Costa Rica day 73 Mar. 21/22

Crossing the river in the taxi to Jim and Patty's house


Yesterday we said our goodbyes to Tone and Jaime and took a cab to Jim and Patty's house. Passing the beach at Carillo it was packed with people who were visiting the beach for the long w/end.
We arrived at the house in Islita and began to unpack. Then we hit the pool with it's refreshing fresh water. Jim and Patty, Don and Marion arrived from San Jose about an hour later. This was the first time I'd met Don and Patty. They'd been working hard in Hawaii for their pubs St. Patricks day celebrations. It was their 2nd best year ever after doing it for 20 years.
Patty made some incredible mango margaritas. We sat in and around the pool and had a few drinks and some tortillas made by the caretakers wife and some nachos and guacamole dip that Patty made.
For supper we had chicken, dried fish and rice and a veggie dish. After supper as it began to get dark we had wine, port, and cigars. The full moon came up to our left and was partially obscured by clouds which dissipated to brighten up the surf and the patio where Patty had lit some torches on the deck. Off in the distance we could see lightning flashing on the horizon behind the clouds. It was a beautiful evening and we turned in around 10 p.m. Shortly before turning in we heard a strange sound coming from beside the house. Jim new immediately what it was and took off at a run. Damn things he said. We all followed to see what it was and it turned out to be an armadillo who'd been eating the roots of the plants and roses.
He escaped and we heard it again as we were going to bed. How do you catch an armadillo? That remains to be seen.
It was very quiet and the only sounds were a few birds and the surf off in the distance. No chickens or dogs barking!
Jim got up with the dawn and headed for the beach to get in a few hours of surfing which we could watch with binoculars from the deck.
After a great breakfast Jo and Marion headed for a walk on the beach. In a few minutes Jim,Don and I are heading into Carillo to take the boat out to catch some yellowfin tuna that will (hopefully) be bbq'd for a small party tonight in the palapa. Looking forward to getting out on the water even if I don't catch a fish.

Costa Rica day 69 Mar. 17

This is a sketch Jo did while laying in the hammock. The iguana came along and sat there with perfect timing. I'd like to make a print of this as it's one of her best and very accurate.
A two hour hike along the beach and through the town and then a 2 hour stint on the beach and some hammock time. Jo crashed in the hammock in the yard and did a beautiful sketch of one of the palms complete with a philadendron and an iguana that happened along. She did a great job and I'm sure we'll be blowing it up into a picture. For supper we went into town to a new place for a cascada with pork. It's a typical Tico dinner and very good. On the way to this restaurant there was a vendor selling hammocks which we've been looking for. The local tourist stores wanted $30 and we got the first two in San Jose for $14. This guy had the kind we want and he wanted $25. I asked him how much for 4 and the price came down to around $20. I told him I had to go to the bank in the morning (we need enough to get home plus rum, cigars etc.) so he said he'd be there by 8. The bank opens at 8:30 and I'll be there as I don't want to have to wait all day to get out of served. This will pretty much wrap up our shopping. We also need to make arrangements for a bus to San Jose on Monday and a bus or taxi to get us to Islita on Friday. Only three days left here in Samara and it will be tough to leave.
We had just sat down at the restaurant when we saw Tone walk by on her way to check the internet. She joined us as we were finishing our supper and then we went to the fruit stand where they have ice cream. We pigged out there and then walked some of the backstreets in the dark and checked out some of the other restaurants as well as bars. Tone treated us to a drink. She ordered a sunshine which came green (St. Patricks day). Next door was another bar and it to was on the beach. They had a guy twirling fire so we watched in anticipation but he didn't set himself on fire. I got a video of it and he did pretty good. It was a great evening as we walked back down the beach (which reminds me I need to put some anti blood sucking, man biting, vampire insect spray on. Just thinking of them makes me itch.
LINK OF THE DAY
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31235&l=c9572&id=680056043

Costa Rica day 68 Mar. 16

It was breakfast in town this morning at the internet cafe. Earlier in the week we'd been there and heard a cd playing that we enjoyed. This morning we borrowed it while we ate and made a copy. We also picked up a few more blank cd's. After returning home to drop the mac off we went for a walk down some of the backroads to the East of us. Came across a huge brugmansia (trumpet flower) plant. I got some pictures of it with it's hundreds of flowers. Unfortunately it was surrounded by garbage and a junked truck. After that we walked to the West End of the beach again. It was more crowded than yesterday. Being Sunday all the local Ticos were there with their families.
I hit the beach about 10 a.m. again for 2 1/2 hours and then retired to the hammock for another couple. Jo worked on ideas for quilt designs and updated her journal. We're now working on portioning out our food and coffee as we'll be leaving here on Friday morning. Tues. we'll hit the bank one more time. Fridays and Mondays are good days to avoid going there unless you pack a lunch. We need to make up a list of what we yet have to buy so I know how much to get out. I know it's $26 each to leave the country. I wonder what they do if you don't have it? I'll have to ask.
No monkeys at the Monkey Mansion today although we heard them early this morning and again around 5 p.m. just as the cicada's were warming up for their symphony. It's 10 to 8 now and getting close to time to crash. Jo's already there.
LINK OF THE DAY
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31233&l=a92e3&id=680056043

