Cristina's birthday

The lookout point at INBioparque

I felt better this morning. Still a bit of headache, but I had more energy and appetite. Sofia still felt bad when she woke up, but improved quickly. I got up early with the kids to allow Cristina to sleep in.

On Monday, we had planned to go to a zoo/museum thing called INBioparque (pronounced INN-bee-oh-park) until we discovered they were closed Mondays. So we decided to do it today. INB stands for the Institute of National Biodiversity. While we were formulating plans to go to INBioparque, the mechanic stopped by. We figured it was either good news or bad news. It turns out he was putting the engine back together and realized he had the wrong bearing. So we needed to buy the correct bearing and then he could finish the car. Since Ramon was at work, we knew if we waited for Ramon, it would be another few days before the car was fixed. But if we went and bought the part, maybe the mechanic could have it fixed by tonight.

Here was the plan: Chino would drive us to the car parts place. He would order the part, we’d pay for it, then Chino would drive us to the INBioparque. From there, Chino would drive the part back to the house to give to Maritza, who could then give it to the mechanic. The part cost 18,000 colones, but we thought it would be worth it to have the car sooner rather than later. Since Ramón is letting us basically use it as much as we want, it seems the least we could do. 18,000 colones for 3 weeks use of a car is far cheaper than renting one for even one day.

Everything went like clockwork. We got the part and Chino dropped us off at the parque. Chino offered to pick us up as well, so we took him up on his offer. He said we could settle up then.

Unlike the gold museum, INBioparque didn’t even ask to see Cristina’s cedula. Cristina told her the truth, that she was Tica, as well as the kids, but I was not. The lady gave us all Tico price anyway. So instead of me costing $15, it only cost 2000 colones ($4). The kids were 1200 each. She didn’t charge for Isabella, so the whole thing cost 6400.

We started off at the movie theatre, where they ran a 12-minute video geared for kids about Costa Rica’s biodiversity. The video was in English. After the video, we went through a couple of galleries with displays about Costa Rica wildlife, their resources and geological beginnings. I was getting a little hungry, so we decided to eat before going any farther.

The restaurant, Heliconias, was not too expensive and very tasty. We got two “executive plates” with arroz con pollo (almost as good as Vicky’s!), sides, and refrescos for 2200 each. And free coffee! Cristina got an order of arroz con leche (rice pudding) for dessert.

The park is divided into 5 sections. They included the “humid” or rain forest, the dry forest, the central valley forest, the lagoon and the farm. We entered the rain forest part of the park, where a paved path winds through jungle-like vegetation, and saw the frogs, spiders and orchids displays. Here and there, signs would explain the plants or animals. While visiting the central valley forest section, we visited the displays on ants, bromeliads, and heliconias. While quietly looking at the bromeliads, we were able to see some birds and a squirrel.

As we were leaving this section, Alex whispered excitedly, “Look at the lizard!” So the rest of us looked around, searching for some tiny gecko or something. We quickly realized what he meant! A good-sized iguana, maybe a yard long, walked across the path. He proceeded to climb a tree and look at us until we left.

The lagoon section included iguanas, caimans, turtles, an aquarium, and a lookout point. There was also a fairly large enclosed butterfly garden. Bella was having a hard time not chasing the butterflies.

Included in the farm section was timber and fruit trees, medicinal plants, a vegetable garden, a section on traditional export crops like coffee and a working sugar cane mill. Alex of course was like glue to the sheep, goats and pigs and didn’t want to leave. You could even buy a rabbit for 1000 colones ($2).

Look at that spider!

The dry forest had a display on boas. Bella was particularly fascinated by a certain boa and kept pointing at it. In the dry forest, we also got glimpses of deer running through the park. Nice bonus!

Throughout the whole park, there was a nice blend of live wildlife and animals in display cases. It seems they may be working on a hedge maze, so that will be fun to check out the next time we come. There was so much to discover and 5 hours was not quite enough! It definitely helps you to get your bearings on the climates and the diversity of animal and plant life found here. There was lots for kids to do, but also a ton for adults to discover.

Chino picked us up at 4:30. We stopped at a place on the way home that looked like it might be a chocolate shop, but they only sold bakery items.

At home, we realized our plan was not as perfect as we thought: the mechanic still hadn’t come to pick up the part for the car. We shared the day’s pictures with Ramon. Maritza made palmito rice for dinner, which is a cheesy, rice casserole with corn and heart of palm. We had chocolate ice cream for dessert, which upset Cristina’s stomach.

Just as the kids got in the shower, the power went out. The suicide showers are great for unlimited hot water, but electricity is a requirement. So after waiting a while to see if the power would come back on, the kids finally got dressed without showering. Ramon told them a bedtime story on the porch, about a time when he was a boy mowing an airport runway for extra money. It was a good story. When he finished, I was about to tuck the kids in bed when the power came back on. So we got them showered after all. Sofia observed that when the power went out and came back on, both times she was in the bathroom.

The mechanic finally came and picked up the part for the car.