We spent most of yesterday, after a swim in the Gulf and a belly full of fruit and gallo pinto, driving back across Costa Rica. At times the view is dismal with poor shantys at the side of the road but at other times it is beautiful in its rich green. We had a tough time finding the way over the last hundred kilometres with the volcano and some of its smoke in sight, but several towns with little signage and a multiplicity of routes and some serious downpours making it difficult. We got to La Fortuna and found a dodgy hotel - stinky rooms, hard beds, dirty towels but then found the best coffee yet and a reasonable mexican meal. This is very much a tourist area and the shops have all the right ethnic
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