Suspension Bridges and Frogs

It seems like all anyone talks about here in Costa Rica are the ziplines.  Especially here in Monteverde, one of the first questions out of another traveler's mouth is "Have you been on the ziplines?"

I am not particularly interested in the ziplines.  I thought about it and watched a youtube video of someone doing it, but in the end, I think I would be too scared to enjoy it.  Or even if I did enjoy the actual experience, the anxiety and stress leading up to it would negate the enjoyment.

So instead, this morning I got on the Selvetura shuttle bus at my hostel and road to the park where I walked a 2 mile course that included 8 suspension bridges, the highest at over 500 feet.

Suspension Bridge.  I believe this was the first of the eight.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), it sprinkled and rained off and on throughout my walk.  I saw almost no wildlife.  The park was quiet as well (ordinarily these forests and jungles seem to be teeming with bird calls and monkey howls and insect chirping).

The only wildlife I saw other than a couple of hummingbirds.

I was actually looking for frogs - I was hoping to see some since it had been raining, but no such luck.  I did enjoy some nice views and the bridges were kind of cool as well.  I managed to slowpoke enough that I was able to have the path to myself for much of the course.

I realize I look so completely dumpy, but I am wearing a 1 pound
money belt underneath my clothes and my handbag is underneath
my rain jacket, which explains all the lumps.

It was alright, but I wouldn't do it again, and I think $20 is a bit much to walk across a few bridges.  Maybe I would feel differently had I seen more wildlife.  I don't know.

Since I didn't see the frogs I wanted to see this morning, I went to the Ranario (frog pond) this afternoon. For $10, I had my own guide and I get to go back for a 2nd visit (some frogs are active during the day and others at night, so if you go twice, you can see all the frogs active).

The "famous frog" as the tour guide called it - the red eyed
tree frog on all the posters and t-shirts.

And now it's time to sleep.  Tomorrow will be a big day.  I'm going to the Santa Elena Cloud Forest in the morning.