Togetherness….Are we telepathic after all these years?…Kruger photos continue…

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Friends Lynne and Mick confirmed this is a juvenile Bateleur.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Persistent zebras will occasionally start climbing the veranda steps to “request” more pellets. During last night’s dinner, a female warthog came up the steps looking for pellets.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have the camera ready for a photo.

This morning we had a huge laugh (a common occurrence several times a day) when we lounged in bed after awakening around 6:00 is discussing last night’s dreams. (For once, I had a good night’s sleep).

Hippos spend about 16 hours a day in the water. While they sleep in the water, they surface automatically and breathe without waking up. While awake, they can hold their breath for up to five minutes.

Tom rarely remembers his dreams, so he went first while it was fresh in his mind.  He had a dream we purchased a house. As soon as he started spewing the details, I started laughing out loud.

From this site: “Buffalo are reported to kill more hunters in Africa than any other animal. They are known to ambush hunters that have wounded or injured them.”

He stated, “It’s not that funny, although it won’t ever happen!”

 I added, “I had the same dream! We were in the process of buying a house!”

From this site:  “If a buffalo herd comes under threat from a predator, they form a circle around their young. All of the adults face outwards to hide the vulnerable. The adults actually lower their heads and form a protective barrier with their horns.”

We won’t bore you with all the details, but the irony is apparent. We both had similar dreams. Nor will we get too analytical as to why we had these dreams. It’s pretty obvious. We both have no interest or desire to ever “settle down” if we can help it.  

Some goose?

In reality, it may be somewhat of a fear that precipitated this topic in our dreams. We know someday we’ll have to stop traveling due to advanced age and health, and, in itself, that eventuality is a nightmare.   

 Gee…who looks forward to old age and poor health, and why should any of us have to accept this as our eventuality? We’ve met people on cruises, well into their 90’s, with good health who continue to travel the world.

Hippos across the lake at the Sunset Dam.

Wouldn’t our eventual demise best come uneventfully during sleep when our bodies and minds are made with this life as we know it?  Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Anyway, back to the irony of our mutual dreams. Did we both have these dreams based on something we discussed, read, or thought about yesterday? Most likely, that’s the case. It’s not unusual for us to discuss how we never want to settle down to help it.

The closest living relatives of hippos are porpoises and whales.

Why you may ask, are we so adamantly opposed to settling down? Based on our exceptional relationship, couldn’t we still be happy? But, in the same vein, many of you are so glad to be settled, finding great comfort and joy in doing so. It’s simply a matter of what appeals to each individual, each couple.

For us, the biggest irony of all is that we both thrive in the uncertainty of a nomadic lifestyle. Each new continent, country, village, and town presents us with an opportunity to embrace new surroundings, new cultures, and new ways of life.

From this site: “Buffaloes need a good freshwater supply as they love to cool down and also drink water daily. Bulls especially like to lie in water and mud hollows where they can roll in the mud and take mud baths to rid themselves of flies, horseflies, and ticks. Buffaloes are gregarious, and in South Africa (Kruger National Park), herds of up to 500 and more can congregate, consisting of dominant bulls and cows. In other parts of Africa, herds of more than 1000 animals can gather. Bulls are often found alone or form small bachelor herds, consisting of older and younger animals and varying in number from a few animals to about ten and more.”

Are we antsy being in this same house, in this same place, Marloth Park, for an entire year?  The answer is clear and consistent between us. It’s a long time to stay in one place, especially for us. In the future, we’ll never stay anywhere for so long unless required by a medical condition.

 We’d be ready for a change if it weren’t for the wildlife and our many beautiful friends. But, these two vital factors of living in Marloth Park have allayed any possible boredom or disinterest.  

We’re continually entertained by an exciting insect, noisy frog, or unusual plant, even in the most mundane scenarios. Sightings of elephants, lions, hippos, and others are the frosting on the cake.  

Because giraffes are the only herbivores that graze on treetops, there is a more readily available food source for them during the dry season.

If all we had was “visitors” and friends, we could be equally content as we are now.  Visiting Kruger is comparable to visiting a state fair or Disneyland. Every sight our eyes behold spirals us into a realm of sheer awe and wonder.

Being with our friends is equally vital to our well-being. The lively and opinionated conversations, especially about nature and wildlife, are unlike any conversations we’ve had anywhere else in the world.

We always stop to admire elephants.

The commonality we all share in appreciating and living within the throes of the animal kingdom can’t be conveyed while in many other parts of the world. It’s unique, as are these special people.

 We both shrugged off any potential significance of our mutually shared dream, meaning anything more than sharing the same beliefs, hopes, and dreams for the future.

From this site:  A natural process is quite vague: it is a natural process, but it’s not related to the elephant’s aging. Neither is it (typically) related to fighting.  Those notches and tears are caused by the daily activities of elephants feeding in the bushes. The longer the ear, the more prone it is to damage. On the other hand, thicker ears are less prone to damage.  Day by day, the number and pattern of tears/notches/holes change.  Curiously, this pattern of tears/notches/holes is used by researchers to identify individuals. Not only that but also in the way of the veins in the ears.”  We had mistakenly assumed the notches were a result of age.

Plus, being together, day and night, day after day, year after year, has only made us stronger as a couple and more in tune with each other’s wants and desires in all areas of life.  

Whether it’s telepathic or not is irrelevant. The fact remains, this life is possible for us because we get along so well and, let’s face it, we’re “glued at the hip.”

Sweet dreams to all!

Photo from one year ago today, August 3, 2017:

This is the parrot after they were knocked unconscientious after hitting the glass wall of the veranda in Costa Rica.  There was a bird deterrent on the glass, but this poor bird slammed so hard into the glass we assumed it was dead.  It was sad to see this happen. After about 20 minutes, it awakened and eventually flew away. We were thrilled. For more, please click here.

In the realm of things, it just doesn’t matter…

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This morning we opened the door to find 19 kudus in the garden, breaking our prior record of 17 at once. The one closest to the veranda is the girl that constantly licks my toes. She is identifiable by an oval notch in her right ear.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

Yesterday, this “Grey Go-Away” bird stopped by. The name was as a result of the song this bird sings that sound like, “go-away.”

It’s imperative that one must temper their expectations when staying in Africa, especially when coming from cities throughout the world that are highly developed and have an abundance of literally everything, for example; in any big city in the US and other parts of the world.

There were all moms and babies some of which were males.

When we say abundance in the US, we mean going to a market, a superstore, or a shop and finding anything you may conceive of or anything special on your shopping list. 

Do you have almond extract on your grocery list? No problem. You will find it in the first grocery store you visit. Are you looking for a particular brand or popular style of jeans? No sweat. You’ll find them in a number of locations in exactly your size and chosen fashion.

