Lost!

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Our first day in Costa Rica! So, the sun comes up at about 5:30, and being an hour behind Chicago time, I'm up at 6 am. But, it reminds me that this is my favorite time of vacation...sitting on the porch, drinking my coffee (pre-programmed the night before), and figuring out (a) how much we've spent so far and (b) what our travel budget is.

Rafael from the tour company came by last night, and we've got the majority of our week planned. Today is surfing for the girls in Playa Grande (arranged in advance), but he's sold us on three trips: Monday will be a river cruise to spot wildlife (which appeals to Mike much more than a river rafting trip), Tuesday will be an all-day to Marivalle vocano (including hiking, suspension bridges, mud baths, hot springs and horseback riding--which Mike will NOT be doing), and Thursday will be only the girls on an all-day adventure, including zip-lining. We will re-mortgage the house, but we're excited.

We set out optimistically after breakfast for surfing in Playa Grande. Great idea to go the back-way rather than back to the main highway---NOT. Hint #1: Green roads are "highways" that are paved, purple are "secondary roads." Lesson: Purple = bad. After two cattle crossings, bumps that broke the fan in the car and rendered the air-conditioning useless and passing through six un-named towns (as well as killing an iguana in the process), we decided we'd better back-track and take the main roads after all. Tempers flared, profanities were exchanged, and after adding only about 45 minutes to a 90-minute total trip time, we pulled into our planned lunch stop--Mar y Sol. Sadly, it was not open, so we ate lunch in the Monkey Bar at some hotel and watched the beginning of the Gold Medal Soccer Match. By the way, most of the cows/cattle here (Shirley!) are Brahma-type, and I was forbidden from taking the picture of the group leader whose equipment hung longer and lower than any porn star anyone has ever seen.

We met up with Matt (the surf instructor) at Frijole Locos (crazy beans???) and drove the half-mile to the awesome beach. Being in the Caribbean the last two years spoiled us, but I came here knowing that all beaches are different...no pure white sand, but it was wider than wide and the hardest, cleanest sand you could ever want. The waves were enough for beginner surfers, but you could walk out easily 500 feet and still be barely waist deep. The water was like bathwater. And, both girls made it up on the surfboards. Even Mike went into the water and stayed in much longer than I expected. Beaches = sand = yuck is usually his mantra.

Two hours later, sandy and tired, we got a recommendation for ice cream on the way home and were treated to gelato that was to die for. Even Mike's impatience was tempered by vanilla with chocolate shavings. Nothing like sweet ice cream to balance out the salt water.

Sadly, our adventure was not yet finished because we missed the turn-off to Playa Hermosa, and the trip home took almost as long as the trip there. No harm done...Day 1 come and gone relatively successfully.

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Comments

[Anne May]

Yay for surfing and gelato. Not so much for broken car fans. Good thing you had the agent note every ding and dent at the rental lot, huh?. But come on; it's vacation, and I'm sure you enjoyed an adult beverage(s) all the more last evening.

[Jealous Dawna]

Want to see you on a surfboard!
I'm with you - early mornings are great at the beach. From surfing to cattle...lots of variety in your vacations! I know you'll find a way to get an "equipment" shot..