Costa Rica 2012 Aug 1 & 2

With the weather finally on our side we decided to rush through this well known Costa Rican park before check out. We ended up wishing we had the whole day here. Incredible.

Howler Monkeys

Variety of Birds of Paradise

Sloth

Jumping Wolf Spider protecting her nest of eggs. Eh.

Sautee' tonight

Playa Manuel Antonio. It was an incredible beach. We wish we had the whole day here. The water was warm and refreshing after our walk in the forest to get here. But the beach was a little over run by some pretty wild and obnoxious creatures...

Like this guy. I felt something brush up against my leg. Looked down to see this raccoon. After going through my camera bag and not finding anything he moved on to this ladies bag. Lesson learned? Raccoons are NOT friendly and cute. I ran over and shooed him away. He charged and swatted my hand with his claws. Thankfully didn't break the skin but I felt it. The lady was on her own at that point.

Theses cute adorable Capuchin or White-faced Monkeys were everywhere as well. Sometimes just laying around like this guy.

Sometimes a little possessive of their friendship. And some that would run out to a bag on a towel, grab it and run for the forest! They were smart!

Yes this is a random photo. But after our hike we got a HUGE lunch. This was at a sisters restaurant in Quepos "La Cubanita". This is a pretty typical style lunch here in Costa Rica. Its your choice of meat but the plate is Casado style. Meaning your meat will come with a bit of rice, beans, salad and either yucca or plantains. Casado means married in English. The term comes from when a couple first get married and the wife tries to impress her husband. She makes him a full plate of food. Some rice, beans, salad, some carbs. Huh. So whats it called when you've been married 8 years and it's take out?

These beautiful Scarlet Macaws are found in mass quantity at the Parque Nacional Carara. The guide says the earlier in the day you go, the more birds there are in the tree tops. Till the sound of them squawking is almost deafening. These were the last two we saw hanging around close to the entrance as we got to the park after 4pm.

Also just laying around in the park.

There is a river Rio Tarcoles ( Crocodile Bridge, sometimes these people use WAY to much imagination with their naming of places) right before the park. That have these lovely creatures just hanging round. Grazing near by? Cows. Crazy huh?

Jason was so kind to make sure that I understood the sign.

Traffic was decidedly harder due to the Romeros. They took up a whole two lane highway. So what did we do? What every other country would do!!

We took up one of the lanes going in the opposite direction.