Saying goodbye to our new friends

It wasn´t hard staying in bed this morning, because the howler monkeys were active! I just love their call! It is one of the most haunting sounds I know. And of course, their sound reminds me of the day we were going into the forest with Fernando and Rebeca in Lomas Barbudal back in 2003.  On that day, it was still dark and as we started on the trail to the capuchin monkey sleeping site, the howler monkeys made the loudest, most incredible noise I have ever heard. We couldn´t see them, but we knew they were in the trees above us. The whole thing rivaled any haunted house situation you could think of. So, anyway, this morning, they were making that sound, and it was great hearing them.
Guillermo and I decided to walk a trail on the hotel property before breakfast and it was lovely. We passed through forest, and by a river and then we walking on some rolling hills. We got to the farthest point we could go, and from there we could see the ocean and hear the waves breaking. We also saw lots of parrots while doing this little walk.

 This was the view from our hotel room before heading out on the walk.

Looking back at our room while on our walk.

A parrot up on top of the tree.

Back at the hotel, we had a most incredible breakfast again, this time they offered crepes and boy they were delicious!! After breakfast, we packed up our stuff and drove back to Paquera where we would catch the ferry back to Puntarenas.

We passed this nice beach as we headed back.

We wondered if Christoph and Estevan were there yet, and sure enough, we saw their car ahead in the line. We got in line ourselves and after a few minutes, they came over to us, and we passed the waiting time together. We walked down to buy the ferry tickets and then we just hung around the car until we felt it was almost time to board.  We were so touched when the two of them presented a little gift they had bought for us!
This ferry today was much nicer than the one we took getting to Paquera. Estevan and Christoph said they´d be up on top, so when I got on, I looked for Estevan and finally found him.

What I saw as I walked the plank up to the ferry.

 We waited for Guillermo and Christoph to show up, after parking their cars down below. We all enjoyed the ferry ride back to Puntarenas very much, and it seemed to go much quicker than last time.

What we saw as the ferry was pulling away from land.

And now some scenes along the ferry ride to Puntarenas.

 We decided to say our goodbyes to Christoph and Estevan while still on the ferry, to avoid the mass confusion that happens when disembarking. We told them again how much we appreciated their help, and they told us also how they don´t know what they would have done if we hadn´t been following them. It was sad to see them go, they were both so very nice.

Right now, I am writing this in an internet cafe in Fortuna, with a view of the Arenal Volcano right outside. We are staying in another hotel Christoph recommended and it is wonderful here. We are looking forward to another good dinner tonight.