I believe my last post started off by saying that waking up is hard. I'd just like to reiterate that. 7:30 was when the shuttle to Extremo Zip Lines would arrive. I woke up for my alarm at 6:40, dozed off till 7:15 and scrambled to get my clothes on. I made the bus just fine and found friends from the hot springs inside. We went to pick up others in town, who turned out to be my friends from the Cerro Chato hike. After a short ride we arrived and threw on our harnesses and did the whole orientation bit. They ran out of the shoulder harnesses for the "superman" line at the end where you ride face down overlooking the canyon below, so they told me to snag one at the end. No problem. The first couple of lines were a warm-up, until you climbed higher up spiral stairs to the edge of the canyon. This was one you needed to double up on to get across, so I made very good friends with a German guy as I wrapped my legs around his waist and we took off. You're up high. Really high. The views were green, green and more green. You could spot coffee plantations below and tiny cows grazing. Very, very cool. The next few lines were short but took you through the forest. It was awesome seeing the trees rush by. The lines zig-zagged back across the canyon a couple more times (making good friends with partners again) before a rappel led you to the Tarzan swing. They hook you up to a rope, push you off the platform, and let you scream. It was about a 100ft long pendulum between the trees. When the time came to catch me, like I had seen them do with many others, it got a little exciting as I slipped through their catch pad and ended up dangling over the edge for a bit by my foot. They reeled me in OK and I went on my way. A couple short rides later led you to the 1km long Superman cable. I still didn't have the right harness for it, and I was told I'd have to wait for 20 mins. Luckily, a woman had the wrong size harness which was passed on to me. The guy strapped it on me and had me hooked up to the line first, and I pushed off. The ride was totally exhilarating, I had no words to describe it. I'm pretty sure I had a big open-mouthed grin on my face the whole way. It lasted for about a minute, and you don't really realize how fast you're moving until you fly back into the trees, which come up fast. Your pulley hits the brake device as you go from 50-0mph and are left dangling at the end, completely dumbfounded that you've just flown. What a rush.
Took a nap after my flight over the canyon and ate lunch at a hole-in-the wall café. Here they call them "sodas" and they serve "casados," typical Costa Rican food (rice and beans with your choice of meat and something on the side). I had casados con pollo, and I'm not feeling sick, so it went well. I was supposed to meet at a friend's hotel next door to the soda for the Don Juan Coffee Tour, but waited around and they didn't show. I figured I must've just missed them so I ran back into town to my hostel where they were standing on the street looking for me. Got it in the nick of time again! That makes the score so far David 3, Too Late 0. The plantation was small, only 2 acres of cultivated coffee, but it was really beautiful.
The guide was good, we learned the whole coffee process and one real important thing you guys back in the States probably still have wrong: light roast coffee has more flavor properties and caffeine, while dark roast has less flavor properties (but yes, a stronger, more robust flavor) and less caffeine. He preferred the blend of the two so you get it all. We got to meet Don Juan himself, a 70-something year old man who carries a big knife and is followed wherever he goes by a little dog, Tequila.
After the tour there were some snacks, chocolate covered coffee beans and coffee sampling. For me, the light roast is just too acidic, reminds me of instant coffee. I'll stick with the cheaper, more "burnt" dark roast, way smoother. I bought two 500g bags of the good stuff, so let the bidding begin.
Back in town we went to the local bar and dance hall, Bar Amigos. We snagged a couple cervezas and watched Costa Rica's futbol team get smoked by Mexico 4-1. In the corner of the bar was one TV with the Mavs-Heat game on, which was pretty great even if we were the only 3 people in the place actually watching. Congrats to the Mavs, who also brought their talents to South Beach. The DJ started blasting music and people began dancing, and later a live band came on.
They were fantastic, and are still performing. I can hear it all nice and clear from the thin walls in my room. I got to sleep just fine last night with the bass bumpin' so tonight shouldn't be any different. Heading off into the jungle tomorrow to hike around and see some wildlife. Really hoping my shoes somehow show up here, only time will tell.
Time for bed. Buenos noches, amigos.
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