Lis's Project 365

Leaf cutter ants are cool.

while back at home they’re getting a snowstorm…

Today we went snorkeling, something I have never done before on Christmas and am not all that likely to ever do again. Sadly, I do not have an underwater camera, so I have no shots of the many fish we saw, just this picture of pasty white North Americans heading back to the bus after a great morning on the water.

we’ll be at La Cusinga for three nights. It is beautiful here; our room looks out over the ocean and the jungle is right outside our door. The room itself is all wood but with stone floors that help keep the room cool.

Today we went for a drive down a very scary road and then went for a hike. Saw howler monkeys and white-faced capuchins–very cool.  We also saw some pretty amazing trees, including this one, which is a type of fig tree.

we took a short ride down to the beach today, and I spotted a very tiny shell moving down the beach in a rather deliberate way. I picked it up and promptly got some tiny little pinches. I put it back down and he hid for a moment before scurrying away. This little guy was probably about the size of my pinkie fingernail.

This morning after breakfast I sat and watched the hummingbirds, which I am completely enchanted by. We counted 5 or 6 different types just in the garden at Savegre Lodge. This picture is not as stunning as the sort Doug would take, but that just goes to show how easy it was to get in close to them for a picture.

Today’s hike started on a wide road but when we reached this bridge, it narrowed so we had to walk single file. It was a beautiful hike, though a bit drizzly at the end. And happily we did not run into any of the multiple types of dangerous snakes we had been warned about.

We went to this place near San Jose today that had, among other things, a little frog enclosure. I was told that there were around 60 individual frogs in there, but they were hard to spot. Many were on the underside of leaves, like this fellow.

My dad loves frogs; he would love this place.

There is a short trail behind our hotel. It is mainly surrounded by coffee plants, but there are plenty of beautiful tropical varieties as well. Doug spotted a couple that we recognize as popular houseplants. I don’t know what this one is, but it sure is bright. If this is what we can find here on the outskirts of San Jose, the jungle is going to be outstanding.