Rainforest number two, volcano Tenorio and Rio Celeste, the blue waterfall. We had a great breakfast with Orlando and Flori and more conversation with Miguel at the table this time. the bagutees here are crispy and light on the outside and pillowy in the center. Crack open a chunk and slather it with lactocrema, which tastes like butter only far creamier. We also had some pate for the baguette and these cute little pastries that are little o‘s the size of a loonie. Dip in coffe and YUM.

I showed my mosquito bites, yes I got another one last night, and the parents thought it was common but I should see a pharmacist.

Time to say goodbye and we won’t be back to Tilaran on this trip. Orlando looked like he didn’t want us to go but adventure calls. We hit the pharmacy, got some cortisone cream and antihistamine and BUG REPELLENT.

The drive was about two hours. We stopped by a river where Mickey used to fish with his father. It was a nice moment he shared. We found wild sensitive plant and played with it which is where I got bit by an ant. Fuck that hurt. At least I didn’t have an allergic reaction like I did the mosquito bites.

I saw something that took my breath away and made Mickey turn around so I could take a picture. It started to rain but I didn’t care. It was this amazing palm tree. I mean, I was beyond thrilled when I saw my very first palm tree five minutes from the airport but this, this was on a whole nutha level! It was shaped like a fan and was so freeking tall. It was a tower of fronds!

It rained all the way to the Rio Celeste. If you ever go, be sure to bring a good raincoat. If you don’t you will have to pay 4 colones for a dollar store raincoat that does jackshit for you in a rainforest.

The hike was mostly uphill with a few new species of flora to oogle and google. But the pathway down to the massive and beautiful blue waterfalls was a vertical staircase. I heard both knees yelling at me , “ you gotta be shittin me, right?” I told them that we would go slow and easy and everything would be fine. Problem is, going down was ok, coming up, laboured. You have to remember, the elevation makes the oxygen lower soooo, ya it was hard.

I was resting on one of the landings along with another group who were encouraging a woman to go slow and breathe deep. I looked one of the men and said, ” I know how she feels.” He said, yes my mom is 79 years old. She is strong. I was instantly humbled and took the rest of the stairs in silence as I breathed deeply and prayed for the top.

The same group was resting at the top and we all cheered and I yelled bravo and they all laughed, clapped and echoed, bravo!

We finally made it out of the forest and wouldn’t you know it, the rain stopped. I felt my blood sugar was a little low so we stopped at the fruit stand where I had some agua de pipa, aka coconut water, from a green coconut and then ate the soft pulp. Electrolytes reinstated! I also tried some guava. Was very good. Fuzzy but refreshing.

Then it was off to La Fortuna and Arenal. But that story will have to wait. It’s past midnight and we rise with the birds around here. Not because we want but because the are so noisy! Not a complaint, just a fact. So goodnight. Enjoy the show and excuse the typos.

Rainforest/Cloudforest number one, Monte Verde. Incredible experience. On the drive up, up, up we stopped at a teeny cafe on the edge of the mountain. Stunning view, great empanada and then the owner gave us a tour of the sugar cane processing done on the premises. I made a new friend, tiny little dog who stuck to me like glue.

Finally, the cloudforest was reached after much climbing up and down and up and up. Word of warning, the roads are not only winding, on the edge and scary, but they are also in terrible condition due to, yup, you guessed it, the rain. And the locals drive super fast, weaving in and out because they are accustomed to every twist.

At the top, we did the self guided tour as it gave us more time to explore. Still zero sloths sighted but an abundance of amazing flora and walking inside a cloud is fantastical. I used the term, “just like the movies” a few times. The suspension bridge was near the top of the canopy so we were able to look down on some of the tree tops that have not reached the height of the bridge yet. Breathtaking view looking down. I was disappointed we didn’t see any animals but we definitely heard them. The climbs felt like 90 degrees in some places going up and down. All in all, after three hours exploring we were graced with the rare sighting of, wait for it……a fucking squirrel !

Quick edits from the orchid garden in Santa Elena, which is home to the world’s smallest orchid. Most of the tiny orchids which are millimeters in size grow underneath the leaves for protection. Many fascinating facts and events were gleaned from this excursion. Some of the flowers smelled like Nivea cream, others like pina colada and then there are some, when wet, smell like blood. The giant tarantula killing wasp is attracted to the spider orchid when the flower gives off a fake female wasp pheromone. The orchid does this achieve pollination. Fascinating tour and very knowledgeable guide. She loves her orchid. We also got to meet the resident agouti which is a Costa Rican rodent that resembles a tiny capybara.

Other native flowers showed up throughout the gardens and it was fun to try and guess the face of the orchid before the guide told you. See if you can identify the tiny ghost orchid.

PURA VIDA

Home

This trip was my birthday present to myself. I turn 60 years old on the first day of summer and I earned my first ever tropical vacation. I was fortunate to travel with a Native Costa Rican and even more fortunate that he is young and adventurous. I posted daily on Facebook but I wanted to memorialize this epic vacation on my personal website. Getting reconnected with another one of my creative art forms, writing, has been eye opening. I gained new fans of my stories on Facebook. Some day I’ll mature enough to leave that platform but it still serves a good purpose in keeping touch with family and friends.

Without further ado….

April 12th,

Landed in Libera, Costa Rica around noon. Sun was super hot, air was sweet smelling and completely different from any air I breathed before. I was excited to see my first palm tree, and the firsts that followed were a multitude of squeeeeeee’s and squeeks and giggles.

The view from the plane and lunch in Liberia was soup at a Soda (Mom and Pop food stand or shop) and fresh Papaya sold outside someone’s home for 2000 Colonnes which is about $5 Canadian. Look at the size of them!

It’s about a 40 minute drive from Liberia to Tilaran, where we would be staying with Mickey’s Father and Step-Mom, Orlando and Flori (I’ve probably spelled her name wrong but that’s how you pronounce it) . Tilaran is super windy and for that reason, it is one of the most important wind farms in Costa Rica. It was my first taste of the winding and steep roads of Costa Rica. Some of the sheer drops as you look out your car window can take your breath away and make you grab onto the “holy shit!” handles of the car. The trees only grow branches on the side of the tree that flows with the wind. Nothing grows on the side that bares the brunt of the wind. Perfect pictoral example of “going with the flow.”

The most gracious tour guide, host and best friend a person could ask for.

Tilaran from lookout hill. My first, but far from my last mountain hike.

PURA VIDA