To Be Determined: Costa Rica - Arenal Volcano Day 2

After breakfast, join a local guide on the Peñas Blancas River Safari Tour. From La Fortuna you will drive 20 minutes to the Peñas Blancas river to start the Safari Adventure. A two hour trip on a float boat (no motor). While you enjoy sounds from nature our guide will describe the flora and fauna of the place. It is easy to spot Howler monkeys, crocodiles, toucans, two species of sloths, and different types of local birds.

SURE SIGN US UP!!!

This was one of the best trips we took in Costa Rica. The adventure was great but the people really made the memories.

This was our guide. He was one of my favorites. He was well-versed in the local environment, but it wasn't that which impressed me. It was his strong desire to learn about anything and everything; in particular English. In Costa Rica, they learn English the same way we learn Spanish. Enough to get by, but not enough to become fluent. After his daily river tours, he reads every book he can find. He desperately wants an Internet connection for more access to information and to converse with people in different countries. I don't know him very well, but I know he will succeed. He has too much passion not to succeed. We take access to information for granted, it's good to be reminded to cherish things.

In this picture is a monkey. You cannot see him very well. But as a defense mechanism.... they go potty on invaders. I was almost a victim to such an event. Which would have been OK with me. I still remember when a bird pooped on Chip in Rome. It was holy poop. Literally.

At lunchtime, we pulled off the river to Don Pablo's farm. This is a dirt floor, no-electricity, no telephone farm. It is so perfect it looks like a movie set.

These are Don Pablo's Daughters.

They do not speak English. Yet we sat and talked to them for about an hour. Fascinating women. They served us coffee, homemade mozzarella-like cheese, and bread made from a form of potato. Scrumptious.

This is where Don Pablo's daughters cook by fire (in hot weather). There was also a chicken running by my feet during this picture.

There they are now.

After lunch, we had the pleasure of speaking to Don Pablo. He is 99 years old and until last year worked the farm, everyday. We sat in his bedroom on little stools, just up from the dirt floor and he told us about his life. When we took this picture. he screamed WHISKEY!

Surreal. Is the only way to describe this visit.

On our way home we went to an iguana rest stop.

Shhh I am hiding.

Then the guys dropped us off downtown. We didn't take any pictures because we dislike being viewed as tourists. We blended in well I think, you know red head, blonde and Ohiowhite-skin. Sure....

We did take one of Soda Mima. That's what Chip's nieces call his mom. She replied... please tell me you didn't rent a motorcycle!