Arenal - lava flow

Arenal 

here of the up to date arenal features as well as funny anecdotes according to bill & gigi:

- the arenal observatory is the best viewspot of this awesome currently lavaless but still impactful volcano destination.  If you have the means to stay their, ask for smithsonian room 29, the river and big ant hill are bam rit there, closest one can enclosingly get.

- this spot as well as others is slightly off the beaten path, so it is recommended to rent so engined device.  Otherwise, spending 50 on cabs minimum is you daily surprise.

- the main attraction is this active volcano and its july4th display of excitement; however its kept a bit of a secret that the volcano hasnt flourenscently decorated the scenary in 10 months.  Began as a disappointing realization mid way our 80 buck one hr tour to the "dont take the free old lava flow hike, theres no lava their anymore, go with irnguide to the 1968 lave national park where the new lava flowmhike is," Can you say chi ching wrip off?  Eh, B was very cool and eased my latin spice....but thankfully the easy to make fun of guide made this expensive magmaless trek laughable and memorable.  The surprise rain very intricate telescope seeming dvd pllayer and the red eye frog added to it too.

- free hike o  observatory premisses:  we got our cloud forrest fix.  learning from the previous lava flow night's error, early sunday morning the "volcano said hello" with a bit a smoke atop around and we prepped for the free guided 3 hour hike (which we missed, courtesy of the pura vidan waiter).  Self led, we discfetely hopped over a couple hanging bridges, got sprinkled by a pretty intimidating waterfall, prettended to be farmers on tractors, took 'when dreams may come' tree photos (the trees looks like they were planted by a painter), bullied some uninterested horses and one very interesting and ed bull, and oooed and aaaed over some funny tropical plants, fruits, birds, while a few spider monkeys did a few oos and aa a as of their own above us.

- la fortuna catarata: after our wallet emptying taxi lift, we decided tomike our way under the tican sun to the falls, well... Almost to thenfalls.  My thumb mid way up the gazillionth sweat dripping pebnlestoned uphill, accidentally propped up the side of the road and stopped to spanish tourists heading to the same destination.  Guilt tripped a bit by Bill pointingout my two second earlier comment "we are so earning the swanky hotsprings later", we arrive about 1 k later to the lovely reception.  We then discover 480 steep and mossy steps downhill (pointing out the obvious gulp, what goes down must come up theory), us Bill eased on the guilt trip ;)

We arrive to fall and scarelessly (or just a splash) jump into this fresh, crisp, rejuvenating waterfall..... Like one pulled out of jurassic park.  The most incredible waterfall ive even been to, and swam in!  Yes you guessed it: 480 gasping steps back up... We earn our butter cookies we were savoruing since hike, AND the

- swanky hotsprings - Tabacon : the hotsprings hotsppot.   Yes pricey ($45 entrance and $25 very well designed and delicious buffet dinner if aftrr 6pm), but worth every penny.  Doesnt feel fake.  Vegetation is enveloping, options infinate, conditions impecable, staff on target, and crowdedness to a minimum.  Aaaaand the bracelet lasts for 2 days (which now on day 2 on plane a hot spring sounds darn good)

That was our arenal trip highlights.  
We leisurely made our way out of this mountain paradise, on a 5 hr $3.45dollar pubkic bus to the smoggy captial.  Walked on dusty promenada, taking in the entire trip and not wanting to end the pura vida way,  we end at el patio for dinner and order two very american plates : lox bagel type dish and cesar salad.  Good warm up.

Gran hotel for final hours and up to now, in houston afte rthe first 4 hours of travel....  

Closing thoughts to come.