Ramblings in Costa Rica

             Today we started out in Mountain Cloud Forest up to 12,000 feet and ended up at the Pacific Ocean at sea level.  So, just as we did a little rambling around, I will do some rambling around in topics.

             We went for a little bird walk before leaving, and saw the Resplendent Quetzal.  My picture isn’t great because he was deep in the foliage while his wife rooted in a cavity tree close by.  Try looking it up on Google, because it is worth it.  In the meantime, all of you are supposed to have fallen down gasping, saying, “SHE has seen the Resplendent Quetzal?  How awesome!  This is the ultimate of life!!”  I will try to bear your envy.

The ecosystems in the cloud forest are extremely complex, and I will try to explain one special set of interactions.

This is one of hundreds of kinds of Bromeliads in Costa Rica.  They often live in tree branches to get better light from the sun although you can see them on the ground as well.  Not only are they beautiful, but they form an integral part of the forest.

Remember all soils are poor in CR because of the constant rain leaching minerals from the soil.  The Bromeliad structure allows it to hold water in its base.  Leaves, etc fall into the water and are decomposed by bacteria that releases nutrients to benefit the Bromeliad.  Then tree frogs can use the water, and they become a source of food for some birds.  The water is also high in tannic acid from the leaves of the oaks, and the R.Quetzal needs to drink that kind of water because they have evolved to deal with the tannic acid.  Each component of the forest needs every other component.

Now on to a more interesting topic.  We stopped at a tiny little restaurant along the road.  Our party filled the restaurant.  We were served a meal of typical CR food:  fish, chicken, shredded cabbage salad, rice and black beans, plantain, and mixed vegetables including potatoes, carrots and squash.  I think it was the best fish I have ever eaten in my life.  The fish was trout caught just in the morning, cleaned and served.  The food here is not spicy, but very savoury.  Back to the quirky—this is a picture of the little garden in the entrance.  Notice the paint cans?

By the time we got to the Pacific Ocean, it was very warm (33C) and humid.  The room was impressive, and so is the view from our balcony.

I will end this with a sign from a coffee shop:  Drink coffee!  Do stupid things faster with more energy.