Costa Rica day 5. (Thermal Springs in Baldi by Arenal)

Costa Rica day 5.

It rained like hell all night and all morning in the area. It rained so much that they had to cancel the Rafting tour we booked, AGAIN. But maybe it was a good signed, because on the news they saw floods everywhere in the area, roads closed for trees falling, and land sliding over the roads. In fact La Fortuna, where we were staying, had in the morning almost all roads closed to all directions, and was therefore almost isolated from the rest of the country.

So had virtually nothing to do, because all the trips, excursion, and things to see were going to be spoiled under the heavy rain. The guy from the reception recommended us to spend the day in one of those thermal water complexes. We didn’t follow initially his recommendation because that was not in our plans (we preferred to go to a public free one and the guy in reception was clearly trying to see us something), but after talking to local guys in the gas station, local guys in a Tico bar, guys in the Arenal National park, etc, everyone of them told us there was no free thermal springs to go, and they all recommended the best thing to do on a day like that was going to thermal water centre. So in the end we booked the one that the guy in reception recommend us, with a good offer including dinner. So we went from travelling as posh backpackers to do very posh backpackers. Instead of a day of action, we did a day for full relax, we watch Athletico Madrid match having a piña colada, water slides, almost burned ourselves in almost boiling waters, etc. In the afternoon the rained stopped so it was nice in the end.

I have not talked about the Hostel yet. It was a very nice one, with a good swimming pool, internet area, clean rooms. Pity about the day, because the swimming pool would have had views of the Arenal volcano, if the cloud didn't cover it all.

Hopefully the night would be good and tomorrow we would be able to do rafting. At least that was what they told us in the evening.

Filo
A known anonymous
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AlberTICOCosta Rica day 5.

It rained like hell all night and all morning in the area. It rained so much that they had to cancel the Rafting tour we booked, AGAIN. But maybe it was a good signed, because on the news they saw floods everywhere in the area, roads closed for trees falling, and land sliding over the roads. In fact La Fortuna, where we were staying, had in the morning almost all roads closed to all directions, and was therefore almost isolated from the rest of the country.

So had virtually nothing to do, because all the trips, excursion, and things to see were going to be spoiled under the heavy rain. The guy from the reception recommended us to spend the day in one of those thermal water complexes. We didn’t follow initially his recommendation because that was not in our plans (we preferred to go to a public free one and the guy in reception was clearly trying to see us something), but after talking to local guys in the gas station, local guys in a Tico bar, guys in the Arenal National park, etc, everyone of them told us there was no free thermal springs to go, and they all recommended the best thing to do on a day like that was going to thermal water centre. So in the end we booked the one that the guy in reception recommend us, with a good offer including dinner. So we went from travelling as posh backpackers to do very posh backpackers. Instead of a day of action, we did a day for full relax, we watch Athletico Madrid match having a piña colada, water slides, almost burned ourselves in almost boiling waters, etc. In the afternoon the rained stopped so it was nice in the end.

I have not talked about the Hostel yet. It was a very nice one, with a good swimming pool, internet area, clean rooms. Pity about the day, because the swimming pool would have had views of the Arenal volcano, if the cloud didn't cover it all.

Hopefully the night would be good and tomorrow we would be able to do rafting. At least that was what they told us in the evening.

Filo
A known anonymous
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AlberTICO

Fwd: Costa Rica day 4 Tortuguero+ Arenal

Costa Rica day 4 Tortuguero+ Arenal

We woke up at 5:30 again, althought for 1 hour it was really difficult
to sleep because it was raining dogs and cats. We went to the meeting
point and Roberto the Tortuguero park guide was there and told us we
had to start in one hour, to have more chances to see things,

So at seven we started our 3 hour canoe trip. We saw a different type
of birds, yguanas, a few other reptiles like few Basílicas, the one
that walks over the water. a couple of monkeys and a small caiman. The
trip is normally more successful but all the rain makes animals to
protect them sekf , making rhem more difficult, and half way through
it started raining again and later started it went heavier and
heavier, and heavier.

