all work and no play...not for the snailers

So being at El Verde Field Station doesn't mean all work all the time. There is time for exploring, going out to dinner (even if its just pinchos en pinones) and playing pool. With the station full of people from U. Mass., Colombia, U. Conn., Univ. Puerto Rico, Ohio, Chicago, and more individuals working on research from different locations, then all of the REU students (Research Experiences for Undergraduates), there are plenty of people to have a good time with and also talk to about their research and graduate school experiences. (its like I have 10 mentors instead of 1! )

The first set of pictures are from Michael (RET; research education for teachers) and I. I told him about this nice cold swimming hole that's a short hike from the station. When we got there there we saw this tree that fell over the water, so no swimming here for now. Luckily, there are many swimming areas all around. If the rain ever stops (we ARE in a rainforest during rainy season), we'll go to another one. Back in the states I'm creeped out by snakes in swimming holes. Here in El Yunque I dont' have to worry about it. There's the Puerto Rican Boa but its been years since anyone has seen one. And there is a racer, which apparently doesn't come into the forest. So the only large critters in the tributaries and rivers here are fish, shrimp, and crabs.

At least once in the summer the snail crew takes a drive to old san juan for our tradiational dinner and pool playing. Old San Juan makes me homesick for NOLA. We had a nice dinner of Mofongo (plantain based) then some COMPETITIVE (joking of course) pool playing.

So we have tonight off since there has been too much rain and that's great because its someone's 28th birthday. That means good food, good music, salsa dancing, and throwing hammers (to be explained in another post).