I hired a hiking guide and he and I went out today – waaay early in the morning so as not to be in the afternoon spritz. We hiked up into La Amistad National Park. So beautiful, so verdant and fecund, so wet. We saw puma tracks, but thankfully no puma. More cow pies (tortas in espanol!) than I´ve ever seen, but no mushrooms, if you´re wondering. Many birds and lizards but no monkeys nor quetzeles.Hiked for about 4 hours – when we walked by the river, he saw watergrass (watercress) and wanted to pick for his niece, who has trouble with her lungs-breathing, and that particular herb is supposed to help her blood. I snacked on a little while he gathered a whole bagful. Sitting on a log meditating a bit in the sun and he grabs my arm and pulls me to the side of the hill because, lo and behold, a herd of cattle comes thundering down the mountain followed by two 12 year old boys brandishing sticks bigger than they. I was so out of it I never heard them coming! That adventure ended, I headed into town to eat at my guides favorite restaurant (cafeteria), where I had pollo asada, arroz y vegetales for about $2.75. Whoa. More expensive at the american restaurants, for sure.