Family 1 and Family 2 Take Costa Rica

 

This one goes out to Mamacita - vacation-planner extraordinaire, and (as of today) birthday girl.

 

Eight years ago, on our way to Australia, we had a layover in Hawaii.  It wasn't long, but it was warm, and there were palm trees, and you could eat your breakfast on the beach.  The winter vacations we've taken since have largely been slopes-oriented, characterized by lots of layers of wool, toe warmers, and hot chocolate.  Wonderful, but no palm trees.  This year, we returned to the palm trees.    

 

 

Oh, and plot twist: the Stevens fam came too!

 

 

After a slightly traumatic rental car experience, we were on the road to the cloud forests of Monteverde. I use the term road loosely. As it turns out, just because something shows up as part of a Google Maps route does not mean driving over it will be a pleasant experience. At one point we were two wheels deep in a ditch off the road, and it's only thanks to the airplane-landing arm gestures of a friendly Costa Rican on a motorbike that we made it out. On the bright side, as the car got a running start to bounce over rocks, etc. and make it up the hill, Roman got a ride. At least someone fulfilled Ang's dream of being whisked off on a local's bike.  

 

Zipline ready!

 

 

 

 

Fourteen(ish - I don't remember the exact number) ziplines later, we had had the monkey's eye view of the cloud forest.  Unfortunately, no monkey sightings, though we were warned to watch
out for flying poo, which they fling at unwelcome guests.

 

 

Later that afternoon, we decided to go in search of the elusive poo-flingers once again.  The scenery was straight out of Tarzan but, unfortunately, without apes (or men who had been raised by apes).

 

 

 

 

 

However, the Costa Rican wildlife took a dramatic turn for the better on our coffee/chocolate/wildlife tour.  A strange combination, you may think, but really what more could you ask for?  We had a tour of the coffee plantation, learned that one cup of coffee a day cures asthma, two prevents diabetes, three will save you from cancer, and four is too much.  Fun facts have never been so fun.  This was followed by a tasting, with chocolate sampling, and then it was out into the jungle with penlights.

Though the monkeys were asleep, we caught sight of sloths, a toucan, a tarantula, and some tiny frogs. 

As it turns out, unpaved roads are more easily navigated during the day, and our trip to Tamarindo was much more pleasant.  Unless you're Caroline, and not in the mood for a two hour Bob Dylan retrospective.

 

When you think of a tropical vacation - surfing; horses on the beach; no shirt, no shoes, service - you think of Tamarindo; we did it all (except the riding on the beach, because evidently that's illegal). 

Andrew, Max, and Roman braved the ocean uninstructed, while Caroline, Angela, and I spent the afternoon in a class with another family from Minnesota (small world). 

Meanwhile, Dad and Uncle Chuck really got the short end of the stick - getting a hodgepodge of instructions from the rest of us, who made up for our lack of knowledge with confidence and guessing.

 

 

 

While the rest of the family went off to explore a hidden beach, Angela, Uncle Chuck, Aunt Louise, and I went on the most exciting trail-ride of my life.  We raced up and down the mountains along the coast, trying to catch the best view of the sunset, and taking breaks for extended periods of sitting trot (which, as anyone who's tried to sit their trot knows, is the least leisurely activity there is). 

I came away missing most of the skin on my inner calves, and covered in bug bites.  However, had Ang accepted Luis's offer, I would've happily third-wheeled on their date, and gone again the next day. 

  

 

A selfie, for good measure. 

 

Our fearless leader - Tigre!  With pineapple to bribe iguanas and tourists alike.  

 

Another highlight of our time in Tamarindo was the mangrove tour.  Tigre took us up the estuary that comes out into the ocean at the Tamarindo beach in search of alligators and monkeys. 

 

As we went up the estuary - no monkeys (are you sensing a theme?).  Loads of iguanas - especially when Tigre started throwing them chunks of pineapple, and loads of birds. 

 

Half an hour in, Tigre announced that we would have to go looking for the monkeys in the woods.  Always up for a walk, we agreed, but this was like no hike you've been on.  We were climbing through the bush as Tigre power walked faster than any Minnesota mall lady in the winter. 

Then, there they were - a whole bunch of howler monkeys up in the trees!  Tigre did his monkey call, and they howled back, though I have to say Tigre's was more entertaining. 

We hopped off the boat pumped about the monkeys, and full of pineapple from Tigre's backyard (read: the grocery store in Tigre's backyard), but a little bummed about the lack of croc sighting.  As we walked back toward the beach, we saw a guide and a few people huddled next to the estuary around two crocodiles!  Wildlife bingo! 

 

 

 

 

 

While not the best meal we ate (that would be the tacos - hands down), eating on the beach amid fire dancers and a mariachi band wins for experience. 

Our last day in Costa Rica was spent in Rincon, so well known for its waterfalls and mud baths that Parent Trap's own Lindsay Lohan was there as well (we verified Ang's claimed sighting via Instagram - a reliable source if I've ever heard of one).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the sun sets on Costa Rica.  Thanks for a fantastic trip, fam, and Happy Birthday Mamacita!