Costa Rica & Home!

We are back!  After traveling throughout 3 continents and 7 countries for just shy of 6 months, we are so thankful to be reunited with our friends & family.  

Costa Rica was wonderful!  We met up with Sarah & Mark on August 12th in Manuel Antonio.  During daily beach excursions, 4-hour hikes, and afternoon downpours, Sarah & Mark graciously listened to our endless tales of African adventures.  

In Monteverde we zip-lined through the cloud forest.   I won as the loudest screamer during the "Tarzan Swing".  The guides pushed us off a 50-ft high platform - we plummeted toward the ground and then swung out into the trees.  Volcan Arenal towers majestically over the town of La Fortuna.  We hiked through the forest below the active volcano, getting soaked by a sudden rain strom and trekking through mud-lakes along the trail of volcanic rock - so fun! The decadent Tabacon hot-springs, sitting at the base of the volcano were a highlight.    

We spent 5 days in the small town of Brasilito, in Guanacaste (the northern region of Costa Rica on the Pacific Ocean side).  The 10-minute walk down the black-sand beach, up and over the hill into Playa Conchal was amazing!  Playa Conchal (shell beach) is covered in tiny white shells and fine white sand.  We tucked under trees to get out of the sun, talked and swam in the clear blue-green super warm ocean water.  

These past few months have held a time of tremendous learning, challenge and fun.  We are so grateful to you all who have been thinking of us.  You have encouraged us so much, and we are so thankful for your care!  We look forward to catching up with you!

Love,

Crystal & Ryan

Italy, Austria, France

Hi everyone! We miss you and hope you are enjoying your summer!

Ryan and I have had an amazing time traveling around Italy, Austria and France over the last few weeks. I had visited Cinque Terre a few years ago and really wanted to take Ryan there. We spent about 4 days there - hiking the trail between the 5 villages, swimming in the clear blue Mediterranean waters, and eating fantastic Italian food (my favorite!)

After Cinque Terre, we moved on to Florence, and got to bike around Tuscany! It was beautiful. We toured a winery and got to see how wine and olive oil are made.

Taking the train from a little town called Villoch to Salzburg (Austria) was one of the most brilliantly scenic treks I have ever done! Deep green hills, an emerald river meandering through the trees, towering granite rocks, and just a few little houses sprinkled throughout - it was like a fairy-tale land!

Upon arriving in Salzburg, we discovered that the hostel, for which we had made an online reservation, was full. Amazingly though, they had transferred us to another hotel. This hotel was much nicer and we got to stay there for the cheaper price of the hostel! We got to eat the best buffet breakfast, and I rested in the hotel to fight off a sickness while Ryan roamed the town. We did a short hike up on a hill overlooking the city and got to see the roof of the house where Mozart grew up.

Innsbruck, Austria was lovely. A little mountain town with a free hiking club - Ryan's dream! We hiked around the beautiful mountains, explored the town, and enjoyed free concerts in the courtyard.

We are currently in St. Tropez, visiting some friends. It has been so amazing to catch up with good friends and be in such a beautiful and peaceful place for several days. We have been swimming, boating and exploring the little nearby towns.

Congratulations to Scott & Jenna!!!! We love you guys!

Europe!

We arrived in Geneva, Switzerland 10 days ago and we've been having an amazing time so far! We spent 4 days in Chamonix, France and Ryan did not want to leave. : ) Chamonix is a small town resting at the base of the beautiful Mont Blanc and incredible alps. The town is pristine, complete with brilliant flowers, a sparkling green river, and the most fantastic food we have ever eaten. What a treat is was to be there.

We took a cable car up to Aguille du Midi, the highest cable car in Europe. The cable car takes you straight up the mountain, and then straight up another one, until you reach 12,000 feet and are facing the top of Mont Blanc. We took a train ride along a glacier, and hiked in an even smaller town just up the valley from Chamonix, called Argentinere.

On Monday we took a train to Cinque Terre - spending a few days hiking between the villages on the Mediterranean coast, and swimming in the clear blue water.

To celebrate the 4th of July, we just completed a 12 -mile bike ride through Tuscany, stopping at a winery and for a delicious Italian lunch!

