¡Pura Vida! The First Step in Costa Rica

Avoid the Volcanic Gasses in Costa Rica

Our first stop on this Costa Rican and Panamanian excursion was a visit over the tree canopy of Costa Rica via cables and harnesses connected to some trees. The majority of the 23 energy bound adolescents looked forward most to zip-lining across tree canopies. The experience of flight didn’t disappoint. Zip-lines ranged from the traditional sit down in your harness, fly over tall trees and stop to Tarzan swings propelling students away from the safety of the mountain out over a deep and dizzying valley below, before pulling them back again. Finally not to be outdone by the showboating Tarzan, the Superman/woman zip-line left participants handing from a cable precariously reaching out from below a 1,000 foot cable, head first, chest down, arms out, and hopefully pants dry to the other side of the lush, green valley.

Shy Arenal

The first time Nadine and I visited Costa Rica during our 2003 honeymoon, La Fortuna and active Volcán Arenal didn’t cooperate. When the clouds covered the volcano and gives you lemons, you make lemonade for your margaritas in the hot thermal springs at the base of the mountain in your bathing suit.

Distressingly on this trip, as soon as the bus approached the same vicinity, the same clouds hid Volcán Arenal, a bad omen. But once we got closer to the volcano, the clouds had a change of heart and slowly started dispersing. By the time we arrived to the lookout point, like the Costa Rican national military, the clouds were gone with a perfect view of Arenal and the surrounding lake. If this volcano had been in New Mexico, it would have been covered with phone numbers for lawyers to call when you have been arrested for drunk driving. Thankfully, it’s located in Costa Rica.

A Swimming Change of Plans

A huge storm hit western Costa Rica and downed enough trees to knock out electricity and our plans for visiting Manuel Antonio National Park. Instead, the surfing mecca of Jacó called for a visit. We didn’t surf, just swim.

A boat tour through Costa Rica’s most crocodile infested river followed Jacó where the young, energetic guide willingly fed a huge male croc raw chicken without a second thought. I’m sure his mom has premature gray hair.

Señor Blanco, Do You Need to Go to the Restroom?

In spite of all the muddy fun in Costa Rica, during the last two bus rides back to our temporary homes in Alajuela, I’ve sat in something.

Last night, I sat in either coffee or Coke. This forced me to clean a big brown stain off my shorts in the sink. Once again the next night, I returned we two huge, round chocolate stains on my shorts. Shit, another night and another pair of shorts to clean.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think I couldn’t make a two or three hour bus ride without crapping myself.

Next up, the wildlife Mecca on the eastern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Tortuguero.