What a surprise it was when the bus pulled up to this church with spectacular topiary gardens in Zarcero! The cypress shrubs are neatly trimmed by the park gardener, Evangelisto Blanco. The church was built in 1895.

As we neared La Fortuna, we had to negotiate many hairpin curves! But, at least this road was paved! Many of the roads in the high mountains were dirt. The cloud-clad mountains can be seen in the distance, these are the home of the famous cloud forests of Costa Rica.

Many restrooms in the smaller towns required payment, at only ~40 cents, it was worth having clean facilities!