Advertisement
Published: January 26th 2006
Monteverde blows, and not because we didn't have fun, 'cause we did. It's that it quite literally blows - being from the Windy City we know a thing or two about that and this town is windy as a mofo.... so much so that the past few mornings we awoke expecting to find our little hotel room crash landed atop a wicked witch surrounded by rejoicing munchkins. But we not only stayed put but learned a few things.
1. Monteverde is Spanish for
Wake up your neighbors at the crack of dawn
, or at least that is what all of our neighbors thought.
2. Actually, Monteverde is spanish for
Buns of Steel.
Well, no not really but maybe it should be considering how hilly everything is, including the many hikes in the many forests.
3. Monteverde is Spanish for
Green Mountain.
That one I think is true, not only 'cause I speak some of the Spanish (to anyone who'll listen to me try), but because it has the greenest mountains I've ever seen.
4. To all women travelers, Elise advises you to cut your nails, pre-departure.
OK onto the adventures...
Monteverde-Sainta Elena
I'm rushed for time right now so must be brief (as hard as that is for me)....
- Canopy Tour, Zip Lines - this is a huge thrill ride where you literally zip through the top of the rain forest connected to a wire with a few clips.... including a Tarzan bungee chord thing which Elise was too scared to do - but at least she took a picture of the little old lady that did do it - oh no, she actually screwed up and didn't get the picture at all. d'oh.
- Santa Elena Reserve, Cloud Forest - amazing jungle stuff with our incredible guide Esteban, thanks to Mark and Marissa for the reco, we saw some unbelievable stuff including some rarely seen Spider Monkeys which hopefully my video captured them (don't worry, i took the video, not elise). As well as being joined on our tour by a piglike animal named Charlie.
- Coffee Plantation Tour - we saw literally where you're Starbucks addiction is born, except with quality beans and the farmers earn in a month about what a Grande Latte costs.
- Eternal Children's Forest Night Hike - a hike by flashlight only that is basically a living version of Where's Waldo meets those 3-D art posters.... look, there's a sloth.... where? (run frantically towards something and look for 2 minutes) oh, i see it! Cool.
This journal really only scratched the surface of this part of the trip, but we'll be happy to elucidate on it at another time. Essentially Monteverde is an amazing place that truly makes a very strong point of existing in the modern world while sustaining the environment.
Oh, and also, we have changed our plans about 8 times since we got here so our next destination will be on the sunny beaches of the Carribean Coast with our new friends Brian and Alyssa from Washington, DC. We have had a whirlwind romance with them only meeting days ago and already taking our first trip together. Who knows what the future will bring, but we don't wanna jinx it. Ok, I think they really like us! (giggle)
Email will be scarce the next few days so don't wait by the keyboard for the blog....
Finally, the
Brown-o-Meter with a few days in the dewy environs of Monteverde we've still managed a few rays....
Elise has advanced to a solid 2.0
Gregg is now at a 3.75
But the beach awaits and the
Brown-o-Meter is watching.
Also, we will give some insight to our eating and living choices at a later entry, or feel free to email with questions for you future Costa Rica Travelers.
adios,
G and E
Advertisement
Tot: 0.079s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 6; qc: 44; dbt: 0.0441s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Harvey
non-member comment
Jealous
Hey Guys, This all sounds so cool. It's making me remember my time there and loving the memories, even though you haven't been to Manuel Antonio yet. But some of the sights are the same. I enjoy your blog. Elise, I can't believe you didn't do the canopy tour. You'll get another chance so do it. You're not gonna die. By the way, we got Macy's!