Costa Rica day 6: I don't know where I'm a gonna go when the volcano blows!

What should we do today?

So after yesterday's post you may be asking,  What did Elsa and Zach do when they woke up this morning?  Did they:

a) Sleep in then spend a lazy morning drinking C.R. coffee and enjoying the view from their deck.

b) Spend the day lounging at the heated pool with swim up bar.

c) Spend the day in the hot tub.

d) Receive couples massage, get pampered at the spa then have a personal romantic lunch for two

e) Hike up a volcano

Not a C.R. native bird but here
to make us happy.  His name is Lee
and he is a baby (1.5 yrs).

My outdoor lady ready to go!

For those tourists not dissuaded by
hot lava, toxic fumes or potential
landslides there is a sign.

You guessed it ... e)!  Why?  Well as EJ said earlier today, "Cuz it was there."  Now before the parentals reading this get too nervous be aware that we did not get anywhere near the top. Nope, no liquid hot magma for us... they are strict about keeping tourists away from the peak.  We did however walk up the path created by an eruption in 1968 that caused lava to spill out for 5 straight years.  It was interesting for many reasons.  Not the least of which was the weather.  In Monte Verde it was refreshingly cool (50-60s) most days, in the rainforest it was hot but moist and shaded.  At Arenal's base it was like hiking in Arizona.  The area was hot, sunny, and there was barely any vegetation where the ash had laid down.  Definitely sucked down my share of water during today's hike. The volcanic rocks were treacherous to walk on but 'Eagle-Eye' Elsa still was able to spot several male and female blue tailed lizards (similar to the blue tailed skink in the Midwestern U.S.), to point out a red winged blackbird look-a-like, to locate group of crested guans (big turkey like flying birds) and to catch a small anole.  How is that for the budding naturalist?  The view form the peak was amazing and after catching our breath and snapping some pics we sped back down to the waiting taxi.

On our way to the mountain earlier that morning, our cab driver brought us to a natural hot river!  This river is at least 85-90 degrees and it is used as the source for the hot spring resort Tabacon.  So strange that we could access it for free... as long as you know its there.

mmmm...warm...

After our warm water dip and desert hike, we did spend some time by the resort pool.  EJ swam a little and read.  I read as well (ok ok napped really).  Then we got cleaned up in order to go on guided tour of the Arenal canopy and hanging bridges.

I'm finding that I am running out of superlatives for our trip ... but this truly was one of the best tours yet.  Our guide Javier was happy to chat with EJ during the hike, and left me to marvel at the beauty and grandeur at little bit back.  He explained a lot about the local flora while we climbed through the canopies.  We were lucky enough to see a group of Spider monkeys and a group of howler monkeys.  We also saw a bridge that has been specially built for the show, "The Amazing Race."   It has been purposely built to look shoddy (its right next to a metal suspension bridge).  Apparently the contestants have to cross it, and then swim to an island in the lake near Arenal to find plane tickets to Puerto Rico.  Pretty cool huh?

Howler Monkey posing for a pic.  (How awesome is our zoom!
Thanks Laura and Andy!)

Spider Monkey bigger then we thought also likes to pose for camera.

Posing by a Dragon's blood tree!

Don't be fooled a perfectly safe bridge is right next door

After the canopy tour, we visited the hot springs at The Springs resort.  There were approximately 7 pools, 2 private filled with mineral water of different temperatures.  We lounged and swam for a good 2 hours.  While relaxing we met a group from Duke University that were on spring break.  One guy was learning to be a Redsox fan (yay!), but one girl was a diehard Yanks fan (boo!).  After we had been thoroughly soaked through we changed and went to dinner at the resort restaurant.  So after a full day of hiking and luxury, I'm off to bed.  We have another early start tomorrow.  See you soon

Z
Just one parting shot:

Javier: Do not touch this bug.  The bite will put you in the hospital for several days.
Zach:  Not a problem, I wouldn't touch it if it was completely harmless.