so i left for a weekend trip to volcàn arenal and montverde this weekend, and as i'm halfway through and in a tiny little tourist town (montverde), i figured i'd play on the net.

well, it being the rainy season and all, volcàn arenal was pretty well swathed in nublados (clouds) so we didnt get to see it so much. but, cool facts, it is the third most perfect volcano cone in the world, and the most active volcano in CR. apparently last week it got kind of uppity and lava went everywhere, we could see some dark ground around the volcano, but it was slumbering peacefully while we were there hikling.

now, mom before you get all freaked, NO we did NOT hike up the actual volcano, as in the event of activity, the steam gets superheated and, well, its just stupid to try and hike in that. instead, we went up a neigboring area, through a selva (rainforest) that i swear was straight out of planet earth. from the dozens of vines, and tiny ecosystems on bark and crazy flowers, and plants where you cant tell what's vine and what's root and lush lush green everywhere you turn, to air so thick it makes sàmara seem arid, it was beautiful. it was one of those hikes that restores your faith, in what exactly i'm not sure, gaia, the earth? all of the above?, but all the same, ig ot to the top to see cloudy arenal, and i was simply peaceful.

now, i'm going to tell this weekend all out of order, but i suppose that dosnt matter for stories. so, just before the hike up around arenal, we stopped at las cataratas (waterfalls), just outside fortuna. we hiked up to see them from a hight at the top, then hiked down to the bottom and got in to swim. this was one of the most spiritual experiances of my existance. i swam in the water, heavy tide pushing and pulling at me, cold clear water that felt and tasted so pure, you could bottle it and sell it...and people probably do....i could feel the spray from the waterfall's 150 foot drop, look and see yards away, the water pounding into this clear blueblueblue pool fo water. the tug opf the current there, it had personality, force. it wanted you to go here, and there, and i was staying on the edge. we stayed for over an hour, and i climbed out very reluctantly, tearing myself away from the sheer power and wild beauty, to climb into a car and continue on.

the night before that, the were taken to a hotsprings in fortuna. i dont know what other ones are like, but i was expecting some night hike up to a little stream or pool of warm water or something. wrong! we got ther and it was a full spa and resort. as a group, we unanimously expressed our skepticism as we walked a softly lit path seeing pools of water with people sitting on stools underwater, and drinking cocktails at the bar in front of them while jay-z blared on the radio, and colord lights changed the water in time to the beat. up the hill farther we reached a pool (all tiled) with several waterfalls (artifical) and two waterslides.
hot.damn. we went down those thigns and i dont think i've EVER flown that fast down a slide! it flipped you outsideways, barriling down upwards of 30 miles an hour, and you literally skipped like a stone across the water with a monumental splash. then i swam under the waterfalls and had my first hot shower in two weeks. oh god. it was wonderful. down a level we entered a pool that was a hot tup. the enture huge pòol, ruinged in plants. inside each pool was a jacuzzi looking thing of cold water. whenever it happens that i have a honey moon, i can coming here. fyi. the hot clear water was deliciously sensual, andf the cool pools in the middle kept you from overheating. the next pool down had waterfalls that fell hard, and in pattens so that standing under them gave you a massage. no, i'm not kidding. so we eased out our muscles and went down into the bar section and there, i had the most perfect mixed drink i have ever tried in my life.the bartender "made it for me specially" and wanted me to go to a disco after work, alas, our schedual did not pèrmit such shenanigans. shucks. all the same, the perfection of this drink was worth the fliritng to get it. i can't actually pronounce the name, but it had a costa rican liquer in it called ciquara (i think, i'll write it down better later), and it is a guara based liquer. this drink, literally tasted like the most perfect lime you have ever eaten. oh gods. it was fabulous. so thorougly relaxed and sauced, we made our way back home, and to bed for some very deep sleep.


that's about all for now, but it's been a pretty wonderful two days so far, and zip-lining canopy tours through montverde is tomorrow, so i'm pretty excited.

much hugs and happyness to all....and it's totally exciting to get comments, so thank you!!