Is the grass greener on the other side of the country?

We decided to travel to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica to see a little more of this little country. It's a good thing we see used to long drives as it was eight hours before we arrived. The distance is about 350 k but with the traffic( many trucks on their way to and from the port of Limon) fog, rain, speed limits and a stop for lunch it is still quite a journey.
We decided on a Monday night to go the next morning which meant we needed to find a hotel room ASAP. I phoned a couple that had been recommended by the office staff and although they were full they gave me leads to several others. All were full and one spoke only Spanish and as I spoke only English.....  When I looked at my list I wasn't sure I had called them all so I asked Ernie to call and if I had done it twice I wouldn't be embarrassed! The man who answered said, "Oh, your wife called me already and I suggested she call the Blue Conga." ( It hadn't occurred to me he would have call display!) Ernie said that only Spanish was spoken and we were unable to communicate. The man on the other end said he would call for us and he did! He called back within moments, told us he had spoken with the hotel and that we had a room for two nights and he followed that up with a text.! We had a room for 70.00 with breakfast.
We were made very welcome on arrival in Puerto Viejo, and  given a room with a big king bed. That night we went to sleep with sounds of frogs all night, and woke to howler monkeys in the distance and a cacophony of bird sounds! On our balcony, in the morning, with our coffee, we watched as several hummingbirds came to the trees around us. They flitted from flower to flower, perched on the branches and wires and just generally gave us a great show. I saw another beautiful bird, black with bright red on its back and was able to identify it as Cherrie's tanager. There were several others we could see as well, but I won't go on and on.
After a great cooked breakfast we made our way to Uva Beach where we spent the day under the shade of a big old tree and when we got too warm went in past the surf to float and swim in the waves. Howler monkeys again were keeping us company! It isn't possible to do that at our great big beautiful beach as the surf is too big and you would have to go too far out to reach the quiet parts.
We would have liked more time and had we known what we know now, may have booked less time here and more time there. However what's done is done and our month in Costa Rica is nearly at an end.
Yesterday we drove about 2 hours to the city of San Isidro de El General, up over a mountain and down the other side to the city nestled in the valley. It never fails to amaze me what is off on the little side roads here. In this case it was great paved road all the way. But most of the time you turn off the pavement on to a gravelled, rough potholed road and after a kilometre  or so you will find a great restaurant, or a hotel. The other night we found a great restaurant at the end of one these roads, filled with people and we had a great meal! There are many gated communities in areas like these, in fact the one we are staying in is at the end of one of these roads too!
This is the last entry for this blog. We leave here on Wed  for our hotel about 25k from San Jose, where I have booked a tour of San Jose. On Thursday we fly to Houston, where we will stay with our friends Darlene and Bob, and fly home on March 2.
Just some observations

It's been a few days since I blogged!
Last Thursday, we drove to Jaco where Kyle, Ernie and I left a few dollars. We found another rooster for our cupboard collection and spent some time wondering through the souvenir shops, taking a look at the beach at Jaco. We didn't stay as it was very hot. We drove down the road to see the crocodiles at Tarcoles and tried to find the macaws we'd seen previously. They, of course weren't, there, but they did fly overhead later as we were leaving a roadside restaurant after a late lunch.
On Friday, at Kyle's request, we had a lazy day at the beach in in the pool here at the house we are renting.
Saturday morning we left early to make a day of it before we dropped off Kyle at a hotel close to airport for his early morning flight on Sunday. We drove to the Poas Volcano whichis at nearly 9000 feet altitude and there I discovered that Coast Rica does have some cool spots. The walk to the volcano was cool and drizzly, but enjoyable. We were told that the volcano was clouded over and they were right, but hundreds of others like us decided to walk the 20 minute walk to the lookout point. We missed a beautiful sight as we could see from the interpretation center, but enjoyed the lush growth and the cool, air of the area. From there we drove to the La Pas Watefall Gardens, a nature park and wildlife refuge, mostly to see the butterflies, which is advertised as the worlds largest butterfly observatory. I was slightly disappointed. But to be fair the sun wasn't out and so the butterflies weren't as active as they would have been in the  sunlight. We did see a lot and enjoyed what we did see. The highlight for me was the hummingbird area! There were hundreds of hummingbirds at feeders, in the trees, and flying about! There was a magnificent purple hummingbird which we could stand inches from and watch as they drank the sugar water! There were many, many species there! I was fascinated and didn't want to leave, but there were other things to see. There was a toucan area, with two different species of toucans, one with a very colourful bill and the other with a yellow bill. Both Ernie and Kyle, with the the help of a guide, let the toucans sit on ttheir arms. Parrots, macaws, Jaguars, ocelots and other cats, monkey, orchids, frogs, it was all an amazing place.
Valentine's Day was spent quietly here by the pool, on the beach in the morning, and down to the beach about 4:30 with our chairs to watch the people and the sunset at 5:45.
Today we have to bring in some more groceries , so that will mean a trip about 30 k down the road.
I finally asked one of the office staff about crocodiles in the river, which Kyle named Croc River, the one we love to float in after a 30 minute walk. And yes he said there are crocodiles in the river, there are crocodiles everywhere in Costa Rica. In fact he said there are crocodiles in the river under the bridge we drive over everyday on our way to the beach! It is only about 200 meters from the gate at this complex. As an added piece of info, from Kyle, that small stream is the river that ends up at the ocean where we have been floating merrily along. I guess it is like bears in Sask. Yes there are bears there, but you don't always have an encounter.
Well, nearly noon, time for lunch and the air conditioner!

