COSTA RICA

                                Couple More Costa Rican Experiences

We drove through Braulio Carrillo National Forest where the foliage was lush and thick. Named for Costa Rica’s third president Braulio Carrillo Colina, the area protects 6000 species of plants and 333 birds. We saw a couple of small waterfalls.  We stopped in the rain forest bordering the national park on the far side for an aerial tram ride through the canopy of the forest. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. The sun was shining on a  clear day.

We boarded a six passenger gondola where a local guide was waiting for us. He was good about identifying and pointing out birds to us. We saw a rare black bird, a duck sitting in a tree, lots of palm and mahogany trees. There were several streams running on the ground below. It was so quiet up in the canopy---the only sounds being those of birds.

After the tram ride we took a half hour nature hike on the rain forest floor. We all were fascinated with the many leaf-cutter ants busily working away. Their nesting area was huge. The guide pointed out a small, but very poisonous snake. This private rain forest covers 470 acres and the tram is fourteen years old. It was a new experience for the girls and great fun for us all!

Butterfly gardens are always fun and often one sees unusual butterflies that you’d probably not see in the wild. It is hard to photograph butterflies as they always seem to be in flight. We saw lots of the blue morpho butterflies on this trip. The beautiful blue is easy to spot as it stands out against the green backdrop.  Later we rode by many pineapple fields and banana plantations. The last few miles to the canal boats for Tortuguero National Park were over a bumpy dirt road.  At the dock people were selling coconut milk. The coconuts were small and round. For a dollar a fellow with a sharp machete cut off the top of the coconut and inserted a straw. Not only were the perfectly round coconuts a different shape than the ones we were familiar with in Hawaii, but the ‘milk’ was clear and very mild in taste. Until I watched the actual process of preparing the coconuts I thought they may have filled the nut with water. There was perhaps an eighth of an inch of coconut meat in each shell. I liked the cool and refreshing ‘coconut water’.

            There is only one way to get to Tortuguero National Park and that is by boat. There are no vehicles in the park which consists of several islands connected only by canals. We all boarded a large canopy-covered boat for the hour-plus ride to our hotel. Enroute we saw howler and white-faced capuchin monkeys, snowy egrets, green iguana, rose spoonbill birds, and a small crocodile called a caiman. A caiman can survive in either fresh or salt water and is the most numerous specie of the crocodile family.

            Monkeys were seen several places during this trip with the girls. At the beach they played and scampered just beyond us. One monkey came down on the beach and lifted a pack of crackers from a gal’s beach bag while she lay sunning and oblivious to all the activity. The white faced monkeys are very social and are great fun to watch. We also had the chance to see and watch sloths---are they slow! It would take all day for them to climb up a tree!

CURIOSITIES

                                           Odds and Ends
  

            In 1974 a group of  Danish airline pilots bought a 1785 grain warehouse and remodeled it into the Admiral Hotel. On a second trip to Copenhagen I stayed at the Admiral. Located on the waterfront in the heart of the city, it was unique and lovely. The original granary had a rustic charm. The thick brick walls had exposed beams and the graceful brick archways were accented with 12 X 15-inch beams 200 years old. They sure built things to last in the old days and Danes save and recycle a lot of their old buildings and what a wonderful job they do of it! The hotel now is owned by a large hotel chain.

Weeping Soldier

I have visited many war memorials, cemeteries and eternal flames, but one memorial that really touched my heart was the weeping soldier in Viden, Bulgaria. The bronze statue portrays a soldier sitting on the battlefield with head bowed weeping for all the victims killed that day in battle. It is an unusual statue as most soldiers are depicted on their horse. I’ve tried unsuccessfully to find out more information about the statue. I believe it was erected in honor of WWI soldiers.

A Favorite Food

            It was a Sunday when I visited St. Andrews, Scotland. After visiting the famous golf course, which is closed on Sunday, and stepping on that legendary 18^th green, we took off  to walk about the small town. I can’t resist foreign grocery stores, so when I spotted one, I had to have a look-see. My favorite berry of all time is the raspberry, so when I spied the fresh big berries I had to buy the pint. We strolled down the main street and I ate a berry with every  step. I did offer them to my friend but she refused. By the time we reached the street corner, the berries were gone, hopefully they were organic and clean, but it didn’t matter the box was empty! The trash can on the corner was waiting for me to discard all evidence. I so enjoyed my indulgence!

A Naughty Boy

Walking down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland we stopped at the Deacon Brodie Pub to see and admire the lovely ceiling we’d heard about. The ceiling is low for an old building. It is wood with outlined squares of raised thistles and red rose motifs. It  is truly gorgeous. Brodie, the son of a cabinetmaker, was born on Brodie Close.  The wealthy pious citizen was elected to Deacon Counselor in 1781, but at night he turned into a gambler and thief.  He carried a wax plug in his pocket to press key impressions. Then when he knew the residents were not home, he used a newly made key to enter their home to steal jewelry and money. He actually was an inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde. Eventually he was caught and hanged at St. Giles in 1788. In a twist of fate he was hung by a gallows, which he had improved upon. Both his birthplace and death place are close to the tavern named for him.

And Your Age is…..

            We were told that in China they are not shy about asking anyone their age. I happened to be the oldest in our small group and after our hostess  learned this she assumed I was feeble. As we ascended a flight of stairs she grabbed my arm and nearly hauled me up the stairs. They respect age in all facets of life. Younger people yielded seats, right of way etc all the time. It was kind of nice!

Monkey Business

            At Manuel Antonio Beach in Costa Rica the light sand is fine, and the turquoise blue water clear and calm.  A group of squirrel monkeys came from the trees to the beach to visit some sunning tourists. Several carried a baby on her back. Playful they entertained us for some time. One woman was surprised when a monkey approached her towel and stole a cracker from her package then scampered off to eat it. Squirrel monkeys travel in groups and like lower tree areas. They were fearless and so much fun to watch.

More Monkey Business

            On one of my visits to the Schonbrunn in Vienna I stood in front of a painting of a lovely lady with a monkey on her head. The docent explained that centuries ago it was common for people not to bathe for months and inevitably little critters set up housekeeping in women’s long hair. The monkey provided income for its master as he made his rounds and relief from itching for the fair ladies!