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Have given a round up of most stuff each day, plenty of other stories and what not to save for a rainy day.
No.1 Highlight: Ziplining
No.1 Lowlight: Hanging Bridges
Both on Day 5
Day 1: Arrived into San Jose. Managed to get to the Hotel by waving my piece of paper at the tsaxi driver. His meter said 105 75, which I thought was going to mean 105.75USD, but it was actually 105 75 colones, ~ 22USD so that was all gravy.
Once I sussed the room out and stuff, a thunderstorm rolled in, the thunder is way louder than in NZ. Didn't realise it was rainy season thou, so it was not a surprise to everyone but me. Then went for a walk with Maria and Sara through San Jose. When we got to the City Center, it reminded me of Cuba Street, people walking on the road, cars n allowed. Turns out there was a few roads like that, but it was way to congested for my liking. There was lots of Buses, and they are filthy, black smoke spews out of them. We then got to a lil park area, and saw green parrots which was more like the Costa Rica I was expecting. We wandered back and then at 7pm, everyone met everyone who we would be spending most of the next 9 days with. We then went to a nearby restaurant, to get our first dose of rice and beans. We all ate minimal amounts of the massive meal.
It was then off to bed for the early ride to La Fotuna.
Day 2: We were all in the minibus at some silly hour after a solid breaky with options of Waffles, Eggs, Cereal, Croosiants, Yoghurt and other stuff. 5 hour or so later, we arrived. We booked our activities, with most going for the Volcano Hike/Hot Springs/ Dinner in the evening and Repelling the following morning.
With the hot and humid conditions, we sweated over our lunch before cruising in the afternoon doing not a lot. We then were picked up and off to Arenal Volcano. Enroute we stopped off to watch some Toucans, pretty cool to see in real life, we saw a couple more types once we arrived at the base of the track. The walk was not strenuous, we saw a couple snakes and a monkey. We then had a couple beers and saw the volcano actually erupt. Apparently only 4 in 3million people have seen an a volcano erupt, I don't believe that, but cause our guide said it I am going to claim it.
A thunderstorm then arrived, so seeing the lava itself was out. So we proceeded to drink whose name I have forgotten, but it was rum, juice and another juice. Really tasty. We then made a mad dash a couple 100 metres to the buffet dinner. Was very tasty, with the Americans holding form with food covering the full surface of their plates. After that, the hot springs were a great way to end the day as the rain at stopped.
Day 3: We were off at a reasonable hour in the morning for some repelling. We did 4 repels, 2 small ones of 20 ft or so, then a couple in the 150-200ft range. When walking the river between we did a couple other things which was cool. Lunch back at the base was rice, beens, stew, salad. Once we sorted out getting a CD of photos, the Costa Ricians didn't appear to see that we were ready to go home. We waited and waited, we then jumped on the back on the truck, and jumped off again as they needed to go get more drivers or something. So we waited again. We eventually got back. We were told this is typical for Costa Ricians but s*** it was frustrating.
That night we had dinner and some Imperials. Before heading to a disco at 10pm. Was the first disco I have been to in years, was expecting heaps of people there....our bus load was the first lot and not much more looked like turning up. Was good all the same, though most of us didn't stay for long as we were off to Monteverde and the few hours it would take to get there.
Day 4: Up and off we were. We got onto a boat after 30minutes or so, to meet drivers on the other side of the lake. Once on the other side, it was all gravel roads and up hill. We made it though, so all was well. Just before the hotel, we wet horsey riding. I'm not a fan of horses, and the track started out pretty muddy and windy. I was not 100% confident about dong it, but somehow my horse didn't break it legs an we survived the muddyness. We posed for pictures and I found out my horses name was Malibu, once we were on first name basis, we were good as gold, overtaking people and everything. Malibu didn't like taking the track all the time, so once I was content with that it was sweet. Although, if someone invents a comfy saddle, they will be an instant success. We went to a cool restaurant once there, with lots of options. It was definietly appropriate to call it the Cloud Forest town, as we were pretty much in the clouds. And all the roads were gravel.
We went to Don Juan's Coffee plantation and met the man himself. The tour started off as a real bore, but got better throughout. I definitely learnt some things, but want be a coffee connaseiur anytime soon. We had a decent dinner as well here but ultimately it was another reasonable night as we had to be up mega early for the bush walk.
Day 5: We started the day with a walk through the Cloud Forest Reserve with a guide. Tje guides are passionate about the wildlife and stuff, but this one was boring, the most exciting thing we saw was a millipede, oh and humming birds.
