Our feathered friend returns for a visit!

In a previous post "A Birdwatchers Paradise"

I shared with you a story about our feathered friend that showed up in our bedroom!

Well I think she liked us!

She came back!

Catch of the Day! ~ Mahi Mahi

While out running some errands in Jaco we had some time to kill before we could complete our chores so we took a ride north in search of something new and interesting.  Riding around on the wonderful dirt pot hole filled  roads in Costa Rica can stir up an appetite and we just happen to be near La Fiesta Del Marisco so we decided to stop and have some ceviche and enjoy the cool ocean breezes off the water. 

This open air restaurant overlooks the entrance into the Nicoya Gulf and there is always several fishing boats anchored out in the water or beached on shore.

While we were enjoying some ceviche and fish sopa de pescado a boat pulled in and they started unloading his catch of the day. And a great catch he had! We were amazed at the number of fish that they flung into the large plastic crates and toted up to the pescaderia. We think the final count was about 10 crates and the majority of the catch was big beautiful Mahi Mahi! 

 

And of course I could not resist going around to see where they were taking this fisherman's proud deposit.  Once they got the fish inside they were rinsing them down on the floor and loading them into large coolers.

 

The moral of the story is.......

THE FISH ARE BITING!

So all you fisherman start making your plans to come to beautiful 

Costa Rica and try your rod at this fine sport!

Good Food, Good Friends and BEJUCO BEACH!

The saying     " It just don't get better than this!" rings true when a Sunday afternoon impromptu gathering of friends in Costa Del Sol heads out for some relaxation and good food on Bejuco Beach!  Load up the golf carts and cars with beach chairs, hammocks, a Tico charcoal grill and some ice chests filled with your favorite beverage and you are good to go! 

The menu of choice on this day?  Grilled chicken and fish tacos!   This group just happens to be blessed with some fine grilling chefs  and the wonderful Tico grill that was a gift from a local Tico makes the beach grilling experience even finer!  Throw in a few favorite appetizers, and secret sauces and you are in for one of the finest dining experiences that you will find in beautiful Costa Rica!

There is just something so relaxing about the break of the surf on the sand, the hot sun, the cool shade under the palm trees topped off with refreshing ocean breezes and sipping on a cold beverage while listening to great stories with friends.  

 

And what better way to top the day off than with a 

beautiful Costa Rican Pacific sunset!

Yep.....they were right when they said....

"It just don't get better than this!"

Pura Vida from your friends in

Costa Del Sol!  

Costa Rica ~ A Trip to San Jose!

 

  

   

Playa Bejuco is on the Pacific side just below Jaco so when a trip is needed back to San Jose it takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  An early rising and on the road to begin the trip up and over the mountain which is traveled over a 2 lane very crooked road with lots crazy drivers that love to pass. There is always lots of traffic and since this is the primary road from San Jose to the coast it includes lots of tour and transfer buses and large tractor trailer rigs.  The scenery of course is beautiful with all of the planned and wild flora that includes rain trees, palm trees, tropical fruit trees and a vast array of flowering plants.
You also want to always keep a keen eye for the possible siting of a beautiful bird, sloth or iguana.  And there are many many "perros" (dogs) hanging out everywhere you go!
There is always plenty of interesting people to look at along the road as they go about their daily life routines which typically can include walking, riding their bicycles or motorcycles to their destination.  There are so many traveling in this manner that driving calls for extra caution to prevent running over these pedestrians who sometimes will be just sitting on the shoulders of the road.   The roadside fruit and vegetable stands are open and ready for a busy day and the open air "tipico" restaurants are busy serving breakfast.  We pass through several towns along the way that always seem to have something new to take in.
On this particular morning trip we decide to have breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants on very top of the mountain La Casita del Cafe.  It is a small casual place with open air dining and beautiful views of the mountains all the way back to the Pacific Ocean.  The menu consists primarily of the typical food and frothy fruity drinks and of course hot Costa Rican Coffee and Imperial Beer. 



   
After enjoying our relaxing breakfast of Gallo pinto and eggs with fried plantains we thanked the parking lot guard for watching our car and headed on out to begin our descent down the other side of the mountain.   As I mentioned before there is always something new to see and when passing this beautiful wall of blooming flowers we had to stop and take in this beautiful cemetery in Atenas.  Atenas is known to have the most perfect climate in the world.  And of course it is very common to find the live/work situation in Costa Rica with homes above the storefronts below.  We were excited to sneak a peek at the progress of the new highway being built from San Jose out to the coast that will eliminate the need to travel the steep and crooked mountain road!  It should also shorten the drive considerably also.  And capturing a photo of one of the many interesting bridges is a must!

