Day 3: Braulo Carrillo National Park

Owen, our driver, Kay, and park guide

Red eyed leaf frog

Day 4: Thursday, February 17

Another picture perfect day. Blue skies and lots of sunshine; although, it did rain on us for a little while. Reminded me of the daily light rains that occur in Hawaii. Our exchange family invited us to stay in their home until Friday. Marco builds homes and condominiums and Tatiana is a lawyer. They wanted to take us to the condominium complex that they developed on Friday in the north west of Costa Rica called Tamarindo Beach on the Pacific Ocean. This is where we will call home for about a month. Everyone tells us it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica.
We began the day with a wonderful breakfast at 9:00 of fresh fruit....pineapple, bananas, pappya, watermelon, cantaloupe. Dad had eggs and thick toast with their home farmed honey. We had good tea and coffee as well.
Around 10:30 Marco had a driver (Owen) take us to Braulo Carrillo National Park named for one of Costa Rica's presidents. The park was established in 1978 when a road was being put through the mountains to the Limon (northeast) area of Costa Rica to protect the forest. Limon is the area where thousands of turtles lay their eggs in July, August, and September...shucks we won't get to see that this trip. On the drive there we were able to stop and see crops of coffee plants. A gentleman demonstrated how he attached a basket to his waist and picked the red beans that were ready to be harvested. During the rest of the ride to the national park we entered a lush mountain of thick forest with wild pink flowers, ferns, rushing rivers, and numerous waterfalls coming down to the road. One river was yellow coming from a volcano and the other was a clear water river almost running side by side. Upon arriving we took a tram for about an hour through the park viewing Brocolli Trees, Royal Palms, and a variety of extraordinary plants viewing both the tree tops and the bottom of the forest. The biodiversity of the park is attributed to the altitude of the mountain and misty clouds that come across the area with humid lowlands. Our guide informed us of many plants and animals that the rainforest provides homes to. We were able to hear a toucan call.We took a guided hike through the rainforest and were able to spot fresh animal tracks of a tarapin, a short legged three section  footed animal, and view gigantic ants and a large ant colony that was carrying square pieces of leaves in a line through the jungle back to the colony. Amazing the work they do. We went into an enclosed netted house that had the famous Mariposa Butterflies (blue) hatching from puppas and they were flying and landing on our shoulders and hands. We also got to see a red eyed leaf frog, although it was sleeping. They are nocturnal so whoever takes their picture must scare them to death at night with the camera flashing. The park had them in every stage from eggs to tadpoles to tiny, tiny frogs...so cute.
Dad and I are learning more and more Spanish everyday. It is interesting how being immersed into the culture makes learning the language a whole lot more fun.
We will be leaving San Jose in the morning at 7:00 AM heading north to stay with some friends of Marco and Catinana. Saturday we will head to Tamarindo.
It was an extraordinary day of viewing the nature of Costa Rica and beautiful scenry of the mountains and rainforest. Life is good!