Volcan Poas - We Erupt in Happiness

Finally we got to see our first Costa Rican volcano . . .

Driving up into the cloud, we knew we had started out too late.  Everybody told us "If you want to see the crater, you have to get there early in the morning; before the clouds roll in."  But did we listen?  No, of course not!

Instead, we headed up there after the kids' tennis lessons, arriving just before noon.  The crater was a soupy bowl of clouds, and for the third time visiting a volcano, we saw nothing.

We went for a hike.
We ate our lunch.
We headed for the parking lot and promised the kids we'd come back earlier next time.

Then, up above the treeline, we spotted blue sky.  The clouds were speeding away.   Maybe we'd be able to see the crater!

We raced up the path, arriving at the crater out of breath and excited.  The railing overlooking the crater was packed with people.  Would we be able to catch a glimpse?

Yes!   There it was in turquoise splendor, all  sulfur smell and dizzying altitude.   The witch's cauldron of a crater was bright blue, and the clouds passed in and over the crater lake.  The startling pool of bright blue surprised us each time the fog parted.   Stunning!