We awoke with the sun coming up over the left end of the beach as the house faces due South. After a quick breakfast (I was feeling a little better) Jim took off with some watermelon and his board to hit the surf. We followed along around 8 a.m and took the 15 minute walk to the beach where the turtle hatchery is. We walked to the East end of the 6 km. beach (about 3 km from where we entered) and by the time we got to the end the tide had gone a way out. We're only 10 degrees above the equator but the beaches are so flat that it goes out a long way. Jim was out in the waves along with about 10 other guys (all of whom were 40 years younger) but he was able to hold his own and most of them later came back to the house for some watermelon and coffee.
There was a large cage near the hatchery on the beach marked off on the sand by string were 2' square grids where eggs were buried. We also saw many black and white sticks in the sand along the beach which denoted where other nests were. This beach is the nesting grounds for Ridley, Green, and Leatherback turtles. When we arrived back at the hatchery I was pretty much out of water so we filled up from their hose and the hosts there were very friendly and informative.
Jim arrived back here before we did. We should have come back sooner and it was really starting to heat up. When we arrived Louis the caretaker came over with some fresh backed corn tortillas and some meat and salsa. The corn tortillas here are only made from corn flour and water. There's enough calcium in the water to bind it all together so no oil is req'd. We loaded up and Jim informed us we were eating BOA CONSTRICTOR tortillas!!!! Now that's really neat. It was quite tasty and somewhat chewey. He said they catch them in the nearby river up to 14' long and then filet them.
Jim worked via his computer and phone all afternoon while Jo and I sat on the deck or lay in the hammocks reading. Jim recommended a book by a famous Spanish author called Alchemy. I read it in two hours and it's an excellent story! The basic theme is to chase your dream and follow your heart. Very inspiring and I'll see if I can get a copy of it when we get home.
Jim got out surfing again in the afternoon and had some great waves for an hour when the wind changed. I managed to get a picture of him walking back up the dirt road a quarter of a mile away carrying his big board. Now thats an exercise program. He brought a local surfer boy back from the beach with him for supper. Eduardo was a great additon to our super supper of leftover chicken from last night and the best fish I've ever tasted. Jim cooked it on the bbq and it was yellowfin cooked Hawaii style that Jim caught off his 26' fishing boat that he keeps in Corrilla (our last place of residence). We watched it grow darker until Jim had to get back to the telephone but a huge beatle landed on me which I managed to get a picture of. We haven't identified it yet but it was a monster. Wish I'd kept it to bring home.
We later asked Jim where he recommended we go while down here. Several people including him have nixed Nicaragua due to the crooked cops but have had Panama as a place to see. So change in plans. We'll continue south from here, cross over by ferry to Puntarenas and then head south to Panama and see the canal. Hopefully catch a boat that passes through just for the experience. Then it will be back to our original plan to go to Limon on the Caribbean side for a few days and then to Arenal the volcano, cloud forest, jungle reserve. We'll probably spend some time there to enjoy the sights and the hot springs. Feb. has been recommended as the best time to view the volcano as the clouds lift and lately it's been active so you can see the lava at night flowing down the sides. We saw a postcard of the site and wow it's something I'd sure like to see
Jim has a friend in Golfito that he thinks he can hook us up with for a free night or two so hopefully that will shake out.
Jim is leaving here at 5 a.m. tomorrow so we'll lock up before leaving for Nicoya to catch a bus further south.
LINK OF THE DAY
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=26560&l=d31ab&id=680056043
3 comments:
Paulo Coehlo wrote the Alchemist. That's probably it.
Jeez Al! Boa Constrictor! I hope it wasn't Boa Diddly! Remember him?
Great pictures and WOW what a wonderful place to spend a few days! Boa, however, whould not be passing these lips! Jo, I hope you got the notes I tried to send you by e-mail. I'm getting the "we're out of the country" blerb so don't know if they are getting thru or not. Either way, I'm thinking of you both and enjoying "the view".
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