1st timer's just back report (long)
 

Well hello everyone,

Thought I would post my just back report as I found so much info on this forum that helped me and wanted to return the favour in some small way. To give a bit of background we travelled April 30th - May 14th. We are husband (Rene) and myself (Trish) who are two 47 yr. old Canadians who now that the kids are grown have started our travels (so far Mexico and 2 Caribbean cruises). We are not athletic by any means (treadmill 4x week) but neither are we couch potatoes although Rene works 60 hrs plus a week. So here goes. Sorry if it's too detailed and long for some people but just skip over the parts that don't interest you.

Drove to Seattle, stayed overnight and caught America West on the 30th to Phoenix where we caught the straight through connector to San Jose. Arrived at 6:30. Jose from Hotel Pura Vida was there to pick us up and off we went the 4 miles through Alajuela to our hotel. I had asked Rene whether he wanted to drive in CR or take transfers and he was adamant about driving (he drives for a living and wanted the freedom). Well here we are at 7:00 p.m. on a dark Friday night in a little car with cars, scooters, motorbikes, bicycles and trucks all converging, honking and trying to get around each other to get down a narrow main street. What have we done! was the look I received from Rene. Finally we arrived at Hotel Pura Vida. What a lovely place. The main house (casa) had a lovely open air dining room out back that had a wonderful view of Alajuela and Poas. The grounds were lush and full of flowers. Nestled in the grounds are 4 casitas (cabins). Ours was the Toucan which had a little porch with view and inside a separate living room and bedroom. No A/C but although it was warm the windows open provided enough of a breeze. Berni had arranged for us to have dinner. They will do dinners for a charge ($14. ea.) you just have to arrange in advance. The three course meal was wonderful and we met some other travellers and sat and had our first Imperial (Berni supplied for $2 ea.) We had arranged with Berni to have our vehicle delivered the next morning so around 10 we headed off to bed. So I don't run out of room I shall do the next installment as another post connected to this one. Next up - Day 2 and Wills, Waterfalls and Wacky Drivers.

Trvlbug -

Loving the report so far. Can't wait for the rest of it! Thanks for taking the time fill us in on your trip.

Lynne

Day 2 Wills, Waterfalls and Wacky Drivers

We are awake at 6 a.m. and the sun is shining in and there are more bird sounds than I have ever heard before. We go up for breakfast at 7. It consists of coffee, juice a lot of fruit and a cake (meaning banana bread or coffee cake etc.) Our vehicle is coming at 8 and we ask Berni whether we should go to see Poas but looking at it we see it is shrouded in clouds so that we decide to head to La Paz Waterfall Gardens which are about an hour away. We figure this will give us a little driving experience. Berni gives us directions and at 9 (CR time is laid back) our vehicle arrives. It is a Hyundai Galloper Jr. (never heard of them) which looks like a Jeep and has a high clearance. Fill out the paperwork and off we go. Berni says to follow the signs to Poas and we will come upon the sign to La Paz. Go down the hill to the two stop signs and hang a hard left. Sounds easy except no one is really stopping at the signs. The guy on our a** honks us as Rene foolishly stops at the stop sign. Finally, a break in traffic and Rene just goes for it. We hit an enormous pothole and now know why vehicles veer all over the road. I am trying to think of when we last updated our wills! Anyhow, all is well and we follow the signs to Poas and lo and behold a sign telling us to turn right to the Waterfall gardens. How easy is this! We keep going and going and going. Consulting our useless map from the car rental company I determine after an hour and a half that we have gone too far. Stop and ask for directions. People are just giving us blank stares as we practice our Spanish for "lost". La Paz means nothing and so I do the "agua" with raindrop hand motions. Success. They point us back to where we came from. Rene sets the odometer and we go back 18 km. and suddenly see the sign to turn to the Gardens. It seems that they do not put a sign if you are coming from the other way. It is very warm out and we finally arrive along with about 20 tour buses. One guy working the counter who seems to be new and now has about 200 people in the lobby with two German tour guides nattering at him. Then his computer stops working. Finally help arrives and we pay our $21. ea. and get our wristbands. The park is very pretty and well laid out. We see everything and then take the trails down to see all the waterfalls which are truly gorgeous. At the bottom is an area which you can supposedly take a shuttle back up to the main lodge. We wait and wait. No shuttle and hundreds of tourists. "Let's just hike back up" says Rene which is the last piece of advise I take from this man on this journey!! It is stinking hot and all uphill and by the time we get to our Galloper we look like we've been through the wringer. We buy large bottles of water and set back on our way to Pura Vida. Find our way back to the Poas signs but somehow take a wrong turn. We go around in circles for ages and then I suddenly spot the "Orquideas Inn" from this forum. I tell Rene that they must speak English there and to pull in. I tell the front desk guy that we are lost and he says "welcome to paradise!". I tell him where we are going "Hotel Pura Vida" and he says pointing to some guy. "You are going to drive Elwyn, the waiter, home" Huh? Seems Elwyn lives a few blocks from Pura Vida and will give us easy directions once we get to his house. So out to the truck I go with Elwyn and off all three of us go much to Rene's surprise. He gives us perfect directions and we arrive safely back at Pura Vida with big smiles and high fives. We park in the compound and have much needed showers, Imperial and another wonderful dinner. I have my first encounter with flying beetles and biting bugs. Glad I have brought the bug spray as I am being eaten alive. We are exhausted and go to sleep by 10 again. Next up Caribbean, Crazy Drivers and Clouds.

