Since I can remember I have wanted to go to Costa Rica (well, no, since I was six years old). I heard about the beautiful, soft, sandy beaches with palm trees moving in the warm wind… kind of like the stereotypical Hawaii. The sun would be intense and the people would have deep tans with blond-surfer hair. This was the first time I was going to the country of my dreams.

We entered Costa Rica with the usual entering of countries. Signs that say ‘welcome to Costa Rica’ and flags showing just how proud they are. Policemen and women are ready to make you bored and pretend to search your van for the usual: weapons, explosives, drugs, etc.

First day in Costa Rica

First day in Costa Rica. Photo by V.

After that, we drove for about an hour to Finca Cañas Castilla, a fantastic farm with places to camp. I slept in hopes of feeling better. I had thrown up three times at the entrance of C.R. I was given a rather disgusting medicine that gives me back the important stuff that I lost in the process of ‘getting sick’. It made me gag so I wondered if it would make me throw up again. That would have been ironic. I finished it off and slept. I woke up about an hour later to move from the couch to my bed to sleep more.

We got our Internet fix and relaxed. I was feeling better. Mom and Nate spotted howler monkeys in the tree above us. Then they went for a hike and saw spider monkeys right above their heads. So we all took a walk too and saw more monkeys, parakeets, and colorful bugs. The farm is at the borders of the jungle so there are tall beautiful trees. We went to a river that was too high to walk across so we returned to the monkeys and observed them. One tried -and failed- to poop on me. There was a baby. We took pictures but there is only so much to do with monkeys so we ended up going to see the sloth that the owners of the place had. It had been rescued from illegal selling. It was also very cute. Sleepy, as a sloth should be. It’s partially what makes them adorable.

Benjamin walking in Finca Cañas Castilla

Benjamin walking in Finca Cañas Castilla. Photo by Nate

We were going to Ruth and Wayne’s rented out house, Casa Tucan the next day. We woke up. I attempted to make pancakes; attempted. Nate drove and then drove some more. We finally got to El Tucan. The gate was unlocked so we just pushed it and went in. The entrance was really cool. It is a mini-road, the ground rock and grass. Everywhere you look there are plants. Different types of orange trees, jungle bushes, cocoa plants, and flowers. Not too far ahead is a brightly colored house with several different colors. Ruth and Wayne welcomed us. We caught up on everything from the drive to the last time we saw them. I explored around the house learning each room and creating my dream bathroom based off of one of the bathrooms there. Life was good. We all fell asleep after watching TV.

The second day was lazy. The third day we saw a chestnut-mandible toucan. The fourth day Wayne, mom, Nate, Benjamin and I went white-water rafting (thanks again, Wayne) and saw so many new birds! We also saw a basilisk lizard. It is the only creature, other than insects, that can run on water. While we white-water rafted, we jumped off a ledge into some flat, calm water. It was cold and wonderful. The guide had brought a pineapple and in the middle of the ride he split it open and shared. It was sweet and fresh and the best pineapple I had ever had.

One of three different species of praying mantis that visited Casa Tucan. Photo by Amelia.

One of three different species of praying mantis that visited Casa Tucan. Photo by Amelia.

The next day I was sick like when we entered Costa Rica. Worse. I didn’t throw up three times. I threw up nine times. I stayed in bed mostly all day. Sometimes I would move to the living room and sleep there. Then there was moving back to bed. Then there was bathroom. That was my routine all day. TV, too. And then more sleep.

I felt a lot better the next morning. Still weak, but I could go around and move without getting a wave of nausea. We prepared for the Caribbean, which would meet us the next day.
Hot, touristy, palm tree-y, and beach-y. That’s what I thought of the Caribbean. Unfortunately, Ruth and Wayne were not able to come with us. They had gotten a little sick as well but not horribly so as I did.
My family is huge so I was not surprised when I found out I had more family that I had never met. Jairo (Abuelito’s cousin), Jairo’s wife Peggy, and Jairo’s daughter Luz had acted as though I had known them forever. Oh, and Pizca, their cute, fifteen year old Chihuahua who howls for her dead dog friend. We slept happily even with my minor freak-out due to a flying cockroach heading my way.

The next day’s schedule: wakeup, eat breakfast, go to the beach, go to a restaurant, and go to Cahuita National Park (where we saw monkeys, this time white faced capuchins or, as I like to call them, white faced cappuccinos), go back to the house, snack on whatever is snackable, play a long game of Uno, and go to sleep. It was a long day and a perfect way to go to sleep as soon as you turn off the light.

Beach time in Manzanillo on the Caribbean coast

Beach time in Manzanillo on the Caribbean coast. Photo by V

White Faced Capuchins in Cahuita National Park.  Photo by Benjamin.

White Faced Capuchins in Cahuita National Park. Photo by Benjamin.

 

The next morning Peggy washed my hair. We tried pipas (coconut water directly from the coconut) and then we left their house in San Clemente. Nate drove for five hours. We saw trucks and banana plantations with blue bags, smelled fertilizer like never before, acknowledged Nate’s grumpy mood, and sang “WITH OR WITHOUT YOU!!!!” along with the song, ‘With or Without You’. Highly recommend it.
The following day after making it to El Tucan, we celebrated an early Thanksgiving. Wayne and Ruth got us a turkey and made the entire dinner on their own. They made a stuffed turkey, a green bean casserole, mashed potatoes with gravy, candied carrots, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce. Oh, it was delicious. We played Chinese checkers, six players and all.

Chiquita and Dole banana plantations on the drive back from the coast. Photo by V.

Chiquita and Dole banana plantations on the drive back from the coast. Photo by V.

Thanksgiving dinner in the rain.  Photo by Nate

Thanksgiving dinner in the rain. Photo by Nate

On our last day in San Miguel de Sarapiqui we finished packing, got ready, saw parrots, and left. After crossing Costa Rica’s cloud forest area, we found a camp spot and stayed there for the night, then drove to the border.

We left Costa Rica with the usual leaving of countries. Signs that say ‘thanks for visiting Costa Rica’ and flags showing just how proud they are. Policemen and women are ready to make you bored and pretend to search your van for the usual: weapons, explosives, drugs, etc.

I entered this country of my dreams with expectancy for hot sunny days. I got some of that. But truly I got a rainy jungle. Bright colored birds did fly around and sat in trees. I am not disappointed. I leave this dream, this rainforest place. Here we come Panama!

Cloud forests in southern Costa Rica. Photo by Nate.

Cloud forests in southern Costa Rica. Photo by Nate.

Guadual.  Photo by Amelia.

Guadual. Photo by Amelia.

Share this Post:
Share on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Email this to someone
Showing 2 comments
  • bernard
    Reply

    Beautifully written. I am enjoying the journey through your blog. We too are looking forward to getting on the road again in 2016. Hope to meet you all out there. Cheers!

  • Nancy
    Reply

    So wonderful to hear about your adventures!!

Leave a Reply to bernard Cancel reply