Costa Rica Fri 19 Nov 2010
We take two public bus journeys to get to La Fortuna, a town in the Arenal Volcano Region. We travel through fertile farmlands, with cattle grazing and a diversity of crops including papaya, pineapple, sugar cane, casava (a root vegetable a bit like potatos but long and thin), taro root and ornamental crotons, the last grown for export for tropical gardens and displays.
Towards the end of the second bus ride, we are climbing steadily and quite steeply at times, the road is very narrow with many sharp bends but the driver has obviously done this route many times so that he can maintain a high speed and place the wheels with precision right on the edge of the embankments.
We see Arenal, Costa Ricas most active volcano cone. It is 1633 metres high and covered by a tangled mass of vegitation on the side we can see, but apparently it is barren on the other where lava flows have wiped out all signs of life. The top is hidden by mist and cloud so that the mountain looks very mysterious and forbidding. Tomorrow some of the group are going hiking on it, including me. Is walking in the mists on an active volcano a good idea? I'll let you know next time I write!
All the Best,
John
1 comment:
Bravo Mr Cornhill. Volcanoes in Costa Rica, how blooming delightful. Is it me or do you only go around the world having adventures? When do you have time for, like, buying cloths and going to the shops?
Your writing grows in sophistication!
Careful of the lava flows...
Peace
Post a Comment