Tamarindo, Costa Rica, 16 miles
First, a couple things that I would like to mention from the last few days. The Island of Ometepe was really awesome and the bike on the boat thing was probably one of the single most suspenseful moments of my life! It wasn’t a simple matter of riding the bike (or pushing the bike) in a straight line across a plank. The dock and the boat were both moving up and down too. It was intense. And as for the lake, its over 100 miles long, and over 300 feet deep. There were estimated 20,000 bull sharks (only fresh water sharks in the world, getting up to 10’ long) pulled from the waters a year for sale to asian markets in the recent past. Truly shark infested!
I really liked Nicaragua. It is way less developed than Costa Rica and WAY cheaper. At least ½ price. For example, a glass of rum in Nicaragua was <$1, in Costa Rica its $4. A ¼ acre beach front lot in Nica is $50k, in Costa Rica, a cool $1M. Also, Costa Rica takes $US and Colones (the national currency) everywhere. The Gringo establishments quote prices in US but give you Colones as change at a less-than-favorable exchange rate. If you pay in Colones, when quoted in US, they give you an equally less-than-favorable exchange rate in the other direction. Very frustrating when coming from a country the day before and only 50 miles away where things were half price.
Playa Tamarindo “is a magical land.” Probably the best beach I have ever been to. No high-rise hotels (yet) and a very long sweeping beach with nothing behind it but greenery. This is booming gringo-ville however. More white people than locals. Reminds me of Hawaii for sure. Even still, its an awesome place.
Amie hasn’t wanted to go surfing this whole trip for some reason. She says its because she doesn’t feel safe going out somewhere she doesn’t know, so this being a beach-break with really mellow surf I thought it would be a perfect place to get her in the water. We agreed to get up early and beat the crowd, but when the alarm went of at 6:30am, leaving the room was the last thing she wanted to do. Rather than miss out myself, I told her I’d be back in a few hours. When she heard that, she got right up. J We had so much fun sharing our rented surf board, we decided to stay another day just so we can do it again.
Right a cross from the beach at Witch’s Rock Bar and Grill (where they advertise “Nachos as big as your ass”) Amie’s day went from good to great when she realized there was free wireless internet and delicious breakfast burritos to be had. Adam and I spent some quality time BSing and body surfing while Amie typed emails and IMs to friends and family. Later we said our goodbyes to Adam who is off to Panama then Columbia. We won’t see him again until South America.
We decided to head out 10 miles to more secluded beaches with bigger surf and wild iguanas at Playa Avellena and Playa Negra. While bumping down the dirt/gravel road, clouds were forming fast and 8 miles in, it started to rain. I could see the future and it wasn’t pretty. This mud was of the clay variety, and if we didn’t get the heck out of there ASAP, we would be slip-slidin’ our way back to the hotel, more than likely with a spill or two. So we zoomed back as fast and as cautiously as possible as it started to drizzle. As we were pulling in to Tamarindo, we saw Adam pulling out. Fortunately for us (but unfortunately for him!) it started to really pour as we parked the bike at our hotel. I could only imagine the time Adam had getting out of town…
We walked the strip later in the afternoon looking for an alternative to nachos but found none. At this rate my ass will be bigger than the nachos! We spent the evening planning our last 10 days in Central America and the summary is… from here we head further south to Samara, another picturesque beach town on the Nicoya Penninsula. Then its up to the Northern Central region for (hopefully) a canopy tour in Monte Verde. From there we’ll cut across to the carribean coast for a little bit of that flavor, then down to Corcovado National Park for wildlife viewing. Finally, crossing into Panama, with the hopes of a coffee plantation tour, and then Panama City where we’ll arrange to ship our bike to Ecuador.
Yesterday was the first time I “had enough.” I was in a real bad mood as soon as I saw the border crossing. I seriously could have ended the trip yesterday I was so fed up with the heat, sweating, pushy people, un-organization, ridiculous beurocratic requirements, etc. But today…. What a difference a day makes. Surfing was awesome, quality time with Amie was great, no new mosquito bites… bring on south America! Life is full of ups and downs, and so is this trip.
