RIO FRIO AND ARENAL SPRINGS RESORT

Saturday March 17

It was a hot sticky night, for some reason we didn't think to put the AC on. We still heard howler monkeys, we're getting used to them. Last night Anton had washed 2 of his t-shirts, and he found a clothesline across the back of the shower to hang them to dry. However, the shower is rather "naturalized" with plants and open to the elements, and the rain during the night made the shirts wetter than when he had hanged them!

We had a 2 hour bus drive this morning. On the way, our guide told us that he would show us a special tree, and if it was in bloom, it would be like no other tree we would see in the world. It was in bloom all right! The tree was covered with 4 to 5 foot iguanas, on every branch. They have aptly named it the Iguana Tree.

We drove to the San Carlos Valley and took a river cruise on the Rio Frio. This time the whole group was in one covered boat. Whenever there was a sighting on one side of the boat, everyone rushed to that side and the boat listed a little precariously. The guide then encouraged us to go to the front for our pictures! We had lots of bird sightings, we really like the amingas, a type of cormorant, who seemed to pose for us, showing first the front and then the back of the wings. We saw some caymen crocs again, and stared at a giant lizard. We watched the howler monkeys play with their children, and we spied on a bat-covered tree. We went all the way to the Nicaraguan border and I guess technically we can say we've been in Nicaraguan waters now (for 5 whole minutes).

We ate there at the dock, we're not sure if it was rice and beans or beans and rice. There were yummy corn chips and bean dip, and Frankie went back for seconds.

We had the option of going to the touristy Baldi Hot Springs or hanging out for the afternoon at our own resort. Not a single person in our group wanted the other resort, so we all went back and hung out at the pool for the afternoon. The resort has several pools, a cool pool, a nice warm pool, and a very hot pool which was the hot springs. We had a lovely view of the volcano while we soaked in the warm pool.

After dinner we went for a lovely evening stroll. The stars and the fireflies were out.
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