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The long, narrow, winding road to Arenal turned to a steep, gravel road with more pot holes then anything else. The 7km ‘driveway’ in a tour van with 5 guys and loaded full of gear is not the most enjoyable ride.

We showed up after dark, and were unable to see the volcano we came to see. We checked into the suites, and headed up to the lodge for dinner. After a large meal and a few cups of delicious coffee, we retired to the rooms to play dominos and crib.

Our full day in Arenal was filled with activities. We left the lodge after breakfast and headed out on a birding hike. We spent 3 hours on a guided bird watching tour where we spotted over 40 different species of birds. Our tour guide was able to make well over 50 different bird calls using his mouth with amazing accuracy.

After the birding hike the group went out for lunch until our drivers arrived to take us to our next event. With the majority of the group choosing to go zip-lining and horse back riding (combo event), the remaining 5 of us packed up and headed off for an ATV excursion.

After signing our life away on a waiver written only in Spanish, we grabbed our mediocre helmets, revved up the engines, and headed for the trails.

Bald tires, muddy trails, and fields covered in livestock made for a very memorable afternoon. Within minutes of leaving the barn we were all covered in mud. Taking a handful of mud in the face at 20km/hour normally wouldn’t be amusing, unless you’re doing it to someone else at the same time :)

That evening was spent in hot spring waters fresh from the Arenal volcano, at a resort called Baldi Springs. With 25 spring water pools of different temperatures, 3 swim up bars, and a waterslide with the turns and slope of a double-black diamond ski run, there’s a little something for everyones tastes.

The next day we packed our bags and headed for the Pacific. A 4 hour drive down from the clouded hills to the warm, cloud free, flats of the western side of the country was a real treat. The weather is 24 degrees, the sun is shining, and I can hear the ocean calling my name… Surfs up!

The last 3 days have been filled with some incredible adventures. Jungle hikes, Costa Rican cooking classes, surfing in the Caribbean and much more.

We arrived at the Shawanda Lodge just outside of Puerto Viejo early Sunday afternoon. Unpacked our bags, grabbed the boogie boards and headed for the beach. The surf was a constant, 2-3 foot waves every 20-30 seconds. A good way to settle into our new digs. The lodging itself is a few acres of property in dense jungle forest which houses a dozen or so Teak bungalows. With hammocks on the porches and surrounded by wild life, this is the place to be on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

An evening of crib and banter followed. 11 guys (all atheletes) playing card games, let’s just say there was a little verbal repartee throughout the evening.

The following day we woke early to a breakfast of fresh fruit (as in picked the day before), eggs, and toast. Mango, banana, papaya, pineapple, and watermelon to round it off.

We loaded into the tour vans, and headed out for some day hikes. My group headed deep into the jungle with our guide Mauricio, to the Kekoldi Indigenous Reserve next to the Cohita National Park. We saw poison dart frogs, monkey ladder vines, and walking palm trees that actually ‘walk’ to where they can get more/better sun light. We smelled the plants of cilantro and citronella, and the flower in which Chanel No 5 comes from. We tasted a fruit with the flavour of blue cheese, an orange that was really a lime, and the bark of a cinnamon tree (which tasted like cinnamon, duh?

The rainy season in Costa Rica has is coming to an end in late December, so the trails are still a little muddy. The terrain was less than smooth. The mountainous layout of our hike had us scrambling up the hills, and sliding down them. All of which added to the over all jungle experience.

That evening our local friend and host, Junior, took the group to a disco down on the beach called Mango Sunset. With an eclectic mix of Latin and R&B, the dance floor was packed until closing time. After an entertaining ride home in the tour van, everyone settled in to watch the lunar eclipse. Most of the group had never seen one, and a few of us had only seen it once before in our lives. A really enjoyable way to cap off a great evening.

Our second full day in Puerto Viejo was a day off from scheduled activities. A crew of 8 headed for a local beach known for it’s surf. We rented boards, $10 for the day, and hit the water. Surfing is a rather enjoyable sport, which is easier said then done. The ever changing water, timing of the entrance, and ability to actually get on the board while being in front of the wave makes for a challenging day in the water. We returned to the lodges to shower, nap, and prepare for our cooking class.

Sharon (Sha-roon) was our host for the evening. Along with her mother, they put on a spread of fish (seabass), salad, rice & beans, followed up by a delicious rum cake that was amazing. In her modest 2 bedroom, single floor house with a kitchen on the back porch, she cooked a feast for us (her 12 guests) along with her mother, 2 daughters, son, and neighbour. That meal won’t soon be forgotten.

This brings us to Wednesday, day 5 of our adventure in Costa Rica. After another delicious breakfast, the groups split into their respective vans and headed off for another hike. This time we were headed to the coast for a walk along the coast. We started the hike along the beach then headed into the jungle. There are 120 species of snakes in the country, 9 of which are deadly. We saw 3 eye-lash Vipers (deadly) and 2 vine snakes. We saw 3 species of frogs, 1 poisonous, 2 deadly. Some of our group ate termites, one even let a Golden Orb spider crawl on his face. All in the name of a good time.

From beach to jungle, jungle to beach, up muddy hills, down muddy hills. We saw Caymans, turtles, goats, chickens (on a farm) and monkeys. From drop off to pick up it took about 8 hours. Wow, long day, but well worth it.

The group readied themselves for the rondon (BBQ, Cookout, Dinner party) at Juniors. In the company of family and friends, Junior made us a home cooked meal Caribbean style. Lobster, Snapper, and 20 different kinds of fruits and veggies, no one was going to bed hungry that night, not even the dog (heh).

