Costa Rica Days 5-8

I killed a few more spiders in the bathroom, had a cold shower and headed to the port early in the morning. I jumped on a ferry loaded with locals and we made our way toward the two volcanoes on Isla Ometepe. Once onshore, I crammed into a “Nico” bus and about an hour of riding on rough roads I got off in a remote area with a few shacks and a hostel near the coast. The whole journey was only $2.

At the hostel, I befriended an American-Nicaraguan from California named Luis. His stepfather owned the place and Luis has called it home for the past nine months. I believe he’s the local Casanova as I always saw him cruising on his bicycle chatting with the local ladies. I tried to schedule a hike up the larger volcano but was swayed away by locals saying that it’s too dangerous to climb as it occasionally spews hot ash. So, I decided to climb the smaller Maderas Volcano. Good thing, I did. I struggled up the steep, muddy trail trying to keep up with Luis, a fit 22-year old who has hiked the mountain a dozen times. Luckily, the hostel’s dog named Donkey would stop and wait for me as I gasped for air like a fat person climbing stairs. Sometimes I could hear a band of monkeys up in the trees laughing at me.

At the top of the 1,394-meter volcano, we descended down to a crater lake that was covered with a thick mist. It looked like an enchanted forest out of a movie. I frolicked around and waded knee-deep in the cold water. It took probably 7 or 8 hours to complete the 8-mile hike and I only fell 6 times. About four days later I’m still sore.

I eventually left the island and traveled back to the elusive Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. I was able to see most of the mountain and its surrounding lake but the clouds never cleared away to reveal its peak. With no mountain to fully admire I wasted my time relaxing by the pool and in hammocks while guzzling local beers. On my last night, I went to a nearby hot springs. The place was the shiznit. It had hazardous but fun slides and at least ten pools from warm water to f-ing hot water. Despite the weather and forgetting my camera, the trip was a memorable one.

Costa Rica: Days 2-4

Overcoming adversity should be the moniker of this passage. First, I left Liberia in northern Costa Rica n drove down to the active Arenal volcano. I was pumped about seeing the volcano spit up some lava but I was greeted with rain, rain and more rain. I couldn't even see the damn volcano.

Soon after, I left for better weather in Nicaragua. About 10 minutes into the road trip a huge pothole came out of nowhere and hit my tiny car dead on, popping two of its tires. I was stranded on a wet, narrow road for about five hours until the rental company got me back on my way. On the bright side, while I was stranded, a posse of Coatis surrounded my car and kept me company. About four hours of driving I finally reached the Nicaraguan border only to be denied entry since I had a rental car.

To say the least, I was pissed and cussing like Natalie Portman in her rap video. However, I ditched the rental car in a parking lot and took a bus to my destination. Now, when I say "bus" it means an old raggedy school bus converted into public transportation. And it was packed with villagers jumping on it while it rolled casually along. But hey, it only cost a $1 for a 40-km journey. Currently, I'm at a hotel on the coast of Lake Nicaragua. The bathroom is basically a zoo. There are good-sized spiders, large ants, geckos, etc. Maybe a monkey will sneak in there later.

I'm hoping to jump on a ferry tomorrow morning and head to Isla Ometepe, where two volcanoes protrude from the lake and form an island. I plan to climb the tallest one but we'll see if my fat ass can make it or if weather ruins the day again.

Costa Rica: Day 1

Enjoying the 90-degree weather in my rental car when I discover that the passageway to my hotel is police barricaded. I play dumb tourist n get through to find my hotel right next to some political rally. Apparently, a presidential candidate is having a bash outdoors with live music and a touching speech even tho I could only understand one word of every sentence. If she wins, she'll be the 1st female prez I'm told. I end the night getting intoxicated and talking about women with a tour guide named Oscar at the hotel. I'm supposed to climb a volcano tomorrow morning. We'll see if that happens...