12 & 13th July 2008: We travel from Monteverde to La Fortuna. Dora and I decide to travel part of the way around the lake on horseback, so abandon our rucksacks and head off to meet our guide. The first thing we do as soon as we´re on the horses is cross a rather large and fast-flowing river, which is rather nerve-wracking seeing as I´ve somehow ended up in front! My horse, Rebello (not actually very rebellious, as he was perfectly behaved) seemed to know what he was doing so I left him to it! After a while enjoying the amazing scenery as we circle the lake, I get a little bored so have to try and communicate to our guide that I´d like to go faster (we´ve been warned that they normally don´t let you out of a walk so I´m not hopeful!) I think that he´s said we can go as fast as we like, so we zoom off into the distance! The horses are both so well behaved that we have a great time, and every time Dora´s horse Tica (who is fast!) wants to go faster - we do! Meet a few other groups going in the opposite direction (all decked out in helmets and looking very in control while we pass by on our sweaty steeds, without a hat between us!). As we pass one group, I see Maria (or rather, hear her!) - my very lovely roomate from the last tour! Much screaming in excitement at the chance meeting, try to arrange to see each other in San Jose, and also try to explain to my guide why I am jumping up and down in my stirrups and laughing like a maniac. I don´t think he got it. The horses are obviously enjoying themselves, as we get to the clearing by the side of the lake in record time and let the horses cool off while we wait for the boat to collect us. Our guide has brought a pineapple along so feast on that (and discover that some horses are very partial indeed to pineapple!). Feed most of my half to Rebello and give him lots of cuddles for being such a good horse, before we get on our boat for the short trip to La Fortuna. Arrive in La Fortuna, and head off to meet the rest of our group to decide what to do while here. Decide to go for a hike around the base of Arenal Volcano this evening, so grab a quick lunch before heading off. Luckily the hike turns out to be much more of a gentle stroll, which is just as well as I am a bit saddle sore! Walk through the beautiful forests before heading off to see the glow of lava in the distance.

The next day we take it easy in the morning before going to a waterfall in the afternoon, decide to get a taxi rather than walk and am glad we have, as once there we meet the rest of the group, who inform us that they haven´t been swimming in the waterfall but are actually just drenched in sweat from the walk to the waterfall, and all the steps there and back! We walk down to the waterfall, which is beautiful, I go for a swim in the refreshingly cold (freezing) water and entertain myself by zooming along in the currents made by all the water from the falls, before steeling myself for the inevitable climb back up....in an attempt to distract myself I count the steps, all 435 of them!!! After all that effort we head to Baldi hot springs in the evening, which are a series of hot springs, heated by the volcanic activity nearby. The pools gradually get hotter and hotter, until at somewhere near 40 degrees C we can´t stand in them for long! After a couple of hours feel very relaxed (and extremely clean!) so head home to bed.