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?!