Jeep boat jeep to Volcan Arenal
Just like the title says, that´s what we did to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna. Some exquisite countryside views along the way. There was one bumpy potholed jaggedy road to the boat. Then we crossed Lake Arenal on a lovely boat ride. Got a decent view of the volcano but the top portion was covered in clouds. As soon as we stepped off the boat, I don´t know if it was all the magma or what, but the temp went up by 30 degrees and 300 percent humidity. Adios pantalones! Hello, beachwear.
We took a Jeep as our final leg into town and grabbed a room at Hotel Jireh. In the off season, the hotel rooms were $30 (pretty much the same as a hostel any more here…) balcony, AC, pool, tv, all the amenities. Booked a tour to Nature Hike, Baldi Hot Springs soak and Volcano viewing. Jose our guide was super Americanized, with a tattoo of the Notre Dame fighting Irishman and listened religiously to Bon Jovi. The jungle hike was cool, saw toucans and wild turkeys, gold pendalans (orielle bird), leaf cutter ants, rubber trees… When it started to get dark, we drove to the Lake Side of the Volcano to the lava ¨observatory¨ which was really just some riverside rocks. If the clouds lifted enough, we would see the red lava spew. This was the 1st quasi clear night in 22 days. No lava, however.
Volcan Arenal
Fountain Catedral and Volcan
Then we were dropped at Baldi Hot Springs, not the most commercial of the spring, but not the least either. There were at least 6 big hot water pools and several smaller, all from 90 degrees to 152 degrees. Complete with decorative rocks, waterfalls and tropical jardins. At the top pool, there were three waterslides. Despite Olison´s warning, I don´t think anything could have prepared up for the Slide of Death. There were no Slide At Your Own Risk warnings, the top left one was a doosey. 22 and I raced the 1st time, me right, him left. Let´s just say that by the time I got to the bottom of min, he stood there like he´d been waitin gfor an hour bored out of his head. ¨Don´t tell me, I don´t want to know. Let´s go back up.¨ And we switched slides. I jumped in and pushed off with a whoosh. I got chewed up and spit out recklessly. Appendages in all directions. My life flashed in front of my eyes before I even knew what happened. Then I waited, waited, for an eternity. Finally, out comes 22. Laughing out of control with that I-get-it-now look, we went inside for an all you can eat buffet with some German and Seattle friends and back out to soak some more. Sleep came fast. The next day we walked the strip, the Parque Central and some artists galleries. Lunch at the Gourmet Gecko. Nothing too exciting but nice to have no agenda in this town where I know that the footprints of my once-familiar alter ego JT strolled. If walking together, I would treat you to a sangria or three at the Lava Lounge. We booked the Greay Bus to Tamarindo in the am. Next stop. December and the Costa Rica Pacific Coast.
Baldi Hot Springs mascot
