Happy New Year from Costa Rica

[Buddy]

So far no sloths, but an iguana was on our balcony last nite, and we saw a tree full of howler monkeys on the way to the hotel.

Do you have a pic of the iguana? Was it large? I like to look at them, but every iguana I've ever handled was meaner than snot.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

So far no sloths, but an iguana was on our balcony last nite, and we saw a tree full of howler monkeys on the way to the hotel.

Do you have a pic of the iguana? Was it large? I like to look at them, but every iguana I've ever handled was meaner than snot.

Not large. Here's a poor image of it.

[Sandra Craft]

So far no sloths, but an iguana was on our balcony last nite, and we saw a tree full of howler monkeys on the way to the hotel.

As long as there are no howler monkeys on your balconey!  Enjoy the trip and as someone else said, bring back plenty of photos.

[Buddy]

So far no sloths, but an iguana was on our balcony last nite, and we saw a tree full of howler monkeys on the way to the hotel.

Do you have a pic of the iguana? Was it large? I like to look at them, but every iguana I've ever handled was meaner than snot.

Not large. Here's a poor image of it.

Wow, he looks young. Kinda hard to tell, but I'm fairly certain that's a male. You can tell by head shape and jowls. Wicked awesome that you got to see a wild one.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Wow, he looks young. Kinda hard to tell, but I'm fairly certain that's a male. You can tell by head shape and jowls. Wicked awesome that you got to see a wild one.

The resort, while quite luxurious, is remote.  We arrived here by riding over a gravel road for a few kilometers.  It's right on the ocean, with jungle on either side. The iguana didn't have far to travel from his natural habitat. 

[DeterminedJuliet]

It was -17 here yesterday. Jeallouuus

I'm jealous of you.

HA! The Asmo has +4 degrees Celsius and is, the season considered, content as a cucumber.  

Boo to you, Sir. Boo.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Today after my seminar was over, my wife and I went zip-lining ("canopy" as it's known here) in some local mountains.  Some of the lines were over 500 meters, and at times we were 100-150 feet over the trees below.  I even went upside down on the last one (feeling my oats). Tomorrow, after the seminar (gotta affirm that I'm attending), I'm going to kayak in the Pacific.  More monkeys and iguanas were observed today.  This has been a treat.

[AnimatedDirt]

It was -17 here yesterday. Jeallouuus

It's in the low 80's here in the So. Cal. area.  Snow skiing within an hour's drive though...burrrrr.



Glad you're having a great time, Bruce.  Come back safe.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Here are some photos of my Costa Rica trip. Click on the photos to enlarge. This one is of the sun slipping into the sea from our balcony.




This is our resort.



My wife, Janice.



Janice and I about to zip-line.



Janice zip-lining over the trees.



Some howler monkeys in a tree.

[Buddy]

When you zip-lined, did they have you wear a thick glove to control your speed? My animal science teacher just got back from her honeymoon in the Dominican Republic and she was telling us how she had zip-lined.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

When you zip-lined, did they have you wear a thick glove to control your speed? My animal science teacher just got back from her honeymoon in the Dominican Republic and she was telling us how she had zip-lined.

Yes, thick leather gloves, harness & helmet.  You use one hand on the cable to keep straight and to slow down.

[Cecilie]

It was -17 here yesterday. Jeallouuus

I'm jealous of you.

Oh dear heavens, why?

I like the cold.

[xSilverPhinx]

So...

...

...how about 'em seminars?



You're so lucky, trip to Costa Rica doesn't look half bad. 

[Ecurb Noselrub]

So...

...

...how about 'em seminars?



You're so lucky, trip to Costa Rica doesn't look half bad. 

Seriously, the seminar is interesting, but is over ever day at 1:00.  Plenty of time to have fun.  This afternoon we found a little bar/restaurant on the beach about 35 minutes walk from our hotel.  Full of surfers, great food, beautiful scenery.  If you just wanted to get lost, that's the place.

The seminar is a medical/legal presentation put on by Boston University.  Top doctors and lawyers from all over the US are the presenters.  Quite impressive.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

We returned from Costa Rica on Jan. 9.  That's the longest I had stayed in any one place (besides home) on a trip - from Jan. 1 to Jan. 9.  The only bad thing that happened is that I lost my glasses while kayaking in the Pacific.  I went out a fair distance and hadn't intended to try to surf, but coming back it was just too tempting.  I had kayak surfed in Texas about 40 years ago right before a hurricane hit, so I knew basically how to do it. But the first wave hit me hard and I went over.  My glasses are somewhere on the ocean floor. I have an appointment to get a new pair, which I needed anyway.  Happily, I did get a good surf experience on three waves after that, so it was not in vain.