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!

Floating down the river

We began Saturday and Sunday morning with a 30 minute walk that takes us to what seems to be a river flowing into the sea. It tastes salty so I'm not sure what it really is. We had walked to this point before and noticed a couple of people floating down toward the sea, then standing up, walking back and doing it all over again. Looked like fun but we weren't sure just how safe it was. Saturday morning there was a group of 16 in one part of it and  and a group of  5 closer to where we standing. They were speaking Spanish so I said Hola,( one of about 16 words I know ) and with sign language and words asked about crocodiles. They understood me and I learned a new word- cocodrillo and then realized a few minutes later as they spoke to newcomers that they were laughing at the Canadians  who thought there might be crocodiles in the water. Anyway, we walked into the cool water and cooled off after the hot walk down the beach and stayed there for the next hour. A young woman from the larger group heard us speaking and came over to talk to us. "Do you speak English?"she said. She was originally from North Carolina and is living here now and was happy to have a chance to speak her first language and we were happy to have someone who could answer some questions about the area and some customs. Her friend came over and then the friend's dad who showed us a hermit crab and was interested in us but wanted to warn us about rip tides. We assured them we aren't going that far out. I just go into the surf up to my knees as the surf frightens me and Ernie doesn't want to take the chance of getting knocked about and tearing his arm up again - so we stay safe.
We finally tore ourselves away from this beautiful spot because we still had a half hour walk back to our car and are anxious to avoid sunburn.
This morning we walked back to the spot and  we floated our morning away again, then spent some time at a restaurant facing the sea and feeling the sea breeze and swam in the community swimming pool. As I was changing in the change room, I spotted a great big frog behind the door, I was afraid to run out wearing only my birthday suit so forced myself to dress, one eye on the frog and one foot out the door.  Yikes! He kindly averted his eyes, remained in his crouched position and allowed me to leave unharmed. I much prefer the humming birds who come mornings and evenings to feed on the honeysuckle, or the bats who fly about at night as we sit eating our evening meal, or the Kiskadee who sings from the rooftop, or the little gecko who sits on the ceiling of the patio waiting for some little insect to come his way.

Age has its benefits! Another bank experience today. ATM wouldn't work so we decided to try again inside. We were directed to the line for the old, pregnant and handicapped ! And then were told to use the ATM in the Supermarket - that was for international transactions. Didn't work. So we found another bank and it worked and I think the first few we tried didn't have the cirrus, visa, MasterCard labels on it. Problem solved and colones in our pocket.
We went back to the first national park of a few days ago. We were greeted by Maurice, loaded with binoculars and a telescope and bird books and all manner of reference material. He was for hire and we joined a young couple from Russia, now living in New Jersey. He took us a on a three hour walk in the forest / jungle and we saw many, many birds, bats, and monkeys,and were informed about many things. He was a very happy, knowledgable Costa Rican. If we had gone by ourselves we would have missed most of what we saw. He had a great sense of humour and could call the howler monkeys and they would answer. He said," They are my cousins"
After the tour, wonder of wonders, we found an air conditioned restaurant. I didn't need any more ambience.
We have several pictures that Maurice took with our camera held to the telescope. Worked really well.
No propane barbecue here, instead there are briquettes. I can see the neighbors have one and I am coveting my neighbor's goods, but not her husband. So I sit here, inhaling the smell of the starter and wondering how long they will take. That will be on my list of complaints along with the corkscrew.

Going to a bank in Costa Rica

Today we had the experience of going to a bank. The only good thing was it was aircondtioned so we were happy to sit down and wait our turn, which wasn't in numerical order as far as I could see. Our number was A271. Other numbers began with other letters. There were two guards at the door, one who unlocked the door to let us in and the other whose job it was to tell us to take off our hats.  Senor and senora, sombrero! Shortly after that a good looking Costa Rican came in with his hat on backwards. He wasn't told to remove it. Ours have brims all the way around so there is no way to wear it backward - if that was the way they preferred. After 30 minutes it was our turn. We couldn't use the ATM as it was out of service so we gave the teller our card. No way! Has to use our visa or Masterr Card which would have been a cash advance. Well we don't do that. However he did agree to change a 50000 and 200000 colons note into smaller ones for us. We went to another bank up the street and the ATM wouldn't work there either.
We scouted out the the very famous Manuel Antonio National Park today. The amount of restaurants, bars, and hotels on the way up the mountain was amazing! I was disappointed with the way tourism has taken over. Reminded me of Niagara Falls which looked just like a carnival atmosphere for. I've before returning you got to the Falls itself. I hope the park itself is still as natural as it can be. We will go there when Kyle comes but mush earlier than we went today! It was blistering! Beautiful beaches there as well.

