First, my ankle is fine. I woke up at the hotel in San Jose and the swelling had reduced considerably. So, per our plan, we got packed up, checked out and headed over to the Car Rental place to head up to Monteverde. We were very scared of driving in San Jose having taken a few cab rides, but luckily (and wisely) the rental offices have situated themselves right by the InterAmericana freeway, so you basically are on the entrance ramp when you pull out. The freeways are great, in San Jose smooth and relatively organized. Out of the city they turn to one lane in each direction but still paved and well traveled. A note on Monteverde: Settled by Quaker X-Pats not wanting to serve in WWII, they intentionally settled it to be away from the main road and peaceful. SO...the road heading north from the InterAmericana gets less and less paved, narrower and narrower and less and less traveled as you get further from the road. The first thing Tom learned to avoid in the roadway was the iguanas which must think it very amusing to dart in front of 4x4's as they were doing it the whole road up. I wish I'd gotten some pictures, but the buggers were too darn fast. I guess i'll have to learn to be sneaky.
All in all, the road wasn't bad. Although we are in rainy season, there was no rain today and the roads were not muddy. We could see tracks from where other vehicles had dug deep grooves in the mud and counted our blessings.
The view was spectacular and from some places we think we were seeing both the Pacific and the Carribean. As we ascended we could definatley understand why it is called the Cloud Forest, the mountains go up past where the clouds start, it's beautiful.
Santa Elena - Monteverde (about 3 km away from each other ) are both filled with tourists, although not as many as would be during dry season. At the hotel we checked into we ran into another couple who we also saw this morning at our hotel in San Jose! We introduced ourselves and they recommended a canopy tour for tomorrow. We're doing a little research tonight to choose one and hopefully will be flying through the Cloud Forest on zip lines when the sun comes up tomorrow.
Thanks Crystal for posting!!!
Congratulations!. We're just now catching up with the latest. Enjoying your pictures. Hope your ankle is doing better. Did you soak in the hot springs? Everything sounds very exciting and we are very happy for you two. Have a wonderfully memorable trip. See you when you get back. God's richest blessings on you both. Love you.....C&M
Hey! Are you zipping through the forest yet? What does that mean exactly? :) I'm sorry I was so vague on the phone the other night. I had taken a tylenol p.m. for a torturous headache. The next day I remembered nothing. Dad told me what he remembered me saying to you, but of course, he didn't hear your end of the conversation. Glad you ankle is better. The cabin in the woods looks nice. Scenery is beautiful. Meelo likes getting carrots from me. Tom,be careful. The iguanas are trained like the squirrels in the Geico commercials! Love, Mom
Hi,
Everything looks beautiful. Thanks for the pic's. I think a canopy tour would be great. Mom is holding Meelo who is purring and talking. I'll let him type a message to you. ][plkpoijmuytfb6teszewadxvtfgvbyuhnij,p.][p,iuhnyutd tsxmiojmp,-, I think that means: "Hi, I'm having a great time with my grandparents and aunt. I am being well cared for and well fed and my apartment here is great. I've enjoyed the view from the second floor of it already. I would really like to meet one of those iguanas, but the language barrier would probably be a problem unless one of them is bilingaul. Gotta go! I just heard a carrot calling me!!!!""
Have a great time and thanks for posting the page, although you're the only couple I know who put their honeymoon on a website!!
Amy, I'm glad your ankle is ok! That would have been a terrible way to spend the time. Congrats you two! We're so excited for you.
Rob(tm)