Long day traveling

Friday
After the 1 ½ hr boat trip back to the mainland and the long bumpy ride on the gravel road, the tour guide talked to us about the “optional tours”. These are adventures which are not covered by the price of the tour and also which may not appeal to everyone. Free time is built into the schedule to accommodate travelers who would like to enjoy these options. Five were available for this Costa Rica trip.
1. The Sky Trek Zipline experience
2. A river Safari in which participants raft in individual crafts and see the critters of the area
3. Hot Springs – from the Arenal volcano
4. Jungle Crocodile Safari- just what it sounds like
5. Individually scheduled spa treatments (2 hrs of pampering, with massage, etc)

We chose #’s 1,3,and 4 More about each one as they happen.

At a rest stop, Nick, thinking he was buying me peanuts bought an interesting snack. It is fried kernels of corn with a really strong lime flavor. I plan to buy some more to share with folks in Texas. They have a little frito flavor, but are crunchier. Wait til you taste them.

We went on a terribly windy switchback road where we literally had to back up at times to let 18 wheelers by us. We did see one of the large semis turned over on its side and Jose our tour guide told us that this is not at all unusual.

About ¾ through a really long day of driving and driving, we stopped at a school which the tour company subsidizes as a part of their Collette Foundation. 6 children ranging from 3-6th grades did Folklorico dances in costume native to Costa Rica. This is a two room school with only 2 teachers and 35 children who attend on split shifts. Of course, the principal in me started trying to figure out the most efficient division of students between morning and afternoon and the two teachers.

We were served refreshments after the dance performance. They all seemed grateful for our visit. Their school is organized around the coffee growing/picking seasons. Their school year ends in November and a new year begins in February.

At the end of this very long 8 hour travel day, we arrived at yet another unusual and unique hotel. The Arenal Springs resort is lovely, elegant and each room is separated by a garden area from the next.



The garden shower is a unique addition to this interesting facility .

Be good!