It was then for the hanging bridges tour, I thought this was going to be epic, in that we would be crossing bridges that jump and sway (well they did) and cross ones that look very dodgy and are about to fall. However after running and jumping on the 2nd bridge, the guide wasn't too happy. So that was lame, and the name was misleading. We saw one rare bird but its after all just a bird. We saw a couple other things, and climbed the onside of a tree, but overall was disspointed by it.
Next up: ZIPLINING: IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO DO IT, DO IT. It was awesome, one of the top 3 things I have ever done I am sure. We did 11 zips overall i think, witha variety of short ones, and some long ones with awesome views. There was also a free fall repel, which was a cool lil rush, then a Tarzan Swing. The TS also had a free fall to start and was quite a thrill. The Finale though was epic. We had our harness switched around for the SUPERMAN. This was weird as we couldn't see what they were doing and even though we knew it was safe not seeing the harness clips and stuff was a bit crazy. Once clipped on, we were pushed off the podium thing, in the superman flying position. We travelled 700m on a zip, 120m in the air, with 2 clips attaching us. It was as close to flying as you'll get, as all the weight felt near your chest. And when trying to get my hands out in front of me again it felt like I was going to fall out. Awesome feeling and awesome views. With 50m or so to go and going at full steam, I was getting confused as we were told not too brake and I could see the end coming quickly. Turns out a brake mechanism happens 20m or so from the finish and just as well we had helmets as it would have been painful as.
Later on we met for wine and cheeses which is always fun. The guys then went on a boose mission. We began to consume that at a rate of knots. I decided then we needed more so I wandered to the Supermarket, but was a lil too slow. The rest as they say is history, with the order of things happening by my account not 100% certain, and the group filling in many gaps.
Day 6: Once I came round, I learnt that we were now in Quepos/Manuel Antonio Park which is was a 5 hour ride away. Teleporting I reckon is the best way to travel :).
That afternoon we went to a restaurant down by the beach which was real tasty. I had decided to stop eating rice and beans the previous day, and my constant need to jump on the Banos stoopped.
We then jumped on to the beach, managed to lose a frisbee in 5 minutes when it dissapeared somewhere after landing in ankle deep water. After a couple monkeys made an appearence in the trees beachside, I felt a lot like I was on Survivor. I think we did something that evening, but its not coming to me.
Day 7: We were off to go on a sailboat and snorkelling. It was a good way to spend a morning/avo. Just cruising on the ocean. I was stoked with a life vest for the snorkelling as my inability to swim would have made it interesting. Apparently we went snorkelling at the wrong time off year as the water was to murky to see different kinds of fish, so we only saw Yellow Tiger Fish. Was good floating in the middle of the ocean though. Once on board, we had the meal I enjoyed the most all trip. Mahi Mahi kebabs, a awesome pasta, and fresh Pineapple. Was perfect. We then went to the beach for a swim and relax in the sun. A thunderstorm rolled in though, so we ducked for cover and picked up some rum. it must have been a huuuuge thunderstorm, as those who didn't come sailboating ended up getting stuck where they were as land slides occured. They made it back eventually and met us at the restaurant a short walk from the hotel. We then had some brews and some dancing went down. A midnightish swim was had.
Day 8: Our last full day of the trip. We hung around Quepos and some of us went to Manuel Antoni National Park. We couldn't go in immediatley as the landslide caused some damage. Once in, we were chuffed to see a few monkeys early on, with one coming in close and posing. We then saw a Sloth, they are a laugh, never seen a animal move so slow. We also ticked off butterfly, frog (was dead), racoon, butterfly off the list. We then got to the beach and we weren't dissapointed, the monkeys were everywhere. And they were on a mission....to find food. If you left you bag unattended they were on to it. We saw retrieve a toilet paper roll and a pack of cards. No food though. After a wander around we slowly made our way back to the Hotel before we jumped on the 5pm bus back to San Jose as the rain beagn to fall. Once back, we had our last dinner together which was my worst all trip....crappily made tacos and not tasty lettuce. O well.
Day 9: Most of us said our good byes at breakfast, and we caught our various taxis to the airport to go back to all corners of the world. I am assuming everyone is home now, but me :(
Currently in LA, still 4 hours till flight leaves to Brisbane. Total time to get home is about 60 hours for me haha.
Had a blast, everyone on the trip was awesome. This is off the top off my head, but its long already so there is no doubt heaps I have missed out.
Jordan.
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