Hangin' Around

We are living the monkey's life.

Away for our weekend getaway to the Pacific Coast, we have descended (literally) from the highlands of Alejuela Province to Punta Arenas Province, covering the coast of Costa Rica. Specifically, we are staying in the hotel/hostel El Faro adjacent  Manuel Antonio National Park, a resort of sorts near Queppos on the southwest shore, featuring a typical hostel, and a luxury hotel, but the unusual commonality is  that both are made from recycled steel freight containers.  And with a commanding presence above the hubbub of the main road to the park, and a very steep climb to get there, the Hotel El Faro is where my colleague Ann and I have rooms, or perhaps better stated, each packed into our own containers!  It is an embarrassment of riches that we should be so fortunate to be quite high and above the "hostel students" below (they are, indeed, quite friendly!).  But we did not make these arrangements.  And the air conditioning is a plus.

Emily, Craig, Jenna, Ben, Joe and Collin in the Park

Ann and I began the day with our complimentary breakfast burritos on the magnificent terrace overlooking the ocean, intent on an early start into the park.  Descending the hill, we checked in with the students, and six accompanied us to the park, which is only open from 7AM to 4PM (only Caty and Sarah pursued hominid monkeys on the beach and shops, or so it has been reported),  Getting to the gate requires traversing a gauntlet of hawkers, everything from cold water to cut coconuts with a mix of souvenirs thrown in.  Access is limited, backpacks are searched for snack type food or fruit which is not allowed in the park.  We quickly separated as a group, with Joe, Ben, Jenna and Craig splitting off at a faster pace, and Ann, Collin, Emily and me pacing more methodically, following Emily's slower crawl and her adeptness at spotting wildlife where wildlife seemed not to be, nearly hidden in the verdant density and tangle of the jungle.

The view from Punta Catedral

An amazing wander, once deeper into the park, past the more popular beach, we traversed the less crowded pathways, covering all but one path in this 1983 hectare park.  The forest floor and canopy revealed the first visible activity, including deer, raccoon, sloths, a large, squirrel like tail-less rodent called an agouties, and the somewhat mysterious dark grey, long tailed coatis.

Capuchin monkeys ("capuchino") just hangin' around

Soon, the forest canopy started to boil with raucous activity, whether from capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and the rarer howler monkeys, providing this photographer a challenge even getting a picture in focus.  So often, they just hung around lazily on tree branches or railings, absorbing the humidity, seemingly unconcerned by our presence. Not unlike our students, where the poolside loungers closely resemble the "capuchino" monkeys, if not in feature, then perhaps in a momentary disposition of familiar relaxation and solar absorption.

Squirrel monkeys checking us out

The flora, a verdant sea of green, a riot of textures and patterns, a sinewy tangle of roots and vines, an iridescent dot of bright red from a wild hibiscus or a bitterwood flower spotlighted by a narrow shaft of sunlight in the dappled shade. The light was magical, playing with our senses, shielded by the dark damp recess of a deep root fin, yet back-lighting a crown of light green new leaves, a constant incandescent  play of light on dark as we moved slowly through the terrain..

Simply magical.

Bitterwood flower (Quassia amara)

Seeking light

Shades of verde

Texture and light

A wicked defense mechanism

Following a cooling off period late afternoon, including a dip in the magnificent pool overlooking the ocean, we all congregated on the Faro restaurant deck, enjoying three rounds of drinks and some food, and of course our mutual companionship.

Round one to witness the sunset

We too are just hanging around.  Tomorrow afternoon, we are headed back to San Ramon, and back to work, certain to nurture these memories a very long time.

The sunset view from the Hotel El Faro terrace, as seen through a Magarita

.