Pura Vida - Our Costa Rican Adventure

The last few days at Casa Romantica have been cool.  Andrew Boaz and Dee helped us achieve our first real vacation day.  How is this possible?  Lets take a happy journey. 

Wing Feast.

Hot wings, Asian Zest, rubs and Tamarindo Sauce

 Andrew Boaz.  He is a very good cook.  Here is the set up for any future renters.  He loves to cook, if you want he will cook for you but its best to coincide your dinner time with him.  Buying the meat is a nice gesture, his cooking is worth it.  There is a fine butcher shop across from Auto Mercando called Fernando's where guests can buy premium meat.
 In the center is a potato wrapped in a banana leave.  The potato cooked so moist that it does not need butter or a condiment, its groovy.

This meal was delicious.  Thanks surfer bro, great way to represent your East Coast origins.

Kelly my wife, gets ready for a day at the beach.  We are going to have the best day of our vacation but don't realize it yet.  Deep down the happy feelings started four to five days ago, it is now constant. I will not let my guard down in a third world country.  Striped Knee Tarantulas come out at night, this one was at our front gate at 10 PM.  We need to be aware of snakes dangling from trees.

Nova, Andie's and Dee's Spaniel, eagerly eats and drinks the remnants of a coconut. They are taking us in their jeep to remote and secluded beaches to snorkel.  We gave them twenty dollars for gas.  One gallon in Costa Rica is over 5 US dollars, making it well over what we pay in MI.  I think the war in Libya is disrupting the worlds gas supply.

Playa Real, soft warm clean sand,

Kelly walking to the pirate island.  There are caves and a real pirate flag.  The bay was once used by pirates. My wife loves this pic!


Andy and Dee went snorkeling.  The current was rough, Andy got bit by a sting ray.  They cleaned up his wound and all is good.  Dee is a nurse from Vancouver in Canada before moving in with Andy.  Its her second or third year.  Andy has been here for 20-30 years.

 I wonder if there is a treasure chest deep inside?


In Costa Rica age does not matter.  This dude looks very cool surfing.  What matters is how you treat people.

Surfers patiently wait their turn.

Thanks to God for allowing for these wonderful experiences.  Its Kabbalah for Happiness.

 A lone crab in the middle of the rock.

The crabs wait for something or somebody?  Its like they are surfers waiting for a wave.

Brains...give me your brains... zombies anyone?




To a new beach!  Playa Flamingo.  At sunset the sand glows pink.  A yacht?  Costa Rica loves mixing Third World with First World toys.

Peaceful and tranquil.
I almost went snorkeling here, but Andy says a better place is coming.

A local fisherman catches fresh lobster and a small octopus for his family.  He gave me permission to take his picture.



A five star hotel and spa resort appear in the distance, our destination is Playa Conchal. It is here we will snorkel.
The roads are treacherous.  Modes of transportation are horses, jeeps, trucks and four wheelers.  Many people charter private planes to get to these remote locations...welcome to the jungle.

 Playa Conchal. Its beach is all crushed shells.
Our snorkeling spot.  There are many fish.  Big and small, ranging from all colors.  There was even a puffer fish. I want to go back...

 To the local market.

Your guess is as good as mine.

 Third World mixing with First World.  I love it!
 My zodiac sign is the horse. I love horses.

The best picture of the day.  Playa Conchal.

We snorkel.  These are some snap shots of our adventures.  Thanks for reading.  Come back next week...pura vida!