Costa Rican Adventure Day 17

This morning we were up for the sunrise, as it is our last full day in Costa Rica. So we were on the beach by 0540 am and waited for the sun to come up. We were not alone as there were a few joggers, some surfers and the ever present pelicans to keep us company.  The light was lovely for taking pictures so we had a short stroll. We didn't get far as there were some tiny parakeets feeding in a tree, so we stopped to watch them.

The sun came up very quickly and the temperature started to rise, so we retreated to our balcony for coffee and to soak up the early morning atmosphere.

After breakfast George and I had a wander around the grounds to photograph some of the plants and trees whilst Clare got a final sun fix! The colours of the various leaves and flowers are really quite amazing.

We even found a basilisk lizard sitting on top of a water fountain!

All too soon it was time to check out and start our journey back to San Jose and to the hotel Bougainvillea where we started our adventure over two weeks ago!

We were dropped off in town and only had to wait a little while for our transfer vehicle to arrive and to our surprise it was Olman, our driver we had for the bulk of our trip. The guide with him was not Fabian however, but a chap called Ricardo.

The transfer was painless, although hot on the ferry back over to the mainland. We had purchased our usual supplies and had a nice lunch on deck as we sailed. We were shadowed by seagulls as we sailed , they were obviously used to being fed by the passengers, even though there were announcements not to!

As we arrived at port, there were loads of frigate birds wheeling above a fishing boat that was coming in - it looked really spectacular.

The rest of the transfer was uneventful, other than the terrible traffic in San Jose at rush hour! The traffic police were out in force trying to keep everything moving, but it was very slow. Back to the modern reality that is modern city living, but it was a bit of a shock after Montezuma!

After a quick check in and change at our hotel, we had a final meal in the hotel's restaurant, which was very good and served by a nice lady. Tomorrow we leave around 11am to get our first flight to Atlanta. So we have time for a leisurely breakfast and a stroll around the gardens before we leave.

It's been a great, varied and interesting trip. We certainly have seen a lot of the country and met some lovely people. We have seen some lovely wildlife and stayed in some wonderfully isolated and magical places. Costa Rica is blessed with some extraordinary scenery, wildlife and people and I would certainly recommend it to anyone wishing a holiday to remember and cherish.

Costa Rican Adventure Day 16

Today is our last full day on the beach before we start our return journey to San Jose tomorrow. George was up early, 05.30 hrs, to catch the sun rise. He was joined on the beach by Sarah and Andrew who are also early risers. The rest of us stayed tucked up in bed!

After a coffee in bed we went for breakfast- our favourite is huevos rancheros, which is tortilla with refried black bean, fried egg and a salsa and sour cream topping! It really sets you up for the day.

We then all strolled along the beach into town for some 'girlie' shopping and lunch supplies. We met the same nice girl at the end of the beach, this time with her mum, and Sarah and Clare each got a few bits. There are quite a number of stalls selling mainly home made jewellery which you can watch the stall holders making.

Along the beach on the way back the Magnificent Frigate birds were putting on a great flying display above us, soaring and swooping. They really look prehistoric as there shape is very angular.

More bashing and crashing in the surf before it was time for lunch. Today we had it on the beach in the shade, which was really fantastic. We were joined by a couple of magpie jays, who were on the look out for any left overs. These are lovely blue And white birds with  a great crest.

After a really pleasant lunch it was time for some more swimming and relaxing in the hot sun. It's been cooler today, around the 95°F mark! The sea was lovely and warm as usual, but we again got wiped out by some big waves!

After swimming we had some R&R time and then it was time to get changed and ready for dinner. I think tonight I'll have the blackened tuna steak with mango sauce,  as it was absolutely delicious the last time! We'll have to make the most of it for as soon as I get home I'll be starting a diet - rice and beans sounds a good place to start!!!

Tonight was the last time we will see Christian, our waiter. He has stood out head and shoulders from the other staff, always with a smile, polite, good humoured and very good at his job. He served us at our beach meal and was the ultimate professional. We will be sorry not to see him immediately before we go, but his shift doesn't start until 2pm tomorrow and we check out at 11am ready for our transfer to San Jose.

