Arenal and La Fortuna

Those are clouds from the local weather that crashes up against Arenal... not Volcanic Ash!

Arenal is a volcano that was in a fairly constant state of eruption from 1968 until last year when it went dormamt again.  Its much like Kilimonjaro or Mount Fuji in Japan as its almost an upside down cone.  It is  only 5K feet tall and the base must be only 5 miles or so.  We've driven around most of it on roads that range from good (but winding) 2 lane paved to boulder roads fit for 4x4's with good suspensions.  The eruption in 68 killed about 80 Tico's and since then they've changed the building codes.  The jungle has pretty much completely obliterated the remnants of the eruption... amazing that all that vegetation can grow on bare rock to the point you'd be hard pressed to say it wasn't like that 1000 years ago.  Mother Nature's ability to quickly reclaim dead areas is fascinating.

We are staying in a little cabin at Arenal Green outside of  La Fortuna.  That little crapbox 4x4 (Diastsu BeGo) is proving handy.  This is a nice place but can't compare with our last place at Bio Thermales although the mountain stream in the backyard has proven popular.

We're having a miserable time!

Taking some refuge from the heat and humidity where we can get it!

"What, me worry?"

We are spending three days here.  The first day, we played in the stream and hunted down some activities for the following 3 days.  La Fortuna/Arenal is the Queenstown/action capital of Costa Rica so lots to do from ziplining over 300' canyons to class V and VI white water rafting or kitesailing on Lake Arenal (Costa Rica's largest man made lake - generates 40% of Costa Rica's electricity).  Budget and risk tolerance kept our preferences more pedestrian.  Yesterday we decided upon a 4km guided nature tour on the "hanging bridges" in the rain forest called Sky Walk.  We had a young Tico guide called Nestor who was fantastic.  You'd think he had a PhD in biology based on all the interesting tidbits he knew about the flora and fauna.

Nestor and the family on the hanging bridges tour... he was always on the lookout... and I was struggling to keep up!

Nestor and the family overlooking Lake Arenal

Our first (of 8) hanging bridge.

The bridge above was something like 700' long and was 215' over the floor of the valley below it.  The trail went up and down about 1500' but was well spaced out so even I didn't have too much trouble although I was a little sweaty at the end of it!  

We saw a few beautiful waterfalls, the world's biggest Dragon Fly (beautiful with translucent blue wings and a 8" wing span).  Didn't see any Monkeys but got some good shots of some birds but mostly we learned about how the various plants/trees depend upon each other and the local wildlife to exist.  After seeing this, I really question how people could think Intelligent Design is a viable replacement theory for evolution.  I don't care how omnipotent the designer is... there is no way He could dream all this stuff up.  

Two different lily species living on a tree covered in moss and cradled by a vine.  The first is fertilized by the second.

A monster Bromalid plant growing in a palm tree.  The bromalids hold up to 12 gallons of water along with tadpoles from the poison dart frogs.

A monkey's brush!

This is a Palm tree... but note the dreadlocks!  Those are the seeds.

One of many local waterfalls.

Note the pretty bird...

"Hidden Waterfall"

Not the slightest bit afraid of heights... that's my little girl!

A typical view on our walk... gorgeous.

Every afternoon here it thunders and pours and then clears up by about 8pm.  Keeps us from roaming the streets of La Fortuna but we generally just go to a local "Soda" for the Casada or Plata del dio (plate of the day).  Meals are generally "Pescado"/fish (best I ever had...and I don't generally like fish too much) or "Pollo"/Chicken with Plaintain (fried banana like fruit), salad and of course Rice & Beans which the Tico's have with every meal.  They typically run from 2000-3500 Colones ($4-7) and a fruit drink will add another $1.50 so we're doing dinners for about $26 for the family... good for the budget!  Of course that includes Burgers for Shawn/Rachel... as they haven't been very adventurous - as expected.  Jen and I are quite enjoying the local cuisine.

Today we hiked up 1500' or so and then down 700' to the La Fortuna Waterfall - a spectacular site.  It crashes down into a small pool that we were able to swim in... although the currents were VERY strong.  Great exercise just holding yourself in place!  

A typical "Boulder Road" in rural Costa Rica

La Fortuna Waterfall "Mirador"/lookout from the top

Brent's feeling the hike a bit!

Strong currents and big waves but lots of fun!

What a view!

Swim harder!

Going behind the falls...

Then we went back to our Casita to get some laundry done and donsome studying with the kids.  Jen has got them going very well at Math and French.  I'm convinced they'll.come out of this trip with Grade 12 each in both.  Jen really is a fantastic teacher.  I would have paid a lot more attention in school if I'd ever had her as a teacher that's for sure.  The kids agree.  She's great about breaking it down into digestable chunks and letting them retain it.  I'm picking up French through osmosis!  

This is our last night here.  Tomorrow we movenon to the cloud forests of Monteverde... a 4hr30 drive down those boulder roads....  and the place is only 17kms away on the other side of Lake Arenal... which goes to prove that old TV commercial... "you can't get there from here".