minute--and a bite--out of something colorful and refreshing. Our bodies tingle with delight when we eat live foods. So before chowing down on a processed snack, reach for something that will add to your health and your life. 
And speaking of Tuskegee...
All my Skegee people should recognize this joint. Actually, this was my first visit to the Soul Inn. But I bet Tasha would know a lil sumthin sumthin about dis place back in the 90's. LOL!! Sorry for shoutin you out Tasha Smasha.
A self-taken photo: Driving from Georgia to visit with Paul in Tuskegee
