Every morning I wake up, brush my teeth, slip into something gauzy, and walk downstairs.
Even though all the doors are closed and the air conditioning is blasting something fierce, you can still hear the cacophony of insects and birds clamoring to be heard from their tree podiums. I've always been unnerved by complete silence so this tropical symphony rocks me into a gentle state of constant calm.
I pour Costa Rican coffee which is slightly sour but enters my bloodstream at breakneck speed and sip it until my body is humming. I crack and cook eggs which are carrot orange and slip them on top of pillowy pieces of buttered toast. Once fed, I pull open the sliding door and feel the thick, rich, perfumed air seep in.
Our view overlooks a cove where even from our perch on top of a hill, we can still hear the waves roar as they smash into the sand. Once in a while, Squirrel Monkeys or Capuchin Monkeys will jump onto our balcony from the surrounding palm trees and we reward them with a banana or two for their inquisitive nature and cartoonish pratfalls. Lizards are everywhere but you don't realize it until you walk in their direction and they scurry away like little children caught eavesdropping. One of our guides once told us, "You have no idea how many eyes are watching you from the jungle". You get the sense that this is true and wonder how many silent witnesses are watching you from amongst the palm fronds.
