Costa Rica: Poas Volcano and Peace Waterfall Gardens

Time for another adventure with Sol Tropical Tours. It was our last adventure with them today. Our driver Happer and Christian obviously forgot to dance to the sun Gods as the day loomed a bit hazy and clouds surrounded the mountains. We got on the bus anyway, and motored up and away to the Cloud  Rainforest.

The drive distracted us for a bit, as it wove through another city center before climbing out and up the mountain. The road twists and curves, plunging around ravines and sweeping up past villages asleep. this is definitely a road trip that requires motion sickness tablets for any queasy stomach. Don't say in didn't warn you! I was very relieved to be able to indulge in a cup of coffee.

Coffee was required to lift the spirits as the fine misty rain splattered our faces as we got got off the bus. In fact, the Poas Volcano was shrouded in cloud, so the plan changed and we went to the peace waterfalls first. any hope of better weather was dashed on arrival. Next note is that if the guide suggests a poncho, do it! We. Lost two cameras today due to excessive moisture. The rain drenched all raincoats and clothing. We were chilled to the one by the end.

 However, this is a wonderful stop. The birds are plentiful and it is a rescue center for wild animals. We saw parrots, butterflies, hummingbirds (not caged), snakes, orchids, frogs, cows, monkeys, felines and of course magnificent waterfalls. I was taken with the hummingbirds, but since zoos are abolished here, refuge centers are the best way to see the wildlife up close. I would have loved the waterfalls but I was far too wet and cold to really appreciate them, and the kids were worse. I would love to see this on a dry day. Maybe we will go back? As it was, we had to buy new clothes for the kids as they were too wet.

From here, we  optimistically went to the Poas Volcano. It was still misty raining so we strolled up and quickly viewed the hidden crater as it briefly peeped out,  before legging it back to the bus. It was rather frustrating as the day before it had been beautiful. It made me wish the tour guide had the flexibility to change the plan based on weather.

Lunch was back at our coffee stop. The open windows were chilly and the service was a it disorganized. They had missing meals etc. we did appreciate our guide asking for a fire for warmth and the hot food when it did arrive. I had tilapia for the first time and it was pretty good. So, late lunch let to a long drive home.

This was also the day that we had to work out tips. This is exceptionally daunting traveling as a family as of course, tips are expected along the way for all the extra guides. The expected tip based on their recommendations is $10 used per day per person. We did four tours (although the city tour was disappointing) so that works out to $160 minimum for a family of four. I am still stunned. This to me, while I understand it, means we really have to curtail our remaining tour plans as it was not budgeted for when we first signed up. Read the fine print.

This evening, we drove to the Multiplaza and wow, can you say Vegas? I was there to replace a camera, which the rainforest had proven to be too much for, and get groceries. No more eating out due to tips. The girls found Justice, and books and shoes and and and Costa Rica Girl and it was really tough to get out of there quickly. Also note that the roads have tolls that need to be paid in cash and you have to pay for parking. There are surprises everywhere.

Now, I am shivering in a hammock...writing a blog and thinking about more coffee. I have a new camera and well, looking forward to spending time in the countryside tomorrow.

Alajuela on Dwellable

Los Cabos: Cabo San Lucas and Sonia

These were the images that flashed on the screen at the hotel, just prior to setting out for the day. You see, I can be a terrible optimist. After waking up reasonably early on the Sunday, we wandered out on the deck and then had breakfast. The clouds were heavy on the horizon and there was no promise of a beach day per se. Instead, I grinned over to my intrepid traveling pal and said something along the lines of "It rains, we get wet." Lunch was assembled and instead of wallowing in the hotel, we wandered down to the desk to see if our zip lining tour was going to go.

Those images flashed up and after about 30 minutes, we heard that zip lining was not happening due to the weather. From our point of view, there was a light mist and nothing much happening so, between us, we decided to catch a bus to Los Cabos. $20 for a taxi or 54 pesos for a bus ride. Having a healthy sense of adventure mixed in with a practical budget mind, the bus was appealing.

Yes, we had directions. Yes, we still missed the turn to the Mega and purple flower and so walked the long way around to the bus stop. Then, the clouds opened up and the rain poured down. Warm, windy and wet, our clothes were soon soaked and hair dripping. But, the bus pulled up and we ran for it.

The bus to Cabo San Lucas from San Jose takes about 30 minutes or so, depending on the stops. Plus, the adventure comes into play once you realize that you have no idea where you are, where you are going, or where the bus driver intends to go. The stops are just a guideline. Of course, we missed our stop and finally had the sense to get off when the other adventurous American pair got off the bus with new directions to take transport back the other way. JR were fun and just as lost as us.

The next bus took us back into town where we saw the stop we should have used. For the record, it is right across the street from the fire department.

The Fire Department has some interesting feature vehicles and is apparently a tourist stop complete with gift shop and coffee shop. Of course, we don't have a map and we don't have landmarks so we decided to try and find the beach. The beach in the rain...by now, you know I have no sense. 

