Another good night's sleep after crashing out a bit last night.
Bright and sunny but with inevitable wind. Went on the coffee / chocolate / sugar cane plantation tour, which was very interesting, seeing the processes in full.
Back for a small lunch at the lodge then off on the canopy tour. About 14 zip wires but starting with a big Tarzan swing. Runs building up in length and speed to the last two, each 800m long. At one point we were lowered down from the canopy in a remote abseil arrangement, then had to climb back up, starting with rope steps inside a strangler vine hollow tree, then a more exposed set of steps that swayed a bit on the supporting cables.
Sunday, 21 February 2016
Saturday, 20 February 2016
Costa Rica - Saturday 21 Feb
Decent night's sleep, bug free.
Went for the American style breakfast, scrambled egg, granola, toast and coffee - had to be coffee as they produce it all round us,
Taxi to the Cloud Forest Reserve and a first visit to the hummingbird area. Amazing numbers of them, within touching distance and quite oblivious to our presence. So many different colours and sizes, all feeding from the sugared water feeders.
Then on to the main tour, six of us with a guide whose speciality was woodlands. A dilute sort of tour, rather than action packed. Saw the quetzels, which were everyone's main attraction. Also told a lot about the epiphytes and bromelias, the ficus stranglers etc.
Had lunch with the Qualker / vegan couple from our group then continued our walks on our own before the bus arrived at 4pm. Took this to Santa Elena where we stopped off at the supermarket before walking back to the lodge. Very steep in parts and a continuous fine spray despite the blue skies, described as the warm ocean air meeting the colder mountain air and leading to the condensate.
Met our English / Frenchman couple in the bar area and had a good chat before going back for a shower.
Went for the American style breakfast, scrambled egg, granola, toast and coffee - had to be coffee as they produce it all round us,
Taxi to the Cloud Forest Reserve and a first visit to the hummingbird area. Amazing numbers of them, within touching distance and quite oblivious to our presence. So many different colours and sizes, all feeding from the sugared water feeders.
Then on to the main tour, six of us with a guide whose speciality was woodlands. A dilute sort of tour, rather than action packed. Saw the quetzels, which were everyone's main attraction. Also told a lot about the epiphytes and bromelias, the ficus stranglers etc.
Had lunch with the Qualker / vegan couple from our group then continued our walks on our own before the bus arrived at 4pm. Took this to Santa Elena where we stopped off at the supermarket before walking back to the lodge. Very steep in parts and a continuous fine spray despite the blue skies, described as the warm ocean air meeting the colder mountain air and leading to the condensate.
Met our English / Frenchman couple in the bar area and had a good chat before going back for a shower.
Friday, 19 February 2016
Costa Rica - Friday 19 Feb
Good sleep for both of us! Woke finally at about 6.30 and packed bags. Good hearty breakfast before a warm send-off by the staff, at about 9 am.
Driven in an 8-seater minibus even though we were just two, going around the lake on a narrow undulating road. Then onto a very rough track with frequent large holes and lots of rocks sticking up. Very slow progress from there, the last 45 km taking ages. Dramatic change as we arrived in Monteverde, with suddenly a good road and lots of cars, Eventually found the eco hotel, up a long and very rough track.
Immediate impression was that we'd come from riches to rags as the whole hotel style was rudimentary. Cabin not ready so had drinks in the bar before finally moving into a quite basic but functional room. Had our sandwiches from the Nayara breakfast bar, then soup in the restaurant,
Set off afterwards on a trail leading from the hotel, winding through the forest and getting shelter from the continuous spray of rain. Mostly blue skies but quite a strong wind, making the spray very wetting when exposed to it. Did an extra part of the walk to see the last two sections of the zip wire activity, seeing how people controlled their speed as they approached the landing stages. Continued our walk along the river trail, emerging close to the end of the drive leading to the hotel.
