Welcome to 'Life in a Hammock', a capture of Gayle's daily 'real time' eBlogs of our travels.
Shorter than our Travel Blog but more literary with somewhat of a different perspective.
"Costa Rica Baby!"
As our plane landed smoothly and effortlessly in Liberia, I turned to Norm and excitedly said “Costa Rica, baby!” It feels so good to be back! We first flew out of Liberia in 1995 and then again in 2007 when the airport was still literally a green shack and a runway! Now it’s beyond recognition in scope and modernization.
So being ‘old’ with bad knees in Costa Rica has its unexpected big privileges. We were immediately whisked out of the very long immigration line and like VIPs were escorted to our own line of two and were taken right away!! Not the first time this has happened in Costa Rica but still so very grateful! This saved us at the very least an hour! I can only imagine what the others thought as they stood in the heat patiently or impatiently awaiting their turn.
Our long travel day began in such a nice way ….picked up by such good friends, Bill and Linda! Maybe a little ‘loco’ friends to get up that early when they should have been tucked away in a warm bed! We so appreciated that early morning 430 ride and grateful that the weather and road conditions were good. With such great door to door service and superior vehicle ride, I guess we really should have tipped big time, lol! Thank, thank you, thank you!!! But what I really want to know is did the ‘energizer bunnies’ go back to bed or jumpstart their morning by staying awake???
All went pretty seamlessly through the airports and the two plane rides. But just enough time for a very brief AC Lounge stop in Montreal ... enough time to gulp down a delicious mimosa and a croissant. On the CR flight we enjoyed the extra space and far less cramped conditions than at the back of the plane where the bathroom lineups were brutally slow and long. Beside me on our flight down was a young mother (who had left her kids behind) but who had fallen in love with Costa Rica and was in the process of trying to move the family there. But clearly on some sort of budget as she mentioned travelling on $100 a day. Costa Rica surprises many that it is NOT an inexpensive place in which to travel. But I guess it can be done in places.
We had a bit of an issue with the car rental in that we didn’t realize our mini SUV was not a 4 wheel drive. We debated whether to pay the extra $200 more to upgrade but given our propensity in finding ‘almost impossible’ road situations here in CR, we decided to pay the extra.
The drive to Parilla/Playa Avellenas took just under 2 hours with a few photo stops. So we see this fellow looking up into the trees, so we slow down to possibly see too. In excited Spanish he showed us a troop of monkeys feeding off the leaves in a mango tree (the mangoes were unripe). That’s a very special thing about Costa Rica that the people love nature no matter how many times they have seen monkeys in the trees! And they want to share! Costa Ricans are very proud of their country and deservedly so!
We arrived at Soulshine, our lovely hotel for the next 4 nights, to the sound of Howlers in the nearby trees. Our spacious room comes artistically decorated with who we affectionately call ‘Donald’ … i.e. the head of a jackass. Donald the donkey is actually quite cute, lol!
We were just looking for something quick for supper before just heading to bed…we found a sort of Costa Rican style outdoor food courtyard with some live Spanish music.
We chose an Argentine place for a quick bite. The vegetarian cheese and broccoli empanada with green chimichurra sauce and a plate of thick home fries were perfect for this early supper. With a fresh pineapple and ginger smoothie from another vendor. Norm also enjoyed his braised beef sandwich with ‘gaucho’ sauce. Later we talked about prices … quite the ‘sticker shock’! Just a plate of fries cost $13 Cdn with conversion. Yikes! Better up that food budget, lol!
"Averting possible 'disaster' ... happy hearts prevail!"
There’s nothing like a big cup of steaming Costa Rican coffee to start off the morning! Breakfast is a loose affair here at Soulshine and is served up until 2 pm. It is not a typical breakfast you might find on most menus, more middle eastern, almost more lunch like. My French toast made with Challah bread was so delicious and so artistically presented. Norm chose Shakshooka ... he was not disappointed! Even came with an Israeli salad and a mini loaf of Challah bread.
For the rest of the day we lounged around and swam. I wish I could have gotten a good photo of my lounge lizard, he was very handsome although a little green and yellow around the edges. His spiked tail and swagger I’m sure impressed all the lady lizards.
For the rest of the day we lounged around and swam. I wish I could have gotten a good photo of my lounge lizard, he was very handsome although a little green and yellow around the edges. His spiked tail and swagger I’m sure impressed all the lady lizards.
A very relaxing day! But then the plans went sideways.
We decided to head to the beach since neither of us had yet seen it. I had tried earlier but underestimated the distance in flip flops and couldn’t find the ‘hidden’ beach foot path. After that we planned to check out a few beach restaurants and a lovely rustic roadside Italian one with twinkling lights on its secluded patio. Then there was an ‘only on Friday night market’ to check out later.
However on our way to get the car at the hotel, Paz (our friendly receptionist), mentioned she saw that one of our tires was slightly deflated. Upon closer inspection, there was an embedded nail! So very unfortunate yet such good fortune! So even though it was Friday night and after 5 pm, she found us someone who could fix our tire!
So while we waited for our 6:30 pm ‘appointment’ we checked out a nearby black sand beach with a view of the adjacent much more crowded Playa Avellena, ‘our’ closest beach. Sunsets in Costa Rica never get old!
With precise instructions but no address we quite easily found our car buddy’s place, but was it the right place. All was locked up behind a gate complete with a dog who met us barking and barking. 6:30 pm came and went, and in typical Costa Rican time our car buddy’s and his wife pulled up just a little on the late side. Nada problemo! They had been watching the sunset at the beach! But of course!!!
We decided to head to the beach since neither of us had yet seen it. I had tried earlier but underestimated the distance in flip flops and couldn’t find the ‘hidden’ beach foot path. After that we planned to check out a few beach restaurants and a lovely rustic roadside Italian one with twinkling lights on its secluded patio. Then there was an ‘only on Friday night market’ to check out later.
However on our way to get the car at the hotel, Paz (our friendly receptionist), mentioned she saw that one of our tires was slightly deflated. Upon closer inspection, there was an embedded nail! So very unfortunate yet such good fortune! So even though it was Friday night and after 5 pm, she found us someone who could fix our tire!
So while we waited for our 6:30 pm ‘appointment’ we checked out a nearby black sand beach with a view of the adjacent much more crowded Playa Avellena, ‘our’ closest beach. Sunsets in Costa Rica never get old!
With precise instructions but no address we quite easily found our car buddy’s place, but was it the right place. All was locked up behind a gate complete with a dog who met us barking and barking. 6:30 pm came and went, and in typical Costa Rican time our car buddy’s and his wife pulled up just a little on the late side. Nada problemo! They had been watching the sunset at the beach! But of course!!!
What a lovely local couple they turned out to be … Sonia and Fabio. In a very short time our tire was fixed but they invited us to sit for a bit and chat. So lovely! The people are so friendly and helpful here! So a potentially bad experience turned out to be quite enjoyable! So very thankful for such a positive outcome!
We checked out a nearby restaurant which probably was wonderful and came recommended by Fabio but we weren’t really wanting a fancy meal. We still had a night drive back to our town on the potholed dirt roads to consider. But then we started to think how busy our village would be given the night market. So we opted for a thin crust wood oven fired pizza at a local place. We watched ladies wrestling and a Costa Rican rodeo on their tvs while we waited and waited for our pizza. Finally it came and we ate the whole thing! Once again sticker price shocked us, with conversion the pizza just itself was over $29 Cdn. without tax and service charges. The televised rodeo reminded us of the deep cowboy roots and rancho life that this part of Costa Rica has had in its history. When we first arrived here back in the early 90s we could have been in Texas with all the barren ranch land! But over time, I understand much of the land has been restored back to a version of the jungle it once was even as it has been developed.
Very full we headed home, with no problem with the dirt roads or our repaired tire. We passed the still busy night market, now winding down. So glad we had eaten elsewhere.
Our tummies now full and our hearts warmed by our ‘tire’ experience!
Sonia and Fabio, our tire saviors! Married for over 35 years! And still watching the sunset together.
Our pizza.
Happy, happy Norm! I think I see his soul shining, lol!
Breakfast….if you like avocado toast you will love this big one! No one leaves Soulshine hungry!
"... the prelude to my big day!"
Early morning 9 Feb. The Howlers started at 5 … not too close but close enough! A perfect start to my birthday! Today will eventually bring us to the big beach town of Tamarindo about 30 minutes away. There we will have drinks on the beach. Return to Soulshine for an afternoon swim. After sunset we will head to an Italian restaurant. We have always had great luck with Italian restaurants here in CR. Maybe we will again!? That’s the birthday plan! Back to yesterday … 8 Feb.
Every morning we start our day sitting outside watching the big yellow butterflies flitting from flower to flower, and listening to the birds. Not as many birds here as I might have expected, but the bright yellow fly catcher (maybe) made a brief appearance at the pool … so close but dang, I missed the shot.
So relaxing here at Soulshine … no cares, no worries, the tire episode fading to the background. Nothing to do but eat breakfast and swim in the good sized, quite deep pool. Breakfast is certainly an event here and non traditional which seems to attract others. I had a baguette slathered with avocado with a fried egg on top …certainly shareable. I ate it all but I was stuffed!
We still hadn’t seen the nearby beach so our plan was to go for drinks at sunset and check out the two beach restaurants. After reading some negative Trip Advisor reviews about one of them we chose the more authentic Costa Rican one nestled among the trees.
Margaritas were the drink of the day for us. We watched the gorgeous sunset morph from golden yellow to vivid orange … they rarely disappoint! The restaurant was pretty busy, Spanish phrases not English filled the air. Diego, our waiter, made our Adirondack chairs extra cushiony and comfortable … another perk of looking older, lol!
