1/31/26 Saturday
This lodge is pretty cool. Its called the Selve Verde Lodge. Verde is right! We're in the rainforest and its very green! Outside the restaurant they feed the birds and you can watch them. I’ve decided it’s best that I skip the rain forest hike this morning so I told Rebeca. Unfortunately because of Roads Scholar protocols (mainly left over from Covid probably) I now have to self isolate for 24 hrs. Unfortunately for everyone else they’ve already been exposed to whatever I have. On the other hand this is a pretty cool place to hang out and be lazy for a day. I don’t mind that much missing the kayaking this afternoon. Really the only thing remaining that I would be really sad to miss is the zip lining.
In the afternoon I did a self guided hike around the lodge. Trees and flowers mostly. I also walked across the creepy suspension bridge over the river.
2/1/26 Sunday
On our way to the Pacific Coast. We have a long drive today., but its broken up with activities. I’m out of the 24 hr quarantine but I have to wear a mask on the bus. Other people are wearing masks too out of an abundance of caution I think. At least one other person on the tour was in quarantine yesterday too.
Grey and rainy today. If it doesn’t change I may have to dig my poncho out of my suitcase for the hike this afternoon.
Today is Election Day in Costa Rica. Everyone has to go to the town where they were born to vote. We’re passing through small towns and can see people lining up! There are 23 candidates for president so they may need a runoff election which would be held in April.
Note: one of the candidates (the more conservative one I believe) got a majority of the votes, so no run off was needed).
We stop for bathrooms and snacks. Its Cold! (50F); we are up in the mountains. Rebeca treats us, I get hot chocolate, very good! We crest the mountains, start down the other side and the sun comes out and it stops raining and the temperature starts to rise. Amazing!
We stop at a roadside restaurant for lunch. Very touristy. Bought some Tshirts for the boys and a dress for Emi. Now its suddenly very warm, in the upper 80’s!
Our hike is at Cara National Park. iI’s a dry forest so there weren’t a lot of animals but we did see some howler monkeys, two of them way up in a tree.
The last place we are staying is the Punta Leona Resort, on the Pacific Coast. Its a very big place, very spread out. We run into a hassle getting a room key that works but eventually they figure it out and the room is fine. The food at the resort restaurant is very good.
2/2/26
On to zip lining! The place we go has 10 lines, 12 platforms. I had been so excited for this activity but it has gradually dawned on me that it’s been at least 14 years since I did this in the White Mountains with the Westie people and we became friends.
I’m older (that's my excuse) and at first I couldn’t hold the cable with one hand properly so they had me hold the cable with both hands for the first 3 or 4 lines. They said it was because I was “too light“ but I think they were just being nice.
It took me about 5 lines before I felt confident enough (and they trusted me enough) to put one hand behind me on the cable. With each line I enjoyed it more and had more fun. By the end I had a great time!!
Lee decided not to do it and that was probably a wise choice; he hates heights. I just didn’t look down.
We went to a place on a river for lunch and then went on a boat ride to see crocodiles and birds. So many birds!! They gave us a guide or I would never be able to remember what we saw! Highlights were the crocodiles, prehistoric looking beasts, and by the mouth of the river as it drained into the Pacific the flocks of frigate birds and pelicans circling in the sky.
 |
| After While Crocodile |
 |
| Frigate birds |
 |
| Pelicans in a tree |
At the very end as we were docking we saw two scarlet macaws; such beautiful birds!
We drove back to the lodge and took a shower and relaxed for a bit. Lee walked down to reception early to see if he could get some cash (no). I followed at 5:45. I had some basic directions but because I missed the orientation because I was waiting for our room key I got lost and missed the turn to reception. I was with Mark, one of the other guests, but he got confused as well. It’s a big place! Fortunately Mark wasn’t afraid to ask for directions so eventually we figured it out.
The lecture on the scarlet macaws was great! There has been a massive push to stop poaching and bring back their natural population. It’s working because they are providing economic alternatives to poaching for the local population.
A few tidbits, from the lecture: Scarlet Macaws mate for life so you usually see them in pairs. If you see 3 or 4 of them the extras are chicks. Scientists know their flight paths and habits so they can count them and keep track of their population. And as poaching has decreased they have become less afraid of humans and don’t hide as much.
No comments:
Post a Comment