This place smells like incense and earth.

Being that Susina has posted everything since being here, I figured it was time that I put something up as well. The internet here is slow and putzy and everything is in Spanish, but we do have access. It is very hard to type on this community computer, so bare with me..

First off, the roads. I drove from Liberia to Tamarindo and they were just horrid, about a 2 hour drive. We have a 4x4 vehicle called a "Jimey", but it is still no match for the lack of pavement. Everyone here drives like a complete jerk. The roads are narrow and there are potholes everywhere. I can only imagine how our trek to Monteverde will be on Wednesday morning. I have heard that a normal 20 minute drive takes more like 2 hours here. Nuts, but I can see why.

The weather is freaking hotter than hell and muggy just like you would imagine the rainforest would be, and my hair isn't doing anything but being an afro. Haven, you would love it. I guess all I can do is grin and bare it with 8,000 bobby pins. Anyway, we got here to Capitan Suizo, which is considered a boutique villa, and decided to walk into town. It is a short walk down the beach, which is nice, but after a few cocktails, it feels more like eternity. We found a nice restaurant overlooking the Pacific and had the most amazing dinner. This is where we met Carlos. His eyes and beauty were so indescribable! Breakfast at the villa has been amazing. Sweet breads and plantains and beans and rice and fresh orange juice and papaya and such. Then there is Eddie..

Yesterday we spent time just laying around on the beach and playing in the waves. After a getting a bit too sweaty, we walked into town where I proceeded to get scolded by the woman at the bodega for buying rum without my i.d. I guess I just felt a bit aloof and can only imagine how much I looked at her a bit out of the side of my eye for not understanding a lick of what she said. Can you imagine my humiliation, a grown 33 year old woman, telling her in English that my mom can buy me the rum if she likes? Ugh. She sold it to me anyway and some men behind me proceeded to mutter that I needed to bring my identification with me. Nevertheless, we walked back to the villa and I passed out by the pool after we indulged in some Costa Rican beer, that I felt tasted like Miller Lite. Susina has decided that she likes to be dangerous. She walks in the streets and decides that it is ok to walk outside at night. I feel like I am constantly scolding her to behave. Haven, you would not be very happy with your mother. Talk about being aloof. Today she almost got hit by a car in town because she was too busy looking around at every else. Back me up about it NOT being ok walking outside at night!

Today we woke up and spent a good deal of time in town shopping.. and excuse me, but there are raccoons surrounding me! This is just insane. Anyway, I bought beautiful baubles for cheap and got a bit sunburned. Most of my afternoon was spent in the ocean body boarding, which I have mastered, and getting salt water in my eyes and up my nose.
After feeling nearly drowned, we got out and I gorged on coconut rum and some crazy Costa Rican orange drink that I imagine is similar to Tang. Needless to say, I passed out before dinner. Again, we walked down the  beach to town and had your typical Latin dinner. So, so good.

Right now we have been feeding Manny, the live in porcupine, and trying to avoid the insane raccoons. God, they freak me out.

This keyboard is extremely frustrating, and like dad says, "I have had enough".. Tomorrow kayaking in the ocean and possible snorkeling.. Oh, and more monkeys. Wednesday, we drive to Monteverde to zipline and hike the cloud forests.

Did I mention that the men here are insane and all stare?!

Boogie boarding

Today started out with a cool breeze that made the hot temps more tolerable. Seemed like a better day to walk the quarter mile to town to snoop around the shops. That walk is better along the beach barefoot than along the dusty road. Found the bank and ATM so we could get Costa Rican colones. It's a bit unnerving to withdraw thousands of colones which end up actually being few dollars. Most shops have the same touristy trinkets. Jess found a good deal on jewelry. Today's highlight was boogie boarding the waves that start when the tide changes in early afternoon. What a blast waiting to catch the perfect wave to ride back towards shore. Pretty soon we were surrounded by surfers and other people just having fun being kids again. Great fun!

Lucas

Meet Lucas. He's a thief who loves shiny things. After a breakfast this morning of fresh fruit, baked breads, and Costa Rican coffee, we headed back to our room to get ready for a day in sun and surf. But, wait! Along the way we met Lucas and his family of 3 other howler monkeys that live here at Capitan Suizo. This place is a menagerie of monkeys, iguanas, raccoon that come out at night, a friendly porcupine, multiple cats, and orphaned dogs, along with birds we've never seen before and a strange lizard that lives in a hole in the ground next to the pool. I've learned that you can't go anywhere without a camera or you'll miss that perfect moment. Like the jay bird that swooped down to grab a piece of pineapple from a guests plate at breakfast or the older brother of Lucas that I caught taking a nap on the lounge chair outside our room. That same monkey took a liking to me later and jumped up to grab my earring and make off with it! The animals are certainly keeping us entertained here.

Tomorrow will bring new adventures. Stay tuned.

Countdown

Reconfirmed flights. We're good to go.

Last minute details check list (these are the important things, of course):
Sunscreen. check
DEET. check
Swimsuit. check
Camera and binoculars. check
oh yeah...Immodium AD. check

We thought it might be a fun side adventure to do some geocaching if time allows. Doesn't look like there are a lot of geocaches in the areas of Costa Rica where we'll be traveling. I'll add the GPS to my list anyway.

Adrenaline rush

I've been viewing the zip line canopy tours at Selvatura park...Jessica, you might have to hold my hand....can I do this? This one is almost 1 km long!

Starting to get serious

Ok, so it's April 1 and time to start getting serious about this trip to Costa Rica. I have been looking forward to this trip for quite a while. Since Jessica and I will be renting a Jimmy to get around and discover everything we can about this country, I sent away for a waterproof map from Amazon. It arrived yesterday, along with Fodor's Costa Rica travel book. From what I've read, the road conditions and markings are not the best. No signs and potholes make for challenging driving. It's strongly suggested that a 4WD is the way to go when driving to remote areas. And a GPS might be a good idea to have handy. We'll be landing in Liberia and driving to Tamarindo, on the Pacific side. Word has it that the Nicoya Peninsula is a popular destination for the sun-and-fun crowd, but still has a yet-to-be-discovered feel. If surfing lessons is what Jessica has planned, Tamarindo is the place to go.

Jessica has a long list of "to-do's" while on this trip. Going to start researching and figuring out km distance from one area to another to see what's possible. Most definitely want to see Volcano Arenal. Costa Rica has five active volcanoes and this is the most active. Monteverde Cloud Forest promises to be packed with plant and animal species. It's one of the world's most famous protected areas. Gotta remember to pack binoculars. Suspension bridges and zip line tours, here we come!

To do, in just 42 days.

• Check out a coffee plantation. Is it odd that I associate this fascination with my obsession of wine country? Perhaps it's the gardener in me. Maybe it's the whole "plant to cup" aspect.
•  Zip-line the rainforest canopies. I cannot possibly go to Central America and not experience such an adventure. If you know me, I'll be the first to jump.
•  Hike the cloud forests in Monteverde. Word is, this includes a suspension bridge that puts Indiana Jones to shame.
•  Pass out under a coconut tree after too many Mai Tais. Pass the SPF 100, please!
• Snorkel on the coral reef. I've never done this. Yes, I know it's typical. I just kinda want to see an eel poke it's head out of a rock.
• Attempt to surf. Tamarindo's specialty.
• Rent a utility vehicle to travel the back-roads of Costa Rica to Arenal Volcano. If you watch long enough, hot lava still flows.
• Admire the nightly hatching of the leatherback sea turtles on the beaches. 

Only a short time away, and it can't come soon enough. What a long, mild winter this has been.