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| On the reef looking towards Isle de Cabo Blanco |
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Snorkeling this morning was great! I saw several fish I had never seen before and swam the length of the lagoon with a massive sea turtle. I also managed to slice my knee on a rock. Comes with the territory on a turbidite rock reef. The cut isn´t too bad, and I would like to inform anyone reading this that decolorized iodine is actually 50% alcohol. Read the label before dousing an injury with it. I think it hurt worse than the initial cut. Just wanted to warn everyone who may be reading this and want to use decolorized iodide.
While walking on the trail with several other students and Markwainright we ran into a troupe of white faced cappuchins. One was on a branch just overhead and not happy at the fact we were so close. We went to backup to give him more space but found there was another angry monkey behind us. We were trapped in the middle. No one was concerned at this point. Then the first monkey began screaming at us and shaking the brach. He then lept off the brach and charged us. Just before reaching us he ran into the woods. It definitely got my adrenalin flowing.
Also there is a family of kuwati that constantly forage near the kitchen in hopes of finding left overs. There is one female, one male, and 3 babies. So adorable. For anyone who doesnt know what kuwati are, they are closely related to racoons and much cuter. There is also a lone male who puches his luck and sometimes has to be chased out of the casona. I entered the kitchen to do dishes the other day, and everything was in order: both doors securely closed and the screen pulled down and locked to prevent kuwati and racoon breakins. Much to my suprise the organic food bin flipped over and out poured a terrified kuwati along with fruit rinds and coffe grounds. He ran into a corner and I chased him out with a broom. The thing had pulled apart the wood door with his tiny hands and pushed his way in! I found it amusing. Philpe, the park gaurd, did not because he had to fix the door.
Well I am out of stories and internet time. Plus I want to see the sunset. You can see the green flash here! It is insane. The stars are also AMAZING! I thought Cathy and Jim had good star gazing, but it pales in comparison. There is zero light pollution, and Jupiter shines so bright it reflects in tidepools. Beautiful.
Ciao
While walking on the trail with several other students and Markwainright we ran into a troupe of white faced cappuchins. One was on a branch just overhead and not happy at the fact we were so close. We went to backup to give him more space but found there was another angry monkey behind us. We were trapped in the middle. No one was concerned at this point. Then the first monkey began screaming at us and shaking the brach. He then lept off the brach and charged us. Just before reaching us he ran into the woods. It definitely got my adrenalin flowing.
Also there is a family of kuwati that constantly forage near the kitchen in hopes of finding left overs. There is one female, one male, and 3 babies. So adorable. For anyone who doesnt know what kuwati are, they are closely related to racoons and much cuter. There is also a lone male who puches his luck and sometimes has to be chased out of the casona. I entered the kitchen to do dishes the other day, and everything was in order: both doors securely closed and the screen pulled down and locked to prevent kuwati and racoon breakins. Much to my suprise the organic food bin flipped over and out poured a terrified kuwati along with fruit rinds and coffe grounds. He ran into a corner and I chased him out with a broom. The thing had pulled apart the wood door with his tiny hands and pushed his way in! I found it amusing. Philpe, the park gaurd, did not because he had to fix the door.
Well I am out of stories and internet time. Plus I want to see the sunset. You can see the green flash here! It is insane. The stars are also AMAZING! I thought Cathy and Jim had good star gazing, but it pales in comparison. There is zero light pollution, and Jupiter shines so bright it reflects in tidepools. Beautiful.
Ciao
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Cabo Blanco
About time I updated this thing. The internet is slow and sparatic.
Things here are absolutely amazing. The weather is warm, but there is a nice ocean breeze to keep you from overheating. Next month is supposed to be much hotter. I have had 2 student groups come through so far. One from Lehigh University and the other from Westfield University. Both went very well. We took them snorkeling, on hikes to the waterfall, and did shell o rama. Mark Wainwright came with the second group and he is pretty much a badass. Knows everything you can thing of to do with tropical biology and them some. Im going to watch the superbowl at his house in Monteverde with a few other gringos.
The snorkeling is awesome. Tons of fishes which I can identify, sea turtles, octopi, eel, snail. etc. I see something new everyday. I am sporting a nice snorkel tan that looks something like pale in front and strangely tan in back. Its the next big thing. There are howler monkeys and white face cappuchins (sp?) that come through frequently and eat fruits from the trees. I was actually peed on by a howler monkey while walkng to town the other. True story and something that would only happen to me. I swear he was aiming. Ha. I also came face to face boa constrictor while leading the students over some rocks to shell beack. He was in pursuit of a lizard. We scared the lizard away but it was really neat to see up close and personal.
The food is great. Pretty much rice and beans with fruit and meat at every meal. Coffee breakfast lunch and dinner. Fresh squeezed juice as well, mmm. The staff and I get along and great and I am working on my spanish with them.
Everything is great here.
Hope all is well with everyone in the states and the snow is not too cold!
Things here are absolutely amazing. The weather is warm, but there is a nice ocean breeze to keep you from overheating. Next month is supposed to be much hotter. I have had 2 student groups come through so far. One from Lehigh University and the other from Westfield University. Both went very well. We took them snorkeling, on hikes to the waterfall, and did shell o rama. Mark Wainwright came with the second group and he is pretty much a badass. Knows everything you can thing of to do with tropical biology and them some. Im going to watch the superbowl at his house in Monteverde with a few other gringos.
The snorkeling is awesome. Tons of fishes which I can identify, sea turtles, octopi, eel, snail. etc. I see something new everyday. I am sporting a nice snorkel tan that looks something like pale in front and strangely tan in back. Its the next big thing. There are howler monkeys and white face cappuchins (sp?) that come through frequently and eat fruits from the trees. I was actually peed on by a howler monkey while walkng to town the other. True story and something that would only happen to me. I swear he was aiming. Ha. I also came face to face boa constrictor while leading the students over some rocks to shell beack. He was in pursuit of a lizard. We scared the lizard away but it was really neat to see up close and personal.
The food is great. Pretty much rice and beans with fruit and meat at every meal. Coffee breakfast lunch and dinner. Fresh squeezed juice as well, mmm. The staff and I get along and great and I am working on my spanish with them.
Everything is great here.
Hope all is well with everyone in the states and the snow is not too cold!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Arrival
This will be a boring post, but I made it to San Jose in one piece with all my luggage. Everything went smoothly at the airport and my dad and I spent a few hours VIP style in the Crown Room before my flight.
It feels so good to be back! My spanish is rusty to say the least, but I've managed to get by with a new fangled spanglish. I'm staying in a hostel tonight then taking a bus across the country in the morning to Cabo Blanco which is the park I will be working in while I'm here. Weather is warm and the sun is shining. Can't wait to get to the coast and reunite with the Drs Lieberman.
It feels so good to be back! My spanish is rusty to say the least, but I've managed to get by with a new fangled spanglish. I'm staying in a hostel tonight then taking a bus across the country in the morning to Cabo Blanco which is the park I will be working in while I'm here. Weather is warm and the sun is shining. Can't wait to get to the coast and reunite with the Drs Lieberman.
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