A View from the Beach: October 2024

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Monteverdi e Tamarindo

Today was mostly a travel day. After a brief breakfast we clambered on board the bus and headed down the Pacific side of the mountains headed for the beach town of Tamarindo. Along the way we stopped at a cafe known to be the hangout of a flock of Scarlet Macaws. There was only one scarlet but it was keeping company with a blue and green,

I was also lucky enough to catch this as yet unidentified butterfly at rest.

We reached Tamarindo in midafternoon.

We managed to occupy ourselves until sunset.

Then we had some ice cream.

Thursday Tattoos

Fox News, California man tortured girlfriend, tattooed ‘degrading words’ on her chest before killing her

Alisen Takacs-Escobar was found dead Dec. 24, 2021, in the apartment she shared with 24-year-old Saul C. Nava, according to a statement from the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Nava was convicted Tuesday on nine felony counts, including first-degree murder, torture, kidnapping, aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of child pornography and inflicting corporal injury to a current or former cohabitant.

What a peach!

Monte Verde Cloud Forest

Today we woke up with the Pacific Ocean in the distance from our back door.

And this fellow was rooting around in our backyard.

After breakfast we headed to the hanging bridges for a walk above the tree canopy.

The best shot I could get of a giant Owl Butterfly.

A mighty big millipede.

A Blue Headed Trogon on the way home.

The Wednesday Wetness

Central Oregon Daily, Cougar spotted on Oregon coast dock tranquilized, but dies after jumping into water. "A cougar that was spotted walking on boat docks in Newport, Oregon, Thursday was tranquilized before it could harm anyone."

Oregon, my Oregon!

And On to Monte Verde

A shot of Mt. Arenal from our bungalow

We stopped at a nature reserve on the flanks.

This Coatimundi was in the parking lot to beg for

Small but dangerous, this Eyelash Viper was curled up in some vegetation near the path.

One elaborate grasshopper.

We saw several beautiful butterflies today, including some Blue Morphos, but only these posed. The lower one may seem rather plain, but I assure you on the underside it is a striking electric blue.

A White Collared Magpie Jay.

Tuesday Tanlines

Tucson Wildcats, UA students guide to tanning "Here’s what the experts say about safe tanning and why UA students like to tan so much"

When I was in college, the administration didn't worry about us getting tan. But then, at Humboldt State University we rarely saw the sun. When I went to Oregon State for grad school, it wasn't much sunnier.

Rio Frio

Today we visited Rio Frio for another boat ride. Rio Frio starts in Costa Rica and goes to the sea in Nicaragua.

The Monday Morning Stimulus

Barchart, Coffee Prices Finish Higher as Brazil Rain Chances Diminish. Come on Brazil, get it together.

On the Way to Aranel

Today we travelled to the Aranel Volcano, north and east of San Jose.

A young lady who graced our elevator in San Jose.

A metal church in Grecia.

Sarchi, homeland of souvenirs.

A Great Kisskadee.

Palm Sunday

With Charly Jordan:

Lovely things, palm trees, but surprisingly dangerous. At Bakersfield Now, Tree trimmer dies after being trapped under palm fronds in east Bakersfield.

A tree trimmer died after being trapped under palm fronds in east Bakersfield late Thursday evening. The Kern County Fire Department said on Thursday afternoon at 4:37 p.m., Kern County firefighters responded to the 800 block of Plaza Street for a report of a victim trapped in a palm tree.

When firefighters arrived, crews found a tree trimmer pinned under palm fronds about 30 feet up in a tall palm tree. KCFD said the victim had been unresponsive for about 30 minutes before firefighters got there.

Officials said the truck's 100-foot ladder fell just short of reaching the tree. KCFD said the only viable option was to send a rescuer up into the tree. Due to the technical nature of palm tree rescues, the Kern County Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR-47) was requested.

KCFD said palm trees often develop what is known as a “skirt” of dried fronds, which grows larger over time. The fronds are sharp and their weight can become hazardous. The entire skirt can loosen and fall down the trunk, posing a significant risk to anyone in or near the tree.

Morning Sloth

We left Tortuguerra today, reversing our course from two days ago.

The morning sloth.

Roseatte Spoonbill.

Rule 5 Saturday - Charly Jordan

Today's Rule 5 wonder is DJ, runway model and "influencer" Charly Jordan:

Independent model, DJ and social media sensation who has worked with brands such as Pura Vida, Forever 21 and Revolve. Her Instagram account boasts more than 4 million followers.

As a child she played competitive soccer for 12 years and competed in track for four years. She was a three-time state champion in track and signed a full-ride track scholarship which she later turned down.

She has made videos for music festivals all over the world like Pal Norte, EDC and Coachella.

She grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada alongside her four younger brothers and two younger sisters. She also lived in Costa Rica for two years. She later became based in Los Angeles.

Just a Box of Rain

Variety, Phil Lesh, Bassist for the Grateful Dead, Dies at 84

Bassist Phil Lesh, whose dense, inventive playing powered the Grateful Dead and, following the 1995 death of guitarist Jerry Garcia, many of the San Francisco band’s touring reincarnations, died Friday. He was 84.

The news was posted on his official Instagram pagewith the message “Phil Lesh, bassist and founding member of The Grateful Dead, passed peacefully this morning. He was surrounded by his family and full of love. Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love. We request that you respect the Lesh family’s privacy at this time.”