Miravalles

29. April: The night was extremely windy and the ferociously howling wind was quite unsettling. We were miles away from anywhere and this would be a great place and time to rob tourists. We start on our trip to Miravalles after breakfast at about 8:30. We'd like to leave for San Jose in Liberia at about 14:30 and they would bring us back in time. The owner's son drives again, he's a young lad, possibly even under 20, but he drives well and knows his way around. Yesterday's cowboy is with us again as a guide. The Dutch couple are complaining that they've probably lost their camera on yesterday's trek of the park (they went on their own) and if someone of the lodge could make a quick search in the park for it. They said that their video camera had already been stolen from them elsewhere on their trip. What misfortune!

Volcano at Rincon de la Vieja	Sulphurous volcanic activity

We see a hot spring and mud pools at one location and then move on to a second. Both involve about an hour's driving each. At the second place we enter through barbed wire to the side of a locked door blocking the road. We walk uphill for quite a while, seeing several waterfalls along the way. We need to climb over several obstacles, the nicest of which was a log crossing a deep ravine, although there were ropes fixed at chest level so the walk looked spectacular at first but was in fact quite easy.

Volcanic sulphur crystals on stone	The "entrance" to Miravalles waterfall area is narrow and thorny

At the end we reached a nice lagoon with a waterfall pouring into it and we could swim here. There was nothing stopping me from jumping in, and although the water was cold, it was great to enter after our hot tour! I loved it, swimming all the way to the base of the falls and feeling the powerful water dropping on me. The height of the falls is about 15m. It's so great that Annewien joins me, and although the Dutch couple has changed into their swimming gear they don't enter the water saying it's too cold for them.

Our tour-group is resting	Crossing log across deep ravine

We're back to the lodge for lunch and the Dutch discover that their room has been broken into, 200$ were missing as was their camera, which they had initially believed to have been lost on their walk the previous day. The two of them are really down and I can't believe it that at this remote place someone could break into a room and steal things. The guy finds out that their doorknob can be forced open without a key, and the owner is so ashamed that a room of his is robbed that he doesn't accept any money from them for their WHOLE stay! We leave at 14:30, the Dutch are with us and they will stop by at the police station for a report.

Getting ready for a swim in wonderful waterfall lagoon	Waterfall

In Liberia I thank the son of the owner, who drove us again, for his hospitality and the great time we had there, we did! We get our reserved bus seats (mine is over the right front wheel and uncomfortable to sit on), but we're lucky to have them, for the vehicle is packed! We start our journey at 16:00 and we reach San Jose at 20:00. We take a taxi to Madeleine's (the guy seemed stoned, glassy look and incoherent appearance).

She's not there but has a note affixed to her door, saying that we should call her. Luckily there is a phone booth just at her corner and she says she'll be right over, the key was in a flower-pot in the garage. Well, we found the key, but it wouldn't open her gate. We wait till she arrives, and she's in her usual huff and puff. She guides us across the street (yikes, where were we going NOW?) and opens the door with that key. Well, no wonder the key didn't fit, if it belonged to the wrong lock! There were some guys inside looking TV and Madeleine says our room is in this house.

The waterfall lagoon	Other Waterfall

It's a small room and we're not at all happy with it. There are no windows to the outside and we're pissed that she just moves us around at will, this is the second time she's done this. The guys there are some Yugoslavians waiting for a Canadian visa. We shower and go to sleep. Madeleine says "breakfast is 8:15".. well, she's in control at her place and you cannot choose!

Continue to 30.4 San Jose