Costa Rica!! Our first week, arriving in Liberia and traveling to and around Monte Verde, the cloud forest.
| First, the long, long flight (5 1/2 hours to LAX, another 5 1/2 hours to CR). Kadin did great, I was exhausted. |
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| Then, two buses to get us up to Monte Verde. Only minor glitches, but we had a great time waiting at the bus stop restaurant! |
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Sadly, these two were the only Tapirs we saw on our trip.
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| Yay! Finally out hiking in the cloud forest. Kadin was so excited about everything he saw — leaves, bugs, birds, ants, etc. |
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He was even excited to see other hikers! Everyone was so friendly, he began running up to people, especially men who liked or had kids, and holding out his arms, asking to be picked up. These two were from Spain.
This hike had some awesome suspension bridges. My favorite spanned a huge green gorge and the clouds slowly descended upon us as we approached it.
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Kadin got all excited and started pointing at the ground. I went over to see what he found and it was a beautiful walking stick insect! My little naturalist!
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| Hiking was always putting Kadin to sleep, to the point where we decided to take a photo during his naps to be able to show him what he missed! |
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| Many of the places we stayed had resident dogs, and this 10 month old golden retriever loved Kadin. Kadin liked him too, although he was a bit too rambunctious and mouthy for him. |
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| And now for a few beautiful nature shots… |
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This is a venomous Side-striped Palm Pit Viper (Bothriechis lateralis)
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And, a friendly Costa Rican Orange-kneed Tarantula.
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Tons of hummingbirds at a coffee shop near the entrance of Monte Verde National Park.
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This is a Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula)
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| This one is a Magenta-Throated Woodstar (Calliphlox Bryantae). |
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and this is a female Purple-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis calolaema).
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