While the rest of the group took a tour to yet ANOTHER waterfall, we bravely ventured to the foot of the active volcano Arenal. My horse, Moro, must have been caged and starved for weeks before this jaunt. At every opportunity he rejected my gentle guidance in favor of the succulent greens found well off the path. I do believe he had been there before!

We rode as close to the volcano as we could...the sign behind Gina reads something like, "warning: area of high volcanic activity". That means if Arenal should blow, the lava is predicted to overwhelm that specific path within minutes. Arenal is a relatively young volcano. It blew for the first time about 60 years ago killing a bunch of people who were under the impression that it was simply a trembling mountain. There are those who believe that several of the surrounding mountains are also potential candidates for eruption.

This lake used to be a thriving sport complex. I was told there was fishing wind surfing and a canopy tour...Now it is directly in the path of the next lava flow...therefore off-limits. We stopped here to water the horses. You could see boulders shoot out from the crater and hear them crack as they tumbled down the side. The sound of the rumbles coming from deep inside the earth made it seem like thunder and lightning...it gave me goosebumps! Every time a rock bounced off the lava a stream of smoke would escape from the fissures.

Magnificent...

The orangey colored ash draping the side is actually a very thin layer covering the flowing lava. The small peak to the left is another inconsequential red-hot lava spigot...It doesn't have a name...yet. At night the big one spews fire into the sky. A beautiful, yet awe-inspiring sight...very difficult to capture on film when your batteries run out. *ahem* We convinced the program director to take us to the Tabacon hot springs at the base...in the red zone...gorgeous waterfalls of steamy thermal water.

I made myself hoarse calling to the Howler monkeys...riding up and down hills and across streams, I half expected Tarzan to swoop down out of the canopy to carry me off into the trees...one can only wish I suppose.

Handing a Tico on a horse your digital camera while up to the horse's knees in water is a serious vote of confidence. Marlena couldn't make her horse come with us...she was rather relieved actually...her first ride...awww.

One thing my guide failed to mention was Moro's history of winning medals for the long sprint (literally)...I'm not complaining, but a little warning would have been nice. When we hit this field, that horse took off like he'd been bitten by a yellowjacket! Or maybe the food caught up with him and he had a sudden "case of the runs"! (ba-dum-ching!) Just before I flew over his head he spotted a nice patch of extra green grass and decided it was time for a snack...

...no matter where I went; to the top of a mountain, the middle of a rainforest, an island off the coast, or the foot of a volcano... that inescapable ringing! No wonder we didn't see any monkeys. Etiquette rule 563: when one is surrounded by the peace and tranquility of a nature setting, one must take pains not to disturb the balance of things with the incessant ringing of one's cell phone. At least put it on vibrate! not that I minded really...terribly amusing.