Norm chose a creamy seafood pasta with a seemingly enormous amount of seafood. He was super pleased! Certainly a shareable amount if only he had someone to share with. I had an enormous salad with egg and avocado which I brought half of it home with me.
We watched with amazement at all the little sand crabs scurrying beneath our feet … causing no problem as they dodged our tootsies, only interested in each other, lol. They seemed to be a little confused who was male and who was female. Or maybe they knew all along and it was me who was confused, lol.
We struck up a conversation with two American women, Sarah and Jenni, who first apologized profusely for ‘their political situation’. An interesting conversation, with disillusioned Jenni looking for another home in another country having lost her home in Northern Panama due to torrential floods a few years ago.
Soon enough it was time to head for home and straight to bed. Yet it was so early barely 8 pm! Big day tomorrow! My birthday!
… Soulshine pool
"The birthday lowdown"
My big day has arrived … awoken by a boisterous jungle chorus of Howler monkeys, as previously mentioned. I just didn’t feel like a big breakfast but needed something before heading out on the bumpy dirt road to Tamarindo. A guanabana smoothie and a small loaf of freshly baked challah bread to share seemed quite perfect.
On the road by around 12:30 we took an unintended detour into the nearby neighbouring extensive Marriott property. So glad we are not staying in an all inclusive although they certainly can be very nice. Just not really our thing. We drove around and around looking for a way out. Luckily the security person let us out but not before telling us not to do this again, lol!
Tamarindo is a busy beach town full of restaurants bars and cars that line its main strip. We remembered that our beach bar, Pangas Beach Club, was rather tucked away and hidden … so we missed it at the first go through. But easily found on the second go through. Surprisingly we easily found free parking not too far away. Although we originally thought of coming here for dinner, we scrapped those plans in light of the road conditions at night. We got a prime table at the edge of the beach, easy to do as it wasn’t very busy. I ordered the most expensive drink of my lifetime. $28.00 Cdn. And wow was it good! A tequila grand marnier combo with a guanabana slushy ice, infused with hibiscus.
We noted the several signs around, and even noted on the menu, warning of crocodiles in the adjacent estuary. We were warned many years ago … never swim in estuaries in CR because that’s where the crocs like to hang out. Yet the estuary with its alluring turquoise water looked so calm and peaceful!
After our drinks we walked the hot sands of the beach on our way back to the car. And wow was it hot … 36 degrees! We watched about 50 beginner surfers trying to catch a wave. The waves being barely surfable.
Heading home we couldn’t wait to dip in the pool. Even the air conditioning in the car seemed on the hot side.
At the pool we chatted with an American lady from Minnesota who was also quite shocked about the inflated prices here. Much better for them though than for us.
Soon it was time to go to my birthday dinner. I really wanted to try Il Rustico, an Italian restaurant down the road from Soulshine. But on our way to the car Norm spotted Howler monkeys in a nearby tree. I counted 14! We just stayed for awhile and watched. Seeing monkeys swinging from the trees just never gets old!
Our dinner at Il Rustico was superb! I started with a glass of Prosecco followed by a 4 cheese ravioli with a creamy wild mushroom sauce. Amazing! Norm was also pleased with his choice, a creamy short pasta with a mushroom and sausage sauce. I probably would have been wise to stop there but I decided to finish the meal with Tiramisu. It was delicious and a super large piece topped with a candle.
A wonderful way to end my birthday!
February 10, 2025
We left Soulshine with several little gifts and two loaves of challah bread. We asked Yael, the owner why she left Israel for a much different life. Earlier, before kids, she and her husband had travelled there and felt a connection with this unknown beach community. When they bought there was very little here. After 2 kids they decided upon a different lifestyle. Opened in 2020. No regrets it seems. She said most everyone asks this question so much so that they are thinking of adding it to their website info. We talked a little about Gaza, Israeli view points, Trump and world politics. It’s an unsettling world we live in at this time we all decided.
We had expected a rough ride on dirt roads on the road down to Samara. Been on this road once before. Yes it was very rough in places but there seemed to be more paved sections than we remembered. That’s not to say there weren’t many deep potholes to have to swerve around.
There was a lovely fishing village along the way to stop in, San Juanillo. We actually saw one of the catches a fellow beach goer had either bought or caught. It was quite a large fish maybe two to three feet long. Norm took the opportunity to take a quick rest on the pure white sand. Beautiful little place with fishing boats bobbing up and down in the turquoise water.
Then there was the river of water we had to cross. Our technique is to watch and learn as hopefully another vehicle goes through. No problem and a little driving adventure in a high clearance vehicle. Likely impossible in a normal car. We arrived in Samara late afternoon, there is so much jungle around it was already seemingly on the edge of getting darker.
Our cabina at El Pequeno Gecko Verde is very cute, albeit much smaller than our previous one. The grounds are very junglely with lush vegetation, which also makes them quite private. We do have an adjoining cabin but so far our neighbours have been very quiet. The pool area with its waterfall looks gorgeous. Nice sound too with the running water. But while organizing our room with some bags outside, Mrs. Rascally Raccoon made a surprise visit and quickly made off with Norm’s camera bag before I saved the day! Good thing one of us had shoes on and better knees! We think she was a mother and desperate for food. Hopefully she found something somewhere.
We headed out for a short drive to a fairly nearby soda. Remember that ‘soda’ is the Tico term for a local restaurant. But it wasn’t open so we ventured into ‘downtown’ Samara. Lots of choices there but a Mexican restaurant caught our eye. The food was fairly good, and the Monster Margarita was indeed large. Even if my tastebuds are now more fine tuned to higher quality ‘princess’ drinks, lol. Bonus there was live music…a young lady playing old tunes on her guitar like Neil Young and the Beatles. We noted that the age dynamic seemed to change from years past ... it seemed to be an older crowd roaming the streets. We fit right in, lol!
It didn’t take too long to fall fast asleep in our jungle paradise.
February 10, 2025
"Moving Day and a Dramatic Rescue from a Robber Racoon"
Yesterday, Feb 10th was moving day. So after a big breakfast of challah bread French toast it was time to pack up and move along. Most unexpectedly, while I was packing up my suitcase, I shook out my bathing suit bottoms and out popped ‘Mr. On Steroids Grasshopper’, at least 6 inches long. A handsome fella! I shrieked ... but thankfully he landed on my pillow not in my hair!
We left Soulshine with several little gifts and two loaves of challah bread. We asked Yael, the owner why she left Israel for a much different life. Earlier, before kids, she and her husband had travelled there and felt a connection with this unknown beach community. When they bought there was very little here. After 2 kids they decided upon a different lifestyle. Opened in 2020. No regrets it seems. She said most everyone asks this question so much so that they are thinking of adding it to their website info. We talked a little about Gaza, Israeli view points, Trump and world politics. It’s an unsettling world we live in at this time we all decided.
We had expected a rough ride on dirt roads on the road down to Samara. Been on this road once before. Yes it was very rough in places but there seemed to be more paved sections than we remembered. That’s not to say there weren’t many deep potholes to have to swerve around.
There was a lovely fishing village along the way to stop in, San Juanillo. We actually saw one of the catches a fellow beach goer had either bought or caught. It was quite a large fish maybe two to three feet long. Norm took the opportunity to take a quick rest on the pure white sand. Beautiful little place with fishing boats bobbing up and down in the turquoise water.
Then there was the river of water we had to cross. Our technique is to watch and learn as hopefully another vehicle goes through. No problem and a little driving adventure in a high clearance vehicle. Likely impossible in a normal car. We arrived in Samara late afternoon, there is so much jungle around it was already seemingly on the edge of getting darker.
Our cabina at El Pequeno Gecko Verde is very cute, albeit much smaller than our previous one. The grounds are very junglely with lush vegetation, which also makes them quite private. We do have an adjoining cabin but so far our neighbours have been very quiet. The pool area with its waterfall looks gorgeous. Nice sound too with the running water. But while organizing our room with some bags outside, Mrs. Rascally Raccoon made a surprise visit and quickly made off with Norm’s camera bag before I saved the day! Good thing one of us had shoes on and better knees! We think she was a mother and desperate for food. Hopefully she found something somewhere.
We headed out for a short drive to a fairly nearby soda. Remember that ‘soda’ is the Tico term for a local restaurant. But it wasn’t open so we ventured into ‘downtown’ Samara. Lots of choices there but a Mexican restaurant caught our eye. The food was fairly good, and the Monster Margarita was indeed large. Even if my tastebuds are now more fine tuned to higher quality ‘princess’ drinks, lol. Bonus there was live music…a young lady playing old tunes on her guitar like Neil Young and the Beatles. We noted that the age dynamic seemed to change from years past ... it seemed to be an older crowd roaming the streets. We fit right in, lol!
It didn’t take too long to fall fast asleep in our jungle paradise.
The narrow bridges to cross, big enough for one car.
River crossing…grateful for the high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle. A car would likely not make it.
February 11, 2025
We head down the short jungle like path to breakfast . Everything is quite close here but seems farther away because of the thick colourful vegetation lining the curved paths. I didn’t bring my glasses to see what was on the menu but when I heard ‘gallo pinto’ was available there was no need to look any further. Breakfast here comes with the room and is not extra. Fresh juice, Costa Rican coffee, a large plate of fruit and your choice of a main course. Delicious Gallo pinto, a Costa Rican breakfast staple … beans and rice topped with a fried egg or two, fried plaintain, and a rubber-like squeaky cheese.