Hi, I have similar request for information, however will be in San Jose for just a day and half. What can we do? How is the tram ride in the rain forest? I think it's only about an hour from the city. Any information on what we could do in our limited time would be helpful....

trvlbug,
Thanks for the good reports. . .waiting to hear more! Welcome home, and I am so glad you had a great time!

mpratnicki
Such a short time! Two suggestions to help you make the most:

If you have one full day, by all means try to get on a Highlights of Costa Rica Tour. $80 pp for about 10 hours that takes you through 5 of Costa Rica's 7 provinces via a large loop east, north, and west of San Jose (mostly north). You will have breakfast at a beautiful coffee plantation, view Poas (beautiful) early in the day and hike the forest nearby, make a stop to view part of the falls at La Paz, visit a roadside hummingbird gallery, have lunch at Selva Verde on the Sarapiqui River, drive through the Caribbean Lowlands to Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui and down to the river for an hour long jungle cruise (good wildlife), back into town for a little souvenir shopping, then return to San Jose through Braulio Carillo National Park.

OR similar tour (beautiful but not as much to see) of Irazu Volcano, Lankaster Gardens, and Orosi Valley (this is in an area southeast of San Jose)

OR head to the beach. . .takes you about an hour to get to Jaco. Downside, this is not one of the nicer beach towns or beaches.

The rainforest tram tour is, of course, an option, but I heard it isn't that great. This type of development tends to scare away the critters you are wanting to see!

If you want to see the real Costa Rica the Highlights Tour would give you an excellent overview. Have a great time. . .I think you'll want to go back!

trvlbug: I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a trip report so much and I can't wait to read the rest! We are spending our first night at Pura Vida on July 6th. Sounds like we made a great choice.

We are also flying America West for the first time. How were your flights down and back?

Terri

Thanks so much for the info on my short stay in Costa Rica. I will avoid the tram for the reasons you stated and will definetly do the hightlights tour...........

You won't be disappointed! Have fun! Any of the hotels can set you up with this. We particulary like the Hotel Don Carlos because it is so close to a great walking tour area (also close to El Pueblo--definitely go there in the late evening--bars, restaurants, and neat shops, it is a short taxi ride for about $3). At the Don Carlos, there is a tour office and Juan Carlos can make your arrangements for you!

Loved the trip report. Especially the part about the driving. Driving in CR is pretty hair raising. Good thing people are helpful and will give directions to lost gringos. Looking forward to more reports.

