I saw a Sloth (and so much more!)

Sometimes, it’s hard to capture a trip in a blogpost or two. Maybe there have just been too many stories. Too many memorable moments. Or too much fun. Whatever the case, this blog just can’t do it all.

Which is why we were grateful to VonTrapp it up with our extended Steele clan and write a song about the week we spent in Costa Rica. It started as a single catchy verse, and quickly got out of hand. By the time we were ready to run through it poolside on the final night of our trip, it was no wonder that the other people around the pool looked over like we were bonkers! It just went on, and on, and on.

But regardless of what anyone else might think, we love this catchy earworm of a tune that summed up the highlights and so many of the memorable moments from our Costa Rican adventure. Writing this little ditty also helped us pass a 6 hour bus ride back to San Jose, and we hope you enjoy it too!

(Also, we hope to see a Puma next time).

How it started… and how it just kept on going

Jay saw a sloth. That’s the story. And as he sometimes does, he captured the experience in many pictures and a little tune. Once we had finalized the perfect wording for this foundational verse, we all made a list of the animals we’d seen and decided they could each have a verse. And then we added a shout out for each of us and some memorable moments on this trip. It’s basically a full account of our journey through Boca Tapada and our stay at the remote and beautiful Maquenque Eco Lodge, through to our next few nights on the Caribbean coast at the quirky Congo Bongo. Between kayaking, rafting, hiking, bird-watching, horseback riding, a cooking class and some time at the beach, it’s no wonder we needed so many verses!

In the tune of…

To really experience this song, you of course need to know how it goes. Remember “The Sign” from Ace of Base?

https://youtu.be/iqu132vTl5Y?si=YtNwD8rHVaYRlK-T

This song was just as hard to get out of your head back in 1993. You’re welcome!

Here we go! (In verses and photos)

Ram-pa-ram, oh, yeah

We went on vacation, to Costa Rica we were nine
Ages 8 to 83, aaaaaand it was so fine
Ah, we had a great time — and saw so many things

Ooh-ooh-ooh, is was amazing oh!

I saw a sloth
And it turned its head and coughed, I saw a sloth
It was just hanging
It was so outstanding

I saw a bat
It flew into my hat, I saw a bat
It was so mean
Miranda let out a scream

*Not the ones that flew at my hat, but bats, nonetheless.*

I saw a monkey
Swinging in the trees, I saw a monkey
Spiders and Howlers
Day and nighttime prowlers

Trees. Crawling with monkeys.

I saw a tick
On Nathan it did stick, I saw a tick
His blood is suspicious
Fanta makes him delicious

*Obsessed! Even with the gross and elusive pink flavour* 🤢

I saw a dinner
It was such a winner, I saw some dinner
Elliot and Miss Elena
Cooking together they could be famous

*So much more fun than this picture makes it look!*

I saw a frog
A Poison dart upon a log, I saw frog
It was all spotty
With a such a tiny body

*This one was on a leaf. But picture it on a log.*

I saw some birds
Flying in the sky, I saw some birds
Aningas… Kingfishers
And egrets, that’s for sure

I saw a horse
We went riding but of course, I saw a horse
Elana rode Teddy
Who was quite unstead

I saw an Agouti
It was such a cutie, I saw an Agouti
A rodent that’s this big
Almost looks like a pig

I saw rare birds
It was so absurd, I saw rare birds
Nightjars and Toucans
Just like only Jill can

I saw a cayman
It’s glowing eyes said hey man, I saw a cayman
Swimming in water
We tried hard not to bother

Seeing him on our first night was a bit 😱

I saw some ants
They got in grandmas pants, I saw some ants
Leaf cutters
Those feisty little buggers

Army ants. (The only army in Costa Rica!)

I saw Coati
So many bouncing bodies, I saw Coati
Couldn’t pet them
But happy to have met them

I saw a snake
The leaves began to shake, I saw a snake
Jay got everyone hyper
By finding an eyelash viper

I saw a Tapir
Only from the rear, I saw a Tapir
It was elusive,
We felt so exclusive

What a dear!

I saw a spider
A guest I didn’t desire, I saw a spider
It made a web
That covered that Isla’s head

I saw a turtle,
It’s head popped up to hurl, I saw a turtle
In the jaws of a cayman,
We sadly couldn’t save him

*A happy turtle that lived a happy little life!*

I saw a river
Papa he did giver, I saw a River
New fun at 83
How impressed are we!

We didn’t see a puma.

The end.