Archive for August 2014

Tree Houses and Toucans

Today we said a reluctant goodby to Michael and Marianne, Jennifer’s parents. They arrived a week ago and together we explored more of Costa Rica. By this time we’re starting to get familiar with with the roads and the innumerable fantastic tourist destinations on offer here.

I started the week working while Jen and Quinn showed Mike and Marianne some of the local attractions, including a coffee plantation and a private nature reserve.

The nature reserve featured waterfalls, iguanas wandering around free, and lots of birds including this toucan.

The nature reserve featured waterfalls, iguanas wandering around free, and lots of birds including this toucan.

Quinn had a great time rock climbing near the falls.

Quinn had a great time rock climbing near the falls.

Polly wanna cracker.

Polly wanna cracker.

On Wednesday afternoon we packed up one of our landlord’s rental cars and headed for the Lake Arenal area where we spent two nights in the Tree House Hotel.

The rooms weren't actually built in trees, but their high perch made them great for bird watching.

The rooms weren’t actually built in trees, but their high perch made them great for bird watching.

This was one of the best birding areas we've visited. Each morning the staff would put half a plantain out to entice the birds.

This was one of the best birding areas we’ve visited. Each morning the staff would put half a plantain out to entice the birds.

More plaintains and a hummingbird feeder near where we ate breakfast ensured that the show continued.

More plaintains and a hummingbird feeder near where we ate breakfast ensured that the show continued.

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We went for a hike in a private reserve. It was similar to the "bridges" hike we did with Brian and Lisa in Monte Verde.

We went for a hike in a private reserve. It was similar to the “bridges” hike we did with Brian and Lisa in Monte Verde.

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The clouds finally cleared enough to give us a good view of the Arenal Volcano.

The clouds finally cleared enough to give us a good view of the Arenal Volcano.

A 30 minute walk from our room brought us to a waterfall where we could have a swim and cool off.

A 30 minute walk from our room brought us to a waterfall where we could have a swim and cool off.

And of course more birds…

This one happens to be the national bird of Costa Rica, so anointed because it has long helped farmers predict changes in seasons and weather.

This one happens to be the national bird of Costa Rica, so anointed because it has long helped farmers predict changes in seasons and weather.

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Costa Rica with the Sparks

This is the second time that I’ve joined the Sparks on an adventure in a far off land. The first was June, 2004, when we met in Tanzania, Africa, for a hike up Kilimanjaro followed by some safaris. For this go around, we wanted something exotic, but accessible. So, Costa Rica naturally came to the top of the list. Lots of wildlife, volcanoes, jungles, beaches, and even the same time zone as home!

Witt and Jen rented a simple house with plenty of bedrooms and a great view of San Jose. You could watch the airplanes take off and land from SJO!

View of San Jose.

View of San Jose.

 

Sunsets were spectacular!

Sunsets were spectacular!

 

On the first day we tried to visit a former military prison that was converted into a children’s museum. Unknown to us at the time, it was Mother’s Day in Costa Rica, and all the museums were closed.

Museo de los niños

Museo de los niños

This of course lead to some unhappy children!

No museum!

No museum!

 

You can fix that by chasing pigeons!

 

The second day I wanted to see a volcano! Apparently Witt has a job on his permanent vacation, so he didn’t join us for this day trip.

All work and no play make Witt a dull boy.

All work and no play make Witt a dull boy.

 

So, we loaded up the van and headed up the hill to the Poas Volcano. We needed gas in the van and decided to follow the first Gasolineria sign that we saw. Little did we know that it was 4Km down the road. I tried my best navigating on the iPad, however my skills were not as good as Jen’s. We did eventually find the gas station, which was a good thing as we did not see one for the rest of the trip up the volcano. At the gas station, Jen let me in on a secret that she didn’t know how to open the gas tank! The volcano was very cloudy, but occasionally you could catch a glimpse of the lake in the caldera. Afterwards we had a nice hike in the rain back to the van. Luckily, we missed the heavy downpours!

A glimpse into the volcano!

A glimpse into the volcano!

 

On the third day we headed south to Quepos. We rented a car from the landlord, and we fit right in on the Costa Rican roads! The drive down to the Pacific coast was uneventful. The crocs that are visible from a bridge made for a good rest stop. We waited in town and had a late lunch until it was check-in time at the rental house. I’ll let you guess the first thing we did!

Can't resist this after a 3 hour drive!

Can’t resist this after a 3 hour drive!

