6/14 -- Explore Monte Verde, Part 1

When we woke up, we got to appreciate our view overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Nicoya Peninsula. (One grandson’s middle name celebrates that area). As we were getting ready, Jim saw what we think was a coati peeking in our floor-to ceiling window-wall. We walked down to breakfast in about 15 - 20 minutes. Then it was time for the Hanging Bridge walk. These were more sturdy and stable than the ones we used in Nepal, and allowed us to walk through the Cloud Forest at tree-top level. The trails were lush and green and I started envisioning a stained glass panel celebrating the vegetation and birds.

NIcoya Peninsula in the distance

Hurricane Nate did tremendous damage across Costa Rica, which
got a month's worth of rain in 12 hours. This tangle of trees was
pushed down this now little river.

On a hanging bridge entrance

View from a bridge

Those pea like things become the yellow stuff below

Impatiens in their natural habitat

A kind of ginger

Poor Man's Umbrella has a really rough surface.

 

Orchids

 

Canine tooth

Our group on a bridge in the tree tops

Fern tree branches opening

The scaly green thing behind the leaves is a poisonous snake.

 We had time in nearby Santa Elena for lunch. We were not that hungry so we shopped and ate an ice cream cone. After some downtime, we headed up the hill for the zipline tour. I think it is a riot that they call it a Canopy Tour, because there is NO discussion of the trees, just a fun ride. Before the last 2 lines, we had a supported rappel down the the ground, which they did very fast for most of us to elict (successfully for me) loud surprised noises. I could see they were dropping us fast, but feeling it, even having anticipating it, is something to get used to. 

These 3 photos were taken by Andres before we started and
for one of my rides. Jim rarely mugs for the camera, but decided
to try it.

Our intrepid group

I may not look like I'm having much fun, but I am.

Jim coming in for a landing (above and below)

The next to last ride was to this tower -- a steep
uphill to finish and some had to pull themselves up.

 They also had an optional ‘Tarzan Swing’ at the end, which Jim tried. There was a steel rope attached to a tree, and the swingers walked up to a tall platform and the zipline harness was attached to the rope a nd then you stepped off and swung back and forth like Tarzan – if he had missed all his connections and just went back and forth. I considered it,  but remembered how bad a little swing makes me feel, so I passed.

Jim on the Tarzan Swing (above and below)