Hola from deep inside Costa Rica!

Tuesday August 7th

Well, we made it to Arenal Volcano...pretty damn sweet...actually looks exactly like the volcano you built as a kid in the 4th grade...just minus the foaming mess of vinegar and baking soda shooting out the top. Our little drive was very uneventful...in my travels, the Tico's (Locals) drive quite good. The roads are not bad, just windy...damn I wish I had the Beamer down here...oh Shit would that be good times. On with the story...It took us a good 3 hours to get to La Fortuna from San Jose...with a sweet stop at the bank to figure out why my card would not work...Fricken B of A...Call them before we leave to let them know we are going on vacation to Central America and they freeze your card because there has been "suspect" usage in Central Americal...wow...rocket scientists work there...Ahhhh...I could have kicked a dog...but thankfully there were none around...so I had a beer and everything seemed to get better. But on with the story. We got into town about 4:30 and went strait to the Arenal Observatory Lodge...we were met at the end of a rough dirt road by a little gate in the jungle with a attendant informing us that they were all booked up...for the next three months...wow, should have called ahead on that one! Anyway, he recommended a place back a ways and off we were...bouncing along thru the jungle, the Volcano rumbling in the background. Got the the next place...something like Linda Vista...and guess what they were full too...yea, my whole plan to not plan was hitting the shitter. The helpful receptionist sent us down the road further to a little spot called Arenal Vistas...they had room...well we had the receptionist call first...Anyway, to make a long story short, the place was actually very nice, but resembled a YMCA summer camp...don't get me wrong, the view of the volcano and the lake (there is a large reservoir/lake to the west of the volcano) was beautiful...but not quite what we had envisioned...again plan to not plan...ouch! Anyway, it all worked out (after Jori had a mini melt down...understandable, mind you)...and we settled in before heading back to the Linda Vista hotel for some steaks (I forgot to mention that the little hotel about 1/2 hour off the main road with a glorious view of the volcano had a steak house...weird I know). The steaks were glorious, but I think the lack of red meat for the past 2 1/2 weeks sent Jori's system for a loop...she has been feeling terrible all day...more on that soon.

So we arose with the sun this AM at about 5:30...it was pretty damn sweet, our little YMCA room had a great view of the Volcano...and in the AM the clouds break a little to let you see the crater...mind you I was half asleep and didn't get any pics...damn! Bygones...we got up and...well didn't get very far...Jori was hurting from, you guessed it, her steak the night before...but she pulled it together like a champ and even though not feeling well, we were off (after our Costa Rican breakfast of course - including: fruit, eggs, toast, rice w/beans, and some other stuff). We actually headed back to the Arenal Observatory Lodge and paid to utilize the facilities for the day (like $8). It is pretty amazing...The volcano is like 1.5 Kilometers away...fills the screen on you camera if you get my drift. So we got there parked and hiked down to a little...well actually large waterfall...with everyone else...seems like the secret is out! But I must say, the grounds are immaculate...simply stunning. We dallied very little as Jori was (and is) not feeling much better...back to the lodge area. Once back from our little hike, we found a little observatory (imagine that...an observatory, at an observatory...fricken brain surgeons are we). We hiked up and hung out for a while...and what a great little choice that was. We could almost see the crater thru the clouds...but we could sure as heck hear it...it was a bit surreal...first, we could hear the boulders crashing down the side of the mountain, then upon closer watching, could actually see them flying from the top of the mountain, skipping up little puffs of dust (or steam) as they bounded down the slop...all I can say is CRAZY COOL...hard to really describe any differently to help, but it was cool).

From there, we had to head out...Jori is not feeling well. I turned my little Rav4 into a rally mobile and drove for the paved road...this thing is not that bad...but of course it is a rental...let the good times roll! We came back towards La Fortuna a bit and landed ourselves at Montana De Fuego Lodge...a bit more high fluten...but very nice none the less. We will make our home here for the night...if Jori is feeling better, maybe we will be off to hit the hot springs...I don't know, I don't know if we will have time...

Out for now...Oh...I will update this post with pics later...still have not downloaded the camera from the last two days...and as I sit here in the lobby typing...I don't have the cable...sorry!

Off to check on my wife.

Cheers! RB