Monteverde

Arenal waterfall - after 4 Km hike to the entrance to the park. Another 600 meters straight down and back up -- we didn't make it in time to go all the way down.
Riding the Jungle Rail through the Rain Forest



Hills from window of the bus from Monteverde to San Jose

Linda's Crummy Camera Pics

Crossing Lake Arenal on the Ferry
From La Fortuna to a 4 hour jeep ride to Monteverde



Ferry boat leaving the Arenal Volcano area

Angel Valley

Visited with Ex-Pats living in Rio Lobos at Angel Valley where Jose Pelleya has a development. Views are unbelievable from everyone's home.

This is a cabin which was built for $15K

Saturday, March 4
travelled by boat across Lake Arena, then 2 and a half hours by jeep across the mountains to Monteverde. Breathtaking views, but what a ride! "Jeep" seems to mean "very bumpy road" because the vehicles used were actual tourista vans. Pretty scary dirt roads along very steep mountainsides.

Arrived in Monteverde about 5 pm and began looking for a place to stay -- didn't make advance reservations so it was take your chances.First hotel was very expensive, and only one room available, but - Found very nice little cabanas for $15/ea - double bed, very clean with hot showers. No tv or internet. Online cafes are everywhere here for about $4/hour so getting online is fairly easy.


We have decided to stay here for two nights, since it is so inexpensive. I would like to take the cable car, or do the skywalk through the cloud forest, but Phil & Judy want to just wander, so we may split up tomorrow for a bit.

Hiked with Phil 4 Km to the Jungle Waterfall at La Fortuna! Uphill, quite steep, then down 600 meters of stair steps through the jungle and back up. Yikes! what a trek! But worth every step. We made it back to our cabanas at Rocca Negra in time for a quick shower before being picked up for a "Lava Viewing" after dark.

Travelled by van to a remote spot where we could stand by the road and wait for lava eruptions about every 15 - 20 minutes. The roar was impressive, and the bursts from the volcano quite visible in spite of the cloud cover. This is a very active volcano - had a major eruption in 2000 which killed several people and destroyed an entire village in 1968. It has since been isolated as a natural park reservation and access is strictly controlled, but you can hike up parts of it on the side that does not have active lava streams.

Cabana at the foot of the Arenal Volcano! Fresh pineapple from a street vendor for breakfast! PURA VIDA!






Wonderful gardens and birds in our front yard.

Spent yesterday with Magdiel and his taxi-van, touring the areas for possible rental properties. Found a marvelous spot with view of entire central valley and distant volcano. The Patron offered to build a new 3 br house with water, electric, phone, internet access to be ready in July -- rent: $200/mo! Magnificent view, but Judy can't do the steep hill down to the site, and we would like to be neighbors, so we are still looking. We all like the town of Grecia. It is clean, pretty, the people are gracious and it is even cheaper to live than here in Allejuella. It seems to be little problem to find rentals at great prices just by being here and letting people know what you are looking for.

It seems to be the smartest thing to rent for a while and take time looking for the right piece of land. At these rates, tho, the right rental provides a great deal of freedom. There is a terrific group of North Americans who have moved here and a network of help for expats. Everyone wants to help you find your perfect spot.


Norman, who manages the Vida Tropical B&B, : http://www.vidatropical.com/index.html is a New Yorker who has several businesses here in Alejuella and Grecia. He runs a small TexMex restaurant nearby called Jalapenos (Check out review on CostaRica AM:
http://www.amcostarica.com/072905.htm#11 he and his wife, Isabel are a fount of information and connections, and gracious hospitality.

A wonderful thing is that the water and food is so good here. You can eat anywhere, and drink the water everywhere and shop the markets for wonderful fruits and vegetables.