Puntarenas, Costa Rica

            On Saturday, 8 February, we awoke to our alarm at 7:00 AM.   In the Horizon Court we shared breakfast with Richard and Ruth of near Nashville, Tennessee.  We mostly talked about our cruises and other vacations.

Although our tour bus was not scheduled to leave until 9:30, when we boarded at 9:00, we took the last two adjacent seats.  Two couples that boarded after us didn’t seem too concerned about having to sit separately; most couples aren’t “joined at the hip” as we are!  The bus took off at 9:10.

Our tour guide, Gabriel (pronounced with a Spanish accent), described the sights and gave us a brief history of Costa Rica as we rode toward the Pacific Aerial Tram. At one time, coffee was Costa Rica’s largest industry, but now they manufacture microprocessor components for Intel.  They also export produce, including watermelons.

Almost immediately, we passed a beach, which was within easy walking distance of the ship.  Soon we could see muddy, fresh water from the left windows of the bus and ocean water from the right windows.  We passed by an above-ground cemetery; this land is often flooded in rainy season, and global warming is a great concern for the people who live here.  At one point, the bus pulled to the side so that we could see some black monkeys high up in some nearby trees.

We arrived at Carara National Park about 11:30, where we were divided into groups of twelve.  Carlos, assigned as our tour guide, first took us on a nature walk through the park to visit the Serpentarium and view the many brightly colored tropical flowers in the Heliconias Gallery and medicinal plant garden.  One woman in our group, terrified of snakes, amused us with her antics.  During our walk, it was extremely hot (88 degrees or more) and humid; and grasshoppers (or some similar insects) provided a sound not heard in January at home.

Aerial Tram Ride

Next, we boarded the aerial tram in groups of eight.  We (even Jesse) enjoyed a thrilling gondola ride that skimmed the eco-friendly rainforest canopy.  Sitting in our “box” we felt very safe, with floor, partial sides, and roof for the hour-long trip from bottom to top, and back down to the bottom starting point.  As we glided through a living backdrop of giant trees, hanging gardens, waterfalls and lush green landscapes, Carlos narrated the tour.  The ride took us across part of the 222-acre conservation park, enabling us to take in panoramic ocean views, its wildlife and many waterfalls.

Waiting for Bus

After the tram ride, we enjoyed a traditional Costa Rican buffet lunch, consisting of pasta salad, rice, beans, steamed vegetables, grilled chicken, sweet plantains, and fresh fruit.

On our way back, we passed by a river bottom where crocodiles had been viewed earlier by passengers on the other side of the bus; unfortunately for us, this time there were no crocs in sight.

By 3:30 we were back onboard the ship – about an hour ahead of schedule.  Hot and tired, we were glad to have more time to clean up for dinner.

Tonight we sat at a table for eight with Don and Barbara, from near San Francisco, whom we had dined with previously; Rich and Bev, from Manitoba, Canada; and Desmond and Gail, from Vancouver, Washington (which is near Portland, Oregon).   Rich is a retired public official and Bev is still working as a nurse.  Desmond is an aircraft mechanic for United Airlines, who also likes to build custom cars.  After dinner, we danced again to the Playlist Band in the Wheelhouse Bar.

Tomorrow is an “at sea” day, so we will get to sleep in.