Monday, Feb 13 (I think, I am losing track)
We chose to spend two nights in Alajuela, which is just outside of San Jose (think the various cities of the lower mainland) so we could visit Poas Volcano for a day. Alajuela is closer than San Jose.
After our long, long day in boats and Italian restaurants and taxis, we arrived at the Hotel Cortez Azul. We rang the bell. Nothing. We rang again, nothing. We held the buzzer until a guest showed up and let us in. We waited in the lobby for a bit. Eventually, we used the phone behind the desk to call the hotel, which was some guy's cell phone number. He arrived soon after to take our money, give us a key and disappear, never to be seen again.
The room was underwhelming but it would do. It would do until some person decided to have tuberculosus in the night and coughed nonstop for the entire night through the paper thin walls. I can sleep through most things but not that constant hack hack hack. But before that, we walked around centro for a bit. We both took some money out of the bank machine. Fortunately, because we are in the big city or because we used a different bank, we were able to take out that max of $350,000 colones. We had dinner and found the bus station to figure out times and locations for the Poas bus.
We had considered taking a private transport to get to the volcano as early as possible. We had heard from multiple sourses that the fog rolls in around 10am and the crater is invisible. But we had spent too much on our taxi adventure so we cheaped out and took the public bus that doesn't leave Alajuela until 10am with an hour drive. But only cost $4 or so.
We arrived at the top after a long and windy road. It is weird, you cannot see any sign of a volcano as you approach. You can't see anything until you literally are standing at the edge of the crater. And then we still couldn't see anything because, as warned, it was completely covered in fog. We waited for 30 or so minutes and the fog lifted for the briefest moment. I have a bad picture.
The trail around the park is in three parts. First to the crater. then carry on to the lake. and then through the forest filled with birds according to the brochure.
But when we got to the lake, the bird loop was taped off with "Precaución" tape. I decided to ignore the tape. Val decided to head back for a coffee. So, I had a 2km trail to myself and the birds. It was amazing. So quite and peaceful, just the twitter of birds. The trail went to the top of the mountain and then back down.
After that, the bus headed back to town at 2:30. We had dinner at a Columbian restaurant that was so delicious. I can't remember what anything was called but I have a picture. Then back to our room.
Costa Rica has terrible bus schedules. First, the Poas bus that should leave at 7am but leaves at 10. The next day we were heading to Monteverde. But we discovered that the bus leaves at 6:30am or 2:30pm. To catch the 6:30, we would have to leave Alajuela by 5am. Yikes. But the 2:30 wouldn't get us into Monteverde until after dark and we would basically lose a day. We bit the bullet and planned on the early bus. Which meant we would have to get up at 4am!!!
Just as well because Coughy McCough was starting up again as we were getting up. Turns out TB man was sleeping on a couch in the hall down from our room and we had to wake him up to unlock the door to let us out. We did not like the Cortez Azul. We got the bus and made it to San Jose in time to make the Monteverde connection. Go Team!
It was a beautiful ride up the very green mountains. The second half of the four hour trip was on dirt roads. We arrived to discover that Monteverde is one long road that runs uphill, very UPhill. We are staying at Mari's B&B. I am going to leave it here because, even though I am so far behind, I am so tired. Eary bird tour today and again tomorrow (5:30am).
We chose to spend two nights in Alajuela, which is just outside of San Jose (think the various cities of the lower mainland) so we could visit Poas Volcano for a day. Alajuela is closer than San Jose.
After our long, long day in boats and Italian restaurants and taxis, we arrived at the Hotel Cortez Azul. We rang the bell. Nothing. We rang again, nothing. We held the buzzer until a guest showed up and let us in. We waited in the lobby for a bit. Eventually, we used the phone behind the desk to call the hotel, which was some guy's cell phone number. He arrived soon after to take our money, give us a key and disappear, never to be seen again.
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| The only redeemng aspect of the hotel was this map painted on the lobby wall. It was helpful |
The room was underwhelming but it would do. It would do until some person decided to have tuberculosus in the night and coughed nonstop for the entire night through the paper thin walls. I can sleep through most things but not that constant hack hack hack. But before that, we walked around centro for a bit. We both took some money out of the bank machine. Fortunately, because we are in the big city or because we used a different bank, we were able to take out that max of $350,000 colones. We had dinner and found the bus station to figure out times and locations for the Poas bus.
We had considered taking a private transport to get to the volcano as early as possible. We had heard from multiple sourses that the fog rolls in around 10am and the crater is invisible. But we had spent too much on our taxi adventure so we cheaped out and took the public bus that doesn't leave Alajuela until 10am with an hour drive. But only cost $4 or so.
We arrived at the top after a long and windy road. It is weird, you cannot see any sign of a volcano as you approach. You can't see anything until you literally are standing at the edge of the crater. And then we still couldn't see anything because, as warned, it was completely covered in fog. We waited for 30 or so minutes and the fog lifted for the briefest moment. I have a bad picture.
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| The first part of the 'trail'. |
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| everyone waiting for the big reveal |
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| Here's the crater |
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| Still waiting |
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| REVEAL! It seems underwhelming in the photo but there was a big Ohhhh from the crowd who, granted, had waited 30-60 minutes for this |
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The trail around the park is in three parts. First to the crater. then carry on to the lake. and then through the forest filled with birds according to the brochure.
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| There were lots of squirrels. They seems very interested in me but that might be more about my 2 week old pepperoni in my bag as opposed to my sparkling personality |
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| Roughing it on our paved hike |
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| The forest was super cool and creepy, like Sleepy Hollow |
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| In case of Eruption - Stay Calm! |
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| The lake. We talked to people who didn't get to see this either due to fog so we were lucky |
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| Add caption |
But when we got to the lake, the bird loop was taped off with "Precaución" tape. I decided to ignore the tape. Val decided to head back for a coffee. So, I had a 2km trail to myself and the birds. It was amazing. So quite and peaceful, just the twitter of birds. The trail went to the top of the mountain and then back down.
 |
| The third trail was closed. I don't know why, it was fine just a little leaf strewn. It was steep though. |
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| Silky flycatcher but not the cool one. |
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| So many creepily photogenic trees |
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| Add caption |
After that, the bus headed back to town at 2:30. We had dinner at a Columbian restaurant that was so delicious. I can't remember what anything was called but I have a picture. Then back to our room.
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| Dinner @ Sr Patacon & Dona Arepa |
Costa Rica has terrible bus schedules. First, the Poas bus that should leave at 7am but leaves at 10. The next day we were heading to Monteverde. But we discovered that the bus leaves at 6:30am or 2:30pm. To catch the 6:30, we would have to leave Alajuela by 5am. Yikes. But the 2:30 wouldn't get us into Monteverde until after dark and we would basically lose a day. We bit the bullet and planned on the early bus. Which meant we would have to get up at 4am!!!
Just as well because Coughy McCough was starting up again as we were getting up. Turns out TB man was sleeping on a couch in the hall down from our room and we had to wake him up to unlock the door to let us out. We did not like the Cortez Azul. We got the bus and made it to San Jose in time to make the Monteverde connection. Go Team!
It was a beautiful ride up the very green mountains. The second half of the four hour trip was on dirt roads. We arrived to discover that Monteverde is one long road that runs uphill, very UPhill. We are staying at Mari's B&B. I am going to leave it here because, even though I am so far behind, I am so tired. Eary bird tour today and again tomorrow (5:30am).
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