Tuesday, we are pooped.  Last night we had an Argentinian couple come on board to sing for us.  They were quite delightful and their son occasionally sang along until his eyes shut mid song.  He stole most of the show.  However the singing was soothing.  Fausto, the 5 year old, was fascinated that there was a bathroom on such a big ship.  Most boats he sees do not have one, hose are smaller boats.

Up early today to go ashore at Finca Solidaro in Gulfo Dulce—one of the deepest gulfs of its size in the world.  At 6:45 the light is good for flowers and birds.  This is a photography expedition so there are 4 pros on board in additional to Kike the National Geographic photographer we mentioned earlier.  He decided to give us private lessons this morning so we never saw the flowers or birds except for one parrot.  He was using Nancy’s camera so she was experimenting and trying to absorb all of the information.  At the same time Sue played with a wide variety of settings on her camera.  Thus the black and white parrot with a touch of color. 

Back for breakfast and off for a DIB ride up Rio Esquinas one of eighteen emptying in the gulf.  It starts as a dense mangrove thicket yielding to a riverine forest.  Herons, boa constrictors and ibis.  Sun was hot but the ride was faster and we got a little breeze.  Here’s a surprise, Sue found a place to shop on board at the global market, some shirts, a basket and a straw woven bird.

After lunch the photographers worked with small groups but Kike’s was large and off track but interesting.  He gave Sue some great tips on one of her shots, which he liked.  We both practiced a bit this afternoon when we back to shore for a botanical garden walk.  The afternoon was hot.  Landing are always adventurous, depending on the surf, and always wet so we go ashore and dry off before setting out.  The flowers and plants at the garden where beautiful, they guides shared lots of information and picture taking was plentiful.  Two parrots squawked as they flew over in a circle and then landed in a nearby tree, all other stopped as we took pictures.  We came to the ship in a melted puddle.  Fortunately activities for today except for dinner.  The ship is repositioning first to a pier to clear customs and then sailing 120 nautical miles to our next destination in Panama.  Farewell to Costa Rica….