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Friday 13th May
What a day! Two 12th of Mays so I didn't really need a Friday the 13th.
Arrived in Costa Rica and immediately located the super market and nearest shopping mall. Then enjoyed one hour of sunshine before the thunder storms kicked in. I decided I needed a snooze as I had officially missed out on two nights sleep in a proper bed I was feeling a tad tired. I know I would usually go to bed early but 5pm is ridiculous by my standards. I was awoken at 6pm ish by the room shaking (and this time it was not related to the couple in the bunk below0. Costa Rica was experiencing an earth quake. I managed to open my eyelips and my brain registered there was a quake but my body refused to move off the bed and either panic or seek safety! I was awoken again shortly after by a dog howling outside who was signalling the approach of the after shock. Again I didn't move out of my bed and dozed off as quickly as I had woken up.
16 hours of sleep later (really bad jet lag - obviously) I discovered the quake was measured as a 6 on the rihctor scale.
Saturday 14th May
A brief walk around San Jose before meeting my new companions for this part of the trip. Caught out in another thunderstorm but decided it was safer to purchase an umbrella and walk back to the hotel in the thunder and lightnng storm rather than add to the over crowding already being experienced on the local transport.
Sunday 15th May
Four hour winding coach ride from San Jose to Fortuna to sample repelling and canyoneering (abseiling through waterfalls) for the first time. Funnily enough I didn't scream half as much as the fish foot spa experience. This was followed by a lovely relaxing evening (with cocktails) at Baldi Hot Springs from a volcano still classed as active.
Monday 16th May
Declined the offer of a 4 hour hike up the mountain next to the volcano, declined the grade 5 white water rafting (both of which invovled a 7.30am pick up) and had an extra lie in till 10am followed by some light shopping activity. The hummidity and altitude were obviously affecting me!
Tuesday 17th May
Oh no my break from early starts has finished. Up and out at 6.30am for a walk around the base on the volcano walk. This was followed by a 5 hour minibus ride to Monteverde to visit La Trapiche coffee & sugar plantation.
Wednesday 18th May
Busy activity day. Morning walk, hanging bridge walk in the torntial rain rounding up the day with a 11 line zip line course, superman flight and a tarzan swing to finish. Knees knocking and pooping my pants I did the lot. I didn't win any prizes for style but certainly managed to scream the loudest.
Thursday 19th May
5 hour drive in a cramped minibus which I think was designed purely for the purpose of yoga specialist who enjoy sitting in the lotus position all day. The roads were bumpy, stoney and full of pot holes with no tarmac. Hang on to your stomach and keep the sick bags handy. Arrived at Manuel Antonio for a relaxing afternoon (at last) on the beach.
Friday 20th May
A proper holiday type day with a lie in till 9am, a few hours on the beach, lunch then a change of beach to take photos of some of our group taking surf lessons.
If that wasn't enough excitement for 1 day I then managed to get bitten by a scorpian in the hotel bathroom. Luckily enough I had completed my business on the toilet and it was my hand which got bitten. To test my nerves even further I later ventured outside to retrieve my bikini which was drying on the balcony and was jumped upon by a frog with suckery type feet which stuck to my neck and chest. Once again I excercised my vocal chords and awoke all in Costa Rica. I am begining to think all this wildlife stuff is getting a bit too close for comfort.
Saturday 21st May
6.30am start again for a walk around the National Park of Manuel Antonio to see sloths, iguanas but no monkeys. 2 hour snooze on the beach and a 3 hour drive drive back to San Jose and another leg of my trip complete - nearly without injury.
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