Trifecta in La Fortuna

The last couple of days have been busy. As I noted yesterday, we traveled to La Fortuna. Here is an iguana, posing with style at the Las Iguana tourist trap, visited on yesterday's journey. These are fat and sassy lizards, accustomed to the endless attention of a stream of tourists. Impressive, nonetheless.

Here is an actual shot of La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano looming in the distance. You can see how helpful the EF Tours backpacks are - especially with as compliant a group as Deal 8th graders. La Fortuna is more than a one-stoplight town (example pictured here) but the hardened Costa Rican traveler uses a different measure - one-, two-, or three-ATM towns. The kids here are probably on their way back from Pops, an ice cream chain that must be partly owned by our guide's family, as he reminds us frequently that it is the best in all of Costa Rica. We are a highly suggestible group and buy this product as often as we can.

Our students/your children have been wonderful. They are very interested in where we are and what we see and ask questions along the way.

With today's technology, everyone is a photographer, but Eliza here puts most of us to shame. Once pictures are taken, there is a mad rush to post shots to Instagram wherever wi-fi is available. If you are following your children, you know what I mean.

Time is spent on the bus, but I think they do a good job keeping it to a minimum and the buses are very comfortable.

Finally, the beast of a mountain that we look at all day. Here it is, briefly cloud-free, poking up through the trees. (All these photos are courtesy Patrick Rottman, by the way.)

Today was incredibly busy - we kayaked on Lake Arenal, we hiked down 500+ steps to the La Fortuna Waterfall (and back up), and we visited the Baldi Hot Springs Spa. Each was pretty amazing. The kayaking was done under intense skies along the face of the dam and around several points to a small beach. The waterfall was busy but also offered chances to swim in the outlet stream at the bottom (but not IN the waterfall). The spa remains hard to describe - paths winding through 22 pools, each with its own temperature and design (caves, waterfalls, disco). By the time dinner rolled around, there was just quiet murmuring as they ate and then a rush to their rooms. A number of stomachs are upset, but discomfort seems to be the order of the day rather than outright viral attacks.

And now, a guest writer, Eden Breslow. I asked her to give us some impressions of the day.

"Costa Rica is very different from the US. For starters the weather: it's hot and humid all the time and can go from sunny skies to pouring rain. There are animals everywhere ( I have woken up to hollowing monkeys, teachers knocking on our doors, and croaking frogs numerous times).  We have been on many long drives during which I have noticed towns in which all the roofs are made of metal sheets. I know we still use satellite dishes in the US but there are many here which seems uncommon to me.  Lastly, the food, which consists of a daily staple of rice beans and some type of meat, not to mention fresh fruit (watermelon and pineapple) for breakfast  every morning. I have really enjoyed my time here so far in Costa Rica and hope to have more new experiences in the last few days."

Thank you, Eden! It is now time to get ready for our departure tomorrow - off to a hike, handicraft shops, and then our final hotel in Guanacaste. Wish us well!