Feb 25
Yesterday we visited 2 volcanos - Sierra Negra Volcano and Chico Volcano. A group of 13 sailors from various boats went. The trip involved a taxi ride partway up and horseback ride for about an hour up the partially washed out trails - it's the rainy season here and there were many puddles. The horses were smallish (Lee got a mule to ride - fitting huh?) and not so well behaved - they had a pecking order and if your horse decided to pass another that didn't want it to pass they took off at a trot or canter and when they all got bunched up together some would kick and bite at each other (the horses - not the sailors - we're usually better behaved than that).
At the top of Volcano Negra we got to see the huge (8-10km across) crater - the last eruption there was in 2005 - so still an active volcano. Then we proceeded on foot for an hour through the lava fields to the Chico Volcano fumarole - the colors of the rock were amazing. We saw lava tubes, felt the heat at one of the hot spots, saw lots of places where the crust of lava had collapsed, and walked across an amazing landscape - much climbing involved, but the height meant that there was breeze and it was much cooler - so a delightful hike. Then after an hour hike back we remounted and proceeded back down the mountain. Sarah kept trying to get her horse to run and the rest of us were trying to keep them at a walk - it was very uneven terrain with the washouts..... We were all (except for Sarah) happy to dismount at the end of the ride!
A good time was had by all - and everyone was tired after the outing! This morning we are doing a little bit of schoolwork then heading off to go snorkeling.
Pauline