Never have I ever… - a photo on Flickriver

            When asked, “Why Costa Rica” the answer is two-fold and simple…different species and if you want the possibility of getting photos like in National Geographic Magazine, you have to go where they go! The fact that it was below zero at home much of the time that we were concerned with proper sun screen coverage was defiantly a plus as well!

From the moment we landed in San Jose, I immediately went into camera mode…scanning the sky, trees, ground, between homes…on a 360-degree rotation. I often wonder if my head movements while in photo mode remind others of a circular yard sprinkler on a summer’s morning. As we left the city heading out for a 45-minute ride to our first hotel in La Paz, our change in elevation was noted by all.

Our driver did a fantastic job of pointing out different aspects of the Costa Rican countryside and culture. At one point we came across a hillside coffee plantation where we stopped on the roadside, gathered up some of the ripe red beans and ate the fruit (Very tasty) that surrounds the seed inside that later will be roasted to make coffee. We got back into the van and resumed our adventure.

I truly thought that the first highlight of this trip would be based in capturing wildlife…however it occurred as we rounded the very next bend in the road and came face to face with the Starbucks Coffee processing plant. Even though our troop only consumed 4-5 beans, I take GREAT PRIDE in my participation in the roadside theft, unknowingly sticking it to the man!

Arriving at our hotel in La Paz I stood on the balcony of the reception area and looked over the valley below in amazement. Then a very pale, bluish gray bird passed just below the railing…finally an exotic, new to this kid species! The sight of anything new…especially something in the animal kingdom thrills me to my core. In this case, a Blue-Gray Tanager (often called blueberries locally) was my first noted exotic seen. Little did I know that at breakfast the next morning that they would be landing on our table and eating from my hand!

To the wait staff at the hotel and the local population, I am sure that they are seen as a nuisance. But when something falls squarely in my “Never have I ever” category, they become a treasure to be captured.

Adventure before dementia!

Taken on: January 27, 2024

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