Do we go this way?

So, off we went. All four of us were now traveling in a pack. We were in fact heading towards Medano Beach but due to the weather, and a very insistent pedicab driver that was vehement that we were going the wrong way, we never did get there. Instead, we were persuaded to get into his cab (all four of us) and let him pedal towards the Marina. The bike had an epic failure with the chain coming off and the pedicab was finished. So, his friend decided he would try and for the fun of it, we let him.

pedicab bike ride

So, we found ourselves deposited in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. We shopped and then JR decided to find a bar and we went exploring the Marina. We walked through and around soaking in the sights. We found the artisan market and spent the rest of our morning haggling for wares. I think the lack of people due to a closed waterfront meant that we got some better deals than usual. However, it was dry with bathrooms and that was all we needed. In fact, the rain had been on and off and so we ate our lunch perched on the steps of the market where it was dry. We shopped our way around the waterfront to get back and tried to dodge the worst of the rain. The rain circled in and out and was very unpredictable.

The rain was about to pour.

With the weather looming, we opted to try and get to Cabo Wabo to have a drink and relax for a bit. The sky laughed at us and the rain poured out of the sky, turning perfectly good roads into rivers.

A river ran through it.

The water was knee deep in the middle so we bounced our way along street corners and wound up at the Cabo Wabo as perfect contenders for a wet T-shirt contest. I think dripping on the floor actually cleaned it.

The funniest part was meeting up with JR again here. We spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out and drying out. More shopping ensued and then we decided to bus back to the hotel for dinner and drinks on our much appreciated DRY deck.

Lessons learned: Get a map. Get directions before setting out and it rains, you get wet. VERY wet. The weather forecast was pretty much accurate.

It Rains You Get Wet: Camping

In our family growing up, there were three rules that I think actually started with Uncle Richard. Those rules of the road were as follows: 1) You bring it, you carry it; 2) It rains you get wet; and 3) No complaints. It would be rule #2 that is up for discussion today.

You see, this past weekend I was part of a crew that elected to go to Long Lake camping. This trip was booked months in advance. You have to book that far in advance to get a decent site near the water and to have options for camping as Long Lake is a very popular provincial park. So, after nearly 7 weeks of absolutely no rain, it opted to cloud over...and speckled that wet stuff from the clouds. There was trepidation in the ranks of the campers to be.

Well, except for the optimist, me. I gathered up my own crew and added an additional child to the mixture and drove the three hours south. We almost had to turn back as I came close to hitting a bear cub that ran in front of the van from the roadside, but thankfully I missed him. The sky was looming with wet weather. Those huge anvil greyish purplish black clouds that mean trouble of the windy and slanting rain variety. So, I set to and scrambled to put up the tents, blow up the air mattresses (always useful to float on if you are flooded out btw), and set up the kitchen tent (for the record, I have one that actually has sides so that you can stay dry). On arrival, I susses out the campsite and found that in the marshlands, there was actually two bits of high ground so that is where I shoved the tents and moved the picnic tables accordingly. Meanwhile, the rain held off. Yay. So, I settled in and watched the others arrive and set up sites. All in all,  it was fine.

The sites were right on the water. We watched the ducks and the bird that no one knows what it was, and the beaver (muskrat?) swim as we were right on the water. There was peace and quiet under the shadowed skyline. We awoke to rain in the morning and basically had a quiet morning in the tent. The girls coloured and played in the tent while I fed them at sporadic intervals. The youngest went visiting so I took the older girls for a walk along the trails and talked about plants and animals that lived in the area. They did 5 kilometers without a squalk. The misty rain fell and the girls enjoyed exploring. We even found a brood of ducklings. On our return, the weather cleared and they played on the beach for the rest of the afternoon. In the evening, we had campfires and smores. Then nightfall happened and so did the rain. It poured.

It rains, you get wet. The rain was heavy in the morning so some of the crew decided that it was time to go home. My gear was wet on the outside, but dry on the inside so I opted to stay. I had to laugh at the ducks that were swimming in the "ponds" behind the tent. The girls played in the tent. The frogs sang in a loud symphony. And the die hards stayed despite the rain. I took the older girls for a walk to the beaver pond and noted that they had built four new dams over the winter. The pathway was flooded in a spectacular fashion. I came back and built a fire. Later, it cleared and I took the youngers for a bike ride to the beaver ponds so that they could see the handiwork. The evening was spent around the fire.

The next day, I finally came home. Right when I was supposed to. The kids learned to camp in the rain. It rains, you get wet and they had fun! Rain is not something that you need to be afraid of in a tenting situation. The girls managed just fine and didn't even have electronics to bail them out. (The batteries died). We did visit the trailer but for the most part, we were outside in the rainfreshed air and it was wonderful. There were no loud parties. There was peace. The rain sounding on the tent was theraputic. Dressed for the weather, it didn't matter how hard it poured. My point is this...it rains you get wet...and CAMP ANYWAY!