River tubing

Here are some more views of our afternoon float trip.  As these and the previous photo show, the only practical way to go down this river is by floating on a tube, unless you are an expert in a kayak, which we and most tourists are not, of course.  

In the background of the top photo you can see one of the guides.  Unlike us, he is going down the river on his stomach rather than sitting down in the inner tube as we were.  That allows him to steer and, with his hands free, to help us.  The guides kept us pointed in the right direction so that we would not get hung up on any rocks.
In the second photo you see my older son going down one of the rapids.  In both of these photos, I had spun in my tube so I was floating down backwards, which explains why I was able to take a photo looking back up the river.

I selected these photos to try to give an idea of how swift the river is.  From a distance the rapids may not look very big, but while riding in an inner tube going over them, it was quite fun and thrilling.  Tomorrow's photos will be even more extreme.

Comment about the situation in Iran:   Today, June 28, many Daily Photo bloggers are commenting about the situation in Iran.  I would like to join in expressing the wishes of people all over the world that human rights will be respected for all people, including those who observe their right of assembly, without being targeted or repressed by their governments.  International news media and observers of free elections are essential in many areas of the world.  

Websites, including the Daily Photo websites, are an important tool to promote understanding and fellowship among people of different nations.  The expression of views by people on the internet and in the streets of Tehran should be respected and encouraged, not repressed.    One of the City Daily Photo bloggers in Iran, we understand, has been taken in to custody.  His photos of the situation in Iran have been remarkable, and the world joins in expressing its hopes and prayers for his safety.

Democracy and human rights are very important to the people of Costa Rica.  Costa RIca is a beacon of democracy in Central America, a region that has  been troubled and challenged in the past.  Costa Rica abolished its military in 1949 and redirected its military budget to spend the money on health care and education.  It has been a stable democracy ever since, even though many of its neighbors have had military coups and takeovers.  

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants"> among the Daily Photo Bloggers who are commenting upon the situation in Iran.