Orchid from Arenal volcano hike.
Photo: M. Clouse

I've been out of town.  Costa Rica was a blast except that my knees are complaining that everyplace there was uphill!   We visited near the Arenal Volcano and down to the beach at the Gulf of Papagayo. This orchid was growing by the side of the trail near Arenal. A zillion plants, many fine birds and animals and not enough time but to scratch the surface. 

Between the mountain and the sea, Costa Rica is cow country.  Lots of cattle herds and plantations of sugar cane, bananas & plantains, pineapple, and, of all things, houseplants. There were fields of green and variegated corn plants {dracaena}, cordyline, hibiscus.  There were even living fences made from super large dracaena and hedges of hibiscus. 

The jungles were full of bromeliads, lots of aechmea growing on everything, other bromeliad species were used as landscaping everywhere.  Our hotel had a huge nativity scene at their entrance that was draped with living tillandsia.  

Tillandsia covered Nativity scene.
Photo: M. Clouse

We hiked up and down mountainous places, and even a botanic garden with trails that had hanging bridges in the heights of the trees.  The volcano hike went up the ridge formed by the lava flow from the 1968 eruption.  Arenal was mercifully quiet while were there as were Poas and Rincon de la Vieja that we passed by.

A good thing since our hotel room balcony overlooked the peak.

Now, I have to appease my knees by stretching them out.  I will be back with more soon.