Family Fun Time

Once again, it’s been too long. I opted not to try to keep up a blog while we were still computerless. Fortunately we now have a new used computer to accompany us on the rest of our travels. 

I am currently enjoying a Christmas visit from my in-laws. Nate’s family arrived in Costa Rica on the 16^th of this month. We started our adventures together in Alajuela, a suburb of San Jose. Nate, Donnette (mom), and Caitlin (sister) lived together in Alajuela fifteen years ago when Nate was just a lad. We had a fun day of walking down memory lane together. 

 After a day in Alajuela we flew south to the Osa Peninsula. National Geographic has called Osa ‘the most biologically intense place on Earth’, which is a good way to describe it. We stayed in an ‘eco-lodge’ called Punta Marenco. I don’t know what qualifies a hotel as an ‘eco-lodge’, but it might have had something to do with the lack of electricity and hot water. We were each put up in a small cabina on a hill overlooking the ocean. We spent each night sitting on the porch watching the sun set over the water while scarlet macaws, white faced capuchin monkeys and coatis bustled around in front of us. While at Punta Marenco we took several tours. On these tours we saw a lot of wildlife and learned a lot about them. Our tour guide was a guy named Brayner. Brayner was a great guide because he often said helpful things like ‘And… Well… Just as it is very important to remember that what do you think is the reason why spider monkeys have no thumbs?..... Well, just as in that case it is because of ‘Involution’’.  Or, ‘And…. Well…. Just as why do you think is the reason we call it the orchid? In that case it comes from the Greek work ‘testicles’.  Just as… Well… the orchid has balls that holds water. And when it gets full, it is very important it needs to be released. And… well… in that case just as in the man, it is released as pee.’  I’m willing to bet at least 50% of Brayner’s English vocabulary is comprised of ‘and… well… in that case… just as…. It is very important to remember….. let us see what happens.’ And possibly another 5% was made up of ‘It is very important to remember that for us it is a pleasure’.  Anyway, our stay at Punta Marenco lodge was very enjoyable. I have lots of pictures of wildlife (we saw an anteater!) and jungle scenery, but unfortunately I have no way to retrieve the pictures from my camera. You'll just have to enjoy this picture of the fam in front of the Bahia Drake airport and use your imagination for the rest.

 We were in Puerto Viejo for the last week. Most of our time there was spent relaxing in our jungle lodge. We did make a trip to the Jaguar Rescue Center for a tour. Donnette, Caitlin and Jason got to see what it’s like to be groped by grubby monkey mitts. 

Now we're back in Alajuela. Tomorrow Donnette, Caitlin and Jason head back to Utah, and Nate and I will make the long bus ride to Nicaragua. Leaving Puerto Viejo was really hard for Nate and I. It really started to feel like home there. But we're really excited to get on the road again and see new things. Tomorrow night we're meeting our friends Tyler and Emily on Isla de Ometepe. We're very excited to bring in the New Year with our friends. 
I hope all of you also have a great New Year.
Pura Vida.
Kia