We've had another great day in Costa Rica. We started the day with a bit of souvenir shopping in Fortuna. We were rained on, but our quest for the perfect trip momento was not dampened. After shopping, we went to visit the Don Juan Organic Farm. We got to harvest spinach, tomatoes, radishes, and cassava for our lunch. We saw and learned about many different fruits and vegetables, we got to press sugar cane and drink the the juice and sing "Cana Dulce" to our guide. We then had a delicious lunch made from things we had harvested, and well as other foods grown on the farm, in a covered open air dining room next to a small river. We watched as a downpour surrounded us as we ate. After watching the rain, we can believe that this area of Costa Rica gets nine feet a year of rain. Next we took a hike on the El Silencio trails on the west side of the Arenal volcano. We walked through lush a rain forest and saw howler monkeys, toucans, sloths, vipers and all kinds of interesting plants. It was so interesting to see the rain forest from the forest floor since we had seen it from above when we were zip-lining yesterday. Next we went to the Escotermales Fortuna Hot Springs, a series of pools fed with volcanic hot water. Very relaxing. We had a delicious dinner there before returning to our hotel for the night. Tomorrow we leave Arenal for the Mid Pacific area. This beautiful area has been very good to us!
Sarah Hill harvested cassava for our lunch.
Savanna Galloway and Caitlin Giddings show off the tomatoes they picked.
Michael Sanders and Amanda Jenkins picked radishes for our salad.
Rudi Yniguez and Hope Collins picked a basketful of spinach.
Dominic Mallari and Kyle Matsumoto run a length of sugar cane through a sugar cane press.
Eagle Scout Addison Twede was prepared for a rain shower.
We saw howler monkeys on our hike in the rain forest.
Toucan Sam showed off his beak for us on our hike.
Wes Jackman, Camille buick, Jeff Mayberry and Gavin Graham at the hot springs.
Madi Harner, Sarah Hill, Dominic Mallari and Jordan Sharp relaxing at the hot springs.
Hannah Moty, Addison Twede and Gavin Graham pose for the camera.
Sarah Hill harvested cassava for our lunch.
Savanna Galloway and Caitlin Giddings show off the tomatoes they picked.
Michael Sanders and Amanda Jenkins picked radishes for our salad.
Rudi Yniguez and Hope Collins picked a basketful of spinach.
Dominic Mallari and Kyle Matsumoto run a length of sugar cane through a sugar cane press.
We saw howler monkeys on our hike in the rain forest.
Toucan Sam showed off his beak for us on our hike.
Wes Jackman, Camille buick, Jeff Mayberry and Gavin Graham at the hot springs.
Madi Harner, Sarah Hill, Dominic Mallari and Jordan Sharp relaxing at the hot springs.
Hannah Moty, Addison Twede and Gavin Graham pose for the camera.
so envious here!!!! Costa Rica must be paradise...the hot springs, the farm, the vipers...no, maybe not the vipers!!!! Roxy and the other vegetarians must have been thrilled by harvesting lunch and drinking pure cane sugar juice. The rafting pictures are awesome!!! So it's been raining--is it very warm out or even hot???
ReplyDeleteBTW, Redding is supposed to be 97 tomorrow; it's been really hot at night. I'll bet you guys will probably all head to Whiskeytown Lake once you're home. Miss you lots but very happy for you! Be safe, have fun, and keep those photos of smiling faces coming. (thanks, Michelle). don't forget Sunday is father's day...in case you see something ultra cool to give your dad.
Jan B.