Moving onto the Beach

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. - John Muir

This quote is as fitting to the Sierra Nevada as to Yellowstone as to here in Costa Rica. I am just in awe of the beauty God created for us to enjoy. I love that the Costa Rican take care of their land and try to keep that beauty here for everyone to see.

Early this morning I woke to the sound of monkeys, so I went out on the patio to see if I could see them. I couldn't, they were deeper in the jungle then I thought, but there were a few birds out. I wanted to walk around, but didn't want to wake my family by getting dressed.

Today we moved onto the beach. It was a long 4 hour drive, but it didn't seem that way. There is so much to see, even along the road. We even hit a little road block. Much different then the kind we remember in Yellowstone. This one was a high school band playing in the street because today is a holiday kind of like our 4th of July.

We made a stop for a snack.

Of course, the view was amazing.

We made it to our hotel and were greeted by this guy on the steps.

View from our balcony. This place seems deserted so that beach down there is all ours.

 We did some grocery shopping in Tamarindo and stopped to see the beach.

 Then we came back to our private beach.

After exploring the beach, I made us a real home made Casado minus the salad. I added the veggies to the rice instead.

A little after dinner relaxing.

Pura Vida,

Kristen

Last Day in La Fortuna

Our last day in La Fortuna... no set plans, just gonna explore.

Every morning, we start start our day off at this exact table. We were seated here our first night and we loved it because it is right on the edge and there are no walls or windows on the restaurant. 

Every meal, this little green guy comes out to greet us.

While waiting for Dr. C, the kids and I went outside to take a few pictures around the hotel restaurant.

We decided we couldn't leave La Fortuna without seeing the hanging bridges. Personally, I liked the bridges we walked over before zip lining better. But, I am glad I got to see these also.

There is a wild boar down there if you look very, very closely.

And a wild monkey!

After the bridges and a very long nap for me, back to the pools to relax.

L is at the top of the slide ready to go down.

And there is Dr. C shooting out of the slide like a cannon.

Why stay at 1 pool when you have 10 to enjoy.

These are some private pools with 2 seats and jets in each.

After the pools, we went into town to eat at a Soda and have an after dinner treat. There is this neat grassy area in the middle of town, so we sat and relaxed there. It was quite busy, lots of families and not a single child on an electronic. They were all running around with each other playing with soccer balls, scooters and tag. You know, the old fashion stuff.

C & L were twirling around and then having races and a little 1 yr old was trying to chase after them.

Here is a summer salt race.

It was so much fun just being a part of the town this night! Some of the parents came up and introduced themselves to us and we chatted a bit as much as we could with our limited Spanish. Again, people have been so nice everywhere we go around here, not just the workers on the tours.

I am excited to see the beach.

Kristen

More exploring this wonderful country!

There is just something special about Costa Rica! Everywhere we go, the people are so kind and helpful! The beauty is unreal, the jungle never quiets, and the weather is perfect. I love the feeling of walking through the pouring rain with nothing but shorts and a tank top on and it’s warm. When it is not raining, it has been perfect weather also. They say it gets hot here, but I don’t know if I believe it. 

Each day has seemed like 2 days here. We have our morning adventure then come back for some down time (reading for the kids, nap for the adults) then our afternoon activity. Today just like every day we started with our buffet breakfast at the hotel where the hugest butterfly was on the wall. It was probably 3 inches across.

 Then we took a little walk while we waited for our tour to pick us up for repelling down some waterfalls. 

On the drive to the waterfall that we repelled from we road in the back of a tiny pick up truck on a rocky road.

This is just the inside of a bathroom. I don't know, but maybe Dr. C is obsessed with bathrooms in other places. I always find pictures of them. It's either that or he is amazed at how clean they are.

L all ready to go...

There goes C...

L 1/2 way down...

We took a different road back from the waterfall, this one is a little less bumpy.

Arenal Volcano from observation point, when the clouds are not there, you can see smoke coming out of the top. The sky is constantly changing here!

Observation point...

This trip reminded us when little C was in kindergarten and he wanted to be a bird watcher for about a year of his life. We reminded him and he thought that was so crazy, didn't remember it and said how it would be so boring.

Later we went to La Fortuna Falls for a little swim.

It is 500 steps down to the falls. Little C counted to make sure they were correct.

A little too crowded to our taste, but I'm glad we didn't skip it.

Someone is happy he made it back up. I don't know why it was so hard, little C and I had to wait for him at the top. Maybe he needs to hit the gym more.

We found a little Soda for dinner. That a little family owned local restaurant then went for a walk through town.

C & L picked out some souvenirs.

And it poured on us. Big C, little C, & L ran back to the car while I walked.

It poured for the rest of the evening till about 8 or 9, but that didn't stop us from a little night swimming.

Apparently it didn't stop anyone else either since this is the most crowded I have seen the pool.

Pura Vida,

Kristen