Regarding: Day 5

Dear Dad,

Please forgive me for what I'm about to post on my blog, and also, just remember that I'm too old to technically get grounded. I think?

Remember when we all went to the adventure park? (disclaimer: I made sure that Mom would be ok doing this activity before we all suited up...)  :)

Mom, on the way to her first zip line

First time on the zip line!!! Woooo Mom!!

Ken on the first zip line

Ken going over the waterfall

Laenea; crazy girl

Mom went by herself!

The whole group- Me, Ken, Mom, Madoxx and Laenea

Costa Rica Day 7

We had the best, relaxing day today!

We all started out with breakfast at Soda La Macha, which was absolutely delicious! Rice, beans, fried cheese, plantain, and avocado. What else could you want for breakfast?!

See how pretty it was?! There was a hanging bridge to cross on the way in too.

Mom at breakfast. She got the short chair. :) 

After breakfast, Ken took us to the Forestal Coffee Tour, where we got to see coffee plants, plant some coffee beans, learn about the roasting process, and FINALLY taste a few different roasts. That was fun! And tasty. 

Coffee plant

Traditional method of brewing coffee

Caffeine boost

 There were other fun plants at the coffee farm- do you know about rainbow eucalyptus? If not, look them up. The colors can be unbelievable!

The 5th or 6th rainbow eucalyptus we've seen since we got here. Amazing!

And then there was this weird plant that looks like a small pumpkin, but has the texture of a tomato, but tastes.... different... with a hint of kumquat. 

Pitanga, aka Brazilian Cherry

After that, we stopped at a gift shop, and then headed back to our house to play some card games with Doris and Ken. It was nice to sit and relax for a bit! We ended the day with dinner and desert at Gingerbread, which was a nice restaurant that had a cat and a dog for Laenea and I to pet. :) And, the food there was incredible. 

Tomorrow, we head to la Playa de Coco! Can't wait for Beach Day!!!

Costa Rica Day 6

Today started out better than I could've imagined. We took off for Viento Fresco Waterfalls near Monteverde, but after we bought our passes, we were told that a rescued sloth was just across the street!!! Unfortunately, the baby's mom had been in a tree that fell over, and she didn't make it. But the baby got rescued. We were with Ken this morning, and he and his wife Doris (who got to see the sloth after we got back from the hike) run an animal rescue. So much of our trip has involved rescued or rescuing animals!

Anyway, we all got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hold the baby sloth. She was way softer than she looks!

Ken

Laenea

Slothy (I can't remember her name)

Me

Doris

Mom fell in love. Dad texted and said she can't bring the sloth home... ;)

Mom

After that excitement, Ken, Laenea, our new friend Madoxx and I hiked the waterfalls. There were so many stairs, we were worried that the hike back up was going to be awful. But it wasn't at all!

Laenea

Meeee

After the hike, we went with Doris up to Monteverde. That place is GORGEOUS!! We stopped at a sugar cane farm, and got to make and drink fresh sugar can juice with lime and ginger. MMMM

When we got into town, we ate in a restaurant that was built around a tree. That was so cool! And the food was amazing. 

How did they know I miss my kitty?!

Mom, Doris and Laenea at Treehouse Restaurant & Cafe

And then after lunch we did the hanging bridges tour. Even though Mom's knees are bothering her, she did great! We got rainforest'd at bridge 3 (there were 8 total), which meant we spent most of the hike in a downpour so strong, I almost lost a contact. :) It was the second hike I've done in the pouring rain here in Costa Rica, and I have to say, it's really fun and refreshing! 

Looking up at the first of eight bridges

I loved being in a cloud forest!

Mom

Mom and Laenea

Me

Super pretty vegetation 

That's all for today! Can't wait to see what trouble we can get into tomorrow. Good night!

Costa Rica Day 5

Hi again!

Today was full of all kinds of fun things! We spent the day at the Ponderosa Adventure Park, and it was amazing. We did a safari tour, zip lining, and kayaking! Mom and I didn't do the kayaking part, but we got to ride in a giant truck through the jungle to pick up the rest of our group. That was fun too! Here are some photos from the safari.

The 4 of us on the safari tour- Laenea, me, Ken and Mom

Mom was afraid the giraffe would eat her phone. hahaha

Pretty deer!

I just wanted to pet a zebra. He did let me for a split second.  

Mom, watching kayakers (one is Laenea)

We zip lined over this waterfall!

After the adventure park, we stopped at a farmer's market and had a quick look around. Mom got a pineapple, and it was the best pineapple I've ever tasted! 

Costa Rica Day 4

Today was really fun! Ken came and picked us up this morning, and brought us to Rio Celeste. He and my mom hung out and played a million games of cribbage, while Laenea and I did the hike to see where the water turns blue. Unfortunately, the river wasn't as blue as it is some days, but it was still a gorgeous place!
We hiked through the rain forest, and guess what- it rained. Hard. And the lightening looked like it was really close. But it was still really fun! Here's what Laenea and I saw.

Rain Forest

This was the end of the trail. The water here can be crazy blue! But the rain was making it more green-is

Part of the trail. Before it became ankle-deep mud. :)

See the bubbles towards the lower left? Hot springs!

Scary bridge

After the hike, we stopped at Finca Verde for a nature tour of the rain forest there. We saw a sloth, some adorable tent bats, butterflies, a toucan, and a beautifully colored frog. That's all I have for today! We're probably going to a safari tour tomorrow. I might get to pet a giraffe?

The guide said if you touch this caterpillar, it would be like

touching a tiny porcupine. Ouch!

Sloth

Toucan