24 March - To Arenal

ROOM AT ARENAL PARASIO

WILDLIFE!
MORE WILDLIFE - AFRICANS!

ARENAL FROM THE LAKE

MOSAIC CHURCH

ENJOYING THE HOT SPRINGS!
ME - TARZAN!

VIEW FROM OUR ROOM

VIEWS FROM POOL

Up early. Monique goes curio shopping with Luc, whist Callie (with the help of Uri) tries to find our booked car - that has gone missing. Luc orders a coconut with a straw, whilst we get the best bread from the local bakery. Back at the hotel we find Uri, Callie and the reservations agent on a 3 way Skype conversation on the computer - at no cost - amazing!!!

We get an upgrade and end up with a damaged Rav! The next stop at the Super Merchado - to buy cheap drinks and food. Interesting to check out the local stuff. The trip to Arenal - which is not more than about 200 km is an adventure. Not only driving on the other side of the road - but Mr Strydom is 100% in style - nearly drives off the road cause he is looking at something on the other side, and also nearly kills a poor man on his "la bicicleta"!

We made a quick stop in Canais to view the church that is completely covered in glass and colourful mosaic - much to the delight of the locals, when Callie tries his Zero Spanish to get directions to the church!

The road takes us to Tiliran and then on a winding road all along the Lake Arenal shores. We see massive wind powered stations - standing like waving men on the top of the hill. Other beautiful sites - like a loan stallion on a hill top overlooking the lake. The windy road (and Callie's driving) makes us car sick and we stop at Toad restaurant for their famous Macadamia brownies!

The first views of volcano, Arenal, in the distance is awsome! And getting better the closer we get. This time of year the top is covered in clowds and I realise how lucky Uri and I was to see the exploding top.

Our hotel is fab. Stunning room, and even better 9 volcano spring pools set down a hillside in stunning gardens. We spent hours hopping from one warm pool to the next and eventually end up in the water pub to drink a cocktail. Luc meets up with a very beautiful girl from Chicago - Emma and they are best mates within seconds. He - Tarzan, She - Jane.

We once again hear the howling monkeys - sound like massive lions, but in fact, little black monkeys!

We are exhausted - have cup-a-noodles and watermelon in our room and hit the bed - two men ended up snoring louder than the howling monkeys - perhaps we can call them the snoring Strydoms!!!!