[ back ]
Part 4: Costa Rica—A Banana Plantation, Neon Frogs, & A Step
(by Patti Day-Miller - March 11, 2008)
After a short bus ride, we explored a banana plantation/processing plant where Rolando took us into the field to get a first-hand look at how they grow, and we also enjoyed seeing the many steps in processing those yummy, potassium yielders.
Next stop was lunch and then fun time at the Selva Verde Rain Forest Reserve where many walked across a 300-foot long suspension bridge over a jungle river. We also enjoyed watching toucans feasting on bananas at a little feeding station and seeing the tiny frogs that the naturalists would catch and hold for us to photograph.
We traveled through the countryside to the San Carlos Valley in north-central Costa Rica for a two-night stay at the Arenal Manoa Hotel in Fortuna, where we would have had a great view of the Arenal Volcano from our terrace, if there had been no clouds over the volcano. Some enjoyed the jacuzzi or swimming pool before dinner. And dinner again was delicious. It was very cloudy; so viewing the volcano was impossible early on, but our family sat on our little terrace that night and between 9-9:30 p.m. we saw the glow of the volcano, which was very exciting to us.
We awoke the next morning to rain, and again were thankful for the large umbrellas at this hotel. After breakfast, we had a choice. We could stay at the hotel, enjoying the amenities there, and perhaps later go into Fortuna to explore the sights and shop. Or we could hop onto the bus for a two-hour ride to Los Chiles and the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge (home to many migratory birds found nowhere else in the country) and glide through the waters of the Rio Frio.
The cruise was fascinating for wildlife viewing, as usual, but even more exciting was stepping under the fence at the Nicaragua border and having our photos taken while actually standing in Nicaragua! Lunch after the cruise was in Los Chiles, and many bought wooden items there by a craftsman who had a display inside the restaurant. Then back to Fortuna for an hour plus of shopping. We quickly met up with Allison and Tyler, who’d spent the day in Fortuna shopping, and we enjoyed seeing all the treasures they’d purchased. Then we did a little shopping of our own. I found tiny little purses, made by Boruca artisans who use only natural dyes, as gifts for friends, and Dave found, thanks to Allison and Tyler’s knowledge of the town’s shops, the t-shirts he was seeking— “No Army Since 1948 • The Republic of Costa Rica.” And it’s true. They do not have an army, choosing to spend their public money on health care instead. (And, for better or for worse, all citizens ages 18-70 are mandated to vote at each election.)
After a bit of shopping in Fortuna, it was off to the volcanic hot springs of Baldi Termae Spa with its beautifully landscaped gardens, multiple waterfalls, water-slides, and 25 pools of varying temperatures. A great time was had there! Shortly before it was time to board the bus to return to our hotel for dinner it started raining quite heavily, but our bus driver was able to pull the front of the bus under the outside canopy; so, we didn’t have to board in the rain. Dinner again was quite delicious.
To be continued in a future issue …
[ back ]
