Report # 11 Puerto Limon, Costa Rica January 8, 2014 Wednesday Cloudy, 85 degress, chance of rain

Puerto Limon,Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a very unique country in Central America. Each and every tour guide we have had up to date, has been adamant about telling us just that. Their pride of their country shines through as they proudly describe the history, culture, and livelihoods of the citizens. Costa Rica, meaning The Rich Coast as described by Christopher Columbus in the early 1500's, has come a long way from those days to what we see today.

The Pier

Local tugboat

The terminal building/souvenier store

The new 2014 World cruise Logo on the bow

Cruise Director, Gene Young and Port Lecturer, Barbara Haenni

Amsterdam docked right in town

Nearby park with many palms

Starting from the lowlands, crops such as bananas, coconuts, mangoes, and pineapples create plantations of solid green landscapes. Heading up into the volcanic mountains, their largest income crop is coffee. Topping bananas and coffee combined, tourism has skyrocketed. We can see why. Many of the young folks have studied extensively in the tourism field, becoming the most educated guides we have encountered. The key to a successful economy is in the education system. Costa Rica appears to leave few children behind.

The banana packing plant, Del Monte

We decided on an HAL tour today that took us to see the landscapes of the countryside. However, our first stop was a must......a tour of one of Del Monte's banana factories. The processing of this delicious fruit is interesting and hard work from what we witnessed. The bus took us through the plantation of mature banana plants with the developing fruit grown in long blue plastic bags. They are used to keep the fruit bug free and clean.

Blue plastic-covered bunches of fruit on the banana trees

Bananas being washed

At the plant, we were able to walk on the outside and observe the sorting, cleaning, and boxing of the green fruit. The workers are paid on how much they box, so speed is important. Many of our guests asked if we could sample the fruit, but our guide told us that nothing is picked ripe. They would never last being shipped around the world. He did, however, purchase some tiny bananas elsewhere for us to sample once we left the plantation.

Sorters

Perfectly clean and green bunches of bananas

Grading the bunches

Restored railway cars from the past

The drive along the beach-lined coast brought us to an open-air train with one huge engine and two historic, recently restored cars. Our group of 40 or so had the use of both cars, so we were not crowded. Nice. All the wooden sash windows were open, and it was noisy as the diesel engine started up. 

Traveling through the jungle

Very old and rusty train trestle

The first of many howler monkeys

Passing through dense jungle growth, we soon spotted some howler monkeys high up in the canopy of the trees. What keeps them there is obviously some type of fruit they are enjoying. 

Monkey watching us

Larger, probably a male howler

A three-toed sloth

Another treat to see were some sloths. They are the slowest-moving creatures of the forest. These fellows are not really large in this part of the world. Much bigger ones can be found in the Amazon. The train conductor was the one who had seen these animals first. He even stopped the locomotive so everyone could take as many photos as we wished. Of course, that guaranteed that he may receive a few extra tips by doing so. 

The two car restored train

In the past, these trains were used to haul the produce from the plantations to the dock area for exporting. Other trains were utilized to bring the coffee beans down from the mountains, although, there was no tour that offered a ride on one of those. Perhaps they only operate those on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.

Tortuguero Canal

After a 45 minute train ride, we were bussed to the Tortuguero Canal, where we were treated to platters full of sweet, delicious watermelon and pineapple. Ice cold water, tea, and beer were also served. And for the all important visit, the restrooms were roomy and very well-equipped. As usual, the ladies lined up, while the fellows breezed through theirs.

Refreshments at the mangrove boat landing

Set up for large crowds

Mary Ann enjoying the fruit and beer

Eco Jungle Tours

Mangrove boat ride

Everyone had plenty of room to find good seats in the flat covered riverboat. Frankly, we did not have to go far to see wildlife on the banks, in the trees, or in the air. The only monkeys our boat driver spotted were some howlers, but they were buried so deep in the canopy of leaves, no one else could spot them. 

