Valiant Volcanic Efforts – July 20

We saw Arenal only briefly. We saw Poas not at all. We rose early this morning to try to get to Irazu (CR’s highest volcano with five craters, one of which is normally filled with a dramatic green lagoon) early enough that we could see it above the clouds.

No such luck.

The kind ranger directed us back down the mountain to another part of the park, apparently good for hiking. But it was expensive and crowded so we turned around. The view just outside the entrance was fantastic – green farmland one direction and a mountain of gold (mustard, but spectacular!) on the other. We stopped for pictures.

Since it was still early, we kept going to Guayabo National Monument, CR’s top archaeological site, a Pre-Columbian Indian ceremonial complex. We had driven through farmland but found ourselves quite suddenly back in the jungle. And of course it started raining – we keep our rain jackets in the car, so no big deal.

Q with a monolith of a jaguar and a lizard (lizard is on the other side)

A pelanque (wood/straw structure) would have sat atop the round space behind Corban

The big deal: Guayabo has no parking lot so an attendant directs people where to park on the street (typical CR). Our spot was kind of wonky, tilted at an odd angle. When we tried to leave, the car slid sideways down the hill. Siv and the boys hopped out as others ran to try to help Dave, but the car continued to slip towards a wall – no good. Only then did we notice: the parking attendant was blind! We prayed, the men conferred, and the decision was made to wait for the car parked in front of us to depart so we’d have more space with which to work. We kept praying and waited about 40 minutes while Dave kept watch that no one else parked too close. Once the other car left it wasn’t too difficult for Dave to pull forward and out of the precarious angle. Yikes!

And we still made it back to Escazu with time to shower before church. A fuller than expected day, but definitely the stuff of memories.