ARENAL - 25 MARCH

BEFORE - THE ZIP LINE FAMILY

MONIQUE IN ACTION! DON'T LOOK DOWN - 80 METERS TO FALL!

LUC WORRIED!

LUC ABOUT TO GIVE UP!

LUC PREFERS TO BE WITH BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND!

Callie and Luc up at six and off on a hike in the forest. Then some more swimming in the volcanic water. Breakfast is big en nice - lots of fruit, and the other favourite - black beans and rice. Luc meets up with Emma at breakfast and entertains the family. When it is time to say goodbye, Emma’s dad compliments us on the great son we have! They enjoyed his company and many stories! Luc is sad to see Emma going….
We decide to try the spa - there is even a spa treatment for kid and Luc says he is in! Mud wrap and facial. Cannot imagine him sitting for a facial - he screams when you want to put sun block on his face! Unfortunately they are fully booked and Callie manages to get one spot. Luc and Monique back to the pools - by now Luc is as brown as the Costa Ricans and everyone speaks Spanish to us.
We check out at lunch time, but stay at the hotel for the Canopy Tour - the zip line. Luc is all keen and ready with his outfit. We are joined by a family of 5 Canadians and several families from Bollywood! They arrive like with a bang and does not stop talking and taking photos until they leave again. There are several small kids in their party and another 6 year old girl to join Luc.
It is a small hike up the hill to the first zip line, which is extremely high and very intimidating. I am before Callie and Luc and the guide decides to let Monique go. Monique is first in line and the guide decides to keep Luc until last as he and the other girl has to go with the guide. This is a big mistake. After the second line Luc is in tears and decides to get off. Luckily there is a ladder down and a guide takes Luc to the reception area.
By this time Monique is far ahead and is waiting anxiously for Callie and Luc to join on the big platform. The little 6year old girl comes down on her own - but no sign of Luc! It is a thrilling ride (or flight!) high above the trees - with the longest line nearly 400 meters and 80 meters above the ground. Very fast and very high - and the best is to stay focused on the end. One of the lines takes you straight down until it starts going straight.
At the end of the trip we are all chatting to each other. The ride back to the hotel is even more scary - on a trailer behind a tractor up and down the hills. The jungle is really stunning - lost of wild “impatience” flowers all over. Luc is very happy to see us and says if Emma was with - he would have gone all the way!
We leave for Chato Chero Eco Lodge about 5 kms from where we are and closer to the little town, La Fortuna. Monique is amazed by all the development that has taken place since 2005. Even a big hotel has sprung up on the side of the road. The little town now has a massive supermarket and so many new restaurants that we struggle to find our popular 2005 restaurant!
The Eco Lodge is down a little dirt road and is really a budget stop. It is a shock after the upmarket Arenal Paraisio. Basic room with shower - no TV, no pool - hey we are becoming real snobs! Luc immediately makes the most of it and starts building castles in the black building sand heap!!
We meet Miguel - the owner - who gives us good advice on tours and things to see. He suggests that we drive around the volcano to see the lava flow. It is nearly dark and a good time to do this. We see our neighbours walking on the side of the road to town (a 3 km walk!) for dinner. Stop and offer them a lift. In the end they go with us for the ride. The view point is stunning and we see lots of lava coming down the side of the volcano. We drop the New Yorkers at a local restaurant in town and go to our 2005 spot.
It is a local restaurant, with the staff all in traditional wear. We eat the “typical” Costa Rican dish - plate for rice, black beans, fried plantain, sweet corn and sweet potato dish, salad and meat. We are starving! Also discover that there is wireless, so quickly manage to download some emails.
We are exhausted by the time we get home. These late dinners with all the rice and beans - not good for the diet!!!!