Florida Everglades

Today started fairly slowly, but eventually we got moving. Off to the Everglades.

Diorama in the Visitor's Centre

This is a "Borrow Pit". It is deeper because the soil has been dug out for the road.

Deb, Jill, Jim, and a Florida Panther

Mockingbird

Air Plant

Spanish Moss

Debby and a Tree

Cormorant

Butterfly

Greater Egret

Anhinga

Alligator

Painted Tortoise

American Bittern

Purple Gallinule

Another Bird Named Bill

Deb, Jill, Bill

Anhinga

American Bittern

Saying Goodbye to Arenal

Today is our last full day in Arenal and in Costa Rica. In fact, Debby actually thought we were flying out today. So..... We don't have anything planned.

When we left our room, it was actually raining. Imagine that. We have been away for 30 days and the sun has shone every day. Not bad eh? If it is ever going to rain, the last day is the best day.

Luckily enough, by the time we had breakfast the rain had stopped, so we just had to do something.

On the way into La Fortuna, we stopped to get some pictures of "living fences".

Living fences come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

We saw these birds first at Arenal Observatory Lodge.

Now at Arenal Paraiso Resort

I'll find the name of these flowers soon.

We prowled around La Fortuna for the morning until just after lunch. Then we returned to lounge around the pool in the afternoon. Rain threatened occasionally, but never actually dumped on us.

Before dinner, we returned to our room to find that the clouds were almost gone and the volcano was showing off. For the first time I was able to get a closeup of the top.

For the first time, you can now see smoke/steam coming from the top.

Clouds come and go, but this one white spot never moves.

Sunset with a cap on top.

On the way back to Liberia, we stopped for coffee at a rafting site.

From the highway you can see the row of volcanos that run down the centre of the country.

Baldi Hot Springs

The plan was to go to Baldi Hot Springs today, but first we needed to visit La Fortuna.

The church on the square is unlike others we have seen.

Water Fountain in the square

Of course we did make it to the hot springs. The water that Deb is sitting in is about 109˚ F, but the little pool behind her is 68˚ F.

There are 25 pools. The higher you go, the higher the temperature.

Many flow directly into the one below.

Paths meander here and there.

We sat right near this sculpture and never noticed where her hands were until we looked at the picture.

The two upper pools are quite shallow, with tiled lounges underwater.

The highest pool of all is also the hottest.Notice the steam coming off of the waterfall. Deb's favourite spot was lying on the rocks under the falls. I had to keep ducking under the cold shower just off to the side.

Eventually we left the hot springs and returned to our room to freshen up. At seven we came back for a buffet dinner which was part of the package.

Mistico Hanging Bridges

Again we set our alarm for six a.m., but this time it was raining, so we just turned them off. Some time later we went for breakfast. By then, the weather was clearing up so we set out for Mistico Hanging Gardens. Of course we did go closer to the volcano, so we had to stop and take more pictures.

The branches you are looking through are part of a "Living Fence".

Almost all is visible.

The coatimundi's tail points straight in the air.

I thought this palm fruit looked prehistoric.

Deb enjoyed her hike. Some surfaces were uneven.

Leaf Cutter Ants

The trail started out fairly level. Only later did it become quite steep, and a few times it was quite uneven.

Paving stones make the path.

The First Hanging Bridge

Eventually we were very high in the air and the bridges were quite long. We were looking down on parts of the canopy.

From high above the world

One of the longer hanging bridges

Deb found her tree.

A lower bridge from above

A higher bridge from below

Lizard

Swainson's Thrush

All in all, it was a wonderful walk. Debby was very tired and very proud of herself. When we were back in our room, we found Costa Rica’s national bird just outside our door. We rewarded ourselves with a trip to the pool and dinner out. At the pool, I spotted one new bird.

Costa Rica's National Bird (Clay-Coloured Thrush)

Kiskadee