& as the rain crashed down around them, exhausted from almost 30 hours straight travelling, alice & steve stumbled into.......THE BEST HOTEL EVER!

After all the delay/transfer nonsense & losing a day but gaining two extra countries in our travel log we finally reached Costa Rica to be greeted by our first taste of the tropical beasts that await us, Cocker spaniel named Curro. Quick overnight in a hostel & an early start had us back on the road, the 5 hour coach journey was a treat but as Alice finally saw the signs for the surprise hotel & we knew that, as the bus sped up, there was no way off short of diving out a window & leaving behind our possesions! We changed buses, jovially buying a bottle of rum to keep our spirits up, & headed back in the right direction. One torrential down pour later & Steve & Alice finally swam up to the gates of the tree house hotel.

Mark, the hotel manager, seemed somewhat surprised when he met us at the house probably expecting two tourists in a luxury car rental & getting two half drowned hobos with a zebra in a rucksack. He gave us a lovely greeting & showed us the most wondrous of sites, the beer fridge, which was open all hours & operated on an honesty system of putting beans in a cup!

Since we got to the Tree Houses too late to explore & find the nearest shop or restaurant, we chilled on our porch, drank rum and ate crisps we picked up in the airport the day before! The next morning started with an awesome home made Costa Rican breakfast and the most changable weather we've ever experienced! From scorching sun to downpours in minutes!

The place is stunning, with no two houses close enough to see each other and exotic birds and animals roaming the rain forrest. Unfortunately, no monkey sightings as of yet.. although Steve swears blind that he saw a black blur that must be one! Humming birds and toucans at breakfast, and geckos and many hard working ants (see the pictures!) on the hike to the waterfall.

Two days wasn't long enough but sadly back on the road heading back to San Jose for a night before onwards to Puerto Viejo for some educations! Classes start 9am Monday morning - we will update again soon, Adios!