The trip to La Fortuna.

 Heading back across the gulf i just relaxed a bit.  We had to leave really early to catch the ferry and there really weren't any food places.  i ended up grabbing some weird chinesey- central american stir fry thing.  Really I should have held out for some meat on sticks.  yum meat on sticks!

 Once we were across we hopped on our route.  Or so we thought.  It actually took a really long time to get to the next place to stay which was in La fortuna.  We had to stop for directions at a place who had this awesome bridge out back!

 The trip was super pretty but the winding roads made me want to puke for about 3 hours.  This is the volcano lake and basically we drove to the other side.  Cows just hang out on the side of the road.

 There are also these funny critters.  Coatimundi.  They are like raccoons and very social.  They know the game so they swarm the road in packs and come to the car begging for food.  I love them and wanted to bring one home but Scott wouldn't let me.

Monkeys! Next stop, the volcano

 Monkeys!  There were right out in front of our hotel compound.  They make this loud roary sound though they are howler monkeys.  I think they should be roaring monkeys or grunting monkeys.  Look at photo 3 and you will be able to see giant monkey balls.

Zip Line! Montezuma, costa Rica

 The view down the line

 Getting ready!

 Dad goes first!

 I don;t like rides OR heights but I did it for the sake of family time.  I almost cried once and I also had a heart attack but I made it!  PS- ladies, wears shorts.  A skort does not work well.

 There was a swimming hole halfway.  If we knew about how hard it would be to climb the steps back to the line we probably would have skipped it.  not really, but it was pretty deep in the ravine!

I recommend the zipline if you ever come across one.  It isn't something I want to do always but it was well worth the money and time! Dad and Scott said "i could do this every day!

Mal Pais, up the road from Santa Theresa

 Scott fishing at the "Secret Beach" in Mal Pais.  It wasn't so secret but it was pretty empty.

 While Scott fished I explored.  Let me assure you this was NOT the place to be wearing flip flops.  I made it out but it was tricky!

 This is a cave entrance and it was full of bats!  I have my rabies shot so I wasn't too worried.  Don;t get me wrong, I did not antagonize them or anything.  This picture is silly because i had to take it with a timer.  The camera was balanced on jagged rocks and shells and I had to scurry along the jagged rocks and shell (in my flip flops).

 The trees are dangerous here.  spiky thorns!  EGADS!

 And the leaves are giant. 

Sunset from town.  We ate at one of the only terrible restaurants in Costa Rica just a block from here. At least we got a pretty sunset though!  Mal Pais has really nothing except some secluded places to stay and some nicer restaurants which are also tucked away from the road.  We went to the fish camp where you can rent a boat and Scott tried his hand at fishing.  It was either the wrong time of the day or the wrong bait but we all know Scott can catch the hell out of some fish normally.

Costa Rica days 2-5 part 1

We stayed at the Zula Aparthotel while we were at Santa Teresa for the next few days. This is a no frills little complex where we got our own tiny house with a kitchen. The place had a common area that was one bedroom connected to the kitchen andyou can walk through to get to the other bedroom. The bathroom connected the 2 rooms. It worked fine although the beds weren't to most comfy in the world. The kitchen was sparse but really had what you needed (unless you wanted to make blender drinks). We had a Toast-R-oven and a double burner hot plate. Every day Scott made us delicious breakfasts! In Costa Rica you can buy bundles of eggs in 10's or you can buy single eggs. Be careful getting them home! I carried my 2 eggs in my hand.
Each morning you could hear howler monkeys in the trees nearby. There were kitties and all kinds of pretty colorful birds. I got up at dawn each day and sat by the pool watching birds, listening to monkies and enjoying the sounds before it got too hot. The funny blue bird is an urracca. I have no idea what the yellow one was. I never saw a toucan or a sloth. Next time...

RIP Mama kitty

Mama kitty was so devoted to me. One day I caught her in my trap when I was fixing ferals. We did a kitty abortion and brought her back home. I had to keep her overnight because she was on anesthetic and while she was doped up i held her in a towel and cuddled her for a bit. I think that's why she trusted and loved me. She only let me pet herwhen Ifed her but then I only fed her if she was right there.
tonight I went outside right after she was hit by a car. I was able to just pick her up and say goodbye and thankfully it was just the one blow and not a gory mess. She's not in the flower bed with Tang and Princess Rainbow. In Heaven cats have wings so they aren't always in the car's way.

Costa Rica- Day 2 the ferry

Taking the ferry is cool but disorganized. You have to get your car in line and sit there in the heat and wait for the man to bring you a laminated piece of paper. THEN, you take the paper to the office and pay. There are lots of people trying to sell you hats and fat little old toothless ladies shoving sunglasses at you. And dogs. They are everywhere. I love them. So the ferry took about 1 hour and 10 minutes and then we were off! Scott is the best driver for these situations because he was a bike messenger for years and he is fearless. He just steps on the gas and goes! Swerving around the bigger dips, shifting for hills and sliding to a stop to let the car coming the other way use the single lane bridge. Sometimes you might go around a corner and there's a cow in the road. Sometimes there is a festival caravan with a band and decorated oxen. You never really know what to expect except that it is a very bumpy dusty ride. We made it to Santa Teresa just in time to have some beers! I'll post more on Santa Teresa tomorrow