Latin America # 6 - Costa Rica Rain Forest, Part # 2

 

Latin America # 6

 Costa Rica Rain Forest, Part # 2

Getting ready for an adventure!

Tram takes us up into the rainforest 

Waterfall below us

Black “ball” is a termite nest. They’re all over the place.

Parasite plant finds a nice home

Ragged yellow shapes on right side of tree is a stream of “thousands” of leaf ants. Each ant carries a leaf to the nest.

Looking up at the canopy

Wild flowers

Iguanas are all over the place. This one is about two feet long.

 Interesting colors...

 and shapes  

Nature’s bark and root design features

Iguana’s coloring protects from predators 

A contrast of colors and textures

Cacao or coffee pod

Natural defense against predators

Ouch!

Notice the “bugs” on the noodle-like plants. Plant leaves are eaten at night by a variety of insects. 

A parasitic plant finds a new home.

Tropical butterfly

Rich coloring!

Beautiful!

“Circle” coloring is a defense mechanism against predators. Predators tend to “attack” the circle rather than the butterfly’s body which will increase the butterfly’s survival rate.

Another exotic plant

Strange looking plant

“Flowering” occurs in strange ways

Plants provide “materials” for a variety of applications

Ants cut leaves up and take pieces to nest

Bats use plants for protection

Guess what this warning sign is about?

We have a full size cart like this at home

“Hello! How’s it going?”

Jerry collects international and micro-brewery beer bottles

I Can...You Can...Toucan!

Sammy, the sloth!

Latin America 2022 # 5: Panama Canal and Costa Rica Rain Forest

 Latin America 2022 # 5

Panama Canal and Costa Rica Rain Forest, Part 1

  

Jerry uses marine app showing ships waiting, entering and leaving canal

Ship’s upper deck

Interesting designed bridge crosses canal

Stowaway

 

First lock

Tractors aka “Mules” pull ship through canal

Lock doors open up

Bulk carrier ship. Could be carrying grain, scrap metal, coal, etc.

Guess the details about this ship! Information comes from Marine app

Here are the details!

See ya in Houston!

Ship’s keep coming and coming and coming… 24/7

Tanker - This is our third trip visiting the canal. The new changes are quite remarkable.

Fruit presentation for lunch

Dinner time

Off to the rain forest. Large storm caused all of this debris to wash up on the beach

Da Gadna!

Plenty of roadside homes along railroad tracks

Many roadside restaurants

Costa Rican currency

Pretty bay

There is always something to buy

Beginning of rain forest

Thick vegetation now showing up

River emptying into bay offers something very unique

Crocodiles! Love eating cattle but have to wait until animal decomposes in order to eat it without expending a lot of energy.

"Upscale" hotel near the crocs and other critters

Several villages along the way with few amenities. 

Road gets a little rough!

Getting ready to take tram up into the clouds and the rain forest