Tusker, last night in the dark of night, hung around for a few hours,

But, in Marloth Park and surrounding areas, certain items are difficult to find often requiring a more than an hour drive to be presented with a few less than ideal options.  

A pair of hornbills sharing the bird feeder.

Sure, one could drive to Nelspruit, (where the airport is located) but still not find what they’re seeking, certainly not, the style, the price or the size. We don’t bother to make the long drive unless we’re flying somewhere as we will in 17 days to make the “visa run” to Zambia, required every 90 days.

In the realm of things, for us, none of this matters. There’s always a workaround of one sort or another. Last week, when we grocery shopped on Thursday, the Obaro store where we purchase pellets for wildlife was totally out of pellets.

In attempting to recognize different animals within a species, we search for variances in their markings. In this case, of Ms. Bushbuck, her lower facial marking is a round dot as opposed to an oval dot. Another identical-looking female bushbuck has two white dots similar to the upper dot in this photo. Now we can distinguish between the two females.

We usually purchase three 40 kg (88 pounds) bags which will last a little over two weeks with all the visitors we have here. There were other options if the stock never returned for a while. We could pay a higher price (as much a 30% more) where they were available at other locations. 

Very distant photo taken a few days ago at the overlook entitled “Two Trees” across the Crocodile River and up the hill to Kruger. 

We’re slowly doling out our last bag of pellets, instead focusing on tossing the carrots and apples.  This morning, I called Obaro and the pellets are again back in stock. We’ll head out in a few days to purchase more.

One week there will be celery at the market. The next three weeks there won’t be any. It’s the ways it is. We’ve learned to accept these situations and be flexible in our meal planning.

Big Daddy was drinking from our cement pond.

Over the weekend, I opened two bottles of my favorite low-alcohol red wine, called Skinny Red by Four Cousins, a South African brand which also carries many wine options that aren’t low-alcohol, to find both bottles had gone bad (turned bubbly and vinegary). This has happened at least ten times in the past several months.

In each case, we’ve returned the bad bottles to the Spar Supermarket in Komatipoort where we’d purchased the wine and were quickly given a refund without a receipt, no questions asked. In the realm of things, it just doesn’t really matter. We’ll purchase more when we return to Spar in the next few days.

He seemed content after pellets and a few big gulps of water.

In certain instances, expiration dates have long past on some items in the market. No worries. We don’t purchase those. Also, most recently, we’ve been dealing with the fact that the package we had sent from the US on May 28th has yet to arrive.

Wildebeest Willies stops by almost every evening.

There was a strike slowing it down. Right now, it’s still “stuck” in Pretoria. We have no idea when and if it will eventually arrive. This is probably the situation most likely to cause a certain degree of frustration.

There are power outages every few weeks some lasting a short while and others lasting for several hours. In the realm of things, it really doesn’t matter, as long as our food doesn’t spoil. It hasn’t as yet.

We can always count on a visit from Tusker and friends.

However, we don’t forget that in the US during the stormy season, we could be out of power for days. We don’t forget that fe had trouble with the TV cable company for years, often requiring service once a month, never seeming to be resolved. 

We recall dealing with incorrect statements for medical bills, utilities, and more. We easily recall the difficulty in handling specific insurance claims, often requiring tremendous time and effort.

Mom, babies, and Tusker seem to get along while nibbling on pellets.

Now, we don’t have medical bills (we pay cash when we have an occasional doctor or dentist appointment). We don’t pay for utilities or cable bills (we don’t watch TV). And, we don’t handle any insurance claims. In many ways, this life is easier even amid occasional incompetency and slow service.

Wherever one resides, there are inconveniences, annoyances, and frustrations. I suppose it is how we handle these situations that determine the overall quality of our lives. We chose to take an attitude of “it just doesn’t matter.”

If we have our health, well being, safety and financial stability (by sticking to our budget) and, each other, the rest is of little cause for worry or concern…in the realm of things.

Be well. 

Photo from one year ago, July 30, 2017:

Tom’s Reuben sandwich with chips (fries) when we were out to dinner and movie with son Richard and friends on our last night in Henderson, Nevada. For more details, please click here.

Heartwarming ostrich story…Watch the progression of this story as it unfolded before our eyes…

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This is a close-up of Mom, not necessarily the cutest face on the planet. Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A giraffe’s neck is somewhat flexible, but we don’t often see one seated and stretching as in this photo.

To witness a story of life, love and instinct is truly a privilege. Yesterday afternoon, on our almost daily drive in the park looking for precisely these types of miracles, we were gifted with a sighting neither of us will ever forget.

To see the mom and baby was rather exciting. We’ve seen many larger ostrich chicks since we returned to Marloth but none this young.

We had a plan in mind when we took off from our holiday home around noon; we’d head to the hippo pools located at the end of the caravan park; then we’d drive down Seekoei, the road that runs along the Crocodile River in Kruger National Park.

We gasped when we saw this adorable ostrich chick who couldn’t have been more than a month old.

From there, we’d return to a particular spot we found a few days ago where we had a most exciting up-close experience, which we’ll soon share. Along the way, we’d stop at the overlook with the brick structure where we always check for activity along the river.

Even with a plan in mind, we’re always looking for any potential diversions that may take us in another direction should nature present a situation we find interesting. Yesterday’s drive gave us precisely one of those situations that neither of us will ever forget. Who knew?

They decided to take a turn off Olifant and head down Volstruis Road.

As we drove on Olifant Drive, the main paved road in Marloth Park (there only are a few paved roads in the park), as usual, our eyes are peeled for any movement in the bush, along the road, or in the yards of bush houses along the way.

Mom kept a watchful eye for traffic or intruders as they crossed Olifant and headed down Volstruis. Of course, traffic stopped for them while onlookers were equally entranced by the special sighting.

We’ve both developed a keen eye for any action, and Tom’s expert driving is quick to get us into the correct position for the maximum viewing and photo-taking opportunity.

Finally, they were away from traffic and moseyed on down the road with ease and confidence.

This almost daily ritual consists of realistic expectations. We could drive for two hours and never see a thing, but with our penchant for safari luck, invariably, we find something spectacular in one way or another. At times, we’re amazed by our good fortune.

Mom walked with determination straight down the center of the road.

At other times, we shrug our shoulders, acknowledging that this is Marloth Park, after all, and it is what one can expect if they stay diligent, consistent, patient, and determined. That’s us for sure.

Apparently, from what we’ve read, ostriches keep their mouths open when they are in protection mode. The youngster has already developed this characteristic.

When we first spotted a female ostrich walking along Olifant Drive, it took only a second to spot her adorable chick cheerfully tagging along with his mom.  She kept an experienced watchful eye for traffic or any other potential hazards while her youngster followed her lead or often walked in front of her.

Then, they saw Dad coming their way.  The chick’s pace picked up the moment she spotted him. Look at the far end of the dirt road to see him coming!  His feathers are dark.

