Travel to Costa Rica, Alajuela, La Fortuna.

I was awake relatively early this morning as our hotel is right on a busy street and given we don't have air-con, the windows are open to let at least some cooler air in. After catching up on blogs, we went out for breakfast at the My Coffee cafe (same place we enjoyed an arvo coffee from yesterday). After tentatively ordering pancakes, Rach changed her mind when she saw the dessert menu...berry crepes (with ice-cream I might add!). I chose an omelet and was happy when it was brought out with fresh fruit and muffins too! So we broke our fast ensuring that we were well fed ahead of our massive adrenaline-rushing excursion.

We were picked up at 10am and taken to our waiting 4WDs. We scrambled onto the back of the trays where they had added benches for the would-be canyoneerers. The drive up the mountain was particularly bumpy...a 'Costa Rican massage' our funny little local guides pointed out (amongst heaps of other one-liners). The heavens then decided to open and a tropical downpour begun, well I suppose its not called a rainforest for nothing

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Travel to Costa Rica, Alajuela.

Semana Santos. Interesting words: In translation it means the “Holy Week” in Spanish. We have experienced the week of Easter - Costa Rican style. Let me tell you these Tico's know how to do it up right....but let me back up a bit because we were supposed to be in Nicaragua for Easter.

Well Nicaragua didn't happen. The last days the kids were here we all ate at a "soda" for breakfast. These sodas are where the locals eat. They serve good, cheap “typical food”. Well 3 out of 5 of us suffered some gastrointestinal distress later. Some of us got over it in a few days, others a few days longer and then there was me. Two weeks and a doctor visit later I am just starting to feel normal again. When we dropped everyone off at the airport we went looking for our bus ticket and were told we had to purchase it the night before we wanted to travel north. What we didn't take into consideration that we were “approaching" the Semana Santos ( Holy week) and that everyone and I mean everyone was travelling somewhere and the bus was completely packed for the next 3
Dam spillway
Thought of my dad here days. So now we are stuck in San Jose. We found a cheaper hotel right downtown which was in the roughest area in town. However I didn't have to worry about venturing out as I got so sick I was confined to the room for the next 5 days.

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Travel to Costa Rica, Alajuela, Arenal.

We arrived in La Fortuna pleasently surprised by how nice our 11$ a night hostel was. The Arenal backpackers resort is what they call themselves and resort feeling for a backpackers was felt! This small volcanic town situated at the base of mt arenal was buzzing with many tourists and not too short of great food places either! We had a action pack / relaxing 3 days ahead.

Day one consisted of a full day of white water rafting which was AWESOME! we picked a company that had over 1000 positive reviews on tripadvisor and good they were. We were put in a raft with two american boys same age as us that had clearly never done anywater sport. The guide after 5 mins on the rapid and two fails asked scott and i to move to front as we were the strongest (i had to laugh as my arms arent exactly muscley) so scott clearly saved our boat yet i tried but spent alot of time diving into bottom of raft to save myself. A big burritto was earnt for dinner!

Day 2 laura was very sore and a nice soak in some hot springs were in need.
another spaWe went to the springs resort and spa where the series the bachelor has a eposide filmed there. At 800$ a night, (dallas you would love this place) the day entrance fee was 50$ and another $40 in transportation and food and drinks - well lets just say our budget clearly blew over! but heaven it was and hot they were too and best of all laura got to see over 10 different exoctic cats they had kept on the property! WE justified it was happy early valentines day gift to one another......

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