Day I of the Howler Monkey expedition. Lagoon & La Esquina
Filed Under : by Greg L. Miller
Wednesday, June 2, 2010The days are beginning to drift just as a twig is pulled by currents in a stream. Colors, people, whispers, and laughs blur into one experience. What defines the opaqueness of life and its journey? Of late my wife and society says it's to work and to bequeath your living onto others. Even in paradise I can't escape this equerry for I'm reminded every day what is expected of me as I watch a developing country grow. Deep down I would like nothing more than to help society become the best it can become as they slowly build globally. For this reason I tentatively make plans to head back to Washington DC early next year. At the moment paradise is a place meant to be savored like a fine Merlot. Paradise is a place to escape. Some can escape a few days, others weeks or months, and the lucky their whole life. The convocation of paradise imbues images of palm trees swaying as cool breezes briefly touch on ones hair or to sift through fine golden sand in your toes as you watch breathtaking sunsets play a vast array of colors in the sky. Yet for others it's to drink and dance via vibrant music that uplifts one soul as their companion is merry. If these things define paradise then this is its epoch. But even in paradise people live and die and there is a hierarchy of both predators and prey. A balance between living the good life and to struggle to feed yourself and your family. Paradise can only be defined in subjective terms depending on who uses it and in what context. This is a paradise but in this vast world there are many types that come in all shapes and sizes. When one stands on the beach watching the sunset one eye has to be open for critters that are extremely dangerous such as poisonous insects that can cause instant system shock and death, or when a person swims they have to watch out for octopuses and whirlpools, not just sharks such as Jaws. When a person dances they must be weary of human predators that wish nothing more to pounce on their next victim for how else do some bring food home to their families? Even in paradise one must remember the rules of nature and man. As Locke and Hobbes once argued, what is real in regards to society and man? Is life fair and prosperous or is it short and brutal? The answer my friend lies somewhere in between both spectrum's.
Do to the heat and physical exertion the days have slowed down and three days could be construed as one. On day one we were thwarted as big vultures watched us with beady hungry eyes.
The sun pounded on our flesh as it unyielding drew forth our sweatin torrent waves. Naively we figured monkeys and exotic creatures
would be out in 90 degree temperatures, but alas, only us silly
humans were for animals such as monkeys come out only when it's
not hot. We should have received this innate knowledge as we
watched both dogs and cats lurk in the shade but learning the lore of the land comes only with experience. Needless to say day one of the monkey expedition was spent walking and roasting similar as how a chicken roasts at Kentucky Fried Chicken before lunch hour.
The People of Costa Rica made many bridges for Monkeys to cross the roads such as this.
During our fruitless endeavor we did come across a spectacular crystal blue lagoon, formally known as Parue San Fransisco, within Santa Cruz. At the end of the lagoon was an estuary rumored to contain many crocodiles so we called it a day.
After walking a grueling five miles we made it back to our town and ate dinner at a pizzeria called La Esquina. La Esquina allured us by authentic brick ovens that engulfed the senses with smells that instantly reminded you of Tuscany or Venice. Kelly thought this restaurant was nice but I found it a little lacking as the waitress served us with a child on her hip and often forget the small things such as ice and plates.
My sun burn was not so great and it made it harder to move around. Even with sun tan lotion half my body looked like a cooked lobster. I flayed my little toe from all the hiking so I decided I needed a day to recoup and look at my shells, I think I read some where that predators are drawn to the smell of blood and this place most definitely has its share of predators.
End of day one of the Monkey expedition.
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