South of the Border

Thats right- river shrimp- aka- camerones del rio and if Im not mistaken- crawfish- crawdaddy's etc... But I don't really know because in the States I never have eaten a crawfish- but if they are indeed the same thing- yum yum yum. End of discussion . . but not the end of my blog. So I had been in Samara for a little while at this point, and I kept hearing people talking about river shrimp.  Either they went 'hunting' for them when the moon was new (no moon= new moon) so its dark and you can see better, or a man walked by their house and was selling river shrimp and they made lunch and it was amazing, or I met people that go on these adventures. SO color me intrigued! Its a random tuesday night and I decied to hang with some peeps from work, meanwhile my friend Jorge was going to go look for his connection to river shrimping and they we were going to go with some other friends around 8pm.. So I hang with the chicas and head home around 830 (tico time- I wasn't l...

I recall on of my first nights in Samara- I was getting ready for bed and I had left the door open with the Puerton shut- thats the security door that just looks like bars- people can't get through, but a small dog or cat can easily pass.  SO I was washing my face- back to the door- contacts out when I hear a noise- strange- what could that be... I turn around, but I don't see anything unusual.  I continue to wash my face when I hear the rustling again, okay, not cool! SO I walk into the kitchen- remember, no contacts - vision = bad, but I see that some of the garbage in on the floor- thats odd. I could have sworn I had thrown it in the bin... hmmphf- I return to the bathroom and then out of the corner of my eye I see something enter my kitchen! Or crap! What was that! I turn to look! A MAPACHE! A RACOON! IN MY HOUSE! EEK! I holler- she runs out- oh gross- I don't mind animals, but racoons- they just seem dirty to me.  I approach the puerton- she is still pretty darn clos...

Marisco- Seafood- pretty general term- this can be a lot of things, lobster, crab, snails, etc.  Well not far from my house is the beach, and along the northside of the beach there is an out cropping of rocks. When the tide (marea) is low more and more rocks expose themselves and well these rocks are ecosystems and these systems sustain life- and people need to eat to live, sooo lets go looking for mariscos, a ceviche sounds heavenly... I head out with my swiss armyknife, adventure sandals, and a plastic bag.  My neighbors dog, Nelly- a little -Paris Hilton sized terrier) decides to come with- fine... and we're off- we pass through the neighborhood, head nod to the Senor who must owe the plot of land closet to the rocks- we pass through his yard, asking for permission- I guess we could have gone along the beach- but that would have been no fun- so we get to OKGO and we head out on the rocks.  The idea is... get anything thats alive- basically- no Hermit crabs- these l...

What do I do in Samara- a few of my adventures- not in order Work with local kids- Mon- Thurs we ride our bikes to the village outside of the bussling Samara to a little place called el Torito- there we work with the local kids- 5-12 yro. We are there for an hour and then we head back to base camp, prep-eat lunch and the go to the Samara Salon for the later session.  Everyday is different. Like I said, the ages range from 5-12, but sometimes there are younger kids and sometimes no kids show up at all.  This would be because maybe school was cancelled that day, or maybe there class hours changed.  Sometimes we just don't know.  The group size ranges too, somedays only a couple of kids show up- I think the least I have seen has been 3... but othertimes it not so chill- I think one day over 30 kids were at the Samara program! Rock On CREAR!  But truly- each day is awesome. The kids that do show up, show up because they want to, ...

Love.  The last month in Samara has been amazing.  I have always like Costa Rica, since the first time I came in 2006.  But having spent the last month in one place.. well it's just been great.  I don't know if it's because its Costa Rica, and Ticos are friendly and relaxed, but I have just had a great time.  Or perhaps its because I have been living in a beach town. I don't know. SO whats so great about what Im up to... Me time.  This journey is about me.  My life and what I want to do with it.  I have had time to be myself.  To be in a place where no one knows me.  The person I am truly comes out because I have no history with anyone there.  I went to San Jose a couple weeks into my stay in Samara to visit my Cousin Fer.  He mentioned this and I honestly had no idea was he was talking about until just a few days ago.  When you travel with people you know, you are really connected to them.  Thus when you meet new...

SO I have been in Playa Samara for over a month.  I don't know what Samara means in spanish but I think it could mean the place where horses run free- thats right.  One of the many amazing things about Samara is that the Horses run free, and usually around 5pm, right about then the sun is setting and creating a beautiful light throughout the land, the horses leave their field and run along the beach, then they decide to turn up on the to main street and cut through town.  I have gotten used to not having my camera, but moments like these make me miss it so.  Okay so rewind. I arrived in the night of Nov. 12th, a Friday.  I head to the Intercultura Lanuage School.  Thats where CREAR's office is located.  I find it.  Woah, Samara is so different to me now then it was two weeks ago when we first arrived for the birthday of Hayley- the 1st.  Now it's now raining, and I am able to take in my surroundings with a more relaxed and open mind. SO I f...

