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Published: January 23rd 2006
Hola Amigos,
I will attempt, in vain, to keep this brief since we´re on a ¨time budget¨and it takes me about 15 minutes each time I use the @ symbol on these wacky foreign keyboards (damn, that was a waste of 15 minutes).
Anyway, since the last bore-a-thon I posted, we´ve actually seen some stuff and are on the verge of the REAL cool stuff.
La Fortuna, Tabacon, Volcan Arenal
We took a van from San Jose to La Fortuna, a small town like Glencoe but without the doll house store, and a towering Volcano as the backdrop instead of the Hubbard Woods 7-11.
We stayed in a little Cabina that for the most part lived up to its hot showers. The staff was less than helpful, but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. By staff, of course, I mean the scowling teenager who sat at the desk and offered little in the way of advice.
Our one day in the area we splurged by going to the Tabacon Hot Springs- a natural spring with real, natural pools that are up to about 110 degrees. the springs come from the volcano and were amazing. WE opted not to take any photos because no mere digital camera could capture the beauty and splendor of this place.... TRUTH: we got too wasted to think about taking pictures.
ADVICE: when going to a fancy resort, cozy up to a few Texans and mention how you´re on a budget... the next thing you know you´re liquid lunch will be well taken care of. Despite the multitude of beers, pina coladas and guaro (local booze) shots, Mark and Rebecca were extremely friendly, if somewhat blurry, people. And Elise made a few other friends, including the staff members who helped her out of the bushes, and a british lady who had to come find me at the bar to help her up... not to worry, We´ve recoverd nicely.
Road to Monteverde
Today we took off again to Monteverde via Jeep-Boat-Jeep. Which translates to a quick van ride to Lake Arenal, a placid cruise through the lake with amazing Volcano views and much to Elise´s surprise no weight limit (for the bags, not us!!); followed by a quick ride to Monteverde.... TRUTH: There´s no such thing as a quick ride to Monteverde because the locals, an eco-minded bunch decided that paved roads would only lead to bad things so we escalated on a craggy rockpile that jutted through the mountains like a member of the British Royal Family´s teeth (Excluding that dreamy Prince William, sigh!) And it was breathtaking the whole way through- not only because you think you´re gonna plummet at any moment off a tiny bridge wide enough for one van, or Bruce Vilanch (pre-Celeb. Fit Club)- but because on every side is one more amazing view than the next. Cows grazing on steep mountainsides, lush vegetation of all different sorts, even a three toed sloth cradling a baby three toed sloth while swinging from a tree.
So, we´ve arrived and are now writing to you fair people from a coffeeshop built inside of a tree. What a country!
Other Tidbits
- Elise read a book ( a WHOLE book, without pictures) in only four days.... Go Hoosiers!
- We seem to be a Hebrew Magnet. Every mode of transport we take comes equipped with rickety seats, a friendly driver, and an older than us Jewish couple. Oy, Harold and Gilda and Harvey and Adina were a nice bunch of pishers if ever we´ve seen any.
- Much to our shagrin, we actually have enjoyed the food, so hopefully our next few days of hiking will help our expanding bellies.
Brown-o-Meter
After a day at the Hot Springs we find Elise to be at a 1.75 and Gregg has reached a 3.75 with many days of beach ahead of us.
Keep reading, and commenting as we love to read them all...
G and E
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Lee
non-member comment
G - this one is for u
How can someone without a job take a month off to tour Costa Rica? Am I doing something wrong? We both graduated with a degree from the same school.