We woke at 6:20, got dressed and walked thru the lovely gardens to the breakfast buffet. While we were in the dining room, Bernal found a poor little hummingbird that had crashed into one of the windows and died. We went back to the room to clean up and get ready for the day.The buses left at 8:30 to go to an add-on activity - the Eco Center Danauo run by the indigenous Maleku Indians. This is a very small center with an amazing array of flora and fauna. On the way we ran into the start of some bicycle race. Bernal had to get out and beg for clearance to pass. We passed a cluster of vultures on the side of the road. Today turned out to be a much nicer day with some sun.
At the center we first saw a 3-toed sloth way up in a tree (photo of a brown blob). At the entrance, feeding stations with fruit attracted a large number of beautiful birds: golden hooded tanager, yellow throated euphonia, clay colored robin, blue gray tanager, scarlet rumped tanager. An agouti (large brown rodent) was wandering around in the underbrush. Even though we could have stayed here forever, we had much more of the center to explore.
We saw many lines of leaf-cutter ants. This is such a cool sight as these tiny ants carry such huge leaves back to their nest. There was a good variety of plants from proteas to orchids to heliconia. One of my favorite sights was the teeny tiny blue jean frog - a red frog with blue legs and behind. He was difficult to photograph. There was a small butterfly garden with blue morphos, monarchs (which stay here year around). I did not get to photograph many because blue morphos kept landing on my National Geographic hat, and everyone wanted photos. So I stood quietly for many minutes.
Then we saw several boat-billed herons, a strange looking heron. In a small auditorium we had a presentation by one of the Maleku Indians. A volunteer was requested, but before anyone could respond, the presented came straight for me! Bernal had set me up - payback for me saying yesterday that I needed my medication from my suitcase which was on another bus. It was funny because at dinner the night before, Bernal must have stated 5 times that we would NOT be able to access our luggage for the day. Of course when Bernal about stroked out, our bus (the fun folks) erupted in laughter, and Bernal realized he had been played. So I was the Maleku guy’s assistant complete with headdress and vest for the entire presentation. I got my photo taken way too much today!!! After the presentation Bernal spotted a 2-toed sloth, and I got better brown blob pictures.
From the center we drove to Don Juan’s farm and education center arriving at 11am. While we waited (about 20 min) for the last bus to arrive, we all sat in a covered area while two neighborhood 12 year old boys entertained us with their antics. They come over to “help” with the tours when they aren’t in school. They were utterly charming and mischievous. One played with a machete and then danced with a female of our group.
Finally we were ready to tour a part of the two acre organic ranch. Don Juan was a school principal but now runs tours and helps support the local schools. He doesn’t speak much English, so Ronald (our Nat Geo naturalist) translated. Juan showed lots of unusual produce including the achiote (lipstick) tree. The seed of this tree has berries inside that were applied like lipstick to some of our group. I didn’t catch (or remember) the names of others . One was a fruit that smelled like blue cheese. Another was a small green pod (member of star fruit) that was crunchy and quite sour. We were given bits of a leaf that was quite bitter. Later on the tour we were given a juice from this leaf that tasted grassy and not bitter at all. After this tasting fun, we walked up into an animal display area. Two pigs were eating a really foul smelling slop. A beautiful milk cow named Chocolate let everyone take photos. We passed a chicken pen on the way to the larger garden.
As Juan talked about crops, I was totally distracted by Bernal at the back of the gardens. He was pointing out a chestnut mandibled toucan at the top of a tree fairly far away. I got some pretty amazing photos with my telephoto setting. The toucan then flew (beautiful sight) to a tree a little closer. I got more photos. Wow!!! Juan also showed us his cacao tree, cracked open a pod and his helpers passed around some of the seeds for us to taste reminding us not to eat the seeds.
Finally we went back to the seating area we were first in, and Juan had several couples (including Bill and Ross) turn a roller that Juan fed a large sugar cane stick through, squeezing the juice into a pitcher. He got enough juice for everyone to have a small glass full. As it was being poured, Bernal made a comment that I should have some guaro with it since I was a fan. Juan went around and came back with 2 jars of guaro and filled my sugar cane glass with guaro, a sugar cane liquor. Those who wanted to taste it, were given some, too. Fun.
Finally we went to a covered open-air area for our buffet lunch. We sat with Karen and Ross A and Cathy and Bill R at a table overlooking a bubbling creek. The buffet had green salad, tomatoes, cassava chips, spinach salad, plantains, beans and rice, tilapia, and a chicken dish. For dessert we were passed squares of coconut ice cream on a toothpick. It was a delightful visit.
Once again we were given choices. We could go back to the hotel or go on the Arenal Sky Walk. It was already 2pm, and Bill and both wanted a chance to recover, so we opted to go back to the hotel. Others went on the sky walk which took 3 hours and was rather strenuous.
Back at the hotel, we went to the room where Bill napped and I worked on the journal. About 3:30 Bill woke up and wanted to go to the hot springs pool to check it out. So we put on our suits and headed down the stairs. At the landing I glanced out into the parking lot, and did a double, then a triple take. There in the parking lot was a for real ANT EATER!!!!!! I got a few photos, and Bill and I just stood there amazed until he wandered around a building. We were both gobsmacked!!! A parking lot is the last place I would expect to see an anteater!! We went on over to the pool and found the hot springs which were amazingly landscaped into a series of pools descending the hillside. We took a quick dip and relaxed. We dried off and went back up to the pool and sat there looking at the volcano. We have seen about 3/4ths of it today, but the top continued to be covered with clouds.
The relaxation was rudely interrupted by a noisy, screeching of two coata mundi who came chasing through the pool area and out into the bushes. Everyone was totally startled. So much for a calm afternoon. We went back to the room, showered and walked down to dinner. Bill and I both had a guaro sour. We ate with Ross and Karen. I had ceviche which was good and a strange burger - with cheese, ham, fried egg, bacon. I ate half of it.
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