Tuesday, 2/22/05
Big morning and afternoon today. After breakfast we went on a wonderful horse ride to an outdoor spa with one hot pool, one tepid pool, and 4 cold pools. The spa also had a steam bath and a mud bath. The horse ride was terrific. I rode on Palomo, who was very spirited and always wanted to be first. He was a white gelding, and very responsive. Several times we turned back to round up the stragglers and urge them forward. We had a blast.

still Tues, 2/22/05
At the spa everyone opted for the mud baths but me, and had a great time covering themselves with mud. As it dried, the mud formed lovely patterns on everyone. I had a great time recording everything and sitting in the hot tub, but I was bitten many times by bugs called Bocotones. I love the name - Big Mouths!

still Tues, 2/22/05
After a long rest at the spa, we rode our horses back to the hotel. On the way, we saw an extended family of white-faced monkeys swinging through the canopy. We also saw lots of the long-tailed blue Martin-Jays, that have a crest on their heads that looks like quail dooley-bobbers.

still Tues, 2/22/05
Lunch at the hotel. Then Lynn and a few others elected not to go on the canopy zip ride, so they walked on some of the hotel's trails.

still Tues, 2/22/05
After lunch at the hotel some of us (including me, but not Arthur) went on the canopy zip-tour. This consisted of 11 platforms high in the canopy, separated by ten cable segments. You wear a harness like that used in rock climbing, hooked onto a pulley which rides the cables. You wear thick leather gloves and pull down on the cable to slow yourself while approaching the platforms. It was great fun! You could feel like you were a bird or a monkey swinging through the canopy. You don't see much wildlife, but Alejandro tells us that he's seen monkeys using the zip lines for travel. Below us was a waterslide twisting 400 meters down the mountainside. None of us elected to try the waterslide. Arthur walked with us to the start of the canopy zip ride (a very long hike uphill) and took our picture as we took off. Later, he met us at the end as well, and walked back to the lodges with us.

still Tues, 2/22/05
Leonard spent some of the afternoon painting some great watercolors.

still Tues, 2/22/05
Arthur went with Leonard, Kerstin, Nils, and Lynn for a beer, while I went for a much needed bath and rest.
Dinner at 7, and soon to bed. I'm afraid I slept very little. Kept waking up with a bad cough. We kept hearing what sounded like a woodpecker on a hollow log (Nils thinks it's a frog) and a wonderful liquid whistle.