A small village nestled in the mountains in the south of Costa Rica - south of San Isidro de General, Santa Maria de Dota was the recipient of support from the Women's Club of Costa Rica in 2006 to improve (or establish, can't remember which) the local school, which is how my mother heard of it (and went to visit!). When I was visiting in 2007, I asked to go there, because I was curious (my mother had been reminiscing about it when I asked her more about the Women's Club), and she drove me out there. This picture is taken from the main road leading in to the village (don't know that there are any other roads leading in/out). Good thing I'd known about Costa Rican roads before I asked to go, because getting there we experienced everything from the best to the worst! It's a nice little town, with the small village atmosphere throughout. They do have modern amenities, like sodas (aka "Mom and Pop restaurants"), but it's still got the sense of slower life and restfulness that is common to places outside the cities. Taken March 3, 2007, at 11:58 hrs.