I am now in the lovely caribbean town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca! It is green, hilly and sits alongside the caribbean coast. It is in the south-eastern portion of the country.
After arriving from a 4 hour bus ride, I headed straight to the beach - I deserved it afterall that sitting. Sat on the beach and just watched the waves and the salty mist roll ashore. The beach is tree lined with palms and other species and has some coral protruding from the sand her and there. I was with Tania, another Canadian on my trip. We chatted and then walked back to our hotel. Dinner was in town, but not until we got completely drenched by a rain storm. And I mean drenched, I had to ring out my cotton skirt before coming in because the floors were hardwood and it was too slippery when wet. Our restaurant was a fusion of Caribbean, Thai, Costa Rican - if you can imagine that! I had a chipolte chicken dish - yummy. While eating we listened to some expats play jazz - it was quite lovely, although most of us were wet the entire dinner! But that is part of the adventure, it is a GAP adventure tour afterall.
Today was a biologists dream! We had a 6 hour hike with Ricki - a local guy who is definitely in the know about the region. Our hike was through Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo. Otherwise known as Manzanillo Park. The park is very densley populated with vegetation, and lots and lots of birds. Today we saw three species of monkeys - and there are only four in all of Costa Rica - that tells you how diverse this park really is. The monkeys put on quite a show for us, breaking branches and behaving like wild chimps! It was pretty entertaining. We also saw two venomous snakes, the yellow eyelash viper! One was very yellow - like that colour of a dandelion. After Ricki let us all take a picture, he then told us how fatal its bite would be - whew! We also watched lots of different species of ants working away to bring leaves, or flowers to their colony. It was really amazing - until I started feeling little bites on my feet - Ooch!
The park was made a national park in 1985 and extends from Manzanillo (the town south of here) all the way to Panama - some 5000 hectares. The Costa Rican government is really making an effort to give back to what they now know was a mistake in farming their forests.
The hike seemed really long because we were told it would only be 3-4 hours, so we didn't really have any food. And most of us went through our water pretty quickly. It was a hot, and very humid day. If you closed your eyes and just listened you could hear the ocean in the distance, cicads buzzing away, red frogs calling for hopeful mates, and howler monkeys reminding us of their territorial bounds. It was a dream hike for any biology graduate! And I am pleased to report that most of what the guide said, I already knew -- and most others didn't, being our first hike. Sort of like when others talk business, and I get all glossy eyed! I was in my element.
Tomorrow we are heading north to Tortuguero - it will be a 8 hour journey. We have one night there and then we are off to a reserve called Rare Avis. This reserve is so remote that we have to take a 4 hour tractor ride to get there. Once we are there, there is no electricity for two days! Just nature, nature, and nature! I am really excited about this part of my trip.
My group is great. There are two couples, one from England, the other from Montreal. Then the girls! Yep, mostly women. We have 2 Canadians, 1 Brit, 1 Aussie and 3 Americans! There are two trip leaders because one of them is in training (one male- lucky fellow-Chimi, and a female- Leah). So far, it seems that everyone is jelling quite nicely. Outside of a few mishaps - one girl can't get any money from her bank card, and another girl just got her luggage tonight - we are off to the races!
Won't be updating until I reached Monderverde or La Forunta - where I will be ziplinning! I must remember to bring my usb/photo card for the next blog update.
Signing off and meeting up with my group...
Brenda
After arriving from a 4 hour bus ride, I headed straight to the beach - I deserved it afterall that sitting. Sat on the beach and just watched the waves and the salty mist roll ashore. The beach is tree lined with palms and other species and has some coral protruding from the sand her and there. I was with Tania, another Canadian on my trip. We chatted and then walked back to our hotel. Dinner was in town, but not until we got completely drenched by a rain storm. And I mean drenched, I had to ring out my cotton skirt before coming in because the floors were hardwood and it was too slippery when wet. Our restaurant was a fusion of Caribbean, Thai, Costa Rican - if you can imagine that! I had a chipolte chicken dish - yummy. While eating we listened to some expats play jazz - it was quite lovely, although most of us were wet the entire dinner! But that is part of the adventure, it is a GAP adventure tour afterall.