As I am eating I catch sight of a beautiful coati, on a nearby fence. Missed the photo op but had another chance as the coati strolled by our cabina later in the day. They are sort of raccoon like creatures only bigger, with a gorgeous thick striped tail.
Pretty quiet day just lounging around the cabina with a swim in the pool. Definitely a little cooler but still easy to get in. Lots of French being spoken here it seemed.
We thought we might catch a sunset tonight … so we headed to the big wide sandy beach of Samara. But where was the sunset? Not here!
So we headed for an early supper at Soda La Perla hearing that they would only be open to 6:40 pm. Luckily there was one table left. Nothing fancy just home cooked meals at a reasonable price. I choose vegetarian Chalupas … a vegetable mixture with a few smashed beans on 3 super crispy tortillas. Norm was very impressed with the octopus ceviche he ordered.
Back to our place a short drive away. Grateful we’re not walking the dirt road as the cars drive by spreading a film of brown dust. Although I feel like I could use a long walk.
Sitting outside in the warmth of the early evening we notice the lack of insect sounds. But easy to sit outside with no bugs flying around at all. Maybe it’s the year?
"Silent Mornings; Silent Nights"
Mornings are definitely much quieter here naturewise, punctuated by the occasional high pitched bird sounds and the random faint howl of a faraway monkey. The rushing sound of the pool waterfall is both calming and peaceful in the morning.
We head down the short jungle like path to breakfast . Everything is quite close here but seems farther away because of the thick colourful vegetation lining the curved paths. I didn’t bring my glasses to see what was on the menu but when I heard ‘gallo pinto’ was available there was no need to look any further. Breakfast here comes with the room and is not extra. Fresh juice, Costa Rican coffee, a large plate of fruit and your choice of a main course. Delicious Gallo pinto, a Costa Rican breakfast staple … beans and rice topped with a fried egg or two, fried plaintain, and a rubber-like squeaky cheese.
As I am eating I catch sight of a beautiful coati, on a nearby fence. Missed the photo op but had another chance as the coati strolled by our cabina later in the day. They are sort of raccoon like creatures only bigger, with a gorgeous thick striped tail.
Pretty quiet day just lounging around the cabina with a swim in the pool. Definitely a little cooler but still easy to get in. Lots of French being spoken here it seemed.
We thought we might catch a sunset tonight … so we headed to the big wide sandy beach of Samara. But where was the sunset? Not here!
So we headed for an early supper at Soda La Perla hearing that they would only be open to 6:40 pm. Luckily there was one table left. Nothing fancy just home cooked meals at a reasonable price. I choose vegetarian Chalupas … a vegetable mixture with a few smashed beans on 3 super crispy tortillas. Norm was very impressed with the octopus ceviche he ordered.
Back to our place a short drive away. Grateful we’re not walking the dirt road as the cars drive by spreading a film of brown dust. Although I feel like I could use a long walk.
Sitting outside in the warmth of the early evening we notice the lack of insect sounds. But easy to sit outside with no bugs flying around at all. Maybe it’s the year?
The waterfall so lovely to listen to.
The pool is so inviting!
"'Sodas' Take on a Whole New Meaning"
The Howlers are up just before the crack of dawn. But this monkey princess is sleeping in, no early mornings for her thus far. When she awakes, a delicious cup of coffee is waiting for her on the deck! Surprisingly perhaps it had rained overnight!
After another delicious breakfast of gallo pinto, it was time to enjoy the hammock, disconnect from the world as the Internet was down. There are three regular problems in CR … power disruptions, water turning off and internet problems. Within the week not unsurprisingly we have experienced all three, but luckily not at the same time.
Our nearest beach is the ‘hidden beach’ as to get to it you must check the tide tables, scan the waterway for crocodiles and enter at low tide. Beyond the estuary is apparently quite a lovely beach. But as often is the case in CR there are signs warning about riptides. We watched the 30 or more vultures waiting any local fisherman hoping for a piece of their catch as they cleaned their fish. We watched one fellow wade through chest deep at one point … guess he didn’t worry about any crocs! We knew we would return for sunset.
Much later in the day we ventured out to a beach a few kms away. Playa Carrillo is one of the most beautiful beaches fringed with coconut palm trees and wide expanses of fine sand. The water was beautiful and significantly warmer than the pool. Great to enjoy a long timeless swim! There was only the beginning swell to get through and then the water was so calm and peaceful. Although I didn’t see any fish I definitely got nibbled by something.
Afterwards it was time to head to the beach we had visited earlier in the afternoon for sunset, just a short distance from our hotel. Although since there were quite a number of dark clouds in the sky we were unsure about the visibility of the sunset. We were not disappointed.
For dinner we chose another very budget friendly local soda. The atmosphere at the sodas so authentic and local. We struck up a conversation with a family at a nearby table who turned out to be from Saskatchewan. They travel to CR every year now for an extended vacation of 3 weeks. But they now realize they will likely have to reduce the time due to their kid’s high school schooling.
Dinner was so filling and very typical.
There seem to be many French speaking visitors in this part of Costa Rica. In fact the owners of our hotel are French from Lyon. French is the most common language around the pool at our hotel it seems.
Life in a hammock! Playa Carrillo.
"... and the Rain Beat on Our Roof"
Sitting out on our wooden deck relaxing with the sound of the rushing waterfall we notice there are a few more birds than usual. Perhaps it was the last night’s heavy rain which pelted down on our tin roof that created more excitement in the surrounding forest. This time I had brought in our clothes that were on the drying rack! What ... rain! Rain is possible today as well. Did we mistakenly book into the rainforest, lol?
Today is moving day. Heading down the Nicoya Peninsula to a small community called San Francisco. We have booked a room with an outdoor jacuzzi tub ... let’s see if this one is warm or cold! So after another delicious Gallo Pinto breakfast we will leave. Very happy to have returned to Samara.
Back now to yesterday, Feb 13. I’ve really been sleeping in this trip. I wake up at 2:30 am in the morning good to go but struggle to return to sleep. The itchy bites on my leg and arm don’t help either. But a cup of Costa Rican coffee, made by Norm, awaits. Soon enough we head to breakfast. This time we are alone. Everyone else likely rushing off to tours in the early morning. Gecko Verde is so quiet a coati dares to strolls by the pool, even enjoying a sip of water at the pool’s edge until the paparazzi (Norm) invade.
El Pequeno Gecko Verde is owned by a friendly French couple with lots of stories to tell. So much fun listening to Muriel talk about running a hotel and the very few ‘bad’ guests she encounters. Like the one who complains about the 5:00 am Howler wake up call and expects her to do something. We broke out in peels of laughter as she recounted the story of the very irate guest who encountered a disgusting floating ‘log’ in the pool. Turns out raccoons love to poo in pools! They like to get clean afterwards! It’s a thing! Who knew???
The day just whittles away between pool swims, lazy hammock times and jungle daydreams. About 3:00 pm we decide to head to the coconut palm lined Playa Carrillo … it doesn’t get more picturesque than this expansive beach which curves around the coastline for kilometers. I rush into the tropically warmed Pacific, the water so warm and the late afternoon sun so comfortable. But ouch I got nibbled again! I wish I wasn’t so delicious, lol!
Back to Gecko Verde for some more down time before heading out for dinner. Dinner reservation at an outdoor Italian restaurant Mar & Fuego. When we arrived the restaurant was packed and once again live music broke through the still of the night. Although we both enjoyed this fellow’s music, it made talking impossible and sadly we wished he wasn’t there. The delicious strawberry margarita took the edge off the long wait for food. To my surprise when the bruschetta arrived it was the most creative bruschetta ever with delicious results. The bruschetta’s first layer was a goat cheese with a touch of garlic, followed by a few roasted carrots and chopped tomatoes, topped by thin bean sprouts and an edible flower. Although I had resisted ordering it I was glad we did. Most memorable! The medium pizzas were huge, thin crusted, and so very good. Mine was a Gorgonzola and Mozzarella pizza topped with rucola and cherry tomatoes. So glad we went there!
Returning to our jungle lair just outside of town it was not long before we called it a night and the rain began pinging on our tin roof.
Sunset again at the ‘hidden beach.
"... Happy Valentine's Day. Or as they say in Costa Rica Feliz Dia de Los Enamorados"
Happy Valentine’s Day! Feliz Dia de Los Enamorados!
Moving Day has sadly arrived. Not up early … blaming it on the tequila drinks this time, lol! The usually elusive Coatis made many appearances this morning, a goodbye salute to us I think, lol. Seemingly tucked away in the lush jungle, we sure have enjoyed our stay here. Our cottage, perhaps on the small side, was big enough in the end. Shower was great though.
On the road again. A dirt road for most of the way, but in quite good shape. Passing lots of cows and ranches. In a few hours time we arrived in San Francisco de Coyote, a small rural community close to Coyote Beach. Our place seems quite remote, very authentically a Costa Rican vacation spot. We can hear the Howlers at a distance as we arrive. Our room is large, beautiful with killer views onto the estuary and the ocean beyond.
Being Valentine’s Day there a few Valentine’s Day perks. Like the beautiful bougainvillea petal heart laying on our bed and the live Costa Rican music before and during dinner. But first we enjoyed a leisurely soak in our lovely outdoor jacuzzi … not hot but warm … a pleasure to sit there and enjoy the sounds and sights of the ocean.
The music was lively and well done! It went on for two hours with no breaks for the musicians! We enjoyed watching a few of the guests dancing and others just having a good time. Surprisingly there were alot of dogs brought to the event, both large and small. My strawberry daiquiri tasted very delicious. Luckily a very tall drink which lasted until a much delayed dinner. Dinner seemed to take forever and when it came it was not what I ordered ... However I said nothing! Just sipped on my wine quietly and ate the Vegetarian Casado anyways. Sure am getting my fill of rice and beans!
