Off to Monteverde - PURA VIDA!!! 2-20-08

Wednesday 2-20-08

These last two days in Monteverde were just amazing. Although the ride to Monteverde was something we were not used to (4000 ft above sea level to 15000 ft, narrow and bumpy roads), the trip was well worth it. We stopped at a restaurant to eat lunch and dessert, but the real treat was when we pulled up to our next hotel that was built on a mountain. These pictures do not do this hotel, the scenery, the architecture, the view, and how huge this area was any justice at all. This is one something one would have to see with their own eyes to appreciate the beauty of this hotel. Here are some pics of the ride to Monteverde from Arenal.

Leaving Arenal at 8 in the morning. There is the volcano in the background.




Please don't feed the animals, Cody!!! ...and don't pet them, either. No, Cody, you can't bring one home. These animals are Costa Rica's rodents - similar to racoons except they come out all day long.

Man-made lake. Close to 70% of their power is generated from this 50 square mile lake that is fed from one of the surrounding rivers. Let's build one in CT and give CL&P a run for their money and lower our energy costs.

Yes. We drove over this bridge and were able to write a song about it.

We drove from those mountains you see in the background to where the picture was taken and it took 4 hours. I can say we took the scenic route.

Having lunch before checking in at the hotel. Pizza - very authentic!

Hotel in Monteverde - PURA VIDA!!! 2-20-08

Here are some of the pics of the hotel "El Establo" in Monteverde. Costa Rica actually has a small minority of Quakers that came over in 1951 to avoid serving in the Korean War. In 1948, after the Civil War Costa Rica abolished their army because they felt it was a waste of money. So, there are Quakers that live here, and this Quaker owned hotel is a testament of one who has enjoyed success. Take a look!

Merrill, Ari, and Jessica receiving their room numbers.

"I'm a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man I am"...or so he says.

...and he proved it by bending an aluminum coin. Keep it up, Michael.

Zuleika and Diane and their room number.

This is what most of the rooms looked like on the second floor. Balcony, cathedral ceilings, and plenty of space.

Queen-sized beds.

The girls enjoying the sun on the adjoining lawn.

A view from our balcony. This pond was full of Japanese fighting fish. We had to stop Cody from taking the entire loaf of bread off the table during dinner to feed the fish. . .

Another shot from our balcony.

Another magnificent view courtesy of Brochu. Thank goodness Mrs. Marion's faux paus bathing suit cannot be seen drying. This is actually the scene of the crime.

Most of thought that Ari had big feet. She was wearing a size 11 sneaker. I first noticed the bear's feet at the airport, but thought nothing of it. 4 days later, she tells us she was wearing her brother's sneakers in a ploy to have him buy her new sneaks when she arrived back to CT.

Merrill showing her chip and charge shot.

Another view of our rooms from the tennis court. Courtesy of Brochu.

Dinner and Nightwalk 2-20-08

After we checked in and the students settled in, we were able to enjoy our surroundings and relax a bit. The view from our hotels was incredible. Like I mentioned earlier, it has to be seen to truly appreciate the beauty of it. The weather was in the high 80’s, and some students went swimming, others played tennis, while the guys came to the gym to work out with me. Keith: Just doing my workout, Tuesdays arms and back. Wednesdays I like to look at myself in the mirror.
Keith: "Noone said situps. Ohh, it's the deep burn. Oh, it's so deep. Oh, I can barely lift my right leg'cause I did so many. I don't know if you heard me counting. I did over a thousand".

So after a couple of hours of hanging out, we put on our hiking shoes and headed to the Night Walk, which is a forest that has been conserved and protected by Costa Rica. We saw many exotic insects and animals during this excursion at the Santuario Ecologico.

Santuario Ecológico

Getting ready to go see a puma, or maybe a velaso raptor.

Hiking through the sanctuary.

Mommy, I wanna ride the swing.

Sloth hanging from a tree.

Tour guide showing us a species of ant that is very strong like bull. He is actually holding the ant, and the ant has a G.I. Joe with a Kung Fu grip on that leaf. These things bite, but do not inject folic acid, therefore, the bite does not irritate...but you will feel it when he sticks you with his fangs. This is a soldier ant.

This is their colony. It is estimated that there can be up to as many as 5 million ants in a colony. The largest colony was found in China, but I was too busy trying to keep ants off my legs to remember the number.

...and when the saints go marching in...

Tarantula...

Ficus tree...They are known to grow over other trees and feed off their nutrients until the other tree detoriates.

Is the tour over yet? "And this is a tree, another tree, a bush, another tarantula, and dirt that you will only find in Costa Rica".

Here you can see the walking stick...

Dinner after the night walk.

Represent NETC and EHHS... yerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp!!!

We were able to see a lunar eclipse that same night. It started at 9:30 and lasted until 11. The last time a lunar eclipse was seen in Costa Rica was 15 years ago, and this one could only be seen by certain countries that are close to the equator, some of South America, and a few countries in Europe. It was very difficult to catch the eclipse on a digital camera. After watching the eclipse for about ehhhhhhh 3 minutes, we hung out at the pool.

Holy cow!!! Hitchhiker's thumb...Yikes, put those things down. You'll poke someone's eye out, Merrill.

EHHS represent on the shuttle bus. Diane always looking fabulous no matter what time of day or night...

Whoooooooooooooo...The pintos were a bad choice for Michael. He's feeling the effects...

Ari and her impression of the Step Team. She has tried out three times and has been cut 5. You'll see why...