Having recovered from the excitement of taking a hot bath with 40 strangers of various nationalities, it was down to more mundane events. Today (Saturday) we left the Arenal Volcano - still hidden by low hanging clouds - to head for the cloud forest.
We were picked up from the hotel in an old school bus - yes a school bus just like you see on the American movies. There must have been around 40 seats; the windows were dark and misty. There were 3 passengers - we two and an oriental looking young guy who smiled but seemed to speak neither English or spanish.
We were delivered to Arenal lake - it felt like a delivery - and deposited on a small boat, just we three again. The boat driver, captain would probably have given him a status he didn't look as if he merited, was cheerful and keen to show off any birds or reptiles along the shores. There were quite a few photo opportunities including turkey buzzards and egrets. The boat journey took around 40 minutes down and across lake Arenal. and still the rain came down. On reaching the other side we had to climb the slippery slope, Amanda with the help of a couple of 10-year-old boys who earned 200 colonies for their cheerful helpfulness.
There was much milling about while boats came and went and people slithered down or up the slope depending which way they were heading. We were not sure which was our transport; some people had numbers to match their bus. We just had our names but, as always has been the case since we started our tour, our transport duly arrived, Bryan introduced himself and we embarked followed by our smiling young amigo. The road was dirt-track nearly all the way and full of potholes. We climbed and climbed up into the clouds, being bounced and thrown around in the back. At one stage, the road was just too steep and slippery for Bryan's mini bus and we had to reverse back down the hill 3 or 4 times before trying to charge up the slope. To the smell of burning rubber and smoking clutch we finally got up on the fourth attempt. We cheered. Bryan was relieved. The tyres were almost treadless. When we reached the higher slopes, the silver lining arrived in the form of blue skies and sunshine! The 40 km bus journey took over 2 hours with only the last couple of kilometres on made up roads. But who cares, it was warm and sunny and we had arrived safely at Monteverde, green mountain. We booked in after lunch. Our room has magnificent views across the mountains to the lake. We have a suite with two king size beds on two different levels. We will only use the one. After lunch we strolled down hills into town for a coffee in Tree Tops before taking a taxi back up the hills; makes sense that.
The beautiful Monteverde reserve came into being in 1972, when the Quaker community, spurred on by the threat of encroaching squatters, joined forces with environmental and wildlife organizations to purchase and protect an extra 328 hectares (811 acres) of land. This fragile environment relies almost entirely on public donations to survive. Today, the reserve totals 10,500 hectares (25,946 acres). Just thought you would like to know that!
Well tonight we did a night walk in part of the cloud forest looking for nocturnal animals, frogs and the like. We got lucky and saw a kinkajou, an olingo as well as a white faced coati. On a smaller scale we also saw a tiny frog, praying mantis, cricket, grasshopper, tarantula, sleeping birds and other things. All of this gave us an appetite so we walked to a nearby restaurant for a few beers and chicken and beef quesadillas.
Kingajou
Tomorrow we are up early for a 7.00 am start and hike in the cloud forest reserve. Buenes Noches amigos!
More Pictures to follow.
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