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Published: January 23rd 2017
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Lady GagaJanuary 20
We docked in Puenta Arenas, Costa Rica and met out driver and guide, Alvaro and Andre at the terminal. There are eight of us off on an all day adventure. Our van is a Mercedes and very comfortable. Each of us has their own window. We have plenty of room to spread out.
The journey takes us south from the end of the North American deciduous forest into the north end of the South American rain forest. Our first stop is to visit the white face monkeys; very cute, very active, very hungry. We are heading for a river boat ride. On the way we cross a bridge where tourists throw food to the crocs. Andre says those crocs are lazy and obese and should exercise more. It is the end of the rainy season and a tree called Golden Shower is in full bloom. It turns the hills into a mosaic of gold and green. When it sheds it's blossoms it is like rain falling to the ground.
We turn off the highway and see an ox cart. They are still used in this part of the country. Others
have gaily painted carts and provide photo ops for tourists. This one was of the working variety. We head through a village to the beach where fishermen and women are mending their nets. This is a serious fishing ares and is gender neutral. The daily catch is sold to restaurants, hotels and at the central market. We are looking for the scarlet macaw but have to settle for an iguana and two vultures in a tree.
We board our launch for a cruise on the Tarcoles River and right away we see lizards and iguanas and crocs and birds and Brahman bulls. Lady Gaga is sunning herself on the bank. She is about twenty five and a show off. Herons and egrets and a hawk pose for pictures. The king of the river is Tornado an eighteen footer who was quietly resting after a night hunt. We got up close and personal, a little too up close for me, as this boy is capable of taking down a bull. Because this is a tidal estuary, these crocs dine mainly on fish. Our guide is a good spotter and we see different species of iguana, heron, turtles, swallows,
and lots of others.
After about an hour we head for lunch. Our buffet offered mango juice, rice, black beans, chicken, fried fish, assorted vegetables, plantain and salad. There was the soft scent of flowers in the air as we ate in the shade.
Then we headed back to look for the macaws but they were taking a siesta so we drive up a narrow winding mountain road to a lookout point. The entire coast was laid out before us. Our ship was off in the distance, the river below wound its way to the Pacific, the hills glowed with Golden Showers and a Toucan sat for pictures.
Next we visited a hotel where the pool looked so inviting but we walked through the gardens, over a stream to a colonial era chapel that now has ecumenical services. We saw breadfruit, the cargo of the Bounty of mutiny fame, calabash as in "goodnight Mrs. Calabash, wherever you are". This large gourd is used for making musical instruments like maracas. It was a peaceful walk but it was time to move on.
Our last stop was the obligatory souvenir
Tornadoshop. I picked up some coffee and chocolate then sat is the most comfortable rocking chair I ever enjoyed. When everyone had made there selections, we headed back touring the port town on the way.
It was a long but thoroughly delightful day.
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