Yep, believe it or not, it's true. The best way to hold a monkey is by the tail. I visited a wildlife rescue center in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica. They take in abandoned, sick, and injured wildlife, then rehabilitate them and release them back into the wild. It's a pretty amazing place. Part of the tour had us in a large enclosed area with about 25 tiny baby monkeys. These monkeys are very playful, and crawled all over us. Apparently they need this type of contact and play, to help them rehabilitate. Most have been abandoned. Well, some of these babies are only about a foot long, and love to swing around. Part of the instruction was to hold them by their prehensile tail. One side of the tail is grippy, like rubber, to hang on to branches (or people's arms). It's their strongest appendage by far.
They also had little baby Sloths. One was only 10 inches in diameter, and looked just like a little teddy bear. They're pretty cute, but a bit boring. They really just hang around with a permanent smile. Not much action. But Sloths have been around for about 3.5 million years, which is a lot longer than humans. That lazy lifestyle just hanging around must be the key.
On the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, I rented a bike for 4 days in Puerto Viejo and rode to some really beautiful beaches, and through a rain-forest park. Also did some hiking in Cahuita Park which I loved.
Arrived today in Bocas-del-Toro, Panama. It rained today, but just the tropical kind that come down in a torrential downpour for 30 minutes, then the sun comes out again. Looks like the downpours are forecast to continue for the next few days.
Yesterday, I booked a return flight from Panama City, so it looks like this trip is coming to an end. Should be back in Calgary on Feb. 24, and hope to get out and do some skiing before the season is over.
Cheers,
Dave
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