We woke up this morning after another rain filled night to find a hawk outside our door perched on the rain gauge.
Today we went on a tour to learn about the fascinating history of cocoa beans to learn how chocolate is made. On our way to the Cacao plantation, our driver abruptly stopped the van and told us all to get out. We looked up in the trees and saw a flock of Toucan birds! They were so beautiful with bright yellow beaks. We got some amazing pictures.
At the plantation we learned all about chocolate making, we harvested the fruit, dry it and ground the beans. We learned about the process of making a centuries-old chocolate based beverage, and then tried high-quality chocolate flavored with different spices such as hibiscus, Cardamom, ginger and cloves. We also enjoyed flavored spoonfuls of warm rich thick chocolate also flavored to our liking. We learned how to purchase chocolate and enjoyed walking in the coco grove. One very fun thing that happened was that our driver Floyd, found a poisonous red eyed frog in the leaves of the coca plants. He was able to get the frog and we were able to take some amazing pictures. This was so exciting for me.
Next we went to La Fortuna Waterfall Reserve. We Hiked down over 700 steps down into the lush forest and arrived at a spectacular 70 meter high waterfall. I have to admit my legs were shaking from all the stairs. My hand hurt from where I got bit by a fire ant and hiking in your bathing suit was is not really fun especially when it is raining. However, when we got to the bottom the river was cool and felt great! We were the only crazy Americans in the water- but we made it all the way to Costa Rica we just had to!! Climbing back up the 700 stairs was not fun- but we did it and did not die!!! We Spoted some amazing local birds like Oropendolas and Toucans and enjoyed the rich greenery and wildlife that surrounds us during the hike. Our guide Floyd stayed with us the entire time to ensure our safety and marvel at us In the river!!
We had such a fun time with our guide that we asked him what he had planned the rest of the day. He and our driver Lozano were willing to show us a bit of the town. We visited a liquor store for some shopping and learned about the different alcohols of Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. Next we visited the pharmacy where you can get: shots, antibiotics and many other medicine that is not available over the counter in the US.
Finally we enjoyed an awesome lunch at a local outdoor restaurant. We had Floyd pick out somewhere he and Lozano would like to visit. How fun was it to dine with a local who informed us about his life in Cost Rica and explain about the local cuisine. I had a special seafood rice dish with the traditional smashed fried plantains. Tom had a mixed grill of meats and French fries. We tasted all the pickled peppers and vegetables. We also found one sauce they call “Vegetable sauce” it is green spicy and quite tasty!! Finally we enjoyed some Costa Rican coffee. Our waitress ground the beans at the table, put them a cheesecloth “sleeve” and poured hot water over the grounds which dripped in the coffee pot. It was quite a show- and surprisingly a very mild coffee.
Here we were; sore, tired, wet, (my hand hurting) in our bathing-suits sitting on the side of the road (so to say) in Costa Rica- happy and enjoying life!!
Floyd and Lozano were so happy with their free lunch!! They drove us back to our hotel where we immediately jumped in the natural hot spring pools to relax our sore muscles! In the course of 45 minutes in the water; it was cool, pouring down rain, sunny, hot, cloudy, pouring down rain again.
Currently we are cleaning up the house, doing laundry and dusting off our passports! Tonight our adventure to Costa Rica begins: 
Our Friends Bruce and Sara whom we have traveled with before, have always wanted to go to Costa Rica for the fishing. While Bruce, Sara and Tom really enjoy fishing. I’m more into the scenery. However, when they gut the fish I’ve always been interested in the internal fish anatomy!
suannschutt 