We had a direct flight of just over 5 hours, arriving at 12:45 pm Costa Rican time (so it was 2:45 to us). We got our luggage quickly and cleared customs and immigration in minutes. Matias was waiting for us and it was so wonderful to finally meet him in person! We left the heavy traffic around the airport and drove for about 30 minutes to a roadside restaurant for authentic Costa Rican food. WOW - I know we were starving hungry - but the food was really good! Had cool refreshing mango juice, fried plantains, and rice mixed with chicken and vegetables. Continued the drive to La Fortuna - the scenery is gorgeous and the flowering and leafy plants are exploding with lush growth and a variety of beautiful colours (a welcome change from our very long white winter!). On the way we suddenly pulled to a stop so Matias could buy some fruit from a roadside stand. It was like a gigantic bean pod (think of a seedless cucumber) that you break open and eat the fuzzy covering off the hard black beans inside. It had a sweet delicate flavour - like a mild melon. Arrived in La Fortuna after a couple more hours of driving and watching Arenal Volcano continue to loom closer on the horizon. We parked in front of the Down to Earth shops (I admit I almost squealed with excitement at being there!) and walked over to the park across the street and sat by the fountain and watched the families, and enjoyed the birds, butterflies and flowers. Then we had delicious capuccino in Matias' coffee shop. We checked into our hotel - which is individual cabins - clean, cool and roomy - about 5:45 pm after watching the sunset. The gardens have enormous flowering plants - everything is so beautiful. At 7 pm we went to a hotsprings area. Very soothing and relaxing after a long day of travelling. After 9 pm we were treated to a fantastic supper at the new Down to Earth restaurant. I don't know where Matias found his chef - but he better keep him! The food is amazing.
The view of Arenal Volcano from in front of the Down to Earth shops.
The park in La Fortuna across from Down to Earth.
Arenal Vocano at sunset from our hotel parking lot.
The Down to Earth coffee shop.
As you can see, Wendy really likes the capuccino!
This should look familiar to some of you!
Matias let me try his coffee liqueurs - they are divine!
Boruca artwork.
Matias and me in front of his coffee shop.
Looking at the shops from the park.
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