Waking up, volcano views and more!

I know, I talked a lot in the last post. Today will be more pictures. Starting here:

Notice what's at the bottom of the photo?  Yes, those would be my toes. In bed.  Looking at a volcano (well, my toes weren't looking, but you get the picture, right?)  We arrived in Arenal after dark, checked into our room and after a quick dinner, went to sleep.  The sun rose early, and Carter woke and quietly pulled back the curtains....and we were looking at this view.

 Arenal is an active volcano, one a four (I think) in Costa Rice.  We were not lucky enough this trip to see lava; it has been two years since lava flowed into sight, but smoke came out of multiple craters at the top regularly.   

This was the first picture I took in CR when we had our first stop in La Fortune, the small town at the base of Arenal.

We stayed at the Arenal Observatory, which is a hotel complex originally designed as a research spot when the volcano was very active. We were in a "Smithsonian Room" which promised a view from our beds....I think you can agree we got what we paid for! Oh to see lava flowing at night! We'll watch and see when it becomes active again...that alone would be worth a return trip.

Can you see the toucan? I can!

We woke each morning in Arenal to sounds that were very foreign: howler monkeys, birds, chirps and noises we had never heard.  Flowers and plants in a lush landscape.


A walk to breakfast and dinner like no other:

View from the restaurant

The shower in our room was interesting!  No lack of space in there at all! 

A short hike from the room was this gorgeous waterfall and swimming hole.  You were totally alone in the middle of the jungle!

the path back to the hotel

from farther up the path

As our Driver Alberto said as we arrived the first night: "Welcome to the Jungle".

We were in the jungle, the Costa Rica rainforest. 

Truly, unbelievable.

Tomorrow: Activities in the area: canopy tour, hanging bridges (two challenges for this girl afraid of heights!, and the hot springs).