The staff at Arenal Observatory Lodge skewer dead branches with fruit and hoist them up into the air near the observatory to attract birds. The green cone reminds varmints attempting to get at the fruit by climbing up the branch that life is cruel sometimes.
This white-nosed coati chowed down on pieces of fruit that fell off the fruity branch kebob things. Cathy suggests I call him "Bob."
Flowers, I guess.
Flowers and Bob.
Differnt flowers.
These hairy hanging things are oriole nests, as in Baltimore. Their taxonomic name ends in "pendulo," leading some to falsely believe that the name came from the nests looking like pendula. But no, our river guide Juan Carlos #1 assured us! It's because the birds dip forward and backward pendulum-style when they sing.
Each of those green bits is a piece of a leaf being hustled from tree to anthill by a leaf-cutter ant maybe a fifth its size. A team of those hungry little fellahs can take out a fully-grown tree in 12 hours.
What the heck language is that up top there? Acronym-ese?
Our hike guide pointed out this termite nest and suggested we each eat a few termites because every tourist has a slightly different idea about how they taste (black pepper? onion?). We are such suckers. They probably talk about us over beers after work and just laugh and laugh and laugh.
They don't tell you until halfway through your stay at Arenal that the volcano is covered by a layer of clouds 70% of the time. Look, the clouds are clearing! Get the camera!!! Quick!!!
Wouldn't *this* be an awkward time for Mr. Arenal to erupt again.
It's just not the same picture without the Raggedy Andy hat.
Me? I dig clouds. No-- seriously.
The river we floated down with our river guide, Juan Carlos #1.
I heart floating down the river.
We love being photo negatives of each other, from the earth-tones hat to the primary-colored life preservers and shirts to the flowery shorts.
Juan Carlos #1 found this poison dart frog, or "blue jeans frog," for us. I kept my distance. AREA MAN KILLED IN BIZARRE POISON FROG MISHAP-- how's that for an obituary.
There is a Jesus Christ Lizard smack dab in the middle of this photo, very small, in green. So called because it walks on water.
The farm and home of Don Pedro, who has been working this land since the 30s or something and is still sharp as a tack at age 92.
Everyone see the howler monkey in the middle of this photo? Kind of doing a handstand, arms pointed down, tail straight up in the air? (Just nod and say "yep!")