Dolphins & Snorkeling Today

Adult Dolphin
Drake Bay, Costa Rica

Watching Dolphins from Snorkeling Boat
Drake Bay, Costa Rica
Then Snorkeling to See Smaller Fish!
At Caño Island, Drake Bay, Costa Rica

It was another nice trip today though we got heavy rain on the way back meaning no picnic lunch on the beach. The snorkle leader decided to take us to the little town of Drake Bay to eat the fruit and sandwich makings he had, so I had them drop me off at our Aguila Inn pier on the way and had a nice chicken salad lunch out of the rain. (And no wet landing of the boat!) Tomorrow I think I will get to do the Mangrove Float Trip for a lot of birds, having found two couples here who are interested. There is a minimum of 4 required to do the tour which is led by Aguila’s guide Carlos who welcomed me with a Boa Constrictor the first day.

The internet is slow still, but I decided to take time to post 3 photos above anyway. It is hard to tell a story with just one! And yesterday’s hike into Corcovado just showed the beach. But I need to give another Aguila guide, Tony, as much attention as I did Carlos with his Boa. So here he is with his “Living Ear Ring!” On the hike he grabbed this lizard and held it up to his ear. The lizard bit it and held on for 30 seconds or longer. Weird but entertaining!

Tony’s “Living Ear Ring”
Aguila de Osa Lodge Hiking Guide
Drake Bay, Costa Ricas

About Corcovado National Park (Wikipedia)  and  About Drake Bay (Wikipedia)


And Aguila de Osa Inn

My TRIPS Photo Gallery on this Drake Bay Trip

New Anole & Rain!

Giant Banded Anole, new in my garden, Atenas, Costa Rica
And I think he is different from the Green Tree Anole I posted earlier.
Maybe not. But I think larger and the stripes different.
I first saw this one on the tree stump I was preparing for my ceramic bird art.
I was waiting for the wood filler to dry so I could paint it & mount the bird.
It is now mounted as shown in yesterday’s post.
Rainy Season is back with rain every afternoon and today’s is especially good, started at 1:00 and still raining at 6:00!
The garden loves it!  🙂


I’m singing in the rain, just singing in the rain; What a wonderful feeling, I’m happy again.
~Arthur Freed
More lizards in my Costa Rica Reptiles PHOTO GALLERY

“American Experience” in the Malls

Cell Phone Snap, Food Court, Multiplaza Mall, Escazu, Costa Rica

I’ve been here almost 6 months and haven’t been in a Mall until yesterday and again today. I did not shop in malls in the states, so why here? They are too expensive in the states, but you should see the prices here! Out of sight! But the rich (both Tico and Expat) who want the “American Experience,” love these malls, mostly near San Jose. The above Multiplaza Mall is in Escazu, a wealthy suburb of San Jose where our American Ambassador’s home is located. Yesterday I checked out International Mall in Alajuela near the airport. It is older and smaller, but only until November when the new one being built next door will be larger than Escazu’s Multiplaza AND claims it will be the largest mall in Central America with 300+ stores! 

Since I am not buying the $100 Levis or the $44 Columbia brand cap I liked, why did I go? Partly out of curiosity and partly to check out the multi-screen theaters in both malls, so Anthony and I can go see Jurassic Park next Tuesday. We want a 3-D with English sound track and Spanish subtitles. Their phones are recordings in Spanish. Scratch that! The websites are almost as difficult to follow. So I go talk to live people! Alajuela had only Spanish soundtracks during the day with their only English one at 9 PM – not for us old men! The Escazu theater staff told me today that the 1:25 afternoon 3-D show is in English with Spanish subtitles – just right for us. (Maybe a little help on learning Spanish through subtitles!) And we get a bonus! It is in a “DBOX” theater, meaning the seats will move, shake, vibrate or whatever with the movie, like Disney World! You will get a report Tuesday night. And the price of a ticket is about $8, meaning movies aren’t as overpriced as clothing, etc. 
So, you see, we don’t do without all the modern science things here! Plus I now have a new baby lizard in my living room and he mostly stays on the wall near the ceiling above the outside windows, waiting for insects! Wonder if they live in the Mall?
A Baby Lizard on wall by crown molding in my living room.
Sorry about bad photo, but I wouldn’t turn light on because it would scare him off.
In fact I tried getting closer and he scurried off! Costa Rica Insect Control!  🙂

Green Tree Anole

Green Tree Anole went across my garden and up the wall.
Atenas, Costa Rica
Notice how long the tail is, making him similar to a Pug-nosed Anole,
but I’ll stick to my identification of Green Tree Anole.
The line shadows are from ornamental grasses above the wall.
Atenas, Costa Rica