 

The rental house was great. Good views, the pool, a nice kitchen and even air conditioned bedrooms! We spent a good bit of time just relaxing, drinking, reading, building Legos, and playing Minecraft. One of the main attractions of Quepos is its proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park. We spent a day walking through the park and hanging on the beach. The amount of wildlife that you can see in such a short distance is amazing. We saw monkeys, snakes, deer, woodpeckers, toucans, humans, raccoons, frogs, sloth and lizards.

View of the Pacific Ocean through the rain forest.

View of the Pacific Ocean through the rain forest.

Playa Hermosa beach at Manuel Antonio National Park

Playa Hermosa beach at Manuel Antonio National Park

Jamie, Taylor and myself are not really water people...

Jamie, Taylor and myself are not really water people…

 

For the last day in Quepos, Witt and I went in search of Mountain Bikes to rent.

These aren't the bikes we're looking for...

These aren’t the bikes we’re looking for…

 

So, we ended up with a kayak and boat trip through a mangrove swamp. By luck, the weather was the best we had while visiting Quepos. It was a perfect day to be on a boat. We got to see quite a few different birds, a snake, a croc, and a few monkeys.

Boat ride for 3!

I’m on a boat!

Boat ride for 3!

Boat ride for 3!

 

It was a great trip and good to spend time with the Sparks on the road again. Perhaps we’ll join for another adventure a little further south…

Rolling down the road.

Rolling down the road.

Beach time in Costa Rica

Thanks very much to Nick, Jamie, and Taylor for coming to visit us and sharing the amazing house they rented near the beach. “Casa Wow” as it is known had a swimming pool and even a dishwasher, both of which were put to good use.

Just hangin' around. We spotted these howler monkeys on our way back from Monte Verde.

Just hangin’ around. We spotted these howler monkeys on our way back from Monte Verde.

The Seemiller family arrived a couple of days later, and after visiting "our" local volcano and a coffee farm we headed to the beach.

The Seemiller family arrived a couple of days later, and after visiting “our” local volcano and a coffee farm we headed to the beach.

We saw these guys from a bridge on the way to the coast.

We saw these guys from a bridge on the way to the coast.

We passed the time waiting to check into our house in a playground in Quepos.

We passed the time waiting to check into our house in a playground in Quepos.

Nick and Witt got jealous and kicked the kids off the teeter-totter.

Nick and Witt got jealous and kicked the kids off the teeter-totter.

Casa Wow was a great, quiet place to hang out. We got to see some amazing thunderstorms from the deck.

Casa Wow was a great, quiet place to hang out. We got to see some amazing thunderstorms from the deck.

We did a short hike into Manuel Antonio park. Although the park was crowded we saw lots of wildlife and made it to the beach.

We did a short hike into Manuel Antonio park. Although the park was crowded we saw lots of wildlife and made it to the beach.

Quinn and I played in the waves for almost an hour. Quinn loves body surfing!

Quinn and I played in the waves for almost an hour. Quinn loves body surfing!

I got stung by a ray or something, and a couple of days later my foot swelled up like a sausage. Back in Alajuela I went to a clinic for some anti-biotics. Glad it got me and not Q!

I got stung by a ray or something, and a couple of days later my foot swelled up like a sausage. Back in Alajuela I went to a clinic for some anti-biotics. Glad it got me and not Q!

Manuel Antonio had tons of capuchins that pretty much made a living off stealing people's lunches.

Manuel Antonio had tons of capuchins that pretty much made a living off stealing people’s lunches.

The Seemillers enjoying some pool time at Casa Wow.

The Seemillers enjoying some pool time at Casa Wow.

On the way back to Alajuela we had to pull over to let a bike race go by.

On the way back to Alajuela we had to pull over to let a bike race go by.

We don't get many pictures of our van on the road. Thanks Jamie!

We don’t get many pictures of our van on the road. Thanks Jamie!

The world’s fastest plant and the world’s slowest animal, all in one week:

More fun in Monte Verde

During our second full day in the cloud forest we visited another reserve. This one had hiking trails and several suspension bridges. The bridges kept things interesting for Quinn and we had a great hike.

Quinn and Amy in the forest house

Quinn and Amy in the forest house

The forest house had another resident too.

The forest house had another resident too.

The suspension bridges gave us an opportunity to look out over the forest canopy.

The suspension bridges gave us an opportunity to look out over the forest canopy.

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Quinn and Lisa navigating

Quinn and Lisa navigating

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That evening Lisa arranged for a guided night hike. There are a lot more critters out at night, and we even saw a wild cat (called a margay) up close – he was moving through a tree right above us! We kept the kids close as we watched the cat, which was about twice the size of a house cat, jump from tree to tree and finally run off through the underbrush. We knew we’d seen something special when our guide was excitedly telling other guides what we’d seen!

