Some back-country roads in Costa Rica are cut out of mountainsides, and are often slippery, with high centers, deep ruts and often mudd puddles. One must get out and wade in to determine just how deep a mudhole is, and which is the best way to go to have a chance of getting through. In climbs or descents, going too slowly may get you stuck, while moving too fast may cause your jeep to slither over the edge of a drop-off. In my youth I went down many a dangerous road in quest of frogs. Back then there were no cellphones. If I got stuck I'd have to find a farmer with oxen to pull me out. But what adventure!

wvgal: Your photo pf the moon and two horses is just incredible. I can't imagine how you did it, but certainly you have created a work of art! --Ed G.

Very nice. I've never seen an owl that close (even with telephoto). The eyes seem to be partially open. Do you think the owl was asleep?

Without the asteroid it seems reasonable to imagine that vertebrate life on earth would be dominated by reptiles. Birds would probably constitute a prominent part of earth's vertebrate fauna, as would teleost fishes (bony skeleton, e.g. trout, minnows), and cartilagenous fishes (skeleton of cartilage, e.g. sharks, rays). There would be, as today, a major invertebrate fauna, and bacteria would be the dominant life forms. Mammals would probably exist, but they and amphibians would have little chance of developing into large animals. We would be small, furry, endothermal animals, venturing out mostly at night. We would sit together in the moonlight, chewing on a roach.

Without the asteroid it seems reasonable to imagine that vertebrate life on earth would be dominated by reptiles. Birds would probably constitute a prominent part of earth's vertebrate fauna, as would teleost fishes (bony skeleton, e.g. trout, minnows), and cartilagenous fishes (skeleton of cartilage, e.g. sharks, rays). There would be, as today, a major invertebrate fauna, and bacteria would be the dominant life forms.

I did extensive work in Costa Rica in the late 1960s and early '70s as a graduate student in biology. Small country hotels cost me $6 a night or less, yet were comfortable and safe; food was very good and cheap. In San Jose and a few other larger places costs were higher, but nothing like you say they are now. Even the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, where President Kennedy stayed was just $15! The people were wonderful, and I trust they are still. The last time I was there was 1985, by which time prices were on the rise. I suspect the price increases aren't caused by ordinary people. Sad.

I did extensive work in Costa Rica in the late 1960s and early '70s as a graduate student in biology. Small country hotels cost me $6 a night or less, yet were comfortable and safe; food was very good and cheap. In San Jose and a few other larger places costs were higher, but nothing like you say they are now. Even the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, where President Kennedy stayed was just $15! The people were wonderful, and I trust they are still. The last time I was there was 1985, by which time prices were on the rise. I suspect the price increases aren't caused by ordinary people. Sad.

Having even one grandchild is a blessing, like being given a chance to do better. Congratulations.

Beautiful shots; and thanks for letting us know how you accomplished them. Your patience and perseverance surely paid off.

To Bmarsh---Thanks for the doubtless good advice. I've tried---over and over, but without success. Clearly, I was never meant to use a computer. "Lost, lost, and by the wind grieved......." ED

Amazon won't have anything to do with me. They say my password is invalid, but it is not. As far as I can tell, there is no way of contacting them about that, by telephone, email or good old U.S. Postal Service..

The accounts of Oymyakon and Yakutsk, both in far northern Russia, ask why "anyone would want to live" in such places. It occurs to me that perhaps nobody wants to live there. They have to stay because selling a house in such a place would seem next to impossible, and in some cases that's where their jobs are. As for me, when the temperature gets below about +70-degrees F, I put on a coat!

Beautiful shot, greymule.

Lovely photos, Katy. I think the mosquitoes add; and after all, the poor little devils have to eat. ---Ed

That is a really fine portrait. He doesn't look angry to me. Did you ask him first?