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Published: August 24th 2006
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We shared quality time at home after returning from La Fortuna and Volcan Arenal. Craig and Callista made brownies together. The kids and I made luminaries out of cans. I thought it was a nice idea but it will go into the “don’t try this at home” category. What kid wouldn’t like to bang a nail into a chunk of ice? The Mot-mot even decided Craig was worth getting to know and made quite a few appearances. What a treat! It was nice to have time to just hang out at home before we headed out again. Craig even walked up the hill and made friends with some of the tico kids his age. He went to a bonfire with them Sunday evening. I was both surprised and proud of how he jumped right in with the locals not speaking much Spanish. Hopefully, he inspired Bill to take more risk.
Monday morning the kids were climbing the walls (literally) so we went to town to meet my friend Edgar and see his new salon. (Edgar is my massage therapist who recently opened a shop in San Ramon with two friends, one does hair the other nails) We did a little
Rio Tarcoles Crocodrilos
En route to Manuel Antonio. Not sure who likes looking at them more, Bill or Bear. gift and grocery shopping as well showing Craig most of central San Ramon.
Tuesday morning, off to Manuel Antonio (MA) after a quick stop at UGASA to fill the propane tank (again ?). We headed out of San Ramon on the Inter-American highway toward Puntarenas. Bill likes a short-cut he found thru Esparza that leads us to highway 27 which we follow to the 34 south. It’s a beautiful drive but very twisty with sharp turns, drive with caution on this road. The drive thru dense jungle is inspiring. Not long after joining highway 27 you come to the Rio Tarcoles. It’s a great place to stop and stretch your legs while looking at crocodiles in the river below the bridge. Gift shops are on the side of the bridge as you approach. Bill always parks across the bridge so Callista and I won’t browse. Hmph!
On the road again, we continued on the highway until we reached Jaco. We didn’t have time to spend there this trip but we did drive to the beach and thru the main streets of town to give Craig a glimpse. Further down the coast we passed one of our previous favorites,
Jaco Beach
We did a drive thru of Jaco for Craig. No reason to stop this trip. Playa Esterillos. The roads continuing on to Quepos and Manuel Antonio weren’t as bad as they could’ve been from what we’d read. Thank you road Gods! The bridges are always intimidating to me. Is today the day that last board decides to break?
Arriving safe, sound and hot in Quepos we ate lunch and began the hotel hunt. A tour operator at a local café saw us browsing thru our travel books and offered his services for a mangrove tour. We declined but asked for a recommendation on a hotel for 4 with a dog. He suggested cabinas just outside Quepos enroute to Manuel Antonio as we could expect problems with Bear at a hotel in town. After checking out a couple of hotels in town (one wouldn’t take Bear the other was too expensive) we decided to check out the recommended cabinas. It was a large room with three beds, a kitchen, hot shower, air conditioning, small pool and tremendous view for $72 a night. Not our usual price but we were all hot and the pool was looking really cool. (Remember, we’re retired here and try to stretch our money as far as we can) I won’t
Yo qiero Jaco Bell!
Someone send this in to Jay Leno! I didn't know I took a picture of this sign until we got home. mention their name as I don’t recommend them. Manual Antonio National Park was our destination. We checked out of our hotel early Wed and looked for another, checked into the Banana Tree hotel for $40 and left our bags and headed to the park.
We were very surprised to find you got to the entrance to the park by walking up the beach. It was high tide when we arrived so we took one of the little boats across to the entrance. You can’t miss the park if you are in Manuel Antonio as there is only one road thru town which circles at the parking lot.
In our two hours at Manual Antonio National Park we saw iguana, agouti, coati, Jesus Christ (basilisk) lizard, spider monkeys, two and three toed sloth, lush rainforest, pristine beaches, numerous butterfly species and vacationers from all over the world.
http://www.manuelantoniopark.com/mapk/default.asp
Outside the park we played in the waves. Craig, Bill and Callista caught quite a few! I wasn’t impressed by this beach as you had a 5 to 6 ft wide area of beach that was all rock, hard on the feet. Once you got passed the rocks the sand
Puente in mal estado
Road in bad condition, no kidding! was fine but you had to walk thru them to get back to the beach as well. Not on my list of Costa Rica’s best beaches.
Back at the hotel, Bill showered while the kids tried out the pool. Shortly thereafter the water stopped, living in Costa Rica you learn sometimes that happens. Bill, Bear and I relaxed in the room soaking up all the air conditioning we could. After an hour and still no water I resorted to rinsing the sand away in the pool as the kids had. Somewhat cleaner, we decided to head out for dinner. The hotel manager met us outside and informed us we’d need to find a new hotel for the night as the water issue was more than the norm. He refunded our money and instead of dinner we went looking for a new hotel. It took several tries but we found a place to take us with Bear on short notice for $60 a night, she gave us a $10 break because of the situation. We stopped for pizza and while eating decided we might as well just pack up and head home to San Ramon. Better to drive in the
Quepos Cabinas
Can't remember the name of this place but just as well I wouldn't recommend them to anyone! cool of the night and wake up at home than pay $60 for just a bed to sleep in. Great idea, Craig! Bill had seen enough of Manuel Antonio and was ready for a cool nights sleep without air conditioning. We really don’t do well in heat anymore.
It was great waking up in our own beds. We’d finished with our planned trips for this vacation so now it was time to ‘chill’ at home with Craig. He’d made friends with locals so he spent some playing futbol (soccer) in the rain with them. We spent time together on the property. Craig got to experience being engulfed by clouds here at the house and up on the property. Watching the clouds come from miles away and then totally engulfing you is an awesome thing to experience, spiritual in my mind.
Monday, August 21st was the officially designated Dia de Los Madres in Costa Rica. Craig, Callista and I celebrated together by having a picnic at Las Musas, a local water park with waterfall 3 km from our house. http://www.ecomusas.com/ Craig loved the majestic waterfall and hiked down to feel the spray. When the afternoon turned rainy we headed
home for hot cocoa. What a treat to have Craig here for two of my three Mother’s Days this year. (U.S. May 10th, Costa Rica real day August 15th, celebrated legal holiday August 21st) Bill insists next year I only get one!
Mother’s Day in Costa Rica with my three kids…life doesn’t get better than this.
PURA VIDA!
Jen, Bill, Callista, Bear and Craig (who I'm so happy got to experience a little of our life in Costa Rica with us.)
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Donna
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I bet Craig found it hard to leave. Pictures look great Love Grand Ma Donna