Adventures

Yet another great weekend in Costa Rica.

Saturday, Robin and I went on a three in one tour to a coffee plantation, the Poas volcano, and a waterfall garden/rainforest. At the coffee plantation we were given a tour of the plantation and the coffee making process. It was very interesting to see the VERY LONG process of making a plant taste as wonderful as it potentially can. After the tour, we were given a big breakfast - rice and beans, of course - and tried all the different coffee flavors this plantation made. It actually made me sad when they told me that you can't find the coffee from this plantation at any stores because all their best coffee is sent to the US, mainly Starbucks, for profits rather than kept in the country for themselves. One would think that making and exporting all of this delicious coffee would make the people rich, or at least well off, however, that is not the case at all. I wish I had been able to take pictures of the homes these people live in, but instead all I got pictures of was the beautiful plantation. Just believe me when I say the living conditions were heart breaking.

After we were full on coffee, we took another forty minute drive to the volcano, which was amazing. The Poas volcano is still active and the last eruption was in 2006. When we got there it was 10:00 and it was so foggy that we couldn't see anything, so the guide told us to walk thirty minutes to the lagoon - an extinct volcano that is now filled with water - then come back and check the view. The transformation was unbelievable. At first sight, we couldn't see five feet in front of us due to the fog; if the world was flat, this is what the edge would look like. Pure nothingness. When we came back, however, it was nearly clear; we had about a 70% view... There was smoke pouring out and it was unbelievable. Though I didn't actually want this to happen, I was secretly hoping the volcano would erupt so I could see the smoldering lava pouring from the mouth of the volcano. Luckily, this never happened.

Finally, we went to the waterfall gardens and rainforest preservation site. It was definitely the most beautiful rainy scenery I've ever seen. Though I was under the umbrella and still getting drenched, I was in awe of the lush green vegetation and the hundreds of animals that called this place home. There were monkeys, giant rats, parrots, bugs, snakes, frogs... Everything. They had a butterfly garden with every phase of a butterfly's life present. We got to see the caterpillars, the metamorphosis, the hatching, and the baby butterflies - we got to hold these. And all around our head floated the most magnificently colored "mariposas" I have ever seen. 

There was was also a a hummingbird garden that made my heart smile as I thought of my father's love for these creatures. And then we got to the waterfall garden where there were six different waterfalls of all different sizes. Not as fun as the ones we swam in, but still pretty great.

We got home around 4:00, but it felt so late. It was a long, exhausting day of bus rides, great food, and awesome views...it was totally worth it.

Sunday, yet again, we went to Jaco beach and spent the day tanning, then ate an awesome lunch at our favorite spot, Taco bar. Our bus home was full, therefore me and Robin had to stand in the aisle with about ten other people for the two hours through the mountains. It was pretty rough, but nevertheless just another fun adventure to end our last weekend together. Don't know what I'm going to do without my beautiful Canandian friend when she leaves me on Saturday.