Saskatchewan Gypsies

Well, we decided to take another adventure and take a small boat with a guide down the Tarcoles River with the hopes of spotting a crocodile.  We did a similar trip in Mexico but really didn’t see much in terms of crocodiles.  Well, this trip was much more successful as we managed to see dozens of crocodiles of all sizes in many locations on the river.  But, before going there, I want you to see this photo of a Scarlet Macaw that I was able to get before we even began our boat ride.  This is one of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen.

With a fair number of photos taken, we finally got into our boat and began the journey down the river.  We were expecting to be gone for about two hours with the idea of being able to see all kinds of bird life as well as the crocodiles.

First up, the Ahinga bird.  Now this is an interesting looking bird indeed.

Next was the Great Blue Heron.  We actually got to see two different Great Blue Herons during our boat trip.  I guess one isn’t always lucky enough to see this many, let alone one of them.  I took a lot of photos of other herons as well such as the Yellow Crowned Night Heron, the Little Blue Heron, the Tricolored Heron and the Boat-Billed Heron.  However, due to space, I decided to limit myself here with a sampling of bird photos.

One strange looking bird that I just had to put here is called the Purple Gallinule.  I’ve never seen this one before so it rates being included.

Now, finally, a crocodile for your pleasure.  This big daddy crocodile was keeping these Black-Necked Stilts company.  He looked rather lazy which suited us just fine.

Of course, our guide decided that he needed to show a few crocodiles in action.  So, smacking the water with a chicken, he attracted considerable attention from the sleeping crocodiles.  It wasn’t long before a few decided to check out what was for breakfast.

The big guys got awfully close to our boat.  It would have been a disaster if they would have preferred to dine on foreigners instead of chicken.

Personally, I preferred it when they stayed on the shore like this guy who seems a bit cranky.  The small white bird in the background is an Ibis.

This small bird is a Green Kingfisher, one of three types of Kingfishers found in the area.

I began to take photos of the Black Vulture when this Yellow-Headed Caracara happened onto the scene.  Maureen and I often see this bird near our beach in the early mornings, but haven’t been able to get a good photo of him.

This is a Great Egret, quite a bit larger than the usual Snowy Egrets we see on the beach or the Cattle Egrets in the fields near the town.

As we neared our starting point after seeing many more birds including a Southern Lapwing, and some Black Hawks, I got to take a picture of this Osprey.  What a treasure trove of photos for my collection.  Finally, we docked the boat and heard some music coming from the building where we booked our boat.

Maureen made friends with these two older guys and managed to get her photo taken with them.

It was time to return back to the villa.  Upon our return, one of our neighbours asked us what we thought of the earthquake.  “What earthquake?” was our response.  Well, it seems Jaco was a shaking with a 5.0 scale earthquake while we were on the river about ten kilometres north of town.  Strange indeed, as the quake was felt as far away as San Jose.  I guess we are just plain lucky.

Another day, and another adventure in paradise.

A few days ago, we decided to push it for walking distance.  First we walked all the way to the end of the town, a good three kilometres and then took a trail heading up a small mountain that is home of one of the two Canopy Zip-Line Tours.  Along the way, I saw this tree which appeared to be dead for the most part.  But somehow, it wanted to defy its fate and two new shoots were making a valiant attempt to bring the tree back to life.

We got to the end of the town and crossed the highway and began to climb.  Just as we began the climb, we came across this old, abandoned villa which had these two life-sized statues which picture a man and a woman from Costa Rica’s past, before the arrival of the Spanish in 1502.  Back then, the women were in charge of society.

We made it about a kilometre up the trail when we came upon a look out point that was very ornate.  I guess this photo doesn’t exactly show what the look out, but it does show some of the interesting workmanship that is part of the structure.

This is a much better shot to show you the scene from a second look out at a point another kilometer up the trail.  We recognised this place as what we could see every time we walk the beach.

But of course, I didn’t only take photos of structures made by man.  I did take pictures of these ants busy at work and some butterflies and other scenes.  I almost got a photo of a beautiful small bird that was a glowing set of blue-black hues that were almost fluorescent.

