Monteverde Cloud forest

Monteverde is one of 'the must sees' of Costa Rica. 
The cloud forest is privately owned by The Quakers who came to 
live here in the 1950's to escape conscription in the USA. The road up to the forest is awful, we bumped and jumped over stones and round curves with precipices on either side! I wasn't; too happy, but Tony did a sterling job driving. We didn't have a four wheel drive - but we should have!
While checking in at the hotel I noticed this gold beetle!
Cloud forest is damp and humid, our visit was no exception, we got rained on and dripped on.
We went for a two hour walk through the forest.
Lush vegetation lined the paths.

slashses fo colour every now and again.
Ferns dripped.
And misty views were everywhere.
This was a lookout point.
It is dark in the forest as little light filters through the huge trees.
Streams gurgle their was through thick undergrowth.
and flowers do survive.



Tree roots take on strange colours and shapes.!
Connected to the rain forest is a hummingbird feeding station.
Everyone loves these tiny birds so we were thrilled when we
 saw masses dashing around feeding from the sugar and water containers.
Photographing these little birds is extremely difficult as they
only stay still for a few seconds flapping their wings so fast
there is a loud humming sound. I am really pleased with the next few 'photos!!!


and finally
It rained a lot in the night! The roads were muddy and we had a
Toyota Aris! We were concerned that we would get through,
but we were advised to take a different road, which was better
 than the way we had come in. It was better - flatter but very muddy
 after the rain! We had to wash the car when we got off the dirt road!
The weather was still very doubtful, with heavy clouds and rain.
The road was very muddy
We passed many isolated farming communities.
and at one point we drove through the cloud!
Finally on a good road we went round a corner to be met by people waving
 us down. A sloth was slowly crawling along a telephone line. It was an amazing sight.


Leaving the sloth to his dinner we drove on to Liberia, the border town with Nicaragua.
When we arrived it was hot, dusty, and a typical border town! The hotel we thought we would stay in was very miserable so we checked into The Best Western and revelled in the air con!
But, our guide book said Liberia was an old colonial town with old houses to see!

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