Thursday morning we left for Arenal, the active volcano. As I write this article we are passing trough sprawling foothills and Palm tree forests. Rustic houses, small farms, road side restaurants and boutiques. This country has a thousand stories I could tell, but I think I’ll just sit back, stare out the window, and let you enjoy them for yourself once you get here….

Today was our first full day in San Jose. It started off with a breakfast at Denny’s (obviously), which turns out to be the most expensive restaurant in all of Costa Rica (huh?), then we packed our lacrosse bags and headed to the ‘pitch’. The location of the field is rather difficult to explain as the city of San Jose, and the country of Costa Rica for that matter, doesn’t use street names or numbered houses/buildings. (weird eh?) Instead they use descriptive addresses. (after the Shell gas station in the south of the city, go left for 10 blocks, go right after the church with the big front yard, and it’s on the right about 4 blocks down).

We showed up to a field of 15 men and 6 women, between the ages of 20 and 32. A few players have a little experience, but in general there is little more then a few months of practice.

After introductions, we run them through some drills for the rest of the morning. An authentic Costa Rican lunch is prepared by Walters (local organizer of the event) mother. A heartfelt speech was given by Aldo, thanking us for our support in their sporting endeavor.

When lunch was finished, that’s when the real fun started. With a coed team of players from both nations, team Rojas (red) took the field with the enthusiasm of recess in an elementary school.

For the next 2 hours, with the sun blazing and a temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius, a spirited match was played in front of 10 or so onlookers.

After the game, the locals were presented with Team Canada Lacrosse shirts and were given the opportunity to take pictures with their coaching staff. A generous supply of gear was donated to the squad, who can not purchase their own equipment within the country.

We set a time to join them for dinner later that evening, and headed back to the hotel.

The mood and expressed emotions on the ride home were that of pride, accomplishment, and a great sense of giving back to the game of lacrosse. To participate in the formation and building of a national lacrosse team is an incredible feeling. Something I will not forget. Friendships were forged that transcend language, race, and a continental divid… all through the power of sport.

530am we check in. That was smooth. 10 guys, 22 checked bags, and tons of excitement. 1 X-ray machine, 2 shoes in the tote, 3minute wait. Through security we all go, no delays. It’s almost 6am, with 1 gate to go.

‘What is the nature of your visit to the United States?’ the USBS agent asks. I tell him I’m on the way to Costa Rica, and we have a 4 hour layover in Fort Worth, Texas. ‘Your being sent to secondary screening for a random inspection’ he declares, without so much as a grin. My body goes flush, palms sweat a bit, there’s a lump in my throat. I am nervous, and I don’t know why. If I miss this flight, I’m going to be pissed.

One way windows, automatic locking doors, agents with weapons… This place looks less then hospitable. It’s 6:04am, 1 hour 41 minutes until my flight takes off. No reason to panic, yet.

13 of us sit on a bench watching a man leave in handcuffs. This is not a pleasant place. The girl in wicket 4 is crying her eyes out. The guy beside me is clearly nervous, what am I doing here.

7:15am, it’s panic time. 11 US Border Service agents, only 1 with a client. There’s 4 people who arrive before me, who have yet to be seen.

My phone rings, it’s 7:20. My flight is boarding, WTF is going on here. ‘Are you alright’ reads a text. ‘I don’t know, I haven’t been seen yet’ I reply.

7:23, ‘gagne’ a female USBS agent calls out. I bounce up, grab my bag, and hurry my way to her desk.

5 questions and 8 minutes later I’m out of there. Thankful, and angry. 7:31, 14 minutes to make the flight. I ask for directions to gate E79. ‘down the hall, make a right, it’s at the end’. The END?!$&@. Obviously.

With urgency in my stride, I make my way through the gauntlet of strollers, suit cases, and a few other obstacles on the moving sidewalk and find myself at the terminal just shy of 7:39. ‘oh, Gagne… The team was waiting for you. They didn’t want to leave you behind. You are a lucky man, we were a minute away from giving your seat away to stand-by’. They take my boarding pass, and toss me on the plane.

I’m through, thank god! Good bye Canada, hello Costa Rica!!

Damn it’s cold. So cold I can see my breath. I check the weather, 6 degrees currently, with a high of 6, and a low of 2. Hmmm.

I check the weather again, ooops. I was on the wrong page. I was checking Vancouvers weather report, silly me. San Jose (Costa Rica) shows 18 degrees and sunny :)

Highs of mid to high 20’s all week, time to pack the shorts. Yesterday it pissed rain, today it’s as cold as an ex-girlfriend. 48hours 20minutes till I’m out of here.

10 days to go, and I can’t stop thinking about it. I check the weather daily, I can’t wait.

I’m so excited to be a tourist again. “got the travel bug now?” people ask. Hell yeah I do! Crystal clear blue water, white sand beaches, rolling surf… Sign me up!

Board shorts, check. Sun screen, check. Camera, check.

240 hours to go. Let the countdown begin.

It’s a month away and I am anxious. I don’t know what to bring, I don’t know who’s going, I don’t know much. What I do know is it’s going to be a great time. Why didn’t I travel when I was younger? Hind sight is always 20/20.

I will blog again in this trip, if I have time. I’m sure we’ll be around Internet, so it will be easier to upload the posts. Although I don’t think I’ll have as much downtime as I did in Nepal, but I will try my best.