Chofad 1957 Journal 13 May 1957 To San Isidro del General, Costa Rica Sue and I left San Jose by bus for San Ysidro at 6:20 a.m. Bus went via Cartago on paved road, then on dirt road where life had a more primitive look. The road climbed through cut-away cloud forests when there was a scattering of 100 ft. tall narrow-crowned trees. Trees carried many reddish-leaved bromeliads and many lichens. Apparently much settling of logs, the squared 15' long pointed sections lying by road at many points. Also at highest, perhaps 10,000 ft., road passed through an island of Paranao grove, dominated by an elongate-leaved shrub about 5' tall. Rocks covered here with gray lichens. (Archie Carr and later Alexander Shutch told me this was the northernmost paranao). On occasion saw distant volcanoes or the ocean to W. down steep green valleys. Descended step-washed forested slopes to the broad (3 mi.) valley of the river Cereal, and reached San Ysidro. This at present end of Pan-American highway. Arrived about noon. Lunched on black beans and rice at El Jardin. Found Juan Schneider about 2 p.m. (we had met him in San Jose at Pension Conde). He spoke English well, had been to the agricultural school at Zamorano, and had a farm near San Ysidro. His father an old farmer with large finca, and a friend of Shutch. Juan took Sue and I in his jeep over a rocky road, across a river crossing above floor of jeep across a cable suspension bridge that sagged 2 feet as the jeep passed, and up a jeep trail to Shutch's place, about 12 miles from San Ysidro, and probably not reachable by jeep except in dry season (wet just starting). Juan said Shutch did not like jeeps in his place, but for him would not mind. We went to the small house surrounded by lawn, garden trees, and fruit trees. Shutch appeared out of a nearby shack - he had been getting a haircut. His wife (Mrs Lancaster, 3 yrs married) was with him. We talked birds mostly, and the area and region.