Today was a biologists dream! We had a 6 hour hike with Ricki - a local guy who is definitely in the know about the region. Our hike was through Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Gandoca-Manzanillo. Otherwise known as Manzanillo Park. The park is very densley populated with vegetation, and lots and lots of birds. Today we saw three species of monkeys - and there are only four in all of Costa Rica - that tells you how diverse this park really is. The monkeys put on quite a show for us, breaking branches and behaving like wild chimps! It was pretty entertaining. We also saw two venomous snakes, the yellow eyelash viper! One was very yellow - like that colour of a dandelion. After Ricki let us all take a picture, he then told us how fatal its bite would be - whew! We also watched lots of different species of ants working away to bring leaves, or flowers to their colony. It was really amazing - until I started feeling little bites on my feet - Ooch!
The park was made a national park in 1985 and extends from Manzanillo (the town south of here) all the way to Panama - some 5000 hectares. The Costa Rican government is really making an effort to give back to what they now know was a mistake in farming their forests.
The hike seemed really long because we were told it would only be 3-4 hours, so we didn't really have any food. And most of us went through our water pretty quickly. It was a hot, and very humid day. If you closed your eyes and just listened you could hear the ocean in the distance, cicads buzzing away, red frogs calling for hopeful mates, and howler monkeys reminding us of their territorial bounds. It was a dream hike for any biology graduate! And I am pleased to report that most of what the guide said, I already knew -- and most others didn't, being our first hike. Sort of like when others talk business, and I get all glossy eyed! I was in my element.
Tomorrow we are heading north to Tortuguero - it will be a 8 hour journey. We have one night there and then we are off to a reserve called Rare Avis. This reserve is so remote that we have to take a 4 hour tractor ride to get there. Once we are there, there is no electricity for two days! Just nature, nature, and nature! I am really excited about this part of my trip.
My group is great. There are two couples, one from England, the other from Montreal. Then the girls! Yep, mostly women. We have 2 Canadians, 1 Brit, 1 Aussie and 3 Americans! There are two trip leaders because one of them is in training (one male- lucky fellow-Chimi, and a female- Leah). So far, it seems that everyone is jelling quite nicely. Outside of a few mishaps - one girl can't get any money from her bank card, and another girl just got her luggage tonight - we are off to the races!
Won't be updating until I reached Monderverde or La Forunta - where I will be ziplinning! I must remember to bring my usb/photo card for the next blog update.
Signing off and meeting up with my group...
Brenda
4 comments:
Hello B,
Glad you are having such a fabulous time! ... where are the rest of us you ask? Well, some of us have to work for a living you know! We can't play with the monkeys all day! ... although sometimes it feels like that's what I'm doing here at the office!
You're not missing much here, so have a great time and don't worry about us! LOL!
Keep up the great stories, they brighten my day!
Cheers!
Brenda
It sounds like you're having some great adventures.
I had no idea what Gap Tours was all about. I thought you would be canoeing, hiking and mountain biking in Costa Rica. What do I know?
I'll soon find out from your Blogs.
Take care, have fun, be well and be safe.
Regards, Mary Ellen
Bee Bee,
So much fun! That is terrific!
Enjoy reading your blog and am happy you have good company to share your experiences.
Snowing tonight! My first day off after 5 days at Parkview Club, my new "third" home after the Dunfield and my little apt! It's a "different" kind of adventure but an adventure nonetheless!
Bee Bee, be well, be safe, be happy!
Thinking of you,
Jean
Hi Brends,
We're home from Cuba. We had a great, relaxing time and we gave our livers a first rate workout!
The snorkelling on site was great and my new wetsiut allowed me to stay out much longer than usual.
Your trip sounds really good. I can just picture you at the Italian restaurant eating the creamiest dish availble. You go girl!
I can also picture you leading the next biological talk through the forest. I bet you are getting some really amazing photos.
Can't wait to hear how things are going now.
Love Shelley and Dan the Man
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