Alpha Romeo 3 - living the dream

Words: Helena Parker

It was almost a relief to leave the rangers station at Volcan Turrialba last week as we were feeling guilty about the semi-luxury of it all. We arrived safe and sound at Park Nacional Braulio Carillo, a rainforest park for the next part of our phase, to be met by the head ranger Don Rodolpho.

Among a plethora of wildlife, he showed us a flower called labios de muje also known as woman’s lips, trees whose roots look more like legs above ground, and which literally walk from where they grow to find the best spot. We also saw the deadliest snake in Costa Rica (in the bathroom) and the best part, a waterhole complete with waterfall! Living the dream? We think so.

We should admit it’s not all fun and games though work here consists of walking up one heck of a hill, carrying bags of rocks in our backpacks to lay on the trail. We think we are doing about 15 kilometres per day but we’re hardcore so we get it done by lunch. Good training for the trek (feel the burn!). So after working hard all morning and collapsing in near exhaustion at lunch we get to leg it down to the river to wash off all the dirt and stay there all afternoon. It’s a tough life!

Alpha Romeo 3 are smokin’

Helena Parker of Alpha Romeo 3 reveals all about working at the top of an active volcano.

Having anticipated at least two hours on the minibus to catch up on a bit of sleep, we were slightly surprised to be bundled out at our destination, Parque Nacional Volcan Turrialba, 30 minutes after leaving fieldbase. Now we knew staying at the ranger’s station was going to be nice, but not this nice! We’re really lucky to be staying here [note from your blogger: rumour has it there’s actually a chandelier at this ranger’s station – the high life at high altitude – alright for some!].

But the best thing by far is working with the rangers at the very top of the highest active volcano in Costa Rica, all of 3328m of it, right next to the three craters.

So what if it smells of sulphur, we can see the Caribbean baby! It’s been straight down to work though, clearing trails, with the boys wielding pickaxes with a vengeance. Motivation comes in the form of singing La Bamba and learning La Cucaracha from the rangers, although to be honest, having a smoking crater as the view from the office window isn’t something many people can say. We are definitely making the most of the one week we have here, and then it’s off to the jungle.