South of the Border

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...

10/25- 7:30 am Beautiful morning in Cahuita Costa Rica.  I wake to the sound of our tico companions already playing in the pool and running around like a bunch of little man boys.  I guess their playful nature is inspiring so I get myself out of bed and decide that Gallo Pinto and a hot cup of Joe would hit the spot.  My gringa compa Hayley joins shortly after and we spend the better half of the morning hanging by the bitty pool and planning our day. We decided to get head north to Limon to get in some real beach time.  Playa Bonita it is and it was a perfect day for the beach.  Light rolling waves, easy breeze, few clouds, enough to break up the sun, truly couldn't get any better.  I attempt to make a sand castle, but the waves were to unpredictable and castles made of sand, fall into the sea eventually, so I just kinda sat in the stagnant water.. That is until... OUCH! Algo me pico! Something bit me! What the F@#!? What was that?.... Pulgas de Mar they ...

So where was I.... 10-24> The death Lagoon.  So after falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing in the distance we wake up in time to still get a hot cup of coffee before we embark on our journey into the lagoon.  Just south of La Grandoca is a very large lagoon and the local chaps agree that it is one of the best places to catch a glimpse at some WILD LIFE.  We set out on this trip.  The man from the cabin helps us get to the sea and we begin to paddle south.  Hayley is telling me about a cute story called Paddle to the Sea and we are doing quite well on our voyage, its tiring.. but good.  Once we arrive at the lagoon, it is completely calm.  Seems like a good place to relax, there are several local people around, enjoying their Sunday, fishing, swimming, but mostly fishing. There are even some fishermen at the other side of the Lagoon We start by cruising by the side of the lagoon, some cool mangroves, maybe we can even see an iguana or tw...