So the Quaker settlement in this area. 4 families from Alabama decided that they wanted to move from the US after 4 of them spent a year in jail and on probation for not registering for the draft.  They choose Costa Rica from many options when they learned they had abolished their military.  In 1951 they set out with 7 other families and arrived by plane or 3 month drive with lots of obstacles—including twelve miles in CR with no road that took a month to traverse.  Amazing.  They eventually found land in the highlands (for health reasons), on a plateau.  They took the same route here we did, through the brown lowlands to the lush green forest.  They bought 30,000 acres and set 1/3 aside for a watershed.  The balance was divided between all the families.  They since gave the watershed to the preserve, have started a school, farms, cheese factory and developed a growing community.  They named the area green mountain which translates to Monteverde and now the township and region carry that name.  He was a farmer, then cheese factory manager and eventually moved to San Jose to become the distributor for the business.  There he met an unwed mother with a young starving son.  She was not able to care for him and had little interest in the boy.  Marvin Rockwell, who gave the talk, adopted the boy.  Eventually he married a local woman and they two sons and adopted a daughter.  They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.—How did he celebrate his ninetieth birthday!  Zip Line!! And he loved it.

On the 22nd we left Monteverde via a butterfly garden with captivating bug lecture

beforehand.  To quote the women who owned the place, “You thought you were coming to see butterflies but you really are going to learn about spiders, bugs and roaches.  The butterflies just lure you in.”  Kickoff was a big hairy tarantula, several beetles, small and large, some singing.  Ending with scorpions and a very large cockroach which she put in her mouth to prove it was not toxic or dangerous—yum.  Butterfly houses were lovely with a variety of Costa Rican species.  A new one for us was the glass winged butterfly, you can see right them like a stained glass. 

The brightest were the blue morpho which shimmered in the light as they flew.  When they sit with folded wings they are moth like and not very attractive.  Back on the bus to head down the mountain and the coast to ship.  On the way we stopped for a traditional CR lunch of rice with chicken, plantains, beans and veggies.  We also learned the history of the country and all about coffee.  We picked up a local variety at the tourist trap.  Coffee, bananas and donkeys were the early exports.  One last stop at the river to see the crocs.  Little fellas at 15 feet…..

We arrive a the ship, settle in and have dinner.  All is well.  Overnight we sailed from

Herradura past Quepos, an old banana export town and drop anchor at Manuel Antonio National Park.  We ventured out to take a two mile walk in sloth valley—guess what we found.  Iguanas.  Then we found one sloth way up in tree and we all took pictures.  Only to come across one later coming the down the tree with a baby and tow and swinging onto another tree.  First one was a two fingered and second a three figured.  We were all entertained for 1/2 hour.  Our attention was diverted when a large troupe of white faced monkeys appeared in the trees and made their way to the beach.  We learned that they sleep in like the tourists and come out in time to steal picnic lunches.  We witnessed it.  They are quick and can open plastic bags and tupperware to find their prize.  Again we were entertained for 1/2 hour.  Snap, snap, snap of cameras.  On the way back raccoons appeared but we had little interest as we see them at home.  Back to the beach where you could swim or lounge or head to the ship via the DIB or zodiac.

We spent the afternoon on board instead of more beach time. It is hot and sunny and Nancy burns and Sue wanted a massage.  We had a few lectures in the evening, history, info about sloths, and a photography lesson.

Today is Monday.  We are at the Osa Peninsula.  We spent the morning on a DIB cruise into the Agujitas river.  We saw vultures, herons, a baby crocodile, monkeys, and a very tiny kingfisher.  Back to the beach, we do that a lot, where the staff prepared and served a picnic lunch.  Fortunately, there were no monkeys invited.  Present in the area were yellow beaked herons, tiny hermit crabs and a flock of macaws, not to mention the random dog.  It was a beautiful place to rest and enjoy the view and warmth of the early afternoon.  Back to the ship for a nap for Sue and Nancy’s massage followed by her nap.