white water rafting etc

So yesterday I went white water rafting with an acquaintance of joanne, amanda, who is studying for her masters at University of the Peace. She is a spirited, forthright, tall, blonde Canadian. Needless to sya, we had loads of fun. We were picked up first at 5:45 at a hotel down the way, from which we went and picked up a few more passengers, and then onto the river. We stopped and got breakfast of pintas, which is arroz y frijoles mixed, aka beans and rice. But clearly not enough, because we were all ravenous not 20 minutes into the rafting. But back to the bus... the whole way we were entertained by one of the guides Pito, a stocky man of unidentifiable age who has been working the rivers for 16 years. He ended up being our Guide. In our raft with us were three girls from new york who were quite lovely, and fun, but very into singing disney songs, (read seven dwarves work song, pocohonas river song, etc etc). They had left their boyfriends in the city, and were not calling them. They had everything planned.... down to the minute, riding in Monte verde, white water rafting from san jose... the way they organized their trip is, i'm sure, the way their lives run, except way more exciting of course.

There were "paparzi" that followed the rafts down the river and took photos of all the rapids and some key land scape shots. but about 80 or so shots for our boat alone, so we all split one of the cd's so it was only 5 bucks a piece, and that's why i don't have pictures of it yet! but i will... don't worry, and more than you would ever care to see)

Our guide for our boat ended up being Pito, who was great. I'm glad we got him, 16 years on the rivers, and boy did he know the ins and outs, the facts, and we were all a good team, good listeners, and ready to have fun. Pito stuck a tree branch in his helmet, why, i'm not sure, I think it might be because he's been on the river so long, he was the lead or something??? who knows, anyway, half way through we had to wait for one of the eight raftes were going with, and so he climbed out, and got us all branches. We looked like bloated laughing rainforest nymphs. It was incredible.

The river we went down was in one of the most amazingly beautiful places i've ever been. It was on the Caribbean side of the country. It was through straight up rain forest, and boy did it rain. All day mist and clouds but it was beautiful with the mist hovering above the trees, trees of which I have never seen the like. If I had to choose two words for the rain forest they would be: verticalization and vivid-green (i'm taking liberties and making it one word). The trees were so tall, and then, in the desnse green that was the side of the river, there would be these white trunks of trees, like highlights in the landscape. All the trees were trunk till the top, with amazing leaves spewing out, like they couldn't be contained any more. Incredible. We saw an iguana, many tiny little red frogs that made a noise to fill the forest.

We flew past a reservation and lodges and ropes strung across the river with gondolas strung up in between them, the way of crossing the river.
We got to jump out and float through the most beautiful canyon, with waterfalls pouring warm water on our heads, a moss covered bridge spanning the width to watch birds from. it was breath taking, we all just kept gasping and pointing.... it was an amazing adventure.

By the time lunch came, we were all so ravenous, we ate three plates each filled with pastas and tortillas, corn and hot peppers, salad, and coconut sugar bars that were delightful and bright red.

it was cold when we weren't moving, which was the only down fall of the trip. like, so cold. rain falling all day, wet clothes from head to toe, and the food was cool as well. but after lunch, back in the raft, we quickly warmed up, refueled and happy.

today the market, packing, and going to Guatemala! (and nursing sore muscles and bruises from yesterday)

the girls and beth at the Equus.

sydney maria

 hiding from the sun. isn't she amazing?