Week 1

After two weeks of hectic packing, moving, and saying our good-byes,  Amy and I finally boarded a red-eye flight to San Jose, Costa Rica.  We felt thankful that all the frequent flyer tickets for coach were sold out as we began our trip in first class. 
 
After arriving in San Jose, we took a cab to our hotel, a little bed and breakfast place in Barrio Otayo, which is a nice quiet neighborhood near downtown San Jose.  We immediately crashed into our bed and slept the afternoon away.  When we awoke, we made our way to a vegetarian resturant in San Jose, which, we were happy to see, was filled with Costa Ricans watching the Americas' Cup, the hemisphere wide soccer tournament that the US is not participating in this year.
 
One of the first things you notice in Costa Rica is how soon it gets dark.  With no daylight savings time and being close to the equator, it gets dark in Costa Rica this time of year around 6 pm.  We found that out on our way back to the hotel.
 
The next morning, we boarded the public bus for the 4 1/2 hour bus ride to Fortuna to see the Arenal Volcano.  Luckily, we got seats because the bus was packed with people standing in the aisles as we slowly wound our way up to Fortuna.  Once we got to Fortuna, we checked in to the Hotel San Bosco and jumped in the pool. 
 
Fortuna is a cool little town at the foot of the volcano.  The Arenal area is the second most visited place in Costa Rica outside of San Jose.  There were lots of tourists and a lot of tour operators selling a lot of tours.  In Fortuna, we hiked to a huge waterfall and went swimming.  Later that day, we decided to take the guided hike to the volcano.  As we walked to the lava fields, we heard and then saw howler monkeys.  These cute little monkeys make the loudest, most horrible noise you've ever heard.  (Lori--they weren't eating bananas, but I'm sure they would if they had them.)
 
Once we emerged from the jungle into the lava fields, we could see the volcano emerging from the clouds.  Most people who visit Arenal, never actually see the volcano because it is usually hidden behind clouds most of the time.  Not only did we see the volcano, but we also saw an amazing rainbow just off to the side of it.  We took lots of pictures.  That night after the hike, we went to the hot springs and soaked in the hot tubs while watching the glowing orange lava trickle down the side of Arenal.  It was spectacular.
 
The next day, we passed up an opportunity for a float trip and decided instead to save our energy for our massages and another trip to the Tabacon hot springs.  Yes, we have been definitely easing into our trip around the world.  Tabacon is Costa Rica's world famous hotel and spa with beautiful gardens and natural waterfalls of hot water.  It was an expensive indulgence, but definitely worth it.
 
The next day we headed back to San Jose.  This time, we and two other Americans worked our way onto a private van with 20 British teenagers and their adult "leaders" (in name only, as we had to endure "God Save the Queen" about 20 times from the kids.)
 
My hour is almost up.  More later.
 
Chris