Video Games Live!

At the end of last February (a long time ago!), Carlos and I went to a Video Games Live Concert -- it was so fun! Video Games Live is basically a symphony that plays music from video games. It is quite the show with a lot of fun things appearing on screens or dancers and audience participation -- I had such a great time and we also had awesome seats in a box right above the stage.

The venue (Strathmore Theater) was also beautiful and very comfortable. If this show is ever playing near me again, I will definitely go see it (I love video game soundtracks)!

Costa Rica -- La Selva towers

Well, this is FINALLY my last post from Carlos' and my previous Costa Rica trip (over a month ago at this point - wargh!). These are pictures that Carlos and I took from the tall towers that were recently erected in the primary forest at La Selva (recently = about 2 years ago...). There are three towers total and two of them are connected by a little bridge. I am not afraid of heights, but being up so high when the wind begins to blow was a little frightening -- these towers definitely sway in the wind (and make a little whistling sound as the wind blows through the metal pipes).

We had a great time enjoying the view of the canopy (a sight I never get to see when I am running around the understory chasing agoutis and peccaries). We even saw a turkey vulture (from above!) as he was flying around us.

And so ends this batch of Costa Rica pictures. I am actually leaving for Costa Rica again (short 10-day trip this time) in a few days. I will be in La Selva for 5 days at a science education workshop and after that, Deedra (director of La Selva) and I will be traveling to a few sites around the country to prepare for our tropical biology course in June/July. I just can't seem to stay away from Costa Rica for too long!

Costa Rica -- Pacas!

As members of the "Save the Paca Foundation," Carlos and I visited a paca (Cuniculus paca) breeding center during our visit to La Fortuna. We were very fortunate to even be allowed inside the enclosure with the pacas (because we are biologists) and to interact with them.

Pacas are very wary by nature because they are delicious and basically eaten by everything (snakes, jaguars, humans). The pacas here were pretty cautious, but could be petted briefly and fed bananas. They have VERY sharp teeth so we were careful when feeding them. Pacas also have large, rough bony structures on their cheeks that amplify sound and make them sound very intimidating when they growl (like a bear or a lion!).

We had a great time playing with the pacas -- the baby was especially curious! I even took some videos: