Monteverde
(DAY074 : Samara - Santa Elena, Monteverde : 125 miles)
Thankfully getting out of Samara wasn't like getting in. There actually is a road to Carmona, and after that you can even go fast. But apparently there is such a thing as "too fast" in Costa Rica, as they have radar guns. Before I could reach the Pan-American highway, I was pulled over by a motorcycle cop who clocked me at 117 kph (73 mph). I of course told him he must be wrong (Katirga was saying 130), but the guy kept going on and on about suspending my license and impounding the vehicle and dadada. Ten dollars ten minutes later, Katirga was already making up for the lost time.
I mentioned that we were headed to Arenal right? Maybe it's better if I didn't because at the junction to Arenal we went the other way anyway. The road to our destination of the moment, Monteverde, generously provided our daily dust intake and off-road practice.
The road can loosen your kit apart, but the views are nice.
Monteverde is described as an ecological paradise and dense cloud forest, but it was completely clear all the way up to Santa Elena. While ordering my pizza at the Tree House, I was wondering whether if I could still make it to Arenal. Probably not, and why did I come here anyway? The british gals next table would tell me: zipline tours.
Ok. So what's another another day? I checked into El Sueno Hotel for $25 including breakfast. The tiny town of Santa Elena sleeps at 10 pm, so waking up at 6 wasn't a problem. At 7:30 Aventura's shuttle van picked me up to relieve me of another $40.
How do you pick a zipline tour when there are at least 3 companies that offer them? I was recommended Aventura for having more and longer lines, but when the novelty dies after third, having to do 13 more can turn into labor, so keep that in mind.
How many more of these do I need to take to get back to town?
We crossed bridges too. Yawn.
I think after the first 3 lines, I arrived at another tree top platform and was told "ok, now we'll do a rappel, you don't need to do anything". Before I could ask "what the heck is a rappel?" they just threw me down the tree! So I guess rappel is the part where they slow you down right before you splatter on the ground. You know how they say it's not the fall, but the impact that kills you? That may not be completely true.
Some rappel in style. Some scream their lungs out. (what's a rapPEEEEEEEEeeeeellll???)
When I got back to the hotel by noon, I was really bored of monkeying around. I tightened Katirga's bits and bolts, then got on the same crappy road to loosen them all over again.
Thankfully getting out of Samara wasn't like getting in. There actually is a road to Carmona, and after that you can even go fast. But apparently there is such a thing as "too fast" in Costa Rica, as they have radar guns. Before I could reach the Pan-American highway, I was pulled over by a motorcycle cop who clocked me at 117 kph (73 mph). I of course told him he must be wrong (Katirga was saying 130), but the guy kept going on and on about suspending my license and impounding the vehicle and dadada. Ten dollars ten minutes later, Katirga was already making up for the lost time.
I mentioned that we were headed to Arenal right? Maybe it's better if I didn't because at the junction to Arenal we went the other way anyway. The road to our destination of the moment, Monteverde, generously provided our daily dust intake and off-road practice.
The road can loosen your kit apart, but the views are nice.
Monteverde is described as an ecological paradise and dense cloud forest, but it was completely clear all the way up to Santa Elena. While ordering my pizza at the Tree House, I was wondering whether if I could still make it to Arenal. Probably not, and why did I come here anyway? The british gals next table would tell me: zipline tours.
Ok. So what's another another day? I checked into El Sueno Hotel for $25 including breakfast. The tiny town of Santa Elena sleeps at 10 pm, so waking up at 6 wasn't a problem. At 7:30 Aventura's shuttle van picked me up to relieve me of another $40.
How do you pick a zipline tour when there are at least 3 companies that offer them? I was recommended Aventura for having more and longer lines, but when the novelty dies after third, having to do 13 more can turn into labor, so keep that in mind.
How many more of these do I need to take to get back to town?
We crossed bridges too. Yawn.
I think after the first 3 lines, I arrived at another tree top platform and was told "ok, now we'll do a rappel, you don't need to do anything". Before I could ask "what the heck is a rappel?" they just threw me down the tree! So I guess rappel is the part where they slow you down right before you splatter on the ground. You know how they say it's not the fall, but the impact that kills you? That may not be completely true.
Some rappel in style. Some scream their lungs out. (what's a rapPEEEEEEEEeeeeellll???)
When I got back to the hotel by noon, I was really bored of monkeying around. I tightened Katirga's bits and bolts, then got on the same crappy road to loosen them all over again.
posted by Serdar at
6:38 PM
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