Flashback Friday - The Pacific Coast, Costa Rica 2017

We had a really neat drive down to the coast, stopping for lunch a river that was filled with crocodiles, really with some long plains and interesting trees the spot reminded me a bit of an African Savannah.  They used to feed the crocs for the tourists entertainment, that isn’t allowed anymore but they still cluster around the bridge which is by the little shops the tour buses stop at.  Maybe they are waiting for someone to trip.

Next we arrived at the town of Quepos.  Small little town up on the hills beside the ocean.  We had a nice little hotel, along a line of restaurants and hotels to visit.  It was a simple bus trip down to the beach and to Manuel Antonio National Park, which is supposed to be another beautiful place to see wild life.

I think this is where we were offered a chance to do a night walk, it was here or the cloud forest, and I turned it down.  I do not like spiders and other unmentionables.  While I can handle seeing them and know they are around, a night walk makes me shudder.  You don’t realize how close they are till a flash light hits so you can’t even be prepared!

That night a few of us went for happy hour at one of the little bars along the road.  Turned out to be owned by a Canadian who had packed it all in for warmer climes.  It was fun to chat about various life stories from him and the group.

In the morning a number of people decided to do a tour of the Park, but I was a bit peopled out.  So I had a slower start to the morning and took myself down top the beach.  I ran into our guide in town, as she had just dropped the group off, and we had breakfast at a nice spot by the beach.  Then I went to a little shop to stock up on drinks and snacks and found myself a nice little spot along the beach for the day.  It was pretty overcast, still lovely and warm which was all I needed.  I had a quiet morning to myself and then met up with some of the group to play in the surf later in the day.

In the evening we went to dinner at El Avion, an 1980s era plan that is now a restaurant in the forest.  Abandoned by the Americans in the wake of the Iran-Contra affair, it was bought by a businessman who relocated it to Quepos and used the fuselage as the restaurant.  It was a really neat experience, having a meal in a rustic old plane!  The ambiance was very well done, and a beautiful spot.

The next morning, and our last full day, dawned hot and clear.  Thankfully we only had a couple hours in the morning by the pool, since even with a few layers of sunscreen, I got absolutely burned!  We then drove back to San Jose for one last night at the hotel, before everyone scatters back to where they came from.

I remember this trip very fondly, I would highly recommend Costa Rica as a beautiful and interesting place to visit!  I really should go back there sometime……