La Fortuna -- Volcan Arenal
Friends,
Well, we didn´t go ziplining but we did go on the Sky Bridge tour, which is a series of suspension cable walkways across 200 foot-deep gorges above the primeval forest. Some bridges were over 500 feet long, and had quite a sway to them. Got some great photos and can´t wait to share them with you. It´s amazing to see the forest from directly above-- the canopy cover is absulutely complete and you cannot see the ground, only treetops.
The weather in Santa Elena was totally mild and nice, and after the walkway tour we went to the local cheese factory, built by the Quakers in 1952. The cheese from this area is legendary, and I can attest to that! They also make homemade Ice cream. I had the coffee ice cream, which is made, of course, with local excellent coffee and fresh cream. I have never had frsher food than here in Costa Rica (more on that later).
After Ice cream we went to the frog exhibit and saw beautiful frogs, many endangered. Learned more about frogs than i ever wanted to know. Very cool.
We decided we had had enough of Santa elena and it was time to move on. We got a mini bus ride to Lake Arenal and took the ferry across. As we neared the shore, Volcan Arenal loomed above, shrouded in fog at its upper reaches. Very impressive so far. We caught a ride into town and now are staying at a nice hotel which overlooks the volcano.
I have to spend a moment to talk about possibly the best meal i have ever had. First of all, anyone that says Costa rican food is bland or poor is totally nuts. At a Tico bbq joint we had a giant platter of the following:
2 large lobsters
2 pork tenderloins
2 sirloin steaks
bbq chicken
6 giant shrimp
Fresh grilled fish (possibly sea bass)
veggies, all grilled to perfection
-- all for 34 bucks ( yes, 17 dollars each).
Even this morning, the local Gallo Pinto (rica and beans with meat) had local fresh cheese, the coffee has fresh cream, the milk is straight from the cow, really fresh eggs, and excellent coffee.
Simple, yes, but the freshest, tastiest simple food I have ever had. Move over, Thailand!
Last night we took a guided night hike to a vista point which gave us absolutely impressive views of the lava flow-- giant, i mean giant flaming boulders tumbling down the mountain, colliding and exploding into thousands of mini fireballs. Since we were hiking through the rainforest, it didn´t fail to rain hard on us, so hard it impeded visibility to about 30 feet. I was worried about my camera, but luckily the inner garbage bag saved the day. All other pockets were swimming in water.
After a most impressive display of Lava (my right arm for a 600 mm lens!), we were taken to the Baldi thermal hot springs, a resort-like place, complete with 6 different temperature hot springs and swim up bar. We relaxed in the hot water, sipping drinks and watching the lava tumble down the mountain. An unreal experience.
Today we are on our way to La Catarata, the local waterfall. I´m hoping to get some good photos of that. I am speeding through my memory cards way too fast. Hoping some dull stuff will happen so i can save my cards :)
My spanish is improving daily, I can´t wait to learn more!
Hasta luego,
klaus
Well, we didn´t go ziplining but we did go on the Sky Bridge tour, which is a series of suspension cable walkways across 200 foot-deep gorges above the primeval forest. Some bridges were over 500 feet long, and had quite a sway to them. Got some great photos and can´t wait to share them with you. It´s amazing to see the forest from directly above-- the canopy cover is absulutely complete and you cannot see the ground, only treetops.
The weather in Santa Elena was totally mild and nice, and after the walkway tour we went to the local cheese factory, built by the Quakers in 1952. The cheese from this area is legendary, and I can attest to that! They also make homemade Ice cream. I had the coffee ice cream, which is made, of course, with local excellent coffee and fresh cream. I have never had frsher food than here in Costa Rica (more on that later).
After Ice cream we went to the frog exhibit and saw beautiful frogs, many endangered. Learned more about frogs than i ever wanted to know. Very cool.
We decided we had had enough of Santa elena and it was time to move on. We got a mini bus ride to Lake Arenal and took the ferry across. As we neared the shore, Volcan Arenal loomed above, shrouded in fog at its upper reaches. Very impressive so far. We caught a ride into town and now are staying at a nice hotel which overlooks the volcano.
I have to spend a moment to talk about possibly the best meal i have ever had. First of all, anyone that says Costa rican food is bland or poor is totally nuts. At a Tico bbq joint we had a giant platter of the following:
2 large lobsters
2 pork tenderloins
2 sirloin steaks
bbq chicken
6 giant shrimp
Fresh grilled fish (possibly sea bass)
veggies, all grilled to perfection
-- all for 34 bucks ( yes, 17 dollars each).
Even this morning, the local Gallo Pinto (rica and beans with meat) had local fresh cheese, the coffee has fresh cream, the milk is straight from the cow, really fresh eggs, and excellent coffee.
Simple, yes, but the freshest, tastiest simple food I have ever had. Move over, Thailand!
Last night we took a guided night hike to a vista point which gave us absolutely impressive views of the lava flow-- giant, i mean giant flaming boulders tumbling down the mountain, colliding and exploding into thousands of mini fireballs. Since we were hiking through the rainforest, it didn´t fail to rain hard on us, so hard it impeded visibility to about 30 feet. I was worried about my camera, but luckily the inner garbage bag saved the day. All other pockets were swimming in water.
After a most impressive display of Lava (my right arm for a 600 mm lens!), we were taken to the Baldi thermal hot springs, a resort-like place, complete with 6 different temperature hot springs and swim up bar. We relaxed in the hot water, sipping drinks and watching the lava tumble down the mountain. An unreal experience.
Today we are on our way to La Catarata, the local waterfall. I´m hoping to get some good photos of that. I am speeding through my memory cards way too fast. Hoping some dull stuff will happen so i can save my cards :)
My spanish is improving daily, I can´t wait to learn more!
Hasta luego,
klaus
posted by Klaus Larsen at 10:18 AM
4 Comments:
hmmmmmmm, $16 each? and yet you paid $34...
Here it's raining, and the forecast is for more rain, and then Monday it's suppose to rain some more. Do you miss us???
I want
2 large lobsters
2 pork tenderloins
2 sirloin steaks
bbq chicken
6 giant shrimp
veggies, all grilled to perfection
Sounds AWESOME! Damn, now I'm hungry.
Love, Dorte :)
I am getting hungry. Just had a couple of veal franks and some potato salad. Not quite as fresh as the lobsters. Nuller is at her favorite resort for relaxation and rabies shots while Benedikte and I are in Northern California the next couple of days. She just got back from Korea this morning and we are off tomorrow; back on Tuesday.
As Dorte says, it is raining, but we need it. Maybe it wil be green by the time you guys get back.
Love Dad and Jeppe
You're right. Don't want to shoot all your...memory cards at the beginning of the trip. hehe
You're right. Don't want to shoot all your...memory cards at the beginning of the trip. hehe
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