Mud and Humidity

Yesterday I did it. I was so desperate for protein that I ate beef. It was a bit rough on the tummy, but it tasted okay and I tried not to think about the cow who gave its life for it. Not that I want to give a bad impression of the food on the course, in general it's pretty good, if a bit redundant. There are rice and beans (gallo pinto) at just about every meal which, if not terribly exciting, are at least somewhat substantial. By this point in the course, the vegetarians are looking a little grumpy, and my friend Tawny makes it a point not to eat gallo pinto for breakfast just so she has a break from it. There are usually vegetarian options, but they lack substance. Last night's entree was a half a tomato, broiled with a slice of cheese on top. There are some standard condiments that help the gallo pinto go down a little easier. Lazano is a sauce that is kind of onion flavored and is a little bit sweet, but not spicy. It's the favorite.
There was a rumor going around that seconds at meals were only given to men, but we've demonstrated that it's not true. A girl does get funny looks if she asks for lots of food, but I suspect they are not totally shocked that women doing field work need some calories.
One final word: juice. In general, there has been fresh juice at every station. I don't know what happened here at La Selva, but their juice is totally foul. It has no flavor--I exaggerate not--other than a sour bitterness. Most of us now just stick to water and coffee.