Day 5: Ensenada and Environs

You don't need alarm clocks at Ensenada! Sunrise sets off the howler monkeys and the parakeets, and there's no going back to sleep.

Our first outing of the day was a boat ride to a river delta, where we cruised among the mangroves and saw numerous birds, including frigate birds, pelicans, and what one of our group dubbed "cotton-candy birds" - a more evocative name than the standard (which my zoologist wife can't recall). Our driver, Graven, came along for the ride - the only time he did so for any of our outings.

Back to the ranch for lunch, and then siesta time. No air conditioning, so the goal is just to find the coolest - or, more accurately, the least hot - spot and try to get comfortable. Tina stayed in the room, while I sat out in the bar/restaurant/lounge/reception area, trying to catch a breeze.

Once it cooled off a bit, we set off on our afternoon outing, which was a tour of the ranch viewed from a tractor-pulled wagon. We got to see the salt harvesting area where they dry out sea water and collect the salt (though not for human use). We had two great stops along the way. The first was a lagoon where it was a little hard to get good photos (the birds being specks in the distance), though I managed in one narrow-angle shot through Pedro's telescope to nab at least four species of birds in a single photograph - and that was just a fraction of the kinds of birds in the lagoon. We could also look off into the distance and see Monteverde.

The last stop was on a hill behind the hotel area, where we could look out over much of the Golfo de Nicoya. We watched the sun go down, and I teased the manager's daughter.

Mangrove roots, plus I think that's a small heron over to the left.

Graven in the back of the boat

Frigate birds

Pelican in a tree

Our guide for the tractor ride, and the kid who had to open and close all the gates.

There are at least four species of birds in this one, narrow-angle shot of the lagoon on the ranch. I think there must have been 20+ in the vicinity overall.

Looking from the lagoon over toward Monteverde (note mountains and clouds). The nest in the tree is an abandoned kiskadee nest.

Looking west from atop the hill on the ranch. Somewhere down there is where we were staying, but I can't pick it out now.

Another view from the hill, this one more to the northwest.

The sun setting over the salt farm.

My new girlfriend, Sara, with her mom and dad (the owner's son).

Life is good: our group enjoying the sunset, the view, and the champagne.