The Messerschmidt family arrived Friday April 1st and we have been goin'- goin' ever since.
We picked up Wendy and Don at the airport in San Jose and drove to Escazu to drop off the luggage before we headed out on a quick site seeing/lunch trip. We had Asian for lunch and Italian for dinner and Bill Maher for dessert.
Saturday morning we decided to go to the local farmer's market in Escazu Centro because there was also supposed to be a big art fair there. It turned out it was less art fair and more dollar store, but the Market was nice and lively. It has been so hot here lately and Saturday was no exception. So naturally, we drove up the hill to the fancy restaurant Tiquicia for cold beverages, cool breezes, and an expansive view of the city below. But for lunch, we travelled down the hill and into town for a quick bite at Brian's favorite good, fast, and cheap Costa Rican restaurant, Casona De Laly, for chicharones and fried yucca. Afterward, Brian drove his folks into town to acquaint them with La Sabana Park and the museum of art there.
By the time they got home everyone was tired and hungry, so we ordered in Chinese food and played Spades until bed time.
We decided to celebrate Brian's 37th birthday (April 3) in Manuel Antonio-Quepos at Si Como No Resort.
The drive takes about 3 hours, so we left in the (relatively) early morning. On the way we stopped on the bridge to see the giant crocodiles and do a little roadside shopping for quirky souvenirs. Brian came out with two wall hangings: one a Costa Rica flag and the other a psychedelic tie dye. And I ended up with a cool yellow one person chair/hammock.
It was so hot and humid when we arrived at the resort that we were quickly soaked through our clothes. As it started to sprinkle, Brian, Don and I initiated a hike that started from a walk way below the resort. We found what looked like a tiled floor just out in the jungle. Maybe it used to be a part of a resort that was either never finished or partially demolished. We continued on down a muddy road with no destination in mind just to see where it went. We ended up curving back around to the resort with no point of access but an aluminium ladder, which we climbed to get back onto the property. Afterward we jumped in the car for short sight seeing tour of the area close to the hotel and beach area near the park Manuel Antonio as it started to rain. Not long after our return to our rooms the sky opened up and it really started to storm and cool things off outside. We had a great vantage for the lightening and thunder display from the wrap around deck off our room. We watched until the sun set all the while hearing howler monkeys in the vicinity, but we never did spot them. After the rain slowed back to a gentle sprinkle we ventured to the hot tub for a beverage and relaxation. Don met us there and we formulated a game plan for the rest of the time in Quepos.
For dinner we returned to El Avion an open air restaurant that faces the ocean where we ate in near darkness, our table lit by a single candle, and the large overhead candelabras. Then Brian and I played in the cockpit pretending we were CIA operatives dropping off cocaine shipments. After dinner we dropped off Don and Brian and I continued on to the Bat Cave, a small bar in a hotel called The Mansion, where we met a San Diegan couple also celebrating a birthday.
The next morning we got up around 6 am intent on going to Manuel Antonio, but the park is closed on Mondays. But we were undeterred. I think we were the first tourists on the scene. We beat most of the vendors there! We went to sneak in to the park but unfortunately the guard was on duty early.
After securing chairs and umbrellas we had a beach day. Brian and Don parasailed while Wendy and I read our books.
After an exhausting drive home and a quick rest, we washed clothes and re-packed for our trip to Arenal in the morning. The roads to Arenal wind through rain forest and small towns. We were so happy to arrive at our destination Arenal Nayara which was easily the nicest place we have stayed in Costa Rica. It had great food and plenty of atmosphere.
Two words for evening entertainment: Hot Springs!! We all got ready and headed to Tabacon. It was a lovely evening of hot natural pools and a nice dinner. We headed back to the resort and visited the Wine Bar. After a long drive and a busy night we all retired to bed fairly early.
We woke early to eat breakfast before our hanging bridges hike.
On the hike we spotted a eye lash pit viper, coatis, howler monkeys, a lot of birds including one that sounded like a frog called a white collared manakin, a lizard, and a bright blue stripped skink, and a snake that I almost stepped on as it crossed the path.