The intensely heavy rain was perhaps unexpected as we listened to the lively music but we all stayed dry under the roof. A bit of lightening too. We watched the rain as it pooled and puddled in the pool area. It did not dampen the mood of the evening though! It had stopped by the time we had finished dinner as had the music so we headed to our room. We closed our fancy remote control massive window blinds and snuggled into bed. Buenos Noche!
Norm relaxing late in the day. The outdoor Jacuzzi!
"Enamoured with the Estuary"
The howlers seemed right outside our door as they bellowed their early morning greetings. We couldn’t see them in the pre-sunrise but we sure knew they were there!
This is one of the most picturesque places in the world we have stayed. The view to the estuary is gorgeous. The hotel is very Spanish and seems to be very laidback. So service is random, but always pleasant. A loosely managed hotel I would say.
The beautiful infinity pool is curved elegantly and really compliments the space. Warm, too, like the ocean. Breakfast here is a more minimal experience … limited choice, no fruit. There are a few irritating quirks in our room, like no bedside lamps only bright overhead lights … but overall the room is fine and comfortable. The view from our room is incredible but the rest of the rooms don’t have our scenic view for sure. Overall pleased with the experience for sure. $235 US a night ($336 Cdn).
As we were sitting down for breakfast I mentioned I thought I heard Scarlet Macaws squawking this morning. And as if on cue, two moments later, three Scarlet Macaaws did a fly past!
It wasn’t a stellar sunshiney day from the beginning. But as the day wore on enough sun prevailed. We didn’t make it to the beach … we can tell it will not be likely swimmable for us. We can hear the waves crashing! We sure did enjoy our private outdoor jacuzzi time as well as a swim time at the pool. Another delicious strawberry daiquiri went down smoothly too!
Mid afternoon our neighbours checked in … two friendly Canadians from BC on a bicycle trip through Costa Rica. Not their first trip either … their fourth! I can’t imagine bicycling by choice here … but they love it!
For dinner Norm ordered the fish soup with a milky broth. He was pleased with his choice. I decided to go for nachos, asking them to swap out the chicken for beans. They were delicious and of course I left a good sized portion behind as there was so much.
Despite being total sloths today sleep came easy and early! Moving day tomorrow.
Left: Margarita with extra in a glass.
Below: My delicious nachos covered in lettuce. Like a salad on the first layer. Then creamy beans, cheese and pico de gallo on the next layer.
"... The Long and Bumpy Road to Jungle Paradise"
Not in any hurry to check out so we spent the morning just enjoying our stellar view and working on our blogs some. No crocodiles can be found in the estuary but no doubt they are there. It’s low tide now and the estuary looks quite difference with its exposed sand bars.
It feels much cooler today. Technically it says 30 degrees now … but it feels more like mid twenties.
As much as we very much enjoyed our stay at Casa Caletes, it was time to move along. The weather looked iffy … rain imminent. There had been some rain over the past few days which filled the many potholes which made them harder to judge. We jiggled and jostled over the rough roads, unexpectedly forded 3 rivers while watching for crocodiles (there were none that we saw). Lots of tough driving decisions to be made, slipping and sliding in places, and now in the pouring rain. Road directions not always marked adequately either. The final road was a short narrow beach road, 4 wheel drive required said the sign, leading to beautiful Ylang Ylang a jungle retreat. We have arrived, Norm said “I need a stiff drink”…I’m not sure he was joking, lol! As we were led to our room we spotted the welcome party of white faced monkeys high in the trees, right by us!
The grounds are gorgeous! The surrounding layers of thick jungle vegetation makes the units feel very private. Even in the rain we were totally protected by the jungle canopy. You can hear the waves crashing on the nearby shore.
After that nerve wracking drive we decided to go for Happy Hour. Lucky for us we snagged a prime table with a great ocean view and swaying palm trees. Perfect! Nothing like a tropical drink to relax with!
By now it was totally dark, the bats were zipping around out in the garden and it was time to order dinner. Norm chose a blackened tuna with a passion fruit sauce … a large portion came and he absolutely loved it. I chose Pasta Arrabiatia, linguine with a spicy tomato sauce. And yes it packed a lot of heat! But I cooled it down with a passion fruit juice drink! So delicious!
Going to leave the door open with the curtains closed so we can listen to the sounds of the nighttime insects, and pounding surf! Hopefully we won’t wake up with new roommates!
February 17, 2025
"When the Jungle Calls, the People Listen"
The jungle was shaking last night with creatures! With our door ajar so we could the sound of the waves and the sounds of the jungle. At times it was raucous … I almost got up to shut the door. Luckily I only woke up to my jungle man, the same one that I went to bed with.
In early morning we could hear little green parrots squawking as we sat outside waiting for our early coffee to brew. But alas no parrots to be seen and no coffee was brewed! The coffee machine was kaput! Not too long after the headache began … that’s when you know you are an addict, lol!
Breakfast at the lodge couldn’t come quick enough! Ahhh … a little coffee and all is bueno! For breakfast we both enjoyed a very large breakfast burrito with pico de gallo on the side. Generally food in Costa Rica is not spicy like in Mexico but there are often condiments on the table like Lizzo sauce or hot pepper sauce to flavour things up. Everything is just so fresh and delicious!
I went for a short walk on the beach. The waves are too high for my comfort zone but I could see a few people further down the beach swimming in somewhat calmer water past the wave line. The ocean water is like bath water, so warm!
The inviting pool is tucked away in the jungle but so near the beach you can hear the waves. Iguanas are in the trees munching on leaves, and soon enough a troop of white faced monkeys show up. That was my cue to return to Dome 6, our room, for a private show. And a show it was! They entertained us unknowingly …swinging from tree to tree, the young ones particularly agile. Brothers and sisters occasionally squabbling. The acrobatic show lasted about half an hour before they left.
There is nothing like just sitting on our deck watching the world of nature go by in the jungle, and hearing the waves crashing on the shore. But soon enough it was happy hour and time for Papaya Colada … so tropical, so delicious! And for Norm … a bottle of chilled Alberino wine. The wine went perfectly with his seafood pasta dish. I had an Asian rice noodle dish with coconut milk and lots of veggies. Very delicious as well.
We have been very pleased with the food and service here. Our coffee maker in the room is now replaced. We are paying a lot but very happy with the value received. The monkey show is free, lol. Room rate … $364.65 US (we paid $564 Cdn paying in advance, if we paid today it would be $590!) with dinner and breakfast included.
After dinner we sat outside once again until the sound of the surf was lulling us to sleep. How can one be so tired and do nothing, lol?
In early morning we could hear little green parrots squawking as we sat outside waiting for our early coffee to brew. But alas no parrots to be seen and no coffee was brewed! The coffee machine was kaput! Not too long after the headache began … that’s when you know you are an addict, lol!
Breakfast at the lodge couldn’t come quick enough! Ahhh … a little coffee and all is bueno! For breakfast we both enjoyed a very large breakfast burrito with pico de gallo on the side. Generally food in Costa Rica is not spicy like in Mexico but there are often condiments on the table like Lizzo sauce or hot pepper sauce to flavour things up. Everything is just so fresh and delicious!
I went for a short walk on the beach. The waves are too high for my comfort zone but I could see a few people further down the beach swimming in somewhat calmer water past the wave line. The ocean water is like bath water, so warm!
The inviting pool is tucked away in the jungle but so near the beach you can hear the waves. Iguanas are in the trees munching on leaves, and soon enough a troop of white faced monkeys show up. That was my cue to return to Dome 6, our room, for a private show. And a show it was! They entertained us unknowingly …swinging from tree to tree, the young ones particularly agile. Brothers and sisters occasionally squabbling. The acrobatic show lasted about half an hour before they left.
There is nothing like just sitting on our deck watching the world of nature go by in the jungle, and hearing the waves crashing on the shore. But soon enough it was happy hour and time for Papaya Colada … so tropical, so delicious! And for Norm … a bottle of chilled Alberino wine. The wine went perfectly with his seafood pasta dish. I had an Asian rice noodle dish with coconut milk and lots of veggies. Very delicious as well.
We have been very pleased with the food and service here. Our coffee maker in the room is now replaced. We are paying a lot but very happy with the value received. The monkey show is free, lol. Room rate … $364.65 US (we paid $564 Cdn paying in advance, if we paid today it would be $590!) with dinner and breakfast included.
After dinner we sat outside once again until the sound of the surf was lulling us to sleep. How can one be so tired and do nothing, lol?
"Monkeys Palooza ... All Happening Right Outside Our Dome"
We awoke to a beautiful early morning red sky and a little later a troop of Howler monkeys making their way across the dense vegetation. Looks like sun today at least for now.
I decided to walk the beach a little earlier today as it gets hot really quick. No one else on the beach yet. The surf is high once again. I see goofy pelicans and little green chattering parrots fly over me. I can hear what sounds like macaaws but they are hidden from sight. Macaaws, if they are around, often like to hang out at the beach … never silent, always loudly squawking. Later in the day Scarlet Macaaws did indeed do a fly past over the pool.
This is not the place to come and do a lot of activities but it is the place to come to chill and to just be. No need to go anywhere. Meals are very good here and always come with your choice of fresh juice. Passion fruit is my favourite while for Norm the fresh lemonade would be a strong contender. Breakfast is chosen from a long list of possibilities. Today we went with French toast and banana pancakes and were not disappointed.