Lazy day yesterday! Around one o'clock we decided to take  a short walk to see what the little store near us has and to check out the little restaurant near us. We weren't sure we wanted to eat there, but the beer looked okay( and I rarely drink beer) but we joined 6 others doing the same thing. Hot, hot, and so the pool was the next obvious step.
We'd been told that there is a hotel and restaurant about a 30 minute walk down the beach and so decided to check that out last night. We drove down a road that is much like Saskatchewan grid roads in the 1940s. In fact, any road leading off the main highway is like that. You crawl along at a snail's pace and ride the bumps and potholes. There are people living in little houses and shacks right beside these dirty dusty roads. They don't have much - so grateful for Canada and our standard of living. We found the hotel and were told they are open at 7.
We walked under a cloudy sky this morning and it took us 30 minutes( younger legs could do it in 20 )arriving about 7:40. Finally after about 15 minutes, a long haired, slim fella  said,"You here for breakfast? We don't open until 8. but hey no problem, will have you serve in a few minutes .Help yourselves to coffee." And coffee it was! I can still feel it coursing through my veins.  We each had a delicious yogurt ,fresh fruit and granola bowl and shared a spicy egg, salsa, avocado, black bean and tortilla platter. Delicious! We faced the sea, and little Costa Rican man with a great big grin on his face as he raked the sand and  tidied up the area around the beach.
Today we will drive to the town of Quepos a few kilometres down and road and take a look at the National Park there. Also need a few more food items - but thank goodness we have the wine opener. 😀

 Sunset at Playa Bejuco

Looking for a corkscrew to open a wine bottle should be easy, right? Wrong! Not when you can't  say corkscrew in Spanish and they don't seem to carry them. Had a bottle of red ready to open the other night and began to search the drawers and cupboards for one. None to be had, which is also the case with the garage door opener. So as the keeper of the keys, I close the garage door after Ernie, and when we return from wherever we've been I unlock the door to the house, come in and open the garage door for him. Somebody must have take off with the opener and the owners never did replace it. Anyway back to the corkscrew. Imagine 30 degree heat, back to back traffic, no parking but we are determined. The first place, Maxi Pali, owned by Walmart, but with no air conditioning, carries lots of stuff, but not here. So on to the next place that showed on the GPS - oops now closed. We see another one, but this is where the traffic is bad and parking non existent. Ernie let me out, I went in and said vino and pantomimed opening the bottle. The cute little cashier knew what I wanted! Success! She came close to getting a hug.
We've begun to find a routine here. Because it is SO hot any exercise or walking the beach need to be finished by 8:30, and if we were doing it really right we'd be done by 8. So we start the day with a walk on a very long beautiful beach with hardly anyone around.
Costa Rica is hot I was told before we came and yes it is hot! They charge extra for the electricity here in this community. It is called Ecovida and they want to to be ecologically responsible so by charging they hope people won't use the aircondtioning 24/7. So we don't. We can sit outside or go somewhere in the hottest part of the day in the air conditioned car, which adds to the pollution by using the air conditioning and the exhaust from the car!
Yesterday we intended to go to a National Park up the road but took a side trip to a wildlife refuge and butterfly farm, which wasn't much. Lots of snakes and frogs in cages and some rescued toucans and parrots with broken beaks and broken wings. There were a few butterflies, but not like I've seen I other places. Farther up the road, we stopped to view the crocodiles from a bridge and by the time we got to the National Park it was after 3 and it was too late to get in. We will try that again, but earlier as it would be cooler.

I am writing this as we sit on the patio out our back door here in a gated complex called Ecovida. If you google that we are in a house called Casa Perfecta. It has cooled down a little and there is a slight breeze that helps me out.  There are several birds calling but I can't see them, smart little fellas that they are. This is a haven for birds and I hope to get a couple of sessions of bird watching in while here. So far we've just begun to familiarize ourselves with the place, shopping where the locals shop for groceries and finding it difficult to read the Spanish.

It was a long ride to get here as we flew on airmiles and they make you wait,- 6 hours in Calgary, but Jodi,Kirstine, Courtney and Charlee met us and took us our for lunch. Then we spent the night in Houston, getting in late and getting up early to catch the flight to Costa Rica.  We were met at the airport there but had an hour long wait for the car to appear.The hotel we chose near the airport in  Costa Rica  had a restaurant attached so we were able to have lunch, supper, and breakfast there. We stayed there overnight as we couldn't get into the condo until the 24th.The  car rental agency came to the hotel the next morning with the car,  did all the business there on the hotel deck and we were off. There were a few anxious moments as we thought the GPS wasn't going to find the satellites but it soon did and we were guided here arriving about 2:30 with stops in a town called Jaco for lunch.
Yesterday we found enough food for supper and today brought home a few more things to keep us fat, dumb and happy.
We began this morning with an hour long walk on the beach which seems to go forever and is very wide. There are surfers, boogie  boarders, fishermen. A young man and his grandpa were watching the sand carefully and when they saw something, know only to them, they would run to the spot dig with a pipe and suddenly have a little cray fish from under the sand to use for bait.
So that brings us to today. In about another hour or so, it will be happy hour and maybe a swim, We have our own pool but there is a community one which we haven't had a chance to investigate yet.
Tomorrow should be more about the area as the clothes are hung in the closet, food is in the fridge 'and maybe we will go monkey watching anew miles up the road.

Costa Rica

This is a test to see if the blog will work for us.