We are so thankful to be here and have a bit of extra time to explore Europe.

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!

Leaving Africa

We've been in Africa for 103 days and every one of them have been...uh...memorable. After lots of praying we were able to switch our flight from July 15th to June 24th. We fly out tomorrow morning at 9am and close the africa chapter and open the europe chapter. We're excited for the extra couple of weeks we'll get to spend in Europe.

Stay posted!

Budget Meat Revenge

Last night Ryan and I got together with our Bible study group and ordered pizza, as usual. We decided to go for the 'super saver' deal this time, however, and purchase 'Budget Meat' and 'Budget Veggie' for the small price of $4 a pizza. It turns out that the effective cost for this meal was actually much higher, but only for me. Just like after eating the Ethiopian food, upon returning home, I knew that my body did not like what was in it. I ended up fiercely fire-hose vomiting for 3 1/2 hours, and could not lay down without the involuntary attempt to extract something more from my then empty stomach. I finally was able to prop myself up with pillows in bed and catch a few segments of restless sleep. I think I may become a vegetarian for the next 5 weeks.

Zanzibar!

Ryan and I just returned from an amazing tropical vacation on the island of Zanzibar! (just off the coast of Tanzania). We had such a fun and relaxing time.

We spent some time hiking through the Jozani Forest, the only national park on the island. At one point, our guide directed us off the trail to stand under a dense set of trees with low branches. Upon looking up, we saw two big 'Mom & Dad' monkeys way up at the top. Then I sudddenly ducked, covered my head and scampered away a bit as 'da childrens' jumped and slid down the trees! Little monkeys were everywhere! They were so playful and curious. They reached out and touched our camera, tasted Ryan's finger, and flung themselves from branch to branch right above our heads!

After enjoying several mintues with the monkey family, we visited a small pond with several sea turtles! We fed them some wilty lettuce, and even got to hold one!

True to African excitement, we encountered some moments which are not so fun to experience, but later make good stories. : ) On our first evening in Zanzibar, we ventured out to the seaside garden where there is a lively outdoor food market. A smile lighted up Ryan's face as he saw an array of seafood out on the tables. He excitedly picked out octopus, calamari, and a few other items that were then grilled and piled high on a thin paper plate. He enjoyed his seafood meal, happy to have purchased so much food for the small price of $5. A few hours later however, his stomach began to protest. It was quite scary for me to see him in so much pain and be alone on a island where we didn't know anyone or know how to get medical help. Ryan proceeded to spend the next couple of hours ridding his body of the apparently spoiled food though, and he felt much better the following morning. : )

For the first couple of days on the island, we stayed on the south eastern coast in Bwejuu. Since we were in Zanzibar during their off-season, nearly everything in Bwejuu (a quieter part of the island anyway) was closed! We had reserved a room in a small guest house on the beach. On this side of the island, the water is only ankle-deep for a couple of miles! The guidebook describes it as an area where 'there is not much to do but listen to the wind rustle the palm tree branches'. There were only 2 accesible restaurants open - one was a 1 mile walk down the beach, and the other was a 1.5 mile walk down the beach. One night as we were walking, we heard a fierce barking in the distance. It quickly grew louder and from behind us we turn to see 2 large dogs barreling down the beach snarling and heading toward us! Ryan pulled me behind him and bravely kicked the first dog directly in his side sending him yelping away. He geared up for the second one and kicked him hard in the stomach too. Both dogs then crept back in into the dark forest from where they had come. Whew! I had been screaming so loudly, but no one was around to hear. God protected us as we had to walk that desolate stretch of beach a few more times.

The beaches of Kendwa, on the north western side of the island contained the most amazing clear blue-green water and white-sand that we had ever seen! The water was warm, and we enjoyed swimming, snorkling, and taking a sunset cruise on a dhow. We stayed in a beach bunglow right on the sand, and loved eating at the restaurant overlooking the ocean.

We are so thankful to have had such a wonderful vacation! We are healing well from our boda-accident wounds and are rejuvinated for the remaining 5 weeks we have here in Uganda!