Aguaceros

Yesterday it rained for at least eleven hours - started just before one in the afternoon and was still going when I drifted to sleep last night. At points it was so loud I genuinely couldn't hear what anyone was saying in our "Economy and Women" seminar last night. Good welcome back to the smoke. Being here with M made me realise what an unbelievable setting this city is in, surrounded by mountains, and with lush green foliage everywhere and just so... brightly coloured - the houses, roofs, flowers... I love London, Paris, but they seem so grey in comparison. On the other hand, they have pedestrian crossings, believe in tarmac for roads, and despite legend, don't have rain every single day. Swings and roundabouts, my friends.

M and I went on a fabulous trip to cloudforests, rainforests, an active (Strombolean, apparently) volcano and waterfall. It was utterly amazing. Gringos in every direction, but what can you do? It was a bit overwhelming in that sense, but I was undeniably impressed by the level of Spanish spoken by the travellers in general, and everyone's friendliness... it was good stuff, basically.


En route to the waterfall. It was an 11km hike there and back, and we almost got divebombed by a toucan. That was utterly, utterly brilliant. In fact, we saw four toucans in three days, including two different breeds, one with a green bill and the other more orangey brown. This guy from Valencia we met got attacked by a toucan in his hotel in Tortuguera - scratches all over his arm were the price for not giving up his papaya and mango to the bird. They rule.

You just don't get enough men who look like this. M and I had a substantial debate over whether his hair was natural. I say yes, just with some grease to separate the curls. He says grease isn't natural. You decide.

Our hotel in Monteverde was very nice - a step above in terms of price and quality. Well worth it, because we got DRENCHED in MTV Reserve, and headed back like drowned rats, only for me to have my first hot shower in a month. It was glorious. Utterly, utterly glorious.

This waterfall was beautiful, and you could bathe in the pool by it, which we did. In the cold. And after clambering over very slippery rocks indeed.