Midterm at Cuerici

It’s 11:27 PM at Cuerici, a little farm-lodge setup up in the Cloud Mountains. There is no internet connection here so by the time of this posting I will already be in Palo Verde. But before that, let me just say, I love it here. Rainforests have a wild, lush feeling to them, but mountains have this ruggedness that is just indomitable. Our cabin is very rustic and quaint, and the entire area is like something out of a fairytale.

There is a white horse here named Neblina (‘Fog’ in Spanish) and there is also Carlos, property owner and mountain man extraordinaire who also happens to walk around with a machete at his waist. Too cool.

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Actually, we came to Cuerici to take a midterm exam. Let’s not dwell too long on that subject (alright, it was pretty challenging, not in the best way). It’s over now though and after this night of chimney fire and storytelling, we are ready to head to our fourth site: Palo Verde. Throughout the trip our professors have been ‘warning’ us about the clouds of mosquitoes, the sweltering heat, and all that good stuff. It will certainly be a drastic change from the cool mountains.


I’ll leave it at that, and add to this post at Palo Verde before I post it. It’s already been a week and a half… can you believe it?


Palo Verde. A Coati welcomed us as we walked out of the bus while dragonflies (our protectors) darted every which way scooping up mosquitoes. As the day progressed, and we only arrived at around 4-5 PM… we saw egrets, whistling ducks, a ctenosaur, snakes, a raccoon, many moths, beetles, and spiders. And of course, mosquitoes. Up till now I haven’t touched any repellent and I was already eaten up as it was before Palo Verde. Even on tonight’s night hike, I refused to use any and I cut my nails short so that I wouldn’t scratch. It was rough though, and I am told that it is worse in the morning, when they occur in mobs. That and the humidity + heat of day is enough to drive me mad. Recommendation for not being bitten is to wear two long sleeve shirts.


So I give; pass the Deet. As much as I would have liked to say ‘I didn’t use any repellent throughout this trip,’ I would like more to enjoy the spring of diversity that is Palo Verde and not have to slap my arm every ten seconds, or suffer a heat stroke. Our professor has a point though, that we’re leaving our DNA with these mosquitoes and passing it through the chains of life. I have to appreciate this onslaught of bugs that drives this whole system and makes possible the birds, reptiles, and every other creature I saw today and will see over the next five days.


I miss the mountains. But there is a lot to be learned here as well.