Sunday, November 27, 2011

Irazu Volcano & Catholic Basilica

It was perfectly clear and sunny outside when we woke up. We thought we were good for traveling to the second highest point in Costa Rica, but we were wrong. We left our house at about 9am and started on our 2 hour drive up to the highest volcano in Costa Rica (11,260 feet!). Once we got there, car sick and stopped up ears, it was completely cloudy and blowing misty rain...and it was probably 40 degrees. Definitely not what I had pictured! We have been told that on a clear day you can see both oceans from the top of Irazu, but we were lucky to see our hands in front of our faces. Why can't I remember to quit traveling during rainy season???
The kids at the highest point...with Flat Stanley sent by friend West Loden

Creepy picture...it looks like Jack is on the moon. He's in the middle of the volcano crater with black rocky sand all around.

Josh and Mandi were wet and cold. I'm sure this isn't the Costa Rica they had pictured when they wanted to come visit us. But they were troopers!

Family pic on Irazu Volcano...freezing

Remember riding like this back in the day?

We went to the Roman Catholic Basilica in Cartago on the way home

Walking down the aisle on their knees in penance for sins



Sign on the outside back of the church..."No peeing here"

More walking on knees

Prayers at the front. First advent mass was that night so it was quite busy.

Machine for prayer candles...never seen this before. You deposit your coin and a prayer candle lights up for you.

Water that runs under the church. You can buy a bottle from the gift shop and fill it up with the sewage water. They don't think it's holy water, but since it runs under the church then it must have some sort of healing powers.

Underneath the church there are thousands of these little charms hanging on the walls. I guess you can buy one that represents your prayer and hang it on the wall behind the glass. These are obviously prayers for healing of someone's leg. If you can think of something to pray for, I promise the little charm was available. We saw everything.

You can read more about the Basilica in Cartago here.

Completely worn out after our big day. We all took huge naps when we got home!

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