Volcan

Today we started exploring to see what the area had to offer.  We started out toward Volcan and our first stop was at Arte Cruz Volcan - Artesania en Madera, to see the artist Jose de la Cruz Gonzalez, this place was recommended in the Lonely Planet book.  He does beautiful etchings on glass, signs, sculptures and furniture out of wood.  He was trained in fine arts in Italy and Honduras, and his work has been commissioned by buyers worldwide.  Jose was very happy to demonstrate how he does the glass etchings and also the wood carvings and also explain his art.  He had some amazing pieces of art work in his shop.  What a talented man!  We had him make a sign for Cash, he created in in probably less than 15 minutes as we stood there and watched him, all free hand.

Jose creating the sign for Cash.

Jose putting the final touches on Cash's sign.

The finished product.  Beautiful!

We got to Volcan and they say there isn't a lot to do there and that is correct.  We carried on, on the road toward Cerro Punta or so we thought.  This area has beautiful breathtaking views of the very fertile valley.  Along the way were many dairy farms and coffee estates.  We think we were very close to the Costa Rican border so we turned around heading back to Volcan.

Cattle we grazing in the valley.

Coffee trees on the slopes.

The road was steep and winding because of the mountains (large hills nothing like the Rockies), we overlooked the beautiful and lush valleys where coffee was grown and yes, the dairy cows grazed.  It was a very picturesque drive.