Monkey dancer

buenas! how the heck are y'all doing? as hard as it is going to be to leave, i am looking forward to seeing many of you soon! mom and i had the most unforgettable time in manuel antonio on the central pacific coast. we stayed at an AMAZING place on the beach that is eco-friendly and all the employees are locals and have just been learning english over the past few years. the hotel is in a huge private wildlife reserve and we didn't even have to leave our room to see iguanas, crabs, hummingbirds, bats and monkeys! animals were everywhere and i wanted to take one of each species home with me but that's illegal. i got some great pictures though. the people are incredible- genuine, friendly and helpful. but that goes for everywhere in costa rica. i've been here about 7 weeks and i've only ran into one rude person and that's because we were idiots (circa wide mouth frog for those of you who know what i'm talking about).

we went to manuel antonio national park yesterday. we had an awesome guide, william, who was determined to show us everything there was to see, and he did a great job. we saw two- and three-toed sloths, monkeys, frogs, spiders, deer, bats, snakes, iguanas, toucans, crabs, plants... the works. at one point he was trying to point out a rare deer, but it disappeared and he goes, "it's gone? oh jesus, no!!" it was so funny, but cool he was so passionate about his job. a lesson for everyone. we went to the beach and walked around the park some more. the park's path ends at the edge of town, where we had some "wicked" nasty coconut milk and browsed the street venders. i got a "wicked" cool ring made out of a shell from a drifter who has been traveling around the world for the past 7 years.

aside from the park, we've been hanging out on the beach, watching the monkeys roam around above us, eating well, drinking well, reading, wearing what we normally consider dirty clothes, and having good old fashioned mother/daughter time. i'm also happy to say that i'm weening myself off of chai tea lattes, all skim, no water, one pump vanillas and taking my coffee half milk, half coffee, 1 tablespoon sugar. what what? mom tried it and gagged. i think it's delicious.

i'm almost overwhelmed by all the unforgettable moments i've had since i got here. bear with me over then next 4 or 5 years if i keep peppering in stories that i have forgotten to mention. i also appologize if you are overwhelmed yourself by all the pictures i've posted. the problem is i had no desire to carry my computer around the country with me, so i've loaded all my pictures on facebook, then i'm going to copy them to my computer when i get home. luckily, i've got a lot to look forward to when i get home, including some job interviews, BWOOL Lake Keowee 2K9, and a weekend at home for my godbrother's graduation! plus i get to see my boys and friends :)

p.u.r.a. v.i.d.a.