Hola my Peeps (not like that gross Easter candy Peeps but like my Peoples Peeps) !
Today is Thursday before Easter and in Costa Rica everything closes because the culture celebrates the day Jesus was nailed to the cross. Tomorrow, everything will remain closed because they also celebrate when Jesus died. For whatever reason most Ticos (that’s what locals refer to themselves as) drive to the beach with their families and party for Saturday and Sunday while bussiness’s resume normally not celebrating the resurrection… interesting stuff living in a different culture.
Today, 
This morning
No big deal, I don’t only post on Friday’s or anything 🤦🏼♀️
This is him beating me to the punch, the posting punch. We hit up a fun little day trip to a beautiful tropical plant filled ocean front jungle garden the other day and I copped a few pictures. Dandays couldn’t help but document the entire excursion so I snuck a fast shot of him getting his angles all right. I don’t know where that paddle boater came from all the way out there because we literally had to take a taxi boat to that location. Really neat property…
Gorgeous flower right? I don’t know the names of any of these plants we are about to see with the exception of one, the pineapple plant. 😋 My ultimate favorite!!
Did you know they only produce one pineapple per plant? Like fruit gold these juicy guys are pretty exclusive. I like it …I like it like that, I like it like that, I like it like that, it’s got soul, it’s got gold, I like it like that, I like it like that, dun dun dun dun, dundun dun dun dun….
Yes, I’m aware the lyrics aren’t perfect but who doesn’t like a little freestyle 🤷🏼♀️
I don’t know what this plant is called but it’s gorgeous. This was right about the time a damn ant decided to make the back of my leg his lunch too. Frikken thing stung… Yep, some of the ants bite here. Not the ones you’d think though, the innocuous ones that look like all of the other black ants you’ve ever known are actually the blood suckers here. Little sheets (clean version).
The plant came in two colors…
Beautiful, right? Check out this spider looking flower. Really pretty if I didn’t just compare it to looking like a spider (my biggest nemesis).
Speaking of being chased, we were asked to step off of the beaten path into the ground covered jungle to check this fruit tree out. I wasn’t too enthusiastic about it being I was in open toed flip flops (is there even such a thing as closed toe flip flops 🤷🏼♀️) but I complied, and to my dismay this is what we saw…
Jack fruit, we saw jack fruit. I made my way practically bare foot through the treacherous terrain of leaf and plant covered jungle to look at a jack fruit… damn it, the guide tricked me. I totally see bigger ones in the grocery store of LA than these measly little tarantula traps. I quickly dropped a line about jack fruit pulled “pork” or tacos thinking that would disguise my sprint back to safety but noooooo… apparently no ones ever heard of using jack fruit in that way so now I’m stuck ankle deep in the jungle explaining how to use jack fruit in place of meat. Talk about plans being an epic fail 🤦🏼♀️.
These are called Runaway Jews! I swear that’s the name, it’s the only one I remember. They are gorgeous by the way and apparently are running from that hairy, fatigue and backpack wearing spider too. If you eat 3 leaves three times a day it’s suppoosed to regulate insulin levels. So much so that diabetics who take insulin are said to be able to go without it if they eat these Jews (what? Was that too much?).
Anyone know what these are? Anyone, anyone at all… no? Well they are chiote which is a paste you’ll find in central and South America that is used to color food. There’s not much of a flavor to chiote but the burnt red color it produces is a beautiful addition to many Latin dishes. You could probably use it as lipstick if you’re really resourceful.
I really don’t know what this one is called but it’s muy Bonita, huh? Have I shown you my favorite plant yet? The one that moonlights as a zebra? No? Well check it out…
Strangely enough while gawking at all of this amazing nature art I wasn’t getting attacked by vampy mosquitos. Cool huh? Granted I doused myself in 98% chemical cancer causing deet compound before leaving the house but whatevs, no welty, itchy, red, mosquito kisses for me. Nope, not today!
I thought these two tone aloe Vera doppelgängers were pretty too.
No frogs bathing today but doesn’t it look like a serene place to rest, if you were an insect or a frog that eats insects?
These elephant eared leaves have a Dad that’s half zebra too. Still no pesky mosquitos biting only those grumpy ass ants. “Get off of me”. I said that outloud while swiping my legs and calling the attention of the group. Immediately everyone looked down at their own limbs to inspect for ants. You should have seen it, one guy kicked both of his flops off and frantically wiped his ankles and feet. He had been standing in an ant hole and they were all hungry for lunch. It was nice to not be the only scene maker during this tour. Haha
Don’t know what it is but it’s purdy! We got to check out all sorts of plants, herbs, fruit trees and bugs. It was a nice morning but I was starving at this point. Hubby and I grabbed a cup of joe while waiting for our boat…
You can’t see it but just behind me was the worlds gnarliest garden spider all on display in its perfectly crafted web just waiting for some poor unsuspecting old sap to walk face first into its lure. We tried to get a picture but the sun was shining in such a way that the damn thing disappeared with each snap shot. You’re just going to have to take my word for it this time.
Thanks @Dandays for inspiring me to write a post today. You inspire my world and I’m grateful to know you.
Happy Easter my friends! May God bless all of you reading this, all of you not reading this, and everyone you all know.
Pura Vida ✌️