Costa Rica - La Pura Vida

Hola amigos!  It has been far too long since the last post but I have come to realize that if I am not on the move, constantly inspired by new locations, my inclination to write quickly evaporates like the morning dew on the eucalyptus trees here in Costa Rica (poetry for the day).

On September 20, Jane and I departed for Costa Rica with a plan to see as much of the country as possible before she starts a Fellowship program with Kiva (www.kiva.org) for the next few months.

You will not hear a good word spoken about the sprawling capital, San Jose, nor find a positive statement about this place in written text in any language. I would love to offer evidence to balance the negative image of this city but having only spent a couple days here, nothing is coming to mind.

Little time was spent in San Jose before heading north west to the Guanacaste region, famous for its cowboys and agricultural way of life.  Near Liberia, one of the main cities, is the Parque Nactionale Rincon de la Vieja, home to impressive volcanoes.  Though the volcano could not be accessed due to activity, hiking through the forest was spectacular; culminating in a hidden waterfall and lagoon which made for some good swimming.

Way past rain jackets at this point!

More pressure than the Commando 450 (the reference is for all the Seinfeld fans)

Next was Tamarindo, a charming surfer town on the Pacific coast that necesitated staying a few extra days. The morning of the first day was spent surfing and the afternoon involved being entertained by a family of howler monkeys and other creatures along a river tour of the wildlife refuge. I've always stressed the importance of balance in life.

Way too much fun...

A black spiny tailed iguana snapping up a small crab a few feet from the boat

Heading back east now to the famous cloud forests (rain forests that exist at an elevation between 500 and 3,500 metres - in this case, trade winds from the Caribbean get pushed up by the mountains creating constant clouds and percipitation) of Monteverde.  The hiking was incredible, including a night hike that revealed lots of creatures/insects that thrive in the forest at night (as well as in the cheaper hostel rooms).  The night walk revealed a giant tarantula, poisionous viper snake, three-toed sloth, racoons, sleeping birds, leaf-cutter ants, beetles, giant stick bugs and lots more.

So...who is the winner of the camouflage contest?

So far Costa Rica has been wonderful, paritcularly the people who are very open and friendly with a natural laidbackness that exemplifies the common greeting here (which is indeed a way of life: Pura Vida).

Sunset over the Pacific in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Before signing off, I should mention that all the pictures in this post are made more special by the fact that my (well built and waterproof) camera was actually dropped in the ocean by our surf instructor, Luis, when the lesh got caught on the camera and ripped it out of his hand.  We searched the traslucent Pacific waters seemingly in vane, dragging our feet for any sign of it.  Just as I resigned myself to having lost the camera and all picutures, Luis exclaimed 'I've got it' as a wave crashed over his head.  Somehow, he emerged with the camera in hand.  Needless to say, it made the day.