COSTA RICA: Pura Vida !!!

After having crossed 4 borders, getting hussled for 30 $, having paid 70 $ for 2 shitty hotels because I didn´t have any other choice, having crossed the ghetto´s of San Jose on foot and almost getting mugged, I finally arrived in Tranquillo hostel the 24th of August. Again this city was totally not what I expected of. The only interesting thing I did here was buying a book on analytical psychology (C.G. Jung) and for those who know me this means I was really bored.

I wanted to leave this city as soon as possible and took the afternoon bus to Monteverde (Santa Elena). The monteverde Cloud forest reserve is one of the most precious jewels on Costa rica´s crown. It gives the opportunity to see plants, insects, birds and mammals (in theory at least). Getting closer and seeing the beautiful landscapes (which by the way reminded me of scenes of Jurassic Parc), the dump image of San jose faded away.

When I arrived at the local popular hostel run by Americans ( and therefore mostly visited by the gringos), I met wonder above wonder a crazy ( :-) ) American called Zack of whom the smell of the jungle has an extremely strange image. The next day we hiked 10 km to see the Monteverde Cloud forest full of wildlife ... . However it was a huge disappointment as we didn´t get to see anything but trees. In the hope of still seeing the marvellous view on top of the forest we hiked a steep trail. At the top, the forest honoured its name as we did not see anything but clouds (no Zack I don´t believe taking a guide would have made a difference).

The next day I went horsebackriding in the forest (I have always wanted to race a horse in my life). In these countries fortunately you don´t have to take many lessons before you can race one. It was good fun and to my surprise not that difficult. The next day my back muscles hurt though. On that trip we saw giant ants carrying leaves to their nests. The guide picked up an ant and let him carry a branch. It was incredible to see how much weight such an ant can carry.
My last day in Monteverde I just went climbing a hollow tree of 20 m high and chilled. Ah, I forgot to tell this but I am in the middle of the rain season here so everyday is guaranteed by rain.

In the afternoon I took the bus-boat –bus to La Fortuna crossing lake Arenal near the vulcano. As you can see on the picture the top is covered with dark clouds during rain season so I wisely decided not to climb it (already saw the majestic Pacaya in Guatemala). I did visit the Baldi Thermal complex . This is a place with several hot springs ranging from 37 – 63 degrees Celcius. You can bade in the latter temperature if you want to be poached alive. Again it started pouring rain and I tried to stay as low as possible in the hot water with my body feeling getting sicker minute by minute. The lunch buffet was included in the entrance fee and it had been a long time since I ate such good food.

After La Fortuna I booked a rafting trip to Rio Pecuare (one of the best rivers and most beautiful sceneries in Costa Rica to raft in). This was 4 hours of rafting down a class III – IV river. Again the coolest guide of the 5 asked me to join his boat. He took all the wild lines of the river. One time we got stuck in a whirlpool and after a minute with a little panic we were able to get out of it. Because of this event the other guides were blaming him for being irresponsible. We all just laughed at it and kept on going.

After this exciting activity I got dropped off in Puerto Viejo at Rocking J’s. The first night there was an international pool tournament (18 players) which I joined and won!!! Jihaaaaa ... earned 20 $. Next day I went to Playa Cocles and spent a day on the beach relaxing and surfing. For once, it was a very sunny day but unbearable so I stayed in the shade most of the time.

The 4th of September I will enter Panama and head for party city Bocas del Toro.

I would like to finish this chapter with a quote of C.G. JUNG:
"Life has also a tomorrow, and today is understood only when we can add to our knowledge of what was yesterday the beginnings of tomorrow".

Ciao
Pool champion of the world Clint