We could have taken our photos of the two of them and been perfectly content. A sighting of a mom ostrich and her chick certainly could have been enough for the day and, in essence, the highlight of the day’s drive.

As we watched, even he had picked up his pace to get to his family.

But, for some reason, we decided to hang back as much as possible and follow them for a bit, as they took off on Volstruis Road, a quiet side street with less traffic and activity. We stayed out of their way, never blocking them or getting so close enough to cause any stress.

As she and her chick proudly made their way down the quiet road, we were in awe of the elegant command in their demeanor as they walked to whatever their destination may have been. We soon found out what that would be!

Dad must have wanted time alone with his chick as he headed into the bush, as shown in this photo while the chick followed him, running as fast as he could.  Mom maintained watch on the road.

Parked at the side of the road, we spotted something dark moving toward them at quite a distance. The longer we watched, we realized it was a darker feathered male ostrich. Was it a coincidence he was approaching or, in their mysterious means of communication which we’ll never know, were they planning to meet at this spot?

Look closely to see the chick next to him in this photo. 

We’d only know when they came face to face. Would she and the chick head into the bush in fear of an unknown male? Would they merely walk past one another without acknowledgment?  Or was there some connection we’d witness right before our eyes? 

The closer he came, the chick watched him, and then…much to our delight, the chick began running toward him. “Dad!” We could see the enthusiasm when they were upon one another.

Mom preened her feathers during security duty.  Ostriches generally mate for life.

Dad chose to engage with his chick in the bush while Mom held back on the road, checking for predators, cars, or other annoyances or threats. From time to time, she watched them, appearing to have a smile on her less-than-lovely face. 

How they managed to plan this rendezvous escapes us, but we decided to take it at face value…they had a plan. Marloth Park is 3,000 hectares, 7,413 acres.  This was no chance encounter. 

Dad and chick never left each other’s side.

We watched the interactions for quite a while and finally decided to be on our way. If we never had another animal encounter for the remainder of the day, we’d be fine.

Back at home later, we couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces. But, shortly after that, we spotted a hippo on the river, several warthogs and herds of impalas in the bush, and a lizard crossing the road. It was a good day.

The chick was nestled in the grass close to Dad’s legs, as shown here.

We had a relatively quiet evening at home, dining on leftovers from the prior evening, and around 7:30, the power went out, not returning fully until 11:00 am this morning. 

We weren’t interested in sitting on the veranda in total darkness, so we wandered indoors, watched a show on my laptop, and finally hunkered down in bed with whatever battery life we had left on our phones.

If all we’d have seen in the entire day were this one hippo on the river with oxpeckers on its back, we’d have been thrilled.  Little did we know…

Before doing today’s post, we headed to Komatipoort to pick up a few groceries and returned. We both tossed and turned all night without AC, but luckily it wasn’t scorching, although it was very humid during the rainy night. , No sooner than we walked in the door at 11:00 am, the powerfully came back on. Thank goodness.

Today, a much-needed rainy day, we’re staying put. There’s no point in driving on the rough dirt roads in the rain or attempting to take distant photos. We’re content, especially after yesterday’s ostrich family sighting and, of course, with all the visitors we’ve already had so far today.

May your day bring you contentment.

P.S. Our dear friend Danie, here in Marloth Park, a native South African who speaks Afrikaans, wrote a comment at the end of today’s post after publication to inform us of the Volstruis. In Afrikaans means “ostrich!” What a coincidence! Thanks, Danie!!!

Photo from one year ago today, April 11, 2017:

They are peeking through the vegetation to Reef Beach Bay in Fairlight, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Protests in Kruger National Park…Easter and school holiday…Burning sugar cane results in ash everywhere…

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A hornbill in the bush.

“Sighting of the Day in the Bush”

A lizard-like gecko was found on the veranda.

We’d planned to go into Kruger in the next few days, but when we realized it’s Easter break and many tourists will be coming to the area for holiday and the school break (the equivalent of Spring Break but is fall, not spring here now), we decided to wait until the commotion dies down.

The Crocodile River has been rising due to recent rains.

Also, we’d read online that there are protests at various gates in Kruger, which will add to traffic and the very type of commotion we choose to avoid. We’ll be here a year. We don’t have to go now. 

Here’s an article we found regarding the protests in Kruger. Apparently, it’s peaceful at this point, but one never knows. We feel it makes sense to stay away.

These may be European Mergansers along the banks of the Crocodile River. Please comment if you know otherwise.

We didn’t do all of our grocery shopping for the next week since we need to shop on Fridays or Saturdays going forward when off. Late yesterday afternoon, we drove to Komatipoort for a few items we needed at the market. We find they’re out of many items we need, mainly in the produce department. 

A baboon in the bush.

New shipments come in on Thursday but often aren’t on the shelves until late in the day, making Friday the best day to shop. By Monday, most of the produce we use is sold out. Thus, in the future, we’ve chosen Fridays are our preferred shopping day. There’s no doubt this Friday will be packed with shoppers buying food for Easter weekend.

A solitary waterbuck on the river.

When we returned, the veranda was covered in black soot. Tom checked around the neighborhood but couldn’t find any fires. Could a neighbor’s thatched roof catch on fire? We didn’t smell smoke. Tom swept the veranda before dinner, but only minutes later, it was covered in soot again.

Animal footprints in the sand.

Tom had the idea that the soot resulted from the burning of the sugar cane fields, done before the harvest. This morning, as Marta swept piles of soot in the house, she explained it was, in fact, from the burning of the sugar cane.  Once again, (duh) Tom was right.

The sunset on our return from Komatipoort last night.

Here is an article regarding the burning of the fields before the harvest. Also, here is a quote from the article for those who prefer not to follow links:

“Sugarcane field burning is carried out before harvesting the cane to make the process easier and require less manual labor. It takes place during the harvest season.  The field is set to fire in the burning process, and the leaves are burned off of the stalks. About 80% of the “trash,” including straw, the tops, and green and dry leaves, are burned off. These components constitute about 25% of the entire sugar cane stalk. The burning kills microorganisms and burns the trash, both of which keep the soil rich when left in the fields. In place of burning the cane, the leaves could be removed and burned to create steam for electricity generation or be converted into fuel themselves.

The river is looking better but now, as we’re approaching the dry season.

Whoever thinks of this stuff? We learn something new every day.  So, between Marta, Josiah, and us, we’ll keep the veranda and house free of soot by sweeping it all away as it comes.

Female waterbuck lounging in the grass along the river.

We have no bigs plans for Easter. We’re going to Kathy and Don’s bush home on the river for Easter fun on Monday. They are returning from their home in Pretoria in a few days, and it will be great to have them back in Marloth Park. We’ll cook one of our favorite recipes as always and enjoy a quiet day in the bush.

Today is a gorgeous day, sunny and not too hot, a perfect day for another hopefully exciting drive in the park.

May your day be gorgeous and sunny! 

 Photo from one year ago today, March 28, 2017:

Surfboard shop in Manly Beach, Australia. For more photos, please click here.

Antarctica – January 30, 2018…Grytviken, South Georgia…An abandoned whaling town…Sailing around the storm…

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This group of Elephant Seals found comfort in sleeping together in a ditch.

The world…it baffles, it entices, it enlightens, and it surprises in one way or another almost every day. It spares nothing in attempting to capture our attention while we, in our amateurish or professional manner, attempt to capture it in photos in hopes of retaining memories to last a lifetime. 

Some of the King Penguins were molting while others were not.

Antarctica keeps “giving and giving.” this trip to Antarctica has been at the top of our list for photo ops (along with our upcoming adventures in Africa). And, in our less-than-professional photo-taking manner, we thrive on these opportunities with such enthusiasm we can hardly contain ourselves. 

We walked along this beach in the rain to the small settlement ahead.

Taking photos is important to us to share them with all of our worldwide readers and maintain them for our reference, our family, and generations yet to come.

Tom, with an iceberg in the background.
The younger seals seem eager to pose for a photo, but the older males chase after us, prepared to attack if necessary.  We had to scare a few off by clapping our hands and yelling.

Above all, standing on the very ground where so much is happening takes our breath away as we live in the magic of the moment, anticipating nothing more than what is before our eyes. With heart-pounding enthusiasm, we embrace every moment, later reviewing our photos, hoping to find those fantastic captures that genuinely tell the story of our current experiences.

A young seal was sleeping atop a plant with a grouping of Elephant Seals in the background.

Sure, an expedition cruise is not expected to be perfect. We’ve had to forgo three landings due to bad weather, which we’d looked forward to on the itinerary. Last night, we had to sail away with bad weather on the horizon, missing two landings scheduled for today. 

A lone Fur Seal was posing for a photo.

Instead, the captain decided we’d sail directly to the Antarctic Peninsula, where we’ll spend the next several days, finally amid the massive icy environment we’ve so longed to see.  As a result, we’re at sea today.

She was so relaxed, a bit of drool dripped from her mouth. A bath would be nice.

Yesterday morning, we embarked on the Zodiac boats to Grytviken, South Georgia, an old whaling village since gone to ruin. As we wandered through the historic town, we couldn’t help but feel sorrowful for the millions of whales slaughtered for financial gain. 

This is the first of a few icebergs we spotted in Grytviken and the first so far on the cruise.  Guaranteed, more will follow.
This Elephant Seal was sleeping in the ditch without his friends.

Evidence of this travesty is readily evidenced in this small settlement with the remnants of the storage tanks and processing machines and equipment. 

Among the ruins were multiple shipwrecks photos of which we’ve included here today. A small group of 10 to 20 people occupies the location during the summer months (less in the winter months) to facilitate ship passengers stopping to inspect the settlement. 

We were served a shot glass of Irish whiskey with the suggestion to take a sip and pour the remainder over Shackleton’s grave, a local tradition.

There’s a shop, a church, a post office, and a few museums, all of which we visited during our few hours at the location. It was exciting and quite unusual, especially the many Fur Seals and Elephant Seals that live amongst the ruins of a long-abandoned business.

No sip of Irish whiskey for me, but I poured mine over Shackleton’s gravesite.
Here is information about Grytviken, South Georgia Island, from this site:
“Grytviken is a settlement on the island of South Georgia, part of a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. The settlement’s name is Swedish in origin, meaning “the Pot Bay.” The name was coined in 1902 by the Swedish Antarctic Expedition and documented by the Swedish surveyor Johan Gunnar Andersson, after the expedition found old English try pots used to render seal oil at the site.
It is the harbor’s best harbor, consisting of a bay (King Edward Cove) within a bay (Cumberland East Bay). The site is relatively sheltered, provides a substantial area of flat land suitable for building, and has an excellent freshwater supply.
Her companion is fanning her with widespread fins and tail.

The settlement at Grytviken was established on 16 November 1904 by the Norwegian sea captain Carl Anton Larsen as a whaling station for his Compañía Argentina de Pesca (Argentine Fishing Company).  

It was phenomenally successful, with 195 whales taken in the first season alone. The whalers used every part of the animals – the blubber, meat, bones, and viscera were rendered to extract the oil, and the bones and meat were turned into fertilizer and fodder. Elephant seals were also hunted for their blubber.

The following year the Argentine Government established a meteorological station. Around 300 men worked at the station during its heyday, operating during the southern summer from October to March. A few remained over the winter to maintain the boats and factory. A transport ship would bring essential supplies to the station every few months and take away the oil and other produce.

An adorable seal climbed a wall to see what the commotion was all about.
Carl Anton Larsen, the founder of Grytviken, was a naturalized Briton born in Sandefjord, Norway. His family in Grytviken included his wife, three daughters, and two sons. In his application for British citizenship, filed with the magistrate of South Georgia and granted in 1910, Captain Larsen wrote: “I have given up my Norwegian citizen’s rights and have resided here since I started whaling in this colony on the 16 November 1904 and have no reason to be of any other citizenship than British, as I have had and intend to have my residence here still for a long time.”
The first iceberg we’d seen since leaving Ushuaia a week ago today.  More will surely follow as we head to the Antarctica Peninsula.
As the manager of Compañía Argentina de Pesca, Larsen organized the construction of Grytviken, a remarkable undertaking accomplished by a team of sixty Norwegians between their arrival on 16 November and commencement of production at the newly built whale-oil factory on 24 December 1904. Larsen chose the whaling station’s site during his 1902 visit while in command of the ship Antarctic of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (1901–03) led by Otto Nordenskjöld.
On that occasion, the name Grytviken (“The Pot Cove”) was given by the Swedish archaeologist and geologist Johan Gunnar Andersson. They surveyed part of Thatcher Peninsula and found numerous artifacts and features from sealers’ habitation and industry, including a shallop (a type of small boat) and several try-pots used to boil seal oil. One of those try-pots, having the inscription ‘Johnson and Sons, Wapping Dock, London’, is preserved at the South Georgia Museum in Grytviken.
Me, with an iceberg in the background.
Managers and other senior officers of the whaling stations often had their families living together with them. Among them was Fridthjof Jacobsen, whose wife Klara Olette Jacobsen gave birth to two of their children in Grytviken; their daughter Solveig Gunbjørg Jacobsen was the first child ever born south of the Antarctic Convergence, on 8 October 1913. Several more children have been born in South Georgia: recently even aboard visiting private yachts.