Costa Rican Adventure Day 15

Our new daily routine of swim, breakfast, walk to town was repeated today. It was slightly cooler, a mere 100° F in the sun! It always amazes me that even in this heat and strength of sun that people still lay out and cook themselves!

This routine is a rather pleasant one as you always see / notice something different. Today it was a chevron of pelicans flying overhead and the ginger cat at the organic cafe. I also noticed some of the art work advertising some of the local businesses.

Upon our return, we had a session in the pool, cooled off and then had another wave battering in the ocean. It was then time for rum o'clock and a spot of lunch at mum's cabin. Italian bread, jam, tuna, dulce leche, biscuits and peanuts, all washed down with rum and coke!

Afterwards it was time for a siesta / hammock time as the rum and sun had taken its toll! After a peaceful couple of hours we went for another battering. The sea was quite rough as we had just had a full moon and the tide was very high. We didn't stay too long after the second wipe out! We therefore had a stroll along the beach and a swim in the pool before showering and changing for dinner.

On the menu tonight is chicken kebab and tuna steak in mango sauce, washed down by a mojito!

Costa Rican Adventure Day 14

Another hard day at the office! We started the day with an early morning swim in the ocean, 7 am and the temperature was already in the mid 20's with a sea temperature not far off! After a swim and a walk along the beach, it was time for breakfast. Plenty of coffee and the preferable rice and beans, tacos, fresh fruit and juice. We were joined by the hotel's black Labrador pup who loved a bit of fuss!

We then walked into town with mum, Lee and George to get some fresh bread and supplies for our lunch snack. There was a nice stall selling beach wraps at the head of the beach. The colours were vibrant in the sun and the sea breeze advertised them really well.

It was around 11am and the temperature in the sun was 40.4°c! Thankfully there was some breeze as we strolled back along the beach. Due to the heat we retreated to the pool where it was shady and cool, the pool water refreshing in the intense heat. Thank god it is a dry heat here and very low humidity, otherwise it would be unbearable.

We gathered at mum's for our lunch of bread, tuna, jam, banana loaf and biscuits, washed down with a rum and coke before having a little siesta. We then had a play in the surf as the temperature dropped a little. The waves can be quite large and Sarah was knocked off her feet on several occasions, much to the amusement of us all!

In the evening as a treat, we had our dinner by candlelight on the beach as the sun set and the moon rose with the back drop of the breaking waves, we enjoyed a beautiful meal. It was a memorable experience and something that we'll remember as one of those unique travel experiences!

Costa Rican Adventure Day 13

First full day at Ylang Ylang! After a fitful night's sleep listening to the pounding surf, we made coffee and sat taking in the view and watching the waves crashing ashore. Tearing ourselves away, we had breakfast overlooking the sea and drank more coffee and watched the early morning horse riders exercising on the beach.

In the early morning light, the plants and trees of the hotel grounds looked stunning. The grounds form part of the natural landscape and as there are no fences, the wildlife comes and goes as it wishes. We have seen Capuchin monkeys and heard Howler Monkeys in the morning and evening calling in the rest of the troop. Iguanas and small lizards are numerous and today whilst laying in a hammocks, Clare and George saw an armadillo.

Capuchin playing

After breakfast we took a stroll into Montezuma town. It is very small and very Bohemian in nature. I imagine that Goa was like this in the 60's, with older hippy types living out their lives in a haze of marijuana. There are a few stalls selling home-made jewellery and some limited tourist shops, a couple of small supermarkets and a few outlets selling excursions and that's it. In many ways that is good, as I imagine that in a few years there will be more hotels and more people to make use of the miles of beaches.

Montezuma Town

We brought some freshly  baked bread and jam for lunch later and then strolled back towards the hotel. The beaches are very quiet and there are really very few people about. Those that are aren't doing very much as the sun is very hot - mid 30's today.

One of Montezuma's beaches

Local chilling!

The rest of the day was spent lazing around and playing in the sea . The time just evaporates before you know it, it's time for dinner. Tonight we had a mixture of shrimp in garlic and white wine and a mixed seafood platter. It was all very good and fully satisfied we rolled into bed, another full day!