5 Year Anniversary

Today was our anniversary...5 years of marriage, how time flies...

It was to be expected that we would like this day to be special, so we decided to visit the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Yesterday we found a small bakery across the street from the beach and we decided to pick up a few snacks and some water for our hike. 

The entrance to the park was $10 (per person) and for an additional $15 per person we could have had an english speaking guide with a scope and tripod, but it was our day and we really wanted to enjoy each others company even at the risk of not seeing all the wildlife we could have.

We had learned from all our previous hikes that if you want to see wildlife you not only need to take your time, but you have to know where to look. Some animals are easy to spot: like the lizards patrolling the entire park, eating at the fruits that fell out of the trees: others are harder to spot: like the slots sleeping high in the tree, the insects...and some are very hard to spot because of their perfect camouflage.

The road takes you through the jungle to this very beautiful lagoon with white sand, calm blue waters and a rocky island that looked like just a short swim away. 

It had to be around noon because the sun was very powerful and without the constant breeze that was present on the public beach the temperature was starting to feel unbearable....a quick dip in the cool water fixed that....We found a shady spot and we enjoyed our sweet snacks we brought with us just to be surprised by a Jesus lizard that was very happy to pose for me...cute thing did not leave until I put my camera away, it must have been very used to tourists doing this sort of thing. 

Before we left the beach I almost stepped on a hermit crab...so needless to say I spent some time taking some shots of him trying to climb out of a sand hole.

On our way back from the beach we noticed a larger group of tourists looking up in the trees, it was a band of white faced monkeys, and just like the lizard earlier as soon as we started taking photos of them they got closer and closer and cuter. 

Some of the other tourist had guides with them that were telling them interesting facts about them, reminding people that as cute as they may look they were wild animals and they were omnivores. The large lizards patrolling the park ended up being their lunch sometimes and some of the monkeys had the scars to prove it.

There was a spoiled little boy that caught my attention, maybe because one of the guides kept on telling him not to show his teeth which may seem crazy to some readers as it did to the mother of that spoiled child that was making all kinds of weird crazy faces to the monkeys in the trees really aggravating one the alpha male.

After trying to warn both the child and the parents and only be met with a "what's the harm in it, his just being a child" the guide gave up and looked apologetic to me...there was something in her eyes that made me step further from that child and follow the alpha male more closely. 

Angry alpha male

I used to spend hour as a child looking at the monkeys, observing them and the way they interacted so to see this in their own habitat was wonderful...but there was something that I have only noticed ones....the group of monkeys started to be more agitated and the alpha male was almost growling, showing his teeth from a branch just above the kids head. He was so proud that the monkey was imitating him...and I suddenly just realized why the guide looked so guilty...the alpha male just urinated on the kids head and before anyone could have any reaction to what just happened the monkey through some fecal mater at the child. It did the trick as far as the monkeys were concerned, the spoiled child making the threatening faces (showing your teeth to any primate as well as many other animals means you want to challenge them) as well as his parents were hurrying to the exit angry and complaining.

As soon as they departed the monkeys seemed to have relaxed and continued the cute display of acrobatics. One of them decided to get closer to the group of tourist and when the guides suggested that no one should make sudden moves his suggestion was taken to heart by all (we just witnessed what happens to those that did not). The monkey was happy to run between a child's legs and back up a tree without ever touching anyone.

After the National Park we returned to the public beach for lunch and some more photos of those fascinating crabs.

In the evening we returned to the hotel and we enjoyed our last night in Manuel Antonio.

We were having our tea on the patio in front of our room when my husband noticed the small lizards above us in the light fixtures...what a nice end to our evening. 

There is something so magical about being surrounded by wildlife anywhere you go in this wonderful country.

Good Night

And Happy Travels

Hotel Plinio

We arrived at Hotel Plinio in the afternoon. Hungry, tired, and hot we could not wait to see our room...but what room should we get?

Choosing between the standard A/C rooms and upgrade was easier said then done. The photos of the upgraded rooms looked amazing, but the idea of being in a room with no windows (just screens) and no A/C when I was boiling in the office was not exactly appealing. The owner suggested we inspect the upgraded room.

There are 2 rooms in this category that are next to each other and share covered patio area with bar stools.


On the ground level of the room there were 2 couches and a coffee table in a living area and the bathroom with a huge shower that could fit a very large number of people.




The stairs, while very steep and only wide enough for one person were very sturdy.