Encounters with snakes, monkeys and ants and hummingbirds

Some little ants decided that they would like to come in and take up residence in our jar of sugar and the remaining sugar that was in the bag. They were busily scurrying around the doorway and on the floor in the kitchen. Once we realized the sugar was the attraction, it seems that removing the sugar bag was answer to the invasion. We are supposed to have some kind of natural " insecticide " placed within the house sometime today.
Meanwhile down at the office, Shannon, owner of the company that manages these homes had alittle present delivers to her by her dog. He had a baby hummingbird in his mouth and when she realized what he brought to her she managed to rescue it, and place it in a container with a type  of wire bowl, with a soft cloth in the middle, surrounded by red hibiscus. The little bird was perched there this morning when we saw it. Shannon and some of the other staff, take turns placing it outside about every 20 minutes. Then mother of the little bird, comes to feed it! Sometimes Shannon waits until she hears the mama calling or sometimes if it is quiet around the office she puts it outside in the same place in the shade of her car. She has a video of the feeding- it is quite remarkable! We have pictures of the little bird which I will try to post.
Most of you have probably seen the picture of Kyle and I with the monkey on our shoulders,eating banana from our hand. It wasn't the thing to do, I know. and I wouldn't do it again. I took off my hat for the feeding and one of the monkeys came into the boat and took my hat onto shore and just left it the. I love my hat and was afraid it was going to end up Ina tree, but the guide jumped onto land and returned the hat to its rightful place.
Yesterday during a tour through theManuel Antonio National Park , we saw many fascinating things through our guide's binoculars . He placed our cameras against the lens and snapped some great pictures. Kyle put them on FB and Ernei shared them so you should be able to see them. The heat was incredible by about 10:00 when we had to walk back about 30 minutes. Kyle called it a death march! And it was.
 We were able to find a nice restaurant to eat lunch with a great sea breeze to cool us down. There we were, 2 of us sipping on a mohito, when I felt something brush my arm. There was a green tree snake making its along the banister towards a tree and I just happened to be an obstacle in its path. I jumped right up, moving the fastest  I've moved since I came to this warm place!
This morning Kyle did an adventure tour with a zip line and some rappelling and Tarzan swinging. This afternoon we eare njoying some air conditioning, but are leaving in few minutes for the community pool to swim and watch the macaws come in to roost for the night.

Monkey Business

We picked up Kyle at the airport at about 7:45, and then began to make our way home. Despite purchasing a chip for the GPS for Costa Rica, just before we left, it wasn't updated to the new highway, so it tooks us out of town on the old bumpy, twisty turny one and about 45 minutes later we found the highway we wanted. Coming into Alujela, we were lucky enough to to see a sign that said airport and so managed to avoid that old one.  Not so lucky on the way out when it was a much darker. After stopping for something to eat in Jaco, we were back at the condo by about 11:00.
We began the first day of Kyle's visit with a beach walk and a swim in the river and then breakfast at a restaurant near us.  We made a trip into Quepos hoping to shop around at all the stores there, but everything but the groceries stores are closed on Sunday! So Kyle saw some country and also made a booking for an Adventure tour that will include zip lining, waterfall rappelling and a monkeys drop and other adventures.  Ernie would love to joint him but his shoulder won't allow him to take part and I simply don't want to do it. No excuse except fear. I hope to shop before the temperature gets too high.
We went to a Super Bowl Party and had a drink and then found a quieter place to have a meal.
Today we walked again, but in the other direction and after lunch we took an excellent Monkey Mangrove tour. We saw many white- faced capuchin monkeys, a yellow necked heron, and a few doves, which apparently have been food for the heron! We had a great guide who did everything he could to show us a great time. There was a young mom with a 2 month old baby and 4 year old little girl. The 4 year old had monkeys sitting on her head and had peals of delighted laughter! The oldest woman in the boat did not look quite as relaxed! Pictures to follow. We all had our turn at feeding the monkeys bananas.
He also went to the mouth of the river where he showed us a spot on shore where a crocodile had been sunning himself. I don't think we will be swimming in the river anymore! This was a different river, but the same scenario, where the river meets the sea, which is exactly what happens where we have been swimming.!!!!
Tomorrow we take a tour at Manuel Antonio Park in the morning and hopefully find some good snorkelling in the afternoon.