Driven in an 8-seater minibus even though we were just two, going around the lake on a narrow undulating road. Then onto a very rough track with frequent large holes and lots of rocks sticking up. Very slow progress from there, the last 45 km taking ages. Dramatic change as we arrived in Monteverde, with suddenly a good road and lots of cars, Eventually found the eco hotel, up a long and very rough track.
Immediate impression was that we'd come from riches to rags as the whole hotel style was rudimentary. Cabin not ready so had drinks in the bar before finally moving into a quite basic but functional room. Had our sandwiches from the Nayara breakfast bar, then soup in the restaurant,
Set off afterwards on a trail leading from the hotel, winding through the forest and getting shelter from the continuous spray of rain. Mostly blue skies but quite a strong wind, making the spray very wetting when exposed to it. Did an extra part of the walk to see the last two sections of the zip wire activity, seeing how people controlled their speed as they approached the landing stages. Continued our walk along the river trail, emerging close to the end of the drive leading to the hotel.
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Costa Rica - Thursday18 Feb
Incredible deluge overnight, raining hard for several hours.
Collected at 8.20 for the Hanging Bridges walk. Joined 3 others for our tour, guided by Oscar who was very knowledgeable about everything, and knowing where to look for the wildlife.
Great walking route, along narrow paths and across several wobbly suspension bridges. Saw
Collected at 8.20 for the Hanging Bridges walk. Joined 3 others for our tour, guided by Oscar who was very knowledgeable about everything, and knowing where to look for the wildlife.
Great walking route, along narrow paths and across several wobbly suspension bridges. Saw
- motmot bird
- owl with long eyelashes
- large version of kingfisher
- sloth
- howler monkeys at very close quarters, on one of the bridges
- tarantula hole and its legs through the guide's mobile phone
- blue jeans poisonous dart frog
Some very heavy rain, including another deluge when part way across one of the long bridges.
Back early afternoon so shared a taxi into La Fortuna with new friend Sarah who'd been on the morning walk. Rainy and not that interesting, so stopped for a drink before getting the taxi back.
Met Sarah again as we went down to the bottom of the valley for the night walk. Another very knowledgeable guide, showing us several different types of frog, including the very colourful red eye species. Also told the difference between frogs and toads, mainly the gland bump on the sides of toads' heads.
Shared dinner with Sarah, who invited us to her place in Austria any time we could.
Met Sarah again as we went down to the bottom of the valley for the night walk. Another very knowledgeable guide, showing us several different types of frog, including the very colourful red eye species. Also told the difference between frogs and toads, mainly the gland bump on the sides of toads' heads.
Shared dinner with Sarah, who invited us to her place in Austria any time we could.
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Costa Rica - Wednesday 17 February
Slept soundly until about 6, but Hilary still coughing over night and not feeling fully well in the morning.
Did a short walk around the resort then down the road a bit. Decided Hilary shouldn't go on the lake kayak trip and found that we had been the only ones signed up for it and that two were the minimum. So was persuaded to do the river kayaking instead,
Set off at one and drove to the start where we found a tiny nest with two humming bird chicks in it. Three of us doing the trip, each with a 2-seater inflatable canoe, and the guide, Quite a gentle river but with occasional obstacles in the middle. Found it hard to go as slowly as the others but did see a lot of bird life and some monkeys in the trees. Pleasant descent to the pick-up point where we saw a large iguana and a sloth in the trees. Then called in at a smallholding that had a shop and bar attached, that served up fruit juice and fried plantains. Some brilliant birds coming to the bird table loaded with bananas and plantains so made some notes for checking later.
Bavk at about 5.15 and had a joint outside bath before the welcome drink near reception. Straight on to dinner in the main restaurant at reception. Serenaded by a guitar player as we had an excellent meal of rice/chicken for Hilary and steak for me.
