Slowing down......,

With the heat (37C+) and humidity we can't move quickly. We are now on the southwest coast of Costa Rica in Esterillos Este and this is the view from our apt. Out to the Pacific. 

We have managed to do quite a bit actually. We arrived here on Tuesday night, stopping on the way at a grocery to pick up some breakfast stuff for the next day. On Thursday we went to Manuel Antonio national Park.  It is only about an hour away but we left at 6:30 to avoid the heat. We walked on well maintained paths, saw 1 bird: a wren; sloths, and Capuchin monkeys. We heard the howler monkey but didn't see it. The beach was fabulous and cooled us off. 

Still, after 4 hours, some of it walking cement stairs up and down, we were ready for lunch. 

We stop at the Avion, in Quepos and it was fabulous. Good food, great views and an airplane in the centre of the restaurant, whose nose cone stuck just to the edge of the road. 

And the view from our table...

And so began our stay here and our evening ritual.....cocktails on the beach at sunset (beer). 

Les and I have had a relaxing massage, outdoors, listening to the pounding surf. We are moving so slowly...... 

First time in Costa Rica

I really had no intention of starting up this blog again. I mean, two weeks in Costa Rica, mainly on the beach.......what could go wrong?

Well, lots apparently. 

We started our trip in North Van at our granddaughter's fifth bday. Lots of fun. Then dinner with my sister and her husband who were on their way to Hawaii from Oakville and wanted a stopover (and hugs from their daughter). At the birthday party I snuck away to send a confirmation email to the b&b we were to stay in near the airport in Costa Rica. Lucky thing I did. 

At Dallas airport the next day I received a msg from the agent from the B&B who said he had understood that we wanted our two nights cancelled. I guessed my French was poor but thought that. "Nous serons rester à Chez Pierre seulement deux nuits, 28, 29 février." was clear. Within an hour of our three hour wait in the airport, another email arrived with word he'd found us a place to stay, across the street from the original accommodation. 

Perfect.  A little run down, with threadbare towels, but a bed!

The next day we went to an orientation at 7:30 and the young woman really set us up with what to expect. She also said she'd check on our car rental to ensure it hadn't been cancelled. So off we went to catch the bus to San Jose. 

The Gold museum was fabulous. Good interpretation and loads of artifacts. 

Ceramic whistles and wind pipes. We also went to the jade museum and worked on an archaeological dig. 

Our first meal in Costa Rica. Breast of chicken with rice although it was hard to find the chicken. Les' salad was appealing and tasted great too!

This morning we packed our bags, had breakfast and headed off to the museum in Alajuela, the town we're in. By the time we got there I was ready for coffee and a bun, so we headed down the street. 

Halfway through we thought about the rental car and raced back. 

It had been cancelled so no car! The guy in our b&b quickly moved into action and found us one at the same rate that we had been promised. What a guy. 

So our white stead awaits and soon we'll head to the airport to pick up cousin George and Marie-Hélène. 

Wish us luck as we drive to Esterillos Este tonight.