Oh Geez! Today is Dec. 21st and Im sooo far behind on this blog- I really liked going day by day, but those days are over- it's tooo much to try to do, but I will fill ya in on the big things, or the little things- I will fill you in on whatever I feel is important, interesting, or if I just wanna vent. This is my blog remember. SO Where was I..... Nov- Okay, we left Jaco- thank god and we headed back to Heredia. There were spent one night and then the Noons and I headed to San Jose- la Capital! There we stayed at Tranquilo Backpackers- a nice hostel that has breakfast included- Pancakes and fruit.  Its right downtown and pretty easy access to anything one would need.  We stayed in a room that had sooo much writing on the walls- I kinda felt like we were in a bathroom- oh ya and the room was Number 2.5... WTF Tranquilo Backpackers- ya couldn't think of the number that came after 2, and before 4? But I maybe thats just me.  ANYWAY- In San Jose Hayley and I went to th...

11/3- Like when any princess dies, its like an earthquake around the world.  Because princesses aren't like you and me, they are bigger then that, and they truly touch the lives of everyone they meet.  And that is exactly what Mona Bones did. On Nov. 3rd I received an email from my mom saying to call her. I didn't think it was urgent so we cruised the strip a bit, went to a beach bar, had a cute old man serenade us on the beach- raining, but still nice, then we hunkered down at the place with the $1.25 margos- yum! But around 3pm I decide, enough with the boozing, lets see what my mommas up to.  So I get to the comp. lab. I call my mom.... "hi honey, are you sitting down" Shocked that thats the first thing she says and confused, she sounds really sad, "YeS? Whats going?" My mind is racing, what could possibly have happened? "I just got off the phone with Korea".... Im really freaking now, why didn't she say jarrett, " and Jarretts ...

11/5- WE HAVE TO LEAVE JACO! Seriously, what is the point of being at the beach if you can't go to the beach?  So we decide to leave, but before I end the story of Jaco I would like to first point out the bad parts and then try to end on the good parts- WORST= -Mona died.  She was hit by a car.  She will get her own blog. But this really stained my Jaco experience. BAD= -Rain -Prostitutes -Creepy old Gringos -Creepy old Gringos that marry Prostitues -Drugs -Seedy people -Rain -Expensive touristy dining -Tooo many t-shirt shops -Rain and NO hot water -Small room, for 3 nights -Only soo many times you can day drink and get away with it -Hanzel is flooded- wet seats and because its sooo wet and humid, Hanzel can't dry=Hanzel Smellllllls something fierce! Guacala! -Oh and we stayed because we had to! There was no way out because the roads were closed! great no?! GOOD= -I found a cool Argentino rest. to have my morning cafe- with and endless cup and a view...

11/2- Oh so why south mellen- well when we went to the bar in Samara, it was only guys and they seemed kinda strange soooo Hayley was joking and said Samara was going to be like South Mellen- kinda mean, and maybe I shouldn't put that here, but I did.  What cha gonna do about it.... SO 11/2- Rain Whats the point of being at the beach if it's raining.  Also I didn't want my idea of Samara to get any worse... so we deceided to hit to road- next stop Santa Teresa- but guess what it's raining a lot.  And then back roads are horrible! HORRIBLE! actaully we get to some bridges that are in the midst of collasping and yes we went across them and only to return moments later because the road is closed- maybe they should have put that marking before the bridge- but anyway..... we are bummed.  I don't mind rain, but Costa Rica rain is something lendendary- LOTS and LOTS of it! I guess thats why they have rainforests. Decision at hand- what to doooooo? I really didn't ...

11/1 (continued)- So we hit the road after playa Avellana- jeez I hope the rain stops.  I really don't mind rain, but driving in the rain is a grag.  But its the nooners birthday so energy is up! Now I don't know if you now about Costa Rica, but the roads.... suck.  Well we could have left Tamarindo and headed all the way to the other side of the penisula to get to a nice road, but that would have been a little out of the way, and since Hanzel is 4x4- or wants to be 4x4 we decide to take the scenic route along the ocean- atleast in theory. Okay the roads are long and widing, but the scenery is excellent and beautiful and if the bummpyness doesn't bother you then its a okay, and actually crossing the rivers in Hanzel is quite the little adventure!  Nice crossing rivers.  This is okay for some of the little ones, but with the rain these babies are starting to rise and they start to go pretty fast.  There was one that I remember, K walked half way throu...

