if you can be one thing in life, be interesting.: fishing

Day seven was a whole lot of resting. We decided we needed to go to the SUPER super in Cabano to get some groceries. In the states SUPER means huge--SUPER Walmart means enormously large and you can find anything you ever wanted and then some. Here in Costa Rica SUPER means you can actually get a diet pepsi at the grocery store (miracle!). We did manage to stock up on some fruit, veggies, and the essential, liquor.

On this very same journey, we figured we weren't far from "world famous" Tambor, so we thought we'd cruise on down and check it out. On the way, we decided to get gas, only to find the attendant at the station we stopped at taking a ciesta. He told us to go on. He sure as heck wasn't going to pump our gas in the middle of his ciesta. God, I love this country. Anyway, back to Tambor. It wasn't at all the place we'd imagined, minus the enormous Golf Course with armed guards surrounding it. RIDICULOUS. No wonder it's famous to Americans, it's little America.

Around dinner time we had a little excitement: a friendly little scorpion rearing its little head. Aaron massacred it with a broom stick. Five minutes later a friendly little tarantula reared it's little head. It, to, was massacred. Through all of this there was a bit of freaking out throughout the family. I felt invincible though, after all, I'd already survived a territorial war with a monkey, what were a couple little arachnids going to do?

Day eight the boys took off doing their thing, Rooster didn't want to leave the house, so mom and I took the SUV and headed into Montezuma to check out Montezuma Falls and see what the street vendors had. First off, mom and I, in a car alone, usually equals erratic driving and obnoxiously loud car karaoke. Mix that with two track dirt roads in a foreign country, and it's either a recipe for disaster or a really good time. Luckily it ended up being a really good time, no disaster involved. We hiked into Montezuma Falls, avoided a loco Jamaican, and enjoyed the trickle of a waterfall that was left at the end of summer. Very pretty, but clearly a tourist trap, not our usual forte.

From there we walked through Montezuma, checking out the local artistry and talking with vendors. Found some super neat stuff (bought something for you, Kels--it screamed your name!) including this fun bracelet from a Jamaican man. I hope there is no voodoo spells involved. Unless the voodoo has something to do with winning lottery numbers.

Dad, Mom, Aar, and I made dinner. Fish that the boys guide caught, rice & beans, and salad. Pretty delicious, but not quite as good as the fish mom made the other night or the fish at Coyote Soda. Also had two little lobsters that they caught--pretty yummy. We all need a break from fish though....where's the venison in this country?? Oh yeah, the whitetail is "endangered" here....crazy.

Day nine mom, dad, and I left the house around 630 in hopes of seeing Cocolito Waterfall, a couple hours north, by beach, of Montezuma. This was my mecca.

You know when you're a kid and you go to the beach and there is always a certain "treasure" you search for? My treasure is sea glass. There is something almost magical about what the ocean does to glass to make it this perfect little piece of art. I love how someone else's trash becomes such a treasure...I get almost giddy when I find a different color. Found clear, a couple shade's of blue, a couple shade's of green, and one small yellow piece. Super exciting.

Anyway, our beach walk went through two natural reserves, a whole lot of beautiful beaches, and the forest. It was pretty spectacular.

And then, newsflash, tsunami warning. Being in a semi-peripheral country, on the beach, when a tsunami hits is pretty much the worst case scenario when it comes to being hit by a tsunami. Lucky for us, NOAA was overly prepared, as as we ran like hell up the hill 400 yards when we saw that the wave was coming, it just barely splashed us on our feet, phew. Ok, maybe that's not what happened. Maybe nothing actually happened, but just the "warning" kept us away from the beach for the afternoon. I was safe though, with my arm floaties and my pina colada. Invincible.

For dinner we went american--bbq'd chicked and pasta roni. Pretty delicious. I also finished book number two: "Handle with Care" by Jodi Picoult. Anyway, off to enjoy the sunshine...

exhibit a: scorpion in kitchen

exhibit b: tarantula in bathroom

the gecko's crawl into the paper lanterns at night to eat the bugs, super cute.

Montezuma Falls

"Grande Beach" and not a soul in sight.

this was a rock balancing area about a half hour into the beach hike...the physics of it was incredible, and these "statues" even withstand the tides. pretty rad.

beaches of the future?? I hope not. This is my proof that you all should stop using plastic.

the trail along the beach in the turtle refuge.

my "goldmine" in sea glass :)

The flight from Dallas to Liberia was my best flight ever. I was on the plane next to a woman from St. Louis who was a community garden planner. We got to talk about renewable gardening, organic eating, politics (which, I know, you're never supposed to talk about on a plane OR with strangers, but we couldn't help it!) and, always my favorite, backpacking. She rocked my world, we talked the entire flight. Awesome new friend.

Additionally, I witnessed my second standing ovation for our military in DFW....truly beautiful.

We arrived in Liberia and it was about thirty thousand degrees and three hundred percent humidity: pure bliss. We had the most adorable little Costa Rican shuttle driver to the rental car...super eager, super friendly, and the funniest giggle ever. The drive from Liberia to Carrillo was good, it was a little sad to see the development...nothing like driving out of the airport and seeing a Hilton where there used to be a banana plantation. Gag me.

Carrillo has become ridiculously developed, but still has the old town feel. The people at El Colibri remember us, and they're excited to talk fishing. Had a Delmonico for dinner and was reminded of all of the deliciousness my steak lacks in the states...it stimulated taste buds that I didn't even know I had. 10oz of pure bbq bliss. LOVE!

On day three we went and let the kids frolic on the beach for a bit, then went out to check out the reef at Playa Carrillo. Total devastation. The reef is almost completely dead now, with a stray piece of coral here and there, but nothing notable. It was heart breaking to think about how quickly it disappeared. Saw three different species of puffer fish, lots of angel fish, star fish, etc. Didn't bring the spear because we didn't expect to see bigger rock fish, and saw a VERY edible sea bass that would have tasted delicious. I have ten more days to do the spear hunting though--there is time :).

Did I mention that I'm sunburned? Through multiple layers of SPF70? It's a special skill, being a white girl....anyway, enjoy a few pictures, and I'll post again soon :)