The day was mainly a travel day from Tamarindo to our inland destination. Thanks to getting our rental car with a GPS map and a superb recommendation we finally ended up at Arenal Observatory Lodge. Both the GPS and the lodge were recommendations from my bus dev guy (thanks Todd).
Along the way, you come across a picturesque vista which offers the first glance of Arenal Lake. It is indeed breathtaking.
When we first read the instructions on how to get to the lodge it simply stated "drive around Arenal Lake". Little did I know that it would be an hour and a half venture. At the same place I took the above pic a mother at a road side stand was selling various works of wood. Her son wasn't bashful at all about letting me snap a picture of him.
After lunch we finally arrived at our destination and checked into our room. The lodge was built in 1987 by the Smithsonian as an observatory of the volcano which first became active again back in 1968. It is only 1.7 miles from the volcano and, in theory, is protected from the volcano by a deep river gorge. Were hoping that theory isn't tested while we're here.
The view out of our back patio was simply incredible in-spite of the fact that the top of the volcano was covered in clouds. The grounds of the observatory include 7 miles of trails through some of the most luscious and beautiful tropical landscaping either one of us has ever seen.
Also out the back patio Tina got a picture of this creature, an Agouti. They are quite friendly and totally unafraid of humans.
Finally, this morning I took this picture of the volcano. Hopefully the sun will burn off the remaining clouds and we'll have good views for our morning tour we're doing with a guide from the lodge.
So, until the next post ...
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