With all that rain there was no point in visiting the Tortuguero park,
so we decided to leave Tortugueroto go to Arenal, which was 5 h drive
away.

We arrived around, 6 pm, We couldn't see the Arenal volcan because it
was cloudy and raining gently. The hostel, Arenal Backpakers Resort,
was fantastic, ckean, with a nice swimmingpool, which we didn't used,
hammocks, lawn area, etc.

We booked a rafting trip for the following day and we went out for
diner, and some drinks. It started raining very heavily around 8, non
stop. Bad sign for the following day.

Filo
A known anonymous
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AlberTICO

Costa Rica Day 3 (que pena que no fuese el quito)

Costa Rica Day 3 (que pena que no fuese el quito)

I have to start in Spanish I am sorry for those that cannot speak it or read it, but there are few things, the important ones, that have to be said in your mother language and they have a very bad translation, and of course like Mr Charlton said once, football is not a question between life and death, it is more important than that.

CIN COmentarios desde C.R.0. Guardiola se tomo una Mou 5 estrellas. Nos quedamos CIN COmer, a las CINCO de la tarde, a CINCO mil kms de distancia, en un restaurante que ponían MANITAS de cerdo, ante un Madrid de aCERO o hojalata. El Barça está a CINCO mou años luz.

Now back to English. We contracted a rafting excursion in Puerto Viejo. The plan was not to take the transport they offered but to follow the bus, so after the Rafting we could head to Tortugero. The bus should be picking us up at 6:20, we had everything loaded in the car and were waiting in front of the Hotel. When the bus arrived, at 6:40 they guys told us to follow him, we got into the car (no more that 10 seconds) start the car (2 seconds) and the bus was no longer there. Got to the reception again , and called the company and they wanted us to try to drive them and find them. We were not in the mood anymore, so we recovered our money, and make our way to Tortugero.

We stopped in Puerto Limon in our way there, nothing to worth mentioning (CIN COmentarios). We then get to La Pavona to catch a Boat to Tortuguero. We arrived around the time of the match, but the electricity went out in the entire town, so we could not see it, but we had 3G connectivity and we were able to find out how Barcelona was running over the Mou-Team, despite the messages from Alberto’s brother at the end of the match saying that the match was borring and was a going to be a 0-0 draw :).

We spent the evening in the afternoon in the tortuguero Beach looking for little turtles. We had a big walk through volcanic sand, we were fairly unfortunate because we saw the sings of a 20 or 30 of them, who should have reached the sea minutes before we got there. But on the way back, when it was already dark we saw one, in fact I almost kicked it. We couldn't take any pictures cause it was dark and we didn´t bring the tourches with us.

We went back to the hotel and had dinner in the hotel itself, who had the best restaurant in Tortugero. We were really tired, and it started raining heavily, for the next day we had a 5:30 start for a canoe tour through the canals. So we decided to rest a bit in the hotel and go to bed early, watching all the comments and news about the game..... . What a sweet dream we were going to have .

Filo
A known anonymous
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AlberTICO

Costa Rica Day 2 (Cahuita + Manzanillo)

Costa Rica Day 2

First morning in the Caribbean. We women up Very early. Jetlag hit foth If us , and/or we were up before 7. We went bu the seafront to get some breakfast. Which we actual didn't in a places running bu a Barcelona FC fan, who had pictures of few of the Barcelona wins since 1992. We asked him, obviously, where could we see the Barcelona-Madrid Match on Monday, just in case we would still be in Puerto Viejo tomorrow.

We went to visit the Cuihita national park. We took a crazy local guide called Anthony, also called Papito or Paps. The guy was good, we were able to see poison snakes, "aulladores" monkeys, white face monkeys, "mapache", "golden" spiders and numerous types of lizards. Anthony was funny guy, he liked every girl we pass by .We has alwayss saying "pura vida, mujeres guapas, marihuana buena"

In the afternoon, we spent the afternoon in Manzanillo, (we had our swim in the Caribbean). Then at Night we went back to Maxi's, where we tried Lobsters. I have to say that I liked the dinner better the day earlier.

