On day five of our Costa Rica tour, we set off on a river cruise to Cano Negro. We got to the river before 9:00 so that we could be the first ones on the river. Our boat captain had eagle eyes and found so many neat things. We saw the best crocodile, white faced monkeys, a lot of white storks and numerous other birds. We took a little longer ride and hit the Nicaragua border. After the ride, we went to town to a souvenir shop and restaurant. It was a small town, but had a lot of shops, supermarket, and veterinarian. Some people hit the spa when we got back, but we opted for the pool. It was a beautiful pool and we needed to take advantage of it. Some of our group hiked around Arenal Volcano. They came back with some good pictures of birds, snakes, and insects. The change of pace to a hike was nice for those that like a little more exercise. Tonight we had a buffet with a lot of good choices. Every meal usually has rice and beans. I really like the taste of it. It is much different than Mexican Rice. Also, a popular item on the menu is plantains. They look a lot like a banana when they are raw, but they must be cooked to eat. They are usually served for breakfast or in a dessert. The salads have heart of palm in them. Again, the heart has to be boiled before it can be eaten and it is very tasty. It is made into soup as well. Tres Leches is a very popular dessert. It is a white cake and is usually made with three different kinds of milk. It is one of my favorite Costa Rican desserts.
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