Upstairs, a huge king(?) size bed took-up most of the room and across from it there were two wicker chairs and a coffee table.


The windows were covered by white sheers for privacy and the breeze coming in was very pleasant, not hot at all...that was it, we decided to stay in that room.

After checking in and taking a nice cold shower our bodies decided to remind us that a bag of chips and some chocolate was not an actual meal....so we headed out to the restaurant.

The award winning restaurant was offering an interesting mix of german, japanese and costa rican dishes. I have to admit that as much as I enjoyed the traditional Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) in the first few days after having it with every meal I just wanted something that did not have it as a side dish....so mashed potatoes with frankfurters and sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) was what I ordered. And accept the fact that for some reason the sauerkraut was heated up (I still think my mashed potatoes were microwaved) the food was not bad. We had ice cream for desert and finished with a nice cup of costa rican coffee.

Since the bar was not at all busy, and the owner was behind the bar we ended up chatting up a storm with him. We learned about the observation area that the hotel has, were we can view some wildlife (if patient) and that the public bus can take us to the Manuel Antonio public beach or the National Park for about $1 (2 people). He also warned us that it rains every day for about 30min-1 hour at about 5p.m. after which the rain stops and the roads dry up in about 5min.


We decided to find the observation area and try our luck with the wildlife...unfortunately we must have made a wrong turn because we ended up above the roof of the owners residence (uphill from the hotel) and the only wildlife we found was a poison dart frog...and a beautiful view of a dock far below the property.

There was not too much to do at the end of the day so we decided to call it a day and go to sleep early....Good Night!

Until next time
happy travels

*Note: The hotel is currently under new ownership and is called +Hostel Plinio ...when we return to Costa Rica we will probably check it out.

Morning in Arenal

We woke up early, must have been before 7:00, still hungry but well rested and in a much better mood then last night.

Now, with the sun shining through the huge windows we started to look around and really appreciate the room we were in.




A large room with a queen bed and 2 twin beds, a table with chairs, a balcony with a very nice view of the volcano in the distance, a huge walk in closet and a bathroom with a nice size shower (with hot water).





After a quick shower we decided to go and check in and figure out where to eat...I don't thing what mattered much at that time...The staff at the desk were very nice and as soon as we walk it welcomed us and knew that we arrived late last night and advised us that breakfast will be served as soon as all the tables are set.






Since we had more then 30 minutes to waste we decided to explore the property a bit and we started by walking down the winding road leading to the gate that last night was secured by a chain.




The property was very well maintained with meticulously cut lawn and nice landscaping full of different flowers and trees. While the road on the property was nicely paved, the one outside the property was a gravel road with enough space for 2 cars to pass. The description provided by the teenager last night came to mind ..."the rocky road"...and with that also came a huge sense of relief, "We made it!"

We followed the road until we saw our balcony and realized we actually had the corner room and the room next to us appeared unoccupied. The cow that wished us good morning was long gone by then.








By the time we made it back up the road to the restaurant the tables were set and the buffet with the complementary breakfast was being served...Since we learned from Tom that the cows in Costa Rica are mostly a different bread then the ones in North America (they are an Indian breed able to stand the high temperatures)...I was reluctant to go for the cereal and milk option, but the eggs, cheese and fresh fruits were delicious.

Once the food started making its way to our stomach we started talking and laughing about yesterdays adventure and the face I made when I saw the chain on the gate...pure desperation and defeat...





After breakfast we talked to the front desk agent about the local attractions I had planed to see (the National Park with the hanging bridges, the volcanic springs, the volcano...) and was suggested one of the packaged tours that included the National Park, the La Fortuna Waterfall, lunch, and remainder of the time at the Baldi resort and hot springs where we also received a buffet dinner. The best part was that the packaged came with a bilingual guide at the park and a driver which will wait for us at each location (so we could go at our pace and spend as much or as little time at each location as we pleased).

Waiting for our tour I decided to take some shots of some of the flowers when I noticed a strange bug flying like no bug I noticed before...when I saw it fly up, down, forward, and backward around a flower I realized it was not a bug....but a Hummingbird, smaller then the bee I just photographed, unfortunately my camera was not quick enough to zoom on it and even if I kept seeing them all over the flower bush I could not get one decent shot....at the same time my husband called me over to show me a bigger one ...I barely got one shot before it was gone...but I saw hummingbirds for the first time in my life....I was ecstatic.

Off to our tour...