The whale population in the seas around the island was substantially reduced over the following sixty years until the station closed in December 1966. By that time, the whale stocks were so low that their continued exploitation was unviable. Even now, the shore around Grytviken is littered with whale bones and the rusting remains of whale oil processing plants and abandoned whaling ships. 

A big male Fur Seal and perhaps his offspring who he was training to be growly at visitors.

Ernest Shackleton Grytviken is closely associated with the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition set out from London on 1 August 1914 to reach the Weddell Sea on 10 January 1915, where the pack ice closed in on their ship, Endurance. The ship was broken by the ice on 27 October 1915. The 28 crew members fled to Elephant Island off Antarctica, bringing three small boats 

Shackleton and five other men managed to reach the southern coast of South Georgia in the James Caird. They arrived at Cave Cove and camped at Peggotty Bluff, from where they trekked to Stromness on the northeast coast. From Grytviken, Shackleton organized a rescue operation to bring home the remaining men.

An iceberg with our ship in the background.

In 1922 he had died unexpectedly from a heart attack at the beginning of another Antarctic expedition. He again returned to Grytviken, but posthumously, his widow chose South Georgia as his final resting place. His grave is located south of Grytviken, alongside those of whalers who had died on the island.

On 27 November 2011, the ashes of Frank Wild, Shackleton’s ‘right-hand man, were interred on the right side of Shackleton’s gravesite. The inscription on the rough-hewn granite block set to mark the spot reads “Frank Wild 1873–1939, Shackleton’s right-hand man.” Wild’s relatives and Shackleton’s only granddaughter, the Hon Alexandra Shackleton, attended a Rev Dr. Richard Hines service, rector of the Falkland Islands.
A whaling boat shipwreck.
The writer Angie Butler discovered the ashes in the vault of Braamfontein Cemetery, Johannesburg, while researching her book The Quest For Frank Wild. She said, “His ashes will now be where they were always supposed to be. It just took them a long time getting there.”

Update on my knee: It’s certainly not 100% yet. I visited the doctor a second time for another round of a different antibiotic and more anti-inflammatory meds. It’s improving, albeit slowly. 

Another sad reminder is that life for wildlife is not easy.

I can’t wait for this to be healed so I can stop thinking about it and, good grief, have a glass of wine! But, I’ve only missed one outing (out of many more), which required a five km walk, and Tom went ahead without me taking amazing photos.

As for today, right now, I’m in the lounge on deck three while Tom is taking a much-needed nap. It’s nearly 3:00 pm. Since we’re at sea today, little is required other than to enjoy our new friends, which is relatively easy to do in this beautiful environment.

The small Lutheran church in Grytviken, South Georgia.

Update on the pending rough seas: The captain made a good decision when we forfeited two planned landings to instead sail directly to Elephant Island, which we should reach sometime tomorrow. The waters are rough, and walking around the ship requires some holding on one another, walls, and railings. 

But, in our usual way, neither of us are seasick, but we suspect that some passengers may be feeling it when I’m only one of about eight passengers in the usually packed deck three lounges.  Due to the weakening Wi-Fi signal, I’m unable to enlarge a number of our photos to the size we always post. 

Whaling oil processing equipment.

Have a great day! And again, no worries if we aren’t here over the next few days. Likely, we won’t have a signal the further south we sail.

     Photo from one year ago today, January 30, 2017:

Wood handled tools for the “barbie” we spotted at an outdoor flea market in Franklin, Tasmania.  For more photos, please click here.

Another outstanding photo for “Sightings from the Veranda”…Holy Moly!…Five days and counting…

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White cows were grazing in a pasture.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Tom Lyman, you never cease to amaze me!  What a shot of the classic “Froot Loops” cereal (per Tom) Toucan, technically known as the Rainbow-billed Toucan, aka the Keel-billed Toucan (different than the Toucan in our previous post with the Fiery-billed Aracari Toucan as shown here) taken in our yard in Atenas, Costa Rica. The veranda never disappoints as we wind down our time in this tropical country.

As Tom listened to his favorite podcast while sitting on the veranda in the late afternoon, “safari luck” prevailed once again as a stunning bird stopped by a distant tree. Tom has a good eye and keen vision with his glasses on, often observing a sighting long before me.

We were both pleased and surprised at how steady he was in taking this ideal shot of the colorful species, different from the Fiery-billed Aracari Toucan he’d captured a few weeks ago.

Here’s some information on this stunning bird from this site:

“Anatomy – Best known for its large bill, the keel-billed toucan is a large and colorful bird with black plumage, a bright yellow throat and cheeks, vibrant red feathers under its tail, and a yellow-green face. Its light green, the banana-shaped bill is splashed with orange and tipped with red and blue and can grow to be a third of the size of the toucan’s 20-inch body. Though cumbersome looking, the bill is relatively light because it is made of protein and supported by hollow bones. The toucan’s vast wings, however, are heavy and make flight laborious.
View over the valley as the clouds roll in.
Habitat – These unique birds are found in tropical and sub-tropical rainforests from southern Mexico to Venezuela and Colombia. The keel-billed toucan is crepuscular, meaning that it is most active during dawn and dusk. It lives in groups of six to twelve birds and rarely flies long distances because of its heavy wings — it is, however, quite agile hopping from branch to branch. The monogamous pairs make their nests in natural or wood-pecker created tree holes, taking turns incubating their eggs.
Diet – Keel-billed toucans feed primarily on fruits and eat insects, lizards, tree frogs, and even eggs. They consume their food by grasping it with their bill and quickly flipping it up into the air, and catching it in their mouths. They swallow their fruit whole and regurgitate the larger seeds while the smaller ones pass through their digestive systems. This method means that toucans play an essential role in reproducing the fruit trees they depend on. These beautiful birds are almost always seen feeding on fruits high up in the canopy; however, they will occasionally fly down to feed on the shrubs or catch a lizard from the undergrowth.
Threats – The species is not currently listed as endangered, but it is threatened by human activity. Habitat loss is a constant menace to the species’ populations. They are sometimes still hunted for their meat and ornamental feathers. At one time, they were prevalent in the pet trade, but it has since been revealed that their poor disposition makes them destructive pets. They’re valuable to Belize — where they are the national bird — bringing tourists who hope to catch a glimpse of their stunning plumage.”
Part of the road heading to downtown Atenas is closed due to the re-paving of the road.

This is the first photo we’ve captured in the wild of this particular Toucan. However, we’d seen several at the rescue facility, Zoo Ave, which we visited early in our stay, posting many photos over these past months.

Spotting this beautiful bird on the villa grounds only added to our exquisite experiences of spending most of our days outdoors in the pool area and lounging on the veranda. At the same time, we chatted, continued our continuing online research, and stayed in touch with family and friends.  It’s genuinely been blissful.

