Peligroso! Very Dangerous! The Most Dangerous Snake in Costa Rica

If you are walking in the jungle and smell the fragrance of dog poo!  Be careful as these are the early warnings of a Fer de Lance - the most dangerous snake in Costa Rica.  Apparently their venom smells like dog poop. This is a picture of a dead Fer de Lance.  One of our our neighbours was clearing brush with a machete when he came across this fellow about 1.2 meters in length.  He killed it with his shovel.   Normally these snakes are shy and will get out of the way but sometimes they can become quite agressive and that is not a good thing!  I have travelled a lot of miles by horse, on quad, on foot and of course by car and I have only seen one of these babies.  Thats a good thing!  They are quite pretty for a snake and their skin is almost velveteen. Hence their spanish name terciopelo - 3 skins!

German airline will land first in Guanacaste

Air Berlin has decided to include for the first time to Costa Rica in its list of destinations 2011-2012.The first trip will be held on 12 November this year. The route will go to the International Airport Daniel Oduber in Liberia and is from Düsseldorf, Germany with a stopover in Cancun, Mexico and Tourism Minister Allan Flores says in an official statement that this achievement is the result of negotiations held in March at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin. This flight represents the first route between Liberia and Germany and will generate a significant increase in tourist arrivals to the country, “ Flores. In order of importance, Germany is the second largest European market for Costa Rica, surpassed by Spain. Second the Yearbook of Tourism ICT -2010, for that year, Liberia Airport received a total of 225.224 visitors. Of this total are 1.029 from Germany. AirBerlin is the second largest airline in Germany and flies to 163 destinations in 39countries.

Toucans for Lunch!

Our favourite little restaurant in Colonia Blanca on the edge of Rincon de La Vieja National Park always has some special guests when we stop by on our quad tours.  These two toucans are free to fly in and out as they please.  Quite often being a bit of a pain when you are trying eat.  Toucans are usually shy and very hard to get close to at any time.  These guys have it figured out!! On our side of the mountains the Keel Billed (Fruit Loops) toucan is abundant.  The Chestnut Mandibled Toucan is more common on the caribbean side of the mountains.  So given that Colonia Blanco is just over the divide we get both species.  Lots of entertainment with these characters plus the plethora of hummingbirds that fly by like little jet fighters.  Just another special treat in paradise.  Pura Vida!  

You NEVER know who you are going to meet in Costa Rica!

You never know what to expect when you tour the back country of Costa Rica.  We live in the mountains about one hour from the beach.  When we are not at the beach we spend a lot of time touring the back country by quad and by horse.  A few weeks ago we toured by quad out to our favorite little bar in the little pueblo of Colonia Blanca.  This is a great little lodge with a fine Tico restaurant and bar.  While we were there we met this little guy who was roaming the place.  Playing with the cat and of course my wife Donna who has never met an animal she does not love!  This little guy quickly became a favorite with Donna.  Always an adventure in Pura Vida Ville!   

We fix tires and snakes - yikes!

Holy cow look at the size of this baby!  We went to the town of Guayabo, which is about 15 kilometers from our house, a few days ago to have a tire fixed on our quad. We stopped at our local tire shop to discuss our problem with the owner - Flacco.   While we were talking to him in our best Spanish, Flacco told us to come over and look in a large tractor tire he had laying by the door.  We peered into the tire and there was 2.5 meter (9feet)  boa constrictor laying in the tire all coiled up.  Yikes, I am not a big snake lover but do recognize these snakes are great to have around unless you have chickens or small children!  Apparently this one got too close to the locals so they threw rocks at it trying to kill it.  Lucky for this snake our tire guy Flacco has a soft spot for snakes and he rescued this big fella.  Hopefully Flacco will be able to nurse this one back to health.  This is his son holding up the snake for our picture.  Flacco has a collection of snakes in his shop including some very deadly vipers.  So if you go to get your tires fixed in Guayabo just don’t get too snoopy looking at the piles of old tiresJ   Flacco asked me to catch him a Fer de Lance which is the deadliest snake in Costa Rica!  I have seen one on the road to our farm and that is more than enough.  They are a beautiful snake as far as snakes go with their 3 D velveteen skin.  But they can be quite aggressive and deadly!  Next time I see one I will be sure to call FlaccoJ

Effects from Hurricane Jova!

Here are some photos of Playa Hermosa with some big surf as a result of Hurricane Jova which hit Mexico very hard.  All we received was some good rains (no flooding) and this big surf which is very unusual for the normally quiet and calm Playa Hermosa.  Verano (summer) will soon be here (November) and the rains and storms will be gone till the green season starts again in May.  Lots of warm days with lots of sun ahead of us.  Those of you who live up North are not so fortunate as winter bears down!!!

The 35 cleanest countries in the world

Which country is the cleanest in the world? Researchers at Yale and Columbia universities compile an annual index, based on water and air quality, carbon emissions and pollution health impacts.

Costa Rica comes in at #3 but our beaches and weather are much better than Switzerland and Iceland:-)


Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Gallery+cleanest+countries+world/5538246/story.html#ixzz1aflEtJfj