Costa Rica, Day 2: San Jose to Arenal
Some fleeting views as we leave San Jose:
On the road between San Jose and Arenal:
Here we are in Arenal Springs! We left San Jose at 7am(!) and got here around 10:30am. The ride took longer because we stopped a couple times per the driver/guide's suggestion to buy souvenirs, drink coffee (really good), and later booked tours for a slightly cheaper rate in the nearby town of La Fortuna.
In La Fortuna
Somewhere between La Fortuna and Arenal
To our surprise, this hotel seems pretty fancy-- Upon arrival we were greeted with moistened towels (hehe) for cleaning our hands. While we were waiting for our room, a waiter brought fancy drinks complete with maraschino cherries skewered on plastic swords!
Staircase for the bathtub and a lovely view of the volcano!
While lounging in our room, I heard a high pitched squeaking sound (almost like a squeaky toy) coming from outside... When I looked I realized the sounds were coming from a toucan sitting in a nearby tree!
3pm--ziplining. We were picked up by the Ecoglide van, which then went to another hotel to pick up four 20 or 30-somethings from Arkansas. A couple bumpy rides later we were up among the trees being hooked up to cables that stretched between the trees, over the forest canopy and grassy hills. It was not as scary as I thought it would be, but it was still a unique and exhilarating experience. (Actually, Stephanie says she found it quite scary at times). At one point we each grabbed onto a "Tarzan swing" and jumped off a platform (at least 20 ft up?) swinging over a slope. Understandably, almost everyone screamed as they dropped from the platform! We got back around 4:30pm.
Stephanie and some others wait on one of the platforms before zipping off.
Oh almost forgot to mention the food... For early early (6am) breakfast we had the complimentary hotel buffet. It was surprisingly substantial (though it was a bit early and we were a bit rushed). Among the spread was the staple gallo pinto (rice and beans), some type of meat stew, fried plantains, pastries, cereal, and a person making eggs to order (which we didn't even see until we were leaving)! For our pre-ziplining lunch we went to the hotel restaurant where i had casado con carne (steak, black beans, rice, yucca(?), salad) and Stephanie had casado con pollo. Our first driver had recommended trying steak here and accordingly, it was really quite good and tender.
Later tonight we'll probably go swimming in one of the four pools (hehe) and then get dinner...
Ok we just got back from swimming... Those were some HOT springs! Also funny how romantic it is here... We were the only non-male/female couples in the pools tonight! There is a sign of rules that specifically says, "No love scenes"!
And now for some pretty flowers...
On the road between San Jose and Arenal:
Here we are in Arenal Springs! We left San Jose at 7am(!) and got here around 10:30am. The ride took longer because we stopped a couple times per the driver/guide's suggestion to buy souvenirs, drink coffee (really good), and later booked tours for a slightly cheaper rate in the nearby town of La Fortuna.
In La Fortuna
Somewhere between La Fortuna and Arenal
To our surprise, this hotel seems pretty fancy-- Upon arrival we were greeted with moistened towels (hehe) for cleaning our hands. While we were waiting for our room, a waiter brought fancy drinks complete with maraschino cherries skewered on plastic swords!
Staircase for the bathtub and a lovely view of the volcano!
While lounging in our room, I heard a high pitched squeaking sound (almost like a squeaky toy) coming from outside... When I looked I realized the sounds were coming from a toucan sitting in a nearby tree!
3pm--ziplining. We were picked up by the Ecoglide van, which then went to another hotel to pick up four 20 or 30-somethings from Arkansas. A couple bumpy rides later we were up among the trees being hooked up to cables that stretched between the trees, over the forest canopy and grassy hills. It was not as scary as I thought it would be, but it was still a unique and exhilarating experience. (Actually, Stephanie says she found it quite scary at times). At one point we each grabbed onto a "Tarzan swing" and jumped off a platform (at least 20 ft up?) swinging over a slope. Understandably, almost everyone screamed as they dropped from the platform! We got back around 4:30pm.
Stephanie and some others wait on one of the platforms before zipping off.
Oh almost forgot to mention the food... For early early (6am) breakfast we had the complimentary hotel buffet. It was surprisingly substantial (though it was a bit early and we were a bit rushed). Among the spread was the staple gallo pinto (rice and beans), some type of meat stew, fried plantains, pastries, cereal, and a person making eggs to order (which we didn't even see until we were leaving)! For our pre-ziplining lunch we went to the hotel restaurant where i had casado con carne (steak, black beans, rice, yucca(?), salad) and Stephanie had casado con pollo. Our first driver had recommended trying steak here and accordingly, it was really quite good and tender.
Later tonight we'll probably go swimming in one of the four pools (hehe) and then get dinner...
Ok we just got back from swimming... Those were some HOT springs! Also funny how romantic it is here... We were the only non-male/female couples in the pools tonight! There is a sign of rules that specifically says, "No love scenes"!
And now for some pretty flowers...
posted by Christy | Friday, December 09, 2011
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