Happy Travels.

Second day in Tortuguero

Another early morning...but if you wanna see the wildlife it is a sacrifice you need to make.

the canal and some of the larger tour boats

It rained on and off all night and at 6 in the morning it looked like it will rain again...we were not even on the boat before the rain started again...first as a drizzle that halfway through the tour developed into a full tropical downpour.

There were other guides that provide tours for a larger group and use boats that provide shelter from the rain, but having a private tour has many advantages, even if we were getting wet.

Rafa turned out to be an amazing guide, despite the weather he was full of energy, patients and a fountain of information. He told us about the different palm trees, the different fruit bearing trees and the rest of the vegetation. He knew every bird we encountered and everything about it.

It was not long before we noticed the biggest difference between our tour and the bigger boats filled with 10+ people. Rafa, kept his boat closer to the shore or closer to the vegetation that was growing on the water, and because it was just us we knew better then to make to much noise especially after he pointed out a bird, so we got pretty close to a lot of them and with no one in the way got some nice shots.

Can you see me?

He knew from a previous conversation we had that I really wanted to see a Cayman and he was on a mission to find and show me one....The first one he spotter was very well camouflaged and I had a hard time noticing it...I really thought he will lose his patients any moment and I decided to say that I see it...well that only got him laughing....he knew I was lying, because apparently I was not even looking in the right direction, so he patiently guided me until I finally saw it...he was beautiful, like a baby crocodile.
The second one Rafa spotted was more in the open and he pulled the boat really close to it. We were so close that if I would have put my arm out I could have touched it. DO NOT TRY IT...the Cayman was on the hunt and he could easily bite my hand off faster then I could have pulled it back into the boat, but there is something so magical in being this close to a wild animal.

The only downside to the rain was that I had to put my camera away and the small waterproof one had a hard time focusing because of the dense rain...so I gave up.



Rafa did warn us that it will rain when we left the village, but we decided that a little water wont do us harm and his wooden boat gave us some reassurance, (my decision may have been different if he would have used a metal one). Even when the rain really started to come down hard I did not regret my decision, the sky got dark and the canal got an eerie feel to it, but it was still full of movement and life (if you knew where to look)

I promised myself that when I return to Tortuguero I will bring the appropriate protection for my camera...and better rain gear for us.

just an hour earlier this alee was under a foot of water

When we returned to the village we noticed that the alley leading from the main road to our room was flooded in a foot of water...I looked at my husband and we both had this "here we go" look as we stepped into the water.We knew that the ally was a sandy road and it was very clean both the night before and in the morning so we did not have to worry about where we step even if the water was not clear. By the time we reached our room we were so giddy, we could not stop laughing and talking about how we have not played in puddles since we were maybe 10 years old.

After changing into dry cloths we decided to have breakfast...so we headed back to the main road to a restaurant called Sunrise Fast Food Place...the menu was all in Spanish and the waitress did not speck English other then a few basic words, but when you have a positive attitude you will find a way to communicate. With some basic English and Spanish words...and some body language...we "decoded" the menu and ordered. While some of the items on the menu were not that hard to order the payment part was a bit harder since large numbers are harder for me to understand, the receipt was in colones and we wanted to pay in american dollars so I asked the waitress for her calculator I asked for US dollars and showed her the calculator..she wrote something down, I looked deleted and wrote down how much I want to pay (added the tip to her amount).Food was good and fresh and for the next day and a half we returned for every meal and the waitress always came with her calculator when we paid.



Keep in mind that in most places in Costa Rica a 10% tip is added automatically to your bill, however just like at home if I really enjoyed my meal and the service I tip more then 10%, and this waitress really made our meals special and her translations where very appreciated.







We had the rest of the day to explore and we were hoping to climb the hill...unfortunately the weather had other plans and it rained a few times that day...after all it was the rainy season and we were in a rain forest....we settled on walking the beach and relaxing.

we had a new friend following us 

until he got bored and decided to nap a bit

The beach with it's signature black volcanic sand must be beautiful during the sunny days, unfortunately because of all the rain and storms the sea was very rough. There were some huge pieces of driftwood that the waives were moving back and forth with no effort at all performing a captivating dance.

After revisiting the various souvenir stores and buying same snacks from the general store we returned to our room and decided to relax on the hammocks....and time just flew by.




Later we had an early dinner and retired to our room wishing we could spend more time in this secluded place and promising to return one day and share it with our children.






Happy travels