Costa Rica day 67 Mar. 15

COSTA RICA AS SEEN BY AL
Went into town about 8:30 to get stamps but they're closed until Monday. We'd been awakened by two huge blasts which we've heard several times since and in volleys of two. Probably some kind of fireworks as they like to make sure people are up and about. We then picked up a couple of cd's so I can burn an album for Jim our landlord. When we got back I took care of the cd which he really appreciated and played it off and on all day. I hit the beach at 10 a.m. for 2 1/2 hours and got nicely toasted and then retired to the hammock where I listened to one of my audio books. Jo spent some hammock time down by the beach and got caught up on some sewing and journalism.
Tone invited Jim, Jo and I for supper in the yard for 6 p.m. which is just after dark. She made lentil soup, with blue cheese, and fresh bread backed up by a bottle of Chilean Red. Jo brought a plateful of cut up fruit, and I took a bottle of rum and some coke. We even had a white table cloth (part of Jo's sewing stuff) and a candle. About 8:30 we called it a wrap just as it began to shower. The power had gone off while we were eating but it was quite nice as there was a bonfire on the beach next door where they were burning all the leaves and palm branches they'd raked up during the day making the place ready for the owners over Easter.
This is the third sign of rain since we've been here and it only lasted for about 20 minutes. It was nice to sit out on our balcony under the wide roof and listen to it bouncing off the tin roofs. (Every roof down here is corrugated tin).
We turned in around 9 which is late for Jo, and I began to pay the price for not spraying my feet with Deet. The no see ums but sure feel ums had been eating me while I was enjoying supper. I finally dozed off after several hours of an extreme itch. Fortunately the itch disappears by morning.
LINK OF THE DAY
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30904&l=b4f97&id=680056043

Costa Rica day 66 Mar. 14

Same old, same old.. Roosters at 5 a.m. closely followed by grandpa howler who sounded like he was in the bedroom with us. The noise of the surf outside was also accompanied by the cicadas or whatever it is that lives in the trees and sounds like a turbine screaming. I got up (sleep was impossible by now) and filmed the morning symphony so I have the sound track for future use. It's daylight now at 6 a.m. and I've been typing out on the balcony. The dawn begins to appear at 5:30. It's amazing how the howlers know when it's exactly 5 a.m.
Last night I was plagued by no see ums who managed to each take a chunk out of me. I think I wore down my fingernails scratching. Tonight they'll go hungry as I'll paint myself with poison and see who dies first, me or the bloody bugs.
The local squirrels are out in the trees over our heads doing their acrobatics. These squirrels are bigger than ours and are a rusty color on their backs with huge bushy tails. They seem to take delight in cheating death while jumping onto branches that shouldn't be able to hold them. They also enjoy eating the almonds and then throwing the nuts down onto the tin roofs. Well it's time for a breakfast of granola and yogurt. The monkeys have shut up and now they're probably on the move to find a place to rest for the day being as they've managed to wake up the whole world. It's amazing how noiselessly they move through the trees once they've finished howling. You could walk right under them and never know they're there (until they pee on you).
After breakfast we walked down the beach to town and then through town and down some of the backstreets rounding the West end of the beach and then headed East back towards the beach where we were yesterday. The tide was much higher this time. Met a lady from Victoria and chatted with her for a while and then walked the beach back to Samara. We checked out some of the souvenir shops and then went to the fruit stand on the way back. Picked up some fruit (pineapple, limes, coconut and guacamole) and as we were leaving the kid there was squeezing oranges into juice. Now that's real orange juice not the stuff they sell down here which tastes more like orange pop. We each had a large cup of that and I think next time we'll buy it from him as it's the real thing. I also noticed they had ice cream! That's now on my list.
We haven't had a coconut since we've been here and they're laying all over the place. I borrowed a rusty machete but ended up cracking it open on a rock. Jo drank the juice and then I began prying out the meat. mmmm it was great. Next time I'll use the machete and open some from the ground.
Jo just read in a book that the tides lately have been between 6 and 8'. That's a lot of water and the beach is so flat that it represents a few hundred feet! She also read that no alcohol is sold from Mar. 20 to Mar. 22nd (Easter?) Now that's important! We've been planning what we'll need to bring back home so we'll need to stock up before we leave here next friday morning. We also need to pick up some souvenirs which needs to be done before then.
For supper we walked down the beach to Shake Joe's and had a burger and a beer while I contacted a few of you via skype. Fun talking to the kids especially Isabella and Diego when we can actually see each other.
Before leaving Shakes we put on some bug repellant as the sand fleas really attack with a vengeance after dark. Seems to have worked as I'm not scratching tonight.
Behind us and below our bedroom window are a family of Ticos (locals). They get up at dawn and the little guy gets picked up by a van to go to school at 6 a.m. In the afternoon it's siesta time and then they eat supper around 8 p.m. The lady has an outdoor kitchen and does her laundry and washes the dishes outside. Not sure how many live there but there seems to be quite a gang of them from Mom and Dad (grandparents?) to daughter and a couple of young ones. She has a beautiful garden of flowers and a variety of palms. They also have a young dog which the little girl looks after. We've also noticed a lack of cats around here. That's no loss for me. Most of the dogs have owners which is something you don't see in San Jose where dogs live off the streets. There are some resident chickens which I guess you'd call "free range' if you can call garbage free range. Garbage pickup here is pretty random. We put our edible scraps in a container only accessible by chickens and birds. Everything else is put into plastic bags (including toilet paper) and they pick it up when they get to it. Today was the day and just in the nick of time as it was starting to pile up.
For any of you who have a computer and haven't already done so download skype. It's free and you can call anywhere in the world for .02 a minute and if you call another computer it's free and if you have a video camera you can see each other. Best thing we've done and I highly recommend it.
LINK OF THE DAY
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30899&l=9d2bb&id=680056043

