14.09 20080

Day 6 of TweetFest: Costa Rica Style: Part 1

6 AM...Arenal was quiet this morning and I knew that I was up WAY too early. After writing about yesterday's rafting adventures and most deserved evening at the Tabacon hot springs, Lee and I were driven to the floor of our cabin by the sounds of what our military background assured us was gun fire. After peaking out the window to check on the kids' cabin, Lee discovered that our gun fight was actually our neighboring resort giving a magnificent fireworks display.

So we gathered ourselves out of our defensive positions and joined our TweetFesters on the porch to watch the illuminating spectacle. Now I have been to many a fireworks show, but let me tell you...we were so close to the festivities that glowing sparks of all colors rained upon the roofs of our cute little cabins.

The smell of gun powder was like a blanket that had been laid upon us, a blanket that suffocated all of the other glorious fragrances of El Selecio's gardens. The display seemed to last for hours as we careened our tired necks up towards the kaleidoscope sky. And not to be out done, the very second that our private fireworks display was over, Arenal started one of her own. Glowing embers cascaded down her grooved sides as white smoke illuminated the sky line and a warm red glow burned from her belly. In the first annual Fireworks Dance Off, Arenal reigns queen. And that is much the reason that 6 AM seemed to come so early this morning.  Arenal held us hypnotized until the wee hours of the morning.

All in all...well worth the sluggish start to Day 2 of TweetFest Costa Rica style.

But see, I had the inside scoop... Today was Nico's birthday.  And I KNEW that he had a magnificent day planned for us all.  But that also meant that we would be going, going, going all day.  Hence my regret at seeing 6 AM display on my laptop so quickly after just a few hours of rest. I gathered my strength and happily rallied the TweetFest troops for breakfast.  Now that I was awake, I couldn't wait to get this day started! Ahhhh...what a welcome morning treat.  We were served another colorful array of tasty fruit to begin our day.  The cool juices exploded in our mouths and urged us to take our fill.  (I made a mental note to start buying more fresh fruit when we get back stateside.) Our chariot arrived promptly at 7:30 to take the TweetFesters to our first adventure.

We were about to embark on a journey to view Costa Rica from heights that no person outside of an aircraft should see. We were going to soar miles above the rain forest floor, protected only by a single steel cable and some very convincing (at least looking) rappel gear. Zip Lining: Costa Rica Style was about to begin. Our journey to our tree top departure point was in itself breathtaking, both in the very beautiful sense as well as a fearful one. See the local highway department that maintained the winding roads that carried our chariot to the top of the mountain didn't feel that it was necessary to partner said roads with any sort of gaurd railing. Well, I'll actually take that back. Some of these wild twists had a 6 inch concrete curb, which I would guess were only there to ensure that your vehicle flipped several times in the air as it left the paved comfort of the road. Again, that's just a guess - afterall, I am not an engineer.

We reached our first destination and took the group to the graciously provided overlook. This adventure company certainly had one hell of a view. This is the same company that Nico, Lee, the kid's and I visited a short couple of days ago to finalize our plans.  It was quite amusing to see the TweetFesters faces as they took in those views. And then to watch that look change as they realized that this was NOT the point that we would be zip lining from. That platform was well above us.  So far above us, in fact, that it couldn't even be seen from our current spot. I giggled a little on the inside at their sudden discomfort. I wasn't being mean, but I knew that the more uncomfortable they were, the more glorious it would feel for them to take that daring first leap off of the platform to conquer their silent fear.  It was gonna be a soul expanding sort of day! Soon we were all geared up and ready to go.  My lovely brother in law expressed to my beautiful sister that she kind of looked like a lumberjack in all of her gear.  NOt his most complimentary moment for sure.

During this moment of amazing pick up lines, we were told that it was time to board our trams to take us to the top of the mountain.  Trams probably isn't the right word.  These wire cages that hung from a series of steel cables, similar to the ones that adorn the skyline of many popular amusement parks. But these were way cooler.  The views that were unveiled as we climbed the mountain were - well, what word can you give a view that belonged in every depiction of Heaven that I could imagine from my childhood?

