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             Costa Rica, Animals and Shrubbery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            The first set of pictures are from the Rescue Shelter Las Pumas, founded by Lilly Bodmer de Hognauer 40 years ago.  She's a Swiss woman who fell in love with the animals that were "misplaced" during all the logging that apparently was taking place 40 years ago, and had the resources to start a rescue shelter.  I have no idea where she got the resources.  I was simply riding down the highway on the way to San Jose when I saw a sign that made it look like I could get some good animal pictures so I stopped.  It was only a couple hundred yards off the main highway so I didn't regret the very minor detour but I wouldn't make a day trip out of it.  Many of the other visitors had made a day trip from San Jose and they looked a bit disappointed.

            The other pictures are from Monteverde, San Jose zoo and Volcan Poas.

Click on the image and shelter a homeless Puma - then explain to everyone how you figured out that the Puma was actually homeless.

 

The Puma at Rescue Shelter Las Pumas, I guess he's sort of the mascott.

Bored kitty. At the shelter they make it clear that the only animals they have here are those that cannot be rehabilitated and released.

Tucan, check out that tongue like thing - I'm not sure what it does but probably not much.

Lips. I don't know why this one, or the others, couldn't be released and I didn't ask.

Jaguar in his natural habitat. I was in extreme danger here. That fence looking thing is just a spiderweb.

Halfway up the crappy gravel road to Monteverde I had a burger here. Not a very exciting picture but it was a good burger.

Scenery on the way up to Monteverde.

At the Monteverde rainforest.

Fun with flash. Without;

with.

Cool rainforest berries.

If you eat the berries the little animals will talk to you and be your friends.

More shrubbery at Monteverde.

Path through the woods.

Rainforests have big leaves.

Little bird nest under/inside one of the big leafy things.

I spent over an hour around the big avocado tree where the Quetsales feed and this was the best shot. It's the red white and blue feathers, center.

This bird wasn't as elusive as the quetsales.

On the way back down the hill from Monteverde to San Jose.

Portofino, my hotel in Alejuela. It's just 4 different 2 bedroom apartments with full kitchens and everything; a great deal for small groups.

Cemetery in front of Portofino. Lots of the Costa Rican cemeteries are just a bunch of little mausoleums.

Mini mausoleum decor.

Hot water shower, this one looks safer than most. It heats water as it passes over an electric element. It seems a bit like bathing with a toaster.

I saw this kind of tree several times - it takes root just about anywhere and holds on tight.

More danger at the San Jose zoo. It's a crappy zoo, don't bother.

Curious Tucan.

More danger.

Bored.

Old bird.

Monkeys have strong tails.

Social hour.

Greenery near the crater at Volcan Poas, about 90 minutes north of San Jose.

This is the best picture of the volcano - clouds and sulfury steam from the crater made it impossible to see anything.

There's the crater. I spent an afternoon getting there and back so you could see this amazing picture.

More shrubbery at Volcan Poas.

The view is the exact same even if you stand on this thing to get a better view. It's more likely to be a better view in the morning.

Leaving Volcan Poas, San Jose valley.