San Luis waterfall

We hiked up a trail for 45 minutes, stopping along the way to eat guayaba and to swing like tarzan from the vines.

San Luis one of many waterfalls in the area. Different from most waterfalls because we couldn't see the entire thing, due to its size. Wondering how to hike to see the rest, thinking I might need assistance from a local next time!

During the hike down, I ate more guayaba and almost ate a worm....well maybe ate one but this one survived. Can you see it?

Still living in paradise! Treehouses rock!

Seeing. Learning. Understanding

One question I thought about before I left the states, but never really THOUGHT about was: How far can one traveler stretch one US dollar?

Life marker #73

Today, I spent 3 hours conversing with a friend. A local. Talking about opportunities, businesses, in Costa Rica and other Central American countries. There are so many opportunities here. Can't seem to grasp why they're untouched. Learning why life is the way it is for people here.

And after that conversation the rest of the day was consumed with how far one can take that dollar. I'm guilty. I've taken for granted, more time then I'll ever be able to count, life in the states. How the land of opportunity allows people to make more green bills in a year, than some here in a lifetime. People struggle here to make $6000 in one year. And they live happily. Money's not the game, life is.

In another conversation today, someone said to me "money's on the street, you can just find it." I believe that 110% and am trying to understand why they don't chase it. It's not the way of life here. But my 'gringo' mind wanders, all day, everyday, about all the 'green streets.'


$6000 in one year. Think about that. Just for a minute. Please, one minute.

My right arm

So when toucans come close, you do whatever you can to see them. I just spent 20 minutes on the roof, here at The Treehouse Hotel.

While deliriously running with my camera, I left my right arm on the door to the patio. OUCH....It was totally worth it. The toucan, Willy (I've now named him) was just 20 yards away in the tree. Happily enjoying lunch!

I love this place....but I do miss my right arm.

Painting the sky

This is a normal occurrence in Monteverde. Not sure if it's really fair, but I'm definitely okay with these sunsets. The photos were taken on the patio of Hidden Canopy. If this doesn't tempt you for a Costa Rica Trip, I don't know what will!

Extremo

Want experience zip-lining!? Check it out!

Click on 'Extremo' to understand~!

Why does salt and baking soda look so similar?

Last night I had the itch to cook. Potato soup sounded perfect. However, I've never made it. Thinking....this can't be that hard, throw in a bunch of potatoes, a few veggies, add milk and butter and we're good to go. Well, of all things to mess up I added baking soda instead of salt. There are 4 clear containers in the kitchen that all contain white substances. So when grabbing what I thought was salt and tossing it in, I instead decided to add alka seltzer to the potatoes. Perfect!

Try explaining why the soup sucks.....in Spanish. And then, try watching everyone's faces while they attempt to swallow.

I love this place!

Good thing the brownies I made before were amazing.

In the clouds.....

Believe it or not but I live in the clouds, literally. Check it out.


Hidden Canopy" without clouds

The view with out clouds

Now do you understand what I say when I'm breathing clouds

The clouds taking over the main house

And oh yea, the sunset from the other night. Was standing on the roof! I love this hotel"

Life....... in the caves

On Monday I went with Christian, Jenn's boyfriend, down to Barra Honda which is also a National Park. Spent the night at his families house and celebrated Costa Rica's Independence Day on Tuesday. Sooooo great. If you ever come to Costa Rica, you MUST MUST MUST take a trip to this park. Caves, animals, a spectacular view point and great people.

The festival in Nicoya was interesting. People were everywhere, the parade lasted well over 3 hours. And it consisted only of students in bands. Drums and bells. That's it. Including the ocassional dancers and flag holders. Venders around sold typical food....pork or chicken on a stick with rice. Rice with everything. Tried my luck at a pinnapple/carrot juice and it was delish!



My lunch in Barra Honda. Joe, a Ranger there, told me to eat the entire bowl. It was leche con tortilla's heated up. Hahah. Couldn't stop laughing

The decent into the cave, 17 meters down to start, deeper once inside.

