Previous page .... Xinia, the director of EcoCentro Danaus, met me at the bus stop. A three-kilometer taxi ride took us to the facilities and garden where I would spend three days. .... .... Danaus reminded me of SASI—a small organization with a dedicated staff of three, and limited funds to accomplish what they wanted to do. Still, they had a very nice place and were doing good things for the community. .... .... Not far from the parking area was their visitor center/classroom. With various t-shirts, books and other things for sale, the space was inviting and one could learn about the mission of the organization and its partner organization, OJOCHE, an ecological association that provides some funding for Danaus’ operations. The room next door was the classroom that serves visiting school groups, mostly of younger students. .... .... There were various games including a Bingo, not unlike the BUG-O that SASI uses with students. The room also included tablecloths painted by visiting groups and other things that made it interesting to visitors. .... .... .... A private path branched off the one serving the public, went by the growing grounds and ended at a small house where I would stay. This structure serves many needs—as a workroom for volunteers, a lunchroom for all and as living quarters for visiting researchers and folks like me. .... .... .... All of Danaus is without electricity so after the staff left and the sun set, there wasn’t much to do other than explore, looking for creatures out during the evening hours. Like many places I have visited, you are not alone even when there are no other people around. .... .... .... .... I couldn’t get a photo of the packrat-like creature that we rousted from beneath the stove. Too bad since it was quite a show as she scrambled up the wall and across the rafters dragging five youngsters, teeth tightly clenched on her teats as she ran. She didn’t really go too far as I saw her in the evening feeding on some platanos left on the table. The next morning, fruit flies attracted to those were an invitation to the slender anole, Anolis limifrons. Under the cover of darkness, a young marine toad, Bufo marinus, would emerge from the shower drain to feed on any number of other creatures which could be found around the house. Next page .... .... .... .... ....