Mountain birding

This story really starts on the border in Costa Rica.

Arriving at the border at the place we had to leave the hire car, there was a barrier.  Trying to communicate with the guard about leaving the car when a rough looking person approaches us – or at least Steve (he had his car door open).  We think he is trying to help translate with the guard but then Steve gets out as the guy is right in his face.  He goes away and a few minutes later we realise Steve’s phone is gone from car door pocket (he was using it only a few minutes before).  Old phone, annoying but not drastic we think – at least it did not seem it at the time.

Very confusing border, walked to it but then had to walk quite a way back to a different place to get one stamp, then another place but eventually all sorted and our local driver (from the accommodation) is waiting the other side to take us up into the mountains. Love the local transport – very horsey in Costa Rica and Panama.

What incredible scenery, lots of trees covered in pink flowers helped make it really special.

The accommodation was at the back of a local house with amazing views over Baru Volcano (when not covered in cloud).  We had planned to do a day trip up but it was too long and costly so chose to just enjoy the views instead.

The property was full of so many birds, butterflies and other wildlife and the family were just lovely (food was pretty good as well). 

Nothing around for a long way so the stars at night were also pretty special nearest shop was 30 minutes away.

While there the fruit & veg shop turned up, a little different.

We now work out that it is not that simple when a phone gets stolen.  Steve is trying to set up his spare old phone that holds our Australian sim cards but for some reason not getting the dual authentication text messages to be able to do so.  Try another way it says – but the only option is a message to the stolen phone……

They drop as back into David to catch the bus at the end of our stay.  Lovely looking new bus sitting there. 

Over 1 hour later we are told the bus is broken (air cond) and another bus coming.

This bus older and tattier but at least we get going – for 20 mins. 

Then a stop that gets longer and longer.  Out we get to find a little old man is manually changing the big bus tires, once done they realise another problem and take one back off again.  One tyre is completely down to the metal – dangerous so glad it is coming off.  More waiting and eventually a 3rd bus turns up to take us (at least a bit better than then 2nd one). 

Nice little shop selling delicious pastries which was required as no food packed for the original 2 hour trip. The driver though was so very slow, unusual for a bus driver but he drove way slower than conditions and other drivers.

Getting to Santiago 2.5 hours late we go straight to the backpackers hostel, only to find here our room has no key as apparently the last guest left with it.  Just have to trust everyone when we are outside. Not a bad place very reminiscent of old backpacker hostel’s. Nice Artwork.

On to Anton Valley, an amazing scenic twisty journey.  The town is inside the caldera of an old extinct volcano and has amazing flora and vegetation along with mountains all around.  The houses and blocks are quite large and very well planted just giving a lovely look to the town.

Lots of tourists here though as it is a popular hiking and biking spot.  First afternoon there is a massive storm and we end up without power for about 20 hours. Comes back on the second evening only to go out again the next morning.

Walking up an area called Chorro Macho early morning was full of birds, especially a number of hummingbird species.  The most amazing part though was when a large animal leapt across the road from right to left and then seconds later another animal went from left to right.  The first being a Tayra and the 2nd a Jaguarundi – neither of which we had ever heard of before.

Not my pics, just so you know the animals.

 
It was like an episode from a David Attenborough program.  Apparently they are not often seen so we were really lucky. Whilst walking along the track a cyclist disturbed a 2 metre long snake which headed towards us – a bit scary and had to take a step back to avoid it, told after that it was non venomous. (Not my pic either, we were too busy avoiding it to take any)

Our bus to the city was a small local bus, not the longer distance type of before.  This driver was an absolute maniac driving incredibly fast round very twisty mountain roads.  Still not arriving on time as being a public holiday for Easter so much traffic was heading out of the city.  Should not matter as we were going in but the road was adjusted so that there were 3 lanes used coming out and only 1 in – and then an accident blocked that lane.

Drop our bags and off to a shopping mall (not our favourite pastime) to get a new phone as we think the issue might be that the old spare one is only 2 and 3g and nothing here is.  

At least we can go out on balcony and look at the birds and wildlife to break up the frustration.

Still not working when setting it up so a few long chat’s to Vodafone with no result yet. One technician said the phone sim has not been registered to the number on their books – hard to believe as it worked in Costa Rica and in Australia. Luckily we don’t need to do any banking or anything as stuffed without the access to text messages.  I hate this dual authentication – wish they would all use email, so much easier and more reliable.

Great artwork around the hotel too.

The internet where we are staying is not great and could be the problem so back to the shopping mall to try there, no luck so sit in the food court and have another long chat with Vodafone and this time we get someone a little more useful and finally get the new phone working.

But in all this Steve had forgotten to take his reading glasses to shopping mall so he was using mine.  Get back to accommodation and neither of us has them and neither of us can remember the sequence and what happened.  Back again (20 min drive each way) to buy more reading glasses, what a pain.

Interesting guest at the hotel (part of the wedding party).

Staying on 8th floor of hotel gives us a different view of birds and monkeys, amazing to see thousands of Vultures and birds of prey migrating over several days.  They just kept flying past for hours, incredible. Not that the picture really shows it but if you zoomed out to show the thousands they just look like dots.

Gamboa Rainforest and Pipeline Road (built by US in case canal got blocked) are famous birding and wildlife spots and it was no exception for us, Howler Monkeys, White Faced Capuchin and Sloth along with so many bird species. We also went to area called Ammo dump ponds, apparently dug by US so water on hand in case of fire in Ammunition dump nearby.

A round of golf was next on our list – ages since we have played and not an easy course but great fun.  Pity about the scores though…..

Back up to Gamboa to find more birds reasonably successful but a long hot walk back.

Next – our friend arrives and we go snorkelling.