Did a short walk around the resort then down the road a bit. Decided Hilary shouldn't go on the lake kayak trip and found that we had been the only ones signed up for it and that two were the minimum. So was persuaded to do the river kayaking instead,
Set off at one and drove to the start where we found a tiny nest with two humming bird chicks in it. Three of us doing the trip, each with a 2-seater inflatable canoe, and the guide, Quite a gentle river but with occasional obstacles in the middle. Found it hard to go as slowly as the others but did see a lot of bird life and some monkeys in the trees. Pleasant descent to the pick-up point where we saw a large iguana and a sloth in the trees. Then called in at a smallholding that had a shop and bar attached, that served up fruit juice and fried plantains. Some brilliant birds coming to the bird table loaded with bananas and plantains so made some notes for checking later.
Bavk at about 5.15 and had a joint outside bath before the welcome drink near reception. Straight on to dinner in the main restaurant at reception. Serenaded by a guitar player as we had an excellent meal of rice/chicken for Hilary and steak for me.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
Costa Rica, Tuesday 16 Feb
Hilary was still coughing badly so contributing to a bad night's sleep for us both. Gave up at about 5.30 but didn't get up until 7.
Had a substantial breakfast then a walk in the park close to the hotel, seeing a lot of birdlife. Already quite hot. Collected by shuttle bus driver on time at 9.30 and away on the nominal 3 hour connection to Naraya Hotel in Arunel. Bumpy ride on roads that became narrower and narrower, stopping briefly for refreshments at a viewing point.
Hilary getting very queasy soon afterwards and having to ask for an emergency stop to be sick, tripping over her rucksack in her haste and falling out of the minibus. Continued to the hotel, looking very shaky. Sumptuous resort but unable to get into our room for two hours. Had a recce and then some lunch for me, eventually getting access to the room at 3pm. Hilary immediately sick again, quite violently, so retiring to bed to recuperate.
Extraordinary room, huge, with two separate hand basins, shower enclosure inside and one outside, hot tub on the verandah, enormous double bed, etc.
Costa Rica, Setting off on Monday 15 February 2016
Set alarm for 4.45 and collected on time by Jamie Lombari. Easy run down to Heathrow but Jamie delivered us to Terminal 3, not 2. Brisk walk of 10 minutes down the connecting tunnel, then easy check in and security clearance.
Had breakfast of exotic porridge and poached egg burger before boarding on time at about 10.15.
Settled into the United Airways seats. Found the tiny screens on the seat backs to be hopeless, quite apart from finding there was no menu for films, which anyway just ran on continuous loop. Then the engine noise was too loud for the Kindle Fire stuff so relied on reading for most of the flight.
Landed in snow at New York Newark Airport and went through immigration much more easily than warned. Then had a very expensive and not very good meal to mop up some of the 4 hour nominal waiting time. Boarded plane to San Jose late then had interminable period of de-icing, taxiing, waiting, being told the de-icing would have to be done again, then eventually away.
Nice screens this time but everything only on a payment system, so didn't bother. Part watched 'Wait until I die' with Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth but again the background noise made it hard to hear. Arrived in San Jose best part of two hours late but the agent was there and we were soon enough installed in the hotel.
Had breakfast of exotic porridge and poached egg burger before boarding on time at about 10.15.
Settled into the United Airways seats. Found the tiny screens on the seat backs to be hopeless, quite apart from finding there was no menu for films, which anyway just ran on continuous loop. Then the engine noise was too loud for the Kindle Fire stuff so relied on reading for most of the flight.
Landed in snow at New York Newark Airport and went through immigration much more easily than warned. Then had a very expensive and not very good meal to mop up some of the 4 hour nominal waiting time. Boarded plane to San Jose late then had interminable period of de-icing, taxiing, waiting, being told the de-icing would have to be done again, then eventually away.
Nice screens this time but everything only on a payment system, so didn't bother. Part watched 'Wait until I die' with Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth but again the background noise made it hard to hear. Arrived in San Jose best part of two hours late but the agent was there and we were soon enough installed in the hotel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)