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Published: October 20th 2011
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I am way over due for an entry, sorry everyone, It's been a busy couple of weeks.
On Thursday, October 6th, the majority of our group took off for the Caribbean coast. We left San Jose at 4:00pm and took a four hour bus to Cahuita. We stayed in a very basic, but cool hotel called Cabinas Arrecife just for our first night. Because we arrived to Cahuita fairly late, the only places open to eat were bars so we went to Coco's Bar for a snack, some drinks, and a little dancing. There was a local band that played for a while, my favorite song consisted of the lyrics "rice and beans" over and over haha! And apparently I missed one that consisted of "banana, like it hot, banana, like it cold." Awesome. Cahuita was a very small, laid back little town, but I think most of us felt fairly bored so we took off for Puerto Viejo the next day around noon.
We then checked into Pura Vida Hotel which was perfect! It was cheap, but beautifully set up. The hotel felt like it's own little enclosed paradise as it was an open-air set up and had an abundance
of plants and hammocks. The German couple who owned the hotel was extremely nice and helpful and set us up with some great tours and places to eat. After exploring Puerto Viejo a bit and having some of the best gelato I've ever tasted, Adele and I took a surfing lesson! This cool rasta guy Hershell picked us up and took us to Playa Cocles where we learned to surf with this other chick from Holland. We surfed until it got dark out and we had a total blast. I actually caught some waves and rode them into shore! (Yes the waves were tiny, but who cares haha) Thanks to Shayla who came along, we have some great pictures of the surf lesson too. Friday night we all got dressed up and went to a place called Flip Flop for dinner which had really yummy currys and so-so pastas. Flip Flop kick started our night with a free round of rum shots, the first of man free shots that night. After dinner we bar hopped to practically every bar within walking distance in Puerto Viejo. Mangos had free daquiris for the ladies, Tex Mex had free mojitos, Rockin Jay's had
free shots of Guaro (local stuff) on a rickshaw and ice luge shots in their bar. Needless to say I enjoyed all of these free drinks among a variety of others haha, I'm pretty sure I should have been face down on the floor by the end of the night, but because it was so hot and we were all dancing and sweating so much, I think the alcohol just passed on through and I honestly never felt the effects of any of it! Our last stop of the night Rockin Jay's knew how to throw a party. At one point in the night I noticed that the guy pouring shots down the ice luge liked this blonde girl from the Netherlands, and being the matchmaker that I am, I took the bottle from him and told him to go dance with her! For the following fifteen minutes or so I worked pouring shots down an ice block into random peoples' mouths haha lucky for them I was a generous pourer. After my hard work I was encouraged to dance on the bar... and I did exactly that. I easily out danced the other ladies on the bar and had
no shame in shaking what my mama gave me, I think I had too much fun up there. Later that night, Adele, Nneka and I took a ride on the rickshaw to meet Maria; a woman selling the most phenomenal chicken shish kabobs in the world. Seriously, I think that chicken and tortillas may have been some of the best food I've experienced in Costa Rica.
The next day some of the group took a tour to Cahuita National Park for snorkeling, and some of the group went horseback riding to a waterfall. Adele and I decided to hang in Puerto Viejo and had what I would consider one of my best days yet. We ate lunch at a typical Caribbean food place which was great. Then we rented bicycles and rode around the town of Puerto Viejo, and then rode about five miles to Playa Uva. The ride was pretty much flat and consisted of the beach on one side and the jungle on the other. It was absolutely gorgeous. Playa Uva was a beautiful white sand beach with a bunch of hammocks set up in the trees, and the water was clear and warm. After swimming and relaxing
in the hammocks, we rode back toward town and stopped at Tasty waves for a couple of tacos and imperials. The tacos were claimed to be "better than an orgasm"... they were really good, but not that good ha! That night we went back to Maria on the corner for her shish kabobs, too tasty. We attempted to bar hop again, but the music wasn't as good and a lot of us were tired so we didn't stay out late. The one scary part of our trip was being woken up at 3:00am to gunshots that sounded like someone was standing next to me with their gun they were so loud... somehow only Adele and I woke up and the others slept through it, and Adele and I freaked because three of our girls were still out at the bars. Luckily they made it back safely an hour later and all was well.
Sunday morning we enjoyed a tasty breakfast at this spot called Bread and Chocolate which used a lot of local, organic foods in their plates. YUM! Then I went and checked out some of the shops and street venders and got my hair braided which was cool.
We all took the one o'clock bus back to San Jose and arrived safely.
Overall I think Puerto Viejo is one of my favorite spots that I've seen. I really felt that I was on vacation in the little beach town. Not only was it beautiful, but it was full of easy-going, happy rasta people. Lots of weed and lots of reggae added to the good vibes. Riding a bike around and enjoying the beach reminded me of Aukmal, and made me happy.
Other regular updates, I have finished my advanced Spanish 1 class and am now in advanced Spanish 2. I am working on a really cool painting. Tuesdays I've been working with Children Without Borders and am loving every experience with them. Life is good.
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Tio Pablo
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It's about time.
I was about to say "why no blogs" but I understand. We ate this, we drank this, we partied here. You're too funny. Sounds like your having a great time and glad to hear you're doing some school work. LOL Just don't forget the best song ever "your love is like good toilet paper, it don't fall apart when the going get's rough". TiO