I really liked Nicaragua. It is way less developed than Costa Rica and WAY cheaper. At least ½ price. For example, a glass of rum in Nicaragua was <$1, in Costa Rica its $4. A ¼ acre beach front lot in Nica is $50k, in Costa Rica, a cool $1M. Also, Costa Rica takes $US and Colones (the national currency) everywhere. The Gringo establishments quote prices in US but give you Colones as change at a less-than-favorable exchange rate. If you pay in Colones, when quoted in US, they give you an equally less-than-favorable exchange rate in the other direction. Very frustrating when coming from a country the day before and only 50 miles away where things were half price.
Playa Tamarindo “is a magical land.” Probably the best beach I have ever been to. No high-rise hotels (yet) and a very long sweeping beach with nothing behind it but greenery. This is booming gringo-ville however. More white people than locals. Reminds me of Hawaii for sure. Even still, its an awesome place.
Amie hasn’t wanted to go surfing this whole trip for some reason. She says its because she doesn’t feel safe going out somewhere she doesn’t know, so this being a beach-break with really mellow surf I thought it would be a perfect place to get her in the water. We agreed to get up early and beat the crowd, but when the alarm went of at 6:30am, leaving the room was the last thing she wanted to do. Rather than miss out myself, I told her I’d be back in a few hours. When she heard that, she got right up. J We had so much fun sharing our rented surf board, we decided to stay another day just so we can do it again.
Right a cross from the beach at Witch’s Rock Bar and Grill (where they advertise “Nachos as big as your ass”) Amie’s day went from good to great when she realized there was free wireless internet and delicious breakfast burritos to be had. Adam and I spent some quality time BSing and body surfing while Amie typed emails and IMs to friends and family. Later we said our goodbyes to Adam who is off to Panama then Columbia. We won’t see him again until South America.
We decided to head out 10 miles to more secluded beaches with bigger surf and wild iguanas at Playa Avellena and Playa Negra. While bumping down the dirt/gravel road, clouds were forming fast and 8 miles in, it started to rain. I could see the future and it wasn’t pretty. This mud was of the clay variety, and if we didn’t get the heck out of there ASAP, we would be slip-slidin’ our way back to the hotel, more than likely with a spill or two. So we zoomed back as fast and as cautiously as possible as it started to drizzle. As we were pulling in to Tamarindo, we saw Adam pulling out. Fortunately for us (but unfortunately for him!) it started to really pour as we parked the bike at our hotel. I could only imagine the time Adam had getting out of town…
We walked the strip later in the afternoon looking for an alternative to nachos but found none. At this rate my ass will be bigger than the nachos! We spent the evening planning our last 10 days in Central America and the summary is… from here we head further south to Samara, another picturesque beach town on the Nicoya Penninsula. Then its up to the Northern Central region for (hopefully) a canopy tour in Monte Verde. From there we’ll cut across to the carribean coast for a little bit of that flavor, then down to Corcovado National Park for wildlife viewing. Finally, crossing into Panama, with the hopes of a coffee plantation tour, and then Panama City where we’ll arrange to ship our bike to Ecuador.
Yesterday was the first time I “had enough.” I was in a real bad mood as soon as I saw the border crossing. I seriously could have ended the trip yesterday I was so fed up with the heat, sweating, pushy people, un-organization, ridiculous beurocratic requirements, etc. But today…. What a difference a day makes. Surfing was awesome, quality time with Amie was great, no new mosquito bites… bring on south America! Life is full of ups and downs, and so is this trip.
Putting weight back on
Yay
Adam doesn't know what to think
Adam is still hungry after nachos
Adios Guapo...we'll see you in Ecuador!
posted by Pedro and Maria at 7:59 AM
3 Comments:
i want some nachos, they look delicious!
The raind wasnt bad at all for the frist few hours, but once the Sun set it got pretty bad. Im crossing borders and San JOse at night.. Stay out of that town, its a frickin maze.. Panama!!!
chepe
Be safe and stay out of the mud when you can!
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