Part 2 - Costa Rica 2009

April 11, 2009-
After the show we went back to our bungalow to pack up and get on the road again... We traveled by private bus to Jaco, a town that we had lunch at 4 years prior. This time, I wanted to check it out and see what was really going on here. Well, the town had really changed and had lost its local town innocence. Big hotels are there, and bigger ones are being built. Loud music was playing in several bars to the point where we were unable to distinguish what was what.

We arrived right after the holy days, so things were rocking. The beach is what made this town desirable and most activities take place in the water. It has Great surfing, boogie boarding, body surfing, etc. During our time there we signed up for a horse backing riding adventure through the mountains. We rode with 2 guides; one was a good old Costa Rican cowboy that knew only a couple of words in English. “Costa Rica Yee Haw” and the other was a young adult that has been educated in the local high school and able to speak some English, so he helped out with the interpreting.

The ride took us up above the town and beach, to where we were able to view the whole coast line. When we were in Costa Rica 4 years ago, we rode horses and were not in shape for it. We hurt the entire week. Well, I was a bit smarter on this ride (make sure your stirrups are adjusted properly!, so you can walk during the days following your ride). They took us up this mountain trail that is owned (the whole mountain) by a fellow from Spain. We got to the top of the mountain, and the owner was there with 3 other people sitting around a chatting. We were introduced to this 83 year old man and a little pow wow began with all of us.

The gentleman told us the story of him coming to this area 21 years ago and purchasing the mountain for 3cents per sq meter. He is now in the process of sub dividing the mountain into parcels for development and selling it for $5.50 per square meter. Do the math…the guy was loaded!!!!. We told him about my Mom and Aunt Pat, who he invited to come visit any time as his guests in his large home with a separate bedroom and bathroom wing for the aunts to enjoy and be comfortable in. After our little break we headed down the other side of the mountain to see monkeys and tropical birds. At the end of our ride, the “Good Old Cow Boy” has to give Michelle a big bear hug…why of course?!!!???

April 13, 2009-
From there we decided to rent our 2nd car of our journey. Things are better this time for me, the driver. Costa Rica has rules while driving, not like some of the other places we’ve been. We took off the following day for a hike through the Carrara National Park. We went looking for the infamous scarlet macaw. This park is one of the few places in the world the Scarlet Macaw still survives.

Now normally you need to rent a guide to take you through the park, but we didn’t. There were none available. Plus there are many different types of plants and vegetation that can harm you if you are not careful…humm??? Then you can get just plain lost too! So as we are walking, we stopped at this viewing spot for crocodiles, yes crocks, in the river next to our trail. They are a ways away, but you have to remember where we are at…in the frick’in jungle! At the crock viewing spot, we met up with a group of people from the east coast, pretty close to where Michelle grew up in New York. We asked if we could tag a long with them because they were the smart ones…THEY HAD A GUIDE!!!

We hung with them while trekking back down the trail, listening to the guide explain about the flora and fauna of the jungle. The plants, birds, insects, etc., are very interesting since there are so many species that are threatened of extinction. During the short time we trekked with this group, Hurwitz’s and Milner’s, we were able to share our recent travel stories as they did with us. They were 2 families, with their kids, and we all just yakked it up for the rest of the hike. Even though we did have a guide, he still got a bit confused with his directions and we were lost in the jungle for a few moments. (please send me an email at Tundraa72@aol.com)

Just a tad scary, but we made it out OK with some fond memories and new traveling friends. We even might have inspired them to venture out and check this world out while they can…who knows. We were touched with their friendliness and kindness and their willingness to share their lives, their guide and their stories of what is happening back at home.

April 14, 2009 – Leaving Jaco was very easy. Being tired of the noise and growing city life, we wanted back out into the wilderness. We drove south towards the town of Quepos, but with the goal of going south. The city had finally graded the connecting road between Quepos, a major Pacific coast city in Costa Rica, and Dominical. In the past, this would normally have been a 3 hour drive due to deep pot holes. Now with the road paved, I was able to cruz it in an hour. Nice! We got into Dominical and it felt like a step back in time.

Way back … to maybe the early 70’s of Mexico! The main street is off of the beaten track, and houses … Hostels, bungalows, bars, trinket stores, and many outdoor restaurants and cafes all line the main street. At the end of the road, there is a beach with a wicked surf that many surfers, local and from a far, come to. It’s not a nice place to swim because of a serious rip tide, but surfers congregate in droves. We met a couple who travelled down from the states in their motor home and were living down in Dominical right on the beach. We wouldn’t mind doing it for a trip, but to actually live that way…..it just doesn’t feel right for us.

We stayed in a hotel called the Rio Lio which happens to be for sale if anyone is interested. That evening was locals night at the Rio’s bar. We met some really cool people drinking and partying, playing great tunes from the Grateful Dead , the Allman’s etc. Our favorite character was “good time Charlie” He brought out a Jerry Garcia doll and put a present in his pants for Michelle and I. His wife is a fiddler for some of our favorite musicians, and we hope some day through our travels to meet Nancy and see Good Time Charlie again.

Everyone was very friendly and loved sharing their stories of glory with us. After a major party night, we decided to check out the local area. We went to Manuel Ballena reserve, a sanctuary with good snorkeling and a site known for whale and dolphin spotting. It also has beaches with fantastic body surfing waves and I was in my glory, bouncing around like a 5 year old boy. The beach was empty and we felt as if we had found our own stretch of paradise.

Michelle took a stroll northward on the beach to explore the boats that were beached at low tide. She was enjoying her stroll and suddenly realized that she had found the natural phenomenon “The Whale’s Tail” … it finally clicked….........................?