Sloth tales

Having left San Jose yesterday, we took our public bus towards Manuel Antonio. Sadly, the bus did not have goats or chickens...or air-conditioning on a 37 degree day with 90% humidity. That wasn't the worst of it but more on that later. Today we went to the Manuel Antonio National Park. Within 50 metres we saw our first sloth, well really a guide pointed it out, we spent ages trying to spot something that didn't move and looks like a branch but eventually we got our sloth eyes on. 

Other than sloths we also saw agouti, squirrel monkeys, white faced capuchin, raccoon (really), forrest crab, basilisk (not the sort that turns you to stone), hummingbirds and giant mating female spider that eats her tiny husband after sex...for which the main event was happening while we were there.

...the small mass at the bottom of the big female spider, is the man spider

Above is our tour group at one of the beaches in the national park, great bunch of people.

Debbie stayed at the national park that afternoon to continue her hunt for sloth and other exotic creatures, while Tracey went to tame the rapids with a few of the group. We had a choice of being in one of two boats, the first level 2/3 rapids for beginners and the second for crazy thrill seeking adrenaline junkies who wanted to be thrown into the water and hurled toward rocks. Tracey chose the first given her interest in maintaining all her teeth. There was a great stop part way along the rapids to walk to a waterfall. We all had a swim in the gorgeous pool at the base before continuing downstream. Photos on that one later. And by the way, two days ago on the bus Debbie's bag was stolen that included her passport, cameras, money, credit card...yep really, but not letting it ruin the holiday.

More from yesterday

Here are a few more photos from our tour to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens yesterday. We were the first to be picked up in the tour minivan which meant we had a city tour while we picked up the other tourists. We believe we were picked up first and dropped off last as we might have been embarrassed for the others to see where we were staying, everyone else was staying in five star luxury resorts...we're not allowed to flush toilet paper.  

Shortly we hop on a bus to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Ocean coast side of Costa Rica (next week we'll be on the Carribean side). We wanted to get a real Costa Rican experience so some of our tour uses public buses. I'm hoping for chickens and goats traveling with us today, apparently not uncommon.

Day 1- La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Made it out of Texas, having survived a cocktail or two after 30 hours of no sleep.

Started in Costa Rica with "two cans" (of diet Pepsi), continued with "toucans", a stow-away butterfly (may have smeered myself with too much banana) and an evil frog.

Met our tour group, many Aussies, couple of Brits and a Parisian, should be a fun couple of weeks. On tour from tomorrow.

Still in the international transport system

22 hours of travelling since we left home, only around 6 to go. Everything smooth so far...except our hair, clothes and lines under our eyes. Sitting in Texas in the Admirals Club with another glass of bubbly waiting for the final leg to San Jose

The journey begins..

Costa Rican Capers

Only 2 more sleeps

Mmmm truffle season

There are many things we love about our first Canberra winter..and no, the cold hasn't caused a bout of insanity. The crisp mornings are followed by clear blue skies, the vibrant autumnal leaves now blanket the streets and...truffle season occurs. There are a multitude of truffle events that happen around the area, including following Snuffle the truffle dog to hunt for the elusive and valuable substance worth about the same as gold per kilo. Though significantly less shiny, more resembling a dried turd.

Traditionally truffles were found by the highly attuned snouts of pigs. We may have found that more exciting than trailing a dog, so in this instance our foraging occurred at the local produce market...where there certainly are pigs but no longer in a condition to sniff out anything.

Our fondest truffle memories are from our European adventure in 2010 (see earlier blogs). For this reason we go with a French recipe, pappardelle with truffle garlic cream. To pay the truffle its due respect we make our own pasta infused with finely grated truffle.

We have always found that the fresh truffles sourced in Australia are significantly more delicate than those in Europe, particularly Italy. Truffle experiences in Arezzo or Assisi stand out fondly.

However, never deterred we persist. We sat outside in our winter garden for lunch with the sun shining, the oak tree still holding its leaves and clearly confused plants starting to prematurely bud ready for spring; though the longest night occured just last night. The pappardelle was silky smooth and the truffle cream sauce coating it beautifully. Though subtle, the aromas and flavours are divine, the truffle flavour made all the more decadent by the soft garlic and cream overtones. We matched it with a Vouvray wine, a style to which we are extremely partial. Overall a delicious meal.

We head to a degustation truffle dinner next weekend as we continue our Canberra winter truffle experiences.