Day 3 Caribbean, Crazy Drivers and Clouds

We are awake early! 5:30 is just too soon and I am on vacation and want to sleep in. No such luck. After another lovely breakfast we get directions from Berni on how to get to the Barria Carrillo (sp) Highway. We also pay up our account at Pura Vida. It is $65. a night including breakfast. I have brought cash, travellers cheques and my Visa. I pay the extra 6% and do the Visa. This highway is the brand new one that the Ticos are so proud of. We leave at 8 heading for Heredia on the secondary highway that runs beside the main one to San Jose. Well that was the plan. We have to go through Alajuela and Rene is stopping for pedestrians which I tell him is suicide on our part. We will be rear ended for sure and besides the pedestrians look at us like we are crazy. It looks like we have taken a wrong turn. We are on a highway but it keeps saying we are going to San Jose. Rene is panicking. There is nowhere to turn off and double back. Closer and closer we get until finally a few kilometres from San Jose we see a sign for Heredia. Then the signs stop. We are at a gas station and no one speaks English. A fellow filling up hears us in our broken spanish and tells us sort of where to go to hook up with the BC highway. Off we head again but soon we are lost, again. No one knows where the entrance to the BC highway is which is less than a few kilometres away but if you say Limon which is 150 kilometres away they give you all sorts of directions. Rene is at the end of his rope and is now cursing. We pull over and I tell him that we are in a country with no signs and that we have plenty of time and that we should expect to get lost. He calms right down and we ask another fellow and it turns out that we have been sitting on top of the entrance (unmarked of course) for the whole time. Off we go. There is a toll a few hundred metres along. I believe it was 200 colones. We have our directions from ALmonds and Corals so we are set. This highway is crazy. There are a lot of potholes and also a lot of trucks. We are in a huge long line beind many large trucks and cars. People behind us start passing and we have to brake to let them in so they won't hit oncoming traffic. Up ahead we see a semi trying to pass a tanker on a hill with a curve and double yellow line. As we go around curves trucks coming the other way are way over the line and we have to move over to the right. A light rain is falling which makes it all the more thrilling!!! I have been transported to a James Bond movie! Finally we descend and the humidity hits us. At a gas station Rene finds that he must pee al fresco as there is no door and the urinal is in full view of everyone. We pick up yet more water. I am beginning to feel like a camel. Carrying on we come to Limon where I pray that we do not break down. It is very dirty and piles of garbage and junk are everywhere. Suddenly it turns into a lovely drive with palm trees everywhere and signs that let you know every 2 kilometres where the next town is. Five and a half hours later we arrive at Almonds and Corals. Rene acts like he has made the Tico driving Hall of Fame. We unload our gear and check in. What an amazing place. Our cabin is number 13 and the lady checking us in tells us not to be scared in the morning with the noise. Huh? We walk along elevated pathways to our cabin which is a large mesh structure with a tent over it. It is elevated about 6 feet off the ground. Inside this are two more tents. One houses our beds (1 double and 1 single) and one houses our bathroom (sink, toilet and shower). Just outside our inside tents (ok are you all confused now) is a sitting area with a table, chair and hammock. We are completely under the canopy and cannot see the sky. This is so cool. Walking on the raised platforms we head to the large restaurant for lunch. It is seafood rice with french fries. There goes the low carb diet. While eating it clouds over and suddenly it pours down. This is a torrential rainstorm and boy is it heavy. After an hour it seems to have stopped but there is water coming down. We walk about 50 feet from the restaurant and come out to an absolutely beautiful beach. Palm trees and palapas are there and the waves are crashing. No swimming as there is a riptide, but it is gorgeous. Walk back into the canopy and see some monkeys in a tree. It is raining on us but just from all the trees. Quite amazing actually. Go back to the tent and read some books and play crib. Decide to book the Natura tour. The girl at the desk does not speak English but we point to the sign that says 8 a.m. Natura Tour and she nods and puts our names down for the next morning. Soon it is dark and we head to the restaurant/lounge for a drink and dinner. It is buffet and is fairly good. A large tour group from France is at the resort and so they bring in a reggae band from nearby Puerto Viejo. Now it is 9p.m and we are so tired. Back to the tent. I am sitting outside on our steps when all of a sudden a coati mundi walks right in front and stops and we stare at each other. I tried to get up to get the camera but he scurried off. I am slathered in bug spray but still getting bitten, my clothes are slightly damp and my hair has frizzed out like little orphan annie. But I am smiling and Rene has done the bed bug check so I am content. I am out like a light.

Next up Day 4 Loud Noises, Lessons and Lobster.