Heavenly sounds so trite compared to what we were witnessing.  I won't try to use words.  Just know that it was so astounding that we didn't even dare speak. Our silence was only interrupted by the murmurs of the electric motors that were pulling us up higher and higher and higher. The group moved onto the steel framed platform where we would begin our adventure away from the crown of the rain forest.

We were lucky enough to hear an astounding boom of encouragement from Arenal as we took photographical proof that we were all actually going through with this.

Note here that you see in the pictures that Lee is not wearing any equipment.  He claimed to not be feeling well, but my thought is that he decided that he would rather take a nature walk with our Mucho Bonita guide, Maria. And then it was time. I want to first give credit to this adventure company for laying out the progression of zip lines as they did. The first two lines were actually "bunny hill" lines.  You know, very easy lines - kind of like the kiddy hills at your favorite ski resort. These were very purposely placed at the beginning of the trek for two reasons: 1.  To give the opportunity to get comfortable with the gear and general movement of the adventure before attempting the "real" zip lines (where fear could certainly cloud your comfort level) 2.  To give any wussies a chance to quit after the "bunny hill" lines and go back to the scenic platform to wait for their friends, quietly crying on the inside both out of shame and remorse. But no wussies in our group!

We all tackled these first lines like old pros.  Of course, I knew that these lines weren't even a taste of what was to come.  And I wasn't disappointed. After the second easy line, I turned to view the first real zip line. OMG doesn't even cover it. Here was a line that seemed miles long, stretching across the mountain tops to connect the first leg of our journey. NOw, I have zip lined before - in Jamaica.  My zip lining adventure in Jamaica was amazing, careening through the tree tops to reach our next perch...gaining gentle speed as you viewed the jungle from the view point of the monkeys.  way cool..not scary at all. Let's just say this was NOT Jamaica.

Instead of gently careening through the tree tops, we were going to be flung across mile high ravines via what was being touted as one of the fastest, highest and longest zip line courses in the world.

And by seeing this view, that was easy to believe. Being the ever brave token leader of this group (see, cause I had supposedly done this before), I kept a calm demeanor. Encouraging my fellow Tweetfesters on their bravery and exclaiming how much fun this was gonna be.

All the while, every ounce of my soul was screaming to my brain to quietly slip away and take the tram back down to safety. It may make sense for me to explain one of my greatest fears...falling from great heights and crashing bloodily into the ground. Not to be mistaken for a fear of heights.  I don't mind heights at all if I feel secure. But swinging from some simple rappelling gear miles above the jungle tree tops did not present itself as secure. Deep breathe.....I concentrated on not letting my fear show.  Fake smile plastered on my face, I turn to the kids to provide some encouragement. Luckily they bought it. Then it was time for the first Tweetfester to take the plunge. I honestly can't remember who was first, but I do remember the scream. Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  (excited, "I conquered my fear" kind of scream) Breath Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (still a little excited, started to look around - still seems very close from the platform) Breath Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (uhm, subtle change in scream...starting to sound a little freaked out - still not half way across) Breath Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (started to get quieter, some curse words added I think - just passed half way) Breath Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! (we could still hear the terrified screams even after they were out of site) This continued until our guide indicated that they were ready for the next victim - err, I mean participant. Each brave soul experienced very similar screaming experiences as our courageous first zip liner had - except for those who got half way across and couldn't even breath.  Instead their bodies decided to tense up and hold every ounce of breathe inside, I would guess for fear of it being their last. And then finally, it was my turn.  I decided to go before the kids to show them how easy it was (yea right). OK, buckled in:  check.  Harness feels good and tight:  check.  I knew where to put my hands:  check.  I understood the technique for making it to the other side and how to "land":  check.

Ready.......Set........Go!

