January 24, 2015
A Day of Rest and Relaxation

My hotel in La Fortuna is called Roca Negra and it is a lush garden of tranquility. I checked in after my hike around Arenal Volcano and went out for a nice dinner of ceviche and steak. I spent the next day just resting and relaxing. My legs are sore and my feet are blistered, so a day like this was just what I needed. My most ambitious accomplishment of the day was soaking in the jacuzzi.

The day started out with a torrential downpour, quite a sight to see after being in the hot dry weather of Playa Grande. The gardens around the hotel were peaceful and quiet, but for the sound of dozens of different kinds of birds. Even in the pouring rain, the hummingbirds were out, buzzing around the lush flowers and creating flights of precision and agility. I curled up in the hammock and just watched the show for hours.

At the end of the day, I walked down the road to find a restaurant for dinner. I had a delicious dish of sirloin tips in jalapeño sauce with a nice dark Bavaria beer. I picked a table that had a view of the mountains that are just outside of La Fortuna. The volcano was cloaked in clouds, peeking out occasionally to reveal its majestic glory.

I deserve this

The next morning, the rains continued. I checked out of Roca Negra and made the three-hour drive to Liberia on a quiet Sunday morning. From the lush green rainy highlands, I drove back down to the parched plains of Guanacaste. The rain stopped, the clouds cleared, and once again it was HOT. I dropped off the rental car and took the shuttle to the Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, sadly bringing this beautiful adventure in Costa Rica to an end. Pura Vida.

THE END