Buena Fortuna

Hey, all.

Well, I survived my first cross-country bus trip in Costa Rica.

Yesterday afternoon I arrived in La Fortuna, the gateway to the Arenal Volcano. The bus left from San Jose at just after six in the morning, and we made a forty minute stop for snacks in a town called Ciudad Quesada before continuing on to our final destination.

For the first half of the ride, I sat next to a little old Costa Rican lady who was more than happy to help me practice my Spanish. I understood most of what she was saying, but when she started telling about how I should ask God for foregiveness every morning when I wake up, I conveniently began to suffer some translational problems.

When I arrived in La Fortuna I made my way straight to the hostel, Arenal Backpackers, where I had arranged two nights stay in a dorm room. Truth be told, I was a little hesistant about staying in a shared room. But, after five minutes in the room I realized what a blast these next six weeks will be.

Not only is everyone I´ve met a whole ton of fun to hang out with, but since everyone is in the same boat everyone has unique information to share with the rest of the group.

Jenny just arrived from where I´m going next. Arlen came from where I´m headed in three days. Rachel left this morning for where I´ll be going at the end of the week. I just came from where Brent is heading next.

And so it goes.

It´s one big incestuous cesspool of tourist experience.

After settling in, I signed up for a tour that a few of my new friends were going on, as well. We took a hike around the Arenal Volcano--in the middle of a cloud, in the pouring rain--and we finished the night with a buffet dinner, and two hours in the hot springs.

Again in the rain.

This morning, I had my heart set on taking a hike up to the lake-filled crater of a dormant volcano. I enlisted the company of Arlen and Charles, two of my new compadres from the previous night. We set off just before eight in the morning, and we arrived at the crater by ten.

We were the only people there.

We took a swim in our own private volcanic lagoon, ate a few snacks, and started heading back.

In the rain.

And tomorrow morning, I´m taking a jeep-boat-jeep combo en route to the rain forest.

Yeah, they´ve got rain there, too.

I´ll be sure to post some pictures when I don´t have an angry Swede breathing down my neck to use the free internet.