Wow it seems like driving in Costa Rica is not worth the hassle! I am going on my honeymoon to Manuel Antonio, then to arenal and then to La Paz - Should i just use Bus transfers? I am staying at Villas Valetas which is north of Maneul antonio.

LOL! Trvlbug, you are quite a writer! I have laughed so much at the way you have told these stories because it sounds SO much like when we travel! I can just hear you (almost) giving your husband little pep talks about "this is part of the adventure, you have to take it for what it is and enjoy, calm down, we have all the time in the world, etc" --we've been through it all! And, Blakeas, would not trade those experiences for anything! There is some kind of a rhythm to traveling in Costa Rica when you drive, (does anyone out there agree?) and once you are in it, it is quite enjoyable. As long as you fight it and try to pretend like you are still in the states and "these roads are interfering with my daily schedule" you haven't yet found "the ryhthm". I know, sounds crazy, but it is true! And it is fun!

Keep the stories coming. . .they are definitely entertaining! Can't wait to hear more :) Didn't you just love it over there? So few people go, and I think the Caribbean side is fascinating (and beautiful).

They should make a video game of driving
in CR. First there's the pot hole dodging.
Then fording streams in the rainforest.
(BTW, it will rain in the rainforest).
Then dodging oncoming cars that are
passing and the ox cart/cattle obstacles.
Then the twisty turny roads with the 100
foot drop off and no guard rails.
They could add groups of school kids with
their uniforms as background and
speed bumps for the schools.

I miss it already.

LOL! Actually, it's great for character development. . .patience, tolerance, adaptation to change etc! After some experience with the driving, it begins to seem more "normal" and at that point it improves--or I should say the mindset does a 180!

Hi trvlbug,
I love your trip report. We are going in August. How did you pay for your tours? Can you pay for tours with a charge card? That would be our preference. My husband is insisting on driving,too. I think driving is very convenient, you can go where you want when you want, but it does sound scary. Interbus and the public bus just doesn't sound convenient to me. Would your husband drive in CR again? Are you glad you made the decision to drive?

Trvlbug - you're killing me. I love the report. I just know that our drive from Tamarindo to La Paz is going to be nuts and only because we are wound up Americans who don't know how to relax and as Shillmac points out, there really is no need and to just go with the flow, aka "the ryhthm" (I had to cut and paste that from Shillmac, because I've already forgotten how to spell and I haven't started my vacation yet!).

I too will have to have these little "pep talks" with my hubby during the drives. Wanna hear the worst part? He stopped smoking 5 weeks ago. Maybe not such a good idea with upcoming Mr. Toad's Wild Ride we are about to embark on!! Hmmm... I better pack extra nicotine batches. At least he won't be a nutcase on the 5 hour flight from Los Angeles like when we went to the Cook Islands last year. Good God!

Okay, anyhow. Can't wait for the lobsters. Keep it going sister.

Lynne

I am glad to hear you are all lol; my son just came over to ask what's going on! Now, he and I have hidden from my husband any reports mentioning theft...but thinking about our previous car trips with dad...we will definitely have to consider a driver!! It's too bad we women can't all be in the car together, giggling, while our husbands are nervous wrecks and using unrepeatable language! You should write a book..this is a great report, Joyce
Kwo, maybe we will meet on the roadside this summer!

TrvlBug, keep 'um coming! I'm really enjoying your reports and picturing me giving my husband the same pep talks this July! Tell me you'd do it again...

Kwoo,
Renting a car is the best option for some. I prefer renting a car because of the freedom. Certain areas are worst for driving than others. I found driving out toward Tamarindo wasnt that bad once you get off the interamerican. The worse areas are in the central valley and dont even think about driving in San Jose.

I have just finished reading all of these posts to my husband and he has been on the floor laughing! And koa, when you mention San Jose, I am reminded of the time my daughter and I had this experience: Left Liberia in March--dry season, for goodnesss sake! (horrible driving rain storm, couldn't see anything and knew there was no place to pull over--prayed a lot)

Arrived too late (due to storm and heavy traffic) to drop off the vehicle at Dollar out by the airport (we were going to take a taxi into town to avoid San Jose driving)

Still raining. . .windshield wipers not working. . .tank on empty because that is how Dollar wanted it returned, but now we have lost the chance for Dollar and have to keep going. . .no stations in sight.

