Costa Rica 2024 with our Friends from London & Mexico City

Sunday Feb 18th; Day 12: - Today our friends begin to arrive.  Paul and Tracy from London mid day.  Alberto and Angeles late afternoon.   But this morning is a chance for us to do something different so after breakfast Jon & Liz Drove to Playa Camaronal - just the next beach to the south of us.  A 20 km drive but really just around the point.   Camaronal is a National Refugio composed of land next to the Mangroves and the Rio Ora delta - and a rugged but pristene beach where turtles lay their eggs.

We witnessed a dramatic scene as we walked on the beach.   Three surfers had been pulled way out by the tip tide.   When we first spotted them they were maybe a half mile off shore.  Another surfer paddled out to help them.   He got them moving parallel to the beach - and out of the rip tide.  The rescuer guided them back onto the beach where they were greeted by their friends.   They were exhausted but lucky to have made it!

Paul & Tracy arrived at 1 PM.   Got them settled and hung around talking.   Alberto and Angeles arrived at 6 pm.   Margaritas and pork roast on the grill.   Alberto taught us a dice game called "Mentiroso" ("Liar's poker" ).

Monday Feb 19th; Day 13:   Jon and Liz off to beach for morning walk with Paul & Tracy. 

  Back to the house by 9.    Jim & Carole arrived for brunch at 10.   They wanted to see our house and we wanted them to meet our friends.  Sat on deck at table and chatted till about 1pm when they left. 

 Off to Samara to shop with Tracy & Paul.     36C in Samara!  Realized had soft front tire on the way back so drove to the service station in Estrada and fill up the tank and had the tire inflated.    Will have to keep an eye on it.   Went to Leyenda Hotel in Estrada for dinner.   Beautiful setting, broad menu, good food.  Service a bit slow, but that seems to come with the territory.   

Tuesday Feb 20th;  Day 14:   Morning walk on the beach with Paul, Tracy, Alberto, Jon & Liz.   Paul, Alberto and Jon had a nice swim - all of us catching some nice waves.    At 3 PM we drove to Punta Islita (about 30 KM to the south) to the Macaw Recovery Network - a non profit Reserve dedicated to raising Scarlet Macaws and releasing them to the wild.   They have been successfully raising chicks, training them to be able to fend for themselves and releasing.   The birds Liz and I saw last year were part of the last batch of a half dozen birds they had released!     We saw them both days we stayed at the Punta Islita - flying right over our bungalow each morning and evening.   Paul made chicken for dinner!

Wednesday Feb 21st  Day 15:  Up to a beautiful morning  Tracy, Paul and Liz off to the beach for the morning walk.   Alberto Tracy Angeles and Jon to Samara - Alberto on a mission to find a fisherman to buy fish from right off the beach.   We were told to return between 4 and 5 pm when fishermen are come ashore.     Angelis made beef tenderloin ceviche for dinner!  Liz noticed the left rear tire a bit soft now.   Yikes!  

Thursday Feb 22; Day 16  Liz, Paul & Tracy attempted to go for the morning walk on the beach but now the left rear tire was completely flat.   This begins a complicated effort to get the tire fixed.   Complicated because we have no cell service at the house (I had to take Alberto's car to town so I could make a call) - complicated because we got handed off from Avis to some Independent roadside service.   About an hour and a half later this guy shows up in "Insurance" garb (long sleeve button down pin stripe shirt, black slacks and polished black shoes).   Turns out he is the independent insurance adjuster/flat tire repairman all rolled into one!   He proceeds to change the left rear tire for us but declares the tire not repairable because the side wall is damaged.   We asked him to look at the front right (which had been soft) but he would not look at it until we had 'reported' it.   So I drove back to town to report it.   He came back several hour later and was able to remove a thorn and repair the front tire.  Turns out we had one tire with damaged sidewall that will need to be replaced but also a second soft tire with a thorn in it that he was able to put a plug in.  So we are good to go - although we no longer have a spare.   That will be tomorrow's issue.

Alberto and Jon returned to Samara beach at the appointed hour in search of fishermen with fresh fish.   Unfortunately, because the morning had been so windy the fishermen had not gone out that day.   Fortunately we had a nice meal of left overs.   Great game of Mentiroso after dinner.   Also Jenga.

Friday Feb 23; Day 17   Paul Tracy Liz off to the beach for their morning walk.    Off to Dolphin/snorkeling trip with Samara Adventures at 12:30.   Long ride out with not much but then 6 - or 7 miles offshore encountered some flocks of birds sitting on the water and few small pods of spotted dolphins.   Also saw two sea turtles and several sail fish jumping.   Back for dinner at Colibri (which means hummingbird)   Our last meal together as a group.

Saturday Feb 24; Day 18:  Alberto & Angeles up early for a cup of coffee and then off by 7:45.  Paul, Tracy, Liz and Jon off for a morning walk on the beach.  Light lunch at Gusto Beach followed by some grocery shopping.

Chicken for dinner courtesy of Paul and Tracy.   Played scrabble (Liz won) and Jenga!   Our last 'bit' of time with Paul and Tracy

Sunday Feb 25; Day 19   Paul and Tracy off for one last jog.   Back for breakfast.   Driver arrived about 8:40.   Liz and I walked down to the tidal pools for a swim.  Missing all our company but enjoying a change in pace.