Beautiful Costa Rica

Because of its location between the Southern and Northern American continents,  it provides the highest density of biodiversity of any country in the world

The rainforests of Costa Rica are among the most productive ecosystems of the world

One of over 1,200 species of butterflies to be found in the country

There are over 10,000 species of plants to be found here

As much as 25% of the country is protected for all of us to enjoy

Ecotourism is a growing sector of the economy 

There are three types of forests here..........cloud forests, topical dry forests and rainforests

Part of a Zen Garden i found on my travels

Parrot Flower

The entrance way to the park and an ominous looking dragonfly lol

Wild Bananas

Flowers of the Cocoa tree

Walking Bamboo

South Beach Miami

The Art Deco District was designated in 1979

The area contains over 950 historic buildings 

Always amazing at night with the neon lights 

The area takes in over 5,700 acres

South Beach is nicknamed SoBe

Population may surprise you.......just under 40,000

A hurricane in 1926 destroyed most of the area

Atlantic Ocean  here and the Biscayne Bay to the left of South Beach 

South Beach started as farmland in the 1870s, then in the early 1900s some local businessmen  acquired the land to build single family homes 

Once the bridge was constructed to connect it to the mainland .......the land boom began!

After the Pearl Harbor attack the Army Air Corps took command over Miami Beach 

To protect the Art Deco buildings from developers a group of activists formed a register of Historic Places

One of the colorful Lifeguard Stations part of Lummus Park

Ocean Drive is the street you want to be seen on in SoBe lol