About two and a half kilometres up the trail, we came across a wall which was built to hold back the side of the hill so that the trail wouldn’t be closed because of rock and mud slides.  All along the wall, all kinds of scenes of local animals and strange figures were etched into the wall.  Monkeys, jaguars, crocodiles, birds and more.  Even a few scenes with people, scenes which showed the original inhabitants.

Close to the top of the mountain we came across another place we had seen from the beach.  However, it wasn’t a lookout, it was a luxurious home that spoke of someone’s wealth with all kinds of winding stairs, hidden rooms and balconies that hung over open space.  It is now abandoned with only the structure left standing.

We figured that this would be a good place for a photo of the two of us.  It’s a good thing that cameras come with delayed timers so that I can get into the picture with Maureen from time to time.

With the photo done, we continued to the top of the mountain, a distance of just about 4 kilometres.  We climbed up from sea level to about 240 metres or almost 800 feet above sea level in the process.  With the mission accomplished it was time to make the 7.5 kilometre walk back to our villa.  It was a good day.

The Beach of Playa Jaco

I thought it would be good to start off this post with a photo of the beach we took from the side of a mountain on one of our hikes.  As you can probably guess, this post is all about the beach, a place where we spend a good portion of most days.

Now that we have been here for a while we have learned that the beach is about four kilometres long from the rocks and river on the north end, to the rocks and nearby highway on the south end.  It’s a good hike to walk all of it in both directions, especially in the constant heat.

This particular log is where we usually park our footwear, hats and glasses when it is time to play in the surf.  We store our stuff in one of those cloth grocery bags which we got at a local store and hang the bag on one of the little knobs or the log.

Of course, it’s hard to not include a photo of Maureen in this post about our beach, so here it is – yes, those are her footprints in the sand.  On any given day we are at the beach about twice a day.

Sadly, this isn’t a beach that is good for hunting seashells.  This tiny pink shell is a rare thing to see on the beach.  Usually all the shells that we see are filled with owners and are busy making a living in the surf.  It is actually quite different from any other beach experience we have ever had.

This is a surfer’s paradise.  Waves like this make being in the water very interesting indeed.  This is a wave pool beyond your wildest imagination.  The waves are powerful and you have to be careful because of the rip-tide.

As you can see, the waves get so big they literally come crashing right over you.   Both of us have been knocked down a few times while playing in the surf.  Believe it or not, it is fun.

Naturally, there are a lot of surfers here taking the challenge.  More people end up in the drink than being successful at riding a wave like this guy was able to do.  It’s amazing what some of the better surfers can do as tricks with their boards.  And the others?  Well, it does look like a painful sport as we see them crash all over the place.  Like I said, it is fun out here.

And what is a beach with out a sunset or two?  There is little doubt in my mind that sunset is the time of the day when the beach is most crowded.

Everyone wants to see the sun go down.  As the sun dips into the water, cameras are flashing all up and down the beach.  I include our camera in this activity though I don’t use the flash.  More often than not, all eyes are on the sun and frequently we hear applause as it finally sinks into the Pacific Ocean.

Such is daily life on the beach in Playa Jaco.

White Winged Dove

Snowy Egret

Well, as the title tells you, this post if for the birds.  I am posting fifteen different photos of birds we have seen.  Well, we have seen more, but they didn’t all sit still in order to have their photo taken.  Two of the photos are not as good as I would like, so I will be taking more of those birds if and when I next see them.

Brown Pelican

Black Vulture

Some like this brown pelican, black vulture and snowy egret were found along the beach, and others such as the white winged dove are found just a few metres from our doorstep.

White Ibis

Social Flycatcher

This White Ibis was a difficult photo to get as he was hiding with four other Ibises along a small stream.  The Social Flycatcher is actually quite noisy and hangs out just outside our door when he and his mate are not busy building their nest on the power line a few doors down.

Great Tailed Grackle

Bare Throated Tiger Heron

I’ve seen quite a few of these Tiger Herons near the beach.  He is one mighty strange looking bird.  The Great Tailed Grackle is a colourful little guy that looks like a cousin to a bluebird.  I don’t remember grackles looking anything like this back in Canada.