Today was the ‘day of the monkeys’. Monkeys, monkeys, monkeys. First the Howlers showed up. No mistaking the Howlers as they noisily move through the jungle at times. Bellowing out, “we’re here, we’re here” and then “we’re the big kahunas here and your’re not”. Occasionally they have an orange, yellow tinge to their fur … apparently particular to Costa Rica in recent times. A genetic abnormality or something environmental are possible theories.
Then the white faced capuchins filled the surrounding trees … the leaves and branches quivering from their commotion. Capuchins are quieter and generally smaller and always with a striking white wise ‘old man’ face. They romped and played, swung from tree to tree, all the while effortlessly gobbling up as many leaves as possible. Then a troop of Howlers arrived at the same time! Was this going to be total chaos?
Peaceful neighbours it seemed! But later a scuffle broke out among the white faced monkeys. Screams and hollers followed by a loud thud as someone fell out of the tree! A violent disagreement! Did someone steal someone else’s love monkey? It was intense.
We left for Happy Hour just as the monkeys were leaving for theirs, hopefully. I went with a traditional Margarita, Norm chose a colourful drink made with ‘guaro’ a liquor made from sugarcane. The drink was called Costa Rica as it had the colours of the flag.
For dinner I had nachos piled high with guacamole. Disappointingly there was no spice to them, although they looked very pretty. Norm had another seafood pasta dish which once again he thought was very good.
After dinner I went on my own night walk around the property hoping to find some interesting creatures of the night. But as it turned out they might only be found in someone else’s dreams. With the sound of the pounding surf and the gentle chirps of jungle insects a peaceful sleep awaits the willing.
To the right one of the many ‘Comes with the Room’ monkeys, as seen by my iPhone
Below another of the numerous white-faced or capuchin monkeys (Norm's photo)
Monkeys monkeys everywhere.
"Ylang Ylang so much more than just a flower"
It’s so restful here lying in the big comfortable bed inside our ‘dome’ listening to the large waves crashing and the beautiful bird songs. I just don’t want to get up.
At 9:00 am it’s already 28 degrees, very comfortable here in the shade on our deck overlooking the jungle. I can hear things falling from the trees. There is much we cannot really see, the jungle is thick. There are very large iguanas, grey squirrels with super long tails, and different birds that live high up in the forest vegetation. Then there are ground level inhabitants such as the round bum agoutis….a large 4 kg rodent which resembles a guinea pig. One shyly strolls by every now and then ducking in and out of the dense forest floor vegetation.
Each day is more or less like the last … swims at the pool, a walk on the beach, internet time, monkey time, ocean gazes, and happy hour followed by dinner. A relaxing slow paced 4 nights here at Ylang Ylang. With one difference today … company at dinner.
Our nearby Dome neighbours, Margo and Greg, asked us to join them at dinner. Margo and Greg are from Kingston Ontario and staying here at Ylang-Ylang, in part, because they want to meet people. They will be moving to a VRBO type place 4 kms away for a few weeks. Although they like their rental house they find it quite isolating so decided to try Ylang Ylang in addition.
There are a lot of families staying at Ylang Ylang … so as is often the case with families there is a fair amount of noise to be expected while at the pool or dining. It is an oasis of calm though in Dome #6 where we are staying … very peaceful, very private except for the monkeys that seem to like to watch us too, lol.
Happy Hour drink was a Pina Colada … the best drink yet. For Norm he ordered a second bottle of Alberino. For dinner I chose Ylang-Ylang curry with tofu added, and for Norm blackened tuna with passionfruit sauce, a repeat meal choice that he once again enjoyed. It was a lot of fun getting to know Greg and Margo, and sharing travel and life stories.
Ylang Ylang has been a wonderful experience!
Tomorrow will involve a drive up the coast to catch a 3:00 pm ferry to Puntarenas (about a 1 hour plus crossing) and then another drive for about an hour to Tarcoles, the ‘crocodile capital of Costa Rica’. I only call it that because there is a bridge there where the large crocs hang out in the water below that attracts a zillion tourists. We will be staying at a small B&B, Rancho Capulin for 1 night. No crocodiles allowed there … I hope!
There are a lot of families staying at Ylang Ylang … so as is often the case with families there is a fair amount of noise to be expected while at the pool or dining. It is an oasis of calm though in Dome #6 where we are staying … very peaceful, very private except for the monkeys that seem to like to watch us too, lol.
Happy Hour drink was a Pina Colada … the best drink yet. For Norm he ordered a second bottle of Alberino. For dinner I chose Ylang-Ylang curry with tofu added, and for Norm blackened tuna with passionfruit sauce, a repeat meal choice that he once again enjoyed. It was a lot of fun getting to know Greg and Margo, and sharing travel and life stories.
Ylang Ylang has been a wonderful experience!
Tomorrow will involve a drive up the coast to catch a 3:00 pm ferry to Puntarenas (about a 1 hour plus crossing) and then another drive for about an hour to Tarcoles, the ‘crocodile capital of Costa Rica’. I only call it that because there is a bridge there where the large crocs hang out in the water below that attracts a zillion tourists. We will be staying at a small B&B, Rancho Capulin for 1 night. No crocodiles allowed there … I hope!
Colada! Excellent drink!
"On the Road Again and Across the Straight by a Ferry With All the Speed of a Lazy Turtle"
The early morning sun casts a golden glow on our deck. It’s like living in a treehouse with minimal stairs! We are in mid canopy of the forest, surrounded by taller trees yet a fair ways down to ground level. For our last breakfast here at Ylang Ylang we chose breakfast burritos. It’s just by chance that each morning we want the same thing. With a little hot sauce and extra pico de gallo added they are superb! We chatted with a fellow from Winnipeg and his friend who were waiting for their wives attending yoga class. It seems there are quite a few drop-in people, i.e. not staying here but perhaps enjoying a meal or a class.
We said our goodbyes and soon it was time to go. But not before Norm scored a free Ylang Ylang T-shirt. They had discontinued selling them but still had a few in stock! A gift!
We passed through Montezuma village … a small touristy town not seeing any reason to stop. We took our time winding our way to the Port to catch our 3:00 pm ferry. It was a hot wait for the slowest ferry ever. The crossing was very smooth and quite scenic, passing by a number of island formations. An hour and 15 minutes later we arrived in the port city of Puntarenas. A pretty ugly place. The drive to our bed and breakfast, Rancho Capulin, took just over an hour in some traffic. And we got here before dark … our goal! Although we missed sunset, we still got to enjoy some gorgeous colourful sky!
Our terrace room at Rancho Capulin is large and comfortable, with an outdoor jacuzzi tub and lounge chairs overlooking the vast countryside. Here we are basically above the treetop level. Another tree house of a different sort. In the background we can hear a Howler faintly in the background. Unfortunately, some truck noise is omnipresent. Room cost … $130 US ($185 Cdn).
All the nearby sodas closed early so we ended up at a roadside restaurant, Las Tekas Marisqueria. Pretty noisy with all the trucks going by, but the fruit juice drinks were excellent and the food good too. Norm had a tuna and shrimp special that seemed on the pricey side but he sure did enjoy it! At 22,000 Colones ($62.44 Cdn) it was shockingly expensive but thoroughly enjoyed. I had a bowl stuffed with rice and beans, avocado and veggies with nacho chips ($20.29 Cdn … prices include service and tax). For a ‘third world country’ Costa Rica is certainly not a cheap budget destination; although by staying in hostels and eating only in sodas it could be much more budget friendly I would think.
Back at our new place Rancho Capulin Norm hopped into the jacuzzi tub on our deck for a bubbly soak. The only cool bubbles I wanted were in a tall glass of cava …maybe another night for me?!
My early morning jungle paparazzi.
This vine can climb up 30 feet or more.
anywhere, at anytime … like on my lap. So very hot, and not in a good way, lol!
"... From One Paradise to Another"
Waking up to my jungle monkey man saying … ”did you hear all the muffled traffic noise?” “No … not until you pointed it out I said!”. I blocked it out totally. I had a great sleep, lol!
Time for breakfast! Claudine prepared a very full breakfast for us with homemade banana bread, eggs, fruit, fresh papaya juice and delicious coffee. Claudine is originally from Luxembourg. High up, Rancho Capulin, overlooks pretty much nothing else but tropical forest. She and her husband have created their own de'Luxe' hilltop paradise, about 1 hour from San Jose. And very close to Tarcoles, home of the many crocs!
It’s such a beautiful, undeveloped spot. Green mountains for as far as the eye can see. After a quick dip in the Jacuzzi and a wonderful video call from Katrina, we were off, back on the road again.
A long slow drive ensued. So much slow traffic. However we found the perfect place to pull over and I took a walk on the bridge across the Tarcoles River. I was not disappointed! I counted 7 crocodiles for sure, but there were other submerged probables. There was one especially big one, like huge … looking for a guy named Bill he heard that might come to visit as he flashed his toothy croc smile. You can trust me I thought I heard him say.
I have never seen so many Policia in Costa Rica as I have seen this trip. Has Trump affected this? I would estimate about 20 active ones, not counting police cars in the parking lot. Maybe trying to stem the flow of both drugs and illegal migrants as they continue on their journey from South America through the Darien Gap into Panama and then CR. I don’t know.
But what I do know is what a warm welcome we received from Sydney and Michaelynn! Michaelynn said she made a special corner for us … what? … and in this special corner was a package of Sid’s favourite cookies, a thick chocolate bar, a bottle of wine and orchid flowers! So very kind!
But then the nature’s welcome started. The Howlers, the Toucans, the Cicadas, and the White Faced Monkeys each took their turn in the welcoming party! Unbelievable! We feel so grateful to be back in our beautiful rustic cabina, so perfect for us!
