Thursday, September 4, 2008

Monteverde September 2 - 3


This morning we wake to yet another amazing volcano view, and head off towards Monteverde. First we're dropped at the dock where we have to say goodbye to beloved Jose - how will we ever survive without his careful attentions?? That is quite unclear. But we enjoy a delightful 30 minute ride across Lake Arenal - the sky stays clear - then we board minivans for the dreaded ride to Monteverde. I've heard all about these roads, and have prepared by taking a Bonine to help with motion sickness (it's not supposed to make me sleepy but the truth is I am kind of out of it the rest of the day...) The ride is indeed bumpy and winding, I mean REALLY winding up and up and up the mountain and around the tighest curves you have ever seen. We make one stop (for breath?) halfway - altogether it's about 2 hours to our hotel.
El Estbalo is a large property of villas spread out over an area so wide and steep they have a bunch of vans to drive you where you want to go. Unfortunately we have to wait for our rooms - though once they realize we are there for an inspection we get pampered a bit more (I must be traveling with a rock star). We also have a rental car that is dropped off to us so we can get around - since the whole driver / guide thing did not work out as planned.

After brushing our teeth we speed off to do hotel inspections. It is interesting - the road up the mountain is brutal, but in town everything is nice and paved. It seems though they do NOT want to encourage the masses to climb that mountain to come visit, they DO want them to enjoy their stay once they are there. But several of the hotels are out of town enough to be on wild roads. The 4 wheel drive in mandatory here.
So far there is no view here, we are solidly centered in a cloud of mist mixed with rain. ANd in fact I have no outdoor photos of Monteverde as it just never stops being so wet I can't pull out my camera.
Our early morning visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is wet - the ponchos are as mandatory as the 4 wheel drive - but I have learned enough to not let that stop my good time. It is about a two hour walk with a naturalist guide - the wildlife has mostly taken cover from the rain but the forest is so beautiful and interesting it hardly matters. We see a sloth and baby getting drenched up in a tree, and the highlight is a nest of tiny baby toucanets peeping out for food. The hummingbird garden is fantastic, where you are buzzed constantly by these tiny (and some big ones too) birds who need to be constantly fed to survive.
The on to an inspection of Selvatura, a place with everything in one spot - a zip line (I've already earned my badge, and decline to do it again in the rain) a series of 9 hanging bridges (we do this walk) and exhibits of reptiles, butterflies, and insects.
Back to our hotel for a more complete inspection there (I really AM working on this trip!) and then we go back to a small restaurant / cafe with free internet to have dinner - appetizers and dessert! - before going to bed.
We watch The Firm on tv, in English with Spanish subtitles, before falling asleep, the view out the window still just one big smear of white cloud.


I may not have a photo of Monteverde, and this would be because it never stopped raining....

No comments: