La Fortuna

This weekend we decided to go to La Fortuna, which is a touristy town right next to Volcano Arenal. I had expected that we would just walk around the town and go souvenir shopping, which of course we did do, but the day exceeded my expectations. We got caught by a Tourist Attraction guy (I can’t think of what they’re called in English…ahh!) so I was kind of annoyed at first, but he ended up being extremely nice to us, so we considered doing an excursion for part of the afternoon. Everyone had different ideas of what they wanted to do so he offered us a canopy tour, repelling of a cliff, and horseback riding for just $40. How could we say no? (minus the fact that I was asked to repel off a cliff…) Anyways, we decided to do it!

First we did a 9-line canopy tour which probably took about an hour. It was so much fun! My arms and abs are really sore today from holding on so tight to the harness that strapped me to the line. Three out of the five of us hadn’t done a canopy before, so it was fun experiencing it with them for their first time. I was worried that Ashli wasn’t going to do it, she looked sick to her stomach before we started! So after we finish the 9 lines, I look to my left and I see a cliff and that’s when my stomach about falls out of my body. Thank goodness for Miss Adventurous Sydney, she was the only one who wasn’t nervous to repel down- if she hadn’t been there I don’t think the rest of us would have been brave enough to go first. Ashli and I were the last two of our group and we’re staring at each other like there’s no way on earth it’s going to happen. I’m literally just about to tell our guide that I don’t want to do it when he jerks me forward towards the cliff to hook me up to the harness. So much for that! This is how excited I am:

So yes, I, Chandler Brooks Harrison, repelled 180 feet off a cliff in the jungle of Costa Rica. Doesn’t sound like me, does it? Kristin, Sydney and Mariah were at the bottom cheering me on and I know I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them down there. I got to the bottom shaking like a leaf and on the verge of tears! But overall, it was such a cool experience that I know I won’t be able to experience again.

After that, we walked over to the horses and I got one named Rosilla. Our guide gave him to me because I have the “most experience” riding horses. Haha. So now I’m all nervous that I’m on a wild horse that I won’t be able to control. Turns out I was wrong. My horse was the complete opposite of wild- he wouldn’t budge! I was behind the pack the whole time, clicking my tongue and telling her what a good girl she was hoping she’d speed up. The guide came back once to help me and he kept telling me to use the little whip, but I wasn’t comfortable using it-or letting go of the reigns to turn around and find it while on a mountain. I was kind of irritated in the moment because I couldn’t keep up, but I’m certainly glad that she didn’t take off on me while I was riding. At one point when the guide was helping me he showed me how to make her gallop, which was really fun, minus the fact that I opened my mouth for a split second and dirt flew in my mouth! In the middle of the ride our guide stopped us and we saw a beautiful toucan on a branch that was right next to us, I was so amazed! When we got back, the guide was showing us all of his horses and he opened up a stall and brought out a beautiful black horse to let us touch her 8-month pregnant belly. I got to feel the pony moving around in her tummy, I personally thought that was more cool than riding the horses because I’ve never seen a pregnant horse before. Overall our tour was one of the most amazing things I’ve done in Costa Rica so far, and I can’t wait to show my mom and brother La Fortuna when they come to visit!

After that we went back to town and did some souvenir shopping until it was time to catch the bus back home. On our ride home I was thinking about how crazy it was that I was on a bus in Costa Rica and I wasn’t lost! Normally I’d never get on a bus without my mom there telling me exactly where to go! 

I got home, excited to take a shower, and guess what happens. I’m rinsing the shampoo out of my hair and I look up to see two cockroaches showering with me. Ugh. I opened my mouth to scream (which thankfully I didn’t because everyone was sleeping) but I ended up eating shampoo instead. Yum. At least it cleaned the dirt out of my mouth from horseback riding! Needless to say I took the fastest shower in history.

I am trying to take advantage of the limited free weekends we have left to travel. I can’t believe how quickly this trip is going by! I love it here and will be extremely sad when I have to leave, but I am also excited to come home for Christmastime!

¡Nos vemos muy pronto!