The Traveling Widower

Author: Richb

  • The Last Day – Magnificent Macaws

    A scenic view of a tropical beach with lush green hills in the background, clear turquoise water, and a partly cloudy sky.

    March 27th, 2026

    The last full day of these trips is always a bit chaotic – you have to pack that evening, so you really don’t want to have much in the way of wet or soggy clothing and shoes. This trip was no different and both the morning and afternoon outings involved very wet landings (possibly waste deep), potential stream crossings, and of course, hiking in hot and humid rain forests. Nothing like opening up a suitcase the next day, with wet, smelly clothing in plastic bags. 

    The ship had sailed to the Osa Peninsula overnight, and we dropped anchor off of a beautiful, private rainforest preserve. There were four options in the morning, and some of the guests with long lenses opted for the “woos” or lazy hike – just a mile or so wandering along a coast trail, looking for things to photograph. We hit it lucky almost immediately – a very photogenic Scarlet Macaw, which was intent on feeding in the palm trees, and offered us some incredible close-up photo-ops. I had been hoping to get some good shots of these birds, and I finally got some. Beautiful colors on these birds.

    A colorful parrot perched on a tall palm tree, feeding on a cluster of orange fruits.
    A vibrant scarlet macaw perched on a branch surrounded by lush green leaves.

    We then headed off along the coast trail, looking for more beasties, or good scenic views. Our guide was the Nat Geo photographer, so he was providing some useful tips along the way – one of the reasons I enjoy their trips. 

    A wooden swing hanging from a tree overlooking a sandy beach with gentle ocean waves and a ship in the distance.

    I have been doing pretty well health wise on this trip after my one panic/tachycardia attack, and had been really careful on the hikes since the trails are all covered in roots and muddy in places. My luck finally ran out – I was thinking as I strolled along,  that I may not go on the afternoon hike, when I tripped on a root and fell forward. Luckily, the only thing that was seriously damaged was the lens hood on my big 500mm lens. That’s easily replaceable for about $40.. But I also twisted my bad knee a bit. That’s not easily replaceable but I was OK. I’m sure the trip lead had his radio out, ready to call for help, but I got up on my own. My pride was the only thing that really hurt. And a slight bit of blood. The ship doctor was getting used to seeing me, and I really did not want to bother her again.

    After my little accident, we wound up walking back up the coast trail to view a baby sloth – not the most exciting animal to photograph since most of the time, you just see a mass of fur and maybe a couple of legs. A few people actually saw one move up the tree, and had photographs of the sloth’s face, but most everyone thought it was a toy someone stuck up in the tree. 

    A sloth hanging upside down on a tree branch, nestled among green leaves.

    Eventually, we headed back to the beach – the heat and humidity were getting worse, so it was nice to get back to the ship. I decided at that point that I had enough photographs, and did not want to get wet and sweaty again. Or risk another fall. So I just settled in for the afternoon, packing, relaxing, drying off my very wet shoes and soggy clothing, and filtering through all the raw and jpeg images I had captured the last few days. This effort will keep me busy for a few days once I get home. 

    I think this was the night someone said there would be a “green burst” with the sunset. I’ve seen that before in Maui, where you get some green rays just as the sun goes under the horizon. A bunch of us went out on the bow observation deck to witness this – it was during happy hour, so I was probably the only person on deck that had not already downed a few margaritas or martinis. I’m sure most of them believe they saw some burst of color…but that probably had more to do from the alcohol than light refraction. But it was still a pretty sunset.

    Sunset over the ocean with vibrant colors in the sky and soft clouds.

    The last gathering on all the Nat Geo/Lindblad trips includes a slideshow of shared photos from the passengers – everyone gets to submit up to 5 photos, and the Nat Geo photographer selects the most interesting and cobbles together the show. It’s not a contest, but I usually get all five of mine selected. It’s a lot of fun – someone else contributed a shot of a bunch of passengers hanging over the railing – they were looking at dolphins at the time, but these images always look like they are having an adverse reaction to something they ate. I had that shot (see below) but had too many other photos I wanted to show. But I’m glad that I am not the only one with a warped sense of humor.

    A group of people leaning over the railing of a boat, looking out at the ocean, with a clear sky in the background.

    Peace (burp)

  • Hot and Humid Part II – A Wondrous Day

    Close-up of a lizard perched on a branch, showcasing its textured skin and prominent eye against a natural background.

    March 26th, 2026

    This has definitely been the strangest trip I’ve been on since I started my new life of traveling. Maybe strange is the wrong word, but this definitely has been different in terms of the wide variety of activities I’ve participated in.

    Today (Thursday) was focused on a full day of activities in one particular area quite a ways west of the Golfito Bay, where multiple activities started from a single point – Playa Blanca. We had to sign up for two activities a few days ago, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, all of which required short bus rides from the beach. Most of the activities were focused on exploring some Costa Rican family run eco-related business, as well as a bit of Costa Rican culture. It was another wet landing (boo hiss), this time to a large public beach where we had reserved space for our lunch activities, and where the charter buses would pick us up. This time, I had appropriate water shoes. No more dancing through the rocks (ouch!)

