It was marvelous day at the Arenal Lake. The sun let the blue water shine and dipped the lush landscape into a deep green. A lonely boot ruffled small waves on the lake. Franz Ulrich sat on a hill. His view downwards let him enjoy the spreading meadows and the Arenal volcano. The guests on the terrace of his hotel "Los Heroes", at the bottom of the mountain, admired the "Pequeña Helvetia" park.
At this moment, he had the idea that this place would be the idea platform to build a panorama restaurant. Much different from what most people of 60 years consider as something to do in their retirement time, Ulrich thought how he could attract people up the mountain to a restaurant. And since this Swiss guy was used to trains that went even through the smallest places, it wasn't too far fetched an idea to let a train go up the mountain.
But now it started to become complicated. Where in the world could he find rails? How could one lay track on the steep mountain? Due to these problems, many had quickly dropped out of the plan, but doing this really excited Ulrich. Since, during his life , he'd exported coffee to Russia and imported vodka into Costa Rica, managed a TV station and created a farm with more than a hundred cows, this new challenge didnt frighten him.
Coincidently, the heirs of a Lausanne farmer had just sold 3,5 kilometers of rails that he'd planned to install on his plot but couldn't due to a long-year battle with Swiss bureaucracy. The line was to be built now: the underground track was paved, various tunnels were dug and a viaduct was built to surmount the elevation difference.
Those who would now think that Ulrich had engaged a group of specialists would be wrong: he and a few of his farm workers took control and, in working tirelessly, completed everything.
The locomotive that the construction boss often proudly steers up the mountain came from a coal mine. The leisurely ride up with the whimsical wagons takes more than half an hour, always with a view of the lake and the green forests, which reminds one of a Swiss mountain highland.
And, at the destination, there's Costa Rica's only revolving restaurant which tun-is around on its own axle in 40 minutes. While eating a delicious "Schweizer Rösti", one sees the primary forest, the majestic volcano and the lake. The restaurant was built by .... okay, you can surely imagine this - yeah, Franz Ulrich. He is still not yet retired.
Ecotourism and Nature 
