Tania’s 21st (and a bit) birthday!!!
We didn’t even bother with the shower this morning. In fact, it has been a bit of a joke that we have paid that extra bit of money to get better quality hotels on this GAP adventures comfort tour and we can’t even get hot water. Even worse is that it has afflicted most the group as well. We will save our money next time and go on an original style of tour where we can expect the occasional cold shower and not be too fussed as it will be considerably cheaper. This is the make shift shelter for the hot water service that was totally ineffective. We are both glad we are moving to the next part of the journey.
Our morning was spent walking around the hotel grounds and wishing that the cloud would disappear from Volcano Arenal’s summit.
Tan opened her present, chocolate coated macadamia nuts on the balcony. In a way this whole trip has been a present for both of us!
After lunch we left the hotel where they were resurfacing the road with pile of soft volcanic ash and gravel. As we can down the hill the truck had just started tipping his load and he wasn’t going to stop for us. The tractor graded out a patch in 30cm deep gravel. The mini van with twelve on board sunk and we got bogged. The driver tried to reverse out of the gravel with us all in the van and we sunk down to the mud guards. Every one got out and watched! I immediately got to work with the rake and then on my hands and knees clearing the soft dirt way from the obscured front wheel. Once it was clear myself and two other Ticos pushed the van out of the bog and we were clear to continue on with the journey. It’s funny, I didn’t even think twice about what we had to do. We just had to do it! 
We caught a boat the other side of Lake Arenal. The cloud and rain continued to follow us and still after three days the volcano did not come out of the cloud to show its lava display, but such is life! 
On the other side of the lake, we transferred into another van to begin the journey to Monteverde. Not a long journey in terms of the number of kilometres travelled, but when you have unsealed roads that are poorly maintained with tonnes of potholes is makes for an interesting journey. 
However, luckily the views out the window were spectacular with green rolling hills with the road, at times, hugging the very edge of the hills making for a hairy ride. We stopped for a coffee along the way, saw some great rainbows and finally glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. 
We finally made it to the hotel in Monteverde to see a beautiful sunset complete with lots of wind and cloud above us on the mountain tops. A nice way to end a travel day. 
Later that evening we headed off to “The Treehouse” restaurant, literally an upstairs restaurant with a massive tree in the middle! We kicked off the evening celebrating Tan’s birthday with a bottle of Chilean Champagne (fantastic says Tan) and a delicious meal. We had a guy playing acoustic guitar all evening who was great too. Good food and company and a birthday cake to boot!!
We didn’t even bother with the shower this morning. In fact, it has been a bit of a joke that we have paid that extra bit of money to get better quality hotels on this GAP adventures comfort tour and we can’t even get hot water. Even worse is that it has afflicted most the group as well. We will save our money next time and go on an original style of tour where we can expect the occasional cold shower and not be too fussed as it will be considerably cheaper. This is the make shift shelter for the hot water service that was totally ineffective. We are both glad we are moving to the next part of the journey.
Our morning was spent walking around the hotel grounds and wishing that the cloud would disappear from Volcano Arenal’s summit.Tan opened her present, chocolate coated macadamia nuts on the balcony. In a way this whole trip has been a present for both of us!After lunch we left the hotel where they were resurfacing the road with pile of soft volcanic ash and gravel. As we can down the hill the truck had just started tipping his load and he wasn’t going to stop for us. The tractor graded out a patch in 30cm deep gravel. The mini van with twelve on board sunk and we got bogged. The driver tried to reverse out of the gravel with us all in the van and we sunk down to the mud guards. Every one got out and watched! I immediately got to work with the rake and then on my hands and knees clearing the soft dirt way from the obscured front wheel. Once it was clear myself and two other Ticos pushed the van out of the bog and we were clear to continue on with the journey. It’s funny, I didn’t even think twice about what we had to do. We just had to do it! We caught a boat the other side of Lake Arenal. The cloud and rain continued to follow us and still after three days the volcano did not come out of the cloud to show its lava display, but such is life! On the other side of the lake, we transferred into another van to begin the journey to Monteverde. Not a long journey in terms of the number of kilometres travelled, but when you have unsealed roads that are poorly maintained with tonnes of potholes is makes for an interesting journey. However, luckily the views out the window were spectacular with green rolling hills with the road, at times, hugging the very edge of the hills making for a hairy ride. We stopped for a coffee along the way, saw some great rainbows and finally glimpses of the Pacific Ocean. We finally made it to the hotel in Monteverde to see a beautiful sunset complete with lots of wind and cloud above us on the mountain tops. A nice way to end a travel day. Later that evening we headed off to “The Treehouse” restaurant, literally an upstairs restaurant with a massive tree in the middle! We kicked off the evening celebrating Tan’s birthday with a bottle of Chilean Champagne (fantastic says Tan) and a delicious meal. We had a guy playing acoustic guitar all evening who was great too. Good food and company and a birthday cake to boot!!
Wilson the volleyball cake made a guest appearance for Tan's birthday too.
Tan found out what was behind the delicate wall hanging – wires dangling out the wall!
After climbing into the tree for some photo’s we headed to a local club to witness some great Salsa. Dan demonstrated the Australian version, commonly referred to “The Kangaroo”. Priceless.
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