10/30- SO we arrive in Playa Tamarindo.  One of the better known Playas en Costa Rica, but because the sunset so early we are arriving at night, well darkness.  Really if I had to say one this bad about this place it would be that, so sun after 530pm?! come on, really!? There is so much to see and do!- But anyway, we arrive and find ourselves settling in at the Hostel Obeja Negra- Black Sheep- and right off the bat I like the looks of this place.  Surf Boards alining the front side of the buildings, hammocks in the trees, youth all around.  Inside we got a pool table and a BIG open sitting area- kinda like a U shaped sofa and a big screen TV. Almost reminds me of a dorm common room- but not stuffy and NO RAs (no offense RA friends).  The place is run by a blond Puerteño (somebody from Buenos Aires) names Juan, and his Che counter parts come and go as well- or maybe they were staying- I dont know, didn't keep track.. But anyway, after Golfito the lodging situa. j...

10/30- Thank god we found el Gofito hostel.  I could not say that enough.  After quite the day on the 29th I was so happy to be in a safe place.  Seriously, it must be blessed because I felt so happy to be there.  Normally Im a pretty easy going person and I can stay most places, but here I felt over whelmed with happiness and comfort.  It was just such a warm place- if you go to Monteverde- te lo recomiendo. So we wake, have some breakfast, toast- w/ pinapple jelly I might add, coffee, fried egg, watermelon and a banano. Perfect because we have another busy day planned.  At 10:30 the bus for the zip line is coming to pick us up.  Sweet.  We had to be out of the room by 10am, and the gave us 30mins to check the emails and be in touch with the worlds we had left.  At this time K decides he wants to check out zip lining.  When I orginally made the reservations it was just for two because K said she wasn't interested in those kind of thin...

10/29- Continued.... So we leave the hotsprings and we're all in nice dry clothes.  We each grab a Chiky (a delicious Costa Rica cookie with choc. on the backside- yum) and set sail.  We decided to take the route to Monteverde that goes around Lago Arenal.  Little did we know that has the crow flies this route is short, but that the patchwork roads go... its not.  case and point.  But we take in the beautiful scenery of the land, Volcan Arenal in the panaramic view at all times, rolling hills sides, no wonder the Quakers settled in these parts.  Also Lake Arenal is beautiful.  A huge fresh water lake that actually has some of the BEST WIND SURFING in the world.  Yes I know a little 80s but HEY its a fun adventure sport.  Anyway we are on road.  All is well but this one gets bumpy, and windy and you can imagine; fast and slow, bumpy and smooth, paved then not paved, then paved then NOT PAVED AGAIN... then it just becomes a dirt road, so...

10.29- So Hayley and I awake at about 6:30am.  I brave the cold shower first, and after the night before its honestly the last night that I want.  I dont mind a cold shower if its hot out, but I believe that I am basically cold blooded so if its not hot out (and I mean HOT not just warm) then its very difficult for me to shower properly in a cold shower.  I would prefer to remain sucia until a hot shower is available.  Call me a priss, but thats just how I am.  SO as Im about to brave the cold shower, I decided to make sure that the hot water is really on the left, and not the right (in the states this is a rather common feature) Oh I was elated to discover that the hot was on the right, so now I know the secret, when in doubt, check the fixtures, they could just be on wrong. :) So after my delightful hot shower, I had sometime to kill so I head out to the car to make sure everything is in order, and what do I see not far from the path outside our room.  ...

10/26- So after a crazy weekend it was nice to get to Heredia and just relax, and now it's evident my blog time line and my updates are really out of order... but oh well. It was a regular Tuesday filled with a light breakfast and a walk into town.  Calling loved ones *(1) , blogging at the comp. lab and getting stuck in the typical afternoon rain, a perfect time to hit up the Heredias central market, sit down at a SODA (Costa Rican for a cafe of sorts) and order a Casado (Costa Rican plate consisting of Rice, Beans, cabbage salad, a meat- typically chicken, beef or pork- and this plate even had Spagetti- living like queens).  Pretty much a regular uneventful day. SIDEBAR- But it has been coming to my attention, and I don't know if now, v.s other times I've been here, if I dress different, but people don't think I am from the States.  Possibly it's my hair... but most of the time they guess Germany first (France is second), but when I say I speak english they assu...