Monteverde: Take 2

Susan and I ventured out to Monteverde for a quick overnight visit.  The roads, as per usual Costa Rican standards, suckola, so we thought it might be best to split the drive up into 2 days (it's about a 2.5 hour drive each way).  We headed out Tuesday afternoon, so we could get an early start on Wednesday.

Although I had been to Monteverde before, our major activity on this trip was much different than before. On this trip, we hit up the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. We got a private guide, Osbaldo, who took us around parts of the reserve for some animal, plant and bird watching.  HOLLA!  Bird watching- my new fave activity (at least for the last 72 hours).  Osbaldo LOVES his job, and his excitement had us all geeked out.  We asked a million questions, chased him through the reserve hunting for glimpses of certain birds, and we learned a ton of cool factoids about Costa Rican plant and wildlife.  The 3 of us were jiving so well, that our 2.5 hour tour lasted about 4 hours.

Throughout this entire trip (since I arrived n CR), I have learned all kinds of really really interesting things about nature, and I keep saying, 'nature is cool,' and the more I explore, the more true that statement is.  Nature is totally fascinating! I totally dig it!

Anyway, after we did some hiking and animal/plant/bird watching, we headed back to Nuevo Arenal. On the way back, we stopped at 'Viento Fresco Catarata'-  a private park where you can take a tough hour+ hike, but visit 4 different waterfalls, and even pop in one for a swim! We arrived late in the day, so we were the only ones there.  It was really nice to enjoy the trails and waterfalls without other people around-  our own private falls and swimming holes.  The roads might stink, but the scenery in Costa Rica is always worth the drive!

Nuevo Arenal

I left Tamarindo and headed to Nuevo Arenal.  Susan, my good friend's mom, is house sitting in Costa Rica for a couple of weeks, so I am visiting her for several days.  The planets certainly aligned, because our timing could not have worked out better.

The last few days have been fantastic, and this week is a great transition for me.  I am essentially going from 8 weeks of  routine and being in 1 spot, to several months of being on the move MUCH more often, so stopping in between to visit an old friend has been perfect. PLUS, Susan likes to explore, so we have been enjoying lots of stuff in  the area.

Casa de Susan has also been very relaxing - great views, a cool breeze, a nice pool, and a bird feeder-  yes, a bird feeder!  Sounds cheesy, but I am totally into the birding thing at the moment.  Just sitting on the patio, we have seen all kinds of intereting and colorful birds....birds are neato, in a cool nerdy way......well, at least the birds in Costa Rica.

On an unrelated note, the house has super hot water in the shower, there are fluffy bath towels, I can flush the toilet paper (a rare occurrence in CR), ceiling fans, AND  (drum role, please) a washer and dryer!!  I am in heaven!

We spent the first 2 days hanging out in La Fortuna, near the Arenal Volcano.  We visited natural hot springs, hiked to a giant waterfall where we got to go swimming, and also visited another area where we got to do some waterfall repelling (yet another activity where I somehow end up dropping off a platform, bridge or cliff).......Fun, as always.  I suppose I like dropping off of things (when it's not an accident, of course).

Glad I didn't leave CR without a visit to Arenal!

On The Move

After 8 weeks, lots of sweating, Nougi's banana pie, 2 dance lessons, 1 week of surf lessons, a number of Team Playas weekend trips, an occasional drink at Sharky's, Addy's Cuban sandwiches, morning jogs to Langosta, afternoons at the beach, 160+ hours of Spanish lessons, howler-monkey wake-up calls, beast-sounding iguanas on the roof, several afternoon naps on weekdays (woo hoo!), dusty streets, 1 trip to the doctor, 2 nights at the Tico rodeo, sunsets at the beach, AND most importantly, amazingly wonderful new friends......I am officially on the move. I am hanging in the Nuevo Arenal for a week until heading to Panama.

So long,Tamarindo!