- The Day of the Toucans
- Getting a Taste for Costa Rica
- Ode to a Beautiful Sunset
- Chris’s Night Hike through the Rain Forest
A soft palette of colors swirl around the sky, radiating a glow of pink, yellow, orange, and gold.
Tinted clouds, solid enough to withstand the power of the sun, block the lower portion of the angry orange star. However, the clouds do not get away unscathed, and their bottoms are thrown into a disarray of colors. A quiet orange gains intensity and the faint red develops into a hazy, deep red mist as the sky shifts from light to dark. Few clouds escape the bath of color, but the wisps that do contrast the sun with a light yellow. Still, the sun sinks lower and lower, until it is hidden completely by the stronger clouds. “Aha! The sun is conquered at last!” The clouds cheer. But before they can get too far into celebration, the sun re-emerges beneath the clouds, rebelling against their blank white. Color prevails and the people of Costa Rica stand, mesmerized by the unending symphony of the sun. I too can only peel my eyes away from the surreal beauty to snap a few photos, hoping to capture the festivities in the sky. However, I doubt any camera, at least not mine, could take a replica of the sun’s farewell. Also attending the sun’s party are the mountains, a rich green from the vegetation of the rainforest, and the mist hovering just above the trees. These inhabit the land to the left. To the right, silky and slick sea, accompanied by thin tan beaches, complete the picturesque landscape. Away from the spotlight hang darker clouds, forecasting a night of rain. Sliding under the horizon, the sun completes its descent through the sky. A peaceful quiet encompasses the visible world as the last hint of sun disappears like the last bit of yolk dripping out of a cracked eggshell. Then the spell is broken, and the people continue about their ways as they had before, knowing darkness is well on its way. The clouds, mostly unaffected by the sun’s big exit, revert to their original colors, though an orange remnant stains the sky, stubbornly refusing to accompany the sun in its departure. I was a witness of this lovely scene, experienced from the patio of the restaurant Adventure Dining This was the first of 3 Costa Rican sunsets we have seen (so far).