Costa Rica: Day 2

DAY 2 


We awoke from a good nights sleep. The twin beds never phased us. As we opened our eyes we smiled. We are in Costa Rica we thought. The views out our top story windows were awe inspiring. Green, green mountains everywhere. The alarm clock read 6. We could of swore we slept in until 10!

Dori and Dad were already buzzing about. Dori made us sample 3 kinds of Costa Rican coffee-all tasting better than the next.  For breakfast we had the fruit we bought the night before, served straight up and smoothie style, and the rest of Dori's food from dinner made up into breakfast tacos.



























After breakfast Carly, Allan and I were treated to a tour of the grounds by Nancy, who showed us some of her orchids and taught us the names of the native plants.  Nancy lived for a while near Helotes (small world), and was surprised to hear that Floore's Country Store was still a happening music venue.  We then met up with Steve, who showed us around their house, which was decorated with artifacts they had collected during their world travels, carvings from Napal, Indonesia, Figi, China, Bali, and even the bed Carly and I slept on was once owned by the queen of England (not sure which one). 







After our tour, Carly and I decided to explore the paths on our own. there were many different paths, all that took you on a different route into the gardens and then reaching the jungle.. The jungle was so thick in some parts where the light couldn't get through. It made a green mysterious glow. We had one dog leading the way and the other dog bringing up the rear or as we thought to protect us from danger. You'd occasionally have to watch out as they new the paths and would take shortcuts running around us or sometimes pounding into us like line backers.

Once back on the porch, Dori pointed out a mountain on the right where we could see a wind farm. That was the road to death mountain which we would soon be driving. Everyone then packed their bags and hauled them back to the car. Allan and I had to put ours strapped to the top for lack of space, forgetting that this was the rainy season. And after our goodbyes to Nancy, the dogs and to the house, we crammed in and were off on our drive to the Pacific Coast.


Cerro de Muerte awaits. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_de_la_Muerte

The road we would be driving starts in Orosi and goes 70 miles up and through the mountains, then down to the coast.  But the drive takes 4 hours because of the twists and turns and the 30 mph speed limit. Outside of Orosi we began the ascent, and it seemed that around every corner was a view more fantastic than the last.  We stopped often to get out and marvel, and noticed that groups of tired looking pilgrims were stumbling down the mountain on the way to the festival- they walk the entire route which must take days, and when they arrive at the church, they have to walk the last 100 feet on their knees! 

We drove up higher and higher, and the temperature dropped steadily, so much so we all had to put on jackets.  Carly was having a rough time, as the side of the road often dropped off into sheer cliff side, and she got a bad crick in her neck from leaning away from the door for the entire ride.  

Soon we were above the clouds, and all we could see beyond the mountain was white sky.  We finally reached the peak, which was just about 11000 feet, where the air was thin and felt about 40 degrees f.  I told Carly in small planes at 10,000 is when they give you oxygen. She had a nervous grin on her face.The vegetation at the top was different, with less trees and more scrub brush- it looked similar to the Texas coastal plain vegetation to me.  

Once we started down, we hit the fog and the rain.  The fog was beautiful, as it shrouded everything in a mysterious mist, but it made driving very interesting as visibility was literally five feet.  Carly and Dori were hanging on for dear life as they constantly yelled at Allan to slow down, but I was more worried about my suitcase on the roof, which was getting drenched by the rain.

 We finally made it through the mountains and now it was time to "wee" down. The views again were jungly, mountains and rolling  hills in every shade of green. We zipped through the next town although it looked like pretty neat place to stop. 

We did however stop at the next soda, with a view, we could find. Allan bought all of us an ice cream sandwich which came in a plastic cylinder container.  It was the best damn ice-cream sandwich I have ever had- The salty and sweet cookie was what made it.  

I wish we could get these back in the States! We might have to come back, just for the ice cream sandwich we thought.


Also I now need a shirt that reads- 
I survived Cerro de Muerte!

