Today we chased dolphins and birds across the gulf of the Osa Peninsula. What a noteworthy, wonderful day.
We woke insanely early ( even by Costan Rican standards) to catch a ride on a Toyota truck to town, which was one hour?s drive away. Our driver was the brother of the fellow that drove us in- both were lovely men. We had a quickly drive into town over the rocky road. It must be so difficult to maintain roads in the torrential downpours that they experience every day (and all day during the rainy season.) but, as our driver said, in Costa Rica you don?t need good roads? You need a good truck!
We arrived at the pier and met the boss of the tour company. ?The precursor to the next bit is that yesterday, when we booked the tour, our hotel manager asked the tour company twice if they had small life jackets for small people, and they confirmed. Anyway, we arrived at the pier, and I asked the tour boss if they had small life jackets and he said ?of course! On the boat!? S we hopped on and ? Guess what? No life jackets. ?In fact, the guide said ?oh, we just keep the life jackets (all adult sized) tied to the sides.. No need to put them on.?
Ok, so I understand different countries have different ideas of safe (hello! Ethiopia! ) but we asked three times and the fellow flat out lied. So buyer beware? Either bring your own kid life jackets or see the proof before you get on board. I grew up on boats and there is just no way I would have left harbour if we thought they didn?t have life jackets for my barely-swimming kids.
Anyway, despite the girls being wrapped up in huge life jackets that probably would have drowned them if they had gone over. .. We had a lovely time. We saw so many birds along the edge where the primary rainforest meets the water, and then happened on small pod of bottle nosed dolphins. It was neat how they would rise around us, and the girls were thrilled. ?Then we went to where the rive cut into the mangroves? And wow.. The birds. Just amazing. There were some common birds that we recognized from home, such as great blue herons, and osprey? But many more that we recognized the shape of, but were different species. ?The was an amazing rookery of pelicans that included hundreds throughout the trees. Pretty awesome.
On our way back from the mangroves we saw a huge pod of spotted dolphins? There were probably 50 or 60 of the playful animals? So cool. A few of them raced under the nose of our small boat, while others played and jumped through the wake of the boat. There was one especially silly guy who decided to show us how high he could jump, and I got amazing pictures of him springing over and over through the air. ?I don?t think any of us realized how playful and friendly they are in the wild.
The girls fell asleep in the boat on the way home, and it reminded me of that same feeling I had when I was a kid riding on long trips in our family boat? The warm compression of a life jacket, the hum of the boat motor, the slap of the waves and the warm wind washing over me.
On the way home, our lovely driver took a short side tour o a Lillie eco area to show us alligators.. Small but lots of them, and really cool in the wild. Sugar was chewing her nails all the time, and Spice didn?t let go of my hand, but I enjoyed it, anyway!
Some other gems so far about the topics? Costa Ricans are more private than Canadians, so only ONCE! At the alligator thing was I asked if the girls were twins, and ?they are so beautiful.? No one has asked at all about their background or adoption? What an unexpected blessing!
Ants consume anything? The girls were eating a cookie yesterday at the table beside the pool, and 20 minutes later there was a busy ant trail climbing up the umbrella post and carting away the cookie remainders. There was also a piece of fruit on the paths the day we arrived and three days later, it?s almost disintegrated. The jungle is amazing.
The insects are also awesome.. Not biting insects. In fact, the only stings we had were from the jellyfish today (thought of you, Ena!) but these monster butterflies, beetles and long-legged crawlers are everywhere. ?So beautiful.
Source: http://rowanfamilytree.com/2012/12/15/chasing-dolphins-and-tropical-birds/
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