Monteverde

We went to Monteverde last weekend. What a fascinating community with its history of Quaker war resistors and its fierce protection of the cloud forest. Perhaps the most interesting park was the Children's Eternal Forest, a huge reserve of land that was initially purchased in the 1980´s through a grassroots effort involving children bringing pocket change to school and contributing it toward purchasing a part of the rainforest. The children of Sweden alone raised $1 million to purchase land and their government was so proud of their effort that it kicked in another $1,000,000.
We saw a nesting pair of emerald toucanettes, a young male quetzal, lots of orchids in an orchid garden, and the kids and Dad went to a bat exhibit where they learned a bunch about these really amazing and important animals. Of course we went into the Monteverde reserve and relished the views of the different layers of the forest. We also ate some really good food at local restaurants.

Zena walking on road to our cabin

Butterfly or moth that Eva spotted

In the orchid garden



The whole fam in the cloud forest



Known as the squeaky gate bird--an ethereal sound

Un sapo Eva

A "Glass Butterfly"--1st time we saw this transparent winged butterfly. Photo by Asa.

Agouti on the run. Photo by Asa.

Toucanette we saw at breakfast

Long bus ride, including a break-down back to Turrialba