Today we left for Arenal Volcano and the Arenal Paraiso Hotel Resort and Spa which sits below the volcano.  This is what we learned on the way:

1. The Costa Rican Government is much like ours in that it has three branches; Executive, Legislative and Judicial. The executive and legislative branches are elected.  The Judicial branch is elected by the legislative branch.  The counties elect their own officials.
   
2.  The entire country is involved in conservation efforts.
3. Speed bumps are used to mark the beginning and end of a slow zone, i.e. before and after bridges, into and out of small towns. 

One and half hours into our ride we took a break at a little place called Las Iguanas.  In front of the establishment was a large slaughter (group) of iguanas feeding on cut up squash.  According to Javier, they taste like chicken and some Costa Rican families actually eat them. While at the stop, I got some of the best caramel ice cream I have ever had. 
We stopped in the town of La Fortuna.  I needed stamps and I wanted to by some rambutan which is a fruit that I kept seeing being sold on the side of the road.  Funny thing was the grocery story in the town was sold out and I had no time to look elsewhere.  I will keep searching though.

We stopped for lunch at a restaurant just 15 minutes up the road.  We were the only ones there.  As we were eating our meal, it started to rain, then it started to pour, then it came down in buckets, then it was a deluge with thunder and lightning.  And then the electricity went out.  Thank goodness we had already been served. 
When lunch was over and the rains let up it was back on the bus.  The next stop was at the Arenal National Forest where we went on a short hike to the volcano viewing area.  Due to the clouds, we could not see the volcano but we did see an eyelash viper snake curled up in the crook of a tree.  The eyelash vipers eat humming birds and from what Javier could tell, the viper was digesting one.  We also saw more howler monkeys in the trees and also more flowers and trees.  I might be at the point where I have seen enough of the flowers and trees. 

We arrived at the resort and the rain started again as we went to our rooms.  The rain continued the rest of the afternoon.  Luckily the resort has a shuttle service since the property is so large.  We called for a ride to the 6:00 informational video on the geology of volcanoes.  By the time we finished dinner and got a ride back to our room the rain had stopped.
Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow while we are walking on the hanging bridges.
I do need to mention that Linda C. had another living creature incident.  She said that when she opened one of her bags, a small lizard crawled out.  It fell on the floor and scurried under her bed.  She was a little worried that it might find its way into her suitcase. It didn’t.  She said that a little while later, it was found crawling on the wall.  Victoria and she managed to shoo it outside.