Sunday 17th August - Election day in Santa Cruz.

 I slept quite well, waking up around 2.00am. Looking out of the window it was amazing to see absolutely no traffic on the roads at all because of the election. I woke again around 5.45, dozed for a bit but couldn’t drop off so I got up, checked the washing, which was damp, got dressed before sorting out some stuff, taking the washing up to the dryer, inserting the token in the slot and leaving it to dry. I went down to David’s, where he was grappling with a problem with his photo cards. Somehow, 600 pics seemed to be missing. We then text Sarah to say we were on our way to breakfast, meeting up in the lift. As there were no shops, restaurants or bars open because of the election, I took a couple of rolls, some ham and cheese and tomato slices to use for lunch. We agreed to meet up with Linda and Patricia to go for a stroll down the road. I got the clothes out of the dryer and they were fine.

We walked to the end of the road, crossed over at the lights and started to walk towards the bridge. We checked out the trees and bushes and had Crested Oropendula, Tropical Kingbird, Rufous Hornero, American Kestrel, Cattle Tyrant, Syaca Tanager and Chopi Blackbird. We also saw 3 Yellow-tufted Woodpeckers which were lined up on a tree trunk, before crossing over and coming back up the other side. 

Hardly any traffic but several people walking and cycling. We had several people stop and tell us that we weren’t safe and should go back so we retraced our steps, photographing some of the buildings as we went. There was also an interesting sculpture of an apple and Three-toed Sloth on the centre reservation.

We watched a Palm Tanager and a couple of Truch- like Wrens before strolling back to the hotel in time for the 12.00 sightings log. The hotel allowed us to use the conference facility and we got the logs done after some funny moments.

David and I went back to his room where we finally sorted out that it had to be the camera. We then spent some time updating the electronic log before David went out to take some street pictures and came back to tell me about the amazing atmosphere outside. Because there were no cars the locals had come out on bicycles, scooters, motor bikes and a wide variety of transport. There were gatherings and ‘parties’ all along the street, people cycling in groups, lots of laughter and chat.

We then sorted out our cases for the flight to Trinidad. As it was just one night we shared a bag, leaving the other bag at the hotel overnight. We could have managed with just a rucksack but the airline limit was 5kg which I wouldn’t have managed with the two cameras.

Because of the election, all the restaurants were shut so the hotel put on a dinner for us at 8.00 which was fish, veg and chips. We enjoyed the meal, went back and turned in.