Arrive in San Jose. . .Friday night, tons of traffic, no street signs (I'd been here once, but my husband was driving). Fortunately, I had studied this excellent map I have extensively earlier and had practically memorized the layout of San Jose. I vaguely remembered the area where our hotel was, found Avenida Central (or segundo), and by the grace of God made it to our hotel with NO gas in the tank. We definitely had an angel on our shoulder that night. Haven't been too afraid of driving there since. . .figure I've been through the worst! LOL

Thank you so much everyone for your kind remarks about my report. I promise I will answer all questions once I am done. If you need to know before the next few days then I will try and respond. Just want to do the report while fresh in my memory.

Also, if you want to know whether we would do this all again then you will have to wait and see in my final thoughts and wrap up.

Trish

Trish, I feel like I do when my fave t.v. series ends for the season .... except that I don't think we'll have to wait until Fall for your next hilarious, fascinating installment. I am hanging on every word - great report!

Reading what you and others have shared, I am ALMOST sorry that I am going to miss the experience of my husband swearing and going ballistic in a rental car {we're doing all transfer service/public transportation}! Ah well, I'll just have to live that particular adventure vicariously through the rest of you!

Day 4 - Loud Noises, lessons and Lobster

It is 4:30 a.m. and my husband and I are awake. There is a freight train bearing down on us, or so we think. It is a noise like no other. We have heard the infamous howler monkeys. There is a very large population in this canopy and they howl in a wave like motion that just gets louder and louder. I regret now not finding out if they are carniverous or not. After an hour there is blessed peace. We can go back to sleep. No. There is a knock on our door and Rene opens it to find the security guard there just looking at him. He speaks no English and just points at us and walks away. Rene gets dressed and follows him. I am left alone to fend for myself in case of some dreadful attack. Rene finally comes back and says that the security guard showed him the poster of our tour. This makes no sense as it starts at 8. Of course, maybe he saw my hair and decided we needed extra time! We get up and get dressed and head to the restaurant at 6 where we know somebody speaks english. Sure enough they tell us our guide is there and we are to go off on our tour. OK. There are only the two of us. We meet Noori who is from Peru and spending 6 months at Almonds and Corals as part of her ongoing education. We start off on a wonderful hike. We see toucans, walking palm trees, poisonous dart frogs, leaf ants and large termite hills. She explains everything in such wonderful detail. It is fascinating. The butterflies with pictures of snakes on their wings to stop predators. The flowers, the poisonous fungi, many birds, golden spiders and so much more. We then see a re-creation of a Bri-Bri village and the house of one of the tribe who still lives there and works at Almonds and Corals. There is a garden with many herbs that Noori tells us are used for medicinal purposes and such. The tour was 2 hours and really great. We tip Noori and all head back to the restaurant for breakfast. It is buffet with eggs and pancakes, toast and the usual. We finish breakfast and decide to drive to Puerto Viejo which is the closest large town. I feel like I am in the army. I've done more by 9 than most people do all day! So off to Puerto Viejo. This road has major washboard and pot holes but luckily it is only about 20 minutes away. The beach here is very pretty. In the town are a lot of souvenir shops and sodas. It is a very popular place with the surfing crowd. There is also a large Jamaican/African population. They have their own dialect which seems to mix spanish, reggae and english. There was no hope for us. Also there are a lot of ex Aussies and Californians who obviously came over in the 50's and never left. Long dreadlocks on everybody. Everyone tanned and with a bicycle and surfboard. The two pasty Canadians wandered around and then went back to Almonds and Corals. Pulling into the parking lot we see someone holding a sloth. She had apparantly given birth a month before and had her baby on her stomach with it's arms around her neck. We managed to get a few close-ups of her and I just touched her for a second as I really did not feel right about putting a people scent on her. They were taking her over to the vet to have him check her out and then going to put her back in her tree. We play some more crib and drink a few cerveza's. This is all before noon. I had read about a place that was very famous for it's Lobster. It is in Manzanillo and is called Maxi's. We find out how to get there and everyone says it is their favourite little village. Turn left and in 10 minutes we are there. It is a very little village. Two soda's (one being Maxi's) and a couple of houses. You could walk the main street in a couple of minutes. The beach here is beautiful. Lots of palms and fishing boats. We order 2 lobster dinners at the restaurant upstairs and before we know it it is packed with people. They have all been hiking at the national park further south. Rene has the larger order and when it comes we are in heaven. I have 2 lobster tails and Rene has 3. There is salad, rice and beans and fried plantain. The lobster is amazing and with a few beer and an amazing view it is just perfect. It is the only meal that we took a picture of. My dinner is $10 and Rene's is $15. We head back to Almonds and Corals. Just after we arrive back the heavens open up and it pours. It does not stop. We nap and wake up to it still raining. We read and finally head to the restaurant for dinner. While at our table Rene says "hon, look at this crab." I get up from my chair and walk around to his to find the biggest, ugliest crab I have ever seen. It then proceeds to chase me. A waiter shoos it out of the restaurant. A few minutes later, the owner of the resort, who is at the table next to us comes towards our table with his finger against his mouth telling me to be quiet. I immediately tense up as he leans under the table. Suddenly a shadow appears running towards me and I jump up and do a great toreador impersonation with my napkin. Rene is laughing so hard as this giant crab runs past. The males were in mating mode and the females have little red spots on their shells. Guess what colour my pedicure was? But I fought the brave fight and we are once again exhausted. Looking at our watches it is 8:45. We grab an umbrella which they keep all over the resort and head back to our cabin in the still pouring rain. We are finding that things in our tent are always damp. The clothes in our suitcase, the bedclothes and even our cigarettes (yes, we are those dreaded smokers). It is because the humidity is so intense. There are no bugs in the tent and so off to sleep we go. It is 9 p.m.