Filo

Un anonimo concodo

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AlberTico

Costa Rica Day 1 (Puerto Viejo)

Costa Rica Day+1 (Puerto Viejo)

First few hours in San Jose was more than enough to show that it was not good enough for expending more than few hours.

So in the morning we arranged a couple of things:

• Mobile phone: through the only phone company ICE. Alberto had a free Iphone. It is surprisingly cheap. Something less 5 cent a minute national call, and about 40c for international.
• Car rental: We've got a 4WD car.
• Thongs: Alberto got the thongs/sandals he could not buy in Miami

We then took the rent car to Puerto Viejo in the south Caribbean coast. After making three mistakes in the directions, we finally got our way to Puerto Viejo.

The road was ok until we get to Puerto Limon, and from there the next few kms were decent, but the last 30 kms where really bad, a road full of holes and bumps, we could not drive faster than 20 km/hour.

In Puerto Limon we book Hotel Pura Vida, which was a very good choice. We were in the tripple room, with two double beds, and ensuite bathroom, And room being serviced daily 40$/night. The owner, Luis, was a friendly and very useful guy that help us with our plans for the next two/three days.

For diner we went to a recommended Lonely planet restaurant el Loco Natural, a posh fusion Thai, Indian restaurant. OH MY GOOD, excellent, we took a Tandoori with coconut milk chicken, which is the best Curry I ever had. All with cocktails, a total 15 $ each. Really really, really good.

Filo

A known anonymous

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AlberTico

Costa Rica Day 1 few hours after landing.

We have arrived safely San Juan, and this time without incident. We got our shuttle bus to Hostel Toruma, which was nothing special, far better from the outside than from the inside, specially the shared bathrooms. In fact I would say that it was not a good one. It had ree internet with computers, swimming pool area was far from the busy and noisy parts of San Jose but the beds without linen, dirty barthrooms and had a guy in receptions that gave the worse explanation and directions of where to go.



We went out to have a couple of drinks and something to eat in the bars of the city center. It was corious that in every place we went there was a security guy that check us for guns.
Nothing expectacular, but beer is good and I am sure we will have a few of them in the trip. "Tic@s", very not an homogenious group. In general there are small, girls are again in general short and some of there dressed leaving not much for imagination.

Next day we are going to Puerto Viejo in the Caribbean.


Filo
Un anonimo conocido
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AlberTico

Costa Rica -4h

Costa Rica -4h.
We arrived 30-45m ahead of time to Miami international airport, then
after being digitalized all ten fingers, being photographed, being
asked if we were planning to kill Obama, having to explain where we
work, or why Alberto doesn't work, we had to pick the luggage clear
customs and check in again. It was around 3:40 pm local time when we
were finished.
We had a long connection, We looked at the flight plan and saw a 22:00 on it.

So we had to try to something. We were advised there was a Mall near
by, and today was Thanks Giving shopping day. So we thought in going
to the Mall to see the atmosphere, and then go to South Beach. But we
couldn't make it,... Destiny had something else planned for us......

This was day when we were going to start understanding how women feel
when they cross the revolving doors of a shooping mall, and transform
themself. We could blame the heat, the humidity, the lights, the crowd
of people everywhere, the good € vs $ rate, the extra 25-40% discounts
over already discounted Outlet prices, the lack of sleep, the jetlag,
the contagious american way of life, or feeling like home where
everyone speaks spanish except for few speaking english. Could be one
of those things or all of them, but for 1.5h we didn't know we were on
a backpackers trip to Costa Rica.

We arrived to the with the plan of looking, and maybe buying a pair
of thongs, and we end up with 3 pairs of Levis 501s, 3 Polo shirts, 6
pairs of socks, a RL cup, a swimming short, a magneto and a postcard,
and of course no thongs, And when we were waiting in the Tommy
Hilfiger queue with a coat and a couple of scarves, we realized that
it was 6 pm, and we mislooked the departure time, 22:00 was the
arrival time , and we were departuring in 2 hours, so for the second
time in 24 hours, we had to rush to catch the plane.....

Filo
A known anonymous
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AlberTico