Costa Rica part 2

Sunday, Feb 19,2012
 Woke to see only the base of Arenal, sure happy we got the full view yesterday. Today we soak in hot springs on the other side of the volcano, close to the Nicaragua border. This is our reward after a good hike which involves crossing six hanging bridges, ooooh!
 The drive here from the jungle was very different from the other parts of the country, major fruit growing and cattle farms. We toured pineapple plantation, completely organic and drove through papaya, guava, bean, and rice fields. Processing plants deal with the reject fruit and make concentrate that is shipped all over the world. This country is doing well, only six percent unemployment and a 98percent literacy rate.
 Gas is expensive so small cars dominate the highways, except of course, for the eighteen wheelers that cross the country to the very busy port at Limon. Dole and delMonte take their fair share of the roads.
 Our guide for these ten days is Fausto, a graduate with two degrees in natural science so he really knows his stuff and with 21 years on this job, knows the pace for his travelers, both physically and educationally......never an overload in either case. Breakfast is calling, more wonderful fruit and of course, rice and beans!