Adventures in Costa Rica...(I have finally managed to write this)

First of all, apologies for how long its taken for me to get round to doing a post on the last 2 weeks of my holiday - since I've been back I have felt alternately lethargic/listless and busy busy. Finally got a minute now so here goes.We left San Fran after having had a fabulous time. it was so good to see them and we did so much, it was particularly nice to spend time with Devon and am pleased we planned it so the week we were there he was on spring break - the little man really is growing up so fast I feel privileged that despite the distance we all have such a good bond with our cousin (and our uncle and aunt) it is very special.

We got to Costa Rica and were met and given our vouchers for hotels and transfers - and that was it! we were off to our first hotel, the gran hotel costa rica it was a beautiful old colonial building in the cultural square, right next to the national theatre. We hit the bar and had a good nights sleep. The next day we went and explored San José – its not a particularly nice city – with a few parks, the nicest is the parque nacional, although really, its not large or particularly exciting. The city is very loud, not quite sprawling and has a billion fast food places, which is a bit of a shame really. The national theatre - teatro nacional is a beautiful colonial building, and after looking around it we found that there was a piano recital on that night (which funnily enough was cheaper then what we paid to just look around!) – we bought tickets and later that night went along – lovely recital by an amazing 17 year old musician. We had a great dinner and the next day we rose early for our ride to Volcan Arenal – the Arenal volcano.

We arrived at the hotel arenal paraiso, and were of course shocked at how lovely the hotel was. Our cabaña had an awesome view of the volcano, and on the day we arrived the sky was beautiful and clear - we could see the top of the volcano, and both craters. We spent a brilliant afternoon hanging by the pool, drinking cocktails and experiencing the chain of natural thermal spa pool thingies at the hotel – and as dada had given us both $50 we both treated ourselves to a swedish massage in the beauty rooms. Bliss. The next day we woke early and wait on the volcano trail – it was really amazing, I clambered over the lava rocks caused by the 1992 eruption. Walking through the forest there were lots of animals, bugs and birds to see and learn about - monkeys too, and the guide was great so we all learnt a lot about the natural eco systems associated with so many different plants. Then we went to the la fortuna waterfall – this time it was just me and stef and the guide who was very nice. We swam by the waterfall – the rocks were slimy and the force of the waterfall pretty magnificent, but it was also nice to hang out and paddle in the calmer water too.

The next day we rose early and got a ride to the Monteverde cloud forest. Our hotel was the cloud forest lodge, and once again we loved our little cabaña., the lodge is based in section of cloud forest and that afternoon we went ziplining. It was brilliant! It was the one thing I was really super keen on trying and I really enjoyed it – you are so high above the canopy of the cloud forest and you go so fast sometimes, and at other times you go slow enough to actually look around – brilliant experience. It was awesome and we had 2 fantastic guides and just us so it was even more special. At night you can see so many stars and constellations. The next day we went to the Monteverdi Cloud Forest, which is a biological reserve – it was amazing. We spent a great morning walking around with a guide, and then spent the afternoon by ourselves – took some very difficult routes, quite steep and not always clear which way to go. The reserve only lets in 600 people a day, and it’s so big you just don’t really pass anyone on your rambles. After that we went on a shorter walk and saw so many monkeys! That night we went to Johnny’s pizzeria which was highly rated in the guidebook – amazing cocktails and great food. The next morning we left early to get to the beach at Manuel Antonio.

We had a great driver on the way who really wanted to be a tour guide – he stopped on numerous occasions to show us the national bird of Nicaragua, the national tree of Costa Rica and a river with crocodiles – it was soo fun. Our hotel in Manuel Antonio was really nice, the Hotel Villa Teca and we stayed for 4 days, we relaxed by the beach on the first day and the next day we went to the Manuel Antonio national park – its really something, it used to be an island but the sediment built up and joined it to the main land, and it really is an area of natural beauty. The trails we followed in the park were very steep and the sun was ferociously hot – we ended up on one of the private beaches and stayed there for the day – again so many animals and a huge iguana was right next to us whilst we lay reading in the sun – here the water was much calmer with big but gentle waves, so I enjoyed the swimming there a lot – but stef preferred the rougher and more powerful surf of the larger public beach that we had visited the day before. We spent the next few days going alternately into the port town of Quepos to hang out and drink amazing iced coffees then to Manuel Antonio to hang out by the beach – on our last but one night we went out on a catamaran and drank lots of rum and snorkeled (coming to the conclusion that us Brits can definitely drink more then the yanks). the next afternoon we left for San Jose and the long journey home.

NB: For any foodies out there, Costa Rican food is not particularly exciting but the drinks and the cocktails were great!! - you definitely dont go there for the food.

In all, I would recommend a long break to everyone: the bliss of having four weeks off work to recharge and relax is awesome and the number of amazing things I saw and experienced in Texas, California, Nevada and Costa Rica were just phenomenal. From SXSW to the LBJ library and the DMA, from Lake Tahoe and snowboarding to learning to gamble in Reno and wine tasting in California, and from a volcano to cloud forests, ziplining, hiking and going on a catamaran, everything was just phenomenal.

And of course, I am happy and thankful that I experienced all of these things with people I love so much – soppy as it sounds but the company you are with also helps to make the places you visit and experience: seeing and spending time with, sharing experiences and making memories with Motiben, Das, Mama, Mami, Devon and even the grandparents (I know, shocking (!) ) and of course, the lovely Stefan of course.

All photos are on stefs flikr and I hope to be able to link to youtube clips of video footage soon (just call me daisy steiner)