LA FORTUNA - ARENAL VOLCANO

For once a civilized departure time and a journey that proved relatively brief.  Loaded onto two mini, mini buses we lurched our way back along the unsurfaced road en route for La Fortuna and the Arenal volcano.  Having served my time on the back seat on the way to Monteverde, I grabbed a front seat today, only to find that there was not enough space to put my feet onto the floor.  An hour later the driver stopped for a break and moved the seat back to a position where those behind had no room but we in the front had plenty.  Oh for the middle way!

Hard to comment on the landscape as we didn’t get to see much of it.  Clearly the rainy season is not yet over in Costa Rica.  Everything was very green, in places cattle attached themselves to impossibly steep slopes and elsewhere the slopes themselves seemed to be on the move.  Geographers should be able to explain this. 

After two hours of this jolting we decamped into a small ferry which took us along Lake Arenal and in turn, deposited us at a landing stage where it was a case of packing us into another van for the final run into La Fortuna. 

Contrary to predictions, the accommodation has gradually been getting better and the La Fortuna hotel is very comfortable.  For the first time in my life I get a hotel room with a view of an active volcano and this is what I get to see!

Given the poor weather I settled for an exploration of the town which seems to be entirely dependent on tourism for a living.  however, there was a school band engaged in lusty in somewhat inaccurate rehearsal of Christmas carols.  It seemed strange to hear what I think was "Deck the Halls" in such a setting.

Remove the restaurants, souvenir shops and places selling various tours and there would only be a handful of buildings.  The prices for most of the activities seem extortionate to me and even the adrenaline junkies amongst our numbers seem determined to limit their exposure to ‘fun’.  Determined to get some proper exercise I set out for a run and on finding a running track to circuit, the heavens opened.  At least it isn’t cold.  The light is fading now and Arenal is still hidden in cloud.  There seems to be nobody signed up for the volcano hike tomorrow so I don’t know what I’m going to do.