Watering the plants

Stop me if I'm getting long in the tooth about our recent Costa Rican vacation. But while we were enjoying this most amazing adventure I kept getting ahead of myself and was already composing a week's worth of blogs in my head.

Sadly, because I didn't bring a laptop and my phone was desiccating itself in a bag of rice, I couldn't write it all down. 

As I've noted last week, the White Lotus similarity was inescapable. In fact, while enjoying breakfast we often overheard families, couples and even pouty teenagers (who could not bring themselves to enjoy their unheard of white privilege) yacking about season finale. And drawing their own comparison. Chief among them were the Howler Monkeys, which were plentiful. And plenty loud.

If you hadn't guessed I'm a confirmed simiophile. Have been ever since I got the opportunity to cradle a 75 lbs. Chimpanzee while shooting Earthlink commercials in the late 90's.

I'm the one on the left.

You can imagine my excitement when I saw one of the hotel excursions was called Monkey Quest. If you follow this blog as closely as Tamarindo Todd does, you know the Siegel Corollary to product names -- adding a number always adds gravitas and the promise of superior satisfaction.

To that end, Ms. Muse amended the excursion name to Mega Monkey Quest 2000+. Suffice it to say, her etymological bent is quite irresistible.

Prior to that we had other excursions to tackle. After 5 days of excessive day drinking, remedial Spanish conversation, and Sedaris by the Bay beach reading, we decided to go off property. 

Ms. Muse atop her beautiful caballo, Estrella.

Here we are in the Tandem Cruiser 9000. 

We saved our most anticipated excursion, with our experienced and knowledgable driver/guide Mauricio, for last. As well as our two new friends from Northern California, Johanna and Reid, on their honeymoon trip.

Our Quest took us around the perimeter of the hotel grounds. And was qualified with, "We make no guarantees that you'll see monkeys. It's always a 50/50 proposition."

After traversing some of the world's bumpiest and unforgiving roads, Mauricio decided to push the concentric circle bigger. We saw Coati (like giant tree raccoons), Blue Herons, Wild Almond trees, and another beautiful beach in the next valley. 

But no monkeys. 

We went even further. And as the time slotted for Mega Monkey Quest 2000+ was drawing to an end, it looked like we going home Opposable Thumb Primate Empty-Handed (also known as the OTPEH theory). Then, as we rounded the bend, just 1 km from our hotel, Ms. Muse looked out her ocean sided of the ATV, and high atop the canopy, spotted a momma and her newborn baby clinging to her back.

Maurico hit the brakes, kicked up some dust and pulled over.

We spent the next half hour in the company of a three generational family of Howlers. Our Quest for the Holy Prehensile Tail had been a success. 

Also, I had an opportunity to duck behind a wide leafed jungle palm and irrigate the local foliage.

Serenity, Now.