Volcano view. . .

This is the view you get from the restaurant, right down the road from Tree Houses. The restaurant is called Lomas Del Mapache, and the food is very good. If they don't have the karaoke going or the jukebox blaring, it's a very nice place to hang out. It's an open-air restaurant with an unobstructed view of the volcano, which is 30 or so kilometers away by car. From this side of the volcano, the lava isn't visible, but if you drive around to the other side -- and the weather cooperates (never a given) -- then you can see lava and rocks tumbling down. See the picture below. Back to Mapache. They have bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with cheese that is truly outstanding, though a given to take a few years off of your life. . . The chicken gordon blue (yes, that's how it's spelled--maybe it's a Costa Rican spin) is also very good. When the sun is setting, even if the top of the volcano isn't visible and there are clouds around, it makes for a spectacular sunset.