Costa Rica day 65 Mar. 13

We were again awakened around 5 a.m. by the howlers who were right outside our window again. There is another trooop about a quarter of a mile away and they seem to wait until they hear the howl of the other troop before responding. I guess it's a way of saying "we're over here so you guys stay there". There are around 5 or 6 of them including 2 very young ones, an adolescent, parents and an old guy. They all seem to keep an eye on the young ones while they're playing and even the old one carries the young ones on his back when a big leap from tree to tree is required. I filmed them for quite a while and then went down on the ground to get them from beneath. Jo was also down there and all of a sudden without any warning they all peed at the same time. It was a regular shower and just missed Jo. This isn't the first time this has happened to her and the first time it happened they were a better shot. This was quickly followed up by a mass pooping of the troops which also missed the mark. They hung around for the better part of the morning in the trees surrounding our rooms. Some of these trees are almond and papaya so when they're not eating they're sleeping (or practicing their marksmanship). It's too bad they're such poor shots (well not for Jo I guess) as it would have made a memorable story and picture for the kids.
We headed into town for breakfast to our usual eatery where they have internet. They don't charge us anymore because we spend money there. After breakfast we walked to the post office and Jo picked up two aerograms so she can send letters to the kids. Problem is now we don't know if they include the postage or not.
We also picked up some fresh fruit at a roadside stand. You could smell the fruit from out on the street and it was enough to make your mouth water.
The afternoon was spent with Jo in the hammock and me in the water. After that I dozed for an hour or so in the hammock on the deck and killed a couple of rum & cokes and a stogie. We've also found that the r&c are good with a little orange juice mixed in.
Just before our supper (sandwiches) I went back to the store and picked up some more supplies (rum, coke, yogurt, and a pen for Jo who's burning up the pages with her journal).
She has been drafting an idea to write our story. Some of the titles were "77 days in Costa Rica" and "Pura Vida" which is the national slogan of Costa Rica meaning "Pure Life". I'm in favour of "Chicken Busses and Backpacks" so we'll see who wins. Your suggestions and comments are welcome.

Costa Rica day 64 Mar. 12

Wow less than 2 weeks to go. Today we walked to the West end of the beach to hopefully do some more snorkelling. Nada. The water was pretty rough and there were a lot of rocks in the way to get to open water (and I have tender feet.) Low tide was at noon and we had left at 9 so we wandered back after Jo spent an hour looking for treasures in the tidal pools. Came home with some abalone shells and a blue crab sighting. Made a quick lunch and then it was into the water for me for an hour or so. Waves are still pretty big. Jo sat in the hammock and updated her journal. The power was off today from 8 a.m. until about 3:30 so I dozed in the hammock. I've been getting about 4 hours a day in the water and sun which is enough at one time. I should be back to my black self by the time we leave here.
This was our night out for supper so we asked Tone (the Norwegian translator) to join us. She suggested a Mexican restaurant about a quarter of a mile East on the beach. Had a great meal and a couple of beer and then came back by way of the beach. The tide isn't quite so high tonight and we'd put on bug spray to ward off the sand fleas (or the bloody man eating cockroaches that come out at dusk). Last night on the way back from supper they tried to eat my feet off. Talk about an itch! They went hungry tonight and we came back all intact. It's now 8:54 p.m. and time to call it a day.
Jo and i were talking about what a great place this would be for the kids and grandkids to see. We were also wondering what will we do next year. We've seen pretty much everything Costa Rica has to offer and although this is a great place I think I'd get bored just laying around here for an extended period of time. One of my dreams has been to see the Tonga Islands via boat.. Maybe that's an option for next year. Rent a sailboat and cruise the islands. Live on the boat, snorkel all day and explore the islands. We'll have to look into that. It would also mean getting an underwater housing for my camera as the water and reefs there are supposed to be incredible. We haven't found calm enough water here for good snorkeling. It just occurred to me that I've been spelling snorkeling wrong for the last two months. Forgive me for those of you literate enough to have noticed.
Well that's a wrap for today. Tomorrow is a shopping day in the village and then some more of the same.
LINK OF THE DAY
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30765&l=7ed6a&id=680056043