Costa Rica: Day 2

DAY 2 


We awoke from a good nights sleep. The twin beds never phased us. As we opened our eyes we smiled. We are in Costa Rica we thought. The views out our top story windows were awe inspiring. Green, green mountains everywhere. The alarm clock read 6. We could of swore we slept in until 10!

Dori and Dad were already buzzing about. Dori made us sample 3 kinds of Costa Rican coffee-all tasting better than the next.  For breakfast we had the fruit we bought the night before, served straight up and smoothie style, and the rest of Dori's food from dinner made up into breakfast tacos.



























After breakfast Carly, Allan and I were treated to a tour of the grounds by Nancy, who showed us some of her orchids and taught us the names of the native plants.  Nancy lived for a while near Helotes (small world), and was surprised to hear that Floore's Country Store was still a happening music venue.  We then met up with Steve, who showed us around their house, which was decorated with artifacts they had collected during their world travels, carvings from Napal, Indonesia, Figi, China, Bali, and even the bed Carly and I slept on was once owned by the queen of England (not sure which one). 







After our tour, Carly and I decided to explore the paths on our own. there were many different paths, all that took you on a different route into the gardens and then reaching the jungle.. The jungle was so thick in some parts where the light couldn't get through. It made a green mysterious glow. We had one dog leading the way and the other dog bringing up the rear or as we thought to protect us from danger. You'd occasionally have to watch out as they new the paths and would take shortcuts running around us or sometimes pounding into us like line backers.

Once back on the porch, Dori pointed out a mountain on the right where we could see a wind farm. That was the road to death mountain which we would soon be driving. Everyone then packed their bags and hauled them back to the car. Allan and I had to put ours strapped to the top for lack of space, forgetting that this was the rainy season. And after our goodbyes to Nancy, the dogs and to the house, we crammed in and were off on our drive to the Pacific Coast.


Cerro de Muerte awaits. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_de_la_Muerte

The road we would be driving starts in Orosi and goes 70 miles up and through the mountains, then down to the coast.  But the drive takes 4 hours because of the twists and turns and the 30 mph speed limit. Outside of Orosi we began the ascent, and it seemed that around every corner was a view more fantastic than the last.  We stopped often to get out and marvel, and noticed that groups of tired looking pilgrims were stumbling down the mountain on the way to the festival- they walk the entire route which must take days, and when they arrive at the church, they have to walk the last 100 feet on their knees! 

We drove up higher and higher, and the temperature dropped steadily, so much so we all had to put on jackets.  Carly was having a rough time, as the side of the road often dropped off into sheer cliff side, and she got a bad crick in her neck from leaning away from the door for the entire ride.  

Soon we were above the clouds, and all we could see beyond the mountain was white sky.  We finally reached the peak, which was just about 11000 feet, where the air was thin and felt about 40 degrees f.  I told Carly in small planes at 10,000 is when they give you oxygen. She had a nervous grin on her face.The vegetation at the top was different, with less trees and more scrub brush- it looked similar to the Texas coastal plain vegetation to me.  

Once we started down, we hit the fog and the rain.  The fog was beautiful, as it shrouded everything in a mysterious mist, but it made driving very interesting as visibility was literally five feet.  Carly and Dori were hanging on for dear life as they constantly yelled at Allan to slow down, but I was more worried about my suitcase on the roof, which was getting drenched by the rain.

 We finally made it through the mountains and now it was time to "wee" down. The views again were jungly, mountains and rolling  hills in every shade of green. We zipped through the next town although it looked like pretty neat place to stop. 

We did however stop at the next soda, with a view, we could find. Allan bought all of us an ice cream sandwich which came in a plastic cylinder container.  It was the best damn ice-cream sandwich I have ever had- The salty and sweet cookie was what made it.  

I wish we could get these back in the States! We might have to come back, just for the ice cream sandwich we thought.


Also I now need a shirt that reads- 
I survived Cerro de Muerte!