With relatively low taxi fares in town, locals and ex-pats often use taxi services to get around with the high cost of cars and trucks in Costa Rica. Each time we went into town, a 10-minute drive, the round trip taxi fare with a tip has been US $7.05 (CRC 4,000). 
We didn’t get out much in Costa Rica, mainly due to a lack of a rental car (costly here) and high costs for chartered tours at distant locations (we’ve “tightened our belts” for upcoming adventures). 

We arrived in Costa Rica during the rainy season, which also made sightseeing tricky when, at times when roads were washed out, and there were landslides and road closings. However, we’ve easily stayed well engaged and entertained during this past three months, reveling in the lush surroundings and vegetation, an ideal haven for birds and wildlife…equivalent to a rainforest in our yard.
We were surprised to find this vacant lot in town without a “for sale” sign (in Spanish, “en vente”).
As the time approaches for departure in five days, we feel a bit nostalgic. Last night, at dark, we sat on the veranda watching the village’s lights below in the valley and listening to the sounds of music and festivities that seem to permeate the air most nights. 

Now, with the weekend upon us, we’ll hear even more music well into the wee hours of the morning, pleasant Spanish dance music, as the little town of Atenas celebrates life.  We’re humbled and grateful to have been a part of it over this extended period while we anticipate what is yet to come…
Happy day!
              Photo from one year ago today, November 17, 2016:
Carlo, Michelle, friends we made on a prior cruise picked us up at the cruise terminal building in Fremantle, Australia, for a day of sightseeing in Perth and Freemantle. It was a memorable day. For more, please click here.

Wow!…Safari luck as we wind down our time in Costa Rica…Six days and counting…

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The colorful entrance to an art store in Atenas.

“Sightings on the Veranda in Costa Rica”

Once again, Tom’s been able to capture another fabulous bird from the veranda while I was busy indoors making dinner. This Yellow-tailed Oriole, although at quite a distance, was a treasure to behold. More photos will photo with his mate! 

Each afternoon, after we’re done in the pool, usually around 3:00 pm, Tom takes his computer to the veranda to listen to his favorite podcasts. At the same time, I’ll busy myself indoors, preparing dinner, downloading shows on Graboid, working on photos for future posts, or returning email messages.

Eating only one meal a day, by 5:00 pm, we’re ready for dinner, and we both get into a full-on mode to get everything to the dining room table, hot and prepared for an enjoyable meal.

A cafe along the boulevard.

Yesterday, after spending time in the pool’s cool water, which hadn’t heated up by its solar power during the overcast day, we turned on the jacuzzi to let it warm. The air was cool and windy, and the thought of the warmth of the jacuzzi was rather appealing.

Stepping into the warm water of the hot tub was delightful. We stayed for over an hour, chatting endlessly as usual. We hadn’t used the jacuzzi much (this was only the second time) since we arrived over three and a half months ago in an attempt to keep the costs down for the owners. 

Bev and Sam had kindly given us an excellent rental rate for our extended stay. As always, in all vacation homes, we’ve been mindful of our use of the utilities, turning off lights, fans, and appliances when not in use.

Side entrance to Catholic Church in Atenas, Iglesia Catolica Atenas, located in the center of town.

These two-hour afternoon “breaks” from each other are by no means “needed” to be away from each other.  But, somehow, we’ve just gravitated toward this time apart to engage in activities that may not appeal to one another.

While I’m bustling indoors, Tom has the camera close at hand during these periods and has been fortunate to capture several outstanding bird photos, especially over several weeks.

Cafe and bakeshop.

Perhaps it’s the time of day or weather conditions that bring more birds to the grounds than other times of the day.  It’s been the rainy season in the Alajuela Valley over the past months. Each day, we see more birds shortly before the deluge begins each afternoon. 

Yesterday was no exception when Tom called out to me to also take photos of stunning birds resting in the various trees on the grounds, sometimes in flocks or pairs and with many singles on their own.

We squeal with delight when we see less common varieties, often colorful and bespeaking one’s perception of wildlife in Costa Rica. Over the past five years, we’ve become more and more interested in birds, as shown in our many posts. 

Our final walk through Central Park in Atenas.

We’re certainly not birding experts, and at times, we struggle to identify specific species when we can’t readily find information online. Thanks to the assistance of many of our regular readers, we often receive an identification 24-hours after we’ve uploaded a post after mentioning we’re seeking the identity.

Recently, our most avid participants in providing information have been our friends Louise in Kauai, Hawaii, where we spent four months in 2015, and here in Atenas in our neighborhood, Charlie, who’d be also quite a bird enthusiast. Thanks to both of you!

Each week we’ve had the taxi driver drop us off at this location so we can walk through the town on our way to the Supermercado Coopeatenas, the grocery store where we’ve shopped during this past many months.

Throughout the world, we’ve been able to ask our readers for assistance. Invariably, we receive a response, after which we edit the specific post to reflect the name of the bird as opposed to my inquiry in the caption. Thanks to all of our worldwide readers for your assistance.

While we were there for almost a year, from 2013 to 2014, we were so busy observing and photographing large and small creatures. We failed to spend much time on birds. Now, as we contemplate our upcoming stay in Africa in less than three months, we do so with added enthusiasm.

This trip to Africa will be different from our enhanced interest in birds. For us, when no “big game” is handy for observation, birds are an equally fascinating alternative. We commend avid bird watchers for their patience in getting the perfect shot.

A famous pizza shop, Pizza Olivera, is often attended by ex-pats.

With the planned purchase of a new longer-range camera soon, we look forward to enhanced shots of birds and other creatures we find in the wild before the Antarctica cruise.

There will be no shortage of photos for the “Sightings on the Veranda in Costa Rica” we’re wrapping up at the end of our remaining six nights in Atenas. Soon, we’ll be posting our “favorite photos” of Costa Rica, and next Tuesday, we’ll share our final expenses on our last post before heading to Florida for the South America cruise.

Have a blissful day.

Photo from one year ago today, November 16, 2016:

One year ago, our friends Michelle and Carlo, whom we’d met on a prior Australian cruise, picked us up at the port in Perth while we were on another Australian cruise. We had a fabulous day. Michelle and I shopped while Tom went with Carlo to his office nearby. This is CJ (for Carlo Junior), the family’s Char Pei, who took a liking to Tom. For more photos, please click here.

Fiery-billed Aracari…Three gorgeous birds in the yard…The story continues…

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“I’ve got mine!”
“Sighting from the Veranda in Costa Rica”
Sadly, another bird hit the glass wall and failed to recover.
“The Fiery-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus frantzii) is a species of toucan that is found on the Pacific slopes of southern Costa Rica and western Panama. Its binomial name commemorates the German naturalist Alexander von Frantzius. Its habitat is lowland forests and clearings.

