Arenal (Nov 14-16)

Our friends, Annie, Sonja, and Sarah, arrived at 11 pm on Thursday night, and early the next morning we left with the Elon group for La Fortuna and Vulcan Arenal. We stayed in a resort there, and I have to admit it was fun to live “high style” for a bit. We had large, but simple bungalows in a gorgeous, well manicured area just at the base of Arenal, with a big pool and water slide, and five thermal pools, heated by the hot springs below. We arrived Friday afternoon, after traipsing about Zarcero, with its lovely topiary in the main square,

passing a demonstration against gold mining that the government wants to begin in this area, and lunching in La Fortuna.

As soon as we arrived we jumped into those pools and had a great time exploring all the water choices, drinking pina coladas in pineapples, and enjoying the volcano waterfall which was lit up in red at night, as well as, of course, the real thing. We left for the real thing at 5:30 pm and joined throngs of others on the other side of the volcano where most of the action is and we were delighted by the fireworks. The sparks of lava shooting out weren’t that frequent and so one had to be patient, but it sure was exciting when it happened, with the bright rich red against a black mountain. After an hour or so we returned for dinner and then bed.

Next morning, up to the Mirador (Look Out) with gorgeous vistas, more exploration of the grounds, including crocodile and ant houses, howler monkeys hanging around, and further explorations by Anthony up the mountain into the lava flow area. Students loved their horseback riding; some of them and Molly went bungee jumping (!) in the afternoon and loved that too. Others of us had more drinks in pineapples or coconuts poolside. Sunday began with a 4 am walk to see the sunrise from the volcano for Anthony, Scott, Anna Ruth, and Sonja. The cloud cover precluded seeing much of a sunrise, but the volcanic rocks and walking the night into morning was very lovely. More relaxation by the pool, occasionally in pouring rain. But thermal pools are hot, even in the rain, and so quite pleasant. We had fondue in a little corner of Switzerland created in Costa Rica, called Los Heroes, which intertwined Juan Santamaria (Costa Rica) with Arnold von Winkelried (Switzerland) as the two heroes. This was most amusing, but delicious, and another treat was milking the cows who provided us with the fondue, and then drinking that two-minute old, unpasteurized, warm milk. All too soon back on the bus, although meeting these coatimundis was a pleasant diversion, and home to San Jose.