Costa Rica Travels

I've meant to share this for some time now. Matt and I enjoyed writing it as we explored Costa Rica.
CR is such a strange place. Every region is different and evokes a different feeling and experience.
When we first arrived home from our trip, we were so glad to be back. It was nice we said, But so nice to be home. A place to visit a few more times or to visit Dori and Dad if they really decide to live there. I wasn't quite sure why my immediate reaction to the country wan't the same as my parents. They loved it so much. I mean enough to move there.
I now realize it is because the "bug" hits you once you arrive back to the states. Now that time has passed. And only a little over a month mind you..we find ourselves craving the Pura Vida that Costa Rica has to offer. Still I would never live there personally, but I do hope to travel back many a times. Until then I tend to relive the adventure through my pictures and through this: our Costa

Day 1
Woke up at 3:30 in the morning yesterday to catch our 6:50 flight to Houston.  Carly was a bit nervous on the first flight, but soon got over her fear as excitement took hold.  During our 1 hour lay over in Houston we grabbed some breakfast- fruit for me and some pretty good airport eggs and pancakes for Carly.  Then onto the next plane that left at 9:25- and a quick 3 hours or so later we were in costa rica.  Carly wad worried that our plane would have to fly through tropical storm don, which was brewing in the gulf, but we skirted around it- though we had a few bumps along the way.  We arrived in San Jose airport, then waited in line at immigration, then had a scare at baggage claim when our bags failed to show up, and everyone else on our flight had already picked theirs up.  Right before I was about to storm over to continental to give them an earful, our bags appeared through the curtain.  I guess they just wanted to add some suspense to our trip.  Once through customs, we found ourselves in the midst of dozen of taxi drivers bombarding us with questions and service. Carly says she now knows what it feels like to have paparrazi after you as soon as you leave a building.
    Soon enough I was able to spot Allan and Dori who had been looking for us through a window. We missed them for all of the commotion. We followed them to their rental car. It was an appropriate beat up 4 wheeled drive jeep with a funky wet dog smell. We left the airport and headed to our first destination. But first we had to get through San Jose. Dori and Allan kept asking us not to judge costa rica by the looks of San Jose. It wasn't the most attractive city. The roads were interesting and the drivers were crazy. we needed to acclimate. although once we headed out of the city more, we reached the countryside where the green  rolling mountainsides started appearing.

Our village was about 45 minutes outside of the San Jose called Cartego.  After a brief tour of the little town, which was much more crowded than normal owing to a religious event taking place at the church, for which 100,000 pilgrims walk over the mountains to attend, we headed to the bungalow where we would be spending our first night. 

 The place was down some backroads in the boonies, and hung from the side of a mountain with the most incredible view of the surrounding countryside.  It was owned by a very nice couple who were retired expats from Texas, and we were greeted upon our arrival by their two Rottweilers, Lola and Maggie.  They were giant, but sweet and goofy and never left our sides while we were there.  The house was small, but cute.  The first floor had a small kitchen, a king bed and a bathroom, and the loft had 2 twin beds.  But we spent most ofnour time on the porch, or the costa rican "living room" gazing at the amazing view.  Around the house was 15 acres of paths that wound through beautiful flowers, banana trees and other plants that I had never seen before.  The owners imported and cultivated many different types of plants, and the result was better than any botanical garden I have ever been to.  It was like being on Pandora.  

After some coffee to rivive us a bit we decided to set off on a diving tour of the surrounding valley, known as Orosi, named after the village at the center.  It was gorgeous, filled with rivers, mountains and coffee plantations.  We stopped multiple times for photo ops, and drove the entire route, which makes a loop around the town, in about 2 hours.  

We finished at about 5:30, which is when it starts to get dark, so we drove into Cartago to get some dinner.  Dori took us to a place called Pharo's, which she had been to before, as they had good food and a waiter who could speak some English. Alan, dori and Carly ordered some giant margaritas (3 bucks!) and I had another cup of coffee to keep from passing out.  The food was pretty decent, nacho appetizer for the table, Carly and I split fish served with the " special house sauce" and dori ordered a giant plate with fried plantains, grilled banana, ribs, chicken and beef.  The funniest part of the night came when dori asked the waiter for salt and pepper and he enthusiastically returned smiling with salt and a bottle of tobasco.  

After dinner we stopped at a local fruit stand, of which there are hundreds, to buy food for breakfast.  We bought 2 mangos, a pineapple, nectarines, 8 eggs, milk, cream and tortillas for 13 dollars.  It would have been 30 at heb.  

Then we stopped by the local church to take pictures.  The whole town it seemed was out, and there was a carnival atmosphere- vendors selling every kind of food, and a stage with live music.  Then back to the house, as we all were whooped and ready to drop.  Carly and I slept together on one of the twins, like we used to do when we first met, and I conked out immediately to the hum of an old timey oscillating fan and the cool breeze through the windows.  No need for air conditioning.

Rica Journal.