The Fiery-billed Aracari has bright markings and a large bill, like other toucans. The adult is about 17 inches long and weighs 8.8 ounces. The sexes are similar in appearance. The head and chest are black and the upper parts are dark olive-green. The rump and under tail are reddish. The collar on the rear of the neck is also reddish. The underparts are bright yellow.

There is a round black spot in the center of the breast and a red band appears across the belly. The thighs are chestnut colored. There is bare black facial skin. The upper mandible of the bill is bright orange. The lower mandible is black. The legs are green. The young are duller in color, with a dirty-black head and brown-green upper parts. The breast spot and belly band are unnoticeable in juveniles. The call is a loud, sharp peek or keeseek.

This species is mostly a fruit-eater, but will also eat insects, lizards, bird eggs, and other small prey. They are seen in small flocks of up to 10 birds. They have a rapid and direct flight pattern. They nest 20 – 100 feet high in a tree. The female lays two white eggs that are incubated for 16 days by both parents. 

The chicks are blind and naked when hatched. Both parents feed the young, which leave the nest after about 6 weeks. The adults feed the young chicks for another several week after they leave the nest. The Aracaris roost socially throughout the year, which is unusual among toucans.”

After groundskeeper, Ulysses alerted us to the sighting, we were thrilled to see three of these outstanding birds on the grounds of the villa while standing on the driveway. The fallen trees from Hurricane Nate were being removed by local workers opening up an area where the birds were able to be seen eating fruit from the remaining trees. See our post on that date here.

Unfortunately, our photos weren’t as clear as the above main photo with our less-than-professional camera and our long distance from the birds.

In the previous post about this sighting, we failed to mention much about these stunning birds due to writing about the storm and the effect on the property after the high winds and pounding rains lasting for days.

Also, we had today’s photos of the Fiery-billed Aracari we’d yet to post and in reviewing our remaining photos to get us through the next 13 days until we depart (two of which will be spent re-posting some of our favorite Costa Rica photos), we decided today was the perfect day to post these photos and description from this site so kindly sent to us by our friend Louise in Kauai, Hawaii.

Louise has been an avid supporter of identifying birds and vegetation when we’ve often been unable to find answers online. Often, we have a less-than-ideal Internet connection which makes research cumbersome and time-consuming. 

“I can’t find one!  What’s the deal?”

Thanks to Louise and many other friends and readers, we’ve been able to update a prior post with the new information properly identifying the animal, bird, plant, flower, or a tree.

As much as we’d like to be able to spend hours in research identifying photos of interesting creatures and vegetation, the fact that we post 365 days a year spent as much as the entire morning in preparation, by the time we get done, we’re ready for a break, especially when we’ll be spending the rest of the day searching for additional photo ops and story content.

No, we’re not tired or bored with posting daily nor do we expect we’ll ever be in such a position. In fact, as we look forward to our next adventures, our interest in posting escalates to an indescribable level, especially when we’re easily able to take photos of a plethora of outstanding sightings in nature. 

“I’d better not drop this!”

With the massive cash outlays we’ve faced while here in Costa Rica, as mentioned many times in past posts, we’ve really had to “tighten our belts” and not spend money on rental cars and tours. We’ve gone over our budget in a few categories.

Surprisingly, groceries have been high for us in Costa Rica. We’ve spent around US $1,000 (CRC 569,713) per month, especially when we only eat one meal a day, don’t snack, or purchase any type of bottled beverages or alcohol. (We’ll be sharing our total expenses for Costa Rica on our final day’s post on November 22nd). 

“Finally, I’ve got one!”

Today, I’ll begin working on our clothing, to be packed before too long, all of which need a wash and dry due to the high humidity.  They actually feel damp and dusty after hanging in the closet for over three months. The end result may require I do some ironing for the first time in so long I can’t recall. I don’t like to iron, but then, who does?

May your day find you engaged in projects you hopefully enjoy!

Photo from one year ago today, November 9, 2016:

A small rescue boat anchored to the side of the ship. For more photos, please click here.

Coincidental dates…Last night’s weird event on the veranda…Small things…

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Last night’s video illustrates how bats are consuming all the
sugar water in the hummingbird feeder at night.

“Sightings on the Veranda in Costa Rica”

This style of feeder attracts more hummingbirds than the new style we purchased.
This morning Tom mentioned coincidental facts about our upcoming travels that made me laugh.  Here they are about today’s date of October 23, 2017:
  • One month from today, on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2017, we’ll board Celebrity Infinity in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a 30-night cruise.
  • Two months from today, on December 23, 2017, on Tom’s 65th birthday, we disembark the ship in Buenos Aires Argentina.
  • Three months from today, on January 23, 2018, we fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina, to board Ponant Le Soleil for the expedition cruise to Antarctica for 17 days.

This is odd, isn’t it? We certainly didn’t plan for these dates to coincide on the 23rd of any given month. It’s purely a coincidence.

Now, on to our “small things story” occurring last night on the veranda but having begun several weeks ago.

When we rented this lovely property beginning on August 1, 2017, we noticed a hummingbird feeder hanging from a hook on the veranda after settling in for a few days. Of course, with no syrup contained therein, no hummingbirds stop by for a sip.

After a week or so of noticing this, we decided to give it a try. In our old lives, we had the typical red hummingbird feeder filling it from time to time with homemade syrup (1 cup white sugar to 4 cups plain water, cooked or well mixed to dissolve the sugar) during the short summer months in Minnesota.

As the sun went down, the hummingbirds continued to feed on the sugary syrup.  After dark, it was an entirely different story.

We rarely saw any hummingbirds sipping the sugary syrup and didn’t give the feeder much of a thought. Living on a lake in Minnesota, we busied ourselves observing many other types of wildlife:  bald eagles, wild turkeys, beavers, geese, loons, coyotes, owls, foxes, and many other types of birds and wildlife. 

At the time, we weren’t interested in taking the time for photos.  Our lives were full, leaving us constantly busy keeping up with daily life; work, home upkeep, family, and friends. We didn’t have time to wait for wildlife to appear magically. When there was a sighting, it was merely the result of being in the right place at the right time. 

We were thrilled to see or hear any wildlife, including the neighborhood’s albino squirrel, the raccoon climbing the tree, the wood duck tossing her chicks to the ground from the wood duck house high in a tree, and the loon’s heartwarming fluttery call.

As we’ve traveled the world with plenty of time on our hands, we can easily spend hours searching and reveling in the treasures Mother Nature has to offer wherever we may go.  Here in Costa Rica, as we’ve mentioned in previous posts, we’ve been enthralled with various birds. This vegetation-rich country has to offer, which is without a doubt a haven for our aviary friends. 

Certainly no birding experts by any means, we’re easily able to find great pleasure in spotting and hopefully identifying birds as we see them taking photos when we can.  