Next up - Day 5 and Bathrooms, Boredom and Bats

Well, I can already tell we are going to have to make a trip back over to the Caribbean side to try the lobster at Maxi's! We were in Manzanillo one Sunday afternoon last year, wish we had known! Gotta say, never had a crab try to mate with my toenails. . .hmmmmm! Keep it comin!

I want you to know that I am getting less sleep tonight because I just HAD to stay up for your next segment. It had me laughing so hard, my husband wondered if I'd totally lost it! My tonails will stay unadorned for our June trip, thank you very much......

Day 5 Bathrooms, Boredom and Bats

It is 4:45 and we are awake. I cannot hear the howler monkeys as loudly as the other morning. That is because of the torrential storm outside. It is gusting and raining like nothing I have ever seen. We look outside and a lake has formed under the platforms. Our umbrella has disappeared. It was left last night out on our little porch. This is not going to be pretty. We usually have our showers in the morning at home but in CR we had discovered that we were usually dirty and sweaty later in the day because of hiking etc. So we had taken to having our showers in the afternoon. At Pura Vida the pressure was terrible. I have long thick, curly hair and by the time I had my hair wet and the shampoo in, there was not a drop to be had. At Almonds and Corals you had to heat up the water for 3-4 minutes (it was heated by a tank outside) and then shower. Well I would have a lovely lather on my head and no more water. Thank goodness for my spray on leave in conditioner. Only now I haVe a matted mess. I realize that the people on the Caribbean side have dreadlocks for a reason. They had no choice. It was the way long hair came out after being in the shower. The other thing was not putting toilet paper in the toilet. I would try and remember but it was just instinctual. So I am sure that I have ruined some sanitary system in CR. We were too embarrassed to ask what you do with the toilet paper for other functions.