I could take time here to illustrate my progression of scream, how it was different than explained above. See I am a tense up and don't make a sound type of person when really freaked out.  And this experience was no exception. I actually was doing better than I thought. First quarter of the line was actually pretty damn cool.  This was kind of fun.  Rock on!  Woo hoo!

That was until I got about half way across and looked down. This in itself, wasn't so bad.  But then the winds came. Imagine the coursing wind as it forced itself around the mountain peaks and passed through the gentle green valleys. Yes, the all powerful and very single minded wind. That very wind decided that it would be a great time to show it's force to the tourists.  I was zipping miles above the jungle trees when the wind decided to find me. It pushed against my right side, trying to twist my body to its will. Pushing relentlessly, not hearing my quiet pleas to not do what it was doing.

What the wind was trying to do was the worst possible development (short, of course of the possible plunging to your very death that we won't talk about here). I knew that if I twisted that I could not make it to the other side.  My twisted body would slow down my momentum and I could get stuck. And that would be hell. If you didn't make it to the other side, you were then required to pull yourself the rest of the way across.  Let's just say that would not exactly be my idea of a great experience. So, I forced my body into the preferred technical position to attempt to thwart the determined wind. This position would be to lie almost on you back, hands holding you in position straight above you, grasping the handles, butt tucked up and legs brought up to your chest in a fetal position. It was like this that I conquered my way to the first platform.  Oh, the glorious platform.  Thank all that is right in the world!  The adrenaline coursing through my body was awesome!  Woot! Then the children came across. Ashlee swooped onto the platform like a pro.  A little white, but a pro, none the less. Colton, however wasn't as lucky.  The devil wind must have toyed with him also.  He stopped on the line about 100 feet from the platform.  Oh, the look on his face.

No apprehension, I wanted to shackle back up and go get him. Luckily, he was able to summon the courage and strength to pull himself to the platform. Let's just leave it at "poor boy". But now, the Tweetfesters had another real fear to conquer.  The general consensus quickly became, "screw being afraid of the devastating heights and speed, getting stuck is way worse". So it was with this newly discovered mindset that the group continued on their perilous trek miles above the jungle tree tops. Along this amazing journey, only three others were stopped along their course short of the platform (and Colton was privileged to experience this joy once more). But the energy did eventually begin to shift.  About half way through the course of mile high zip lines, the mood began to loosen up a little.

People were actually starting to look around at the amazing scenery. This was actually easier to do as we descended closer and closer towards the jungle itself. Less worries of steel cables unraveling to lend us to the jungle floor and more "did you see the toucans in the beautiful fig trees?" Ahhh, now this was more like it.  Whew...I started to really enjoy the experience. The last real line was upon us.  If I remember correctly, this was the longest and fastest of the bunch.  Not that any of them were short or slow, but the guide felt it imperative to impart this information upon us. This last line was amazing.  Once off of the platform we journeyed along the stretch of cool steel into the very trees.  There was a tunnel carved through the tree tops to our last large platform. Amazing.  Beautiful.  Simply magical. All the fear was worth it for this last leg of our journey.  We were gracefully carried through the cool green jungle to a swinging bridge style destination. Not my favorite engineering surprise of the trip, but we were only a couple hundred feet above our final desination. I spied Nico and Lee from this swinging perch.  Apparently Lee thought this was a great photo opp.

After we all arrived for the group shot, we descended a spiral stair case to our very last zip line.  I didn't include this as the final "real" zip line, because it wasn't.

It was another "bunny hill" line. But it did give Lee a great chance to get a few final action shots.

Overall the journey was amazing. I was exhausted, ready to get out of this bondage gear and really craved a Bavarian Light cerveza. I felt like I had earned that frothy cold beverage. My sexy husband hooked me up on all accounts. Amazing start to a wonderful day.  And the TweetFesters were high on life at conquering their very real fears. Read on to the next post to find out what the rest of this magnificent day held for the TweetFesters. Pura Vida, baby!

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