Continentally Divided in Monteverde

After a long week of midterms and research papers, it was a welcomed but silent four hour bus ride to the cloud forest of Monteverde. Excited for the overnight trip along the continental divide and relieved that the heavy workload was over (at least for a few days), we chugged our way up the mountain. The fascination with the continental divide was prominent as we witnessed the beautiful but dry Pacific side of the divide and then the wet and siempreverde Caribbean side. Once finally to the top where the cloud forest reserve was located, we set off in our three hiking groups.

Many plant, insect, flower, tree and climate facts later, we made it to the lookout along sendero de la ventana. It is called the window trail because it follows the ridge along the mountain top so you can see both directions, including the ocean and lake Arenal. However, being a cloud forest, we were up in the clouds with no view, the wet and wind welcomed after a hot week in Atenas. After consuming our much needed emergency sandwiches and chiky cookies, we journeyed back to the reserve, crossing over a sturdy but wobbly bridge above dense forest.

That night we were graced with a pizza dinner at a local restaurant and then the evening off to explore Monteverde and Santa Elena. After a tough week, about half of us took advantage of the opportunity, myself included. Time is flying here in Costa Rica, and so we have to take advantage of every moment to have some fun!

The next day it was an early morning (as always) and we were off towards lake Arenal and Tilaran to see the molinos. The wind turbines were owned by a private company who gave us a tour of the turbines as well as the control room. Costa Rica uses about 85% renewable energy, and this percentage is continuing to grow. The wind was whipping up there, but instead of hidding from the cold and wet, for some reason the wind was like a drug. Cameras out, each one of us, professors included, ran and jumped against the wind, as if testing the strength of each gust.

A long bus ride to the center put us back just in time for a briefing on our homestays that would take place the next two days. All of us were headed to different homes, every experience unique but each one full of culture.