Stage 11: Cerro Alto: Garden of Eden at over 2000m

The night was very cold, which was to be expected at this altitude. We now always ask in advance for a second blanket. The vegan breakfast, on the other hand, was delicious and artistically presented, almost too beautiful to eat. We were entertained by the view from the window, as there was also a breakfast for the birds with fruits laid out. It was a spectacle to watch the numerous colorful little birds fight for the best pieces, like a real-life 'Angry Birds'. Nature is better than television. The dispute came to a sudden end with the arrival of the much larger Montezuma oropendola, which we finally managed to capture on camera. We have been able to observe it several times in the last few days, hanging upside down from a branch while making gurgling calls, which looks really cute. Today's 11th stage is quite short, but the climbs are steeper as we reach altitudes of over 2000 meters for the first time, making us quickly out of breath. After a few kilometers, we reach a refuge, a garden where hydrangeas and eucalyptus are cultivated. Here, we are greeted by a milestone of the Camino, which joyfully indicates that there are only 99 kilometers left to our final destination of Quepos on the Pacific coast. Next to it is a small podium where we can take selfies, which we of course do not want to miss. The rest of the way is not very spectacular, except for some beautiful views, and unfortunately there is no restaurant along the way, only a small convenience store (known as Pulperías). Here, we have a nice conversation with the store owner who shows interest in the Camino. We have these conversations often, as it seems that word has not yet spread about this long-distance hiking trail. So we are doing proper public relations work. But the highlight of today is our destination: Las Cabinas Touristicas Cerro Alto in the eponymous town. These spacious wooden cabins with a great view are located on a larger property with a lovingly landscaped garden and a small waterfall at the back. Everything is in bloom and there are several beautiful paths through this little paradise, so we end up covering two more kilometers today. I can't resist the jungle swing, especially. Suddenly we see two green tucanillos (Laucharassaris, belonging to the toucan family) sitting on a pole, which don't fly away as we approach. During dinner, we eat a bit quickly because we want to get back to our cabin, as is customary at this altitude, thick fog has rolled in and the temperatures are dropping rapidly. Additionally, it is starting to storm. Although it often gets this cold here, the houses are not designed for it at all. We stuff pillows and blankets into all the gaps where the cold air is coming in and put on all the layers of clothing we have, because there is no heating here. We close our eyes under multiple blankets and let the storm pass.