Costa Rica Part I

Another big day this week!  We were on our way to Costa Rica! We had an early morning flight and left the house around midnight or 1am.

We flew out of BWI. 

We flew on Spirit Airlines and opted to have only a personal item...no carryons for anyone.  Except Lee did have a carryon so we could bring our church clothes.  We brought food for breakfast and then got rid of the extra.  We brought little plastic bags that you just hold onto the airplane.  They looked kind of like we had just bought something at the airport and no one stopped us from bringing on our personal item (which was a backpack) and a small bad with food in it. 

On the plane!

Next thing we knew we were in Costa Rica!  Okay, a few hours later.... We had to wait in the customs line for at least an hour.  That was long!

Fun pictures of random stuff in Costa Rica that Haley and Cal sent to their high school art teacher, which was fun. 

At the airport we caught a shuttle to get our rental car.  So....big shocker but we got a credit card. Yep.... There was only ONE car rental company in Costa Rica that would accept debit cards.  And it was about $200 more to rent a car.  So we got a credit card.  The funny thing was is that we didn't do it right and it bit us.... We don't have a high enough limit on the credit card for possible damage or whatever, so they charged us an extra fee.  UGH.  So frustrating!   We got the rental...a small, wimpy SUV and headed to Walmart.  We bought a few things we needed and some goodies.

The guy didn't give us good directions to the rental house.  Thankfully we figured out how to get out of town.  The rental house was about 3 hours from the airport, so a long drive.

We finally arrived!  The house was pretty great.  Each room had it's own bathroom, and every morning there was breakfast and room service.  We had the option to have them cook dinner for us, and to get a private driver. Our first night we decided to have them cook for us (of course it cost extra!) and they did traditional Costa Rican food.  It was fun exploring outside a little and checking out the pool house.

Beautiful views of Lake Arenal. 

Yummy breakfast!  

Carl and Susan wanted to be best Uncle & Aunt and gave Cal some Nesquik, haha. 

Our first full day we decided to have a private driver.  First stop was Arenal Hanging Bridges. Everywhere was pretty strict about wearing masks, and even washing your hands before you interacted with employees. 

The hanging bridges took us on a fun little hike through a rain forest section.  Our driver showed us some neat things in the park and while we were driving. 

By the way, Carl & Susan and Lynn & Marv came with us and stayed in the house with us!

This animal, a coati, was all over the place!

This is a bee hive!  Crazy!  

A tarantula hole. 

Some type of snake. 

After the bridges we went into La Fortuna and ate lunch at a place our driver likes to go. Apparently you an drink the water there and most of us did.  No one got sick either!

We then went to La Fortuna waterfall.  There was a paved trail all the way down with lots of steps!  Shanna and Elden swam by the outskirts of the waterfall. It was nice out, but not super warm so I didn't get in...neither did Lee, Cal or Haley. 

An insert: at some point our driver showed us some animals on the side of the road.  Here are several coati. 

He also showed us a sloth along the route at some point. 

Back to La Fortuna Waterfall...

Cal at one point started to make his way over to the wall with a bunch of little waterfalls coming down the side, but someone blew a whistle on him and told him to go back. 

We then headed to the restaurant Tinajas Arenal. We left the La Fortuna area late so we didn't get to see the sunset.  The restaurant overlooks the lake.  It was dark by the time we arrived.  Rats!  But still a fun open air restaurant.  Again, every place we ate at you had to wash your hands before going in. And almost everyone that works with tourists knows English...it's so nice!

To Shanna's right is where it's all open and overlooks the lake.

Lots of fun fruit drink choices wherever we went.

Back at the house!  Finding local wildlife!

Only day 1, but it was awesome!  Sadly we were sick with colds when we left for Costa Rica.  It had been going through our family and I think Lee and I were the last ones to have it. Maybe Cal too?  Our first full day we were feeling pretty good though.