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Published: January 3rd 2013
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Hello everyone!! We arrived safe and sound in San Jose (population one million)on New Years Eve day.
We checked into our hotel and headed out to check out the city. As well as the usual markets, squares, churches etc. we found a fairly modern mall close by where we used the ATM and familiarized outselves with the currency (500 colons = $1) so we are dealing in large amounts. The US dollar is also readily accepted. We met up with a young couple from Toronto on our tour and enjoyed an local Imperial Beer and some delicious guacamole and nachos.
Our first evening consisted of meeting the other members of our tour group and enjoying a local Costa Rican supper along with New Years champagne, local rum, sambuka and red wine all included in the meal. We have a nice mix of people - a young lady from Scotland, a couple from Boston, a single guy for Los Angelos, a young lady from New Jersey and two brothers from Toronto. From the first night, we all seem to hit it off and had a fun time New Years Eve. Our tour guide Isaac (a local Costa Rican) took us
all downtown to a local disco where we danced and celebrated the new year. It was interesting to see the local Costa Ricans enjoying themselves much like we would out at a club. The music was pop but definately had a latino flare to it.
Isaac is a wealth of information and can answer all our questions about life in Costa Rica:
-Population - 4.25 million Industry - tourism, coffee, banannas, pineapples
-21% of people live below the poverty line but there are few beggars or signs of poor people
-Food - rice, beans, chicken or fish, food is quite bland, tacos, empanadas etc.
- at the forefront of sustainable food, industry and environment
- one of the world´s greatest types of habitats and plants and animals spieces
- landscape - rain forest, cloud forest, tropical dry forest, mangroves, moutains, beaches
We were wowed the first morning by impressive scenery and tropical forests as we travelled north to La Fortuna. La Fortuna is definately a tourist town but still maintains a local feel. Tour companies offering all kinds of adventures such as rafting, canopy tours, canyoneering, biking etc.
The
first afternoon our whole group went to the hot springs which are a result of the arenal volcanoe lava heating countless bubbling springs. It was a really fun experience. They even had a swim up bar in one. In 1968, the Arenal Mountain erupted after 400 years of dormacy and unfortunately buried small villages. About two years ago it stopped spewing but you can still see the paths where the lava ran down.
For our adventure, we chose to hike about 12 kms. to La Cataratta de la Fortuna (Fortuna Waterfalls) which is situated in a beautiful rain forest at the base of a canyon of dark volcanic rock. It was quite strenuous but well worth the effort!! We could of taken a taxi but decided to get some exercise!!
Tomorrow we leave for our next destination "Monteverde" which is a few hours west of La Fortuna. Until next time, thanks for reading!!
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Gladys
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It looks fabulous! Sure wish we were there. Have a wonderful time.