Arenal

Lazy morning, then hike near the volcano. Then to Tabacon hot springs for a soak and dinner. Beautiful.

Hanging Bridges

Another early start, this time to go to hanging bridges. Somewhat rainy, but nice walk through/above primary rainforest. Saw an anteater, tarantula, eyelash pit viper and a ton of interesting plants. Nice lunch in La Fortuna, then lazy afternoon and evening napping, finishing a bottle of wine and soaking in the natural hot springs (thanks to the volcano).

Moving day, heading to Arenal

Moving day. Started with the boat trip "out". Saw a couple kaiman. Eventually got to our new hotel. Settled in, nice dinner and soak in the natural hot springs (thanks to the volcanoes around).

Tortuguero

Started with an early morning boat tour , then walk, then afternoon body tour. Saw three kinds of monkeys, many birds (green McCaws and toucans, though flying so you couldn't really see then clearly), many basalisks, iguanas, a boa constrictor, etc and then there's the plants.

Leaving San Jose

Moving day, to Tortuguero on the Caribbean coast. After lunch, a visit to the little village (basically tourist stuff). Best o part of the day was a night walk in rain forest. Saw lots of different kinds of frogs and toads, done bats, and various insects (walking sticks, katydids, spiders, grasshopper-like things, etc.)

Doka coffee estates and La Paz Waterfall Gardens

Early start to visit a coffee plantation and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. Coffee tour was interesting, but really enjoyed the Waterfall Gardens. It's basically a wildlife rescue. All the animals are unable to be released to the wild because they are injured, too habituated to humans, etc. Oh, and the waterfalls. Beautiful, misty--just what you'd hope for in a cloud forest.

Moving day

Started with our own walking tour of Barri Amón, an area with some old mansions built by the coffee barons. There's also this wall with a bunch of tile murals showing rural life (ordinary people). Argentinian grill for Christmas lunch. Then got ourselvess moved to the new (much posher) hotel for the start of our tour tomorrow.

San Jose

Started with the National Museum, then nice lunch, nap and general wandering around.. Pleasant, low-key day. (Photo is an oxcart at the museum.)

More San Jose

Another attempt at a walking tour. This time it happened. Very interesting, covering various aspects of Costa Rican history, some plants, coffee, etc. Good lunch at a tortillaria. Then nap, then walk around the Paseo Gastronomico. We were still full from lunch, but tried some Costa Rican Crest beer and had a snack--tamales (not as good as the ones the other day) and tacos, which turned out to be a tortilla with stuff piled up on top. Yum.

San Jose continued

Started with a tour of the National Theater then delicious lunch of tamales, then visit to the gold museum and finally home for a nap. The Theater is interesting--very over-the-top European baroque but intended to be accessible to everyone. after dinner went to a fun band Christmas concert in one of the churches and found more band music outside. Then home to bed.

San Jose

Errands today (who would have thought getting distilled water would be a major challenge) and a walk around downtown. Excellent lunch at Restaurante Silvestre. Tried to go on a tour of the National Theater, but the main hall was closed for a rehearsal. We did acquire some Rompope--the Costa Rican version of eggnog--and a bottle of wine.

Henry spent the evening sleeping, trying to get over a cold. Broke, Nobi and I found dinner and then an outdoor concert and a short off dance party. Lots of really good dancers! Then a demonstration of folkloric dancing. It looked Mexican, but we never found out for sure.

San Jose

Getting Ready

Last scramble to pack: flight is at 6:45am tomorrow, so no time to think in the morning. House/birdsitters, Ken and Karen, are here. Almost time to go find dinner, then EARLY bed.