Clay Colored Robin

Groove Billed Ani

Here is another bird that seems familiar yet different.  He’s a Clay Colored Robin.  He acts like a robin, only the colour is wrong from what I would have expected after seeing robins in Canada.

The Groove-Billed Ani is a strange looking bird indeed.  I managed to get quite a few shots including this one with his wings on full display.

Rufous Naped Wren

Scarlet Macaw

This is a cute guy that we see hanging around our villa as well, a small wren.  We have other wrens as well, only I haven’t been always ready with the camera when they are around.   This photo of a pair of Scarlet Macaws is definitely in need of a replacement.  We have seen this couple three times already near sunset.  Of course light conditions make for poorer photos especially when the birds are moving.  Oh well, at least we have seen them free and not just in some aviary.

Great Tailed Grackle

Mrs. Great Tailed Grackle

Now this is some bird, the great-tailed grackle.  Listening to the male each morning is interesting as he makes so many different weird sounds including sounding like a set of car horns or the sounds of someone’s car security system going off.  It took quite a while to put the sounds and the bird together.

Baltimore Oriole

And finally, to bring this post to an end, is a beautiful bird we get to see both in front of our villa and out in nature, a Baltimore Oriole.

Like I said, we have seen many other birds, but not always when a camera is with us.  Yes, I know, I should always take the camera.  But, life isn’t only about taking photos when you are beside a warm sea.  Sometimes there are other priorities.

That said, I do have a great collection of hummingbird photos that will eventually make their appearance here.  Until the next post, we both wish you the best while we enjoy our small bit of paradise.  Oh, by the way, our place is called Las Villas del Paraiso – yes, that’s right – Paradise!

Well, we are filling our days more than we ever did in Mexico.  Every day we find ourselves taking long walks in hopes of finding something new to see, some new scene or vista, some new flower or bird or … it’s all about discovery for us.  Of course, we also enjoy the exercise and the sunshine.  We are changing from winter white to summer dark shades.

On Thursday, this past week, we decided to catch a bus to check out Manuel Antonio National Park, a place that is about 70 km from here.  The bus ride to the city of Quepos took almost two hours where we switched buses for the final 7 km into Manuel Antonio.  The ride was interesting and actually quite cheap.  Two buses for less than $3.00 each.  We left at 6:45 am and found ourselves in Manuel Antonio by 9:00 am.

After a quick breakfast of Gallo Pinto and coffee, we headed into the park which is mostly about nature trails.  One of the highlights for the park is trying to catch sightings of the Howler monkey.  Well, we got to see four different Howler monkeys as we wandered through the trails, one of them being this guy we caught hanging out trying to catch a breeze near the top of a tree.

We saw quite a few butterflies as you can see in the above photos, but we also got to see more such as iguanas and a few lizards such as this little guy.  At one point we actually saw a large iguana catch a lizard and make a meal of him.  Interesting to watch if not a bit gross.

We also got to see a strange-looking rodent that was called an Agouti.  The photos I took of him hiding in the brush didn’t turn out and the one taken as he crossed the path was blurry as he was moving quickly and the light was too weak.  Oh well, we did see him and have a somewhat blurry photo to prove it which is good enough.

Of course it wasn’t all about nature trails as there were a few great beaches as well as a fairly high hill on a peninsula jutting out into the sea.  It made for a good work out.  After several hours of walking, we decided to cool off in the sea.  Wow!  We learned just how strong a rip tide can be as both of us went tumbling first toward the shore, then being dragged back out.  So much for trying the beach just outside of the park.  We should have used the beach everyone else was using within the park.

It was time to head back home to Playa Jaco, so we took the bus back to Quepos where we then joined a host of other Costa Ricans all intent on travelling to other locations.

As you can see, I was successful in getting almost front row seats on the bus heading home.  It’s a good thing that I have learned enough Spanish to get by in our travels.  I should learn more, but somehow the hours and days are slipping by so fast that it is hard to find time for doing the work.

The wait at the terminal finally came to an end and we were able to board the bus that would take us back.  And, as usual, photo opportunities came up on the way back home as well.  But, this is enough for today’s post.

