Blogs from Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 504

So D and I are finally in Costa Rica. Sorry for the lack of updates lately, but it has been really hectic. We arrived on thursday in Heredia, a sort of university town. Not much to say about that place. We stayed three nights there. The university was nice. I was lucky I didn´t get swallowed up by the giant potholes and gutters on the streets, but otherwise, it was an interesting introduction to Costa Rica. Now we´re in Santa Elena/Monteverde and what a change! It´s great! Monteverde is a cloud forest so we´re staying up in the mountains. There are so many tourists here, a bit of a down side, but it also means that I can communicate better with people since a lot of the people here speak English. D´s been doing pretty well ... read more

Exploring Costa Rica December 29, 2004 - January 3, 2005 Day 1 We relaxed in the President’s Club at IAH before our 3-hour first class flight on Continental to San Jose, Costa Rica, arriving mid-afternoon. San Jose is considered the most cosmopolitan city in Central America and indeed is one of the most beautifully situated capitals in all of the Americas, nestled in the fertile “Valle Central” (Central Valley) and surrounded on all sides by lush green mountains. It basks in a perfect climate of spring-like temperatures year-round. Our first stop was at the Santo Tomas, our lovely boutique hotel, or bed-and-breakfast inn, located in San Jose’s historical district. It is a beautifully restored 1910 coffee baron’s mansion with 20 rooms embellished with King Louie XV furniture, beautiful hardwoods, handmade and highly polished tile floors, plus ... read more

Buenas friends! Sitting in a little hippie-bakpackers-chick town called Quepos, by the Paciffic after some great days in Alajuela in Hotel Martino. Tamela, Sara´s old immigrant-class pal, upgraded us from our little cardboard box in a bad neigbourhood, to a suite at her boyfriend´s five star resort. We didn´t mind one bit! Tamela even saved San José´s reputation by giving us the by night tour of the best spots in town. Long live Adriano and Tamela!! Aha, and check her brand-new website at tamela.info and put in an order for that upcoming disc, "Mezcla"!! Craving some wildlife adventure here in the so-called green jewel of Central America, we are headed for the National Park Manuel Antonio. Monkeys, iguanas, macaws, sloths, mosquitoes...and who knows what else!! Apparently you even have to wade through thigh-deep water to see ... read more

Last weekend we took a 6-7 hour leisurely drive to Puerto Viejo on the Carribean side. Me Encanta!!!!! I love that place. Everything is slow and tranquil. The colors are brilliant and the tourism does not seem so overwhelming as in Manuel Antonio. The ocean is blue and the water is completely clear. I reintroduced myself to Scuba diving after having a fear of it after I first became certified. Pura Vida. Entonces, I swallowed that fear and took a quick refresher and made a beach dive there. We rented a small 4x4 Daihatsu Terio and drove there with 5 people. It was a little intimate. We thought we would be able to somehow get A/C when we arrived but soon realized that 5 person room wouldn't accomodate our us. That is life. we laid out ... read more

While I was told this by many people before arriving in Costa Rica, you have to experience it to know it and, that is this: Living in a foreign country is much different than being a tourist in one. Sounds obvious, but until you do it, you just don’t know what is in store for you. So, today’s blog entry is devoted to some of the routine things one does in a foreign country to get things done. First, several of you have asked about our adopted dog, Jack. Well, despite our best efforts, Jack is a roamer. He left over a week ago and we have not seen him since. I’m afraid he’s with a new owner, or worse. If the dog situation gets resolved, I will let you know. LATE BREAKING UPDATE: Jack was ... read more