We were up at 0445 having a cup of coffee in the room and were down at reception all booted and suited for the very cool (but dry) mountain air by 0520am for the Quetzal quest. We set off as planned at 0530 and headed in the bus up the valley to a local farm where an enterprising farmer lets bird watchers onto his land to watch the quetzals for $5 each ( payable only if you see them - which is fair). We walked up to a wild avocado tree with lots of small green...

We lay in bed listening to a very vocal buff rumped warbler leading the dawn chorus - I saw it on the bush outside our cabin door but it flew before I could get my camera out. Today I got up extra early, at 0530, as it was a travelling day and our bags had to be at the bus by 0630 - I thought this would give me ample time for my swim -but imagine my surprise when I got to the pool and it was empty - no water --zilch, zippo, nil----they clean the pool every 6-8 ...