On Saturday, we went on two different excursions, both from the ever exciting ville of Manzanillo. First, at six thirty, AM(!!!!!) we went kayaking in the Gondoca lagoon, just north of the Panamanian border. It was truly beautiful! We saw kingfishers, herons, white-faced monkeys and spider monkeys, and heard lots and lots of howler monkeys. The lagoon was peaceful, and so serene. The only problem was that we were REALLY tired.

You see, I had a little alarm malfunction. I had set the alarm for 5:45, when we wanted it, but I had accidentally set the CLOCK an hour early. So, you can see where this is going. We woke up at 4:45, got to the meeting point, we saddened when the guide didn´t show, and then had a moment of realization, when, looking at my watch, I realized that it was only 6:00, RIGHT THEN!!! This has led to innumerable comments by Joyce as to my time-telling abilities, not that she needs any more reason to poke fun at me. I have, after all, already misplaced almost 3,000 Colones (that´s about six bucks.).

Anyhow, later in the day, after showering, eating lunch, and taking a five minute nap, we went on the BUMPIEST ride ever, finally arriving at the canopy tour. Now, lest you think that this is some laid back walk across bridges, let me set you straight. We zip lined across large expanses of forest, and hiked up hills to get to higher points from which to zip line. At first, I was sure that we were both going to die. I mean, at least it´s an exciting way to go (couple die in tragic zip lining accident. Howler monkeys wail remorsefully over their corpses.) But, after doing the first zip, we both thought that it was just REALLY awesome. The vistas were amazing; huge expanses of unbroken forest, with green plants and white mist everywhere.

The comic relief came in the form of my scaring some unsuspecting cows half to death. They were grazing, unaware that at any moment I was going to fly over them (which didn´t bother them), and then turn upside-down (now, THAT freaked them out). There was a mini-stampede, but don´t worry, no sloths were injured in the process. BTW, Joyce saw a sloth, and hasn´t been able to stop talking about it. I think she´s reconsidering her vows…