We were absolutely enthralled by the Moms and their little babies. We watched how she tried to encourage them to make likely their first big jump from palm tree to palm tree. We gently cheered the little ones on … they kept looking down as if to say "People are you watching the biggest jump ever???" Most of the little ones tried and succeeded, a few had to be carried over by their protective Moms. One baby refused to jump over and remained on the palm without an adult. But Mom or Dad came to its rescue, baby then climbed on the parent’s back and away they jumped. It was a very close up and personal show!
It’s hot! It’s not sunny. Rain lurks in the possible future. 30 degrees at 5:00 pm, but with the humidity ‘feels like 36’! Sid said he has never seen a February like this one!
Sunset mostly fizzled … too many clouds. By now the darkness has thickened … and the Toucans have put their “Squeaky Swing” songs to rest; the Howlers have given up too; the White Faced Monkeys tucked in for an early sleep somewhere in the jungle. All that is left is the sound of the cicada orchestra to soften the night with their serenade.
Time for dinner! Sid told us about a new Italian pizza place so we thought we would check it out. Moromo Forneria. Delicious wood fired pizza! Italy meets Costa Rica! The Italian food in Costa Rica is simply superb, top notch!
The plan was to enjoy a glass of wine back home on the deck of our rustic wooden cabina. Although we sat out for a bit, it just didn’t happen … we were too tired. As I got up to go to bed, a buzzing Cicada dove into my long hair and got stuck momentarily. Note to self … tie back hair at night! Yikes!!! Definitely time to go to bed!
Left - our gift upon arrival at Pacific Edge from Syd and Michaelyn.
Below - the stellar view at Pacific Edge. Technically our 3rd time staying here. Each time the time is longer and the more we want to return.
White faced Capuchins showing off their everyday bravery and athleticism.
The jump.
February 22, 2025
"Who Knew Costa Rica was Really Little Italy?"
Thud! Crash, Boom, Bang! Something was jumping on our tin roof. Maybe a raccoon or a coati, something fairly heavy. I certainly wasn’t going to go outside in the darkness to find out.
The Howlers began before 5:00 am, their howls seemingly echoing in the jungle forest ‘bowl’ we find ourselves living in. A magical place!
Our good sized cabina is rustic like back in the day. No hot water except for the shower, no air conditioning, no safe, and no locks on the doorstep. Yet so comfortable and clean! Every time we come here it never seems long enough. We think we are paying $192 US a night ($274 Cdn) but we don’t know for sure until we get our final bill.
We head to breakfast about 8:30 am. There is no one else around … the occupants of the other 3 cabinas are either on a day trip or checked out. Sid and Norm hit it off like wildfire as always before, and soon the talk turns political. Sid might be a surfer dude with a good business mind but a man who has a liberal view of the world and its future. It just happens that he is from South Florida, the Keys. All the while chatting he eventually cooks us up delicious burritos for breakfast. So yummy, so filling. So nice to chat although we suspect he may be much busier other mornings depending on his guests.
Returning to the cabina it’s time to enjoy some hammock time and just let time slip away. But soon the heat becomes a little too much despite the deck being shaded and it’s time to cool off in the pool. I chat with Kaiya, their 13 yr old daughter for a bit until Norm and then Michaelynn join the conversation. The refreshing pool so helps with the heat.
Just as we were headed out for an early dinner, the Capuchin monkeys arrive at our cabina and surrounding garden. Although we wanted to stay longer we also didn’t want to miss sunset at our restaurant choice, Gusto. We had the best table in the house overlooking the beach and the endless ocean. We ate at Gusto last year and were so impressed with their Italian food. Once again we were more than pleased. My homemade gnocchi with a creamy pear, Gorgonzola and walnut sauce was amazing as was Norm’s beef tenderloin. It was only 7:00 pm when we started to return home but it felt more like 9:00 pm. There are lots of good restaurants here but all involve a drive of varying lengths.
Home again we settled into our chairs on the terrace, finishing our wine from dinner. This time I tied my hair back … lesson learned! With the soft jungle noises fading into the darkness, it’s time for bed.
February 23, 2025
"Practising the Art of Relaxation at Pacific Edge"
The Howlers were up before the crack of dawn, seemingly particularly vocal this morning. Apparently they stealthfully sauntered through the Pacific Edge property under the cloak of morning darkness, although we didn’t personally see them. The colourful Toucans were apparently flying from tree to tree but we didn’t see them either. But of course we could hear their distinctive cry.
For breakfast we decided on banana pancakes … and wow were they extra good! So thick, fluffy and flavourful!
The threads of the day do unwind as usual. So much time to just be … yet the time seems to go by so fast. We don’t miss the air conditioning, there is always the pool to cool off in and there are fans. Luxury compared to a few places we have stayed further south in the Osa with no electricity and no pool. We don’t miss the hot water, the shower at least is reasonably warm. We love the joviality of this small lodge and the quiet privacy. The lodge dogs and cats also lounging around like sloths in the heat of the day. We can relate.
The white faced monkeys showed up again just as the sun was setting. We watched them more at a distance this time, their acrobatic silhouettes swingng from tree to tree in the dimming light. The sunset though was a good one this time!
Dinner was a long trek to Ojochel a village about a half hour away. Our dinner reservation at ‘Exotica’ was at 7:30 pm … practically our bed time here in CR. We were warmly greeted and remembered by Maite. Exotica is quite an elegant yet informal experience and still you feel a little bit like a part of the family too. Norm dined on ceviche while I sipped on a passionfruit daiquiri. His ‘Thai hot pot’ was full of flavour and fish; while my creamy mushroom fettuccine, laced with vodka and wine, was as good as I had remembered. We finished with a wonderful banana flambé … our first dessert on this trip. It seemed a long way to go but the experience was worth it!
It was 10:30 pm by the time we returned to Pacific Edge. Way past my bedtime! All was very quiet and still except for the hum of the evening insects.
February 24, 2025
"Rumbles in the Jungle"
The cool early morning air vibrates with the ménage of all the different bird voices layered onto the haunting sound of the Howlers. Fun fact … aApparently Howlers can be heard up to 5 kms away in the jungle.
Definitely cooler this morning at 21 degrees! Thick morning clouds cover the sky too like a blanket, which is unusual. Will it rain?
Down to breakfast today just before 9 … but as for tomorrow check-out time is 9:30 am! We’re hoping on friends and family ‘exemption’ but we will have to see. Ironically we only have to go down the road about half an hour to our next place. Nevertheless we have already made early check-in arrangements with Lettika from Le Jardin de Los Monos.
Sid’s banana pancakes are so good and the portion so huge, we decided to share. That worked out well for me. The breakfast conversation got very interesting and animated as we learned about the wheelings and dealings of shady real estate investors here. Trouble in paradise! Sid and Michaelynn, among others, now trying to right the wrongs of a few others with self serving get rich intentions. There is a book yet to be written about these sinister characters for sure!
We can already see development changes here in a year. A few more restaurants, new houses popping out of the jungle, a couple of large brand new grocery stores, etc. are some of the changes we see. We know this area will change but hopefully the pace will slow down. It is not an inexpensive place in which to live. But I guess millionaires just don’t care.
Norm was not feeling his best today … perhaps too many rich meals. So we decided to just stay put and make do for dinner. I had some left over pasta to eat (and share) and we had leftover wine and chocolate. Just what he needed!
We watched the sunset and despite there being a lot of clouds at the time, it provided a lot of colour later. But best of all we spotted Toucans! Three of them doing a fly past … those big bills of theirs so seemingly awkward and top heavy.
Sitting outside in the calm of the beautifully warm evening when it was abruptly interrupted by a big flying bug that was trying to land on me. So I scurried to safety inside which was no easy task as it was chasing me. Rather funny I’m sure! Of course Norm who remained outside never saw another one for the rest of the evening. Sure was a different kind of a ‘lady bug’!
February 25, 2025
"Monkey Business ... The Welcoming Motley Crue"
I can only describe mornings as a cacophony of sounds … sometimes melodious sometimes in dischord. For our last morning the ‘jungle bowl’ was exploding with sounds all the while the rain kept up the beat on the roof. It was almost as if the jungle inhabitants were all doing a rain dance in their own way. “Bring on the rain”, they sing.
There is even one particular bird that sings a beautiful song at night. Then there are the other creatures of the night, which shall go unnamed. Pretty sure we have one that somehow visits our cabina from the sounds. Also something clamouring on our roof once again. I wasn’t going to get up to find out … it’s the tropics afterall. The black Montezuma Oropendola with its striking yellow tail feathers has perhaps one of the most common yet interesting songs, sounding almost like a turkey gobble. Suddenly a toucan with colourful striped bill has appeared by our cabina. The rain dance continues with success. It’s pouring now.
Time to head for breakfast. Once again we shared the banana pancakes. It’s quite wonderful when the business relationship becomes more like a friendship. We ate and we chatted not paying attention to time and concluded next year we will come to Pacific Edge for 5 nights!
We toured Michaelynn’s new jewelry studio and her adjacent new Boruca mask gallery before we felt we really must leave not wanting to overstay our welcome. But they were in no hurry at all. Pura Vida!
In one half hour we arrived at Jardin de Los Monos! It was before 12 but Letikka was very nice to allow us to check in a few hours early. We swam, we napped separately, not synchronized together. By 4 pm the troop of White faced monkeys had arrived. By about 5 they were headed home. But not before a terrific show! The presumably young males took great delight pounding on the nearby roofs by jumping up and down. They acted like insolent teenage delinquents, sassing us occasionally too! It was very funny! Every once in a while a few of them would hang upside down and slyly peer down from our roof top to see if we were watching! It was the cutest thing we could not possibly record all what was happening! It was monkey craziness!
