Adventures in Costa Rica

Pura vida! Welcome to Costa Rica, astounding dwelling of rainforests, volcanoes, shorelines, huge cities, and small hamlets. The folks right here are heat and friendly, and there is ample adventure for everyone. The culture is inviting, the surroundings wonderful, and the weather is just correct. This is a “green” region. The men and women, mostly a blend of Spanish and Indians, are known as Ticans. The language is Spanish, although numerous people today converse English. “Pura vida” is the Tican way of declaring “Delight in lifestyle!”

Day 1

While common in several approaches, the lifestyle of Costa Rica has plenty of mysterious areas to be intriguing. Driving from the airport to our resort in San Jose, we noticed a cow grazing by the overpass and a horse trotting alongside the road.

We invested the 1st working day at the Gran Hotel, luxurious 1930s type lodging. It can be the only hotel in the state deemed historic. In the course of lunch and supper, a piano live performance was in progress. Really stylish! Our breakfast was normal Tican: beans, rice, chorizo and cheese, with strong coffee. The personnel was really pleasant and valuable. The maître d’, Rudolpho, was especially type. We frequented the zoo, the Musee Nacional, and a Butterfly Garden. While virtually everyone we fulfilled was heat and helpful, cling onto your purse and digital camera. Theft can be a difficulty. An open up air Mercado, or current market, has clothes, publications, souvenirs, purses, and significantly, significantly additional. Terrific procuring! We chose Nuestre Tierra for lunch. Lunch was cerviche, a delectable combination of shrimp and fish. All over again, we were being fulfilled with warmth by the staff members. Just after an afternoon of wandering, evening meal at the resort was Robespierre, a wonderfully tender steak dish flavored with rosemary, thyme, and sage.

Automobiles have been permitted to generate only on alternate times, relying on the previous digit of the plate, odd or even. This minimizes targeted visitors and air pollution. We failed to want the car, due to the fact we walked in all places! Continue to be in the regions there are people, and you should not wander into the fewer populated neighborhoods to steer clear of any difficulties. The metropolis of San Jose is vivid, but also crowded. Most of the outlets are totally open up on the street aspect. Shopping is numerous, much like a person finds in any big town. All through the city are cow sculptures: dancing cows, chess cows, pink cows. It is really referred to as the Cow Parade. It can be really whimsical!

Day 2

We visited the little Nationwide Theater Museum, to uncover the historical past of Costa Rica. The early individuals wore wonderful gold ornaments. We observed displays on native animals and significantly more. The plaza was terrific for people today watching and feeding the pigeons. Almost everywhere are contemporary make stands and modest kiosks promoting magazines, toys, snacks, and the like. It will make a pretty vibrant town scene! Parks present eco-friendly room and tranquil oasises. The mountains are generally in view. We wandered about to the zoo, where alligators, tropical birds, significant cats, monkeys, snakes and flowering crops in vivid colors engrossed us. Ponds and streams established a natural habitat.

Spanish influence is evident in the ornate wrought iron and the attractive wooden. At the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica, we identified more about this attractive nation. There are dioramas of early natives, 16th century Spanish cannons, burial customs, pottery, native animal displays, colonial home furniture, shows highlighting the coffee and sugar industries, and the painted oxcarts that are section of the society.

Working day 3

Right after a breakfast of fried yucca and sausage in tomato sauce, which was extremely tasty, we left the city for the region, driving along the two lane freeway with hundreds of other vehicles. At one of the sodas, or snack bars, we stopped for lunch. It was up coming to a tranquil river and was quite pleasurable. Most sodas are open on the sides, to catch the breeze. We savored the trip, seeing the mountains, forests, and small villages. Every single a person has a church, university, soccer area, and soda. We stopped at the Do It Heart, a Tican model of Lowe’s or Property Depot. Examining it out was exciting! There ended up kid’s toys, cookware, and appliances. It is really a nonprofit community firm. Our push took us to the Pacific beach, at Playa Hermosa to the hotel, El Valero. Our resort experienced a pool, personal seashore, and open air dining. It was the reverse of San Jose, becoming very smaller and quiet. It is a paradise! A tiny animal manufactured some interesting scribble styles in the sand! We swam in the heat h2o and viewed the amazing purple sunset. Considering the fact that it is in the vicinity of the equator, it was dark by 7:00. The team, the moment once again, was quite pleasant. Meal was delicious, a Chateaubriand. It can be designed with beef, mustard, mushrooms, and sherry. Our area was pleasurable, and a porch catches the ocean breezes.

