I set off for Curi Cancha Reserve this morning to do a jungle walk. I had been told it was safe by school and when I asked the forest ranger if it was bastante seguro (fairly safe) he said 'bastante' so not completely reassuring. But a couple I met said it was too high for many snakes and encouraged me to look inside the huge fig tree. I walked for about two hours and at one point went round in a circle, after which I decided to follow the signs back to the information centre. I saw some great views, hummingbirds and one or two other birds, lots of forest noises. I kept my eyes to the path and had my walking stick with me.
On the way back I stopped for a coffee at the coffee centre which turned out to be a good choice. They had been demonstrating and so handed me a free cup of frappucino, and I purchased a cinnamon roll.
Towards my coffee stop!
I discovered this week that as well as having no army, Costa Rica does no mining or exploration for underground reserves of any kind as their environment and wildlife are more important for them. Together with the lovely friendly people I think it's a great place. In the coffee shop I was looking at a book of the national parks which pretty well cover the whole country.
On Thursday I went into Santa Elena in the afternoon and changed my watch that had stopped for four days, only to find it had started again! Then I got back to find my original watch had started again too, and now the new one is losing a few minutes so I think the environment here is not good for watches maybe. I also visited the Serpentarium, where I saw frogs, turtles and a good range of snakes. There really are some nasty ones, fer de lance, coral snakes. Pit vipers, bushmaster, rattlesnake and the harmless vine snake I saw at Sarapique. Some just look like twigs, others are more like branches! I now look very carefully as I go up the road in the dark, especially as the guide said they had found one crossing the road in Santa Elena!
Last night after work I went back to school to spend some time relaxing in the jacuzzi; I have a fair bit of homework this weekend and there will be no escape next week as I will be alone in the class with the same teacher as this week. It was a bit sad yesterday to say farewell to my classmate of two weeks. She is going on to the school at Flamingo which is a beach resort. Others are moving on to various places, but Judy and John from USA are around for two more weeks and we are meeting for lunch tomorrow.
Yesterday was fun at work; I think I understand that I had made an error on some labels, but even worse there was a long debate with one of the associates because some of her work was being turned away! Also an american couple tried to purchase something with a credit card and said they had never been given a pin. They left looking somewhat upset as clearly they had come on holiday and found themselves without a card to use. At times like this I am at least able to step in with some English explanations.
Things at the apartment tick along well; there is an amicable arrangement with the cleaner who comes every day. If she takes my washing out of the machine she folds it all up nicely, so likewise, if there is household washing when I go there I do the same for her!
I am planning to go out for lunch a bit later, and if energetic enough I can go back to the sepentarium for a night visit with my ticket from the other day. But I may have walked far enough. It's interesting living within about a 5 mile area but amazing how much there is to see, especially when the only transport is feet, unless on a booked tour, when it's a tourist minibus.
My house is the long green one at the top and my balcony is top right. I took this from opposite the school, so as you can see it's not far, just all uphil!
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