A "Jesus Christ" lizard....he literally walks on water

We got up close and personal with several sloths and one bright lime green "Jesus Christ" lizard, who is capable of running across the surface of the water. He was more interested pretending to hide from us, while the driver got up close enough to touch him.  

A large heron

White egrets, blue and grey heron, kingfishers, and some plovers either flew past us or posed quietly on the shoreline. A pair of cinnamon-colored waterbirds with orange beaks continued foraging among the water hyacinths, but spooked as we sped towards them. This part of the tour ran overtime, since we all spotted more wildlife as we headed back. The guide and driver kindly accommodated us, and went in circles or backed up so we could take photos. Great sightings today, even though we did not expect to see much in the warm afternoon when most creatures lay low. Luck of the draw.

Riding the beachfront

Volcanic mountains looming beyond the banana plantation

Yes, this is a small house on the mangrove

Another lazy sloth

Equally as lazy local kids.....it's OK, they are on winter vacation

Restaurants and bars along the canal

And a stately blue heron

A stately egret

A tiger heron

Seen better days

A plover

A tri-colored heron

Very tiny mangrove bats

Cinnamon-colored water bird

Very skiddish

And his mate

Going under the trestle

Another view of the trestle

Crane in flight

Escaping us

The perfect perch

A bundle of fur....sloth

An iguana hiding well

Funny story: A nice lady sitting behind us on the boat kept seeing many birds or lizards, even turtles. But the rest of us could not find them, not even the guide. She finally confessed that perhaps she should not have had two beers at the boat landing. What she thought was a turtle was a floating coconut!

Darn, the almost 6 hour tour was over as we pulled into the pier area. We really did enjoy this excursion, even if we had done it the last time we were here four years ago. You always see something new. And by chance, we were on with a nice group of folks from the ship.

Local buildings in town

We made a quick sweep through the souvenier building, locating a mango wood vase, which the vendor swore will hold water for fresh flowers. We shall see. It is cut out of one solid piece of wood, so there are no seams for leaks. And it is heavy enough not to fall over in rough seas. Remember the lovely long-stem roses we got on the first evening onboard? Well, we cut them back, and placed them in an empty plastic water bottle. Sometime in the middle of the night, it tipped over and filled one of our pairs of tennis shoes with water. My feet were nice and cool the next day until they dried.

Back to the Amsterdam

Harbor fish was about three feet long

The Puerto Limon sailaway party was held on the aft pool deck. There was music, drinks, and hot appetizers (we never saw them?). Since the sun was shortly going down, and the skies were cloudy, it was a pleasantly cool sailaway. Many folks attended.

The first sailaway party

Dropping the lines

Pretty bird on the rocks

Leaving Costa Rica

Dinner followed at 8pm, and was fun as always. All of us had done different things today, and sharing stories gave us all more insight into the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

Isla Uvita, small island where Columbus landed

Sure looks like rain is coming

And it did after dinnertime

First sunset we have seen

A question has been asked as to why we seldom attend the entertainment in the evening. Well, we can tell you there are far more reasons for us not to go, than there are reason to go. It is simple.....it is hard to burn the candle at both ends. If daylight is burning, then we will be outside and on the go all day either at sea or in a port. So far, naps are not on our agenda. After dinner, at 10pm, we are happy to call it a day and retire to our room. It is far better to fall asleep in our comfortable bed, than find ourselves fading away in the showlounge. Most nights still last until after midnight for both of us sometimes. There are the jobs of writing blogs, downloading and sorting photos, and washing hair....it's long and takes time to dry naturally. And don't forget.......we have seen these shows more than once, and for the most part, they have not changed too much over the years. If we hear a really good one is coming up and we can't miss it, yes, we will go and judge for ourselves. Sometimes we stay, and sometimes we leave after 10 minutes.

Tomorrow we shall be leaving the Caribbean and heading towards the Pacific Ocean via the Panama Canal. The only negative is that the clocks have to go AHEAD one hour tonight. That is SO rude.............