Cute little guy!

Huge....HUGE centipede

Named "the family" another natural formation of calcium

The caves started as a centimeter of calcium carbonate

"you go first"

Hidde room, untouched

coral fossils

Eggs anyone?

Waterfall or exploded milkshake...

Looking up

She was coming through the hole we all had to crawl and twist through. Not normal for the human body to do this, it made the experience!

"holy moly"

Sharks teeth???

Just another day in a cave......

They call the big things hanging papaya

We sat here and chilled for a bit before leaving, so awesome!

A vulture gliding over

Looking at Costa Ricas largest island in the Nicoya Peninsula

Hanging out with a University class during the tour

Howler monkeys throwing things at us on the way down from the cave

Christian and his mom, preparing coconut juice

In the morning in Barra Honda, I was on the patio with Christian's mom and she started screaming. This Boa was 1 meter from the patio. It was completely still until Christian came.

Then it regurgitated the toad and tried to run, but no luck.

Onto the celebration of Costa Rica's Independence day on September 15th. Went with a couple Germans, a few Barra Honda park workers and Christian to see the parade in Nicoya.

Kids of every size showing their stuff

Macy's parade, I think not.


Please note they are wearing heels.

Watching the 3 hour parade of drums!

Traditional dresses

Hummingbirds, Butterflies, suspended bridges and more!

Spent the better part of a day roaming around a place called Selvetura yesterday. The offer a variety of activities: zip lining, to a stroll around a highly scientific insect museum.

Keep in mind that I had the guide during the Butterflies tour and insect museum speaking to me in Spanish (my choice.) After the tours, my brain was WORN out. So many new words in Spanish about life cycles and eating patterns.

(ps tried to upload 3 other pics of the butterflies but my computer has a cold at the moment, maybe tomorrow!)


The larva of a Blue Morpho butterfly

The butterfly garden was incredible. Costa Rica houses over 400 butterflies. This garden doesn't have that many but they do tell you about the life cycle and show you every step of the process. I witnessed many laying eggs, saw a male Blue Morpho do a mating dance around a female. Watched the larva of monarchs eat away at leaves and was amazed by every color represented on a butterfly. Most of them are camouflaged on the underside and have amazing colors on the topside.


Looking down 50 meters into a ravine, the fern was atleast 3-4 meters across

I almost fell over when I spotted this....Kat and Mary, thought you would enjoy!!

Love love love this!




Welcome to the jungle!


The jungle was beautiful.....so many species. To say that I walked with over 10,000 species would be an understatement. The flowers, trees, plants and life in the jungle are beautiful and mysterious. There were about 12 suspended bridges in all and the hike was just under 2 miles. Along the way I made friends with two workers, used my broken Spanish to chat with them for a few minutes, one told me his name was Pocahontas. I think they were just playing with me!

What you see in the jungle when you look up

At canopy level....loving it!

Typical site

Heliconia flowers

I wandered around the jungle via suspended bridges. The bridges offer great views and also another prospective, instead of hiking and always looking up, you have to look down. The ferns that grow here are HUGE, spreading meters across the canopy. Also, remember that Costa Rica has the Jesus Christ Lizard (named because it can run across water)....that lizard was filmed in Jurassic Park. P.S. that movie was filmed here in Costa Rica.



"yeaaaa, so wonder what way I'm supposed to go in the jungle" ....should I have gotten a guide?

Took my time playing with the hummingbirds. The put up 6 feeder systems where hundreds of hummingbirds raid every minute. I stood within inches of many species of hummingbirds for 30 minutes. Their wings could propel a jet engine. They move so fast but are so precise when sticking their small SMALL beak inside the feeder for nectar. In Monteverde, there are about 30 species of Hummingbirds.


Spanish lessons in the morning......again.........always!

Have I said that I'm obsessed with Mangos?