June 27

We woke up and met Juan Carlos at 8 a.m. Juan Carlos wanted to show us the Torutguero National Park in the morning so we could really see the animals. Bella had the audacity to ask him what animals we might see. He let her know in no uncertain terms that this was not a zoo. BUT she might see monkeys, sloths, lizards, crocodiles and/or some birds.

Before I get into the day too much, I need to update you on the Family. Being on a tour like this is a lot like being on Survivor. Suddenly you and 14 strangers are together all of the time.  You are learning each other's habits, relationships, and windows into their lives. You are also deciding who you don't like. Bella and I do not like Bald Man. He is rude, arrogant, and argumentative. He likes to give shitty tips and then tell the guides how to spend them and how to enjoy their lives. Bella and sat behind him on our tour. It did not improve our opinion of him.

Candace/Carmen gave Jenny, John, and their kid the stomach flu.

TG and Shakira are still very cool. They speak French. They like to eat - especially TG? RG? Names are hard in Survivor.

Ron is still cool. 

The bald man from behind. His tiny wife who wears a rain jacket in every weather, including 90 degree weather with humidity.

And now the photo bomb: Be prepared, soooo many pictures.

Tiger Striped Heron

The beautiful grass that grows on the top of the 'sweet water.'

We later saw dolphins jumping here.

I love the Tarzan vines that hang down and cover the tropical rain forest.

So many beautiful angles, lights, and images. It is hard not to just take pictures over and over.

We saw a caiman, many birds, turtles, white faced monkeys, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, sloths, all kinds of lizards, spiders, and insects.

It was amazing. I also recognize that it is perhaps not the easiest, or most enjoyable pictures to look at because you are not exactly sure what you are looking at. I am also not sure I remember what I was looking at...

There is a huge lizard in the middle of this picture. He just looks like a leaf.

Please note the huge ass spider.

This is a cocoa plant! More on this tomorrow!!

I am super into the trees and their amazing roots. I cannot get enough! The trees look as though they are constructed out of clay and folded, and cut to make the shapes and contours. However, my favorite tree so far is the Ceiba Tree. Known as the sacred tree to the Mayan people, it towers above the rain forest.

Here is Bella with the giant tree.

And here I am!

There are monkeys in this picture. I am not sure where. But trust me, they are there. We watched them be cute and adorable for a long time. Monkeys are hard to photograph.

In the Mayan Culture to prove your love to your partner, you open the Popol Wui. If your love is true, the flower will blossom for you. If your love is untrue, ants will pour out and bite you. Carmen and Jeff refused, despite 26 years of marriage, to stand up and pull the flowers. (Bella and I exchanged meaningful glances) Meanwhile Osha and Pal stood up and took the bud in their hands. Together they pulled it open...

Pal was very nervous.

But it bloomed in their hands, which just shows what lovely people they are. And THEY ARE. They are sweetest, cutest, kindest people I have ever met. And they love each other so much. See Pal's face?

Relationship goals!

We saw really cool spiders and lizards.

But

I deleted most of the animal pictures because although I knew what was happening in them, I can't remember and I can't really help you see them. They are cool, take my word for it.

We got home from our boat tour to walk in the jungle. Then Bella and I relaxed at the pool. 

Here is a picture of where we are.

And then we found this giant iguana that I named Mr. Giggles in our hotel pathway. I named it, in case you are wondering. The front desk people just call him the 'ani-mal.'

And then the monkeys showed up at the pool and ran around. I managed this amazing picture. He was RIGHT above my head.

It was fun to watch them play. We also saw a SLOTH!!!

Shakira, Shakisha(?) loves animals and she is great at catching them. Check out this toad she caught! Bella, Ron, and I went on a night hike and got a little lost - maybe, but probably not really, but we did walk a lot longer than we thought we should. Please don't mention this to Nic.

The Eco Lodges we are staying in do not have window glass, or AC, so sleeping can be a bit loud. The Howler monkeys are happy to roust you at 4:30 a.m., and then the tourists love to drag their gigantic bags across the pebbled paths that should never have a suitcase on them and they do this at all insane hours of the night and morning. Also the tropical rainforest is rather loud. So... Bella did not sleep well. I slept like a rock. 

Finally, I went to bed tired, and fulfilled; eager for another day. Bella and I were both overcome with the amount of nature we saw today. While Bella snored, I spent a long time reading about poverty in Costa Rica, and crime, and education.

But rather than end on that note for the day, let's wrap up with flowers. Everyone loves flowers, especially me: