Most Beautiful Place on Earth

Welcome to Finca Manglar!  We were greeted by the nicest man - the caretaker of the farm named Evelio.  He didn't speak a word of English, but we understood enough.  He said he LOVES tourists and gave us all hugs and ice cold pipa frias (cold, young coconut water).  Sooo yummy!  This is a working farm with horses, cows, chickens, ducks, and roosters, with a place for tourists to stay and enjoy the immersion in nature, far from paved roads.  The views were breathtakingly beautiful, especially in the morning.  The mist rising from the mountain...ahhhh. There wasn't electricity; only solar powered lights to find the stairs and use the bathroom.  The beds all had bug nets on them, although I didn't think the bugs were as bad as the house at Isla Cabuya.  It felt like an adventure, but without the adrenaline.  Just peace.  I even found myself reading a book in the hammock!  That never happens at home!  So loving this slower pace!

 

 This environment produces a clear mind for studying math!  The whinnying of the horses, the trickle of the stream, the insects humming....

 Soursop fruit makes delicious juice!  The farm had lots of fruit trees.

 The kids spent a lot of time trying to catch fish in the stream.  They'd hold their little tupperware bowl in the water and wait for just the right moment to pull it up.  I felt like we were living in Little House on the Prairie.  The kids were enjoying everything about nature and didn't need any other entertainment (except a few games of Uno with Lincoln!)