A scorpion on a tree under UV light

A scorpion on a tree under UV light

This python hangs upside down from low branches waiting for an unsuspecting rodent to pass by.

This python hangs upside down from low branches waiting for an unsuspecting rodent to pass by.

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The next morning it was time to pack up and leave the forest bungalow. After stopping for lunch on the road back to San Jose, we said goodbye to Brian and Lisa. They headed down to the coast for some beach time, while we went back to Alajuela to prepare for the arrival of our next visitors!

Here’s some video from the hike, a couple of bees getting busy, and some crazy leaf cutter ants at night:

Oh, and for those of you who view our site on mobile devices, my friend Nick finally made me add some left margin so now the page shouldn’t be right up against the edge of the screen. Thanks Nick!

Time with Friends in Costa Rica

After a quick three days on the road, we arrived at our house in the hills above Alajuela, Costa Rica. When we arrived, we noticed a few things right away. Salmon-colored cabinets and bath fixtures, an empty swimming pool (although the hot tub was full), and water dripping onto the bed in one of the bedrooms. Not a great start to a five week stay, but fortunately the owner, Frank, and manager, Mike, are very friendly and are going out of their way to get things sorted out.

Since before our trip began Jen and I have been following the adventures of Discover Share Inspire, a family of eight traveling in a veggie oil powered truck. They are living in Costa Rica, and we were finally able to meet them in person for a picnic in a park in San Jose.

A few of the kids from Discover, Share, Inspire in a park in San Jose

A few of the kids from Discover, Share, Inspire

We had a few days on our own, then the first of three sets of friends arrived from the US. Brian and Lisa and their daughter Amy lived a few blocks from us in Denver.

After they spent a day relaxing from their red-eye flight, we visited the Poas Volcano, an active volcano 20km up the hill from our house. It was a little overcast, but cleared enough for us to get a view into the crater.

The sulfur smell from the volcano was strong on the hike up to the rim.

The sulfur smell from the volcano was strong on the hike up to the rim.

We had a great time hiking around the park.

We had a great time hiking around the park.

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At a nearby wildlife sanctuary.

At a nearby wildlife sanctuary.

Quinn the explorer documenting his adventures

Quinn the explorer documenting his adventures

Wouldn't want this guy creeping around your bedroom at night!

Wouldn’t want this guy creeping around your bedroom at night!

The kids got a big kick out of the monkeys.

The kids got a big kick out of the monkeys.

Quinn’s take on the experience:

Frank and Mike put on a barbeque for us at the house. This is us with Carlos, one of the maintenance staff, and his family.

Frank and Mike put on a barbeque for us at the house. This is us with Carlos, one of the maintenance staff, and his family.

On Friday we packed up and drove to a house that Brian and Lisa rented in Monte Verde, an area high in the cloud forest and known for eco-tours and wildlife. It was a rainy day, which made the drive a bit of an adventure.

It was raining too hard for a picnic outside, so all six of us crowded into the van for lunch on the way to Monte Verde.

It was raining too hard for a picnic outside, so all six of us crowded into the van for lunch on the way to Monte Verde.

Climbing into the cloud forest, we can see where it gets it's name.

Climbing into the cloud forest, we can see where it gets it’s name.

The last 30km or so into Monte Verde is only now in the process of being paved. On our way up, a very muddy looking car headed the other way flagged us down to ask if we had four wheel drive and warn us of mud ahead. Fortunately Brian and Lisa had rented an SUV, so after jumping out to lock the hubs we pressed on in the rain.

This wasn't the worst of the mud; I didn't want to get out there to take pictures.

This wasn’t the worst of the mud; I didn’t want to get out there to take pictures.

There was only a short stretch where the road crews had scraped off all of the road base to create a nice mudhole. We didn’t have any problems, but it was a little scary when a car coming down the hill toward us started sliding around!

After a couple of hours on rough, windy roads, we were happy to arrive at our little house tucked into the forest.

After a couple of hours on rough, windy roads, we were happy to arrive at our little house tucked into the forest.

The next day we went for a hike in a nearby forest reserve. We saw several birds and a Coati, which we decided looked like a cross between a raccoon and an anteater.

The next day we went for a hike in a nearby forest reserve. We saw several birds and a Coati, which we decided looked like a cross between a raccoon and an anteater.

Photographer Brian and his creative director Amy

Photographer Brian and his creative director Amy

Whoa! Big tree!

Whoa! Big tree!

What to do after a hike but catch up with your friends on Facebook. Look at me in Costa Rica!

What to do after a hike but catch up with your friends on Facebook. Look at me in Costa Rica!