Working day 4

An additional hearty Tican breakfast of tortilla, cheese, beans and rice with robust espresso served us start out our day. We put in the morning snorkeling and swimming. We had been just about by itself on the seashore! We noticed some pretty really fish and discovered some unconventional shells. The drinking water was pretty very clear and heat. What a excellent way to start out the working day! We have been curious about Play del Coco, a seaside vacation resort not far away. A short push introduced us to a vibrant and sleepy very little town. We shopped at the Mercado (shoes, dresses, masks, CDs, etc), and experienced a amazing consume in the magic formula yard of a soda. Just one of the pubs was called The Louisiana Cafe and Bar. Our Girl of Mt. Carmel is the Catholic Church in city. It truly is open up to the community, is a really rather church, and a fantastic area to have a silent second. We relished our extensive stroll on the beach front. On the way back again, we shopped at a grocery store, which was significantly smaller sized than an American grocery store, but experienced Costa Rican food items and so was most intriguing.

Our meal was tapas at Ginger around the beach: summer months rolls, salmon caprese, Azteca soup, and Ahi Tuna. It was all delightful! We sampled the native liquor, guaro. It is really from sugar cane, quite preferred with Ticans. It was extremely sweet, and we failed to treatment for the flavor, whilst in a mojito, it was superior. A moonlight seaside stroll, and it was time to change in for the evening. Tomorrow I dive!

Day 5

Nowadays was thrilling, due to the fact I went diving! Maritime wildlife was abundant! We say many versions of fish and sea turtles. The h2o was crystal clear the guides understood their web-sites. I would appreciate to do extra on yet another excursion! This was my very first Pacific dive. Greg sat on the deck and did sightseeing. Afterward, we drove about to Playa Panama on the winding highway, which consisted of a small lodge and a seashore. Great for actually getting away! We arrived back again at our resort to find the electricity out. Seemingly, this takes place usually and it truly is anybody’s guess as to when it returns. We all managed, and tonight was the hotel BBQ. The meals was scrumptious, of course. There were several men and women from the neighborhood who came in, and we fulfilled some People in america who now stay in Playa Hermosa. We experienced some attention-grabbing conversations! We joked with the bartender! The working day was a fantastic a single! We truly like Coast Rica!

Working day 6

Now that we know the seashore, we want to get acquainted with a volcano! Mt. Arenal is an energetic volcano in central Costa Rica. Roadways had been twisting, slender, hilly, and gave us gorgeous sights! We took pics, of system! We stopped at a mix German bakery/café/indigenous craft store! German food in a Central American nation was a twist. Though we were being feeding on our bratwursts, a man on horseback arrived trotting up the road, and then again all over again. We don’t see that in Florida cities! We browsed the little marketplace and then ongoing on our way. Lake Arenal is spectacular! We observed that the wildflowers are a mix of tropical and ones we expand at dwelling, generating it very exotic. We stopped for espresso at a smaller café overlooking the lake. A safety gate at the entrance reminded us that there is a crime problem if we aren’t watchful. The excursion to Arenal Park took us 6 hrs, owing to streets being unpaved and our stops. We viewed a monkey run throughout the street. We put in the night at Mt. Arenal Observatory Lodge, with a very clear watch of the volcano! We read and felt the rumblings, and just after dim, we watched the purple, glowing lava stream down the mountain! It was an great encounter! How normally can you sit in bed and check out a volcano! The park has hiking, windsurfing, fishing, biking, and additional. We hiked in the rainforest, an exhilarating working experience! When we attained a waterfall, we splashed in the pool to interesting off. Everywhere we noticed hummingbirds and butterflies! Two specialty drinks are supplied at the bar, both of those of them flaming in honor of the volcano! Tomorrow we go rafting!

Day 7

The rafting experience was magnificent! We ran on 3 rivers with capable guides. Our guide, Tony, caught an beautiful, even though toxic, little blue jean frog to demonstrate us. We bobbed, leaped and flew down the waters. Immediately after the elating raft journey, we had our delicious lunch with our group at a Tican steakhouse. A sloth hanging in the tree received our consideration. A swift tour of the charming city of La Fortuna enable us respect the society of Costa Rica, especially the peaceful rate of everyday living and the appreciation for schooling in this state. We like the colors, the foods, the audio, the friendliness.