Then there was the sleepy sloth spotted in a nearby tree just outside the Los Monos’ gate. Quite visible when you knew where it was! Off to a great start!
We made dinner reservations at the Matapalo Supper Club and were warmly greeted by Darlenny with the biggest of all hugs. Wonderful to be back! All is the same as usual … no written menus and no price list. No worries. We are always treated fairly. Darlenny lit the fire where the steak would be cooked. Smoke filled the room but fortunately we were on the edge. We laughed as we gasped. Soon enough the air cleared and Norm’s steak was on the grill. I decided on a Thai Red Curry, not a usual item on the menu. While the curry was good, the stars of the evening in my opinion were the big glasses of Malbec and the divine oven roasted potatoes Norm generously shared with me.
Even though I had asked for a small potion I took half of it home in one of their good ceramic bowls covered in Saran Wrap that they trusted me to return. Of course it would be no problem as we will eat there every night they are open.
A short (two to three minutes with the speed bumps) drive later and we returned to our beautiful room overlooking the pool. It wasn’t long before dreams of frolicking monkeys and slumbering sloths filled our heads and hearts with joy.
Right: Our sloth neighbour with a baby!
Below: A happy man returning to Matapalo Supper Club.
February 26, 2025
"Leaving on a Jet Plane ... Not Exactly ... Read On"
The parrots are squawking, “It’s time to get up you lazy humans!” We rise to the distant sound of the surf and the many colourful butterflies flitting from flower to flower in the garden of Los Monos. At first it looks unhopefully cloudy but then the sky magically clears to nothing but bright sunshine. A Mommy sloth and her baby are spotted in a nearby tree. So very sweet! They are surprisingly large but when curled up in a ball harder to spot initially.
We chat at breakfast with a fellow from Mexico hoping to use Costa Rica’s experience in developing property in a more sustainable way. Living in the jungle, not clearing it away. Interesting conversation.
Lazy days at Los Monos, more or less the same … both soaking in the sun and hiding from it; devouring breakfast; dips in the pool; chatting with mostly German guests this time; watching butterflies dip and dive; and always hopeful of bigger nature encounters like the Capuchins. Unfortunately the monkeys stood us up and didn’t show. I guess we weren’t as good an audience as I thought we were. Maybe they like raucous applause?
We were in the pool having the last late day swim when Teddy, one of the employees came running saying the Mommy Sloth and Baby were spotted lower down on the branch. So dripping wet we grabbed a towel and went out looking. Sure enough this morning’s sloth had moved to an even more visible location. Watching her as she gracefully moved was like watching a ballet. Every move slow, deliberate and prolonged. Baby clinging to Mom’s body with its adorable small outstretched arms moving in synchronization with Mom. We watched until Mom decided it was time to move to higher branches.
Soon it was time for us for sunset. Although there were a considerable amount of clouds in the sky and a few rumbles of thunderclouds earlier, the sunset show was indeed beautiful. We were not alone but neither were there many people. Such a seemingly endlessly long, empty, beautiful sandy beach with rolling waves.
As the Matapalo Supper Club is closed both Wed and Thu evenings we decided to go to a Tico restaurant called Ricar2. A restaurant complete with an old full sized airplane. I know … crazy, eh? Sure enough there were lots of locals, including a large table of probably 30 people celebrating a birthday.
I chose a typical Costa Rican dish with its many variations … ‘Casado’. I haven’t had rice and beans for a number of days and by now were craving them. Also on the plate were a root veggie dice, a veggie mushroom melody, fried plantains and a colourful salad. All very good but way too much! Their non traditional Mexican margarita was perhaps a little too spicy for me. Norm was pretty hungry so ordered two things … an Aztec Soup and a Tropical chicken plate. We left feeling both very full and pleased with having a more typical Costa Rican experience. But as for the plane … there must be a whole other story to be told which will leave to Norm.
Now back home and all tucked in with my new-to-me snuggly soft blanket. (I asked for a blanket … I love to be super warm in the tropics). Yup that’s me … no AC and a thick blanket. I like to leave windows and doors open if possible (i.e. screened), let the warm air in. I don’t want to miss a sound. It wasn’t long before dreamland had me at a big Costa Rican wedding, eating delicious cake with a plane to catch imminently. I wonder where I might have got that idea, lol?
February 27, 2025
"Just Another Fine Day in Costa Rica"
What a morning! We awoke early as usual. The sun streaming through the foilage welcoming us out on our deck to have a sit. We reflect on the noises of the night …something was lurking, but what? Still a mystery. Possibilities … kinkajou, opossum, raccoon were suggested by Letikka.
But as we joined breakfast, a joyful sight awaited. We were alerted to a Mommy sloth and her baby in a tree just metres away. How many places do you ever get to have a sloth practically join you for breakfast?
Apparently we just missed the opossum which when it fell out of the tree onto the ground, disturbing a group of sleeping bats which flew off in a total panic. One even getting in the kitchen! But we missed it. So much action and it was only 8:15 am in the morning!
Today for breakfast Teddy made us Dutch pancakes decorated artistically with a heart and pineapples. Mama sloth remained in the same spot for all of breakfast! Then a beautiful hand sized Blue Morpho butterfly fluttered her wings and gracefully flew past! They are a near impossible challenge to photo.
About 10:30 am I took a short stroll to the nearly empty beach. Of course I wasn’t alone, as a flock of pelicans skimmed the water’s edge. But wow the soft grey sand was unbearable in bare feet it was that hot!
I headed back for a refreshing swim in the pool with Norm. It wasn’t too much later when Teddy spotted the opossum having a snooze in between two palmate leaves … almost like a sandwich! Poor little guy had fallen out of his perch twice already this morning. My first time seeing an opossum.
We decided to go for a short drive for a very late lunch to a local soda that came recommended by Trip Advisor. The road towards San Isidro was full of twists and turns as we climbed the mountains. Beautiful surrounding countryside. This nothing fancy roadside Soda was surely a popular local one with only a few tables that were already filled. We were led around to the back of the Soda to a large spare table. Their beagle dog tied nearby, tools and supplies stacked up in the background. Perhaps a little rough around the edges. But the table came with a bonus … a view of the bird feeder! We enjoyed the visits from some certainly beautiful little birds. Our waiter, Mauro, was awesome and so was the food. He clearly loves his country and its abundant nature; and his enthusiasm was contagious. Of course we really didn’t need convincing since Costa Rica’s beauty brings us back year after year.
We ordered guacamole to share, a pineapple chicken dish and a burrito for me. The food was so flavourful and fresh tasting. Apparently they are in the process of adding a terrace to their Soda which will have great views but it was not yet open. We certainly would return another time! Before we left Mauro asked us to write our names on the wall, as was this Soda’s tradition.
We managed to sneak in a sunset view despite the somewhat slow drive home, stuck in a bit of traffic on the long and winding road. This time we watched the brilliant orange sunset from a different part of Matapalo beach. Stunning but no after colour!
Returning home much to our surprise Norm’s computer mouse had been lifted off the table and was on the ground in pieces … with one piece totally missing. Must have been those hoodlum monkeys! Who would have thought? Monkey vandals!
Our late lunch, hole in the wall, choice Great reviews on Trip Advisor, deservedly so.
February 28, 2025
"Pura Vida"
How can I stay in bed when there is so much nature outside? I follow Norm’s lead and get up in the darkness. It’s barely 5:30 am but the world we live in now is so alive at that time. I identify several birds from the bird app.
Scarlet-rumped Tanager. Bright-rumped Attila. Blue-Gray Tanager.
Definitely heard a bird of prey on the roof last night around midnight. It’s large wings flapping, it’s hoo, hoo voice makes me wonder if it wasn’t an owl. Then there was the unique cry of the ‘Drunken Jungle Chicken’. Got to love that name! Otherwise known as …. Grey-cowled Wood-Rail.
We chatted with a few of the guests at breakfast about their plans and experiences. It probably seems strange to them for us to have virtually no plans … no river rafting, dolphin tours, waterfall hikes, hanging bridge experiences, etc … but we are true ‘sloths’.
The Momma sloth and baby were once again at breakfast, cradled by palm fronds and tree branches. But low enough for some good photos. Lettika makes very good Dutch rye bread and the varied fruit smoothies available are a wonderful addition to breakfast. Coffee is good and strong too.
I met another Canadian, Lindsey from Ottawa, at the pool. She and her husband have made about 20 trips to Costa Rica … a few more than our 11, lol! They too love the open air experience that is sometimes found in Costa Rica, especially in the south. It was so nice to chat and share common experiences.
Suddenly the day had just vanished it seemed and I needed a reminder that it was time for sunset. We returned to the same spot as yesterday but this time it was a little busier. Impromptu family/friend soccer games were going on beneath the orange glow of the setting sun. Friday night seems to bring out more local people just wanting to enjoy the simple pleasure of a beautiful sunset.
Having spread out our Greek beach blanket on the beach we enjoyed soaking in the last moments of the after sunset glow. So quiet and peaceful, with the successive waves rumbling in the background. As the sky darkened it was time to head over to the Matapalo Supper Club. A full menu was available tonight … of course, nothing written down. Norm choose a German supper plate … bratwurst sausage with German Potato Salad and a side of red cabbage. I chose gnocchi with a gorgonzola mushroom sauce. With a mound of creamy deliciousness, my portion was huge and would have easily fed two people. Lunch tomorrow for Norm. Unfortunately there is no way to heat up leftovers.
