The First Rule of Anywhere is, of course, to sit still. And that's what I'm doing in that hammock in the picture. I've just had my lunch delivered to me and watched a horse go for a drink in the lake. Then, I witnessed a fight between a squirrel and a blue-tailed magpie (urraca) for the scraps of my sandwich. The magpie won the territorial fight, the squirrel retreating at pace, but it's still a bit uncertain about how close the bread is to the hammock. More news as the situation develops.

Last night was red-eyed frog mating night. It was a right racket down on the beach. First thoughts were of the alleyways after chucking out time at a Costa Disco, but closer inspection revealed that mating pairs generally had a loud male accompanying them, presumably in the hope of a chance should the amorous couple break it off mid-thrust. Or maybe he was a voyeur. In which case the scene was more reminiscent of a car park outside Stoke. It seemed appropriate to nickname the gooseberry 'Stan'.

I was in the company of a very nice chap, Raj, from south of the river*. And it is he, and his Danish and French mates, that have reminded me that there are plenty of young people roaming the continent for whom the be all and end all is not getting bladdered with other gringos in 'rocking' hostels. Interested in what goes on around them, keen to learn the language whilst actually spending money that benefits the local economy (as well as suitably absurd senses of humour) meant I could be much better disposed to my fellow humans. Plus we got bladdered - well sort of.

This meant I wasted half a day of motorcycling. Que sera sera, as Doris might say. To her cats.

Wildlife update: the magpie is just a bit chicken. The ants are winning, frankly. Didn't see that coming. Later: the dogs came in on the blindside. Game over.

Useful and good.

In further wildlife news - the great egrets are thoroughly regal (regal egrets?) and the frogs have notched it up a bit.

In diplomatic news, it appears I'm to be in San Jose (do you know the way? - yes, I know it's the other one) at the same time as Barack Obama. Obviously, I'm used to meeting presidents on my Latin American journeys, but that would be a winner, no?

*Thames