Confined to barracks!

We have spent some quiet days, beginning with a walk on the beach,  some shopping, i.e picking up a phone card for my phone so we can make locals calls, buying some tonic water,( important for wine o'clock,) and a few more groceries. We are about 13 k from a little town where we can do a little shopping, and about 30 k from a bigger spot with a lot more choices. Travelling in Costa Rica on a good but narrow highway with speed limits that vary from 25 to 40 to60 to 80 means that the 13 kilometre can take  much longer than you would expect, especially if there is a something stopping traffic.
They are building a house here in the gated complex where we are staying with guards at the front gate. The workers have to wear a bracelet like you would get at a resort to identify you. There is petty crime here and they do their best to protect you. But these workers are working outside with an cement mixer, dipping water out of a barrel with a 5 gallon pail and then hauling the cement by hand to where ever it is needed. Yesterday we were told it was 36 here and today I know it is 31. I cannot imagine how they do it. They begin at seven and I saw them leave last night at 5. All of them them walk home or ride a bike - an old bike, with one speed.
We were told yesterday while visiting in the community pool that a worker who has a job here in the complex rides his bike 13 kilometre here to start work at 6, leaves at 2:30 to ride the 13 k back in this intense heat to start another job when he gets back to the little town of Parrita!
Yesterday we sent a couple of hours in the pool while waiting for the fish truck to drive by and sell us some fresh fish. We bought tuna last week and this week we bought some sea bass. While in the pool we met s couple from Wisconsin,who have bought a place here, and other couple from Montreal. The couple from Montreal does not have a car. They use a bus and taxi to get around. We rented a car so we are footloose and fancy free.
Yesterday our internet was down for about 12 hours and today the power was out for 6 hours. There have been quick little power outages before this , but this was the first one to last so long.
Occasionally we will go out to eat. We did so the other night, sat at tables with white cloths, facing the sea and listening to the roar of the ocean. The fish was served with mashed potatoes and a salad. I looked at the salad, noticed the cucs weren't peeled, saw some wilted lettuce and said, " I wonder if we should eat this.?" Well we did and about 26 hours later, last night at around 11 pm, I was sure we shouldn't have eaten the salad. We were both down or up with the usual stomach ailments caught while travelling. I will leave out the details,but we spent most of today in bed sleeping off the the illness and trying to get rid of the weakness that has lasted most of the day. Hence the title, confined to barracks. I am grateful that we had a place to lay our heads, that we weren't on an airplane some
place, that it happened when it did. Tomorrow we have to be well to drive a couple of hours to the airport to pick up Kyle, who is coming to stay for a week. We are looking forward to his stay and have lots planned to do while he is here.

Waterfalls, snakes and snorkelling and heat!

Yesterday, Feb.1 we drove about an hour and a half south along the Pacific coast to a national park called Parque Nacional Marino Ballena, aka National Marine Whale Park. It is called this for two reasons: apparently you can see whales from December to April, and the way the tide comes in on two sides it makes the shape of a whale's tail. From the park entrance it is a 30 minute walk to the the whales tail and some coral where you can snorkel. That's what we did but the snorkelling was not very good. We did see some fish but they reminded me of tiny jacks and there weren't any colourful ones.  We spoke  to a woman from Germany who had been out much farther than we ventured and she said that she'd seen a lot of dead coral but lots of pretty fish. That 30 minute walk in 33 degree heat was almost more than I could take!! And I had to do it on the way back.
We stopped in the town of Uvita where we found a tourist information center- first one we've seen here and they suggested going to a waterfall. Sounded good so we decided to do that first before the snorkelling to give the day a chance to cool down as we knew we had that 30 minute walk ahead of us. We took a washboard, potholed, bumpy road to the waterfall. We paid our 1000colones each and then made our way down the"steps". The "railings" were rubber hose in some places, not all, and sometimes tree roots were part of the "steps" Well we made it, but not before I spied a snake making its way through the forest in the direction we were walking. I haven't looked it up yet,but I will never forget what it looked like. Maybe it was harmless. The falls were a disappointment. Ernie said his cousin near Outlook has a better waterfall on his farm. We climbed our way back up, shared a fish taco for lunch and each quenched our thirst with a pineapple, passion fruit smoothie.
We found an air conditioned store called Mini Price with many products we recognized, including tonic water and feta cheese.😀 We have been on a search for for dishwasher soap but they don't have it in  the local store, as I am sure, given the condition of some of the homes, that they are lucky if they have dishes. However Mini Price serves the tourists and although they do carry it, they were out so we will make another trip to Quepos and look at some of the sights there.
Today we went back to the river and floated in the water again for a little while and just generally had a quiet day, with a trip to check our some local restaurants for future dining and to the meat market for some seasoned pork. So time to get the show on the road and supper on the table, but it is so hot I hope Ernie does the cooking and I cool down with some white wine!