 
   
   
The interesting park above includes a statue of Jesus and overlooks the Power Plant for this area.  We of course have passed this many times and decided to stop and grab a photo.  You will find religious parks similar to these in many areas of the country.  Of course my theory is that it is a place to stop and pray before you start your journey over the mountain!
Arriving in the metro area of San Jose is always exciting.  We missed our turn and had to turn off the highway to go back and ended up in the driveway of what appeared to be a horse training stable.  This beautiful horse was pranced right up to our car!  Look the famous arches of Micky D's!  complete with an Auto-Mac and Mac Cafe!  It is not unusual to see a beautiful modern building on one side of the road and across the street a tin roofed building with laundry hanging on the railing!  And of course we had to go to the Hiper mas which is the equivalent to Walmart in the states.  There is also a Price Mart which fulfills my Costco addiction.  Fresh cut flowers are abundant and it is not unusual to find them being sold on the roadside out of buckets.  Small wagons selling a variety of fruits and vegetables are seen on many corners.  One of my favorites is the Aqua Pipa Fria which is cold coconut water usually served with a straw in a coconut or sometimes in a baggie!  Drinking coconut water has many benefits.  Coconut Water is naturally low in carbs, 99% fat free and low in sugars.  "It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak."
   
   
   
After our errands were run we decided we better eat before we started back over the mountain, so we went back to a restaurant bar overlooking the airport runway to eat a late lunch and watch the airplanes arriving and departing.   It was a fun experience and I got one of my favorites....whole fried fish!  The owner had a nice collection of old airplanes that had some interesting things painted on them.  It seemed like a popular place with the Ticos to bring their families to eat and watch the planes.

 
 
   
And then back on the road again...always trying to leave early enough to get over the mountain before dark, but being the rainy season it is not likely to beat the rain.  And as usual as we got on the road the downpour began!  It seems that Costa Rica is experiencing a drought this season and the rain did not last long this time.  It cleared up and we snaked back and forth on the winding road lined with beautiful palm trees and amazing flowering trees with the many signs reminding us of the Pura Vida lifestyle that can be lived in this amazing tropical rain forest.

And we made it back to the Pacific coast just in time to enjoy another beautiful Costa Rican Sunset!
               

Costa Rican Sunsets

I have never seen a more spectacular sunset than the ones viewed over the Pacific Ocean!  The beautiful waves and majestic clouds add to the rich colors of the Sun as it descends below the horizon!

PURA VIDA!

Pura Vida, used by Costa Ricans means "Pure Life."  It is used as a greeting, a farewell, and to express satisfaction.  Costa Ricans use the phrase to express a philosophy of strong community, perseverance, good spirits, enjoying life slowly, celebrating good fortune, whether small or large.
And that is exactly what I have been doing for the last three weeks!  Enjoying the good life slowly! 

The area in Costa Rica where we enjoy the pura vida is at Playa Bejuco is on the Pacific side just south of the surfer town of Jaco and Hermosa.  A four hour flight into San Jose and a roller coaster 2 hour ride over the mountain on a very curvy two lane road is rewarded with breathtaking views of the mountains and valleys covered with beautiful rain forests and coffee plantations.


One of the first stops we like to make is at one of the many fruit stands to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables!  Papaya, mango, avacodo, limons, and melons are just a few of the juicy treats you can find here.  I guess you can tell that one of my favorite things to do in Costa Rica is EAT! The food is just bursting with flavor and so o o o o FRESH!  One of our favorite meals is a Casado,a typical Costa Rica meal consisting of rice, beans,fried plantains, salad, a tortilla, and an entree of choice that may include chicken, beef or pork.



My second favorite thing is the PEOPLE! (Roll your mouse over photos for descriptions)

 
      

  And don't forget the animals!  Better known as FAUNA.  Some warm and furry....
    
Some feathery and chatty......

 


And some that you prefer to observe from afar!....

And there is always the......"What in the heck is that?" species!

Mans best friend wherever you go....the Costa Rican PERRO!

And of course the product of the rainforest the beautiful flora with gorgeous bursts of color!

                                                                          

Don't forget the SUNSETS!

There is always something to do in Costa Rica!  Swimming, Surfing, Hiking through the Rain forest, Canopy Tours with Zip Lines and Bridge walks thru the trees, Waterfall, Volcano and Coffee Plantation tours, Island tours, Fishing, Beach walks, ATV & Horseback riding, Rafting, Kayaking, Soaking in the Hot Springs or just lying in a hammock.
If you are thinking of a trip to Costa Rica consider staying at Costa del Sol.  It is a great neighborhood that includes a nice mix of homeowners from all over the world!   It is just a short walk to the beach and conveniently located between Jaco and Manuel Antonio.

                                                      
 A great website provided by the Costa Rica Tourism Board is COSTA RICA - No Artificial Ingredients.  It has some great microsites to view and will help you in planning your activities (should you decide to actually have any).
To get a visual on locations and travel times visit COSTA RICA MAP PROJECT
For local up to date News visit THE TICO TIMES the online version of the local newspaper that is printed in English!
For current U.S. travel information click here to visit  US Department of State/International Travel
or  US Department of State/Costa Rica