As the beautiful sloth-like day slipped away, stars now shining brightly, we are reminded just how lucky we are to be here once again! Pura vida!
March 01, 2025
"PANDEMONIAM in more ways than one"
A new month! February has just flown by like a flock of Scarlet Macaws. Whoosh! And they’re gone. Today eventually brought a sighting of 11 Scarlet Macaws doing flypasts. Unfortunately too fast for a photo.
Likely under the cover of darkness, our breakfast Momma sloth and baby have moved on. No doubt to a nearby tree though. It’s 8:00 am and we are the last ones for breakfast, everyone else is gone already.
Eventually Brian, a new Los Monos checkin, drops by with empty tea cups in hand. So British! Brian has the gift of storytelling and stops for a chat. He entertained us with stories of growing up in Kenya, before moving to Britain. Coming here to tropical Costa Rica was to him like back in the day Kenya where he spent his childhood. He also told us about his second love, besides his wife … trucks … big trucks. We said “Well, you’ve come to the right place”. Only a few kilometers away is busy Pan American Highway, connecting Alaska to Argentina apparently (minus the connection from Columbia to Panama, which must be done by ship). The road is filled with long distance truckers doing their route. Turns out he is a truck driver himself … we never would have guessed it … maybe a lawyer, doctor, politician but truck driver??? We had a good laugh over that.
A lazy sloth like day ensued … swimming, blog work, listening to bird sounds, etc. And a first for me … I found a sloth and baby in a tree in the adjacent jungle patch. At least I think it’s my first!
All was peaceful, quiet and calm. That is until the ‘Hoodlums’ arrived. Chaos! Definitely far more bold than other years. A few even dared to ‘invade’ our space on the terrace. Then there were the roof jumpers, that banged on the roof by jumping up and down. Such delinquents! A few even dangle their hands and arms down over the roofline, and the peek-a-boo session began.
Luckily we still made it to sunset. It was quite dramatically different than other days. A by-the-beach wedding reception was going on. Lively Latin music playing in the background. Our part of the beach was filled with ladies in beautiful dresses and men in suits. We watched the wedding photo shoot as the bride’s dress got dirtier and dirtier, her once white dress now streaked with the black grey colour of the volcanic sand. Still so very beautiful though in the setting sun!
Off we went to the Matapalo Supper Club, another ceramic dinner plate in hand to return to Darlenny from the leftovers. As busy as she is, she always has time for a big warm hug for the regulars. Norm decided on steak again and I chose a mushroom/ Gorgonzola pizza. To the surrounding jungle areas embracing the quiet of the night, the noise from the Supper Club must sound like a pandemonium (another word for flock) of noisy chattering parrots.
Another quirk of the Matapalo Supper Club is no dessert. They make sure everyone is so full there is zero room for dessert. Unless it’s another glass of wine, lol! We were just finishing when Brian and his wife Penny walked in to make a reservation for tomorrow. We chatted for awhile like old friends while the clock ticked on. It’s like that in Costa Rica … sharing slivers of precious time among the vacationing guests from all over. Making our stay even that much more personal and memorable.
Left: My sloth find by me.
Below: Look who it is! Looking for the computer mouse? Who is watching who? Wire walking … such athletes!
Below: Look who it is! Looking for the computer mouse? Who is watching who? Wire walking … such athletes!
March 02, 2025
"Costa Rica's Pre Curtain Call"
The Drunken Jungle Chicken sounds the alarm. It’s nothing like a rooster but is often the first wake up call of the jungle. It’s 5:15 am. You can hardly hear the surf with so many happy birds singing.
It’s Sunday so breakfast is an hour later than usual. What a great time to go for an early morning walk. It seems that I am the first one on the beach. There are no other footprints. I can see all the holes in the sand made by little shy crabs. Which are peering at me before scampering back into their home.
All that is left from the magical beach wedding party is a bunch of discarded melting ice cubes. As is required by law the wedding party noise must stop at 10:00 pm in the evening. To our complete surprise, all was silent when we had returned from dinner last night. It’s definitely not a ‘Greek wedding’!
I look around for Mamma sloth and cannot find neither her or any of her friends. She won’t be joining us for breakfast this time sadly! After breakfast Norm remembered we had a gift of Nova Scotian maple syrup to give to Lettika and her husband Gier. They seemed very appreciative of our small gift. They asked if we would like to return again next year. But of course, if we can! And possible bonus there may be a cure for my 'hammock envy' in the works by next year!! Of course the self proclaimed Hammock Queen is very excited about the news.
We enjoyed our last dips in the pool; tortured good natured Teddy with our bad jokes and teasing; talked with our other British friends Sarah and Fraser … and before we knew it, it was monkey time. Possibly a different group of monkeys as they just played in the front garden swinging from palm to palm. Seemed like a smaller quieter well-behaved bunch; not the usual hooligans!
Sunset was as beautiful and romantic as usual. But upon our return to the car I got bitten by what may have been fire ants. I didn’t see them as it was very dark. Wow did the bites burn and sting! Rather than go straight to dinner I had to return to Los Monos to clean out up and apply meds.
Empty plate in hand we once again returned it to Darlenny at the Supper Club. A smaller crowd tonight, even more time for hugs! Eventually we were joined by the other two British couples from Los Monos. We had told them we really loved it there and they thought it would be fun to try. We hoped they would enjoy the experience and I’m pretty sure they did. I decided on gnocchi once again and for Norm a creamy shrimp and veggie pasta with a side of a small steak with peppercorn sauce. We were not disappointed!
We said our goodbyes to Darlenny and Daniel, and added “see you next year”. At least that’s the plan. I asked them how their trip to Greece last year by motorcycle went. They went so many places on the Mainland and Peloponnese. They loved Naxos and hope to return if time and budget allow.
Our time in Costa Rica is coming to a close! What a fun trip it has been with lots of interesting people that we got to know a little. Each place we enjoyed for different reasons. We would go back to all of them in a heartbeat. But at least we have the grandkids to go back to. Clara is starting to walk on her own and Jett is in the process of trying to. Sweet dreams await!
Right:
Darlenny and Daniel! Both the brains and the brawn behind the Matapalo Supper Club. Such hard workers! Such great meal experiences!
Below:
Penny and Brian.
Fraser and Sally and the rest of us.
March 03, 2025
"A Great Way for Nature Lovers to End the Trip"
There is definitely a change in the air temperature, you can feel the air slightly cooler and less humid. It’s almost 6:00 am and supposedly 26 degrees but feels less than that rather than more than that as is per usual. In the distance I hear the Scarlet Macaws squawking. Soon they will be in flight, going somewhere. Such a joy to see flying.
The bright yellow Great Kiskadee is singing his farewell song for us. It’s the day we leave Matapalo for San Jose, a three and a half hour drive plus stops. But before we go there is breakfast plus all the goodbyes.
Teddy and Dama seemed very moved when we presented them with a little extra $$. It felt so good. Dama has been there since our first stay at Los Monos. Life is not easy for her it seems, yet she is so sweet and such a hard worker. I even got kisses with the heartfelt hugs. Teddy we have known now for two years … and we just hit it off with lots of laughs and teasing both ways. And he knows how much we love nature and is always on the nature lookout for us!
We also said goodbye to our British friends who we shared lots of laughs with. Sharing just a wink of time, expecting no more of the momentary camaraderie.
And we were off. Of course we endured being twisted around with virtually no Aeropuerto signage! Yet we got the car back in time and immediately caught the shuttle from the car rental to the airport. From there our plan was to get another shuttle to our hotel. But instead we were dropped off immediately at our hotel! Surprise! Meanwhile we learned a few other American couples were refused hotel drop offs. Why … who knows for sure? Probably because we are so close to the airport. But who were we to refuse!!!???
We’ve stayed at the Hampton Inn several times now. It’s a good one night airport stop as it has a hotel shuttle to the airport and the airport is very close. Although it was 5:00 pm we decided to have one last swim. We enter the pool area in a total frenzy of activity. There were quite possibly a few hundred large green parrots squawking and squealing, dipping and diving through the surrounding tall palm trees. It was a parrot palooza! A little parrot matchmaking going on I would say … and they didn’t even get a room!
A great way to end the trip for nature lovers!
The pool was too cool for me so I took a pass but Norm went for the ‘polar plunge’ and didn’t stay in very long. Everything seems colder in San Jose, even the general air conditioning in the hotel seems cooler. On went a sweater for the first time in 26 days. Now don’t get me wrong it’s still a tropical climate but being at a higher elevation it is naturally noticeably cooler.
We grabbed a bit of supper from the hotel restaurant. I enjoyed the fried patacones with black bean dip while Norm had a nice looking hamburger. Patacones are a Costa Rican specialty, plantains dipped in batter and fried. Nice occasionally and perfect with the accompaniment of bean dip.
What a trip it has been! Now hopefully we arise at our 5:15 am wake-up time tomorrow morning!
The pool was too cool for me so I took a pass but Norm went for the ‘polar plunge’ and didn’t stay in very long. Everything seems colder in San Jose, even the general air conditioning in the hotel seems cooler. On went a sweater for the first time in 26 days. Now don’t get me wrong it’s still a tropical climate but being at a higher elevation it is naturally noticeably cooler.
We grabbed a bit of supper from the hotel restaurant. I enjoyed the fried patacones with black bean dip while Norm had a nice looking hamburger. Patacones are a Costa Rican specialty, plantains dipped in batter and fried. Nice occasionally and perfect with the accompaniment of bean dip.
What a trip it has been! Now hopefully we arise at our 5:15 am wake-up time tomorrow morning!
Last photos at Los Monos at breakfast.
Norm’s hamburger
