Monkeys

Six Derthicks, ranging in age from 6 to 77, headed out early from our beach hotel in Santa Marta, to the Tayrona National Park on Colombia's northern Caribbean coast. Our plan was to take a short hike to the ocean, and maybe see some monkeys. The jungle was hot and sticky and Tarzan movie-like with vines to swing and tall trees that shaded the trail. At one point, a very loud noise, coming from a rather small insect, echoed through the forest. After hiking 15 minutes, and hearing Joel ask about the monkeys every 30 seconds, I heard the branches above us crack. I looked up and saw a large group of monkeys leaping from tree to tree, swinging on the vines. As we continued on the rather long, short hike, we saw several more groups of monkeys, including the endangered Titis. After a short discussion with Anna on endangered animals and protecting the jungle, we dunked our sweaty bodies in the ocean, ate a great lunch, and then hiked out. What a day! -Barb