Oh, in case you are wondering why the posting has been infrequent, we have been having issues with Internet, issues which will be resolved quite soon as we will have a different dedicated Internet setup for our villa this coming week.  Until the next post, enjoy!

With our visit to the coffee plantation done, we drove on through the low mountains which, as you can see, are dotted with small plots of coffee fields towards the Poas Volcano.  We often found ourselves driving through misty clouds in this area which is often referred to as the cloud forest.

I know that this photo doesn’t exactly show the misty rain, but it does give a good enough idea of mist and cloud forest.

We finally came upon the volcano.

Trouble was, we couldn’t see it for the thick clouds that filled the depression which would have been where the volcano could be seen if the weather had been cooperative.  We waited for about twenty minutes at a rail looking down into the cloud filled depression an were finally rewarded with the cloud lifting enough so that we could see the steam and the edges of the small lake being held within the crater of the volcano.  We were more than 2500 metres above sea level.

The wait was worth it.  Sometimes it pays to be patient.  With the cloud back thicker and darker than it was before the brief two minutes of opportunity, we got one of the others waiting for another break which didn’t come in the time remaining for our stay at the volcano.

I will continue with day two in another future post which will feature another stop on our day long tour from San Jose.    There was a lot seen and so many photos taken, it will provide for some blog post opportunities when life at Jaco Beach gets quiet.

I imagine that this photo will show us wearing sweaters for the last time in a long time.  Now, it’s time to go back to the beach for some more surf and sand.

Here’s a picture of the whole beach, all three kilometres of it.  I have indicated where our villa is located (behind the trees that edge the beach) with a red arrow.  It’s kind of small, but you can find it if you look hard enough.

Well, as you can guess, when we go walking the beach it makes for a good six kilometre walk, a very good workout for the legs especially when we walk in the water for a good portion of the walk.  In this photo looking away from the beach out to the Pacific Ocean, you can see how most of the coastal area is rocky.

We found a very small beach just around the corner of these rocks, a perfect place for a quiet picnic in the future. Of course the rocks themselves make for a good playground.

We weren’t the only ones who thought that the place was a good spot to hang out.  This beautiful bird decided that he was interested in sharing the place with us.  He even posed for us so that you could see what kind of friends we are already making in Jaco.

With the morning walk done, we returned back to the villa with me stopping only once for yet another flower photo.  Back in the villa we decided to follow the rules of the country and just chill out until the late afternoon when everyone comes back out to play.  Time spent in the pool as a way of cooling off was part of our strategy for chilling out.

Then, it was time to head back to the beach for a few more sunset photos.

Here is one that Maureen took as proof on my being here with her. All I can say is that life here is even better than we expected.  So far, it is like a paradise.

What else do we do in paradise?  Well, we do actually sit still for a little bit of time so that I can write up these blogs and get a small bit of reading in.  There isn’t much time left over for being bored.

Welcome to Playa Jacó!  The yellow circle indicates where our little villa is located in the small city of Jacó.

And this is our little home away from home for this winter.  It is small but pleasant and meets our needs for a place to sleep, eat and escape from the sun when it gets too hot out.

Yes, we have traded -30 C weather for +30 C temperatures.  We have a tiny two-burner hot plate and the necessary electrical appliances for cooking (of course a microwave oven in included).  That means cooking will be basic for the most part.

It didn’t take very long for us to abandon the villa for some time on the beach before heading to the grocery store for some supplies and groceries for our first supper and breakfast.  Since it was our first real exposure to the sun and with the temperature at 34 C., we made sure to limit sun exposure so as to not burn.

Walking along the beach I did manage to get a good photo of this heron which was in one of the three little rivers that empty into the Pacific Ocean along the beach.

Of course, since I take most of the photos, I find that I somehow get Maureen into the scenes.  But once in a while she steals my camera so that she can prove that she is not travelling alone.

There are four small rivers that empty into the bay.  This is the largest of the these rivers at the northern end of the bay.

I was hoping to see more bird life or perhaps even an alligator along the river where I took this photo.  But, no such luck.  I guess the crowd of beach goers are just as thankful.

