Hangover. 10 km hike in blast of sunshine (almost forgot what is it like to be sunny) and steam evaporating from the wet soil of Cahuita National Park. At the entry, the lady told me that there iwere some river crossings . Fine with me but I had to put long trousers on and long sleeves to protect from mosquitoes and other surprises . My cycling shoes were also not a great choice for water crossing.. The river was nearly neck deep probably full of banana plantation pesticides and waste water from villages above (nice)! I had to carry all my clothes on my head with the front handlebar bag and the shoes on the top. The animals here are spectacular. It’s nearly like a zoo walk, but without cages and fences.
Some locals have been fishing in the sea with no rods, just a string and some stone as a weight, rolled on to piece of wood. They looked very professional in there actions. The coral reef in this area is one of the two Costa Rican reefs and since 1991, after an earthquake, the ses bed and some land around here had raised a meter. Looks quirky with corals sticking above the sea level.
Saw three types of monkeys (got attacked by the small ones while eating my coconut (which they nicked half of it – cheeky - they also tried to pull my trousers to give them more) . A local guide told me to not give them any food, so I had to explain that they had stolen it. The really big ones make funny noise, similar to the bears.
Spotted a green iguana (the size of medium dog), but couldn’t take a picture due to the fact of being half-naked and the camera being packed away before one of the river crossings. No snakes or frogs but I was not very vigilant following my intoxication from last night. Got a bus back from the exit of the park with some German students learning Spanish in Costa Rica. Dortmund girls told me that the Spanish language spoken here is clearer then the one in Spain. Got back and tried to find a local botanical garden but it seemed to have disappeared. Not to worry, I could try to find another one tomorrow going south-east towards the border with Panama. Had a quick ride around the town, lovely dry and sunny with no weighty panniers, perfect! Met an Italian guy who lived in Denmark who had met his Czech wife in Guatemala. They had stayed just outside Cahuita for the last 20 years (they are thinking about going back to Europe). He told me that Italians where the first to make a strike in Costa Rica. Surprise, surprise he was a baker and pizza chef who did his round on a bicycle - I got some bread and mini pizza with peppers. Followed this with a dessert of crushed ice and milk powder and home-made fruit juice poured over finished with a layer of condensed milk. Really tasty, light and refreshing!
Got back to the hotel for some time washing and doing some maintenance. The chain on the bike looked so bad, clogged up in black oil with debris and sand. I cleaned off most of it and spotted loose spoke in the rear wheel. The local repair shop was closed so I will try in the morning.
Just had a thought that the Jamaican influence has brought better taste buds, culture and also an English language in to this part of the country. Flip side of the coin is abuse of drugs and social problems to go with it.
Some locals have been fishing in the sea with no rods, just a string and some stone as a weight, rolled on to piece of wood. They looked very professional in there actions. The coral reef in this area is one of the two Costa Rican reefs and since 1991, after an earthquake, the ses bed and some land around here had raised a meter. Looks quirky with corals sticking above the sea level.
Saw three types of monkeys (got attacked by the small ones while eating my coconut (which they nicked half of it – cheeky - they also tried to pull my trousers to give them more) . A local guide told me to not give them any food, so I had to explain that they had stolen it. The really big ones make funny noise, similar to the bears.
Spotted a green iguana (the size of medium dog), but couldn’t take a picture due to the fact of being half-naked and the camera being packed away before one of the river crossings. No snakes or frogs but I was not very vigilant following my intoxication from last night. Got a bus back from the exit of the park with some German students learning Spanish in Costa Rica. Dortmund girls told me that the Spanish language spoken here is clearer then the one in Spain. Got back and tried to find a local botanical garden but it seemed to have disappeared. Not to worry, I could try to find another one tomorrow going south-east towards the border with Panama. Had a quick ride around the town, lovely dry and sunny with no weighty panniers, perfect! Met an Italian guy who lived in Denmark who had met his Czech wife in Guatemala. They had stayed just outside Cahuita for the last 20 years (they are thinking about going back to Europe). He told me that Italians where the first to make a strike in Costa Rica. Surprise, surprise he was a baker and pizza chef who did his round on a bicycle - I got some bread and mini pizza with peppers. Followed this with a dessert of crushed ice and milk powder and home-made fruit juice poured over finished with a layer of condensed milk. Really tasty, light and refreshing!
Got back to the hotel for some time washing and doing some maintenance. The chain on the bike looked so bad, clogged up in black oil with debris and sand. I cleaned off most of it and spotted loose spoke in the rear wheel. The local repair shop was closed so I will try in the morning.
Just had a thought that the Jamaican influence has brought better taste buds, culture and also an English language in to this part of the country. Flip side of the coin is abuse of drugs and social problems to go with it.