City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008 - (Page 50)

G We had come to this place for one reason alone – the Resplendent Quetzal. Like other miraculous events, sightings of the splendid bird are rare, some native Costa Ricans have never even seen the bird in their lifetime. This secretive nature is mostly due to the Quetzal’s erratic flying patterns (from the cloud forests to the lowlands), its breeding habits (only 20 per cent of chicks survive) and its penchant for the wild aguacatillo (avocado) fruit, which grows sparsely at best in Costa Rica. Despite, or perhaps because of this elusiveness, Aztec and Pre-Columbian cultures revered the bird for centuries. Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god of the Mesoamerican pantheon, his name a combination of Quetzal and Coatl (snake), was associated with Venus, and he was considered the god of sky and creation. Aztec chiefs wore headdresses with tail feathers from male Quetzals, whose plumes reach up to two metres in length. The feathers were more precious than gold and the birds were considered divine. Even mere sightings of the bird are said to bring prosperity and light. The Resplendent Quetzal is one of the few natural beauties on the planet that are both hypnotizing and beautiful. 50 | WINTER 2007/2008 | citystyleandliving.com He huddles near the van for warmth and shivers in the morning air. We giggle relentlessly at the antics of a Costa Rican unaccustomed to the cold. That morning, as we had driven down from San Jose toward the Talamanca mountains, Guido had warned us to prepare for the 2000 meter altitude. As we made our way along the winding roads, the landscape became more and more familiar – what had started out as a distinctly lush, green tropical landscape, slowly morphed into mountainous terrain. It resembled British Columbia during the springtime – coniferous trees, majestic autumnal-coloured leaves, steep cliffs and reddish brown rock. The air had a woodsy scent, and here and there weaving springs and rivers flowed. The deeper into the mountains we went the less settlement there was, until finally, after breathlessly waiting for the van to advance on the last patch of gravel, we had arrived at Savegre Mountain Hotel. uido is dressed in mittens, a toque, and a fleece coat. WES HANSON http://citystyleandliving.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008

City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008 Contents Editor’s Note Website Behind the Cover Contributors The District Calgary’s Holiday Storefront Windows: Through the Looking Glass Need it Want it Fusion Culinary Adventure Champagne 101: Tiny Bubbles Covet Prêt-à-porter Fashion Adventure Resort Wear Enchanted Evening Passport 24 Hours in Paris Anatomy of... Costa Rica: In Search of the Resplendent Quetzal Final Thought

City Style and Living - Winter 2007/2008

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