Latte Art ...

...in the jungle.

Common Cup was one of our haunts in Santa Elena. A latte, a smoothie and a scrumptious dessert after a day of hiking or zip lining.

  Ah, the things a mum will do for her son!

Hydrangea

Although we are home now and I took the weekend to re-cooperate, the trip is not over until I retrieve the pets. So off again, a  4 hour drive to Canada to get the dog.

 But just before I leave, a moment of pure delight and shame to share. I was returning from the park the other day and stole some hydrangea flowers from my neighbour's yard. I love a dried hydrangea flower and a few years ago I bought and planted a bush. Problem is the one I picked out has tiny, tiny petals (must be a hybrid hydrangea) and the petals are not as full as the ones I admire.

I didn't think much of it until I was Monteverde where this flower is also loved, both inside and out. The pictures below are all taken in Monteverde, Blue flowers and scattered bushes through out the country side.  The flower so large you can see them speckled across the farm, in the distance.

It was an impetuous moment, I took the first three I got too, glancing over my shoulder neither thinking or picking the best. And I'm tickled with delight. (I have also told my neighbour-friend of my guilty moment and she laughed)

I have oodles of pictures to go through and one particular story to document (which includes a man on a horse, a wild imagination and a misty morning). And then a few home projects to get on with.

Covered bridge

Up in the Santa Elena Reserve (in Monteverde, Costa Rica), between the reception and nature center there is a small orchid garden. Walk slowly, scrutinize everything. 

 Beyond the garden is this covered bridge. Epiphytes covering every wooden part but the pathway.

As small as the garden and bridge are, one can spend an hour (or a  lifetime if you are a biologist) examining all the flora and fauna. My son had his eye on something else and happy to nab his sister and sneak off together.

More epiphytes here
Another miniscule orchid garden here.
More orchids here & here.

Santa Elena, Costa Rica July 20, 2013

Playa Samara

Adios playa, hasta la vista bugs

The town Samara was quaint. We found beach access and stumbled upon a cool place (Lo Que Hay) to eat and returned daily for happy hour and food. The waves were bigger then any picture I found during research and we had a blast kicking them. Our hotel Mirador was up on a hill with a mountain breeze and wild life (large reptiles, bats, butterflies, leaf cutter ants. And a pack of howler monkeys passing through on our last day - they sound like a large dog howling and being strangled ... or rather a monstrous strangled howl). Spacious rooms, private patio, large pool. 5 minute walk thru town to the beach. It would be so fun to update the space with a new sofa, outdoor cushions and shower curtain,

But the sand bugs were relentless, first attacking Lucy, then showing up on the rest of us. I suppose we should have tried bug spray a day earlier. Chaz got sick and our legs were covered in bites so we opted out a day early and headed to the city, Alajuela.

For our last full day in Costa Rica we will either check out Poas Volcano and the national park or head to San Jose and check out the capital.

Pictures taken on our last morning, Sun comes up early, 5ish. But this morning I was waiting for the clouds to break and the fog to lift, but that didnt happen. IF the sun was shining brightly, it would hit the side of the island and the green would sparkle.

Itsy bitsy orchids

Behind the Orchid Coffee Shop there is a beautiful Orchid Garden. Winding concrete and stone paths, lush vegetation, a huge variety of miniscule orchids and a greenhouse for the ones that prefer a drier climate.

It is not just any kind of orchid garden, it has the tiniest orchid in the world. These orchids live on leaves and one needs a tour guide and magnifying glass to see them.

At first we just wanted to go for a walk along the rambling paths, but we had to hit the reception area first. And pay. But a few minutes with our guide, I was happy that it worked out this way. Lucy loved looking through the magnifying glass and seeing how things were enlarged. I enjoyed learning about the tiny orchids and taking in the aroma of the white ones (only the white ones have a scent)  

 

Metal tags w/ partial latin names hang near the orchid flowers. Partial names because they are so long.  In the picture below you can see the yellow flower orchid.  Some orchid flowers only last for a day. Wouldn't you love a back garden like this!

After the walk, we returned to the cafe to pick up our stuff.

A hip girl posing in Orchid Coffee and Tea House, Santa Elena, Costa Rica

Close up orchid flowers

Outdoor inspiration

I like how this farmer used pots and jugs from around the house as outdoor planters for his succulents and other plants, simply hanging off of nails on a post.

Location: Monteverde, Costa Rica 7/2013