What's on my mind
Our last day in Monteverde would be devoted to wild life. In the morning we went to the Curi-Cancha forest reserve. The first thing pointed out to us was a strangler fig. This begins as an epiphyte, lowering its roots to the ground. Then it takes over, gradually outcompeting its host for the groundwater and light,… Continue reading A Day in Monteverde – the Cloud Forest
On day 5 of our tour we headed for Monteverde. This time, we would follow one route while our luggage followed another. We took a boat across lake Arenal, and met another bus with a different driver to head for Monteverde. The ride across the lake took about half an hour and offered some good… Continue reading On to Monteverde
Our tour was called "A Taste of Costa Rica." Our agenda for our first day in the Arenal area was full. We went on a short bird walk with William. He spotted a collared tanager and a yellow faced grassquit. Here are some pictures from the internet. We could not get close enough to take… Continue reading Arenal Area
The first objective of our trip was to take in the wild life of Costa Rica. Now, even in Costa Rica, this is easier said than done. No problem seeing the plants. They cannot help it. But the animals - their lives depend on being well concealed, and they are very good at it. Before… Continue reading Sarapiqui
The day after white water rafting on the Sarapiqui, we checked out of the Selva Verde Lodge and rode to Porto Viejo to board a small cruise boat. William pointed out anhinga, turtles, iguana, snowy egrets, cecropia, fig trees, howler monkeys, black vultures, blue heron, and chilamate trees. There was evidence of recent flooding –… Continue reading River Cruise at Porto Viejo, Pineapple Farm Tour, and a Hotel Near a Volcano
Naturally, from the outset we had a certain idea about Costa Rica as a country rich in wildlife, a site for ecotourism. We were about to learn it is more than that. The next day, Sunday, we had a buffet breakfast - which included rice and beans - and then met for an 8 AM lecture… Continue reading From San José to Sarapiqui
A number of friends, as well as our son and his wife, traveled to Costa Rica, all giving very favorable reports. We decided to take a Road Scholar tour “A Taste of Costa Rica” in January. Our early morning plane out of Albany was a little twin engine jet, but it only took about half an… Continue reading A Trip to Costa Rica
Hello everyone, We celebrate each year, a bit after the solstice, a tradition of long standing. I look forward to seeing friends and family! I hope all of you can do the same in this season. Those of you in the Southern Hemisphere are experiencing summer, while we here have short days and lots of precipitation. Cheers… Continue reading Happy Holidays
December 18, 2017 Michael Gerson writes today in the Albany Times Union that the Republican Party will have to lose before it can recover from Trumpism. He looks forward to a day when the party can once again stand for its old principles. And he says: “The ultimate goal is not the victory of Democrats,… Continue reading Why Republicans Need to Lose
Just a little note about this. I contributed to Doug Jones' campaign. It is hard to imagine a Democrat winning in Alabama, but there it is. His opponent, the odious Roy Moore, who, although conservative, refused to go along with the plain intent of the US Constitution when he insisted on keeping a monument inscribed… Continue reading Doug Jones Wins in Alabama