Santa Elena is a mountain town, arrived at by a one quite slender, unpaved, winding road. There are potholes, no guard rails, and a creek ran across the highway at one spot. It was darkish on the way. I didn’t know if we would make it to the leading. Even so, Santa Elena is value all that! It is a splendid place to check out! We stayed at the Lodge Finca Valverde’s. After we adopted the porter up a lengthy and snaking path, we were equipped to settle into our hotel area in the midst of the rainforest.

Day 8

We sat on the porch getting espresso and seeing the kinkajous, toucans, and other tropical birds. Immediately after breakfast, there was the Orchid Garden. It was heavenly! So quite a few species! Shades, dimensions, and shapes different. There was Chunches, a cafe/bookstore/laundry. It truly is a excellent area with a significant choice of publications and lots of food stuff decisions! It was here we achieved Cindye, a Texan who loves living in this article, and is familiar with exactly where to come across just about anything! There was the Serpentarium. It was comprehensive of snakes and lizards of all sorts. There was the Coffee/Sugar Cane Plantation Tour. We rode in an oxcart and manufactured sweet at the stop of the tour to just take residence. How normally do we get to do that! So considerably to do in just one day! There were being resorts, eating places, retailers all with a tiny town taste. The town is quite tiny, so going for walks is the ideal way to get around. At the conclusion of the day, we have been drained, but incredibly joyful to have witnessed and performed so a lot. And tomorrow, we zip in the canopy!

Working day 9

Present day breakfast was at the Treehouse Lodge and Restaurant, which has an genuine tree expanding up by the roof! The Tican coffee has become our most loved. It really is solid and entire flavored. We ate hearty simply because now was our Canopy Tour in Santa Elena Cloud Forest at Selvatura Park. It was raining, but we were being in the rain forest! There are trails and gardens to occupy time even though ready to zip. A sky Stroll was fascinating and gave us spectacular sights. Vegetation is large! The experience as we zipped earlier mentioned the canopy is like flying! We looked down at the trees, and flew by them from just one system to the other. This was our initial zip, and we cherished the encounter! Magnificent! I went on the Tarzan swing, although Greg viewed! What fun! We watched some monkeys playing in the trees. It ongoing raining, so we suggest packing ponchos for getting out and about.

For supper, we drove the small and steep distance to Chimera, in Monteverde, where by Cindye operates in the evenings. The views have been wonderful. The food items, tapas, was delicious! Particularly delicious was the mango sorbet. Very average in price tag, too.

Day 10

A hike up to the Treehouse for breakfast, only to discover the espresso maker damaged! Oh no! The good thing is, Chunches and Cindye ended up readily available, so we had breakfast there and chatted with our new buddy.

The Cheese Manufacturing unit in Monteverde has quite a few kinds of handmade cheeses. We acquired some delicious searching Gouda. A handful of shops together the road ended up open, so we appeared in. Back again in Santa Elena, we visited the Frog Pond, entire of tropical frogs and toads. This was a excellent time, because it was raining once again. The Butterfly Backyard garden was close by with dozens of sensitive, stunning, vibrant butterflies. The Glasswing has transparent wings! Both of those attractions had been entertaining! Regrettably, it was time to head back again down the mountain. We had to say superior bye to Santa Elena and to Cyndye! Back down the slim, steep, and serpentine highway to San Jose the moment again. On the way, we stopped at a soda for lunch. A man drove his tiny herd of cattle down the highway past us. Quite picturesque!

Day 11

Back in the heart of San José, we again stayed at the Gran Hotel. We felt like previous close friends, the way the employees greeted us. From our room, we experienced a good seat for the avenue entertainers on the corner. We were across from Teatro Nacional Plaza and all the people. We had meal at Le Monastere, a former monastery perched high on a hill with great views of the metropolis lights at night time! Food was great! It was hugely suggested by the lodge workers and well worth the generate to get there! A night time stroll via the metropolis was terrific for persons looking at on our final night time in this article. There ended up some street performers, and audio wafted out from clubs.

At the time we were at the airport, we identified most food items courts consider only money and the ATM machines had been both of those out of purchase. By counting our change, we had been equipped to acquire a consume and bag of chips every single for lunch! Adios, Costa Rica! Costs for most locations had been moderate, amenities have been modern day, the weather was excellent, and folks were excellent! We are looking ahead to a further check out!