We then headed south along the beach where we found nicer sand.  We took turns playing in the surf and getting good and wet as someone had to hold the glasses and the camera while the other was in the water.  I imagine it won’t take too many days before the camera gets abandoned so that we can both be in the water at the same time.  It didn’t take long for the hours to pass and the light begin to fade.

We walked until it was time for the sunset.  All along the beach people were setting up their chairs all facing west towards the sea in anticipation of the event.  Maureen and I found a comfortable log and waited.  I ended up taking quite a number of photos as sunset approached.  This is the photo I liked the best.  I ended up with about seventy-five photos taken during the day.

Now, you can understand why we are enjoying our time in this Pacific Paradise.

The mountains around San Jose are the main production area for coffee in Costa Rica.  This is how it looked about 30 kilometres away from the city as we went to a coffee plantation.

This is the coffee plantation we visited early in the morning.  First on the agenda was a good breakfast and some savouring of various coffee blends from the estate.  Once the breakfast was done then it was off to begin the tour.

Of course Maureen got a turn at picking some of the coffee beans, well berries or cherries actually.  I don’t think that she would make a good living at it as the work is done on the steep sides of the mountains.  It’s hard to pick and keep one’s balance as well.

We then toured the processing area which included an area where the beans are sun dried for eight hours before being dried in drums for a while longer.  I got to check out the actual beans.

The tools that the workers used to turn the beans drying in the sun was a strange looking wooden rake of sorts.  Besides the picking of the berries, this was the only part of the process that wasn’t mechanized.

Needless to say, I found other photos to take besides the coffee production photos.

This is a bird of paradise (I think) that I found next to the small plantation museum.

We also found another flower that is a cousin of this one.  I was told twice by our guide what it is called in Latin, but I forgot almost as soon as I was told.

And finally, the coffee berries themselves.  The red berries are the ones that are considered the best.  Too dark and they aren’t very good.  Green berries are even worse.

Well, enough for this post.  The next post will feature more of day two in San Jose area.

Well, we are finally in Costa Rica.  I thought it appropriate by having the flag as the first photo.  I took this one near our hostel in San Jose where it was flying in front of the Courts of Justice.  First things first – it is warm here, not the -30C that we left as we boarded the plane in Calgary.  Yes, now we know why we picked this location for our winter retreat!

This is the hostel in San Jose that we are calling home for two days while we wait to move into our villa in Playa Jaco.  These windows are the ones we look out of when inside our pleasant room.

Of course, we haven’t been spending much time in the room regardless of how nice it is.  Once we had breakfast in the hostel’s little restaurant, we headed out for a long walk down hill into the main city centre.  A number of the streets are for pedestrians only as we found out as we wandered.

Some of the things we saw as we walked were the usual collection of churches and cathedrals, the national museum and the national theatre as we as a few public squares such as this one called Parque Centrale.  This structure in the centre of the square was a gift from a nasty dictator from Nicaragua back in the 1980s.  It still is causing a bit of controversy as the people of Costa Rica feel that keeping the gift is somehow a negative statement about who they are as a people.  All the controversy aside, it is a beautiful structure and it looks as though it is going to remain in place.

As we walked we saw a lot of street shops selling fruit or other products.  It seemed that almost every corner had an older man selling lottery tickets.  Everyone in searching for a treasure.  I guess that people are the same everywhere.

And, like any large city, there is a need for police.  Not surprisingly, there are cops patrolling on bikes as well as those walking the beat (in groups of six as we saw) and those in squad cars.  Apparently there is a concern with crime here.  The best bet when travelling is to keep one’s nose clean and to not flash one’s money or valuables.

As usual, it seems impossible for us to walk very far without getting distracted by flowers.  I thought that this one which we have to pass just before entering the hostel restaurant was one that might also catch your attention.

San Jose is a city of hills and small mountains.  On our early evening walk this scene caught my eye.  In a way, thought there aren’t a lot of buildings in the photo, it does give a good sense of the city’s geography.  As well, as you can see, there is a lot of colour in the city.

And, for the final photo for the first day in San Jose, Costa Rica, a  look towards the setting sun over the mountains, mountains we will be visiting on the second day in San Jose.