Wet, Wet, Wet

As we suspected, today was a very wet day, so no zip lining for us here in Monteverde/Santa Elana.  We couldn't imagine zipping through the forest canopy at 50km/h being pelted by rain and fog and spending our budget to do it!  We had a great breakfast here at the Hotel Manikan (named after a bird) and then drove back to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for a 2.5hr hike in the cloud forest.

They wanted more than double the already expensive park fees to have a guide accompany us so we passed on that option - especially remembering how Nancy thought her guide here was the worst she'd had.  After doing the walk ourselves and not seeing much in the way of animals or plants we hadn't seen before, we thought we made the right call.

We found an Ent!

Someone wasn't happy about having his picture taken!

Here comes purple riding hood!

Hiding under a big leaf (I'm shooting nearly straight up to get at this).

Lots of colour to be found...

Looks like some sort of lily... quite pretty.

This has to be the world's ugliest flower!

Its a cloud forest all right!

We hiked all the way up here to the top of the continental divide to see this wonderful view!

The end of the world....

Didn't expect to see a crab at 5000' above sea level!

It was an interesting hike that took us to the continental divide.

We didn't get to see the elusive Quetzal bird although the ranger swore he saw one just outside the gift shop just before we arrived.  We did go back to the Hummingbird Centre.

There were lots and lots of these little green guys... hard to believe they can fly 10,000 miles in a few weeks.

Just hanging out at the local saloon...

The rest of the day we spent with the kids and studies (or more correctly, Jen did).  We had a FANTASTIC dinner here at the hotel...  Jen and I had the "Typical" dinner of fish, rice and beans.  The fish was about the best I've ever tasted... and lots of it.  The kids had the best spagetti alfredo (with mushrooms and chicken) they've ever had as well.  All very reasonably priced as well.  From looking at this place, you'd probably never stop here but we've quite enjoyed it along with the 18 month old daughter "Mia" of the proprietress Genia.  We're all looking forward to another great breakfast tomorrow then on to Manuel Antonio Reserve on the Pacific Coast - although Jen is trying to talk us out of it as she's absolutely had it with the rain/wet/cold.  

Our love to all.