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| Hmmm should I have drank so many coffees before this raft ride? |
So today was the day that my expensive underwater digital camera was to be put to the test. Not just a test really more of a trial by fire. We were picked up by our guides at the late hour of 8:05, and taken to the "Clean River" for some class 3-4 white water rafting. Good news is that my camera lived through it. While my pictures were not professional looking, a "paparazzi" kayaker did get some great shots. In case any of you are worried about how we fared, you should know that there were quite a few medical personnel in the raft. There were two animal doctors (us of course), a British human ER doctor, and even a plant doctor from Denmark all in our little raft with our guide. No one got hurt, but if we did we were covered. The rapids were fun although we did spend a lot of time bouncing off or catching on to the rocks. About a quarter of the way through the trip, the guide asked EJ if she wanted to "ride the bull." Of course, she said yes.... supposedly it was quite fun :). So she ended up sitting at the very front of the raft, with her feet hanging off the front while holding onto the rope for dear life as the raft went over big rapids. Yeeee----hawww!
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| I always knew where the camera was. |
Next came a little snack of fresh pineapples and watermelon before more rapid riding. I am happy to say that I did not fall out at all (nor did EJ). After the trip another filling lunch of beans and rice before heading back La Fortuna.
Now that Elsa is back to full strength, there was no chance of doing only one activity in a day. So we headed out to the Fortuna Waterfalls (Catarata de la Fortuna). The hike down was fine if not hard on the knees. The water was so clean and greenish blue. Apparently, our guidebook said that tourists have been known to drown while trying to swim under the falls. So naturally we did not do that. After wading in the cool water, we trekked up to our taxi ... sure it was tough but I had some pride in passing the huffing and puffing teenage tourists and their overweight parents... pain likes company ;-) There were over 250 steps and all very steep. 
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| No not burger king .... |
After the waterfalls, we went to dinner at a restaurant called Choza de Laurel. We had been told that their pina coladas came with a surprise so of course we had to try them ... and what a surprise. Of course we had to have fun with them, as you can see. We had pork ribs with potatoes and veggies for dinner followed by a banana split in a pineapple... delicioso. After dinner, we got our Frisby fix when a mini Frizzer (actually a chihuahua mix ... so rare here!) came over to say hi. When he realized all we had left for him were carrots though he hightailed it over to a different table.
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| Pina Coladas in cold pineapples! |
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| The pooch wants meat not carrots! |
Then we decided to visit the Tabacon hot springs..... these were awesome, my friends. Don't get me wrong, I liked the other place but I loved this one. Their hot water came from a river, not underground, and the pools were created to look more natural. We spent a good hour and a half exploring the different pools and waterfalls. Eventually we found a waterslide. I think the only person at the resort who used it more than me was EJ. While I was walking down a path, I even saw what I think was an ocelot. It was a big cat but not too big (about the size of a medium dog). When it saw me, it hightailed it away before I could do more then exclaim holy shoot. EJ doesn't really believe me (she was still in the water)... but I will defend my claim forever. In any case, we got to sit behind a waterfall, wade through hot rivers and luxuriate in the mineral pools. Not so bad ehhh...Now after a full day of water adventure, we are preparing for our last day in Arenal. Tomorrow we will go spelunking then travel to Manuel Antonio for some fun on the beach.
Adios all
Zach
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