We headed back to Tabacon for a couple of hours then got on the road back to Escazu.
We picked up Wendy and Don at the airport in San Jose and drove to Escazu to drop off the luggage before we headed out on a quick site seeing/lunch trip. We had Asian for lunch and Italian for dinner and Bill Maher for dessert.
Saturday morning we decided to go to the local farmer's market in Escazu Centro because there was also supposed to be a big art fair there. It turned out it was less art fair and more dollar store, but the Market was nice and lively. It has been so hot here lately and Saturday was no exception. So naturally, we drove up the hill to the fancy restaurant Tiquicia for cold beverages, cool breezes, and an expansive view of the city below. But for lunch, we travelled down the hill and into town for a quick bite at Brian's favorite good, fast, and cheap Costa Rican restaurant, Casona De Laly, for chicharones and fried yucca. Afterward, Brian drove his folks into town to acquaint them with La Sabana Park and the museum of art there.
By the time they got home everyone was tired and hungry, so we ordered in Chinese food and played Spades until bed time.
We decided to celebrate Brian's 37th birthday (April 3) in Manuel Antonio-Quepos at Si Como No Resort.
The drive takes about 3 hours, so we left in the (relatively) early morning. On the way we stopped on the bridge to see the giant crocodiles and do a little roadside shopping for quirky souvenirs. Brian came out with two wall hangings: one a Costa Rica flag and the other a psychedelic tie dye. And I ended up with a cool yellow one person chair/hammock.
It was so hot and humid when we arrived at the resort that we were quickly soaked through our clothes. As it started to sprinkle, Brian, Don and I initiated a hike that started from a walk way below the resort. We found what looked like a tiled floor just out in the jungle. Maybe it used to be a part of a resort that was either never finished or partially demolished. We continued on down a muddy road with no destination in mind just to see where it went. We ended up curving back around to the resort with no point of access but an aluminium ladder, which we climbed to get back onto the property. Afterward we jumped in the car for short sight seeing tour of the area close to the hotel and beach area near the park Manuel Antonio as it started to rain. Not long after our return to our rooms the sky opened up and it really started to storm and cool things off outside. We had a great vantage for the lightening and thunder display from the wrap around deck off our room. We watched until the sun set all the while hearing howler monkeys in the vicinity, but we never did spot them. After the rain slowed back to a gentle sprinkle we ventured to the hot tub for a beverage and relaxation. Don met us there and we formulated a game plan for the rest of the time in Quepos.
For dinner we returned to El Avion an open air restaurant that faces the ocean where we ate in near darkness, our table lit by a single candle, and the large overhead candelabras. Then Brian and I played in the cockpit pretending we were CIA operatives dropping off cocaine shipments. After dinner we dropped off Don and Brian and I continued on to the Bat Cave, a small bar in a hotel called The Mansion, where we met a San Diegan couple also celebrating a birthday.
The next morning we got up around 6 am intent on going to Manuel Antonio, but the park is closed on Mondays. But we were undeterred. I think we were the first tourists on the scene. We beat most of the vendors there! We went to sneak in to the park but unfortunately the guard was on duty early.
After securing chairs and umbrellas we had a beach day. Brian and Don parasailed while Wendy and I read our books.
After an exhausting drive home and a quick rest, we washed clothes and re-packed for our trip to Arenal in the morning. The roads to Arenal wind through rain forest and small towns. We were so happy to arrive at our destination Arenal Nayara which was easily the nicest place we have stayed in Costa Rica. It had great food and plenty of atmosphere.
We woke early to eat breakfast before our hanging bridges hike.
On the hike we spotted a eye lash pit viper, coatis, howler monkeys, a lot of birds including one that sounded like a frog called a white collared manakin, a lizard, and a bright blue stripped skink, and a snake that I almost stepped on as it crossed the path.
We headed back to Tabacon for a couple of hours then got on the road back to Escazu.
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