February 12, 2016
By Cindy
By Cindy
Kids made it to school for a whole 45 minutes and then
headed to the airport bound for Costa Rica! We landed at LAX where Paul picked
us up. Of course the sun was out. Stopped by Rob’s house and hit the beach for
a walk. Kids enjoyed the scene, but
Hudson especially loved all the skate boarders around. Got to watch the sunset and head to Paul’s
house. We got to see the girls and suzi.
That is where we met Archie – the dog.
Super cute but loved Hudson’s shoes way too much! A late night of
visiting and laughing. Got up early,
6:00 and out the door by 6:15.
February 13, 2016
We made it! Flew into San Jose airport and straight to the
rental car place. After them charging us
an extra $250 (required CR insurance or maybe dinner out for the employee) we
were off. Off into thick dark fog! It
was 3 hours of not really knowing how to get where we are going and very dark,
twisty, foggy roads. The phone wasn’t working so we had no map. Somehow we made it with no accidents, no
wrong turns and no mistakes. We arrived
in LaFortuna – the Arenal area (volcanic area) at a place called
Heliniconas. Most amazing, sincere
owner, Oscar. A little younger than
us. He made us feel like we made it to
our CR home. We had our first CR dinner
of chicken and rice. Hudson inhaled a thing of guacamole. Off to our room that was a tree house. Very cute and even had a bathroom.
February 14, 2016
We woke up early and off to white water rafting. Our boats name was Loco Bull. We had the best
guide, Jose. He really made the trip
special. First he gave us bull ears
(sticking out of our helmets) made out of long grass. Then we stopped for him to put monkey poop war
paint (mud) on our faces. Once we pulled over, he went running through a field,
hoped a fence and stole coconuts for us.
He cut them open and let us drink the water. Floating down the river we continued to give
high 5s using our paddles, saw a sloth and blue jean frog (very poisonous), and
put the kids on the very front of the boat through the rapids for a bull ride.
Half way through we all pulled over, flipped the rafts and they gave us a great
selection of fruit to eat. Amazing
pineapple! A few guides gave us a ride back to our hotel where we bought them
beers and enjoyed their warm company. They
suggested a little soda (a roadside restaurant that is casual) called
Betty’s. It was very good and just
perfect, fast, clean and reasonable with French fries! Then made our way to
Baldi. It is this amazing
hotel/restaurant/hot springs place. The hot
springs were beautiful! All different temperatures and vibes. Some with music,
bars, TV’s or waterfalls. Even a hidden
steam room. 26 pools in all. They also had wicked fast water slides. One we called the toilette bowl because it
dumps you out at the end. We got there around 2 ish and it was busy then
everyone left for dinner and it was so peaceful. Time for another soda place for dinner on our
way back. Hudson orders guacamole
everywhere we go!
February 15, 2016
We woke up early – trying to beat the heat. Had a nice little breakfast at our place and
onto the next location. One hour drive
to the hanging bridges. There were 8 very high, swinging bridges with the
longest approximately the length of a football field and 200 feet up. We got a guide. Over all I’m glad we did it, but would not
get a guide. We had to go at his pace
and his rules. There was not a lot of
wildlife, but we did see a sloth that was moving around and eating. Great view of it! And saw a yellow eyelash
viper snake.
Hit the road for a long 4 hours of twisting small roads and
made it to Buena Vista Lodge. Last 10
miles of road was gravel/dirt/one lane with giant potholes that took about an
hour. We made it just in time for the
sunset. It was beautiful, almost felt like you were in the savannah. Even a toucan in the view. Everyone here was
pretty much old and grumpy. We had a
terrible dinner and off to bed.
February 16, 2016
Up early again to beat the heat and crowds. A quick OK breakfast and hoped on some horses
for a trail ride to the hot springs and mud baths. It was just the 4 of us and
our guide. The ride was about 45 minutes
of a steep, very rocky road. Saylor had
a horse that just wasn’t happy and let her know it. Eventually the guide led her horse. We ended up going down a very rocky, narrow
river bed. At times the horses were on
nothing but large boulders. It was a
scary ride even for me. At the end Saylor
was crying, the guide got her off first and gave her a big hug. It might be a little bit before she gets back
on a horse. L The hot springs were very
beautiful. 5 all of various temps. There was even a bar! The zip lines were above us. It was a really pretty, natural setting along
a river that fed them. On the way back you return by tractor for a
very bumpy ride. We saw other horse
riders and they were not taken on the same scary river bed that we were! We were dropped by the 500 meter water slide. A fantastic slide built out of concrete, on
the side of a mountain, through the jungle! Definitely an experience. You put on hard hats and have to wear an
inner tube so you don’t get hurt zooming through the jungle by the sides of the
slide. You step in and they open up the water source and you fly! Time to go back down the dusty road and on
our way to Nosara. We hit another soda
for lunch and continued on. It is 3 ½
hours to get there with the last 45 minutes being dirt. Andy flew.
We were all tired and ready to be there and once again try to make the
sunset, which we did! We had a beautiful 2 bedroom house, Casa del Mar. It shared a pool with a few other
houses. Just perfect and perfect for
Hudson because it was a block from the skate park – his new thing. First dinner
in town we went to Basilica for pizza. A great spot that is open air, candles
in wine bottles on the table, the kind where the wax drips over, beautiful wood
tables and a playground for kids. Just
perfect for our first night to the next chapter of our trip!
February 17 - 23, 2016
Lots of cute restaurants here in Nosara. Of course first breakfast was getting
Saylor’s bagel craving under control at the local bagel shop and some French
pastries for the rest of us from Café de Paris. There is a short cut through
the jungle to get to these places and as you walk on the roads you will see and
hear the most amazing howler monkeys.
Our days became pretty routine quickly.
Up early to hit the beach and surf. Back to the place for lunch on the
patio and our community pool. Followed
by a great sunset on the beach. Really
very stunning sunsets with amazing color.
Then ready to head out to local little places for dinner. Lots of good finds. Gilded Iguana was nice
dinner and El Pepperoni was really fun with a local surf guy singing classic
rock songs. It was a cool, mellow
vibe. A few of the days we through in a
little something. A grocery store, the
family went zip lining on the world’s longest zip line while I went and got the
most amazing massage at the local place in town. Nothing fancy, but just the right touch. Andy put me on a surfboard (on my stomach) and
I rode a few waves. I’m ready for my own
board next year! I bought some mangos and avocados from the local roadside guy
since the kids can’t seem to get enough of either. Hudson and his guacamole! Hudson loved hitting the skate park pretty
much every day after the pool. Café de
Paris was way too cool. It had a great
little bakery but also a restaurant/bar, the most AMAZING, CREATIVE miniature
golf course ever. And A pool to jump in between holes or your dinner
course. Just a really unique fun
place. We would definitely come back to
Nosara!
February 24, 2016
Time to say goodbye.
It was a long 5 ½ hour drive back to San Jose airport. Found a cute little Soda to stop at along the way. The owner was so nice and of course the place
was spotless just like all the others.
Stayed at the local Double Tree. It was fine, but weird being back in a
city. Tomorrow will be a long flight
home through Dallas. We will squeeze in
a barbeque place on the layover.
Pura Vida!