Monkey Business, As Usual

July 7^th

Day four. Still, no sign of rescue. We helplessly wait in the sun looking to the horizon. It feels as if we have been abandoned on this 75% water locked island for nearly half a week. Drinkable water is scarce in the ocean. We’re lucky to find pools of them collected near our belongings in little bottles. This day has been a long one…

We drug ourselves from our air-conditioned cave at the crack of noon. Walking nearly 125 or maybe even 150 steps to the place we commonly find something edible. Granola with yogurt and some mixed fruit. Callie hunted it down with her weapon of choice: American Express. We eat it all, not saving anything for the other creatures lurking in our midst. We sign the bill and head to the ocean, keeping a keen eye for a passing ship or a plane. Anything.

We wandered down the coastline for what seemed like an hour but was most likely 15 minutes. Either way, it felt like a while and we were getting hot. “Look!” exclaimed Greg pointing to the crashing waves. “We can cool our bodies in the ocean!” It seemed liked the right thing to do at the time. “Be sure not to drink it, again,” said Callie, as a look of idiotic fondness passed over Greg’s face. “Fine.”

The quick dip in the ocean was very refreshing. It cooled the bodies to an extent. But also left them very tired from the efforts to stay afloat. Leaving the ocean, covered in sand and salty water, we tried to find a place in the shade to take refuge, but fell just short. We passed out in the blazing sun right on top of a couple towels. None of the natives came to our rescue to help us. So there we lay. Burning our skin in the Costa Rican sun.

But all hope was not lost. We soon came to, dizzy and disoriented the pictures we took through the cameras looked. It was hard to see the digital screen from the glare of the hot sun. We got to our feet and headed back to our place of solitude. Once again in search for the water collections we have grown to rely on.

Returning to our common grounds, we were unexpectedly separated. Callie had fallen once again by a fresher water source that had a slight smell of chlorine. Greg was on a mission. A mission to remember, so that others who followed in their footsteps would know what to expect in these surroundings. Round and round Greg walked collecting valuable information. Watching, recording, watching, narrating a little, he completely covered the grounds and felt satisfied. What he had done, would undoubtedly be used by others in the future.

Callie screamed in the distance so Greg returned quickly to her. There, an iguana beast stood above her fallen body. Its tongue lashing in and out. Greg frightened it away by the mere pitter patter of his footsteps. Soon after the near death experience, they noticed something else suspicious in the air. It was as if we were being watched. “There!” Greg yelled pointing to the trees. Monkeys were everywhere. Lazily watching us with their half sleeping hands pointing at us. Maybe they were pointing at the ground. Not sure. But it was intense. A whole family of monkeys wanting to eat (with) us.

Hunger came upon Greg and Callie’s “frail” bodies. Following a common path used before, they came upon the smoothie operator, Callie armed again with her weapon of choice. Success! Callie’s weapon had no match! The sweet taste of tropical fruits blended with homemade yogurt on ice was enough to keep us barely alive. Leaving the food area, heading back to our air-conditioned cave we were stopped in our tracks again. The monkeys returned to finish the job they may or may not have started earlier. A dozen monkeys surrounded the cave. Eating wild fruits and sleeping the savage beasts did.

Slowly we eased our way into the cave and took a comfy nap. Hopefully when we wake, we will be safe from the monkeys, hopefully. Sure enough, when we awoke, the monkeys were not to be seen. But hunger had returned. Crawling on our feet back to the hunting grounds, Callie hunted some more food for us. Carolina pulled pork appetizers and some seared yellow fin tuna for the main course. She fed us well this evening. The sun is setting now and it is time to hide ourselves deep in the cave.

Hopefully tomorrow our rescue shall come.

Hopefully tomorrow.

LaLa

G & C