My name is Marion Vermazen. I am a traveler, hiker, reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, YouTuber, Spanish and French language student, knitter, weaver and genealogist.
Another first for me today. I don’t think I’ve ever had a drink at a swimming pool bar before. This is pina colada with fresh pineapple.
We spent the whole day relaxing and enjoying the resort. There are several hot springs pools. We found it all very refreshing.
For dinner we had rigatoni and pizza. They were both very good. The restaurant has a wood fire pizza oven.
All of our breakfasts on this trip have included great fresh fruit. This morning’s was especially great.
Our destination tonight near Arenal Lake and Volcano was only 19 miles as the crow flies from Monte Verde. Even the shortest driving route would have been circuitous and about three hours. But because of all the mud slides we took an even longer route and it took us about five hours. But after the first couple of hours it was all paved roads.
The tractor in the picture below is on the road into The Monte Verde Resort where we were staying. He had to move to allow us to get out. That road was scarey in the dark when we came in. It was even more impressive in the daylight when we were leaving. I’m glad we have a four wheel drive vehicle.
We had to stop for road clearing and eventually turn around to take a different route.
Once we got to pavement it was relatively smooth sailing. We stopped for groceries and snacks.
Tonight we are staying at Arenal Springs Resort. It is big and beautiful. This is the view of the volcano from the restaurant.
We had a lovely dinner of salad and pizza.
When I opened the door of our cabin to go down to breakfast this fellow was poking around in the grass. He seemed unperturbed by me. I think he is a coati.
After breakfast we went for a hike through the cloud forest.
We saw this animal. I think it’s a agouti.
This isn’t a very good picture of it but we saw a beautiful big red headed woodpecker.
And some pretty insects.
This afternoon we sat on our porch and read and enjoyed this beautiful spot.
Google said our drive today would take a bit over three hours but that was grossly wrong. I mentioned yesterday that there are lots of land slides and road problems because of the massive amount of wind and rain that Costa Rica got from Huricame Nate. We really experienced that today.
Twice we had to backtrack and take massive detours because of road closures. And there were no signs saying that the road was closed thirty miles ahead. Once after following a road for about thirty miles and passing some horrible flood damage we came to a bridge that had been washed away. Although the storm was less than a week ago they had almost completed a new pedestrian suspension bridge across the river. We of course had to turn around and backtrack.
There were also multiple times we had to stop and wait while road crews worked on clearing slides and then would let a few cars through. In all the drive took us eight hours and the last several miles were on muddy dirt roads. We arrived in the dark.
Today was a first! In my more than sixty five years of life I have never milked a cow. But today I did! Villa Blanca has a lecharia and at 8:30 every morning you can help milk the cows.
We went for a couple of short hikes today.
We saw lots of interesting and beautiful plants and flowers.
Just before we got to Costa Rica they had two days of hurricane winds and rain from Nate. As we walked through the cloud forest there trees, branches and leaves down everywhere.
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