Well I have my dreadlocks and we are ready to go to the restaurant. It is so hard to see outside because of the rain. Suddenly the maids knock on our door. We tell them that we are going to be out of our room "una Momento" and figure we are just going to have to make a mad dash with our thin little ponchos. Well we open the door and there was an umbrella. We could see the maids running along the platforms huddled under one umbrella. They had obviously just been to deliver us an umbrella. How sweet. When we arrive (fairly drenched) at the restaurant, we find out that we are the only ones in the resort until tonight when another group from New York arrives. Wow, a whole rainforest to ourselves. We spent the morning back in our tent but by the afternoon we are bored and head back to the restaurant to grab a beer and play some crib. Never played so much crib in my life. Rudy the waiter is there and brings us a beer and asks if they could make us some lunch. That sounds great so he goes back into the kitchen to tell the chef whose name is Dibney (sp) who also happens to be Nicaraguan. All of a sudden we hear the most awful sounds. It is some kind of music but it sounds like the tape has unwound and is whining. We can also hear people singing very badly. Soon Rudy comes out with lunch and Dibney also comes to say hi. We end up spending the afternoon with the staff telling them about Vancouver and finding out about their lives. It turns out that they like Country music. However, the country music they like is the old stuff. Loretta Lynn, Jim Reeves and Conway Twitty etc. They have a few cd's which are all scratched as they don't have cases for them. They are very proud of their selection and proceed to play them for us. This is the awful music we had heard before. They asked us if this was U.S. music and we said yes but Rene told them most of these people were dead. This surprised them. Well as we were leaving we heard them singing to the music. Loretta Lynn, Rudy the Tico and Dibney the Nicaraguan all singing at the top of their lungs. We promised that we would send them some new cd's (of all the oldies) which we have done.
Later that night after naps and dinner we thought we would head out to the ocean and watch the waves crashing. I love to do this and since it was still raining we grabbed an umbrella. As we are walking from the restaurant to the beach something flies by us. "I think that was a bat" says Rene. "No" I tell him, "that was just a bird." "I'm pretty sure it was a bat", he insists. I stop and glare at him and say "Work with me here, ok?" No sooner had I said that then about 20 bats start dive bombing us. I am shrieking, Rene is using the umbrella as some kind of lance and I am trying not to fall off the platform into the newly formed lake. The thought of one of these creatures nesting in my matted hair is freaking me out. I am sure if anyone saw us they would have thought us mad. Two people flailing about shrieking in the dark while waving an umbrella about. During a break in the action we forego the beach and head back to the safety of our tent. All I could think of was "tropical paradise my a**!" We are soaked so towel off only to crawl into our damp bed. Ah, the comforts of home.

Next up Day 6 - Driving, Drugstores and Dinner

We are in stitches! This is like some kind of movie starring Chevy Chase! Each evening my husband sits watching TV, I tell him it is time for another "installment" from Trvlbug, he turns down the sound, and we proceed to laugh hysterically as I read aloud from your story! I don't know what you do for a living, Trish, but perhaps you should try comedy! Your entire trip must have been a hoot! Would love to have done it with you!

Trish, you would indeed be a blast to travel with! I am vastly impressed by your ability to salvage worthwhile moments from what might be vacation-ruining experiences for some.

Keep it comin!

These stories are awesome. I can't wait for the rest!!

My life seems dull and boring after reading your stories trvlbug. Keep them coming!

Great trip report!!! I agree with everyone...we could be right there with you..the antics you are describing are much like ones I've experienced with my travel cohorts...I forwarded your report to them...we are going to CR in December and staying at Almonds and Corals...any additional info about this resort would be appreciated..and I WILL NOT be choosing red nail polish!!

Brilliant! You could make a movie from this.Are you a professional travel writer?

Everyone,

thank you so much for all of the encouraging replies. When I first thought of doing the report I was not sure how you would all respond, what with it being a bit more detailed. I am not a writer at all but I am one that tends to have a positive outlook. These are our exact experiences and believe it or not this is the condensed version. I hope that it gives a slightly different perspective to travelling in CR. Will try to write some more tonight. You guys are great.

Trvlbug...
The suspense is killing me!! Please tell me you won't leave us hanging until next weekend ;)