    I chose a rain forest hike, at a privately owned eco-lodge and park for the morning adventure. A very good choice.  The lodge (https://www.dantalodge.com/) was absolutely beautiful, and had trails wandering off into the rain forest. Our hike crossed a few creeks, and meandered up a somewhat steep trail (with a rope handrail) which peaked at a three story observation tower. Along the way, we stopped to photograph anything of interest we spotted along the trail  – this included some birds and a lot of amphibians and lizards – small Basalisk “Jesus Christ” lizards (they walk on water) were found along streams, and there were some extremely small (and lightly poisonous) frogs in the leaf litter along the trail. 

    A bird with a striped brown and white plumage standing on rocks by a stream, surrounded by green foliage and fallen leaves.
    Close-up of a thick tree trunk covered in spiky texture, surrounded by green leaves and a large brown leaf resting nearby.
    A small brown and black frog camouflaged among fallen leaves and branches on the forest floor.
    A group of hikers crossing a wooden bridge in a dense, green rainforest.
    A panoramic view of a lush green jungle with a bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds, featuring a leafless tree in the foreground.
    A colorful woodpecker peeking from a textured tree trunk against a blurred green background.

    There was not really an abundance of wildlife, but it was just an enjoyable hike – it was hot and humid, but were in the shade most of the way, and we had a great naturalist describing everything as we strolled along at a reasonable pace.

    Once we made it back to the lodge, the owner provided a nice selection of fruits and juices, and the best empanada I’ve ever eaten. We also spotted some Toucans, and I found a large Basalisk, sunning itself in a fountain. A great photo-op.

    A bamboo structure with a metal roof, surrounded by lush greenery and tropical plants, featuring a pathway leading to the entrance. People can be seen inside the building, engaging in various activities.
    Interior view of a wooden structure surrounded by greenery, featuring bamboo columns, wooden furniture, and a spacious wooden floor.
    A lizard sitting on a wooden surface, displaying its textured skin and long tail, with shadows and natural background elements.

    And I finally managed to get a couple of half-way decent shots of a Toucan.

    A close-up of a toucan's colorful head and beak partially hidden behind a tree branch, surrounded by green foliage.
    A toucan perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.

    After we were done re-hydrating and relaxing, we boarded our air-conditioned bus for the short ride back to the beach.

    The Nat Geo/Lindblad crew really does a great job of introducing the guests not only to local culture, but also to the country’s efforts to maintain the environment of their lands and ocean. Aside from a nice barbecue lunch, we were entertained by a local dance group, and then had another presentation by an organization that tracks and rehabs sea turtles – they brought along a recently captured one, to show us how they record information on the turtles, clean them up if necessary, and the re-release the guy. Which they did. A happy turtle.

    A woman dressed in traditional attire with a white blouse and a purple skirt is dancing outdoors. The setting includes canopies and other people in the background, creating a festive atmosphere.
    A group of dancers performing a traditional dance outdoors, wearing colorful folkloric costumes. The scene features bright blue, red, and gold outfits, with dancers showcasing vibrant movements under sunny trees.

    I chose a visit to a chocolate (cocoa) plantation for my afternoon outing. Another great choice – Finka Cobo (http://www.fincakobo.com/). It turned into a combination garden/flora walk and Squirrel Monkey photo-op. Woo hoo. We walked the garden with the owner and our own National Geographic naturalists, with the owner describing non-stop all the plants, the history of his property, the different fruit varieties….a veritable fountain of knowledge. Once we got to the cocoa plants, he gave a great demonstration of the process behind turning the cocoa beans into chocolate – even got to chew on a bean or two. I knew it was a complex process, but it was great to actually see what the producers had to go through. 

    Close-up of a tree trunk with greenish bark showing small white flowers and a blueish patch near the base.
    Close-up of delicate white and yellow flowers blooming on a textured tree trunk, with green lichen accents.

    Along the way, we had already spotted a bunch of squirrel monkeys bouncing through the trees – photographing them became the focus of the rest of our walk. These little buggers are difficult to photograph, as they move quickly through the thick foliage. But if you are persistent, you can get a couple of good shots. They are not exactly cute – the look like little devils!

    A squirrel monkey hanging upside down from a branch, surrounded by dense green foliage.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a tree branch surrounded by large green leaves.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.
    A squirrel monkey perched on a branch amidst lush green leaves in a forested environment.

    Eventually, we did need to stop taking pictures, and headed back to the main lodge where they set up some fruit with chocolate sauce and a wonderful chocolate cake. This turned into a day for gorging on different foods. Diet time when I get home. And they also had those cute little Long Nosed Bats on the ceiling – at least I think they are cute.

    A bat hanging upside down on a textured wall.

    And there were lots of beautiful flowers in the garden – a bit of everything.

    A close-up of a vibrant pink orchid flower with a darker purple lip, surrounded by green leaves and natural foliage.
    A vibrant red and yellow heliconia flower hanging among green leaves in a tropical setting.

    We eventually got back in our nice, air conditioned bus, to return to the beach and get wet shoes again to board a Zodiac back to the ship. A long but great day.

    Peace