Sadly, many we’ve actually seen have moved so quickly we haven’t been able to take that treasured photo. We’d have to have the camera close at hand every moment of every day and, although generally, it’s at our side, it takes a moment to turn it on and focus on a photo when the sighting is long gone. It’s the way it is.

It took several hours for the hummingbirds to flock to this new style of feeder.

Back to the hummingbird feeder… Once we made the first batch of syrup, we were hooked.  All-day, as we sat outside on the veranda, the hummingbirds came poking their sharp little beaks into the four tiny holes from which they could extract a sip. Some were so ambitious they make partake as many as a dozen times during one visit.

On a few occasions, we accidentally left the feeder outside at night only to find it was empty in the morning regardless of how much it contained at the end of the prior day. Did the hummingbirds flock to the feeder at night, taking every last sip?

Then, a few weeks ago, the feeder starting leaking. The liquid was dripping, attracting ants and bees to the area. We tried everything to create a tight seal, but alas, it was worn out from all the activity.  

When in town to shop, we walked throughout Atenas, trying to find another feeder to no avail. While grocery shopping, I found what appeared to be a birdseed feeder and purchased it for US $1.75 (CRC 1,000). If it didn’t work, we wouldn’t be out much.

A few days ago, we made a fresh batch of syrup, loaded the new feeder, and placed it in the same spot as the former feeder. The hummingbirds didn’t seem interested for several hours, but finally, they were sipping from this different style of feeder.

Then, it happened again…we left the feeder out one night to find it empty in the morning. How does this happen?  A four-cup batch of syrup usually lasts for three or four days.

Last night in the dark, we set up the camera on the tripod, waiting to see what would transpire.  Did hundreds of hummingbirds come to guzzle the entire batch?  As we watched, we were shocked by what we witnessed. It was bats.

This explains today’s video we took while we sat outside on the veranda in the dark, the bats paying no attention to our presence. As frequently as they sipped, it was easy to see how they’d consume the entire container in one night.

In years passed, I was terrified of bats. Not so much anymore. Many of my fears have long disappeared since the onset of our travels. Bats are everywhere, and besides, they eat mozzies that love to feast on me.

Recently, while dining in the formal dining room each evening, we’ve noticed hundreds of bats in the yard at night. Little did we connect the disappearance of the syrup in the hummingbird feeder with the bats. We learned our lesson to bring the feeder indoors each evening, leaving it in the kitchen sink after rinsing the exterior with water to ensure we don’t get ants in the sink overnight. So far, so good.

Here again, an example of how the “small things” occurring in our lives of travel finds us intrigued and fascinated with the miracles of nature. We hope our readers enjoy our small experiences as well as those of a more significant variety.

May your day find you enthralled with small things, whatever they may be. Please feel free to comment at the end of this post to share some of your “small things” experiences!

Photo from one year ago today, October 23, 2016:

In Bali, nature at its finest on the edge of the infinity pool.  We spent hours watching this praying mantis. For more favorite Bali photos as we prepared to depart, plus the final expenses, please click here.

A special story about a precious little life…”Small Things”…

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This is the video we took yesterday when a little Flycatcher hit the glass wall, was knocked unconscientious, and made every attempt to recover. This video is 16 minutes and 42 seconds, so you may want to scroll through it to see the best parts.

“Sightings from the Veranda in Costa Rica

Many times, the simplest acts of nature astounds us.

While we lived in the bush in South Africa, we did a series of stories on “Small Things,” adding additional stories with new photos as time passed. This topic could be relevant anywhere globally but seems to be of most interest to us when wildlife and vegetation are abundant.

Check out our first story from December 2013 about “Small Things…A world of small wildlife and vegetation for some fantastic photos of small things we discovered while living in Marloth Park game reserve.

In less than four months, when we return to South Africa, instead of our current feature, “Sightings from the Veranda…” we’ll create a new feature, entitled “Small Things…” since Africa is abundant in fascinating small creatures and miracles of nature.

It would be a moot point to include “Sightings from the Veranda…” when many of the photos we’ll post while in South Africa will be taken directly from the veranda when we aren’t out on safari or visiting other countries for additional exotic exploration.

Here in Costa Rica, from our high vantage point, the likelihood of small things has been limited. Instead, we’ve focused on those sightings we gleaned while spending the majority of our days outside on the veranda or near or in the pool on sunny days.

There are many varieties of the Flycatcher. This little bird flew into the glass wall, was knocked unconscious, standing in this position for some time as it tried to recover.

Yesterday was such a day. Earlier in the day, we walked through the town of Atenas, stopping for photos and a bit of shopping along the way, with images we’ll share in tomorrow’s post. 

When we returned to the villa, we quickly put away the groceries. With the sun miraculously still shining at 1:30 pm and with both of us hot from walking in the hot sun, we decided to get directly into the pool, sidestepping any time in the chaise lounges.

The pool water was warmer than ever. There had been three or four partial days of sunshine, leaving the water almost too warm since the pool is already heated. 

One might think it not necessary to heat a pool here during this time of year. But, it gets very cool at night and during the many hours of rain and clouds occurring most afternoons. After a loss of power due to the recent storms, we could hardly stand to stay in the water for more than a few minutes when it was so cold.

Yesterday, when we entered the pool feeling the ultra-warm water surrounding us, we figured we’d stay for some time, swimming, talking, and laughing over the trivialities of our day. No more than 10 minutes after we entered the pool, we heard a ‘thump” against the glass wall in the living room.

A tiny green bird had hit the glass and was knocked unconscious onto the tile floor next to the pool only a few feet from us. As we moved closer, watching intently, it started to move into an upright position after a few minutes.

Their eyes opened and closed periodically while attempting to recover.

Tom jumped out of the pool, grabbing the beach towel to grab the camera from the kitchen counter. Drying my hands on his towel while still in the collection, I positioned the camera to take a few photos and, moments later, a video. 

What if this precious little bird fully came back to life and flew away, and we’d have it all on video? This may not sound like much of an event to most people. But to us, with our passion for even the tiniest of creatures, our hearts were pounding, hoping for its recovery and the opportunity to film the entire event.

Thus, was born the most extended video we’ve ever taken, 16 minutes and 42 seconds. We don’t expect our readers to watch the entire video. There are moments when nothing is happening.  However, other moments that those who love nature and particularly birds will find sweet and heartwarming.  Feel free to scroll through the video for some favorite scenes.

Last night, we played the video with the HDMI cord plugged into the TV, watching every moment with sheer delight. Bear with us, dear readers. It’s these types of “small things” that make our lives of world travel all the more meaningful.

May your day bring you a “small things” treasure to enjoy!

Photo from one year ago today, October 17, 2016:

In Bali, we worried this package was lost. Finally, it appeared after many weeks when shipped three-day international priority. This is a common occurrence for international shipping.  For more details, please click here.