Travel date: July 4, 2024

Update: Still hot. Still humid.

One of the things I enjoy most about traveling is learning about and experiencing other cultures, and today’s experience was incredible. We traveled to the small town of Paquita to go horseback riding on a family farm (Rancho Tipico Don Juan). Our guide, Randall (who was born and raised on the farm), could not have been a better ambassador for his country.

AND!! Randall solved our “critter that sounds like a dying smoke alarm” mystery. The critter responsible is a tiny frog called the bell frog.

Randall told us there are 148 species of snakes in Costa Rica, of which “only” are 24 venomous. The crankiest of these snakes is the fer-de-lance. If you get bitten, you have 2 hours to get medical attention. Luckily, Costa Rica is the world’s leading producer of snake anti-venom. All of the hospitals and clinics have anti-venom at the ready.

Randall loves snakes, and said, “they are more scared of you than you are of them.” Debatable.

Our horseback riding adventure was terrific, but not without its jaunty moments. This was the 5th time in my life that I’ve been on a horse. My horse did not like the deep mud on the trail, so he was on a choose your own adventure plan most of the day. We rode through a steep canyon that was no wider than the horse’s body. Did not take a picture bc I was trying to keep my limbs intact.

It was 275 degrees outside today. I don’t think I have ever sweat so much in my life. Wait. Randall. Randall is not sweating. What kind of superpower is this??

Stopped to admire a 400 year old tree. Enormous tree. Don’t remember what kind of tree because I lost focus when I saw Randall’s dad quietly walking around with a machete. Tried not to overthink that. {snakes snakes snakes}.

Ahhh, the waterfall. Everyone got in the water to cool off. Including me. Sometimes, I surprise myself.

After we returned, Randall’s step-mom had a traditional Costa Rican meal waiting for us – chicken, rice and beans, plantains, and squash & carrots. She cooked everything in this kitchen, with a wood burning stove. Everything was covered in chopped cilantro. But Anna & I were super mature and ate it anyway.

I’m so grateful to Randall for opening his family farm to us – and for sharing his love for his country and all of its natural beauty. Home run experience!

Critter count: 1 sloth , 4 macaws , 3 geckos , 8 iguanas, 11 horses, 1 cat , 8 dogs , assorted cows , chickens , birdies . . . and way too many goddamned mosquitos.

Salud!