Virtual SA: Costa Rica- Arenal Volcano National Park

 

Considered dormant until 1968...when it erupted.

Imagine their surprise.

Today's Virtual Adventure includes the Arenal Volcano...surrounding park and wildlife...hot springs, and the Chato Volcano which is also in the park.

Come Along!

A Costa Rican National Park which encompasses two volcanoes and 16 protected reserves. Also the Arenal Lake.

The Arenal Volcano was presumed dormant until 1968 when it roared back to life.

On Monday, July, 29, 1968 at 7:30 AM it unleashed its fury after 200 years of quiet.

It destroyed every trace of a small town below and buried 6 square miles around it in rocks, lava and ash.

It killed 89 people, and their cattle and crops.

Its last eruption was 1992.

These days, it is a tourist destination with waterfalls, hiking paths, zip-lines, wildlife and resorts.

Arenal Resort and Spa

 The spa touts the rejuvenating effects of the thermal springs and sulfuric mud.

Large private rooms are like small cottages strewn throughout.

Huge windows assure you of a beautiful view of the volcano and surrounding area.

The Master Suites are over 1700 square feet...include a jacuzzi, a rainfall shower and an indoor garden.

The price is 420 USD per night....but is all inclusive...food and mini-bar.

Tours and Hikes additional charge.

 In the center of the park...Lake Arenal and the dam...also Costa Rica's largest hydroelectricity plant.

This dam provides electricity to 12% of the entire country.

The lake itself provides a myriad of water-sports including kayaking adventures.

 The smaller volcano is called Mount Chato.

Its draw seems to be the jade green crater lake in its center. 

The hike up is challenging...

but the scenery is worth it.

 The park has 850 species of birds including the rare Quetzel.

 Wildlife, here, includes white-faced and howler monkeys, crocodiles, jaguars, coati, deer and snakes.

A little something for everyone!

Tour Arenal Volcanic Park

https://youtu.be/MSZiUzR7gWQ?si=2OfCzOYao8EiaU24

 https://youtu.be/H22z7lmS6aI?si=IZ_OeuW3kM3awE-d

Hike

https://youtu.be/fGfDyUjsiH4?si=Xah08Fo-My_XETco

https://youtu.be/ReZgiiBmIUc?si=kgLVyKBnftbtYwmG

 

Virtual SA: Costa Rica Beaches...

 

It is rainy and a little chilly, here, today...so a perfect time to whisk away on our Virtual Beach Adventure!

Come along!

 

First you should know that the Spanish word for beach is Playa.

And one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica is Playa Conchal.

With lightly pinkish sand, perfect clear water for snorkeling, and minimal tourists...Conchal is a beach for relaxing.

For something a bit more touristy...you might consider Playa Manzanillo. 

A private beach surrounded by all-inclusive resort hotels. Umbrellas and umbrella drinks. Parasailing...diving...snorkeling...and many other "aquatic adventures" await. Caveat...can be uncomfortably crowded during the high season and unlike other Central American countries..Costa Rica is very...very...very expensive.

No Chicken Bus, here.

Playa Montezuma is kind of middle of the road...not crowed but comfortable. Quiet, but has a resort on location without the opulence and price of Manzanillo.

Some sandy beach-front...but also some stony and beautiful trails to hike.

If you want umbrella drinks, well, you will have to fetch your own.

Which brings us to Nosara...

 

Not a particularly beautiful beach...but the place to be in Costa Rica if "hanging ten" is your thing.

Surfers come from everywhere for the gnarly waves and beach town feeling, here.

For wildlife viewing...nothing beats Costa Ballena.

Whale Watching

Seals

Sea Turtles...and more...at Marino Ballena National Park!

Possibly the most remote and hardest to access is Tamarindo.

Beautiful, flat sandy beach nestled in a cove by the trees.

Getting to this one is an adventure all by itself...but if you want privacy...this is the beach for you.

Lastly, the BEST in eco-tourism. 

Manuel Antonio National Park.

Offering everything from scuba diving and snorkeling to sports-fishing!

Spend the day kayaking...

hiking the boardwalk trails through the rain-forest...

or just exploring and enjoying the sandy beaches!

https://youtu.be/XMGf9qtD3lI?si=iskl5KtVzKJDfCfY

I hope you have enjoyed this beachy day!

Tonight, I'm starting my Costa Rica Beach painting!

 

 

After All That Labor Day Food....

 

Yeah...feeling a lot like this.

Today is all about salads, green grapes and fresh cut veggies.

The bear above?  747 (aka Bear Force One...aka Colbert) in all his splendor.

Mike Fitz guesstimates he has exceeded 1600 pounds so far!

And in case you thought he couldn't move with that kind of bulk...

Think again.

The naturalist says he can run for short bursts upwards of 40 mph!

I am about 1455 pounds lighter...and couldn't run like this if my hair was on fire, okay?

So...the Summer Patio Garden has ended.

And all of the red is now gone...save the petunias, which I will cut out as soon as the sunflowers and marigolds bloom.

The Morning Glory vine is now completely across the arbor and twining down the other side. It will be beautiful this Fall with its big blue blossoms.

Much cooler now and a good wind.

They are forecasting rain tonight....so no watering for me!

John and I, have our Birthday Adventure for Loretta planned for September and will spend a few days in Rushville, Shelbyville and Greenfield.

And football, of course...

Kansas' first season game is this Thursday...& the Colts play on the 10th.

Must get more popcorn!

My sisters and I have our next Sisters Day in the works.

And Finnegan?

Almost got into my lap, yesterday, when I was sitting in the patio chair reading.

He was standing with two paws, head and shoulders there...but his back legs firmly planted on the ground.  It's going to happen. I know it!!!

"Don't hurry me, Mom...you KNOW I'm still a wild animal"

                                                                                   -Finnegan

"If I fits...I sits..."

                       -Gadget

Back to our Virtual Adventure tomorrow!

 

What a Salmon Coma looks like...

 

Labor Day!

 

Finishing the dishes and laundry...hot bubble bath and early bedtime...tomorrow promises to be a day of complete relaxation!

I've beans soaking for cornbread and ham &beans...salad with fresh green peppers, cucumbers and the last of Tina's homegrown tomatoes (which are soooooooooooooooooooo yummy) and cornbread slathered with the end of the jar of peach preserves and butter for afters.

Also, a novel I've been reading from John (...one of the Reacher Series...) and sweet tea to enjoy on the patio with Finnegan.

And a movie for later.

Life is good!

Have a Wonderful Labor Day!

Love,

Carla and the Finn-Kitty

September

 

Maybe not right now...but soon!

Woke to crickets...and a flock of startled crows...and my fly-over of geese.

FALL!!

Plans to stow the Summer decorations...and bring out Autumn.

Dead-head and clip back the last of the Summer Patio garden...and get more sunflowers planted...and make way for the mums and pumpkins soon.

Sipping hot tea with honey.

Hard to believe that it is September, already!!!!

Watched through the night, this week, and kept in touch with our middle son as the hurricane missed and made landfall well above him!

For this I am grateful.

He is planning a trip up in a few months!

Chunk (#32) arrived back from his walk-about, yesterday.

Wherever he has been...obviously he has been eating well. 

We have several in serious contention for Fat Bear in October...Chunk...747...Grazer...Otis...856 and Walker are all enormous, this year.

My Finnegan is getting fluffier, too.

Getting a little tamer...not quite so feral...although he still won't take a bite of anything directly from my hand...we're working on it.

He does seem to enjoy supervising when I'm working in the yard.

And he knows his name now.

Finishing brunch...then it's off to play in the plants!

Love,

Carla and Finn

Virtual SA: Costa Rica- Waterfalls

There are 25+ beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica. Many are part of The Waterfall Gardens in LaPaz. That is where we will start our Waterfall Tour, today.

https://youtu.be/MpfYyI6QpUU?si=PD3J9pz94hR1SvqZ

Sound of the Falls.

https://youtu.be/OQlhobjPxHM?si=1emyaAQ6Jy-EhjIX

Onward to the LaPaz Waterfall Gardens.

We will begin at the Peace Lodge.

The ultimate in relaxation while enjoying the Eco-tourism that Costa Rica offers.

 Peace Lodge

https://youtu.be/GojlUAV_5m4?si=1_dKEWHdIUzsQe_C

Lower end rooms will set you back 400 USD plus.  The deluxe will run you upwards of 900 USD per night.

(...good thing this is virtual...)

Exploring the Waterfall Gardens

https://youtu.be/6dsTvLFQf-g?si=15maGUU8-Rmc1ruk

https://youtu.be/1p05QKhum2U?si=JpSbn7TiVmpLnU2y

Also Monteverde Cloud Forest

https://youtu.be/BGjiODL7b3s?si=2VJ1Q2TX7YaI_GgY

Explore the Cloud Forest

Or go zip-lining through the canopy.

 https://youtu.be/v3q4navXidY?si=ne1FpREShAkjJcZQ

 

 I hope you've enjoyed today's adventure!