Final Blog: Savegre, Lauraceas Lodge

 The final destination, Savegre, has been, always, an extremely rewarding and beautiful place.  My first choice of all destinations, from the first trip until this one, has been the mountains of Costa Rica, which seem to me to be my natural element.  I am fond of beaches, I love almost all landscapes, but from the time I started to grow up in Western North Carolina, and experienced trails, waterfalls, wildflowers, all that the mountains can show you, all gave me a sense of great wonder, awe, reverence for mountains. 

So Savegre, at 6000' or so, is now a part of who I am.  

And it is with a bit of sadness that I do this last blog, because it may be, in fact, my last connection with Costa Rica.  I can't see myself returning in the future, because my time left has to be with family and especially Susan, who has always supported my traveling, but finds it more and more difficult to go through all it takes to travel a long distance.

And, let's face it, there are a helluvalotta birds in New England I haven't seen, so I still have those to look forward to! (I really, really need a great photo of a Nelson's Sparrow!)(Never mind the Le Conte!)

Here it is, and I hope it shows you the fondness I have for the place. 

My cabin at Lauraceas Lodge.  I had always stayed at Savegre Inn, but Gray and I opted for Lauraceas
and it was a very good choice.  One of the nicest rooms I have stayed in anywhere. 

On our first evening, a Torent Tyrannulet posed for me on a sunlit rock.

The restaurant at the lodge.  Excellent!

Out at 5:30 AM, looking for the required bird of the area, the Resplendent Quetzal.  The area has become a destination for birders from all over the world. 
Here is Gray, the famous Marino, and Neal.

Just down the road from us!

And here he is.  Audubon thought him the most beautiful bird in the world. 
(Confessions, this is not from this trip but from an earlier one;  I did not have a blog-worthy shot)

"Don't worry, we'll find him!"

Black-capped Flycatcher

A Wilson's Warber (finally, a decent photo!)
Probably headed North

Hoffman's Woodpecker

Dark Pewee

A bird becoming rare, the Golden-winged Warbler, again travelling through.

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper

"Where the %$%#$%^& is he?!"

Tufted Flycatcher

Slaty Flower-piercer

Lunch at Lauraceas Lodge

Collared Redstart

Breakfast at Lauraceas

At Anna de Arbol, one of the finest restaurants in Costa Rica

Marino charming everybody.  

And our last afternoon at Savegre, spent at Batsu Gardens, a wonderful area set up 
just for bird photography.  Time to relax, sit in a comfortable chair, and have birds come and pose
for you.  

Flame-colored Tanager

Tennessee Warbler

Gray on the trail above the gardens

Bay-headed Tanager

Black-capped Flycatcher

Acorn Woodpecker

Green-crowned Brilliant

And my favorite of favorites, the Volcano Hummingbird. Barely bigger than a bee, 
and completely fearless.  He was less than yard away, showing no stress at all. 

Last morning in Savegre, a quick visit to the gardens at Savegre Lodge

And, appropriately, (I saw one every visit), the White-throated Mountain Gem, female

On the way back to San Jose.
I believe this Turrialba Volcano

A lunch break with an incredible view.  Neal had become quite sick on his last day of hiking with 
altitude sickness and slept a great deal of the trip.  He rallied at lunch, but it really hit him hard. 

Back at Bougainvillea, and a waiter who remembered me from past trips.

A sad morning, Neal sick in bed, Sally and Gray at breakfast.  It was hard not to have 
a chance for one last good meal together, and I particularly missed saying goodby to Juan Carlos,
our superb driver and guide. 

And one final morning look into Bougainvillea's gardens
Will I ever see them again?

Again, the trip's overwhelming success and rewards were due so much to Sally's planning, attention
to detail (private guides!!), and Sonia Nunez' coming through in every case. 
And what a treasure to have spent the two weeks with three of the most charming, 
erudite, and warmly inviting companions one could hope for. 
I will never forget it.