Day 6 Driving, Drugstores and Dinner

Well surprise, surprise. It is not yet 5 a.m. and we are awake. It is also raining. We pack up and go for breakfast and check out at 7. I had prepaid with my Visa ($120/night which includes breakfast and dinner) so just had to pay for the tour and drinks etc. I pay by travellers cheque and get colones back for the difference. Off we go. My stomach feels a little funny. Oh well, must have been breakfast. Just outside of Limon we stop for gas. The fellow proceeds to "fill her up" when all of a sudden he starts shaking the truck. Side to side we go. What the!? I say "Maybe we were supposed to prepay!" Rene looks outside and laughs. "He's just trying to get as much in as he can." Well now that this ride is over I go out to pay. The attendant follows me and taps me on the shoulder. I turn around and he says "you pay." Nodding at him I start to go into the station. He taps me again and says "you pay". At this point I am not sure what to do or say. The cashier inside is busy handling other people. So I just look at the fellow. After a moment he holds out his hand. Oh so I'm to pay him. I give him more than enough and he just stands there. OK then. I figure better just to get out of this Twilight Zone experience. Quickly back to the truck and we are on our way. Ah the dreaded Barilla Carillo Highway. It starts out alright but as we are approaching the summit it is very foggy and raining. Could my day get any better. Of course it can. Rene, who figures he is now a Tico driver, is passing everyone. I am doing my inward hiss, slouch in the seat, grip the door and reach for my invisible brake impersonation. Whilst in a two lane on our side section Rene is passing a semi. The only problem is that the semi on our right is over the line and there is a semi coming toward us who is also over the line. With limited visibility and between two semis Rene speeds up to get us through. When we are done I give him the glare the says there is no discussion. He drives like a North American back to the Alajuela turnoff. We seem to be turned around. I can see the Central Square but we cannot figure out how to get to Pura Vida. Turn left, drive around for awhile. Oh look, we are back at the Central Square. Turn right this time, drive and drive and yes, back at Central Square. If we could just find the Courthouse we know our way from there. "Courthouse?", I ask several people who just shrug. "Say it in Spanish "says Rene who seems to have forgotten that I am a Canadian who took two years of compulsory French in high school. I glare at him and ask the next person "Hall de Justice?" Best I could do. They just shrugged. Finally, we spot a familiar sight. The church. We arrive back at Pura Vida and wonder how we can be so disoriented in this little town. I am not feeling well.

To Be Continued...

Day 6, Driving, Drugstores and Dinner Continued

I have severe stomach pains. It seems that I have packed for every eventuality except one.

If you have an aversion to bodily functions please do not read any further!!!

Instead of diahrrea I have gone the other way. I tell Rene and he asks "Well how can you be sure it's that?" When was the last time you..?" "I'm not sure." is my reply and all he says is "Good Lord!" Ask Berni where the nearest drugstore is. The easiest one to get to is on the other side of Alajuela near the Mall International. The other side!!! He gives us directions and off we go again. We find it without too much trouble. Just inside the supermarket we spot the Farmacia. I go up to the counter and ask the fellow if he speaks English. No, but he gets his partner who can speak a little. I tell him I need a laxative. He shakes his head and looks puzzled. Oh boy. Rene, who is standing some distance behind me just checking out the supermarket speaks up and announces "She's constipated." Thanks. "Ah, yes," says the fellow. He grabs a bottle and takes out 4 little pills and puts them in an envelope. Charging me a dollar (431 colones) he tells me to take 2. There is some trepidation on my part. What if he thinks I have the runs. I could implode! Back to the Galloper and we make it back to Pura Vida without becoming lost. It has been some day but this is so exciting to us. You would have thought we had won the lottery. Upon arriving back Berni informs us that because they had also just gotten back from a trip his wife would not be cooking dinner tonight. He suggests we go out. It is dark out now and the confidence of earlier has left. "Could you just order us a pizza?" The pizza was delivered and was very good. However, we are mentally exhausted and decide to have an early night. Ha! No sooner do we get into bed when we hear screaming, cheering, cars honking and people banging things. When we were lost earlier we did see a lot of people in soccer uniforms. Could it be? Seems that there was a huge tournament with teams from Central America, South America and a couple from the U.S. A team from San Jose had already made it to the final and now tonight Alajuela had done the same. So it was to be a Costa Rica match up. And boy was the town celebrating. I did not figure that my day could get any worse, but then my pills started working. At least it wasn't raining.

Next Up Day 7 Sarchi, Swimming Pools and Steaks

Oh my gosh! Next time you'll know: eat lots of papaya! Well, a reasonable amount. . . .great prevention! I could have written your car story! Only my husband didn't just get a glare. . .he doesn't get those! He got the full oration--in color!

As your great report cont., I am starting to be concerned that you have some real fun...and a break from what sounds like a lot of rain...hope so! Joyce

Your descriptions are so vivid, I feel like I'm living your adventure right along with you! Do things improve for you? I sure hope so, because I'm starting to get these pangs....