Thursday morning I woke up with a sore throat and my nose running as incessantly as it had all trip. My mood was NOT helped when one of my roommates told me that our bathroom was locked from the inside. I grumpily got myself ready using my water bottle again, and left quickly for breakfast. My mood completely turned around when I saw Milan brushing his teeth outside; he told me that there was no water. I thought it was funny, or at least ironic. We also had eggs for breakfast… and a boatload of more cereal for me. I was super excited because we were going to the puentes, or these platform things in the trees. Jose was out guide again, but Daniel didn’t come. We saw this ridiculously gigantic tree that had been felled my bugs as small as termites. Jose also showed us this one plant that his mom used on him when he was little and he was “sleepy.” It pricks you, then it burns. Jose said it’s good for muscle cramps. Brenden, Dan and I asked for it, and it didn’t hurt so bad, but afterward it left some really ugly bumps that faded, but I still have some now (I’m typing this on Saturday night). Jose brought us to the puentes and put my harness on me. There was a tall metal staircase that led to bridges, that led to various platforms. You had to hook your harness onto a cord when waling over the bridges, just in case you’d fall. I don’t know how high up it is. I felt kind of cool, like a mountain climber or something, snapping and unsnapping my harness on the cords. Brenden and I went first to the extra platform, where there was a ladder that led to an even higher platform. He had me go first. I was a little scared, but I’m pretty convinced that I conquered any fear of heights I might have had when I went up on the roof with Dad. I knelt on the highest platform and took pictures. Pretty darn awesome. Coming down was easier than I thought, and I watched a tiny little yellow and black frog while Brenden took his turn, then a black and white bird sat between two branches close to me. Then we switched sides with Margoh and Dan. Jose showed me a seed that looked like an animalito, then went down the stairs to look for some real ones. The other side wasn’t as cool, but it was still fun. We waited on the staircase afterwards, wanting another turn, and I braided Brenden’s hair in exchange for bug repellent. We finally coaxed Dan into coming down and I took another turn, this time standing on the platform as it started to mist. I saw the coolest salamander: it was normal and brown, but then it stuck out a bright red and yellow throat flap; I’m bummed I didn’t get a good picture. I finally came down and Brenden took another turn; I saw on the platform and watch flies eat my harness. I also saw something I never thought I’d see: a beautiful mosquito. Its flight was some sort of ingenious work of engineering, and its wings were a visible blue and white. But yes, I’m sure it was a mosquito. I watched Jose work with some sort of plant, then Brenden, Margoh and I came down; Dan already had. Dan showed us this red, sharp, funny looking plant that you could attach to your nose to look like a toucan or to your hands to looks like Edward Scissorhands. Jose was working palm branches, then used the single crochet stich to make bracelets for everyone (I’m still wearing mine right now). Next he have us a piece of plant and told us to chew it for two minutes. We did (although at this point, we knew that if Jose told you to do anything: do so with caution) and when we spit it out, our teeth and tongues had turned blue! Dan has a really good picture (my battery ran out). We walked out way back on the mercifully short path to the camp, when my knee unexpectedly gave out and I fell over. Bleh. Total, I think I’m looking at three or four falls. On our way back we also saw this creepy orange spider, but it was dead. I changed as soon as I got back, and relaxed a little bit, then Germán and M. Reese came looking for me because I was late to lunch (I thought it started half an hour later than it actually did, chicken and rice). We talked at out tables for a long time, and then I mooched a pen off of Germán (there’s a tarantula outside his room) to take notes, because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to remember everything for the blog otherwise. I listened to Daniel talk for a while, then miraculously did some homework until another lecture on oil at 4. We had the rest of the night free; everyone was getting a little restless with so much free time. We played cards (a version of spoons called kemps which was really fun) and ate dinner (meat, rice, lentils, TRES LECHES for dessert if I remember correctly). Most people wandered over to the library afterwards and a few people checked email on Brenden’s phone, then went to sleep. Last night
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